Hospital Bed Servicing Control Using Cleaning Counters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hospital and care beds require timely servicing to maintain their mechanical and electrical integrity, but existing cleaning methods degrade lubricants and expose electric components to harsh cleaning agents, leading to premature wear and waterproofing issues.
Innovation Solution
A combination of a counter unit and a timer unit within the equipment to track the number of cleanings and elapsed time, along with sensors to detect temperature and pH levels, ensuring timely servicing regardless of actual usage, and a reset mechanism to prevent unintended service indications, integrated with a communication system like Openbus for centralized monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the furniture is cleaned regularly in a washer apparatus, then hygiene is maintained, but lubricant is degraded and washed away
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary tracking of cleaning operations through a counter unit that records each cleaning cycle. This allows the system to anticipate when lubricant replacement will be needed based on the accumulated number of cleanings, enabling proactive maintenance before the lubricant fully degrades.
Solution Approach 2:
The counter unit provides feedback about the number of cleanings performed, and this information is used to determine when servicing is required. The system creates a feedback loop where cleaning history directly influences maintenance scheduling, allowing adaptive replacement timing based on actual usage patterns.
2Productivity
If stronger cleaning agents are used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but seals in electric actuators are ruined and lubricants are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a pH sensor that detects the chemical properties of cleaning agents. By monitoring pH levels, the system can identify when strong cleaning agents are used and adjust maintenance parameters accordingly, such as scheduling more frequent lubricant replacements or using specialized lubricants resistant to chemical degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pH sensor provides feedback about the strength of cleaning agents used, and this information feeds into the control unit to determine when servicing is required. This creates an adaptive maintenance system that responds to the actual chemical conditions encountered during cleaning operations.
3Reliability
If a counter unit is added to track cleanings, then servicing timing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counter unit is designed to automatically track and record cleaning operations without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously monitoring cleaning history and triggering servicing alerts based on predetermined criteria, eliminating the need for manual tracking while adding minimal complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual tracking mechanisms with automated electronic counting and sensing systems. Instead of relying on human memory or paper records, the system uses electronic counters and pH sensors to automatically monitor and determine servicing requirements, reducing long-term maintenance complexity despite initial hardware addition.
4Device complexity
If manual tracking of cleanings is used, then device complexity is minimized, but servicing timing accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The counter unit automatically performs the tracking function without requiring manual intervention, ensuring consistent and accurate recording of cleaning operations. The system serves itself by autonomously monitoring each cleaning cycle and maintaining an accurate count, eliminating human error while adding minimal complexity through automated sensing.
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
Ensures that hospital and care beds are serviced regularly, even if not used the expected number of times within a given period, while preventing damage from aggressive cleaning agents by adjusting service intervals based on cleaning agent strength, thereby extending the lifespan of mechanical and electrical components.
Implementation Method 1
the equipment is furnished with a thermo sensor which gives a signal, when the temperature exceeds a threshold value
Implementation Method 2
a pH sensor which measures the aggressiveness of a cleaning agent and gives a signal
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A control for ensuring periodical servicing of articles of hospital and care furniture (1). The control is based on the cleaning of the article of furniture and recaptures the number of cleanings in a counter. The signal for the counter is initiated either by manual activation when the piece of furniture has been cleaned, or automatically when the piece of furniture (1) is driven out of the automatic washer apparatus (2). In a special embodiment a thermo sensor is used to detect that the article of furniture is being cleaned. An indication of the requirement for servicing is triggered and shown in an indication panel (24) when the number of cleanings exceeds a preset number.