Patient Bed Coupling Locking for Safe Bed-to-Trolley Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing patient bed system lacks adequate locking mechanisms during transfer operations, leading to potential instability and risk of the bed being lifted out, especially when coupling elements are not aligned properly, resulting in unreliable locking and potential malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of adjustably mounted locking elements with control cams and two-armed rotatably mounted levers ensures positive engagement and disengagement of locking elements during transfer, ensuring the bed is secured between oppositely oriented control edges, eliminating reliance on spring pressure for latching and preventing lifting during transfer operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If spring-loaded locking bolts are used to latch coupling elements, then the locking mechanism is simple in structure, but the bed is not protected against being lifted out during transfer operations and locking bolts may be prevented from snapping in due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The control cams are designed to advance the locking elements into their locking positions before the coupling elements are fully engaged. This preliminary action ensures that the locking elements are already in place to prevent the bed from being lifted out during transfer operations, eliminating the safety gap that existed in the spring-loaded system.
Solution Approach 2:
Control cams are introduced as intermediary elements that mediate between the coupling elements and the locking elements. These cams guide and control the movement of locking elements, ensuring proper alignment and engagement even when coupling elements are slightly tilted, thereby preventing the misalignment issues that plagued the spring-loaded system.
2Ease of operation
If locking elements are advanced by spring force, then the locking action is automatic, but the locking elements cannot engage reliably when coupling elements are tilted or misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The control cams serve as intermediaries that guide the locking elements into proper alignment with the coupling elements. By using these cam surfaces, the system can accommodate slight tilts and misalignments in the coupling elements while still ensuring reliable engagement of the locking elements, overcoming the limitation of purely spring-force-driven automatic locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The control cams are designed with specific geometric parameters that change during the engagement process. As the coupling elements move into position, the cam surfaces guide the locking elements through a controlled path, adjusting their position dynamically to ensure proper alignment regardless of initial misalignment, thus maintaining reliable locking action.
3Productivity
If the bed is lowered onto the trolley during transfer, then the transfer operation can be performed, but the bed is unprotected against being lifted out at the moment of take-over
Solution Approach 1:
The control cams are designed to advance the locking elements into their locking positions before the bed is fully transferred onto the trolley. This preliminary locking action ensures that when the bed is in the vulnerable position during take-over, the locking elements are already engaged and protect against the bed being lifted out, maintaining both transfer efficiency and safety.
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 provides enhanced safety and reliability by ensuring the bed is securely locked to either the support column or trolley, preventing accidental lifting and ensuring friction-free transfers by maintaining precise alignment of coupling elements.
Implementation Method 1
the coupling elements have formed on them control cams, by means of which, during the operation of transferring the bed from the support column onto the trolley, or vice versa, the locking element is shifted positively into the respective clearance or is shifted out of the latter
Implementation Method 2
the respective locking element is designed as a two-armed rotatably mounted lever which has control edges which are intended to interact with the control cams and which are arranged opposite to the fulcrum of the lever
Data Source
AI summary
In a patient bed system, comprising a patient bed, a support column for supporting the bed and a trolley for transporting the bed, the bed having arranged on it first coupling elements (22) which are intended for selective connection to second or third coupling elements (24, 26) on the support column and on the trolley respectively, locking means (60, 62) being provided on at least one of the coupling elements, in order to lock the first coupling elements (22) alternatively to the second or third coupling elements (24, 26) when the bed is coupled to the support column or to the trolley (16), the locking means have at least one locking element (60, 62) which is arranged adjustably on one of the coupling elements (22, 24, 26) and which, in the engagement position of two coupling elements (22, 24, 26), engages into a clearance (76, 82) of the coupling element adjacent in each case, the coupling elements having formed on them control cams (88), by means of which, during the operation of transferring the bed from the support column onto the trolley, or vice versa, the locking element (60, 62) is shifted positively into the clearance or is shifted out of the latter.