Past Projects

Recent Mech 45X Projects

SUNCOR ENERGY

Shovel Hinge Release

Suncor Energy Inc. have had problems in reliability of the dipper trip mechanism on the their large shovel buckets used to excavate tar sands. Suncor didn't have the human resources to invest much time into a solution. A team of 45X students visited the site to assess the problem and, over the course of the eight months, conceptualized a design and created a working prototype. Their hydraulically actuated bucket release mechanism was an interesting innovation, and Suncor was very impressed with the quality and creativity of the student work.

G.F. Strong

Strongfoot Project

Project Design Goal: Safety of wheelchair occupants in motor vehicle transportation and frontward collisions

Project Description: Through research, students determined that front caster failure during vehicle transport posed the greatest risk of injuries for a wheelchair occupants. To reduce the risk, the Strongfoot design utilizes a quick release bar clamp to prevent the wheelchair from tilting forward as a result of the front caster failure. This design mainly supports and assists the casters in carrying the load created by the occupant on the wheelchair. As a result of this added support, even if the casters fail, the wheelchair is still supported and thus prevents the wheelchair from tilting forward.

Strongfoot

Praxim-Medivision

PRAXIM Project – Patella Cutting Guide for Computer-Assisted Surgical Systems

Project Design Goal: Improve the quality of computer-aided total knee arthroscopy (TKA) surgeries with the design of a patella cutting guide

Project Description: The misalignment of hand cutting the patella in TKA surgeries often case posterior knee pain in many patients. To reduce the chance of these inaccuracies, students developed a patella cutting guide that can be used to aid surgeons in aligning the cut of the patella.

praxim

FREEDOM WATER COMPANY LTD.

Point of Use Water Dispenser

Students created a prototype counter top water dispensing unit that would form part of a complete domestic potable water generating system and both heat and cool water on demand. The project was well received:

“I wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the work performed by the students of your Mechanical Engineering program. Business was conducted in a professional manner, and the result of this effort has added material value to our company. I look forward to doing another project with you soon.”
- Jonathan Ritchey, President

waterdispense

ALS Society of BC

Dynamic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Neck Brace

Project Design Goal: To develop a neck brace that can support an ALS patients head

Project Description: ALS patients are unable to hold and lift their head since there neck extensors are weakened. To assist patients with ALS, students focused on the motion capability, ease of use, adaptability, adjustability, and cost of the neck brace into their design. This resulted in a neck brace that not only allowed the support of the head during smooth natural head motion, but also at an affordable cost for the patient.

mech45x13

Sunny Hill Health Center for Children, BC Children’s Hospital

MecaChair

Project Design Goal: To create a data acquisition device (DAQ) for the purpose of measuring and modelling extensor thrust forces and spasm characteristics of patients with cerebral palsy.

Project Description: Students developed a DAQ system that is capable of measuring and characterizing the extensor thrusts exhibited by the patient and presenting useful data to the client. By placing the sensors on the four corners of the chair brackets, the force magnitudes, duration, and timing of the spasms can be measured, with asymmetry calculated through the orientation of the brackets and the magnitude of the extensor thrust. With the data recorded, doctors and specialists can characterize a patient’s spastic movement and quantify changes in the patient’s spastic movements with modifications made to the wheelchair.

mecachair

Ms. Olga Kalamkarova, with Prof. Tania Tam, UBC Dept. of Human Kinetics

Upper-Limb Exercise Device

Project Design Goal: To develop an arm-exercise device that improves the range-of-motion for people with severe disabilities

Project Description: Students developed a home-based passive exercise device that would enhance the flexibility of upper limb joints in people with reduced arm function. The device consisted of two mounted circular tracks that move the user’s arms in a slow and controlled swimming motion. This movement ensures the maximum range of motion in all directions and engages both the elbow and shoulder joints of the user.