QLK Docking Systems Weight Limits

PRODUCT UPDATESMay 10, 2012

With docking systems, a common question usually comes out. How heavy of a wheelchair can be secured? While the question calls for a simple number, it’s those numbers that can become quite complex.

Without going too far deep into Physics there are two concepts that need to be defined. The first and easiest is the static weight of a wheelchair: This is how much the object weighs standing still. The second concept is much more difficult to define: The effective mass of a wheelchair.

Effective mass of the wheelchair introduces the element of motion. This is hugely important because our QLK systems are tested for a collision, which is the automotive safety standard of 30mph and 20G’s. In over-simplistic terms, the weight of the wheelchair is multiplied by 20 at 20G’s as the impact occurs and this new weight is what our docking system holds.

To add one more mind-bending element to this mix, the effective mass of that wheelchair in an impact is extremely susceptible to many factors that actually reduce how much it ‘weighs’ in a collision. Any piece of the wheelchair that bends, breaks, collapses, shifts over, or stretches will actually absorb energy and therefore reduce the load on our docking system. That is why we not only test real wheelchairs, but also use a surrogate wheelchair for independent testing of the QLK base. It’s ‘static’ weight of 187lbs actually pulls MORE than most real wheelchairs because it does not bend, break, collapse, etc…

So the simple answer is that there is no simple answer. Our QLK docking systems are the strongest docking systems in the world, thanks to their design and other features like heat-treated steel. In fact, our QLK-150 docking system is currently the ONLY system to pass WC19 wheelchair loads.  There is not a stronger docking system out there! If you really want to know what the weight limits of the QLK docking systems are, they’re well past 15,000lbs!