Put on Vest                                        Tighten Ropes                Pull Lever (Raise Person to Transfer)

Parts and Directions
User and Person-friendly DIY Mobility for Non-ambulatory
or Bed-bound People

Two videos show the Aging-At-Home assembly process and the parts required. Here is the 4-minute DIY assembly process video:

Build Process Video

Here is a video review of the parts required:

Parts Review Video

Developing countries have fewer resources (tools, skilled workers, and materials). So we have tried to symplify the device's constructaion (making and assembling the parts) so it can be created in about 30 minutes with very limited mechanical skills required. Minimally, only a hack saw, 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) and 1/4 inch (6.3 mm) diameter drill bits, a knife, and two adjustable wrenches are required.

Putting the parts together takes only four minutes as shown in the above "build process" video.

There are three "connector" parts required - an eye-screw (one required), an eye-hook (3 of them), and Spring Links (two large, and either two small or two - 1 inch/25.4 mm dia. hose clamps) are required.


Preparation


We prepared for assembly by doing the following 5 steps :
  1. Cut using hack saw or chop saw with a metal cutting blade the 7/8 in. (22.2 mm) square steel tube to length (18 in. or 45.2 mm)

  2. Drill 3 three 1/2 in. holes (12.7 mm) through the top and bottom of the square tube in the middle and at the two ends (requires 0.5 in./12.7 mm diameter metal drill bit). Since these half inch holes are large holes, it may be easier to first drill 3 - 1/4 inch pilot holes prior to drilling the three half inch holes.

  3. Drill two .375 in. (9.53 mm) holes at the ends of both orange load binder lever handles (see hole in handle) Skip this step and go to 3b below for the simpler approach


    3b. Alternate approach to step 3. above.

    Since drilling holes in the 1/2 inch thick mild steel composing the loadbinder's pull arm may be challenging for those without power tools, using a hose clamp may be a viable alternative to save time and effort. Note that this method may be less secure than the hole-drilling method. The pull rope may be attached to the pull arm using a simple hose clamp:

    Knot the rope and tighten a hose clamp around the rope and the pull arm end:

    To eliminate sharp edges, wrap the hose clamp with electrical or other tape.

  4. Cut or grind the chrome metal hook off each of the two "rope ratchets"


  5. Cut the two 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) diameter ropes (packaged with the rope ratchets) in half (burning the nylon ends to stop them from fraying is also desirable).


    Assembly Process
    Assembly: This short Video shows how we constructed the device in about 4 minutes. Here are the 7 steps shown in the video with explanations:

    1. Bolt the orange ratchet load binder to the eye screw (Note: the Eye Screw would normally be screwed securely into a 2x6, 2x8 or 2x10 [inch] ceiling beam [see illustration] before doing this step). Note also that the orange hooks in the three pictures below remain on the load binder and are ignored to avoid the added unnecessary work of removing them:

    2. Bolt the upper load binder to the lower load binder:


    3. Bolt the lower load binder to the eye bolt that goes through the middle of the square tube in step 4:


    4. Put the 3 eye bolts in the 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) diameter holes in the bar. The "eyes" face down at the ends and up in the middle. Securely tighten both nuts (non-locking and locking) on the three Eye Bolts as shown:


    5. Connect the looped ends of the ropes to the brass Spring Hooks as shown:


    6. Thread the ropes in 5. above through the rope ratchets (brass spring hooks go on the inside) and knot the ends securely. Use the large metal-colored spring links to attach the downward facing eye bolts to the rope ratchets as shown:

    7. Finally attach the knotted rope to the load binder pull arm(s) using (1) a spring pin attached to a (drilled) hole in the arm or (2) a hose clamp as shown in steps 3. or 3b. above.



    The 5 Minor Parts


    Eye Bolts are bolted to the cross-bar/square tube (one at middle [eye points upward] and at two ends [eyes point downward as shown in example (5) above].


    3 - Eye Bolts with Nut - ½ in./12.7 mm x 4 in./101.6 mm 300 lb. rating ea. - 3 x $2.49 USD ea.

    1 - Eye Screw - 7/16 x 5-1/4 - 320 lb. rating ea. - $2.49 USD
    2 - 1.75 in./44.45 mm length wire "Spring Links" - 150 lb. capacity (see step 3. above) - $1.29 USD ea. (for rope pulls)
    2 - 3/8 in./9.53 mm x 3 1/8 in./79.38 mm Chain Snap Hook/"Spring Link" - $3.29 USD ea. (for hanging rope ratchets)

    (Alternative to small wire "Spring Links" above) 2 - 1 in. diameter stainless steal hose clamps (see step 3b. above) - $1.00 USD ea.

    2 - Swivel Snap Eye "Spring Hooks" - 4.5 in./114.3 mm length, 1.75 in./44.45 mm wide $9.00 USD ea.


    3 - 1.5 in./38.1 mm len x 0.5 in./12.7 mm dia. bolts, cost: $6.00 USD, 6 nylon-lined 0.5 in. lock nuts, and 8 0.5 inner diameter, 1.25 in./31.75 mm outer diameter washers


    The 3 Major Parts Discussion


    1. The orange "lever load binders" or "chain binders" shown below are commonly available because they are used by freight haulers to tighten chains and stabilize loads on trailers. But because of their simple design, metal workers in developing countries may be able fabricate them if no commercial ones are available.

    2. The "Rope Ratchets" are Part number 10030 "Pulley Hangers" with 8 feet of 1/2 in./12.7 mm dia. rope. Dimensions are 2 in./50.8 mm x 6.25 in./158.75 mm x 13.5 in./342.9 mm, Manufacturer: Carolina North, Load Capacity: 500 lbs. ea., cost: $15.00 USD ea.

      Note also that parts such as the "rope ratchets" could have substitutions that perform the same function. Devices such "rope grabs", "rope clamps" and "ascenders" are used by mountain climbers, window washers, and tree pruners (aborists).

      All use cam-based mechanisms to tighten (and loosen) ropes under considerable load mostly for climbing, rappelling, and as tie-downs. One advantage of using the "rope ratchets" is that they come with ropes that are the proper size (diameter) and material which increases safety.

    3. The final major part is the 7/8 inch (22.2 mm) hollow, square, mild or chrome-moly steel tube (0.065 inch or 1.65 mm) wall thickness although a thicker wall would also be acceptable) which is cut to 18 inches (457 mm) in length before drilling.



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