Ambulance or patient transport vehicle with a vehicle body, a separate storage compartment and a lift system for it

Abstract

Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) with a vehicle body which has a separate storage compartment (2) which is at least largely separated from a patient compartment by means of a partition wall (16) and which is accessible from the outside via a separate storage compartment door (3) or storage compartment flap, characterized in that a motor-driven lift system (5) is permanently installed in the storage compartment (2) in such a way that an object arranged in the storage compartment (2) can be lifted out of the storage compartment (2) to a large extent by simply operating the lift system (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to rescue transport vehicles and patient transport vehicles with a vehicle body, a separate storage compartment and a lift system for it.

[0002] In practice, such vehicles exist, and in most cases, the vehicle body includes a patient transport compartment. This compartment consists of a sufficiently large space in which a person being treated or transported can be transported lying down, at least semi-reclined, or sitting up, and can also be cared for and treated as needed. The patient transport compartment is usually separated from the driver's cab, for example, by a wall or by being designed as an enclosed container accessible only through side and / or rear doors or other openings (e.g., storage compartment flaps).

[0003] Some such vehicles have additional doors or other openings in the vehicle body area, providing access to a storage compartment that is completely or at least largely separated from the patient compartment. In one variant, this separation is achieved by making the storage compartment accessible only from the outside and thus not at all from within the patient compartment. Such complete separation is particularly common in ambulances, where the storage compartment is primarily used to house a folding stretcher. The stretcher can then be removed from the outside as needed via a storage compartment door or flap, but must first be lowered from the vehicle's height at the level of the storage compartment to the road surface and then raised again after use.

[0004] In other variations, separation is achieved by providing a partition wall at a distance of 100 cm or less, particularly at a distance of 50 cm or less, which largely separates the patient compartment from the storage compartment. This means that the partition wall occupies more than 50 percent of the interface between the storage compartment and the patient compartment. Preferably, the partition wall extends over more than 70 percent, more than 80 percent, or more than 90 percent of the interface between the storage compartment and the patient compartment. A partition wall is defined here as a permanently installed element in the vehicle that is not designed to be movable as a door, flap, or in any other way such that the wall is largely or completely removable or openable.Such extensive separation is particularly common in ambulances, where the storage space is primarily used for oxygen cylinders. Often, a partition wall with a relatively small access hatch, door, or opening (compared to the overall surface area) is provided at the interface between the two compartments. This allows the oxygen cylinder to be opened or closed from the patient compartment. Loading and unloading of oxygen cylinders is done from the outside of the vehicle, and even in this case, the cylinders must be lowered from the vehicle floor level in the storage area to road level and then raised again after use.

[0005] fEX Engineering GmbH has released a lift system based on purely mechanical power assistance, designed to facilitate the loading and unloading of a specific electrically operated stairlift. This system features a gas spring to assist the upward movement, thus requiring less effort from the user. An oil brake is provided for applications where the system is used without the stairlift's weight. The system's disadvantages include the need for additional user muscle power, its compatibility with only one specific electrically operated stairlift, and its linear movement.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of providing a rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle with a vehicle body, a separate storage compartment and a lift system for it, such that it has a lift system for the storage compartment that is further improved with regard to the comfort and usability of the storage compartment.

[0007] An ambulance or patient transport vehicle according to the invention has a vehicle body that includes a separate storage compartment. This storage compartment is at least largely separated from the patient compartment by a partition wall and is accessible from the outside via a separate storage compartment door or flap. Such storage compartments are typically used in these ambulances or patient transport vehicles for storing and transporting folding stretchers or oxygen cylinders.

[0008] In the rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle according to the invention, a motor-driven lift system is permanently installed in the storage compartment in such a way that an object located in the storage compartment can be lifted out of the compartment almost completely by simply operating the lift system. "Almost completely removable" in this context means that the object can be moved horizontally out of the vehicle at least far enough to be lowered to a level below the vehicle floor.Furthermore, "largely liftable" means that at least 50% of the distance between the vehicle floor and the road surface can be overcome using the lift system, so that a person wishing to remove an object from the ambulance or patient transport vehicle requires only minimal effort to overcome the remaining height difference between the lift system, in its lowest possible position, and the road surface. Preferably, the lift system is designed to overcome the entire height difference between the vehicle floor and the road surface.In this case, the lift system of an ambulance or patient transport vehicle according to the invention makes it possible to completely overcome both the horizontal and vertical paths, so that manual actuation force is no longer required to remove an object, in particular a folding transport chair or an oxygen cylinder.

[0009] In a further practical embodiment of an ambulance or patient transport vehicle according to the invention, the lift system features a pivoting kinematic mechanism with at least one pivoting arm and a functionally associated object holder such that the pivoting arm can be pivoted from a predominantly upright inner position to a predominantly horizontal or lowered outer position. Such a pivoting kinematic mechanism has the advantage that, from a structural point of view, a lift system for the described application can be manufactured with relatively few structural elements, that it can be accommodated in the typically very compact storage compartments during operation in such a way that it occupies little space, and that it can perform both the horizontal and vertical movements for unloading an object located in the vehicle with only one movement and only one drive.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one swivel arm of the rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle has a parallel kinematic system with two articulated arms arranged predominantly parallel to each other, and / or two swivel arms arranged parallel to each other are provided. Preferably, both features are implemented, resulting in a total of four swivel arms. Reference is hereby made again to the advantages already described above in connection with the swivel kinematic system. Furthermore, in the case of a parallel kinematic system, a fully guided movement can be achieved, in particular, by means of an object connected to the parallel kinematic system, especially an object holder adapted for the object to be moved, i.e.,In particular, a stretcher chair mount or a mount for oxygen cylinders must be mounted without play, ensuring that it remains fixed in its respective orientation in all intermediate positions between the retracted and extended states. This eliminates play and associated noise that could occur during operation and while driving the ambulance or patient transport vehicle, resulting in a high-quality lift system overall. Rattling noises are thus reliably prevented.

[0011] If the two articulated arms of the parallel kinematic system are arranged offset from each other when viewed transversely to the direction of rotation, and / or if the pivot arms, or at least two of the articulated arms, are connected to each other by means of a connecting element, a particularly advantageous force distribution can be achieved, so that the weight of an object to be moved by the lift system can be distributed evenly across all articulated arms. This applies especially to parallel kinematic systems whose articulated arms are arranged trapezoidally relative to each other in a front view and in the extended state. Further details will be discussed in more detail in conjunction with the figure description.

[0012] If at least two of the articulated arms are connected to each other by means of a connecting element, the connection stiffness and robustness of the lift system is increased, especially when the swivel arms or the articulated arms are subjected to unequal loads.

[0013] For a particularly space-saving arrangement of the lift system in its retracted state, it is advantageous if the object holder is rotatably mounted on the swivel arm. The safety and precision in handling an object being transported are improved if the object holder incorporates retaining elements and / or lateral guide elements, especially retaining elements and / or lateral guide elements adapted to the objects being transported. In this regard, particular reference is made to adapted retaining arms or elements enclosing a carrying chair or oxygen cylinders, which enable at least a partially positive-locking grip on these objects.

[0014] As already mentioned, the storage compartments of ambulances and patient transport vehicles are usually of limited size. Preferably, the storage compartment has a maximum horizontal width of 120 cm and a maximum depth of 50 cm, with the compartment door or flap being narrower than the compartment itself. In this case, particular difficulties arise because the lift system must be adapted to the reduced width of the compartment flap so that it can be swung out of the compartment.At the same time, however, the aim is to take up as little space as possible in the ambulance or patient transport vehicle when the lift system is retracted, in particular so that other items additionally stored in the storage compartment, especially those not used with the lift system, remain easily accessible.

[0015] In this context, particular reference is made to a further advantageous embodiment in which the lift system is designed to perform a movement transverse to the depth direction of the storage compartment, at least in the retracted position and with at least one component. The direction transverse to the depth direction means that the lift system can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle if the depth direction of the storage compartment extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. If the depth direction of the storage compartment extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the direction transverse to the depth direction refers to the transverse direction of the vehicle.If, at least in the retracted position and with at least one component, a movement transverse to the depth of the storage compartment is possible, the lift system, when not in use, can be moved transversely to the depth in such a way that items stored on the opposite side are more easily accessible. This is particularly useful, for example, if a scoop stretcher or another similarly large and / or bulky item with a length of 50 cm, 80 cm, 100 cm or more is stored next to the lift system. Such items—especially bulky ones—are difficult to access if the lift system cannot be moved transversely to the depth. In this respect, the above-described scenario offers a particularly high degree of flexibility and excellent usability of the storage compartment with regard to the number and accessibility of the items stored within it.

[0016] The lift system, particularly when the storage compartment has the maximum dimensions described above, is preferably part of the storage space itself, especially when the lift system is in the retracted position. The width of such a storage compartment is preferably 100 cm to 120 cm, and the depth preferably 35 cm to 40 cm. The door preferably has a width of about 70 cm to 90 cm, preferably about 80 cm ± 5 cm. When the lift system is part of the storage space, it is permanently mounted to the vehicle, particularly via a base element that rests on the vehicle floor and is firmly connected to it, especially by bolting, welding, riveting, or in another suitable manner.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment, the lift system has at least one second element with which it is fixedly mounted to the vehicle, in particular at a position that is vertically spaced from the vehicle floor. In this way, moments that must be transmitted to the vehicle during the extension and retraction of the lift system can be particularly effectively transferred into the vehicle body.

[0018] To enable a movement perpendicular to the depth of the storage compartment, it is particularly advantageous if the lift system is permanently installed in the vehicle by means of at least one linear guide. With such a linear guide, the movements can be executed precisely, quietly, and with virtually no backlash. Furthermore, it is also possible to perform the movement manually, especially if it involves purely horizontal movements and the linear guide has low friction.

[0019] In another practical embodiment, a double lower linear guide is provided on the vehicle floor side and / or a second, upper linear guide is provided spaced from the vehicle floor, in particular above the vehicle floor, wherein the upper linear guide and the lower linear guide are connected to a linearly displaceable base support by means of at least one connecting element. The base support is considered to be, in particular, a frame that has at least two connecting elements between the upper and the lower linear guide. Furthermore, a planar connecting element can also be provided that extends like a plate between the upper linear guide and the lower linear guide.The variant mentioned with an upper linear guide is particularly advantageous when the objects to be lifted have a certain minimum load of, in particular, at least 5 kg, more preferably at least 10 kg and especially preferably at least 15 kg or at least 20 kg.

[0020] Furthermore, it should be noted that it can be advantageous if the upper and lower linear guides are offset from each other in such a way as to compensate for an offset provided for in the rescue or patient transport vehicle. Such an offset is frequently found when an additional tray is formed in the lower part of the storage compartment, which is usually positioned at a distance from a partition located behind the tray.

[0021] For the motor-driven lift system, a controllable gas spring, a spindle drive, and / or a pneumatic drive are particularly preferred as drive elements, since they allow for reliable and precise operation of the lift system at reasonable costs. Furthermore, the maintenance requirements of such drives are relatively low.

[0022] Further practical embodiments and advantages of the invention are described below in connection with the drawings. They show: Fig. 1. A side view of an ambulance with the storage compartment door open and a lift system in an extended position, together with a folding stretcher chair. Fig. 2 only the lift system in an extended position in an isometric view from a slightly oblique top view, Fig. 3 the lift system from Fig. 2 in a front view in the extended position, Fig. 4 the lift system from the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in an isometric view in a retracted position, Fig. 5 the lift system with the in Fig. 1. The vehicle shown is in an extended position, with the rear end of the vehicle cut out to show the attachment of the lift system in the vehicle. Fig. 6 the same representation as in Fig. 5, where the lift system is shown in the retracted position, Fig. 7 the lift system from the Fig. Figures 1 to 6 are shown in a top view with the vehicle roof cut out to show the space available in the storage compartment when the lift system is in the retracted position. Fig. 8 another embodiment of a lift system according to the invention together with a patient transport vehicle, wherein the lift system serves for loading and unloading oxygen cylinders and Fig. 9 the in Fig. 8 ambulances shown with open sliding doors in the same view as in Fig. 8 with retracted lift system.

[0023] Based on the Fig. Sections 1 to 7 now describe a first embodiment of an ambulance transport vehicle according to the invention, featuring a lift system for a folding transport chair. Based on the Fig. 8 and Fig. Section 9 describes another embodiment of an ambulance with a lift system for oxygen cylinders.

[0024] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 8 and Fig. Figure 9 shows the entire vehicle 1 in an isometric view, where the vehicle 1 is configured as a panel van 7. This means that the vehicle 1 has an approximately cuboid-shaped body that extends over a large part of its length and contains a transport compartment for patients. This transport compartment is often separated from the front section of the vehicle, which contains a driver's cab, by a wall. This applies in particular to panel vans based on vehicles from vehicle manufacturers that have been fitted with a special box body by specialist vehicle manufacturers, for example, by raising the roof to create a higher transport compartment or by completely replacing the body above the chassis. The invention relates in particular to such special vehicles that have a specialized box body.

[0025] Regardless of the fact that in the Fig. 1, Fig. 8 and Fig. Figure 9 shows a panel van 7. The invention can be implemented in any type of rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. Such vehicles have a storage compartment 2, which is accessible via a storage compartment door 3, as shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 shown or may also be designed in the manner of a storage compartment flap (not shown). In the case of the Fig. 8 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the storage compartment door 3 is designed as a side sliding door 8.

[0026] As can be seen from a synthesis of the Fig. 1, Fig. 8 and Fig. As shown in section 9, the storage compartment doors 3 can each be opened from the outside and, when open, allow access to the storage compartment 2. In both illustrated embodiments, a partition wall 16 is arranged on the inside of the vehicle at a relatively small distance behind the respective storage compartment door 3, thereby limiting the depth T of the storage compartment 2 to significantly less than 100 cm, in particular 50 cm or less.

[0027] During the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, a lift system 5 is provided for a foldable carrying chair 4.

[0028] In addition to the lift system 5 and the folding stretcher 4, the vehicle 1 according to the first embodiment is equipped with the following: Fig. 1 to 7 at least one more scoop stretcher 6 arranged, which in Fig. 1 is clearly visible.

[0029] As can be seen from a synthesis of the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the folding stretcher chair 4 can be extended from a retracted position using the lift system 5 (see Figures 1 to 7). Fig. 4, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7) into an extended position (compare Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 5) Procedure when the storage compartment door 3 is open. The movement from the retracted position to the extended position is effected by a parallel kinematic mechanism 20, which is described in detail below in connection with the structural design.

[0030] Based on the Fig. Sections 2 to 7 below describe the design and operation of the lift system 5. The lift system 5 comprises a base element 10 that rests on a vehicle floor 17 and is firmly connected to it. In the illustrated embodiment, the base element 10 is designed in two parts as a linear guide 18 and has a lower linear guide element 14 and an upper linear guide element 15, which are displaceable relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1 in the direction of the double arrow L. The lower linear guide element 14 has a mounting surface 32 on its underside, at least partially flush, to ensure a flat contact and secure attachment to the vehicle floor 17.

[0031] Above the lower linear guide 18, a further, upper linear guide 19 is formed. This has a wall-side linear guide element 24 and a complementary linear guide element 25. The wall-side linear guide element 24 is at least partially flush on its rear side with a mounting surface 12 to enable a flush fit and secure attachment to the intermediate wall 16.

[0032] As from the Fig. As can be clearly seen in Figure 4, the lower linear guide 18 is designed as a double linear guide, while the upper linear guide 19 is designed as a single linear guide. This ensures that the moments acting on the lift system 5 are effectively absorbed by the lift system 5.

[0033] As in Fig. As can be clearly seen in Figure 2, two connecting elements 11a, 11b extend from the lower linear guide 18 to the upper linear guide 19, each of which is designed as an L-shaped stiffening element in the illustrated embodiment. The connecting elements 11a, 11b are each firmly connected to an element of the linear guides 18, 19, in particular by welding and / or bolting.

[0034] The connecting elements 11a, 11b also include connection sections 13 for the parallel kinematics 20. These can be manufactured as separate elements and permanently connected, or formed in one piece. In the embodiment shown, the connection sections 13 are permanently connected to the connecting elements 11a, 11b as separate elements.

[0035] Gas springs 31 are arranged as drive elements 30 such that the lift system 5 is moved from the retracted position, as shown in the diagram, by applying pressure via a pressure line (not shown). Fig. 4, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shown, in the extended position, as in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in section 5, the procedure can be carried out and vice versa, from the extended position to the retracted position.

[0036] The parallel kinematics 20 mentioned above, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises upper articulated arms 21 and lower articulated arms 22. Due to the arrangement of the upper articulated arms 21 and the lower articulated arms 22, as shown in the figures, vertically one above the other and offset from each other in the transverse direction, such that the lower articulated arms 22 are positioned further outwards than the upper articulated arms 21, a forced movement results of two support arms 41a, 41b, each connected to one end of one of the articulated arms 21, 22. These support arms are rigidly connected to an object holder 40, which is essentially formed by a base plate 42 rigidly connected to the support arms 41a, 41b. This means that the position of the support arms 41a, 41b and the object holder 40 is fixed by the respective pivot angle of the articulated arms 21, 22 and is maintained even when the drive is stopped.

[0037] Accordingly, the method of the lift system 5 results in a controlled and regulated movement of the support arms 41a, 41b and the object holder 40.

[0038] The object recording 40 of the first embodiment from the Fig. 1 to 7 comprises two retaining arms 43 extending forward from the base plate 42 in a central area and two guide elements 44 extending forward on the outer sides. The guide elements 44 serve for relative positioning, and the retaining arms 43 serve to grip the carrying chair 4 from underneath in order to lift and move it with the aid of gravity.

[0039] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 6, a folding stretcher chair 4, which is moved into the retracted position using the lift system 5, is fully loaded into the storage compartment 2, so that the storage compartment door 3 only needs to be closed to put the ambulance into a ready-to-drive condition.

[0040] The Fig. 8 and Fig. Figure 9 shows an ambulance 1, also in the form of a van 7, which also has a lift system 5. The lift system 5 of the Fig. 8 and Fig. The rescue transport vehicle shown in section 9 can be designed in the same way as the one previously described in conjunction with the Fig. Lift system 5 shown and described in figures 1 to 7. In the case of the lift system shown in the Fig. 8 and Fig. However, in the lift system 5 shown in 9, the support arms 41a, 41b are longer, such that an oxygen cylinder holder 45, attached to the underside of the guide elements 44, which serves as a standing surface for the oxygen cylinders in the Fig. 8 and Fig. The 9 clearly visible oxygen cylinders 9 are designed to extend to the road surface, or at least almost to the road surface, in the extended position. The oxygen cylinders 9 can be secured, in particular, by means of fastening elements 46, for example, by means of tension straps or other band-like fastening elements that are wrapped around the guide arms and around the oxygen cylinders 9, thereby securing the oxygen cylinders 9 during the operation of the lift system 5.

[0041] The features of the invention disclosed in this description, in the drawings, and in the claims can be essential for realizing the invention in its various embodiments, both individually and in any combination. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. It can be varied within the scope of the claims and taking into account the knowledge of the person skilled in the art. Reference symbol list 1 vehicle 2 storage compartments 3 storage compartment door 4 folding carrying chairs 5 Lift System 6 scoop stretchers 7 panel vans 8 side sliding doors 9 oxygen cylinders 10 foot element 11a, 11b Connecting element 12 Mounting surface 13 connection sections 14 lower linear guide element 15 upper linear guide element 16 Partition wall 17 Vehicle floor 18 lower linear guide 19 upper linear guide 20 Parallel kinematics 21 upper articulated arm 22 lower articulated arm 23 Connecting element 24 wall-side linear guide element 25 complementary linear guide element 30 Drive element 31 Gas spring 32 Mounting surface 40 Object recording 41a, 41b Support arm 42 Base plate 43 Support arm 44 Guide element 45 oxygen cylinder holders 46 Fastening element L Length of the displacement path T Depth of storage compartment

Claims

[1] Ambulance or patient transport vehicle (1) with a vehicle body having a separate storage compartment (2) which is at least largely separated from a patient compartment by means of a partition (16) and which is accessible from the outside via a separate storage compartment door (3) or storage compartment flap, characterized by , that a motor-driven lift system (5) is installed in the storage compartment (2) in such a way that an object arranged in the storage compartment (2) can be lifted out of the storage compartment (2) to a large extent by simply operating the lift system (5). [2] Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by, that the lift system (5) has a pivoting kinematics with at least one pivoting arm and a functionally associated object holder (40) such that the pivoting arm can be pivoted from a predominantly upright inner position into a predominantly horizontal or lowered outer position. [3] Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that the at least one pivot arm has a parallel kinematics (20) with two articulated arms (21, 22) arranged predominantly parallel to each other and / or two pivot arms arranged parallel to each other are provided. [4] Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by, that the two articulated arms (21, 22) of the parallel kinematics (20) are arranged offset from each other when viewed transversely to the direction of pivoting and / or the pivot arms or at least two of the articulated arms (21, 22) are connected to each other by means of a connecting element (23). [5] Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims and at least with the features of claim 2, characterized by that the object holder (40) is rotatably mounted on the swivel arm and / or retaining elements and / or lateral guide elements (44) are formed on the object holder (40). [6] Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the storage compartment (2) has a width extending in the horizontal direction of a maximum of 120 cm and a depth (T) extending in the depth direction of the rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) of a maximum of 50 cm, wherein the storage compartment door (3) or storage compartment flap has a lesser width than the storage compartment (2). [7] Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the lift system (5) is designed to perform a movement transverse to the depth direction of the storage compartment (2), at least in the retracted position and at least with a partial element. [8] Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that the lift system (5) is permanently installed in the vehicle by means of at least one linear guide (18, 19). [9] Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that a double lower linear guide (18) is provided on the vehicle floor side and / or a second, upper linear guide (19) is provided spaced apart from the vehicle floor (17), wherein the upper linear guide (19) and the lower linear guide (18) are connected by means of at least one connecting element (11a, 11b) to a linearly displaceable base carrier (in particular a frame with two connecting elements). [10] Rescue transport vehicle or patient transport vehicle (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the motor-driven lift system (5) has at least one controllable gas spring (31), a spindle drive and / or a pneumatic drive.

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