A stowable rigid chain patient conveyor and method

Abstract

A retractable rigid chain conveyor patient transport device and method includes a conveying device and a receiving device for receiving and releasing the conveying device. The conveying device includes a rigid chain and a support plate floatingly connected to the rigid chain. Rolling elements are engaged at both ends of the support plate. An extension plate extends from the support plate and is floatingly connected to the rigid chain. The receiving device includes a receiving box, a movable chute, and a drive gear. The receiving box is positioned towards the movable side of the conveying device. The movable chute includes a receiving guide rail body, an opening on the receiving guide rail body, a receiving section along the opening, a guide groove, and a receiving groove. The retractable rigid chain conveyor patient transport device and method uses the movable chute to receive and support the rigid chain and the support plate, and the guide groove and the receiving groove to guide them.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical assistive devices, and in particular to a retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device and method. Background Technology

[0002] In healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes, patients often need to be transferred from their beds to other devices (such as examination beds, operating tables, or wheelchairs) due to varying health conditions, allowing for more specialized monitoring and treatment. Existing patient transfer devices mostly use rigid chains to drive moving bed boards for patient transport.

[0003] Common rigid chain conveyor devices control the movement of the bed board but lack the function of storing the rigid chain and bed board. For example, existing invention patent CN120267317A discloses a vertical lifting mechanism for a medical CT bed and a medical CT bed, which uses a synchronous belt to control the lifting of the bed board. Chain storage devices with storage functions lack the ability to store the moving board. For instance, existing utility model patent CN207632356U discloses a chain storage device that can store the chain but cannot store the bed board.

[0004] In practical use, rigid chain conveyor devices cannot accommodate bed boards and rigid chains, and therefore occupy a large amount of space when not in use, making them inconvenient to store. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device and method to meet the above requirements.

[0006] A retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device and method are disclosed, comprising a transport device and a receiving device for receiving and releasing the transport device. The transport device includes two rigid chains and multiple support plates floatingly connected to the rigid chains. Each rigid chain includes multiple outer chain plates. Rolling elements are engaged at both ends of the support plates. Extension plates extend from the support plates, positioned above the rolling elements, and are floatingly connected to the rigid chains. The receiving device includes a receiving box, a movable chute penetrating the receiving box, and a drive gear disposed below the movable chute. The receiving box is positioned towards the transport device. The movable chute includes a receiving guide body, an opening on the receiving guide body, a receiving section along the opening, two guide grooves on both sides of the receiving guide body, and a receiving groove inside the guide grooves. The openings are located on both sides of the receiving box facing the rigid chains. The movable chute extends spirally from the openings towards the receiving section. The receiving section is tangentially arranged to the drive gear. The guide grooves are arranged in pairs and correspond to the outer chain plates. The receiving groove is located inside the guide grooves and corresponds to the floating connection between the outer chain plate and the support plate.

[0007] Furthermore, the rigid chain is composed of multiple single chains connected together. Each single chain also includes multiple inner chain plates that are attached to the outer chain plate, multiple pins that connect the inner chain plates and the outer chain plates respectively, multiple sleeves that are respectively sleeved on the outside of the pins, and multiple rollers that are respectively sleeved on the outside of the sleeves. The inner chain plates and the sleeves, and the outer chain plates and the pins are interference fits; the rollers and the sleeves, and the sleeves and the pins are clearance fits.

[0008] Furthermore, the support plate is hollow inside, and the rolling element supports the movement of the support plate.

[0009] Furthermore, the spacing between the two guide grooves is equal to the spacing between the outer chain plates, and the spacing between the guide grooves on both sides is equal to the spacing between the two rigid chains.

[0010] Furthermore, the height of the receiving groove is higher than the height of the support plate, the outer chain plate, and the floating connector connecting them, and the distance between the receiving groove and the guide groove corresponds to the distance between the rigid chain and the support plate.

[0011] A method of using a retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device includes the following steps: In use, the drive gear meshes with the rigid chain in the storage box, causing the rigid chain to move from the external slide groove to the storage slide groove under the drive of the drive gear. The drive gear is controlled by a motor and stops moving when the rigid chain has completely moved into the storage box. When the rigid chain is removed, the drive gear is driven to rotate in another direction, moving the rigid chain out of the storage box. The drive gear is driven by the motor to control the removal of the rigid chain and the movement position of the support plate after it carries the patient.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device and method, wherein the movable chute provides a storage track for the rigid chain and the support plate, and supports the support plate by supporting the rolling elements. The guide groove and the receiving groove provided on the movable chute guide the rigid chain and the support plate, preventing the rigid chain from slipping out during movement. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device and method provided by the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the storage device of the retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device and method.

[0015] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view from another perspective of the retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device and method, which has a retractable device. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The following provides a more detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the description of the embodiments of the present invention herein is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0017] The terminology used herein is intended to explain the embodiments and is not intended to limit or restrict the invention. It should be understood that the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," "lower," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of the invention is in use, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly understood by those skilled in the art. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention.

[0018] Please see Figures 1 to 3This is a structural schematic diagram of a retractable rigid chain conveyor patient transport device and method provided by the present invention. The retractable rigid chain conveyor patient transport device and method includes a transport device 10 and a receiving device 20 for receiving and releasing the transport device 10. It is conceivable that the retractable rigid chain conveyor patient transport device and method also includes other functional modules, such as motors and fixing devices, which are technologies known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0019] The conveying device 10 includes two rigid chains 11 and a plurality of support plates 12 floating between the rigid chains 11. It is conceivable that the conveying device 10 also includes a timing belt, transmission gears, and a drive device for driving the storage device 20. To save storage space when the conveying device 10 is idle, it needs to be disassembled and stored, and the rigid chains 11 and the support plates 12 are then fed into the storage device 20 for storage.

[0020] The rigid chain 11 is composed of multiple single chains connected together. The rigid chain 11 includes multiple outer chain plates 111, multiple inner chain plates attached to the outer chain plates 111, multiple pins connecting the inner chain plates and the outer chain plates 111, multiple sleeves respectively sleeved on the outside of the pins, and multiple rollers sleeved on the outside of the sleeves. The inner chain plates and sleeves, and the outer chain plates 111 and pins are interference fits, while the rollers and sleeves, and the sleeves and pins are clearance fits. During operation, the inner and outer chain plates 111 and their links can flex relative to each other, the sleeves can rotate freely around the pins, and the rollers sleeved on the sleeves reduce wear between the chain and the sprockets. To reduce weight and ensure equal strength across all sections, the inner chain plates and outer chain plates 111 are made in a figure-eight shape. All chain components are made of carbon steel or alloy steel and undergo heat treatment to achieve a certain strength and hardness.

[0021] The support plate 12 is hollow inside, and its two ends are engaged with rolling elements 121, which support the movement of the support plate 12. The rolling elements 121, while supporting the support plate 12 in the storage device 20, prevent the support plate 12 from directly contacting external objects and causing wear, while also reducing friction during movement, making its movement smoother. The rolling element 121 is a common technology and will not be described in detail here. An extension plate 122 extends from the support plate 12, positioned above the rolling elements 121. The extension plate 122 is floatingly connected to the bent outer chain plate 111 of the rigid chain 11, allowing the outer chain plate 111 to drive the extension plate 122 to roll along the rolling elements 121.

[0022] The storage device 20 includes a storage box 21, a sliding groove 22 that passes through the storage box 21, and two drive gears 23 disposed below the sliding groove 22.

[0023] The storage box 21 is placed beside the hospital bed to house the conveying device 10 and to regulate the movement of the rigid chain 11 during output. To save storage space, the outer contour of the storage box 21 is rectangular. It is conceivable that after the conveying device 10 is stored in the storage box 21, the storage box 21 can be placed horizontally, vertically, or at a height.

[0024] The storage box 21 is positioned towards the side of the conveying device 10 that moves. The moving chute 22 includes a storage guide rail body 221, an opening 222 on the storage guide rail body 221, a storage section 223 along the opening 222, two guide grooves 224 on both sides of the storage guide rail body 221, and a receiving groove 225 inside the guide grooves 224.

[0025] The openings 222 are provided on both sides of the storage box 21 facing the rigid chain 11, and the movable grooves 22 extend spirally from the openings 222 toward the storage section 223.

[0026] The storage segments 223 are spaced apart to prevent the rigid chain 11 and the support plate 12 from colliding during movement. The shape of the storage segments 223 matches the shape of the storage box 21. The total length of the storage segments 223 is greater than or equal to the total length of the rigid chain 11. The storage segments 223 are tangentially arranged with the drive gear 23, so that when the drive gear 23 rotates, it engages with the rigid chain 11 that has entered the moving slide 22. By rotating clockwise or counterclockwise, the storage and release of the rigid chain 11 can be precisely controlled.

[0027] The guide grooves 224 are arranged in pairs and correspond to the outer chain plates 111. The spacing between the pairs of guide grooves 224 is equal to the spacing between the outer chain plates 111. The spacing between the guide grooves 224 located on both sides is equal to the spacing between the two rigid chains 11.

[0028] The receiving groove 225 is disposed inside the guide groove 224 and corresponds to the floating connection between the outer chain plate 111 and the support plate 12. The height of the receiving groove 225 is higher than the height of the support plate 12, the outer chain plate 111, and the floating connector connecting them, allowing the support plate 12 to move within the movable slide 22. The distance between the receiving groove 225 and the guide groove 224 corresponds to the distance between the rigid chain 11 and the support plate 12, limiting the installation of the support plate 12 and preventing it from moving out of the storage box 21 during storage or release.

[0029] The drive gears 23 are mounted in the storage box 21 via mounting slots, corresponding to the rigid chains 11 respectively. The two drive gears 23 are driven by different motors and rotate synchronously. The drive gears 23 drive the rigid chains 11 to move. The drive gears 23 control the storage speed and rotation speed of the rigid chains 11. After a synchronous belt is installed outside the support plate 12, the positions of the rigid chains 11 and the support plate 12 are adjusted by rotation in different directions.

[0030] A method of using a retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device includes the following steps: In use, the drive gear 23 engages with the rigid chain 11 in the storage box, causing the rigid chain 11 to move from the external slide groove into the storage slide groove under the drive of the drive gear 23. The drive gear 23 is controlled by a motor and stops moving when the rigid chain 11 has completely moved into the storage box body 21.

[0031] When the rigid chain 11 is removed, the drive gear 23 is driven to rotate in another direction, moving the rigid chain 11 out of the storage box 21. The drive gear 23 is driven by a motor to control the removal of the rigid chain 11 and the movement position of the support plate 12 after it carries the patient.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a retractable rigid chain plate patient transport device and method, wherein the movable chute 22 provides a storage track for the rigid chain 11 and the support plate 12, and supports the support plate 12 by supporting the rolling element 121. The guide groove 224 and the receiving groove 225 provided on the movable chute 22 guide the rigid chain 11 and the support plate 12, preventing the rigid chain 11 from slipping out during movement.

[0033] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions or improvements within the spirit of the present invention are covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A stowable rigid link chain patient conveyor, characterized by: The retractable rigid chain conveyor patient transport device and method includes a transport device and a receiving device for receiving and releasing the transport device. The transport device includes two rigid chains and multiple support plates that are floatingly connected to the rigid chains. Each rigid chain includes multiple outer chain plates. Rolling elements are engaged at both ends of each support plate. Extension plates extend from each support plate and are positioned above the rolling elements. The extension plates are floatingly connected to the rigid chains. The receiving device includes a receiving box, a movable groove penetrating the receiving box, and a drive gear disposed below the movable groove. The receiving box faces the transport device. The conveying device is positioned on one side. The moving chute includes a storage guide body, an opening on the storage guide body, a storage section along the opening, two guide grooves on both sides of the storage guide body, and a receiving groove inside the guide grooves. The opening is located on both sides of the storage box facing the rigid chain. The moving chute extends spirally from the opening to the storage section. The storage section is tangential to the drive gear. The guide grooves are arranged in pairs and correspond to the outer chain plate. The receiving groove is located inside the guide grooves and corresponds to the floating connection between the outer chain plate and the support plate.

2. The stowable rigid link patient conveyor of claim 1, wherein: The rigid chain is composed of multiple single chains connected together. Each single chain also includes multiple inner chain plates that are attached to the outer chain plate, multiple pins that connect the inner chain plates and the outer chain plates respectively, multiple sleeves that are respectively sleeved on the outside of the pins, and multiple rollers that are respectively sleeved on the outside of the sleeves. The inner chain plates and the sleeves, and the outer chain plates and the pins are interference fits, while the rollers and the sleeves, and the sleeves and the pins are clearance fits.

3. The stowable rigid link patient conveyor of claim 1, wherein: The support plate is hollow inside, and the rolling element supports the movement of the support plate.

4. The stowable rigid link patient conveyor of claim 1, wherein: The spacing between the two guide grooves is equal to the spacing between the outer chain plates, and the spacing between the guide grooves on both sides is equal to the spacing between the two rigid chains.

5. The stowable rigid link patient conveyor as set forth in claim 1, wherein: The height of the receiving groove is higher than the height of the support plate, the outer chain plate, and the floating connector connecting them. The distance between the receiving groove and the guide groove corresponds to the distance between the rigid chain and the support plate.

6. The method of using a stowable rigid link patient conveyor as defined in any one of claims 1-5, wherein: It includes the following steps: In use, the drive gear meshes with the rigid chain in the storage box, causing the rigid chain to move from the external slide groove to the storage slide groove under the drive of the drive gear. The drive gear is controlled by a motor and stops moving when the rigid chain has completely moved into the storage box. When the rigid chain is removed, the drive gear is driven to rotate in another direction, moving the rigid chain out of the storage box. The drive gear is driven by the motor to control the removal of the rigid chain and the movement position of the support plate after it carries the patient.

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