Method for unloading a medical transport vehicle

Abstract

In the procedure for loading a patient transport device (14) into a patient transport vehicle (10) and for unloading the patient transport device (14) from the patient transport vehicle (10), the patient transport device (14) is locked to the receiving carriage (30) of a receiving device (12) arranged in the patient transport vehicle (10) when the receiving carriage (30) is moved between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. Only when the fully extended position is reached is the patient transport device (14) unlocked so that it can be removed or placed onto the receiving carriage (30). In the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage (30), it is locked in the patient transport vehicle (10) and the patient transport device (14) is locked to the receiving carriage (30).If the patient transport device (14) has a chassis (18), this chassis hangs at the bottom of a stretcher (16) of the patient transport device (14) when the patient transport device (14) is locked to the receiving carriage (30).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for unloading a patient transport device from a vehicle, according to claim 1.

[0002] To improve comfort, especially for paramedics, modern patient transport devices feature automatically height-adjustable chassis (see, for example, WO-A-2018 / 153940). Such patient transport devices can be handled quite conveniently when loading or unloading the patient transport vehicle by using appropriate loading devices located in the rescue vehicles. Various concepts for partially automated loading devices are known in this regard, as described, for example, in EP-A-2 116 216, EP-A-2 138 143, or also in WO-A-2016 / 007290 and WO-A-2018 / 206834.

[0003] GB-A-2 203 999 discloses a loading and unloading table for a stretcher, in which the stretcher is already locked on an extendable table when the table is in its fully extended loading or unloading position, or is still locked when the previously retracted table is fully extended into its loading or unloading position.

[0004] FR-A-2 682 930 describes a loading and unloading table for stretchers in which the stretcher is pushed onto the table while being pivoted out of the vehicle's side, and the table is then pivoted into the vehicle. The method of securing the stretcher to the table and the time at which this occurs during loading are not described.

[0005] Finally, WO-A-2004 / 064698 shows another loading and unloading table for stretchers.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide improved methods for handling a patient transport device when loading and unloading a patient transport vehicle. Unloading the patient transport device from the vehicle

[0007] The invention proposes a method for unloading a patient transport device from a vehicle, in particular from an ambulance or rescue vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a loading area and on this loading area a receiving device with an extendable and retractable receiving carriage for the patient transport device, on which the patient transport device is positioned locked by means of a locking device in a locking position, comprising the following steps: aa) Unlocking the receiving carriage which is in its fully retracted position and in this state is directly or indirectly locked to the vehicle, bb) Extending the receiving carriage to an unloading position in which the receiving carriage is automatically locked and projects at least partially rearward beyond the loading area of ​​the vehicle, cc) When the receiving carriage assumes the unloading position, automatically unlocking the patient transport device by automatically moving the locking device from its locking position to an unlocking position and dd) Unloading the patient transport device from the receiving carriage into its unloading position.

[0008] According to the invention, it is provided that the locking device for locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage of the receiving device is automatically transferred from the locking position, in which the locking device is located during extension of the receiving carriage, into the unlocking position when the receiving carriage assumes its unloading position. In this unloading position, the receiving carriage is also automatically locked, which occurs, for example, at the latest after 95% or 90% or 80% or 70% or 60% or 50% or 40% of the travel path traveled, starting from the fully retracted retraction position to the fully extended unloading or loading position of the receiving carriage. In the unloading position, the receiving carriage projects rearward beyond the loading area of ​​the vehicle.The unloading position when unloading the patient transport device is identical to the loading position of the receiving carriage when it is loaded with a patient transport device, as described in detail below in connection with a loading procedure.

[0009] The individual embodiments of the invention described later in connection with the loading process can also be used correspondingly for the unloading process according to the invention. In this respect, it can therefore advantageously be provided, for example, that the locking device is locked in its locking position assumed when the receiving carriage is fully retracted, and that this locking is released after or when the receiving carriage leaves the fully retracted position when the receiving carriage is extended. In the fully retracted position, i.e. in the starting position of the receiving carriage for unloading the patient transport device from the vehicle, the locking device is locked in its locking position.This locking mechanism is then released when the receiving carriage is extended, for example when the receiving carriage has left its fully retracted position.

[0010] In a variant of the patient transport device, the step of unloading the patient transport device from the receiving carriage comprises the step of pulling the patient transport device off the receiving carriage.

[0011] It may further be expedient if the patient transport device comprises a manually portable stretcher having a patient transport surface without a chassis and in particular without a height-adjustable chassis, wherein the step of unloading the patient transport device from the receiving carriage comprises the step of manually unloading the stretcher from the receiving carriage and the step of unlocking the patient transport device from the receiving carriage and the step of unlocking the stretcher from the receiving carriage.

[0012] During the two previously described unloading processes of the patient transport device, the device remains directly or indirectly locked to the receiving carriage while it is being extended until the receiving carriage reaches its unloading position. In this unloading position, the locking device opens, allowing the patient transport device to either be pulled off the receiving carriage or lifted above the receiving carriage and then moved away. This, however, advantageously requires a height-adjustable chassis for the patient transport device.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the patient transport device has a height-adjustable and in particular an automatically height-adjustable chassis with a patient transport surface and that the step of unloading the patient transport device from the receiving carriage comprises the following sub-steps: Extending the chassis, which is in the retracted state when the receiving carriage is in the unloading position, until the chassis is extended to a surface, further extending the chassis to lift the stretcher above the receiving carriage and moving the chassis with the stretcher away from the receiving carriage.

[0014] In the aforementioned embodiment of the invention, it can further be provided that the step of unlocking the patient transport device from the receiving carriage comprises the step of unlocking the retracted chassis from the receiving carriage, wherein it is optionally provided that the retracted chassis rests in the fully retracted retracted position of the receiving carriage in the vehicle on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area of ​​the vehicle.

[0015] Another patient transport device that can be used according to the invention can comprise a manually portable stretcher provided with a patient transport surface, which can be positioned on a height-adjustable and in particular automatically height-adjustable chassis and can be locked to the chassis and unlocked from the chassis.

[0016] In a patient transport device of the type described above, it is advisable if the step of unlocking the patient transport device from the receiving carriage comprises the step of unlocking the retracted chassis from the receiving carriage, wherein it is optionally provided that the retracted chassis rests on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area in the fully retracted retracted position of the receiving carriage in the vehicle, or the step of unlocking the patient transport device from the receiving carriage comprises the step of unlocking the stretcher from the receiving carriage, wherein it is optionally provided that the retracted chassis rests on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on a base, if present, in the fully retracted retracted position of the receiving carriage in the vehicle.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the receiving device has a base mounted on the loading area of ​​the vehicle, on which the receiving carriage is guided so as to be movable between its fully retracted position and its loading position, wherein the receiving carriage is locked in its fully retracted position to the base and / or to the loading area of ​​the vehicle.

[0018] Finally, in a further alternative of the invention, it may be advantageous if the receiving device has a base that can be mounted on the loading area of ​​the vehicle and a central carriage that is guided to extend and retract on the base, on which the receiving carriage is guided to extend and retract, wherein the receiving carriage is automatically locked to the central carriage in its maximum extended position relative to the central carriage and the central carriage is automatically locked to the base and / or the loading area of ​​the vehicle in its maximum extended position relative to the base.

[0019] In this variant of the invention, steps aa) to dd) comprise the following steps: Unlocking the receiving carriage which is in its fully retracted position and in this state is directly or indirectly locked to the vehicle, extending the receiving carriage together with the middle carriage locked to the receiving carriage up to the maximum extension position of the middle carriage relative to the base, in the maximum extension position of the middle carriage, automatically locking the middle carriage to the base and automatically unlocking the receiving carriage from the middle carriage, extending the receiving carriage on the middle carriage up to the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage relative to the middle carriage to assume the unloading position of the receiving carriage, in which the receiving carriage is automatically locked to the middle carriage, unloading the patient transport device from the receiving carriage.

[0020] In addition, in the previously described embodiment of the invention, the step of extending the receiving carriage together with the intermediate carriage locked to the receiving carriage up to the maximum extended position of the intermediate carriage relative to the base or the step of extending the receiving carriage on the intermediate carriage up to the maximum extended position of the receiving carriage relative to the intermediate carriage can comprise the step of releasing the locking device in its locked position after or at the start of the extension.

[0021] In the two previously described embodiments of the invention, the following additional steps can be expediently provided: Unlocking the receiving carriage without a patient transport device from the middle carriage, extending the receiving carriage on the middle carriage up to a maximum extension position of the receiving carriage, before or when the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage on the middle carriage is reached, automatically locking the middle carriage from the base (by the receiving carriage), extending the receiving carriage and middle carriage at the base up to a maximum extension position of the middle carriage to assume the fully extended (loading and) unloading position of the receiving carriage and automatically locking the receiving carriage in the fully extended (loading and) loading position of the receiving carriage.

[0022] In this case, the step of extending the receiving carriage on the central carriage to the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage relative to the central carriage can expediently comprise the step of automatically transferring the locking device from the locking position to the unlocking position for the purpose of unlocking the patient transport device from the receiving carriage, as well as the step of releasing the locking of the locking device in its unlocking position at the latest before or upon reaching the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage relative to the central carriage,or the step of extending the receiving carriage on the central carriage to the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage relative to the central carriage comprises the step of automatically transferring the locking device from the locking position to the unlocking position for the purpose of unlocking the patient transport device on the receiving carriage, and the locking of the locking device in the unlocking position is released at the latest before or upon reaching the fully extended (loading and) unloading position of the receiving carriage.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can further be provided that the receiving device has a base mountable on the loading area of ​​the vehicle and a central carriage guided to extend and retract on said base, on which the receiving carriage is guided to extend and retract, wherein the receiving carriage is automatically locked to the central carriage in its maximum extended position relative to the central carriage and the central carriage is automatically locked to the base and / or the loading area of ​​the vehicle in its maximum extended position relative to the base, and wherein steps aa) to dd) comprise the following steps: Unlocking the receiving carriage which is in its fully retracted position and in this state is directly or indirectly locked to the vehicle, extending the receiving carriage relative to the middle carriage locked to the base up to the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage relative to the middle carriage and, if necessary, automatically locking the receiving carriage to the middle carriage, automatically unlocking the middle carriage from the base in the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage, extending the middle carriage at the base up to the maximum extension position of the middle carriage relative to the base to assume the (loading and) unloading position of the receiving carriage, in which the middle carriage is automatically locked to the base or is already locked, unloading the patient transport device from the receiving carriage.

[0024] In the previously described embodiment of the method, it is further advantageous if the extension of the receiving carriage relative to the intermediate carriage locked to the base up to the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage or the step of extending the intermediate carriage at the base up to the maximum extension position of the intermediate carriage relative to the base to assume the unloading position of the receiving carriage comprises the step of releasing the locking device in its locking position after or at the start of the extension.

[0025] In connection with the two previously described embodiments of the invention, the following additional steps may be expediently provided: Unlocking the middle carriage from the base, extending the middle carriage at the base to a maximum extension position of the middle carriage by moving the receiving carriage without a patient transport device, automatically locking the receiving carriage to the middle carriage in the maximum extension position of the middle carriage, extending the receiving carriage on the middle carriage to a maximum extension position of the receiving carriage to assume the fully extended (loading and) unloading position of the receiving carriage and automatically locking the receiving carriage in the fully extended (loading and) unloading position of the receiving carriage.

[0026] In the previously described embodiment of the invention, additionally the step of extending the central carriage by moving the receiving carriage to the maximum extension position of the central carriage relative to the base comprises the step of automatically transferring the locking device from the locking position to the unlocking position for the purpose of unlocking the patient transport device from the receiving carriage, as well as the step of releasing the locking of the locking device in the locking position at the latest before or upon reaching the maximum extension position of the central carriage relative to the base,or the step of extending the central carriage by moving the receiving carriage to the maximum extended position of the central carriage relative to the base comprises the step of automatically transferring the locking device from the locking position to the unlocking position for the purpose of unlocking the patient transport device from the receiving carriage, and the locking of the locking device in its unlocking position is released at the latest before or upon reaching the fully extended extended position of the receiving carriage.

[0027] A further variant is directed to the step of unlocking the patient transport device from the receiving carriage comprising the step of unlocking a stretcher of the patient transport device on the receiving carriage.

[0028] In a mechanically controlled locking device for locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage, the locking device has a guided, in particular slot-guided, control lever which is kinematically coupled via a linkage to at least one locking element movably arranged on the receiving carriage and preferably to two locking elements movably arranged on the receiving carriage per longitudinal side of the patient transport device.The control lever is movable between an unlocking position, in which the at least one locking element is disengaged from a mating locking element of the patient transport device assigned to it, and a locking position, in which the at least one locking element is in locking engagement with the mating locking element of the patient transport device assigned to it. The control lever is forcibly moved from its locking position, assumed when the receiving carriage is not in its unloading position, to its unlocking position during the extension of the receiving carriage, at the latest in the loading position of the receiving carriage.

[0029] In this case, it can also be advantageously provided that the control lever is blocked in the locking position at the latest in the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage.

[0030] In a further expedient embodiment of the mechanically controlled locking device, the control lever and / or the rod assembly and / or the at least one locking element and / or each locking element is resiliently pre-tensioned in the direction of the respective locking position to be assumed in the locking state of the locking device, specifically for automatically assuming the respective locking position after removing a potential blockage during the interaction of the at least one locking element with the counter-locking element of the patient transport device assigned thereto.

[0031] Advantageously, two control rods with locking claws can be rotated forwards and backwards by means of the at least one control lever and the linkage.

[0032] In a further expedient embodiment, it is provided that the linkage has two racks, each of which is in toothed engagement with a gear on another of the two control rods.

[0033] Finally, it can also be advantageously provided that two control levers are provided, each with a rod, and that each control lever with rod is operatively connected to a control rod having locking claws for rotating the respective control rod forwards and backwards.

[0034] In a further expedient embodiment of the unloading method, the receiving device has a base which can be mounted on the loading area of ​​the vehicle and has a raised central region, on both sides of which the receiving carriage extends and above which the patient transport device is located in the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage, wherein the base has, below its central region, a lifting lever mechanism with two automatically pivoting pivot arms which, when the lifting lever mechanism is in a lowest position and lying flat and inclined, form a first acute angle with the loading area of ​​the vehicle and, when the lifting lever mechanism is in a highest position and lying inclined, form a second acute angle with the loading area of ​​the vehicle which is larger than the first acute angle, and wherein the pivot arms are each pivotably mounted on brackets which are mounted on the loading area of ​​the vehicle.

[0035] With regard to the lifting mechanism, it can advantageously be provided that the consoles or the lifting mechanism itself are arranged on the loading area of ​​the vehicle so that they can be moved orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and are fixed in a movable position. This allows more space to be created in the vehicle on one side of the device if necessary (e.g., for patient care).

[0036] The actual unloading process can advantageously be followed by the transfer of the "empty" loading carriage into the vehicle. The following additional steps are then advantageously included: ee) unlocking the receiving carriage which is not equipped with a patient transport device, ff) leaving the unloading position by retracting the receiving carriage, gg) when retracting the receiving carriage and thus automatically transferring the locking device from the unlocking position to the locking position during or after leaving its unloading position, and hh) automatically locking the receiving carriage in its fully retracted position directly or indirectly to the vehicle.

[0037] In this case, it can advantageously be provided that the maneuvering of the patient transport device for transferring the patient transport device into a position above the receiving carriage comprises the step of centering the patient transport device relative to the receiving carriage by means of guide struts which are movable along guide edges of a centering opening of the receiving carriage and project from the patient transport device.

[0038] For practical purposes, the guide struts and the guide edges are rounded and / or curved at their respective contacting sections.

[0039] With regard to the maneuverability of the patient transport device, it is expedient if the maneuvering of the patient transport device for transferring the patient transport device to a position above the receiving carriage away from the receiving carriage comprises the step of centering the patient transport device relative to the receiving carriage by means of sliding or roller elements of the patient transport device that are movable and / or displaceable on tracks of the receiving carriage, wherein each track is designed to project diagonally or is designed with an inclined projecting section.

[0040] Each sliding or rolling element is expediently designed to taper obliquely at its end facing the relevant longitudinal side of the patient transport device, the inclination of the inclination of the track being substantially equal to the inclination of the taper of the sliding or rolling elements.

[0041] Advantageously, the tracks are also arranged on both sides of the centering opening of the receiving carriage, wherein the obliquely projecting sections of the tracks are arranged facing away from the associated guide edge or wherein the tracks extend obliquely projecting away from the respective associated guide edge.

[0042] Preferably, the method according to the invention further comprises that the receiving carriage, when leaving its fully retracted position by extending, is supported on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area of ​​the vehicle by means of two sliding or rolling elements arranged on either side of its central axis, the two sliding or rolling elements being arranged approximately at the height of the middle of the longitudinal extent of the receiving carriage or approximately at the height of the middle of the longitudinal extent of the patient transport device arranged on the receiving carriage, that the patient transport device is locked to the receiving carriage on either side of its central axis by the locking device at two locking points each, which are located in front of and behind the respective sliding or rolling element, viewed in the longitudinal extent of the receiving carriage,that the receiving carriage is stiffened on both sides of its central axis by struts extending between each locking point and the respective sliding or rolling element, and that the receiving carriage, in its fully retracted retracted position, is locked and / or held down on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on the base attached to the loading area of ​​the vehicle, in the fully retracted retracted position adjacent to the sliding or rolling elements, in particular by hold-down devices, preferably in the form of angle elements that can be moved upwards or downwards, and that the hold-down devices are exposed when or after leaving the fully retracted retracted position of the receiving carriage.

[0043] The receiving carriage may additionally be locked and, if necessary, held down against inadvertent movement in both directions along the central axis of the receiving carriage at its end furthest in the chassis in the fully retracted position and, if appropriate, at the end opposite this end on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if available, on a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area of ​​the vehicle and may be released when or after leaving the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage.

[0044] The patient transport device is expediently locked in the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage to the latter exclusively by means of the locking device (in particular against vertically upwardly acting forces) and in this state is fixed in a positionally stable manner by locking the receiving carriage to the vehicle, in particular to its loading area or, if present, to a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area, optionally with the interposition of a middle carriage between the receiving carriage and the base, wherein the middle carriage and the receiving carriage are locked to one another, wherein this positionally stable fixation is released upon or after leaving the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage.

[0045] Typically, the patient transport device does not have a locking mechanism that interacts directly with the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, with a base of the receiving device attached to the loading area of ​​the vehicle when the receiving carriage is in its fully retracted position.

[0046] Preferably, in a patient transport device having a stretcher and a chassis from which the stretcher is removable, the stretcher is locked to the chassis and the stretcher is locked to the receiving carriage in the fully retracted retracted position thereof, the chassis being arranged below the stretcher and hanging within the receiving carriage or supported thereon.

[0047] It is advantageous that there is a patient on the patient transport device when the vehicle is loaded or that there is no patient on the patient transport device when the vehicle is loaded. Loading the vehicle with the patient transport device

[0048] According to the method according to the invention, the vehicle can also be loaded with the patient transport device. For this purpose, a method for loading a vehicle, in particular an ambulance or rescue vehicle, with a patient transport device is proposed, wherein the vehicle has a loading area and, on this loading area, a receiving device with an extendable and retractable receiving carriage for the patient transport device, comprising the following steps: a) Unlocking the receiving carriage which is in its fully retracted position and in this state is directly or indirectly locked to the vehicle, b) Extending the receiving carriage to a loading position in which the receiving carriage is automatically locked and projects at least partially rearward beyond the loading area of ​​the vehicle and in which a locking device for locking the patient transport device on the receiving carriage is automatically in an unlocking position for receiving the patient transport device, c) Moving the patient transport device onto the receiving carriage into its loading position, d) Unlocking the receiving carriage, e) Leaving the loading position by retracting the receiving carriage,f) when the receiving carriage is retracted and thus when or after leaving its loading position, the locking device for locking the patient transport device is automatically transferred from the unlocking position into a locking position for the purpose of locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage and g) automatically locking the receiving carriage in its fully retracted position directly or indirectly to the vehicle without directly fixing the patient transport device to the vehicle.

[0049] This loading method essentially provides that when loading a vehicle, which is in particular an ambulance or rescue vehicle, with a patient transport device, a receiving device (loading and / or unloading platform) of the vehicle is first extended manually or automatically so that a receiving carriage of the receiving device, which serves to receive the patient transport device outside the vehicle, projects rearward over the loading edge of the vehicle. According to the invention, the receiving carriage is secured in its fully retracted position within the vehicle against horizontal movements (in or opposite to the direction of travel and transverse to it) and vertical movements. When the patient transport device is located on the receiving carriage within the vehicle, it is locked to it, again in the horizontal (forwards and backwards as well as to the side) and vertical directions.The patient transport device advantageously does not have a direct locking mechanism to the vehicle (e.g. to the loading area of ​​the vehicle).

[0050] In the loading position, the receiving carriage is, as mentioned above, located outside the vehicle. In the loading position, the patient transport device is pushed onto the receiving carriage or placed onto the receiving carriage from above. When the patient transport device is in its correct position on the receiving carriage, it is not yet locked to the receiving carriage. This locking only occurs when the receiving carriage is retracted (manually or automatically) after it has left its loading position. This locking occurs ideally after the receiving carriage has traveled a maximum of half, a maximum of two-thirds, a maximum of one-quarter, a maximum of one-eighth, or a maximum of one-tenth of its travel distance from its loading position to its fully retracted position.In the fully retracted position assumed when the receiving carriage is retracted further, the receiving carriage is then automatically locked in the vehicle, either directly to the loading area or to other parts of the vehicle or to a base of the receiving device or to another element of the receiving device, which in turn is then fastened to the loading area or to another component of the vehicle.

[0051] The special feature of the invention is that the patient transport device, which can be a stretcher without a chassis, a stretcher with a chassis from which the stretcher is removable, or a chassis with a lying and / or sitting surface permanently arranged thereon, is locked to the receiving carriage in the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage and not directly to the vehicle.

[0052] In the previously described embodiment of the invention, the support device is designed to be easily extendable. The support carriage is located, for example, on a base of the support device that is fixed in the vehicle. A lifting mechanism can be located between the base and the loading area of ​​the vehicle, for example, to raise a patient transported on the patient transport device in the vehicle to a comfortable treatment height for the paramedics. However, such a lifting mechanism can also be an integral part of the support device.

[0053] In an expedient embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned step f) additionally comprises the step of locking the locking device in its locking position at the latest before or when the receiving carriage reaches the fully retracted position.

[0054] It may also be expedient if the step of placing the patient transport device onto the receiving carriage includes the step of sliding the patient transport device onto the receiving carriage. In this case, the patient transport device is manually or automatically pushed onto the receiving carriage in its loading position. This variant is typically used when the patient transport device is designed as a stretcher or, in the case of a patient transport device that has a combination of a chassis and a removable stretcher, for whatever reason only the stretcher is to be used for patient transport.

[0055] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can therefore be provided that the patient transport device has a manually portable stretcher having a patient transport surface without a chassis and in particular without a height-adjustable chassis, and that the step of moving the patient transport device onto the receiving carriage comprises the step of manually moving the stretcher onto the receiving carriage, and the step of locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage comprises the step of locking the stretcher to the receiving carriage.

[0056] However, loading and unloading an ambulance with a patient transport device and the receiving device according to the invention is significantly more convenient if the patient transport device has a chassis, in particular one that is automatically height-adjustable, with a patient transport surface (a reclining and / or sitting surface, or a reclining surface that can be converted into a chair), regardless of whether said surface is part of a separate stretcher that is detachable from the chassis. In this variant, the step of placing the patient transport device on the receiving carriage comprises the following substeps: Moving the patient transport device by means of the chassis to the receiving carriage, maneuvering the patient transport device to transfer the patient transport device to a position above the receiving carriage, setting down the patient transport device on the receiving carriage by retracting the chassis and, with the patient transport device set down on the receiving carriage, further retracting the chassis to its lowest position.

[0057] In this variant, too, the chassis, which is particularly height-adjustable, is not yet locked in the loading position of the extended support carriage when the patient transport device is resting on the support carriage in the prescribed position.

[0058] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned step g) of locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage can comprise the step of locking the retracted chassis to the receiving carriage, wherein, if appropriate, the retracted chassis rests on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area of ​​the vehicle in the fully retracted retracted position of the receiving carriage in the vehicle. In this variant, the chassis locks onto the receiving carriage when the receiving carriage has left its loading position upon entry into the vehicle.

[0059] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the patient transport device can be provided with a manually portable stretcher provided with a patient transport surface, which can be positioned on a height-adjustable and, in particular, automatically height-adjustable chassis and can be locked to and unlocked from the chassis. In this variant, the patient transport surface is part of a stretcher that can be removed from the chassis. As in the previous exemplary embodiments with chassis of the patient transport device, this can also be designed in this case and in the exemplary embodiments mentioned above and below as described and shown in WO-A-2018 / 153940 (see in particular Figs. 35 to 37 with the corresponding descriptive text). By reference to the aforementioned document, its content hereby becomes the subject of the present application.

[0060] In the variant described above, it can be advantageous to provide that the step of locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage comprises the step of locking the retracted chassis to the receiving carriage, wherein it is optionally provided that the retracted chassis rests on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area in the fully retracted retracted position of the receiving carriage in the vehicle, or that the step of locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage comprises the step of locking the stretcher to the receiving carriage, wherein it is optionally provided that the retracted chassis rests on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on a base, if present, in the fully retracted retracted position of the receiving carriage in the vehicle.

[0061] In the case of a stretcher that can be removed from the chassis, either the stretcher itself or the chassis can be locked to the carriage. If the stretcher is locked to the carriage, the chassis "hangs" from below the stretcher in its retracted position (lowest height position) when the stretcher rests on the carriage. The stretcher is then locked to the carriage (in its fully retracted position or when leaving or after leaving the loading position). However, the stretcher can also be locked to the carriage via the chassis. The stretcher is typically locked to the carriage when connected to the chassis. The chassis, in turn, is locked to the carriage, thus securing all components against three-dimensional movement during transport (the carriage itself is locked in the vehicle).

[0062] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the receiving device has a base which can be mounted on the loading area of ​​the vehicle and on which the receiving carriage is guided so as to be movable between its fully retracted position and its loading position, wherein the receiving carriage is locked in its fully retracted position to the base and / or to the loading area of ​​the vehicle.

[0063] In an expedient further development of the invention, the receiving device can have a base which can be mounted on the loading area of ​​the vehicle and a central carriage which is guided to be extendable and retractable on this base and on which the receiving carriage is guided to be extendable and retractable, wherein the receiving carriage is automatically locked to the central carriage in its maximum extended position relative to the central carriage and the central carriage is automatically locked to the base and / or the loading area of ​​the vehicle in its maximum extended position relative to the base.

[0064] In such a design of the receiving device, steps a) to g) comprise the following steps: Unlocking the receiving carriage in its fully retracted position, which in this state is locked to the base and / or the loading area of ​​the vehicle. Extending the receiving carriage together with the intermediate carriage locked to the receiving carriage to the maximum extended position of the intermediate carriage. In the maximum extended position of the intermediate carriage, automatically locking the intermediate carriage to the base and automatically unlocking the receiving carriage from the intermediate carriage. Extending the receiving carriage on the intermediate carriage to the maximum extended position of the receiving carriage relative to the intermediate carriage to assume the loading position of the receiving carriage, in which the receiving carriage is automatically locked or is already locked to the intermediate carriage. Moving the patient transport device onto the receiving carriage. Unlocking the receiving carriage from the intermediate carriage.Retraction of the receiving carriage on the middle carriage up to a maximum retraction position of the receiving carriage, before or upon reaching the maximum retraction position of the receiving carriage on the middle carriage, automatic unlocking of the middle carriage from the base (by the receiving carriage), retraction of the receiving carriage and middle carriage on the base up to a maximum retraction position of the middle carriage to assume the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving carriage and in the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving carriage, automatic locking of the receiving carriage to the base and / or to the loading area of ​​the vehicle.

[0065] In this variant, the receiving device is designed as a double-extendable device, wherein the receiving carriage is movably guided on a central carriage and the central carriage is movably guided on a base, which in turn is mounted in the vehicle (if necessary by means of a lifting device or a lifting mechanism). The receiving carriage is pulled out together with the central carriage, to which the receiving carriage is locked during extension. When the receiving carriage and central carriage have reached their maximum extension position relative to the base, the central carriage expediently locks automatically to the base, while the locking between the receiving carriage and central carriage is preferably released automatically, so that upon further extension, the receiving carriage is then pulled out relative to the central carriage until the receiving carriage has reached its loading position.

[0066] As already described above, the receiving carriage has a locking device for the patient transport device. This locking device is either in a locking position or in an unlocking position. The unlocking position is assumed by the locking device when the receiving carriage is in its loading position. The corresponding control of the locking device is preferably mechanical or electronic / electrical. It is essential that the locking device is in its unlocking position when the patient transport device is placed on the receiving carriage by sliding it or by being placed down from above. If the receiving carriage is now retracted (manually or automatically), the locking device is automatically moved from its unlocking position to the locking position.This can, for example, happen quite soon after leaving the loading position.

[0067] It is advantageous if the locking device is locked in its locked position to prevent unintentional movement into the unlocked position. This is best done at the latest when the receiving carriage has reached its fully retracted position on the receiving device. This fully retracted position is the position of the receiving carriage or the entire receiving device during transport in the vehicle.

[0068] It may now be useful to if the step of retracting the receiving carriage on the central carriage to the maximum retraction position of the receiving carriage relative to the central carriage comprises the step of automatically transferring the locking device from the unlocking position to the locking position for the purpose of locking the patient transport device on the receiving carriage, as well as the step of locking the locking device in its locking position at the latest before or upon reaching the maximum retraction position of the receiving carriage relative to the central carriage,or if the step of retracting the receiving carriage on the central carriage to the maximum retracted position of the receiving carriage relative to the central carriage comprises the step of automatically transferring the locking device from the unlocking position to the locking position for the purpose of locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage, and the locking of the locking device in the locking position takes place at the latest before or when the receiving carriage reaches the fully retracted position.

[0069] The locking device is therefore locked in the locking position, which means that this locking occurs when the receiving carriage has reached its maximum retracted position relative to the middle carriage or the middle carriage together with the receiving carriage completely pushed onto it has reached its maximum retracted position relative to the base.

[0070] According to one variant, the receiving device has a base that can be mounted on the loading area of ​​the vehicle and a central carriage that is guided to extend and retract on the base, on which the receiving carriage is guided to extend and retract, wherein the receiving carriage is automatically locked to the central carriage in its maximum extended position relative to the central carriage and the central carriage is automatically locked to the base and / or the loading area of ​​the vehicle in its maximum extended position relative to the base.

[0071] In such a design of the receiving device, steps a) to g) comprise the following steps: Unlocking the receiving carriage in its fully retracted position, which in this state is locked to the base and / or the loading area of ​​the vehicle, extending the receiving carriage relative to the intermediate carriage locked to the base up to the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage relative to the intermediate carriage and, if necessary, automatically locking the receiving carriage to the intermediate carriage, automatically unlocking the intermediate carriage from the base in the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage, extending the intermediate carriage at the base up to the maximum extension position of the intermediate carriage relative to the base to assume the loading position of the receiving carriage, in which the intermediate carriage is automatically locked to the base or is already locked, moving the patient transport device onto the receiving carriage, unlocking the intermediate carriage from the base,By moving the receiving carriage towards the vehicle, the central carriage is retracted onto the base into a maximum retracted position of the central carriage, the receiving carriage is automatically unlocked from the central carriage in the maximum retracted position of the central carriage, the receiving carriage is retracted onto the central carriage into a maximum retracted position of the receiving carriage to assume the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage, and the receiving carriage is automatically locked to the base and / or the loading area of ​​the vehicle in the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage.

[0072] In this variant of the receiving device, the extension movement of the receiving carriage in the case of a double-extendable receiving device takes place in that the receiving carriage is first extended relative to the middle carriage locked to the base, up to the maximum extension position, in which the receiving carriage is preferably automatically locked to the middle carriage and the lock between the middle carriage and the base is released, so that when the receiving carriage is extended further, the middle carriage moves relative to the base until the middle carriage assumes its maximum extension position with respect to the base.

[0073] In an expedient embodiment of the variant described above, it may also be provided that the step of retracting the central carriage by moving the receiving carriage towards the vehicle into the maximum retracted position of the central carriage relative to the base comprises the step of automatically transferring the locking device from the unlocking position to the locking position for the purpose of locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage, as well as the step of locking the locking device in the locking position at the latest before or upon reaching the maximum retracted position of the central carriage relative to the base, which means that the receiving carriage reaches its fully retracted position,or that the step of retracting the central carriage by moving the receiving carriage in the direction of the vehicle into the maximum retracted position of the central carriage relative to the base comprises the step of automatically transferring the locking device from the unlocking position to the locking position for the purpose of locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage, and the locking of the locking device in its locking position takes place at the latest before or when the receiving carriage reaches the fully retracted position.

[0074] In this variant, the locking device is automatically locked when the receiving carriage is in its maximum retracted position relative to the center carriage or the center carriage is in its maximum retracted position (with the receiving carriage fully pushed out) relative to the base.

[0075] It may further be expedient if the step of locking the patient transport device to the receiving carriage comprises the step of locking a stretcher of the patient transport device to the receiving carriage.

[0076] As already described above, the locking device is mechanically or electrically controlled in order to be able to be transferred from its locking position to the unlocking position and vice versa. The mechanical control is expediently carried out via a control lever, for example a guide-guided control lever, which is preferably arranged on the receiving carriage and which is kinematically coupled via a linkage to at least one locking element movably arranged on the receiving carriage and preferably to two locking elements movably arranged on the receiving carriage per longitudinal side of the patient transport device, wherein the control lever is movable between an unlocking position in which the at least one locking element is in an unlocking position in which the at least one locking element is disengaged from a mating locking element of the patient transport device assigned to it,and a locking position in which the at least one locking element is in locking engagement with the associated counter-locking element of the patient transport device, wherein the above-mentioned step f) comprises the step of transferring the control lever from its unlocking position, which is forcibly assumed in the loading position of the receiving carriage, during the retraction of the receiving carriage into its locking position, and only after the receiving carriage has left its loading position.

[0077] It may also be expedient if the above-mentioned step g) includes the step of locking the control lever in its locking position, which occurs at the latest when the receiving carriage is fully retracted. In this variant, the pivoting or similar mobility of the control lever is blocked in the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage, so that the control lever can no longer be adjusted due to vibrations or similar. In this situation, the control lever is in its locking position, and thus the locking device is also in its locking position.

[0078] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the control lever and / or the rod assembly and / or the at least one locking element and / or each locking element is resiliently pre-tensioned in the direction of the respective locking position to be assumed when the locking device is in the locked state, in order to automatically assume the respective locking position after a potential blockage has been removed when the at least one locking element interacts with the counter-locking element of the patient transport device assigned to it. In this variant, the locking device is resiliently pre-tensioned in its locking position. As mentioned above, the control lever is forcibly controlled from the unlocked position into the locking position when the receiving carriage leaves or shortly after leaving the loading position. In the locking position, the locking elements orthe at least one locking element in operative connection with counter-locking elements or at least one counter-locking element on the patient transport device. For example, the locking elements are designed as holding claws or holding eyes, which are moved via hooks on the stretcher in the locking position of the locking device. The pivoting of the locking elements of the locking device expediently takes place about an axis parallel to the extension and retraction direction of the receiving device. However, the pivoting could just as easily take place about a pivot axis running transversely to the aforementioned axis. This variant, however, has the advantage that the locking elements, in their unlocked position, clear the path required when sliding the stretcher onto the receiving carriage.

[0079] The spring preload of the locking device for automatically subsequently assuming the locking position of the locking device has the advantage that if, for whatever reason, the locking elements of the locking device do not connect with the counter-locking elements of the patient transport device (do not interact with them), subsequent hooking occurs automatically when the blockage between the locking element and counter-locking element is released. For example, it may be the case that a belt of the patient restraint system typically found in patient transport devices is located between the locking element of the locking device and the counter-locking element of the patient transport device. If the belt is then moved out from between the two elements, the locking device automatically snaps into place and is moved into its locking position.An example of such a patient restraint system is described in DE-A-10 2018 111 654, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the subject matter of the present application.

[0080] In a further advantageous embodiment, centering of the patient transport device can be ensured when positioning it above the receiving carriage. This is expediently achieved in that the maneuvering of the patient transport device to transfer the patient transport device into a position above the receiving carriage includes the step of centering the patient transport device relative to the receiving carriage by means of guide struts that are movable along guide edges of a centering opening in the receiving carriage and projecting from the patient transport device. The guide struts project either from the stretcher or, if present, from its chassis. In the latter case, the guide struts should essentially be aligned with the front steering orThe casters of the chassis are aligned, meaning they are essentially located vertically above these swivel casters. Experience has shown that it is best to center the patient transport device with the chassis essentially at the height of the front swivel casters. This significantly facilitates maneuvering the mobile patient transport device when positioning it above the support carriage.

[0081] The guide struts and the guide edges are expediently rounded and / or curved at their respective contacting sections. For example, the guide struts can be designed as vertically oriented rollers, and the guide edges as horizontally oriented, rounded strips. The advantage of the rounded guide edges on the support carriage, in particular, is that the patient transport device can be slid onto the support carriage using the centering guide struts even if, for whatever reason, the patient transport device and the vehicle are slightly twisted relative to each other when viewed in the direction of travel (for example, due to a sideways slope behind the vehicle, which itself is positioned on a surface oriented in the opposite direction).

[0082] In the previously described embodiments with the option of centering the patient transport device on the receiving carriage, the carriage has a substantially U-shape when viewed from above, i.e., it is provided with a recess open to the rear. The longitudinal edges of the recess are then designed as preferably rounded guide edges. Adjacent to the guide edges are tracks on the receiving carriage, along which sliding or rolling elements of the patient transport device can be moved or displaced.In order to improve the maneuverability of the patient transport device, it is advantageous if the transfer of the patient transport device into a position above the receiving carriage comprises the step of centering the patient transport device relative to the receiving carriage by means of sliding or roller elements of the patient transport device that can be moved and / or displaced on tracks of the receiving carriage, wherein each track is designed to project diagonally or has an inclined section. The inclined tracks or at least those having inclined sections, together with correspondingly beveled sliding or roller elements of the patient transport device, provide additional centering when sliding the patient transport device onto the receiving carriage or when setting the patient transport device down from above onto the receiving carriage.

[0083] In this respect, it is further advantageous if each sliding or rolling element is designed to taper obliquely at its end facing the respective longitudinal side of the patient transport device, the inclination of the inclination of the track being substantially equal to the inclination of the taper of the sliding or rolling elements.

[0084] As already indicated above, it is advantageous if the tracks are arranged on both sides of the centering opening of the receiving carriage and that the obliquely projecting sections of the tracks are arranged facing away from the associated guide edge or that the tracks run obliquely projecting away from the respective associated guide edge.

[0085] As already described above, the receiving device can be provided with a lifting mechanism in order to be able to raise the receiving carriage within the vehicle, which is particularly advantageous if the patient has to be treated during transport in the ambulance.For this purpose, it is advantageous if the receiving device has a base which can be mounted on the loading area of ​​the vehicle and has a raised central region, on both sides of which the receiving carriage extends and above which the patient transport device is located in the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage, wherein the base has, below its central region, a lifting lever mechanism with two automatically pivoting pivot arms which, when the lifting lever mechanism is in a lowest position and lying flat and inclined, form a first acute angle with the loading area of ​​the vehicle and, when the lifting lever mechanism is in a highest position and lying inclined, form a second acute angle with the loading area of ​​the vehicle which is larger than the first acute angle, and wherein the pivot arms are each pivotably mounted on brackets which are mounted on the loading area of ​​the vehicle.Because, according to the invention, there is no need to secure the patient transport device to the vehicle's loading area or to a base attached to it, the central area below the patient transport device is free when the patient transport device is on the support device. This free space can then preferably be used for the installation of a lifting mechanism (via levers, hydraulic cylinders, spindle drives, or the like). The lifting lever mechanism described here has the advantage of being flat, even in its lowest position.

[0086] The lifting lever mechanism or another lifting mechanism for the support device is expediently covered on all sides by a cover that is independently adjustable in height. One example could be two cover frames that can be moved relative to one another, one of which is fixed and protrudes from the loading area of ​​the vehicle or the base of the support device, while the other is arranged on the height-adjustable element of the support device. In the lowest position of the lifting mechanism, these two covers overlap to a maximum, while the degree of overlap is less when the lifting mechanism is raised. A triple cover frame cover or a general multiple cover frame cover could also be imagined. However, it is advantageous if the cover is implemented using circumferential bellows.

[0087] For the alignment of the receiving device with lifting mechanism within the vehicle when mounting the receiving device in the vehicle, it can be advantageous if the consoles or the lifting mechanism are arranged on the loading area of ​​the vehicle so that they can be moved in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and are fixed in a moving position.

[0088] For the transport of a patient on a patient transport device in an ambulance vehicle, it is essential for safety reasons that the patient transport device is secured against acceleration forces that may occur, for example, in the event of a rear-end collision or similar accident. According to the invention, the patient transport device is locked to the support device, while the support device itself is locked in the vehicle. The locking of the patient transport device to the support carriage of the support device is expediently carried out on both sides of the center of gravity of the patient transport device when a patient is on it. This is usually the case in the area of ​​the patient's pelvis.

[0089] In this respect, it is therefore advantageous if the receiving carriage, when retracted into its fully retracted position, is supported by two sliding or roller elements arranged on either side of its central axis on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area of ​​the vehicle, wherein the two sliding or roller elements are arranged approximately at the height of the middle of the longitudinal extension of the receiving carriage or approximately at the height of the middle of the longitudinal extension of the patient transport device arranged on the receiving carriage, the patient transport device is locked to the receiving carriage on either side of its central axis by the locking device at two locking points each, which are located in front of and behind the respective sliding or roller element, viewed in the longitudinal extension of the receiving carriage,that the receiving carriage is stiffened on both sides of its central axis by struts extending between each locking point and the respective sliding or rolling element, and that the receiving carriage is locked and / or held down on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if present, on the base attached to the loading area of ​​the vehicle in the fully retracted retracted position adjacent to the sliding or rolling elements, in particular by hold-down devices and preferably by hold-down devices in the form of angle elements that can be moved upwards or downwards, under which the receiving device moves or onto which the receiving device moves by enclosing the hold-down devices.

[0090] The patient transport device is thus locked to the support carriage. The support carriage expediently has sliding or roller elements by means of which it rests on the loading area of ​​a base of the support carriage, if present, and can be moved within the vehicle. These additional "support points" of the support carriage, which is guided and held on the support carriage via movable guide devices equipped with rollers or similar rolling elements, are located essentially at the height of the center of gravity of the patient transport device when a patient is on it. The patient transport device is now locked to the support carriage on both sides of the patient, specifically in front of and behind the aforementioned support points of the support carriage, viewed in the direction of travel of the vehicle.Each side of the carriage is stiffened in the area of ​​its support point by stiffening struts that essentially extend from the support point to each of the two locking points for the patient transport device provided on each side of the carriage. Thus, the force is transmitted from the possibly loaded patient transport device, from its locking points with the carriage, via the stiffening struts to the support points of the carriage on the loading area or base. At these points, the carriage is locked to the loading area or base when the carriage is in its fully retracted position in the vehicle.If vertical acceleration forces act on the support carriage during travel, these are absorbed by the center of gravity of the patient transport device carrying a patient, minimizing the effect of torques on the support carriage caused by vertical acceleration forces. Additionally, the support carriage can be locked at both ends, or at least at one of its two ends, and particularly at the end furthest inside the vehicle when fully retracted, to the loading area of ​​the vehicle or to the base (if present) of the support carriage.

[0091] In this respect, it is therefore advantageous if the receiving carriage is additionally locked against unwanted movements in the retraction and extension direction of the receiving carriage and, if necessary, is additionally held down at its end which is furthest in the chassis in the fully retracted position and, if applicable, at the end opposite this end on the loading area of ​​the vehicle or, if available, on a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area of ​​the vehicle.

[0092] Furthermore, with regard to the stability of the fixation of the receiving device with the patient transport device (possibly with a patient lying on it), it is advantageous if the patient transport device is locked to the receiving carriage in the fully retracted position thereof exclusively by means of the locking device and is fixed in a stable position in this state by locking the receiving carriage to the vehicle, in particular to its loading area or, if present, to a base of the receiving device fastened to the loading area and, if appropriate, with an intermediate carriage interposed between the receiving carriage and the base, wherein the intermediate carriage and the receiving carriage are locked to one another.

[0093] When viewing the pickup device in or opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle, i.e. when viewing the pickup device in or opposite to the respective direction of movement of the pickup carriage on the pickup device, the pickup device or its pickup carriage essentially has a U-shape, whereby this U-shape more or less encloses the base of the pickup device on the sides and above. If the pickup device also has a middle carriage in addition to the base, this is located between the pickup carriage and the base in the previously described viewing direction, and therefore also has a U-shape. The middle zone left free by the pickup carriage and, if present, the middle carriage due to the respective U-shape can be used for a lifting mechanism (see above).

[0094] It is therefore advantageous in the invention that the patient transport device does not have a locking mechanism that interacts directly with the loading area of ​​the vehicle or directly with a base of the receiving device that is fastened to the loading area of ​​the vehicle, if present, when the receiving carriage is in its fully retracted position.

[0095] If the patient transport device is provided with a stretcher and a chassis from which the stretcher is removable, the stretcher is locked to the chassis during the transport of a patient and is locked to the carriage in the fully retracted position of the carriage, the chassis being arranged below the stretcher and suspended within the carriage or supported on it.

[0096] It should be emphasized at this point that the steps a) and b) mentioned at the beginning are not necessary if the patient transport device has already been unloaded from the vehicle before loading the vehicle and the receiving carriage is therefore already in its loading position.

[0097] Typically there is a patient on the patient transport device when the vehicle is loaded or there is no patient on the patient transport device when the vehicle is loaded.

[0098] As already highlighted above, various movement sequences of the holding device and the individual locking mechanisms, including the locking of the patient transport device to the holding carriage, can be carried out purely mechanically or electromechanically. So-called snap locks are preferably suitable for purely mechanical locking. In these locks, one or more locks are pre-tensioned in an open position and, when a locking pin is inserted into the opening, are automatically moved into the locked position upon contact between the locking pin and a release element or one of the snap locks. For this purpose, the locks are pre-tensioned in the open position. The snap lock is opened from its closed position by moving a release lever, which moves the snap lock(s) back into the open position in which the locking pin(s) are inserted.The latches are then automatically held in place again. Such snap-lock closures are offered in various versions by the US company Southco.

[0099] With an electromechanical solution for the automatic locking and unlocking of the various components of the support carriage and the patient transport device with the support carriage, which are arranged so that they can be moved relative to one another, a control signal can be applied to an electromechanically closing and opening lock via, for example, limit switches. The extension and retraction movements of the various components of the support device can also be additionally driven.

[0100] The extension and retraction movements of the receiving device can generally be assisted manually or automatically, or carried out fully automatically. For any necessary supply of electrical energy from the on-board electrical system of the ambulance vehicle to the individual components of the patient transport device, i.e., the stretcher and / or the chassis, and the receiving device, electrical plug-in, sliding, or contact arrangements can be provided. An example of electrical contact created by both sliding the stretcher onto the chassis or placing the stretcher or the chassis onto the receiving device is described in German utility model application 20 2020 102 715.8, filed on May 14, 2020, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the subject matter of the present application.

[0101] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings. In detail: Fig. 1 a view from the rear into an open ambulance with a receiving device arranged therein and a patient transport device on top of it, Fig. 2 a view of the receiving device from the side (without a patient transport device on it), Fig. 3 a perspective side view of the receiving device in the single extended state (again without a patient transport device), Fig. 4 a perspective view of the receiving device with double extension and also without a patient transport device, Fig. 5 a view of the receiving device from the interior of the ambulance in the state in which the receiving device is shortly before assuming its position with double extension, Fig. 6 a view to illustrate the locking device with which the patient transport device (not shown) is locked to the receiving device, Fig.7an enlarged view of area VII of the . Fig. 5 to illustrate the locking elements (hooks) of the locking device, Fig. 8 a perspective view of the receiving device from the interior of the ambulance in the situation in which the receiving device is in its double extended state and the locking device is open, Fig. 9 similar to Fig. 6 , but with the locking device in the unlocking position (indicated by arrows), Fig. 10 an enlarged view of the area X of the Fig. 8 to illustrate the opened locking hooks for the patient transport device, Fig. 11 a perspective view of the extended receiving device in its fully extended state (unloading and loading state), Fig. 12 indicated, as in the loading or unloading state of the receiving device according to Fig. 11either a stretcher or a stretcher with a chassis (chassis extended or not) is pulled off the receiving device or pushed onto the receiving device, Fig. 13 the situation in the loading or unloading position of the receiving device with the patient transport device on it (in this case a stretcher with a chassis), Fig. 14 a side view of the situation in which the stretcher is still resting on the receiving device when the chassis is not yet fully extended during unloading or loading, Fig. 15 the situation in which the chassis is extended so far that the stretcher is located above the receiving device in its loading or unloading position, Fig. 16 a perspective view of the receiving device in the loading or unloading state with the patient transport device being maneuvered to position it on or above the receiving device, Fig.17an enlarged view of area XVII of the . Fig. 16 , Fig. 18 indicates how the patient transport device can be pushed onto or positioned centrally on the receiving device even when tilted sideways relative to the receiving device, Fig. 19 the centering of the patient transport device on the receiving device, Fig. 20 a representation of the situation in which the receiving device is pushed back into the patient transport vehicle from its fully extended loading or unloading position, Fig. 21 a perspective view of the receiving device from the interior of the vehicle shortly after leaving the loading or unloading position (see also Fig. 5), Fig. 22 the situation in which the receiving device is pushed back into its first extension position and the locking of the individual extension elements is released, Fig. 23 a side view of the receiving device in the fully retracted position (partially sectioned) to illustrate the fixing points of the receiving device in the vehicle and the patient transport device on the receiving device, Fig. 24 a representation of the lifting mechanism for raising the receiving device in its fully retracted position and Fig. 25 a representation of the lifting mechanism with the receiving device raised.

[0102] In Fig. 1The rear view of an ambulance vehicle 10 is shown, in which an extendable receiving device 12 for a patient transport device 14 is located. The patient transport device 14, in this exemplary embodiment, comprises a stretcher 16 and a chassis 18, which is in particular automatically height-adjustable and with which the stretcher 16 can be conveniently moved, raised, and lowered outside the ambulance vehicle 10. The stretcher 16 is locked to the chassis 18 and can be removed from the chassis 18 to be used as a manually portable stretcher 16. The stretcher 16 has a patient transport surface 20, which has adjustable back, thigh, and lower leg sections and a fixed seat section, which can be adjusted as a lying surface or, if necessary, as a chair surface.In this context, reference is made to WO-A-2018 / 153940, which shows and describes a patient transport device 14 usable within the scope of the invention. Further examples of the design of the patient transport device 14 with a convertible patient transport surface 20 are described in EP-A-3 613 396, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the subject matter of the present application.

[0103] In the Figs. 2 to 5Various perspective views of the receiving device 12 are shown. The receiving device 12 can be extended in two stages and has a base 26 which is mounted on the vehicle floor 22 or the loading area 24 of the ambulance 10 in a height-adjustable manner, with a raised, elongated guide housing 27, on which a central carriage 28, which surrounds the guide housing 27 on three sides, is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner, wherein a receiving carriage 30, which also surrounds the central carriage 28 on three sides, is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner. In this way, a doubly extendable receiving device 12 is created. The locking of the receiving device 12 in the ambulance 10 is effected by, in this embodiment, two hold-down devices 32 and also two locking locks 34, as shown in the Fig. 2 and 3The hold-down devices 32 and the locking locks 34 are arranged on the base 26 and hold the receiving carriage 30 in its fully retracted position into the ambulance 10 (see Fig. 2 ) both horizontally, laterally and vertically into position. The patient transport device 14 is locked to the receiving carriage 30, which is used, for example, in the Figs. 2 to 5 indicated by locking claws 36 (see also Fig. 17 ), which interact with locking hooks 38 of the patient transport device 14 (indicated, for example, in the Fig. 7 and 9 ).

[0104] Based on the situation according to Fig. 2 (fully retracted position of the receiving device 12) a Fig. 2The release lever 40 shown at the end of the base 26 facing the loading edge is actuated, which unlocks the locking locks 34 via a Bowden cable or similar release mechanism. This releases the locking pins 42, which were previously locked by the locking locks 34 and which protrude from the receiving carriage 30, so that the receiving carriage 30 can be pulled out in the direction of the arrow in the extension direction 44. This extension movement takes place by pulling out the receiving carriage together with the middle carriage 28. In doing so, each of the two support structures 46 arranged in the middle area of ​​the receiving carriage 30 with support roller 48 moves away from a hold-down pin 50, which was previously received by a receiving opening 51 in the support structure 46 (see also Fig. 5 ).

[0105] The Fig. 3shows the situation in which the middle carriage 28, which is slidably guided on the guide housing 27 of the base 26, has moved to its maximum extended position. In this position, the middle carriage 28 is now locked by means of an automatically locking lock 52 (see Fig. 5 ), which can be opened automatically (later again) by actuating / acting on a release lever, on the base 26 or on its guide housing 27. At the same time, the receiving carriage 30 is unlocked from the state previously fixed to the middle carriage 28, so that the receiving carriage 30 can then be pulled out further in the pull-out direction 44.

[0106] During this further extension movement of the receiving carriage 30, its locking device 54 is in its locked state for locking the patient transport device 14 located on the receiving carriage 30. The functioning of this locking device 54 and its automatic transfer from the locked state to the unlocked state is explained below with reference to the Figs. 5 to 10 described.

[0107] Fig. 5 shows the situation in which the receiving carriage 30 is just before its maximum extension position (loading or unloading position). As can be better seen from the Fig. 6 As can be seen, the locking device has a pivotable control lever 56, which is guided, for example, by a link or the like and is provided with a roller 58 which rolls on the middle carriage 28 when the receiving carriage 30 is moved relative to the middle carriage 28 (see also Fig. 5). The control lever 56 is pivotally mounted on a pivot bearing 60 of the receiving carriage 30, so it can be moved in the direction of the arrow 62 of the Fig. 6 Pivot to the left from the position shown there. The pivot bearing end of the control lever 56 has two projecting connecting levers 64, 66, each of which is pivotally coupled to a control lever 68, 70, which, starting from the respective levers 64, 66, lead to both longitudinal sides 72 of the receiving carriage 30. Control rods 74 are located on these two longitudinal sides 72, from each of which two locking claws 36 of the locking device protrude.

[0108] The roller 58 of the control lever 56, in the maximum extension position of the receiving carriage 30 relative to the middle carriage 28, comes to a link block 76, which ensures that the control lever 56 automatically moves in the direction of the arrow 62 of the Fig. 6While previously the locking claws 36 were positioned in their locking position, they are now pivoted into the open position by this control lever movement and the linkage formed by the levers 64, 66, 68, 70 and the control rods 74 (see Fig. 10). In this situation, the locking claws 36 release the locking hooks 38 on the patient transport device 14, which occurs at the latest after 95% or 90% or 80% or 70% or 60% or 50% or 40% of the travel from the fully retracted retraction position to the fully extended unloading and loading position of the receiving carriage 30. This means that the patient transport device can either be pulled off the receiving carriage 30 in the loading or unloading position (maximum extended position) or, if the chassis 18 is present on the stretcher 16 of the patient transport device 14, the stretcher 16 can be raised above the receiving carriage 30 by extending the chassis 18, in order to then be able to move the patient transport device 14 away from the receiving carriage 30.

[0109] As an alternative to actuating the two control rods 74 by the single control lever 56, it is also possible to provide a separate control lever for each control rod 74, which, for example, is provided with or coupled to an axially displaceable rack and moves this rack, for example, in a slotted manner. The rack meshes with a pinion or gear that is firmly connected to the control rod and rotates it when the rack moves clockwise or counterclockwise, in order to bring the locking claws 36 into locking engagement with the locking hooks 38 or out of locking engagement with them.

[0110] During the transfer of the locking device 54 from the locking position to the unlocking position, preload springs 78 (see the Fig. 7 and 9) tensioned. In this embodiment, the pretensioning springs 78 are designed as four leg springs, the helical section of which extends around the control rods 74 in the region of the locking claws 36 and the projecting legs of which are supported on the one hand on the receiving carriage 30 and on the other hand on the locking claws 36. Other designs of the pretensioning device for pretensioning the locking claws 36 and thus the locking device 54 into the locking position are of course also possible.

[0111] The special feature of the locking device 54 is that when the receiving carriage 30 is in its loading or unloading position (maximally extended), the patient transport device 14 is not locked to the receiving carriage 30. Rather, the locking of the patient transport device 14 to the receiving carriage 30 and thus to the receiving device 12 only occurs after the receiving carriage 30 has left its fully extended position, i.e., its loading or unloading position, for example, after traveling a maximum of 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 60% of the retraction path, starting from the fully extended position to the fully retracted position of the receiving carriage 30.

[0112] In other words, when the receiving carriage 30 is extended, the patient transport device 14 is unlocked at the latest after 95% or 90% or 80% or 70% or 60% or 50% or 40% of the travel from the fully retracted entry position to the fully extended unloading or loading position of the receiving carriage 30.

[0113] The Figs. 11 to 19 show different views of the loading device with and without the patient transport device to illustrate the loading and unloading process. Fig. 11It can be seen that the center carriage 28 is locked to the base 26 or to the guide housing 27 of the base 26 by means of the locking lock 52. Also shown is a locking lock 80 on the receiving carriage 30, which can be opened automatically by actuating / acting on a release lever (later again) and by means of which the receiving carriage 30 is locked to the center carriage 28 in the fully extended position. The roller 58 is moved onto the link block 76 so that the locking claws 36 are in their open positions. The receiving carriage 30 has two arms 82 that form the longitudinal sides 72 of the receiving carriage 30. Each arm 82 is supported on the base 26 by a support structure 46 with a support roller 48 when the receiving carriage 30 is fully retracted.At the ends of the two lateral arms 82, the receiving carriage 30 has handles 84, by which the receiving carriage 30 is manually grasped when the receiving carriage 30 is extended or retracted. On the upper side of each arm 82 there is a sliding or roller receiving track 86, on which sliding or roller bodies 88 of the patient transport device 14 slide or roll when the patient transport device 14 is pushed onto the receiving carriage 30 or onto its arm 82 (see . Fig. 12 ).

[0114] Fig. 13shows the situation in which the patient transport device 14 rests on the fully extended receiving carriage 30 with the chassis 18 retracted. The casters or steering rollers 90 of the chassis 18 are located directly below the receiving carriage 30, i.e., are positioned above the base 26 so that the receiving carriage 30 can be pushed into or pulled out of the patient transport vehicle 10.

[0115] Fig. 13shows the situation in which the patient transport device 14, ie stretcher 16 and chassis 18, are positioned on the receiving carriage 30. The receiving carriage 30 can, however, also be loaded only with the stretcher 16. The stretcher 16 has the above-mentioned locking hooks 38, which interact with the locking claws 36 of the locking device 54. The chassis 18, in turn, is locked to the stretcher 16, for example, by an upper frame (not shown) of the chassis 18 carrying the stretcher 16 and being locked to it. The chassis 18 has, as shown, for example, in the Fig. 14 and 15As shown, the patient transport device 14 has a height adjustment mechanism 92 in the form of a scissor lift with drive 94, which is supported on a lower frame 96, which in turn is provided with the casters or guide rollers 90. Other height adjustment mechanisms for chassis 18 of patient transport device 14 can of course also be used.

[0116] In Fig. 14 The situation is shown in which the receiving device 12 or its receiving carriage 30 is in the loading or unloading position and the patient transport device 14 is located on the receiving carriage 30, with the chassis 18 partially extended or retracted. The chassis 18 thus hangs, so to speak, from below on the stretcher 16. The stretcher 16 is not locked to the receiving carriage 30 (see the above description of the locking device 54, which is in its unlocked position when the receiving carriage 30 is fully extended).

[0117] If the chassis 18 is now extended further (starting from the situation according to Fig. 14 ), the castors or guide rollers 90 of the chassis 18 finally touch the ground 98 (e.g. roadway). Starting from this situation, if the chassis 18 is extended further, its upper frame with the stretcher 16 resting thereon lifts upwards from the support carriage 30 (see Fig. 15 ). The patient transport device 14 can now be moved away from the receiving carriage 30.

[0118] The situation is then reversed accordingly when loading the receiving device 12 with the patient transport device 14, which is then moved over the receiving carriage 30 when it is in the loading position, in order to then automatically lower itself onto the receiving carriage 30 or its boom 82 when the chassis 18 is retracted.

[0119] Fig. 16 illustrates this process once again, whereby Fig. 16 the situation is shown in which the patient transport device 14 is maneuvered to drive onto or over the receiving carriage 30. Fig. 17 shows area XVII of the Fig. 16on an enlarged scale. The upper frame 100 of the chassis 18 is provided with locking locks (not shown) that can be unlocked by two release levers 102. Each longitudinal beam of the upper frame 100 is provided with a release lever 102. Via a rod, which is moved by the release lever 102, for example, two locks arranged in the upper frame 100 per longitudinal beam can be opened. The stretcher has locking pins or the like (also not shown) that interact with the locking locks. The stretcher also has outwardly tapered roller elements 104, which, as described below, serve for centering when the stretcher (especially without chassis 18) is pushed onto the receiving tracks 86 of the booms 82. This is because, as for example in Fig. 11shown, the receiving tracks 86 are aligned in an outwardly tapered manner, the roller elements 104 tapering conically outwards on the stretcher lead to a centering (see Figs. 18 and 19 ).

[0120] The previously described centering of the stretcher 16 on the outriggers 82 of the receiving carriage 30 is particularly necessary when the stretcher 16 is to be positioned on the receiving carriage 30 without the chassis 18. However, if the stretcher 16 is located on the chassis 18, or if the chassis 18 is to be positioned on the receiving carriage 30 without the stretcher 16, two guide struts 106, which project downward from the upper frame 100 of the chassis 18 and are designed as rotating sleeves, serve to improve the maneuverability of the chassis 18. The guide struts 106 interact with inner leading edges on the receiving tracks 86, which form inner guide edges 108 on the two outriggers 82. The guide edges 108 are spaced further apart from each other at the ends of the two arms 82 in the area of ​​the respective handles 84 than in the adjoining section of the arms 82.The guide struts 106 are positioned on the upper frame 100 of the chassis 18 above the front steering or running rollers 90 of the chassis 18 during loading, which significantly facilitates the maneuverability of the chassis 18 and the patient transport device 14 as a whole, and the contact of the guide struts 106 at the level of the front steering or running rollers 90 makes it easier to thread the chassis 18 in if it is not pushed onto the receiving carriage 30 in exact alignment with the free space between the two arms 82 of the receiving carriage.

[0121] The centering of the chassis 18 by means of the guide struts 106 is shown in the Figs. 18 and 19 illustrated. Fig. 18Another special feature. As can be seen, the guide edges 108 are convexly curved. This means that even if the chassis 18 is rotated relative to the horizontal alignment of the receiving device or the receiving carriage 30, the guide struts 106 can still be retracted into the space defined by the guide edges 108. For example, in the situation according to Fig. 18 the chassis 18 is retracted, the chassis 18 is automatically positioned with respect to its upper frame 100 and the stretcher 16 is automatically centered on the receiving carriage 30 or on its boom 82 (see Fig. 19 ).

[0122] Based on the Figs. 20 to 23 The process of retracting the possibly loaded receiving carriage 30 will be briefly discussed below.

[0123] As shown by Fig. 20As indicated, the locking lock 80, which locks the receiving carriage 30 relative to the intermediate carriage 28, is released by means of a release lever or a release button 110 on one of the two handles 84 of the receiving carriage 30 via a Bowden cable. In this state, the intermediate carriage 28 is still locked relative to the guide housing 27 of the base 26. Therefore, when the receiving carriage 30 is now pushed in, it moves relative to the intermediate carriage 28 and along it. In this case, the locking device 54 locks shortly after the receiving carriage 30 leaves the loading position, i.e. is moved from its unlocked position into the locking position, which expediently already takes place after the receiving carriage has traveled a maximum of half, 2 / 3, 1 / 4, 1 / 8 or 1 / 10 of its travel path, starting from its loading position to its fully retracted position.The control lever 56 rolls off the guide block 76 via its roller 58. Because the locking claws 36 are pre-tensioned into the locking position, the entire locking device 54 moves into the locking position. The control lever 56 pivots accordingly into the position shown in FIG. Fig. 6 (see also the Fig. 21 ).

[0124] Finally, the situation is Fig. 22 reached, in which the receiving carriage 30 is completely pushed onto the middle carriage 28. In this situation, the receiving carriage 30 releases the locking lock 52 between the middle carriage 28 and the guide housing 27 of the base 26. Immediately before this, the control lever 56 is retracted by means of a pin 112 projecting from it into a catch hook 114 which is arranged on the middle carriage 28. This ensures that the control lever 56 is moved from its locking position (see Fig. 6), in which the locking device 54 is locked. When the receiving carriage 30 is fully retracted onto the center carriage 28, vibrations acting on the receiving device 12 cannot inadvertently open the locking device 54. The locking device 54 is thus locked and blocked in its locked position. This ensures safety during transport of the patient transport device and a patient in the patient transport vehicle 10.

[0125] In the situation according to Fig. 22 Thus, both the locking device 54 is blocked and the middle carriage 28 is unlocked from the base 26 or the guide housing 27. However, the receiving carriage 30 is locked to the middle carriage 28. Both are now moved further towards the ambulance 10 until the situation is finally as shown in Fig. 23is reached. Here, the locking locks 34 and the hold-down devices 32 act to secure the patient transport device 14 three-dimensionally to the receiving device 12, as already described above.

[0126] Based on Fig. 23A further special feature of the invention will be discussed below. As can be seen, the support structure 46 is located approximately in the middle of the patient transport device or the stretcher 16. In this exemplary embodiment, the support structure 46 is located substantially below the seat part of the stretcher 16. In this exemplary embodiment, foldable side parts 115 are located on both sides of the seat part of the stretcher 16. Starting from the support structure 46, two struts 116 extend to the front and rear ends of the patient transport device 14. These struts 116, like the support structure 46, are a component of each arm 82 of the receiving carriage 30. The struts 116 end in the region of the locking claws 36, at which the patient transport device, with its locking hooks 38, is in locking engagement with the locking device 54.These locking engagements are now also located on each arm 82 of the receiving carriage 30 in the area of ​​the seat part of the stretcher 16. When a patient is being transported, the center of gravity of the arrangement comprising the patient transport device 14 and the patient is located in the area of ​​the seat part of the stretcher 16. It is therefore advantageous if, on each side of the patient transport device 14, the stretcher 16 is locked to the receiving carriage 30 of the receiving device 12 in front of and behind the center of gravity, and if the force flow to the support structure 46 continues from these locking points via the struts 116, wherein it is additionally provided that the support structure 46 is locked against vertical acceleration forces by the hold-down device 32.This creates short "force flow paths" starting from the center of gravity of the patient being transported on the patient transport device 14 to the base 26 and thus from there to the loading area 24 of the patient transport vehicle 10.

[0127] If vertically upward accelerations were applied to the patient transport device 14, the receiving carriage 30 would experience a torque around its rear end, which is located furthest in the vehicle. However, since the patient transport device 14 is held down by the hold-down devices 32 at its center of gravity (when loaded with a patient), the torques can be absorbed. Movements of the receiving carriage 30 in the longitudinal direction are prevented by the locking locks 34. Movements of the receiving carriage 30 transversely thereto are, in turn, prevented by the hold-down devices 32.

[0128] Based on the Fig. 24 and 25A further special feature of the invention will be discussed below. The receiving device 12 allows it to be raised by means of a lifting mechanism 118 when the receiving carriage 30 is fully retracted into the vehicle. If a patient transport device 14 with a patient is then located on the receiving carriage 30, it is possible to raise this patient to a height at which he or she can be comfortably cared for by a paramedic or emergency doctor during transport.

[0129] In the receiving device 12, the lifting mechanism 118 is housed in the guide housing 27 to save space. As can be seen from the drawings described so far, the guide housing 27 protrudes centrally from the base 26. The central U-shaped configuration of the intermediate carriage 28 and receiving slide 30, in conjunction with the guide housing 27, ensures a space-saving and compact design of the receiving device 12. The space gained in the center below the patient transport device 14 to be transported can now be advantageously used to accommodate the lifting mechanism 118.A key reason why there is space at all in this area of ​​the receiving device 12 is that, according to the invention, it is not the patient transport device 14 itself that is directly locked, for example, to the loading area 24 of the patient transport vehicle 10, but rather the receiving carriage 30 that is locked to the base 26 or, if appropriate, to the loading area 24, and the patient transport device 14 is, in turn, locked to the receiving carriage 30. Therefore, no locking elements protrude downward from the patient transport device 14 in order to be directly locked to the base 26 or the loading area 24 of the patient transport vehicle 10.

[0130] The lifting mechanism 118 in this embodiment of the invention is characterized by its low overall height. It comprises two pivotable pivot arms 120, which are pivotally mounted in pivot bearings 124, which in turn are arranged below the base 26. The two pivot arms 120 are designed as angle arms that extend essentially at a right angle to one another from the pivot bearing 124. The essentially horizontally oriented first partial arm 126 is supported on a bracket 128 on the vehicle floor 22 of the ambulance 10, while the second partial arm 130, in this exemplary embodiment, interacts with, for example, a spindle drive 132. The spindle drive 132 has a spindle 134, which interacts with spindle sleeves 136 on the partial arms 130.If the spindle 134 is rotated by the spindle drive 132, the spindle sleeve 136 moves axially on the spindle 134 and moves the arms 130 of the two pivot arms 120 towards or away from each other, so that the pivot arms 120 rotate about their pivot bearings 124. In this way, when the pivot arms 120 rotate about the pivot bearings 124, their essentially horizontally extending arms 126 press against the brackets 128, which causes the lifting mechanism 118 to be raised or lowered.

[0131] The arms 126 of the two pivot arms 120 are pivotally mounted on the brackets 128. The brackets 128 themselves can be moved transversely to the longitudinal extent of the ambulance 10 via a rail system or the like. This allows the receiving device 12 to be moved laterally within the ambulance 10 to provide more space to one side of the receiving device 12 for a paramedic or emergency doctor caring for a patient in the vehicle.

[0132] In this exemplary embodiment, a bellows 138 is used to cover the area below the base 26 and thus the lifting mechanism 118. The bellows 138 runs as a covering with two long sides and two transverse sides along the edge of the base 26, is fastened there and is mounted at its other end on the vehicle floor 22. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0133] 10 Ambulance vehicle 12 Pick-up device 14 Ambulance device 16 Stretcher 18 Chassis 20 Patient transport surface 22 Vehicle floor 24 Loading surface 26 Base 27 Guide housing 28 Middle carriage 30 Pick-up carriage 32 Hold-down device 34 Locking locks 36 Locking claws 38 Locking hook 40 Release lever 42 Locking pin 44 Extension direction 46 Support structure 48 Support roller 50 Hold-down pin 51 Receptacle opening for the hold-down pin 52 Locking locking lock 54 Locking device 56 Pivoting control lever 58 Roller 60 Pivot bearing 62 Arrow 64 Connecting lever 66 Connecting lever 68 Control lever 70 Control lever 72 Longitudinal sides 74 Control rods 76 Link block 78Pre-tension springs 80Locking lock 82Boom 84Handles 86Roller support track 88Roller body 90Steering / castors 92Height adjustment mechanism 94Drive 96Frame 98Substructure 100Upper frame 102Release lever 104Roller elements 106Guide struts 108Guide edges 110Release button 112Pin 114Catch hook115Side parts 116Bracing 118Lifting mechanism 120Pivot arms 124Pivot bearing 126First part of the pivot arm 128Bracket 130Second part of the pivot arm 132Spindle drive 134Spindle 136Spindle sleeve 138Bellows BIBLIOGRAPHY

[0134] German utility model application 20 2020 102 715.8 DE-A-10 2018 111 654 EP-A-2 116 216 EP-A-2 138 143 EP-A-3 613 396 WO-A-2004 / 064698 WO-A-2016 / 007290 WO-A-2018 / 153940 WO-A-2018 / 206834 GB-A-2 203 999 FR-A-2 682 930

Claims

1. A method for unloading a patient transport device from a vehicle, in particular from a patient transport or emergency ambulance, the vehicle comprising a loading area (24) and a receiving device thereon having an extendable and retractable receiving slide (30) for the patient transport device on which the patient transport device is positioned to be locked by means of a locking device (54) in a locking position, comprising the following steps: aa) unlocking the receiving slide (30), which is in its fully retracted retraction position and directly or indirectly locked to the vehicle (10) in this state, bb) extending the receiving slide (30) up to an unloading position in which the receiving slide (30) is automatically locked and at least partially protrudes towards the rear beyond the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10), cc) automatically unlocking the patient transport device (14) when the receiving slide (30) takes up the unloading position by automatically transferring the locking device (54) from its locking position to an unlocking position, and dd) unloading the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30) in its unloading position.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking device (54) is latched in its locking position taken up when the receiving slide (30) is in a fully retracted retraction position, and that this latching is released after or with the receiving slide (30) leaving the fully retracted retraction position upon extension of the receiving slide (30).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the step of unloading the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30) comprises the step of pulling off the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the patient transport device (14) comprises a manually portable stretcher (16) having a patient transport area without an undercarriage (18) and in particular without a height-adjustable undercarriage (18), and that the step of unloading the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30) comprises the step of manually unloading the stretcher (16) from the receiving slide (30) and the step of unlocking the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30) and the step of unlocking the stretcher (16) from the receiving slide (30).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in the patient transport device (14) comprises a height-adjustable and in particular an automatically height-adjustable undercarriage (18) having a patient transport area, and that the step of unloading the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30) comprises the following partial steps: - extending the undercarriage (18), which is in the retracted state when taking up the unloading position of the receiving slide (30), until the undercarriage (18) is extended up to a ground, - further extending the undercarriage (18) for lifting the stretcher (16) up top above the receiving slide (30), and - moving the undercarriage (18) with the stretcher (16) away from the receiving slide.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the step of unlocking the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30) comprises the step of unlocking the retracted undercarriage (18) from the receiving slide (30), wherein it may be provided that the retracted undercarriage (18) rests in the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving slide (30) in the vehicle (10) on the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10) or, if present, on a base (26) of the receiving device (12) mounted to the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the patient transport device (14) comprises a manually portable stretcher (16) having a patient transport area, which stretcher is adapted to be positioned on a height-adjustable and in particular automatically height-adjustable undercarriage (18) and locked to the undercarriage (18) as well as unlocked from the undercarriage (18).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that - the step of unlocking the patient transport device (14) on the receiving slide (30) comprises the step of unlocking the retracted undercarriage (18) on the receiving slide (30), wherein it may be provided that the retracted undercarriage (18) rests in the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving slide (30) in the vehicle (10) on the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10) or, if present, on a base (26) of the receiving device (12) mounted to the loading area (24), or - the step of unlocking the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30) comprises the step of unlocking the stretcher (16) from the receiving slide (30), wherein it may be provided that the retracted undercarriage rests in the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving slide (30) in the vehicle (10) on the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10) or, if present, on a base (26).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the receiving device (12) comprises a base (26) mounted to the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10), on which base the receiving slide (30) is guided to be displaceable between its fully retracted retraction position and its unloading position, wherein the receiving slide (30) is locked in its fully retracted retraction position to the base (26) and / or to the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10).

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-5 and 7, characterized in that the receiving device (12) comprises a base (26) adapted to be mounted to the loading area (24) of the vehicle and a middle carriage (28) guided to be extendable and retractable thereon, on which middle carriage the receiving slide (30) is guided to be extendable and retractable, wherein the receiving slide (30) is automatically locked to the middie carriage (28) in its maximum extension position viewed relative to the center carriage (28) and the center carriage (28) is automatically locked to the base (26) and / or the loading area (24) of the vehicle in its maximum extension position viewed relative to the base (26), and wherein the steps aa) to dd) comprise the following steps: - unlocking the receiving slide (30) being in its fully retracted retraction position and in this state directly or indirectly locked to the vehicle (10), - extending the receiving slide (30) together with the middle carriage (28) locked to the receiving slide (30) up to the maximum exten-sionsposition of the middle carriage (28) relative to the base (26), - in the maximum extension position of the middle carriage (28), automatically locking the middle carriage (28) to the base (26) and automatically unlocking the receiving slide (30) from the middle carriage (28), - extending the receiving slide (30) on the middle carriage (28) up to the maximum extension position of the receiving slide (30) relative to the middle carriage (28) for taking up the unloading position of the receiving slide (30), in which the receiving slide (30) is automatically locked to the middle carriage (28), - unloading the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the step of extending the receiving slide (30) together with the middle carriage (28) locked to the receiving slide (30) up to the maximum extension position of the middle carriage (28) relative to the base (26) or the step of extending the receiving slide (30) on the middle carriage (28) up to the maximum extension position of the receiving slide (30) relative to the middle carriage (28) comprises the step of releasing the latching of the locking device (54) in its locking position after or at the beginning of extension.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1-5 and 7, characterized in that the receiving device comprises a base (26) adapted to be mounted to the loading area (24) of the vehicle and a middle carriage (28) guided to be extendable and retractable thereon, on which middle carriage the receiving slide (30) is guided to be extendable and retractable, wherein the receiving slide (30) is automatically locked to the middle carriage (28) in its maximum extension position viewed relative to the middle carriage (28) and the middle carriage (28) is automatically locked to the base (26) and / or the loading area (24) of the vehicle in its maximum extension position viewed relative to the base (26), and wherein the steps aa) to dd) comprise the following steps: - unlocking the receiving slide (30) being in its fully retracted retraction position and in this state directly or indirectly locked to the vehicle (10), - extending the receiving slide (30) relative the middle carriage (28) locked to the base (26) up to the maximum extension position of the receiving slide (30) relative to the middle carriage (28) and, if applicable, automatically locking the receiving slide (30) to the middle carriage (28), - in the maximum extension position of the receiving slide (30), automatically unlocking the middle carriage (28) from the base (26), - extending the middle carriage (28) on the base (26) up to the maximum extension position of the middle carriage (28) relative to the base (26) for taking up the unloading position of the receiving slide (30), in which the middle carriage (28) is automatically locked to the base (26) or is already locked, - unloading the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that extending the receiving slide (30) relative to the middle carriage (28) locked to the base (26) up to the maximum extension position of the receiving slide (30) or the step of extending the middle carriage (28) on the base (26) up to the maximum extension position of the middle carriage (28) relative to the base (26) for taking up the unloading position of the receiving slide (30) comprises the step of releasing the latching of the locking device (54) in its locking position after or at the beginning of extension.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the step of unlocking the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30) comprises the step of unlocking a stretcher (16) of the patient transport device (14) from the receiving slide (30).

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the locking device (54) comprises at least one guided, in particular link-guided control lever (56) for locking the patient transport device (14) to the receiving slide (30), which control lever is kinematically coupled by means of a linkage to at least one locking element movably arranged on the receiving slide (30) and preferably to two locking elements movably arranged on the receiving slide (30) for each longitudinal side of the patient transport device (14), wherein the at least one control lever (56) is movable between an unlocking position, in which the at least one locking element (36) is disengaged from a counter-locking element (38) of the patient transport device (14) assigned thereto, and a locking position, in which the at least one locking element (36) is in locking engagement with the counter-locking element (38) of the patient transport device (14) assigned thereto, wherein the at least one control lever (56) is forcibly transferred from its locking position taken up outside of the unloading position of the receiving slide (30) to its unlocking position during the extension of the receiving slide (30), at the latest in the loading position of the receiving slide (30).

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that - the at least one control lever (56) is blocked in the locking position at the latest in the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving slide (30), - the at least one control lever (56) and / or the linkage and / or the at least one locking element and / or each locking element is resiliently biased towards the respective locking position to be taken up in the locking state of the locking device (54), namely for automatically taking up the respective locking position after releasing a potential blockade when the at least one locking element (36) interacts with the counter-locking element (38) of the patient transport device (14) assigned thereto, and / or - two control rods (74) having locking catches (36) are adapted to be turned forth and back by means of the at least one control lever (56) and the linkage, - the linkage comprises two racks, each of which is in meshed with a gear on another one of the two control rods (74), and / or - two control levers (56) with one linkage each are provided, and that each control lever (56) with linkage is in operative connection with a control rod (74) having locking catches (36) for turning the respective control rod (74) forth and back.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that maneuvering the patient transport device (14) for transferring the patient transport device (14) to a position above the receiving slide (30) comprises the step of centering the patient transport device (14) relative to the receiving slide (30) by means of guiding struts (106) movable along guiding edges (108) of a centering opening of the receiving slide (30) and protruding from the patient transport device (14) and / or that the guiding struts (106) and the guiding edges (108) are rounded and / or bulged out on their portions contacting each other.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that maneuvering the patient transport device (14) for transferring the patient transport device (14) to a position above the receiving slide (30) away from the receiving slide (30) comprises the step of centering the patient transport device (14) relative to the receiving slide (30) by means of sliding or roller elements of the patient transport device (14) displaceable and / or slidable on tracks of the receiving slide (30), wherein each track is formed to protrude obliquely or is formed with a portion protruding obliquely.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that - the receiving slide (30), when leaving its fully retracted retraction position by extension, is supported by means of two sliding or roller elements arranged on both sides of its central axis on the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10) or, if present, on a base (26) of the receiving device (12) mounted to the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10), wherein the two sliding or roller elements are arranged approximately at the height of the center of the longitudinal extension of the receiving slide (30) or approximately at the height of the center of the longitudinal extension of the patient transport device (14) arranged on the receiving slide (30), - the patient transport device (14) is locked to the receiving slide (30) on both side of its central axis by the locking device (54) on respectively two locking points, each located in front of or behind the relevant sliding and roller element when viewed in the longitudinal extension of the receiving slide (30), - the receiving slide (30) is stiffened on both side of its central axis by crossbeams extending between each locking point and the relevant sliding or roller element, and - the receiving slide (30) is locked and / or held down in its fully retracted retraction position to the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10) or, if present, to the base (26) mounted to the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10) in the fully retracted retraction position, respectively adjacent to the sliding or roller elements, in particular by hold-down devices (32), preferably in the form of angled elements adapted to be accessed from below or above, and that the hold-down devices are exposed when or after leaving the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving slide (30).

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the receiving slide (30) is additionally locked and, if applicable, held down against undesired movement in both directions along the central axis of the receiving slide (30) to its end located furthest inside the undercarriage (18) in the fully retracted retraction position and, if applicable, to the end opposite this end on the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10) or, if applicable, to a base (26) of the receiving device (12) mounted to the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10), and is released when or after leaving the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving slide (30).

21. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the patient transport device (14) is locked in the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving slide (30) to the latter exclusively by means of the locking device (54), in particular against forces acting vertically upwards, and is fixed in a stable position in this state by locking the receiving slide (30) to the vehicle (10), in particular to its loading area (24), or, if present, to a base (26) of the receiving device (12) mounted to the loading area (24), if necessary by interposing a middle carriage (28) between the receiving slide (30) and the base (26), wherein the middle carriage (28) and the receiving slide (30) are locked to each other, and that this fixation in a stable position is released when or after leaving the fully retracted retraction position of the receiving slide (30).

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the patient transport device (14) does not comprise a locking directly interacting with the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10) or, if present, with a base (26) of the receiving device (12) mounted to the loading area (24) of the vehicle (10), when the receiving slide (30) is in its fully retracted retraction position.

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