List of tables
Chapter 2: Design Development of Ambulance: Issues and Contextual Relevance
2.4 Human powered tricycle in global situation
At present people of rural areas use human powered tricycle rickshaw as a mode of public transportation. Human powered land vehicles can be propelled by a person riding in the vehicle. The tricycle also known as trishaw is shown in Figure 2.6 (d). In India and Bangladesh, the tricycle is known as tricycle rickshaw [Figure 2.6 (b)]. In China, the tricycle is known as cycle rickshaw [Figure 2.6 (a)]. The tricycle rickshaw popularly known as the pedicab (pedal operated taxi) is shown in Figure 2.6 (c), Figure 2.6 (e), Figure 2.6 (g), Ecotaxi is shown in Figure 2.6 (h) and Velotaxis are used in Berlin and many European countries [Figure 2.6 (f)].
There is context specific variation of bicycles used for special purpose. Cyclomer [Figure 2.7 (a)] an amphibian bike was first innovated and demonstrated by French innovator in Paris, 1932. The bike had hollow wheels, bulbous floats that, with the aid of four smaller globes on outriggers, sustain it in the water. All of it floats and revolve freely like wheels, resulting in a minimum of drag. When the rider pedals it in the water, fins at the rear wheel serves as paddles to drive the machine forward. For a ride on dry land, the out triggers supporting the outer floats folded up clears the ground. Cyclomer had sufficient buoyancy to support the rider when the inventor navigated his device without difficulty across the shallow water pond. National Innovation Foundation (NIF) provides national biennial competition to the grassroots innovator who innovates in local Indian context. Mohammad Saidullah received [Figure 2.7 (b)] award for his noble innovation Amphibious bicycle in 2005 (Tewary, 2008). His bicycle comprises a conventional bicycle modified with two extra attachments which enable it to travel on both water and land. These rectangular attachments are in two pairs and each pair is attached to the front and rear wheel of the bicycle. These floats can be
folded when the bicycle runs on land. NIF had sanctioned a micro venture innovation fund ` 33,750.00 for the development of the prototype, but it never came to the Indian market. In 2007, Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) innovator Dwarka P.
Chaurasiya developed an alternative arrangement for crossing water bodies without a boat [Figure 2.7 (c)].
(a): Cycle rickshaw in China
(Authur et al., 2013). (b): Tricycle rickshaw in Bangladesh (Wysiati, 2017).
(c): Philippines pedicab, or ‘trisikad’ (Marie et al., 2004).
(d): Trishaw in Myanmar (Arcane Candy, 2012).
(e): Recumbent pedicab in London (Ecochariots, 2011).
(f): Velotaxi in Berlin (Reichel, 2005).
(g): Hybrid pedicab and driver in downtown Mexico City (Mitchell, 2009).
(h): Ecotaxi pedicab in London, Scotland and Ireland (Walters, 2009).
In this context, a Chinese DIYer, Mr. Li Weiguo tried to build an amphibious bicycle shown in Figure 2.7 (d) that has eight empty water jugs which act as pontoons and adjustable vane wheels that provide the thrust in water.
(a): Cyclomer- first amphibious bike in Paris, 1932 (Adrian, 2016).
(b): Mohammad Saidullah’s innovation to travel on water (Tewary, 2008).
(c): Dwarka P. Chaurasiya in the amphibious cycle (NIF, 2015).
(d): Homemade amphibious bicycle in China
(Chapa, 2010).
Figure 2.7: Various amphibian bicycle in prototype stage.
2.4.1 Relevance and development of tricycle in Asia
The rickshaw was first developed around 1870 in Japan (Rahman et al., 2008). In the early 20th century, rickshaw became a popular mode of transportation in different parts of Asia. In India around 1880, rickshaw was first introduced in Simla by Reverend J. Fordyce (Chandran et al., 2015). Later in the beginning of 20th century (1914) in Calcutta (present Kolkata), hand pulled rickshaw was popular as a mode of transportation (Jim, 2011; Singh et al., 2011). The rickshaw derives its name from Japanese word ‘jinrikisha’, and it means human powered vehicle. Based on the design of operation, the hand pulled rickshaw is mostly found in India. Cycle rickshaw appeared in Calcutta itself, in 1935s, and by 1950s (Chandran et al., 2015). Currently, people of Bangladesh use approximately 2
million rickshaws while India has 10 million rickshaw pullers (Rahman et al., 2008). At present time, China has banned hand pulled rickshaw under Mao regime, but now- a- days we have seen the rising of the motorised rickshaw. The role of the rickshaw is always evolving in the rural and semi-urban community depending on the culture, economic ability, and geographical locations. In India, most of the rickshaw pullers are migrant from the rural area looking for employment in urban areas. Considering the public transportation across rural and riverine areas in North East India, a large population that uses this mode of transportation is considered for introduction of:
Amphibian vehicle as ambulance
Amphibian vehicle for public transportation
This modes of transportation may serve in the rural area for common people in both situations in land and water as ambulance as well as they may serve as public transportation.
2.4.2 Classification of tricycle based on the wheel layout
Normal tricycle generally consists of either of the two layouts:
Delta [Figure 2.8 (a), Figure 2.8 (c), Figure 2.8 (g)] (www.jetrike.com, 2015), with two wheels at the back and one steered wheel at the front. Out of two rear wheels at the back, usually one is driven.
Tadpole [Figure 2.8 (b), Figure 2.8 (d), Figure 2.8 (h)] (www.jetrike.com, 2015), a tadpole tricycle has two front wheels and one rear wheel. Usually driven by wheels at the front that are also steered.
All trikes do not fall into one of those two categories. For example, some early pedal tricycle used two wheels in tandem on one side and large driving wheel on the opposite. The only thing common for a tricycle is front and rear wheels of various sizes. The upright tricycles are delta formed with two-wheels in the back, and they are being preferred sometimes for comfort and toughness. In addition, from the usability point of view, these trikes are much easier to enter and exit. As a result, the seat is higher on the delta tricycle, and it makes the rider more visible to drivers of vehicles coming from opposite direction. These are sometimes a lot heavier than tadpole tricycle. In India, there is no manufacturer for single seater trike for an adult. George Longstaff, Higgins and Pashley Cycle in the UK are the
manufacturer of upright trikes which was started in 1960. Italian company 'Di Blasi' manufactured folding upright trike. The largest manufacturer company 'Sun Bicycle' was established in Taiwan for manufacturing both delta and tadpole trikes. The centre of gravity (CG) for the delta riders is usually high [Figure 2.8 (e)] but it is located behind the forward tipping axis.
(a): 'Delta' form recumbent wheeler. (b): 'Tadpole' form recumbent wheeler.
(c): 'Delta' recumbent tricycle (d): 'Tadpole' recumbent tricycle
(e): Centre of gravity at 'Delta' recumbent tricycle.
(f): Centre of gravity at 'Tadpole' recumbent tricycle.
(g): Delta turning vectors (h): Tadpole turning vectors Figure 2.8: Wheel layout and centre of gravity of Delta and Tadpole tricycle.
On the other hand, the tadpole riders CG is lower [Figure 2.8 (f)] but located ahead of the forward tipping axis. Even with the higher seat, a delta trike can be quite stable provided most of the weight shifts back towards the rear wheels.