Control Unit

Abstract

The control unit (7) is particularly suitable for use in a patient lift (1) and includes a base (10) and a power supply (8). The power supply (8) is detachably attached to the base (10) and includes a locking mechanism for retaining the power supply (8) on the base (10). The locking mechanism includes slot and protrusion pairs (17, 18, 20, 22) on the base (10) and the power supply (8). The protrusion and the slot engage with each other when the base (10) and the power supply (8) are moved laterally relative to each other. A lock handle (23) has an arm (24) with a protrusion (27). The protrusion (27) fits into a gap (28) between the base (10) and the power supply (8) when the lock handle (23) is locked. In this manner, the protrusions (17, 20) and the slots (18, 22) engage with each other and function as a locking mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control unit particularly used in an electric linear actuator system, the control unit having a base, a box body detachably attached to the base, and locking means for holding the box body on the base. The linear actuator system has many different applications, for example, it is used for adjusting the positions of elements in patient lifts, adjustable furniture legs, hospital beds, patient supports, examination tables, chairs, etc.

[0002] Examples of such control units include those known from DE 102008056982 A1 of Dewert Antriebs-und Systemtechnik GmbH. In this document, the base is a rail, and the control unit is attached to the rail using screws. The control unit is housed in an independent housing and is equipped with a plug. The rechargeable battery is housed in the box body, and a recess provided with a socket for inserting the plug of the control unit is provided in this box body. By sliding this box body along the rail, the plug and the socket can be engaged to connect the rechargeable battery to the control unit, and it can be detachably fixed to the rail.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an improvement over known control units.

[0004] To achieve this object, the control unit of the present invention comprises a base and a detachable power supply body, the base including an accommodation area for receiving the power supply body. The power supply body includes a housing and locking means that can take a locked position or an unlocked position. The accommodation area and the housing of the power supply body include engagement means that can take an engaged state or a disengaged state. When the locking means is in the locked position, the engagement means takes the engaged state.

[0005] In one embodiment, the engaging means includes at least one slot and at least one protrusion, and when the locking means is in the locked position, the protrusion and the slot engage with each other.

[0006] In one embodiment of the control unit, the accommodating region includes an end wall configured as a seating portion with at least one protruding cam, and the bottom of the housing of the power supply body includes at least one recess configured to engage with the at least one cam.

[0007] In one embodiment, the housing of the power supply body includes a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. When the power supply body is mounted on the base, the rear housing portion is received in the accommodating region. With this configuration, since the end of the power supply body is guided by the protruding cam, the positioning of the power supply body on the base becomes easy.

[0008] In one embodiment, the accommodating region has an arched section at the upper end of the back, and the rear portion of the housing of the power supply body includes a cavity configured to accommodate the arched section.

[0009] In one embodiment, the rear housing portion includes a protrusion at the upper end of the side surface of the rear housing portion, and the accommodating region includes an end wall, two side walls, and a back. The side walls have slots for engaging with the protrusions. With this configuration, the power supply body can be easily arranged in the accommodating region. When received in the accommodating region, the power supply body is fixed between the two side walls, the seating portion, and the arched section, so that displacement of the power supply body can be prevented.

[0010] In one embodiment, the arch-shaped section includes a protrusion extending from a side surface facing the side wall of the accommodation region in the arch-shaped section, and the cavity has a slot on its side wall for engaging with the protrusion. With this configuration, the power supply body can be well fixed to the base. The pair of the slot and the protrusion is opposite to the first-mentioned pair in terms of the relationship between the slot and the protrusion. Thereby, the power supply body can be fixed well and stably.

[0011] In one embodiment, the difference between the distance between the two side walls and the width of the rear housing part corresponds to at least the height of the protrusion. Thereby, a configuration can be achieved in which the base and the power supply body fit together relatively tightly. When the power supply body is fitted into the base, the upper part of the power supply body is in a state slightly tilted laterally.

[0012] In one embodiment, the locking means includes a U-shaped locking handle having arms pivotally supported on both sides of the housing of the power supply body. With this configuration, when the power supply body is attached to and detached from the base, the handling of the power supply body becomes easy.

[0013] In one embodiment, the locking handle includes a protruding piece, and the control unit has a gap between the side wall and the side surface of the rear housing part facing the side wall. When the locking handle is in the locked position, the protruding piece engages with the gap. Therefore, means for arranging and fixing the power supply body are always provided and can be operated by the locking handle. When the locking handle is operated, the power supply body is pushed laterally, and the protrusion and the slot engage with each other. With this configuration, the protrusion and the slot can be engaged securely and firmly to function as a lock.

[0014] In one embodiment, the lock handle includes a journal provided on the arm, the journal including a first portion having a first diameter, a second portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and an end knob at the end of the journal. The front housing portion has a groove for receiving the first portion of the journal, the rear housing portion has a groove for receiving the second portion of the journal, and the end knob abuts against the rear housing portion, whereby the journal is held within the housing of the power body.

[0015] In one embodiment, the lock handle includes at least one protrusion inside the arm, the front housing portion has a groove configured as a track along which the at least one protrusion is movable, and the protrusion functions as a stop against rotation of the lock handle. Thereby, a state in which the lock handle cannot be rotated can be avoided.

[0016] The present invention further relates to a linear actuator system including an electric linear actuator, an operation unit, and the above control unit.

[0017] The present invention further relates to a patient lift including the above linear actuator system.

[0018] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the control unit of the present invention will be described in more detail.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 5a

Figure 5b

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a patient lift 1, which includes a frame 2 having traveling wheels 3. One end of a cantilever 4 pivotable about a horizontal axis is fixed to the frame 2. A lift hook 5 for lifting a patient is fixed to the other end of the cantilever 4. The patient lift 1 includes an electric linear actuator system including an electric linear actuator 6, a control unit 7 having a controller, a power supply unit 8 having a housing to which a rechargeable battery is attached, and an operation unit 9. The cantilever 4 is liftable by the linear actuator 6 with one end fixed to the frame 2 and the other end fixed to the cantilever 4.

[0021] The housing of the power supply body is composed of a front housing part 8a and a rear housing part 8b. The power supply body 8 is detachably attached to the base 10 of the control unit 7. The base 10 has an accommodation area 15 surrounded by an end wall 11, two side walls 15a and 15b, and a back 15c. The end wall 11 is configured as a seating part 12 provided with a pair of protruding cams 13, and is adapted to engage with a pair of recesses 14 provided at the bottom of the power supply body 8. To mount the power supply body 8 on the base 10, the bottom of the housing of the power supply body 8 is positioned at a given angle with respect to the seating part 12 so that the protruding cams 13 engage with the recesses 14 and the rear surface 16 of the housing of the power supply body 8 faces the back 15c of the accommodation area 15. Subsequently, the power supply body 8 is tilted towards the base side and fitted into the accommodation area 15. Thereby, most of the rear housing part 8b of the power supply body 8 is accommodated in the accommodation area 15.

[0022] On the rear housing part 8b, a protrusion 17 is provided at the upper end of the side wall facing the side wall 15a of the accommodation area 15, and engages with a slot 18 provided on the side wall 15a.

[0023] An arched section 19 is provided at the upper end of the accommodation area 15. The arched section 19 has a protrusion 20 extending from the side facing the side wall 15b of the accommodation area 15. On the upper part of the front housing part 8a of the power supply body 8, a cavity 21 for accommodating the arched section 19 is provided when the power supply body 8 is tilted towards the base side and fitted into the accommodation area 15. The protrusion 20 is configured to engage with a slot 22 provided on the side wall of the cavity 21.

[0024] The distance between the two side walls 15a and 15b is slightly larger than the width of the rear housing part 8b. More specifically, the distance between these two side walls is slightly larger than the heights of the protrusions 17 and 20 provided on the rear housing part 8b and the arched section 19 respectively. When the power supply body 8 is in the state of being fitted into the accommodation area 15 and is moved from the side wall 15b towards the side wall 15a, the protrusions 17 and 20 engage with the slots 18 and 22 respectively.

[0025] At the upper end of the power supply body 8, a U-shaped lock handle 23 is provided, and the arms 24 and 25 of the handle are pivotally supported on both sides of the housing of the power supply body 8. Therefore, the arms 24 and 25 each have an axle journal 26. The first part 26a of the axle journal 26 fits into a slit provided in the front housing part 8a of the power supply body 8. The second part 26b of the axle journal 26 has a smaller diameter than the first part 26a and fits into a slit provided in the rear housing part 8b of the power supply body. At the end of the axle journal 26, an end knob 26c that abuts against the slit in the rear housing part 8b is provided, and the lock handle 23 is pivotally held on the housing of the power supply body 8. At the end of the arm 24 of the lock handle 23, a protruding piece 27 is provided and is configured to engage in a gap 28 formed between the side wall 15b and the side surface of the rear housing part 8b facing the side wall 15b. To ensure sufficient space for the protruding piece 27, a part of the side wall 15b is cut off so that the gap 28 forms a wedge shape toward the back 15c of the accommodation area 15. When the lock handle 23 is rotated toward the locked position, the protruding piece 27 engages in the wedge-shaped gap 28, and the housing of the power supply body 8 is pressed toward the side wall 15a of the accommodation area 15. As a result, the protrusions 17 and 20 are pushed into the slots 18 and 22, respectively. While the lock handle 23 is in the locked position, the protruding piece 27 occupies the entire width of the gap 28, so this engaged state is maintained. In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible to configure the protruding piece 27 to have a wedge shape instead of the gap 28. When the lock handle 23 is rotated to the unlocked position, the protruding piece 27 disengages from the gap 28.

[0026] At the upper front end of the front housing portion 8a, there is a recess 29 configured to engage with the protruding portion 30 of the lock handle 23. Since the recess 29 and the protruding portion 30 snap-engage and are connected to each other, when the two are engaged, the lock handle 23 is held in the locked position. In this locked position, the protruding portions 17 and 20 are fully engaged with the slots 18 and 22, respectively. In order to move the power supply body 8 outward so as to be separated from the base 10, it is necessary to move the protruding portions 17 and 20 and the slots 18 and 22 laterally, but since such movement is suppressed, the power supply body 8 cannot be separated from the base 10. Therefore, in order to remove the power supply body 8 and to engage (disengage) the protruding portions 17 and 20 with the slots 18 and 22, two different movements along directions orthogonal to each other are required. Thus, when the lock handle 23 is in the locked position, it is possible to prevent the power supply body 8 from accidentally coming off the base 10. Since the rechargeable battery has a certain weight, for example, when removing the power supply body 8 for charging or replacing the power supply body, it is highly convenient to have the lock handle 23.

[0027] A cover 31 is attached to the base 10 at the end opposite to the power supply body 8, and the base 10 has a compartment below the cover. This compartment houses, for example, a plug for connecting the electric linear actuator 6 and the operation unit 9 to the control unit 7.

[0028] Also, at the upper part of the control unit 7, for example, an emergency stop switch 32 is provided in case of an emergency during the movement of a patient supported by a patient lift.

[0029] The base 10 of the control unit 7 is attached to the screw holes on the front surface of the base using screws, and on the rear surface of the base 10, a groove (track) for a cable for a wired connection of the control unit 7 is provided.

[0030] The present invention is not limited to a control unit provided with a power supply body provided in the patient lift in the above-described embodiment. The power supply body may be designed to include other electronic devices such as, for example, a controller. Further, the control unit may be designed such that two power supply bodies are provided on both sides of the base. In addition, the power supply body may be designed to be mounted on a linear actuator.

Claims

1. A control unit comprising a base (10) and a detachable power supply body (8), wherein the base (10) includes a receiving area (15) for receiving the power supply body (8), the power supply body (8) includes a housing (8a, 8b) and locking means that can take a locked position or an unlocked position, the receiving area (15) and the housing (8a, 8b) of the power supply body (8) include engaging means that can take an engaged state or a disengaged state, when the locking means is in the locked position, the engaging means is configured to be in the engaged state, the locking means includes a U-shaped locking handle (23) having arms (24, 25) pivotally supported on both sides of the housing of the power supply body (8), characterized in that it is a control unit.

2. The engaging means includes at least one slot (18, 22) and at least one protrusion (17, 20), and when the locking means is in the locked position, the protrusion (17, 20) and the slot (18, 22) engage with each other. The control unit according to claim 1.

3. A control unit comprising a base (10) and a detachable power supply body (8), wherein the base (10) includes a receiving area (15) for receiving the power supply body (8), the power supply body (8) includes a housing (8a, 8b) and locking means that can take a locked position or an unlocked position, the receiving area (15) and the housing (8a, 8b) of the power supply body (8) include engaging means that can take an engaged state or a disengaged state, when the locking means is in the locked position, the engaging means is configured to be in the engaged state, the receiving area (15) includes an end wall (11) configured as a seating portion (12) with at least one protruding cam (13), and the bottom of the housing of the power supply body (8) includes at least one recess (14) configured to engage with the at least one cam (13), characterized in that it is a control unit.

4. The housing of the power supply body (8) includes a front housing portion (8a) and a rear housing portion (8b), and when the power supply body (8) is mounted on the base (10), the rear housing portion (8b) is received in the receiving area (15). The control unit according to claim 1 or 3.

5. A control unit comprising a base (10) and a detachable power supply body (8), wherein the base (10) includes a receiving area (15) for receiving the power supply body (8), the power supply body (8) includes a housing (8a, 8b) and locking means that can take a locked position or an unlocked position, the receiving area (15) and the housing (8a, 8b) of the power supply body (8) include engaging means that can take an engaged state or a disengaged state, when the locking means is in the locked position, the engaging means is configured to be in the engaged state, the receiving area (15) includes an arched section (19) at the upper end of the back (15c), and the rear part (8b) of the housing of the power supply body (8) includes a cavity (21) configured to receive the arched section (19), characterized in that it is a control unit.

6. The rear part (8b) of the housing includes a protrusion (17) at the upper end of the side surface of the rear part (8b), the receiving area (15) includes an end wall (11), two side walls (15a, 15b), and a back (15c), and the side wall (15a) includes a slot (18) for engaging with the protrusion (17), characterized in that it is the control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The arched section (19) includes a protrusion (20) extending from the side surface facing the side wall (15b) of the receiving area (15) in the arched section (19), and the cavity (21) includes a slot (22) for engaging with the protrusion (20) on the side wall of the cavity (21), characterized in that it is the control unit according to claim 5.

8. The difference between the distance between the two side walls (15a and 15b) of the receiving area (15) and the width of the rear part (8b) of the housing corresponds to at least the height of the protrusion (20), characterized in that it is the control unit according to claim 7.

9. The locking means includes a U-shaped locking handle (23) having arms (24, 25) pivotally supported on both sides of the housing of the power supply body (8), characterized in that it is the control unit according to any one of claims 3 to 8.

10. The arm (24) of the lock handle (23) includes a protruding piece (27), and the control unit has a gap (28) between the side wall (15b) of the housing and the side surface of the rear part (8b) of the housing facing the side wall (15b). When the lock handle (23) is in the locked position, the protruding piece (27) engages with the gap (28). The control unit according to claim 1 or 9, characterized in that.

11. The front surface of the housing has a depression (29) at the upper end, and the lock handle (23) includes a protruding part (30) configured to be locked and engaged with the depression (29). The control unit according to claim 1 or 9, characterized in that.

12. The lock handle (23) includes at least one protruding part (30) inside the arms (24, 25), and the front part (8a) of the housing has a depression configured as a track along which the at least one protruding part (30) can move. The protruding part constitutes a stop against the rotation of the lock handle (23). The control unit according to claim 1 or 9, characterized in that.

13. The lock handle (23) includes a journal (26) provided on the arms (24, 25). The journal (26) includes a first part (26a) having a first diameter, a second part (26b) having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and an end knob (26c) at the end of the journal (26). The front part (8a) of the housing has a groove for receiving the first part (26a) of the journal (26), and the rear part (8b) of the housing has a groove for receiving the second part (26b) of the journal (26). The end knob (26c) abuts against the rear part (8b) of the housing, whereby the journal (26) is held within the housing of the power supply body (8). The control unit according to claim 1 or 9 or 12, characterized in that.

14. A linear actuator system comprising an electric linear actuator (6) and an operation unit (9), characterized by comprising the control unit (7) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A patient lift (1) comprising the linear actuator system according to claim 14.

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