Fixed-Rail Cot Carriage for Low-Strain Ambulance Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Emergency cots are difficult to load into emergency vehicles due to the weight of the cot and the patient, causing strain on medical personnel.

Innovation Solution

A cot loading and unloading system with a fixed rail and a carriage equipped with load arms, allowing the cot to be automatically loaded and unloaded from the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual lifting is used to load the cot into the emergency vehicle, then the operation is simple, but the strain on medical personnel increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of loadingVSAvoidstrain on personnel

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mechanical loading system with a carriage, load arms, and fixed rail as an intermediary between the cot and the medical personnel. The load arms mechanically engage with the cot and transmit lifting forces through the carriage along the rail, eliminating the need for personnel to directly lift the cot. This mediator system handles the heavy lifting while personnel only need to operate controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical lifting system with an automated mechanical system. Instead of personnel using their physical strength to lift the cot, the system uses a motorized or mechanically actuated carriage that travels along a fixed rail, with load arms that automatically engage and lift the cot. This substitutes human mechanical effort with a engineered mechanical system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Force

If a mechanical loading system is implemented, then the strain on personnel is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrain on personnelVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the loading system into distinct functional segments: a fixed rail mounted to the vehicle, a movable carriage that travels along the rail, load arms that engage the cot, and a control system. This segmentation allows each component to be independently designed, analyzed, and maintained, reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic elements including a movable carriage that travels along the fixed rail, load arms that pivot to engage and lift the cot, and a control system that coordinates movement. These dynamic components enable the system to adapt to different loading scenarios while maintaining a relatively simple structural foundation through the fixed rail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250073100A1Cot Loading and Unloading System Having a Fixed Rail and a Carriage

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 FERNO WASHINGTON INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a carriage of a cot loading and unloading system, the carriage includes a plurality of wheels for engaging a track defined by a fixed rail of the cot loading and unloading system, wherein the carriage is operable to travel to an end of the fixed rail such that a portion of the carriage extends beyond a length of the track, and a pair of load arms for supporting a cot.