Double Roller Compact Profile Actuation for Articulating Bed Elevation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Articulating beds face challenges in maintaining rigidity and compactness due to the size and weight of their mechanical structures, particularly in supporting the mattress and occupant, while also requiring reduced thickness profiles for side support elements, which exposes the actuation system and complicates leverage and angular orientation.
Innovation Solution
A double roller compact profile actuation system is implemented, featuring two angled arms with a first pair of wheels at the vertex and a second pair at the arm's end, allowing for two ranges of motion to provide enhanced leverage and masking the actuation system within a reduced thickness profile, using a first actuator attached to a cross brace between the arms and engaging longitudinal rails for articulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional actuators are used for upper body positioning, then the bed can support the weight and provide positioning functionality, but the actuation system becomes large and requires significant angular orientation, exposing the system and creating dead spots
Solution Approach 1:
The elevating assembly is segmented into two separate wheel pairs (first and second pairs of wheels) positioned at different locations on the angled arms. This segmentation allows each wheel pair to engage with the longitudinal rails at different ranges of motion, enabling a compact profile while maintaining full positioning functionality without requiring large angular orientations
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between two wheel pairs during articulation. The first wheel pair engages during the first range of motion, and the second wheel pair engages during the second range of motion. This dynamic switching allows the actuation system to maintain a reduced thickness profile in all positions while eliminating dead spots through continuous engagement
2Shape
If the side support elements are reduced in thickness, then the bed profile is more compact and modern, but the actuation system is exposed to view and structural rigidity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elevating assembly utilizes angular arms that extend diagonally across the side support element, engaging longitudinal rails through wheel pairs positioned at different depths. This dimensional arrangement allows the actuation mechanism to be distributed throughout the thickness of the side support rather than concentrated at one location, maintaining rigidity while achieving a compact profile
3Device complexity
If traditional single wheel actuation is used, then the structure is simpler, but dead spots and overcenter conditions occur during articulation
Solution Approach 1:
The dual wheel pair system ensures continuous engagement with the longitudinal rails throughout the entire range of motion. The first wheel pair engages during the first range of motion, and the second wheel pair engages during the second range of motion, eliminating dead spots and overcenter conditions by maintaining continuous useful action during articulation
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 enables the articulating bed to maintain rigidity and support the mattress and occupant effectively while maintaining a compact profile, preventing 'dead spots' and overcenter conditions, and allowing for smooth articulation within a minimal vertical space.
Implementation Method 1
two angled arms with a first pair of wheels at the vertex and a second pair at the arm's end, allowing for two ranges of motion to provide enhanced leverage
Implementation Method 2
first pair of wheels are in contact with longitudinal rails in the upper body support and a second range of motion in which the second pair of wheels are in contact with the longitudinal rails
Data Source
AI summary
An articulating bed incorporates a support frame with a head end rail, a foot end rail and having side frame rails. An upper body support frame is rotatably connected to a first cross member in the frame. An elevating assembly for the upper body support frame has two angled arms attached to the first cross member with hinges. A first pair of wheels is attached to the angled arms at a vertex and a second pair of wheels attached at an end of the arms distal from the hinges. A first actuator is attached from the head end rail to a cross brace extending between the angled arms. The elevating assembly has a first range of motion in which the first pair of wheels are in contact with longitudinal rails in the upper body support and a second range of motion in which the second pair of wheels are in contact with the longitudinal rails.