Rotating Mobility Lift Bellows Shield for Safe Floor Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting devices for transferring individuals with reduced mobility between floors lack ergonomic design and reliability, particularly in terms of protecting the mechanism from external interference during rotation and ensuring safe transfer.
Innovation Solution
A rotating lifting device with a deformable bellows masking element and a retaining element, configured to move between positions, where the bellows transitions from a retracted to a deployed state to protect the mechanism and ensure safety, combined with a displacement frame and rotation mechanism for smooth floor transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a masking element is added to protect the mechanism during rotation, then reliability and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a bellows-shaped masking element that acts as a flexible shell to protect the mechanism during rotation. This flexible structure provides necessary protection while maintaining compactness and avoiding the complexity of rigid protective enclosures, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The masking element is designed to be deformable, transitioning between retracted and deployed configurations based on the operational state of the lifting device. This dynamic behavior allows the system to provide protection only when needed (during rotation), reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining reliability during critical operations.
2Volume of moving object
If the bellows is made deformable to optimize space, then volume requirements are reduced, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows masking element utilizes a flexible shell structure that can deform to optimize space during different operational phases. The material and structural design of this flexible shell maintain sufficient strength to provide protection during rotation while allowing compact retraction when not in use, resolving the contradiction between volume optimization and structural integrity.
3Reliability
If the bellows extends over a larger angular section to improve coverage, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The masking element dynamically adjusts its angular coverage by extending over a specific angular section (80°-120°) only when protection is required during rotation. This dynamic angular coverage provides effective protection during critical operations while minimizing the occupied angular space during other phases, resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and space occupation.
4Reliability
If a retaining element is added to secure the bellows, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element is designed to automatically secure the bellows masking element in its deployed configuration during rotation without requiring additional active control mechanisms. This self-securing feature provides reliable mounting while minimizing the increase in device complexity by using a passive, automatic retention system.
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
Enhances ergonomics and reliability by securely protecting the mechanism during rotation and optimizing space requirements, while facilitating safe and efficient transfer of individuals with reduced mobility between floors.
Implementation Method 1
the bellows is made of a shape-memory material, such that said material tends to return to the retracted configuration of the bellows
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a lifting device (10), comprising: a base (20) having a vertical cavity (29); a frame (22), rotatable within the cavity; a platform (24) movable vertically on the frame (22); and a masking element (25) comprising a bellows (82); said bellows having an upper edge (86), fixed to the platform, and a lower edge (88); the bellows (82) being deformable between a retracted and an extended configuration, such that in the retracted configuration, the upper (86) and lower (88) edges of the bellows are closer to each other than in the extended configuration. The masking element further comprises a retaining element (84), fixed both to the lower edge (88) of the bellows and to the moving frame (22).