Using The Joystick To Drive The Wheelchair - Invacare TDX 4 Owner's Operator And Maintenance Manual

SECTION 5—WHEELCHAIR OPERATION

Using the Joystick to Drive the Wheelchair

Powered Seating Systems Only - Use caution when driving in a tilted, reclined or
elevated position.
The joystick is located at the front of the joystick housing and provides smooth control of
speed and direction. It is equipped with 360 degrees of mobility for ease of operation. The
joystick is spring-loaded, and automatically returns to the upright (neutral) position
when released. Pushing the joystick in a given direction causes the wheelchair to move in
that direction.
The joystick has proportional drive control, meaning that the further it is pushed from the
upright (neutral) position, the faster the wheelchair moves. The maximum speed,
however, is limited by the setting of the speed-control knob.
To slow the wheelchair to a stop, simply
release the joystick. The wheelchair has
automatic speed and direction
compensation to minimize corrections.
When first learning to drive, select a SLOW
speed and try to drive the wheelchair AS
SLOWLY as possible by pushing the
joystick slightly forward. This exercise will
help you learn to utilize the full potential
of the proportional control and allow you
to start and stop smoothly.
To drive the wheelchair, perform the
following:
1. Adjust speed control knob to the
appropriate setting.
2. Turn the power on. Refer to Turning the
Power On/Off on page 53.
3. Maneuver the joystick in the following
manner:
MOVEMENT
FORWARD Push forward on the joystick.
REVERSE Pull back on the joystick.
Turn RIGHT Move the joystick RIGHT.
Turn LEFT Move the joystick LEFT.
STOP Release the joystick and the wheel-
chair will slow to a stop.
NOTE: For specific information about the joystick installed on the wheelchair, refer to one of these
procedures:
• SPJ-80 Joystick Switches and Indicators on page 62.
• DPJ Joystick Switches and Indicators on page 63.
• MPJ Joystick Switches and Indicators on page 64.
TDX™ Wheelchairs
WARNING
ACTION
54
SPJ-80 Joystick
To Move Left
Joystick
To Move
Backward
Speed Control
Knob
DPJ Joystick
To Move Left
Joystick
To Move
Backward
Speed Control
Knob
MPJ Joystick
To Move Left
Joystick
To Move
Backward
FIGURE 5.1 Operating the Wheelchair
To Move Forward
To Move Right
On/Off Switch
To Move
Forward
To Move Right
On/Off Switch
To Move
Forward
On/Off
Switch
To
Speed
Move
Control
Right
Knob
Part No 1114809