Ambulance Stretcher Support Height Adjustment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current self-loading stretcher systems in ambulances face issues with loading and unloading due to variations in vehicle height caused by wear and non-standard conditions, leading to abnormal opening or closing, requiring manual intervention, and potential jibbing of the stretcher.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustment system for the stretcher support in ambulances, using optical or infrared sensors to measure the stretcher's height outside the vehicle and automatically or manually adjust it to match the internal deck height, ensuring proper loading and unloading, with a control unit generating alarm signals and controlling the support's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the support height is fixed according to design conditions, then the loading system is simple and reliable, but it cannot adapt to variations in vehicle height due to wear or non-standard conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The support height is made dynamically adjustable through an electric motor-driven mechanism. The support can move vertically between a first position (when stretcher is outside) and a second position (when stretcher is inside), allowing the system to adapt to varying height conditions while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor system detects the actual height of the support surface and provides feedback to a control unit. The control unit compares the detected height with reference values and automatically adjusts the support height to maintain optimal loading conditions, enabling the system to adapt to wear and non-standard conditions without manual intervention.
2Productivity
If manual intervention is required to adjust support height, then the system remains simple, but productivity and ease of operation deteriorate due to additional rescue personnel intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of support height automatically based on sensor feedback and control unit processing. The electric motor-driven mechanism adjusts the support position without requiring manual intervention from rescue personnel, maintaining operational simplicity while significantly improving loading productivity and speed.
3Reliability
If the support height does not match the stretcher height, then the system remains simple, but reliability deteriorates due to abnormal opening/closing or jibbing of the stretcher
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the support height through sensors and compares it with reference values. When a discrepancy is detected, the system automatically activates the electric motor to adjust the support height, ensuring reliable stretcher loading and preventing abnormal opening/closing or jibbing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary height adjustment of the support before the stretcher loading operation begins. By detecting the actual support height in advance and adjusting it to the optimal position, the system ensures reliable loading conditions are established before the stretcher is positioned, preventing operational failures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures consistent and safe loading and unloading of self-loading stretchers by maintaining optimal height alignment, reducing the need for manual intervention and preventing stretcher jibbing, even under non-ideal conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Said determination of the surface height value is carried out by means of one or more optical or infrared sensors, which can be positioned on the vehicle and arranged so as to point to said loading/unloading area.
Implementation Method 2
Said determination of the surface height value is carried out by means of one or more optical or infrared sensors
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system for adjusting the height of self-loading stretcher supports in health compartments of rescue vehicles. In particular, means for changing and adjusting the support-deck distance are arranged between said support and the deck of the health compartment. These means allow recovering possible unbalancing from the ideal value of the loading and unloading height of the self-loading stretcher onto or from the relative support. The adjustment occurs as a function of the height of the vehicle and/or support with respect to the support surface of the self-loading stretcher in a loading/unloading position, i.e. outside the vehicle.