Auxiliary Wheel Vertical Adjustment for Patient Transport Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient transport apparatuses face challenges in maintaining traction over uneven floor surfaces due to the non-swiveling auxiliary wheel's inability to adjust vertically, leading to loss of traction or abrupt force transfer when transitioning between flat and inclined surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The patient transport apparatus incorporates an auxiliary wheel assembly with a lift actuator and spring cartridge assembly that allows the auxiliary wheel to move vertically, biasing it towards the floor to maintain traction on uneven surfaces, enabling smooth movement over peaks and valleys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the auxiliary wheel is kept fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the wheel cannot adjust to uneven floor surfaces causing loss of traction
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary wheel assembly is made dynamically adjustable through a lift actuator that raises or lowers the wheel based on floor conditions. The spring cartridge assembly allows the wheel to move vertically in response to uneven surfaces, enabling it to maintain contact and traction while adapting to changing environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical position parameter of the auxiliary wheel is made variable through the lift actuator mechanism. The wheel can change its height relative to the floor surface, allowing it to adjust to peaks and valleys in the floor while maintaining sufficient contact for traction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the auxiliary wheel is made movable vertically, then traction is maintained on uneven surfaces, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring cartridge assembly enables the auxiliary wheel to automatically adjust its vertical position in response to floor variations without requiring external control. The spring mechanism self-regulates the wheel's height based on the encountered surface conditions, providing adaptive behavior while minimizing control system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly incorporates dynamic elements including the lift actuator for manual control and the spring cartridge for automatic response. This dynamic design allows the system to adapt to varying floor conditions through controlled movement rather than fixed positioning.
3Ease of operation
If the auxiliary wheel is deployed on declined surfaces, then movement control is improved, but the wheel cannot compensate for vertical variations causing abrupt force transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The spring cartridge assembly acts as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs vertical shocks and variations before they reach the wheel-floor contact point. This pre-cushioning effect smooths out abrupt force transfers by gradually accommodating vertical variations through spring compression and expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical position parameter of the auxiliary wheel is dynamically adjusted through the lift actuator to compensate for declined and inclined surfaces. By changing the wheel's height relative to the floor, the system maintains stable force transfer while preserving movement control capability.
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
This solution ensures stable and controlled movement of the patient transport apparatus over uneven surfaces by maintaining sufficient traction between the auxiliary wheel and the floor, reducing the risk of loss of traction or force transfer issues.
Implementation Method 1
a spring cartridge assembly configured to bias the auxiliary wheel outwardly from the support frame and towards the deployed position
Data Source
AI summary
A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support frame to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over a floor surface. The auxiliary wheel is movable to a deployed position with the auxiliary wheel engaging the floor surface and a stowed position with the auxiliary wheel spaced a distance from the floor surface. An actuator assembly coupled to the support frame and to the auxiliary wheel. The actuator assembly includes a lift actuator and a spring cartridge assembly. The lift actuator is operable to move the auxiliary wheel to the deployed position and to the stowed position. The spring cartridge assembly is configured to bias the auxiliary wheel towards the deployed position.