Prizewinners Neil Harris
MEng(Hons) IEng MIED Philip Tierney
BSc(Hons) MEng(Hons) StudIED Keith Winning
MEng(Hons) IEng MIED
BNU Mobility Platform Neil, Keith & Philip attended Buckinghamshire New University, graduating recently in 2011 with a MEng(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering Design. Neil has a previous 15 year background as an Aircraft Technician in the RAF, but since leaving the RAF in 1995, after achieving the rank of Sergeant, has been working on the design and development of geophysical instrumentation for the oil and gas industries, currently working for GE Oil & Gas. Keith has been working in pipeline engineering for the oil and gas industry for over 22 years and is currently a senior pipeline engineer with CB&I Lummus. Philip, after attaining his BSc(Hons) in product design, took a five year break from engineering to perform as a professional athlete and coach. He maintained his foothold within engineering during that period through freelance design; he currently works as a product design engineer for Carclo Technical Plastics. All three were previous graduates of Buckinghamshire New University and continued to work in their full time careers whilst studying for their recent Masters degrees on a part time basis.
“The aim of the project was to make the London Underground network more accessible to wheelchair users.
In order to achieve this aim the proposed design was for a self-levelling platform, which could offer an interface between the escalators on the London Underground and a wheelchair and its user. The key objectives of the project were:
• No modifications to existing escalators or wheelchairs
• No additional cost to the user and no additional weight to the wheelchair
• Does not require the escalator to be stopped in order to use the device
To further reduce costs and considering elements of environmental impact, we looked at the additional feasibility of siting the manufacturing of the units within the over ground reach of the London Underground network. This would allow the network itself to be used for distribution of the product to its various stations, cutting back on the more conventional forms of distribution transport. The concept of dual usage packaging was also considered, where the case in which a unit product was distributed, remained with the product and was affixed to the station wall so that the
product could be stored safely ready for subsequent use when needed.
The platform device itself was designed to be operator assisted. It incorporated a check and launch system to ensure that it engaged the steps on the escalator at the correct moment. Then, through a tilt sensing system, adjusted itself via a set of motor powered screw driven wheels. The platform could be used to affect escalator travel in both directions.
Taking the project concept beyond the bounds of the university, we took out the initial patent registration and also had a face to face meeting with an engineering representative from TfL with a view to gauging their opinion regarding the design and its possible potential.
As a team we overcame the networking and project management problems associated with being part time students, delivering a comprehensive project despite our locational differences and limited time when we were able to get together. While it is obviously an honour for us to be nominated and awarded this prize, it also reflects on our university and we would like to thank the faculty staff for their encouragement and support, which we feel is also recognised by the award of this prize.
From left to right are: Eur Ing Dr Lyndon Buck CEng MIED ACSD FHEA, Neil G Harris (also pictured bottom right) MEng(Hons) IEng MIED, Keith Winning (also pictured right) MEng(Hons) IEng MIED, Philip Tierney BSc(Hons) MEng(Hons) GradIED and Dr Tim Coole BEng MPhil PhD CEng MIED FRSM
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