Auxiliary Wheel Control for Patient Support Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient support apparatuses face challenges in maintaining contact with the floor surface, especially on uneven terrain, leading to loss of control and stability when moving on sloped or transitioning surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with a suspension system and auxiliary wheels that can be controlled to maintain contact with the floor surface, featuring a base with caster wheels and an auxiliary wheel support structure that allows the auxiliary wheels to engage or disengage from the floor, ensuring all wheels remain in contact during movement, even on uneven surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fifth wheel arrangement is used to support the patient support apparatus, then the apparatus can be supported on the floor surface, but the fifth wheel may lift from the floor on sloped or transitioning surfaces, causing loss of control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic wheel support system where the fifth wheel and caster wheels can automatically adjust their positions relative to the floor surface. The support structure allows wheels to move between engaged and disengaged states based on terrain conditions, ensuring continuous floor contact and steering control on sloped surfaces while maintaining stability on level ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the wheel support structure by allowing the fifth wheel to transition between different engagement states. When the floor surface becomes sloped or uneven, the support structure adjusts the fifth wheel's position to maintain floor contact, preventing loss of control while adapting to varying terrain conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the fifth wheel is positioned at the center of the patient support apparatus, then the rear castered wheels and fifth wheel can engage the floor surface, but the front castered wheels are raised and cannot provide steering function on uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel support system is segmented into independently controllable sections, with the fifth wheel and caster wheels able to adjust their engagement with the floor surface independently. This segmentation allows the front caster wheels to remain engaged on uneven terrain while the fifth wheel provides stable support, enabling both steering function and floor contact stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides stable floor contact through the fifth wheel while simultaneously enabling the front caster wheels to engage the floor for steering on uneven surfaces. This multi-functional design allows the apparatus to adapt to various terrain conditions while maintaining both stability and maneuverability.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus includes a base having a length and including a plurality of caster wheels enabling movement of the patient support apparatus across a floor surface. An auxiliary wheel support structure is secured to the base and rotatably supports at least one non-castered auxiliary wheel about a rotational axis transverse to the length of the base for engagement with the floor surface. The auxiliary wheel support structure may be configured to support the auxiliary wheel and to enable movement of the auxiliary wheel out of engagement with the floor surface to a non-engaged position wherein the at least one auxiliary wheel is out of engagement with the floor surface. A control apparatus is in communication with and moves the at least one auxiliary wheel between at least one deployed position and a non-engaged position.