Bed Lifting Mechanism With Dual-Mode Carriage Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bed lifting mechanisms in healthcare settings are often expensive, bulky, and restrict access due to their complexity and size, and require large actuators or complex designs, limiting how low the bed can be lowered and complicating emergency access.
Innovation Solution
A lifting mechanism with an elongate first and second leg, a carriage assembly, and a guide rail system, utilizing a moveable actuator that engages and disengages with the guide rail and leg to allow the bed to be lowered close to the floor while enabling easy access and removal of head/footboards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the bed is lowered close to the floor to reduce fall injuries, then patient safety is improved, but large forces are required which necessitate bulky actuators or complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism employs dynamic engagement and disengagement between the carriage assembly and guide rail. During the first range of actuator movement, the carriage engages with the guide rail to apply force. During the second range, the carriage disengages from the guide rail and engages with the first leg directly. This dynamic transition allows the system to operate in two distinct modes, resolving the force complexity issue by allowing direct force application at certain stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting mechanism divides the actuator's movement range into two distinct segments: a first range where the carriage engages with the guide rail, and a second range where the carriage engages with the first leg. This segmentation allows different mechanical configurations to be utilized at different stages of the lifting operation, enabling the bed to be lowered close to the floor without requiring continuously complex mechanisms or oversized actuators.
2Ease of operation
If the lifting mechanism is located in the headboard or footboard to enable easy access, then accessibility is improved, but the headboard or footboard cannot be removed for emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism is extracted from the traditional locations of headboards or footboards and repositioned to be located under the frame of the bed. This extraction allows the headboard and footboard to remain detachable components while the lifting functionality is preserved in a separate, non-interfering location. The mechanism uses the bed frame structure itself as part of its support system, eliminating the need to embed bulky lifting components in the headboard or footboard.
3Length of moving object
If the lifting mechanism is located under the frame to allow low bed position, then bed height flexibility is improved, but access to the mechanism is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as a force application point during the first range of movement (engaging with the guide rail), and serves as a direct force application point to the first leg during the second range of movement. This multi-functionality allows the mechanism to achieve full bed height range while maintaining operational simplicity, as the same carriage assembly handles both guide rail interaction and direct leg engagement without requiring separate accessible control mechanisms.
4Force
If prior art systems use large actuators to handle large forces, then lifting capability is improved, but the system becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between two operational modes: engaging with the guide rail during the first range of movement, and engaging directly with the first leg during the second range. This dynamic operation allows smaller actuators to be used because the force requirements are distributed across different mechanical configurations rather than requiring a single oversized actuator to handle all force conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting force application is segmented into two distinct phases corresponding to the two ranges of actuator movement. During the first range, force is applied through the guide rail engagement. During the second range, force is applied directly to the first leg. This segmentation of force application allows the use of smaller, lighter actuators that only need to provide sufficient force for each individual phase rather than requiring continuous high force capability throughout the entire range of motion.
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
The mechanism allows the bed to be safely lowered near the floor, reducing fall injuries and facilitating easy access, while maintaining compactness and allowing for easy removal of bed components during emergencies.
Implementation Method 1
the carriage assembly is engaged with the guide rail to apply a force to the guide rail
Implementation Method 2
a moveable actuator configured to apply a force to the carriage assembly
Implementation Method 3
engagement of the carriage assembly with the first leg comprises contact between the carriage assembly and the stop element
Implementation Method 4
Contact between the carriage assembly and the stop element preferably limits movement of the carriage assembly relative to the first leg along the first leg axis
Implementation Method 5
movement of the actuator causes movement of the first leg relative to the second leg about the pivotal connection
Implementation Method 6
an elongate first leg having a first leg axis; an elongate second leg having a second leg axis and being pivotally connected to the first leg
Data Source
AI summary
A lifting mechanism for a bed includes an elongate first leg having a first leg axis; an elongate second leg having a second leg axis and being pivotally connected to the first leg; a carriage assembly slidably connected to the first leg so as to be moveable in a direction substantially parallel to the first leg axis; a guide rail connected to the second leg and having a guide rail axis, the guide rail axis being at a non-zero angle to the second leg axis; and a moveable actuator configured to apply a force to the carriage assembly.