Dane Technologies, Inc.
WheelChair Mover
Owners Manual
74
7105 Northland Terrace, Minneapolis, MN 55428 / 888-544-7779 / 763-544-7779 / Fax 763-544-4234
brakes. If possible first train with a wheelchair without an attached gas bottle holder so
that the trainees can easily see what they are to do.
Approach a wheelchair at all times with the “turtle” speed engaged for safe control.
Bring the nose of the WheelChair Mover underneath the wheelchair so that the jaws
align with the vertical axle wheelchair frame. (See page 28 of the Owners Manual)
When aligned, push the hitch handle downward to extend the hitch arms and secure the
jaws into place. Verify that the hitch jaws are fully engaged on every wheelchair, every
time by ensuring the fingers of the jaws extend past the wheelchair frame.
Alternatively, an empty wheelchair can be pulled back into place, aligned in place and
then activate the hitch and jaws just as described above. In this case, it is not
necessary to drive the machine into place. This is not advised when a patient is in the
wheelchair as it is an awkward weight and position for the operator to try to maneuver
the wheelchair into place. It is not necessary to perfectly center the WheelChair Mover
under a wheelchair. Indeed, this is a bit difficult to do for chairs that are wider than 20-
inch seats. If the wheelchair is off center, still align the jaws so that they can engage
the frames as described above. Push the handle and extend the arm. The side closer
to a frame will hit that frame first, leaving the opposite side with a “gap” between the jaw
and the frame. Engage the centering foot pedals and the gap will be closed. Note:
simultaneously push down the handle and the foot pedal to secure both sides. (See
page 27 of the Owners Manual.)
Repeat the steps above with a trainee serving as a patient on a loaded wheelchair. The
process becomes very efficient and smooth with practice.
Connecting to a wheelchair with a gas bottle holder
Connecting and disconnecting is different depending on the type of braces on the
wheelchair. On wider chairs, the gas bottle holder may not extend our far enough to
obstruct the nose of the WheelChair Mover from moving under the center of the chair
and engaging the hitches and jaws as described above. If the gas bottle holder
obstructs passage of the WheelChair Mover, then the centering foot pedal must be
employed. Bring the machine up to the rear of the wheelchair. Stop before hitting the
bottle. Use the foot pedal to move the center of the wheelchair nose over to the side
and move the WheelChair Mover ahead and pass the bottle. (See page 27 of the
Owners Manual) Release the foot pedal; the hitch and jaws can now be engaged as
described above.
Explain How to Disconnect.
Now that the trainees are ready to transport patients, train them on proper methods to
disconnect the WheelChair Mover from the wheelchair. If a patient remains in the
wheelchair, secure the wheelchair brakes. In the opposite procedure as described in
connecting the WheelChair Mover to the wheelchair, the operator must disengage the
hitch and jaws by pulling the lever all the way to the up position. (See page 27 of the
Owners Manual) Then, move the reverse throttle slightly while in the “turtle” speed to
back the unit carefully out from under the wheelchair. Be careful to avoid the frames on
the chair. If a gas bottle holder is in the way, push the foot pedal to move the nose of
