Morgan Independence
The Morgan Independence is a mobility aid created by Hopkins Morgan Mobility Systems Ltd. The company is based in Cornwall, UK and is currently trading.
Trike and hoist system[edit]
The Morgan Independence is a bipartite system which consists of:
1: The Trike[edit]
A battery powered independent motorised tricycle with a maximum range of 10 miles. The front/steering wheel contains a motor capable of running at speeds of up to 6.5 mph, in either forward or reverse directions. Safety features include automatic braking, electronic regulation to prevent overheating, and a speed limiter to ensure a legal UK pavement speed of 4.5 mph. A turbo button located on the control panel switches from restricted to unrestricted speed mode. Acceleration is controlled by a motorbike style twist grip throttle on the right handlebar, while the left handlebar boasts separate reverse and emergency brake buttons.
2: The Hoist[edit]
An automobile secured motorised lifting device that is fixed to a car's roof rack. It is electrically powered by the car's internal power system and controlled by an internal 2 button (up and down) control pad, which is wired to enable a person in the car's driver's seat to reach it. The Hoist can be installed on any car capable of supporting a roof rack, for example, the 4 seater smart car, but not the 2 seater version. The hoist consists of a base, a swing arm, a cable, and a clamp, which affixes to The Trike at its centre of gravity.
Background[edit]
The system was initially devised by Mr Barry Morgan, an engineer from Tintagel, Cornwall who suffers from the degenerative disease Multiple Sclerosis. The twin "spurs" leading to the system's creation were A) To provide for Mr Morgan's continued independence, and, B) As a way to save money.
The system as designed allows for completely independent operation. Meaning that Mr Morgan could get into (and out of) his car without the need for external help, and thus perform his essential day to day tasks without the need for a daily carer. This was economically advantageous for Mr Morgan as the combination of: a carer, specialised mobility equipment (which required a specially modified car), along with the various installation fees (etc.), became prohibitively expensive for him.
The production model (see top-right picture) is significantly different from previous versions, and is considered within the company to be the 'mark 4' version. The 'Mark 2' (V-Chassis) design can be seen in the picture to the right, this design was made obsolete in subsequent versions.
The Morgan Independence as an actual marketable product first came into being during the summer of 2006 when Mr John Hopkins, a local entrepreneur from the neighbouring village of Boscastle, entered into partnership with Mr Morgan to develop a production model based on his home made invention. The former managing, building and running the business, while the latter providing the engineering "know-how" and technical support. Lately Mr Morgan as well as Mr Hopkins have also involved their respective families in the venture, making it also a small family business as well.
The Mobility Trike website was launched in January 2007 to support the official launch of the product which was scheduled for February 2007.
External links[edit]
- The Website of Hopkins Morgan Mobility Systems
- mobilitytrike.co.uk picture page
- The Youtube video page
References[edit]
Hopkins, John; Hopkins, Gregor (February 2007). "Morgan independence webpage".
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