Adapting the Gordon Bungalow Staircase

							            Adapting the Gordon
            Bungalow Staircase


Semester Report
Introduction

 Team Leader — Taylor Eichenseer
 Secondary Facilitator — Rahul Kumar
 Process Observer — Nicole Lee
 Conflict Manager — Victor Chiang
 Timekeeper — Eric Feliciano

 Client — Ann Gordon (Jenny’s Mother)
 Location — Bungalow near Croton
Problem Statement Context
      Our client’s daughter Jenny faces a physical
      disability best described as a moderate case
      of cerebral palsy. While Jenny can walk
      with assistance, her weak and irregular
      limbs cause problems with balance and
      mobility, and she is often limited to a walker
      or wheelchair. Ann continually searches for
      ways to adapt Jenny’s living space in order
      for Jenny to be able to ambulate
      independently. However, building a ramp at
      their elevated bungalow home is impractical
      because of the hilly terrain, so it remains the
      constant responsibility of the family to
      physically support Jenny in traversing the
      front staircase.
Problem Statement
 Ann proposed a design project that would
 allow Jenny to ascend and descend the stairs
 independently and easily. Similar to other low
 cost, low tech products on the market, our
 project’s goal is to adapt the existing structure
 efficiently and safely. By providing a solution
 that is easily operated, but that also ensures
 safety and stability, we hope to provide Jenny
 with a newfound independence and the family
 with ease of mind. In addition, we seek to
 protect the aesthetics of the bungalow and to
 allow others to use the staircase with
 minimized extra effort.
The Staircase
The Solution
Design Constraints

 Unique Staircase
 Corrosion
 Thermal Expansion
 Friction
 Jenny’s Physical Condition
 Complicated Pulley Technology
Design Specifications: Safety

 It will support a minimum of 130lbs.
 It must be durable
 It is designed to operate safely
 Jenny will be attached to the device by a
 harness.
 The system locks in the event that Jenny
 falls (using Dyna-Lock).
 Materials such as PVC will be used
 because of high strength and low weight.
Ergonomics

 It is Designed to be easy and
 comfortable to use.
 The handles are oriented such that
 her hands will rest around her waist.
 (~43”)
 Soft foam padding and an adjustable
 waist strap will aid in comfort.
 Weight to be around 2.5-3.5 pounds.
Functionality

 Customized Handrails
 It uses the handrails as a track to slide up
 and down the stairs with Jenny.
 It flips up to allow other people to use the
 steps.
 Materials such as PVC are used so that it
 will endure the elements of the outdoors.
 Ball bearings are used to reduce the friction
 between the rail and the device.
Close Up Of Ball Bearings
Flipped Up
              Materials List
                   Budget is estimated around $500

Material               Description                           Where to Order        Price
                                                                                   Approximation
UV-resistant PVC       5’ total length; maximum 280 psi;     Mc-Master-Carr Online $19.37
pipe                   2.067" inside diameter                Vender
UV-resistant PVC       Pipe to pipe connection; fits 2”      Mc-Master-Carr Online $5.34
cross fitting x2       pipe                                  Vender
PVC- pipe stub end     To close/encase the open ends of      Mc-Master-Carr Online $4.87
x4                     PVC pipe                              Vender
Ball Bearings (track   Circular arrangement of ball          Mc-Master-Carr Online $33.69
rollers) x2            bearings to reduce friction; 2”       Vender
                       diameter
Dyna-Lock®             Self-retracting lanyard that limits   eBay; SafetySaves.com   $250-$390
                       free fall distance.
Climbing Harness       Harness made with polyester and       Great Outdoors Depot    $29.99
                       nylon webbing; adjustable to fit
                       waist sizes 20”-42”
Design Specifications

 Handles will be around 43” from the steps,
 27.8” apart, and extending 8”
 The Dyna-lock has a 4.5 ft/sec locking
 mechanism and a 3/16” steel cable of approx
 30’
 The staircase is approximately 200.8”
 A ¾” grove will need to be cut out of the left
 handrail for the cable
Groove for Cable
Summary of Major Design Activities
No.   Task                                               Week   Week   Week   Week   Week   Week   Week   Week   Week   Week
                                                         1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8      9      10
1     Assign Team Role
2     Create Preliminary Timetable
3     Client/Organization Research
4     Prepare Interview Questions
5     Client Meeting: Initial Understanding
6     Site Visit and Record Measurements
7     Define Given Project and Goal
8     Create Objective Tree
9     Identify Functional Requirements and Constraints
10    Research Current Products
11    Explore and Brainstorm Initial Design
12    Create Preliminary Sketches of Device
13    Determine Prospective Points of Difficulty
14    Explore Alternative Solutions
15    Data Research
16    Prepare Matlab Statistical Graphs
17    Prepare Midterm Report
18    Practice Midterm Report Presentation (March 07)
19    Client Feedback
20    Make Modifications to Design
21    Advisor Feedback
22    Visit Websites Suggested by Advisor and Client
23    Search for Specific Materials
24    Review Midterm Report/Presentation Comments
25    Review the Video Recording of the Presentation
26    Set Out New Goals and Notify Client
27    Ask Final Questions to Client and Advisor
28    Visit the Mechanical Engineering Lab
29    Incorporate Ball Bearings into Existing Design
30    Research Materials
31    Finalize Constructing Adjustable Handles
32    Conclude Detailed Design for Pulley System
33    Finalize Devising Steel Ball Bearings
34    Individually Work on Maya
35    Compile Maya Rendering
36    Individually Work on Final Report
37    Compile Final Report and Presentation
38    Prepare for Final Report: Deliverables
39    Practice
Alternate Solutions
Final Deliverable

 Maya model



 Final report



 List of building materials and
 dimensions
Community/Transition Plan
 Where the product is at now
   Final Report
   Maya Model
   Materials List and Dimensions
 Things needed to be done by the client
   Buy Materials
   Fabrication and Installation
   Safety Test
 Things that could be done by future teams
   Explore alternate solutions: High Tech
   Meet with Jenny to discover other needs
Team Process Comments
 If our team was to work on another project together,
 we feel that we would better understand the team
 process, and after working together for a semester, we
 understand the interpersonal factors more deeply. In
 the beginning part of the semester, the team simply
 lacked the extra push that would have made our
 midterm presentation more effective. This entails both
 examining the details and understanding the project as
 a whole. If given an opportunity to work together in the
 future, the team would be able to take a step back in
 order to examine itself from an outside perspective that
 gets lost when one is consumed in the process of
 design.
Thank You

 Ann Gordon and Jenny Gordon
 Jose Sanchez



                          Questions?