Fixed-Rail Cot Support Beam for Low-Strain Vehicle 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 that includes a fixed rail mounted to the vehicle's cargo area, a carriage that translates along the rail, and a support beam that allows the carriage to extend beyond the rail, enabling automatic lifting and loading of the cot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering 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 is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mechanical loading system as an intermediary between the cot and the cargo area. This system includes a support beam that translates within a fixed rail, a carriage that moves along the rail, and load arms that lift and lower the cot. The intermediary mechanical system transfers the loading task from human personnel to the automated mechanism, eliminating the need for medical personnel to manually lift the heavy cot while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
2Force
If a mechanical loading system is implemented, then the strain on medical personnel is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical loading system is divided into distinct functional segments: a support beam that translates within a fixed rail, a carriage that moves along the rail, load arms for lifting, and a control system. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, making the overall complex system manageable through modular design. The support beam and carriage can be controlled independently, and the load arms operate separately to perform the lifting action.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic components that move and adjust during operation. The support beam translates along the fixed rail to extend beyond the cargo area when needed. The carriage moves along the rail to position the load arms. The load arms themselves pivot and adjust to lift and lower the cot. These dynamic elements allow the system to adapt to different loading scenarios while maintaining a relatively compact structure when not in use.
3Length of moving object
If the support beam is extended beyond the fixed rail, then the carriage can be supported in extended position, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support beam is nested within the fixed rail structure when not in use. The support beam can translate along the fixed rail, extending beyond it when the carriage needs to reach positions outside the cargo area. This nesting arrangement allows the support beam to be stored compactly within the rail structure while still providing the necessary extension capability when required, minimizing structural complexity while achieving the required length extension.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment a support beam for supporting a carriage of a cot loading and unloading system includes a support beam member operable to translate within a fixed rail that is fixed to a vehicle, and operable to support the carriage beyond a length of the fixed rail when the support beam is in an extended position.