Patient Lifting Guide Column Stiffening via Spacer Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient lifting tables face challenges in meeting varying regulatory requirements for lifting force and bending moments while maintaining functional reliability, often at high production costs and with complex precision components.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a spacer element extending over the entire height between guide columns, forming a continuous stiffened unit with half-shell sliding blocks, allowing for compact and cost-effective construction using standardized components, and a hydraulic lifting drive integrated within the movable column structure, eliminating the need for additional connecting means and optimizing static performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If guide columns are made slim or tubular to reduce cost and complexity, then production costs and device complexity are reduced, but the guide columns may deform under high loads
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer element merges the functions of maintaining guide column distance and providing structural stiffening into a single component. By integrating the spacer element with the guide columns to form a continuous stiffened unit, the structure achieves high load-bearing capacity while allowing the use of slim, cost-effective tubular guide columns.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed column structure combines different materials or material configurations - the tubular guide columns work in conjunction with the spacer element to create a composite structural system that achieves high stiffness and strength while using economical thin-walled components.
2Ease of manufacture
If standardized components are used to reduce costs, then production costs are reduced, but the precision and functional reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the guide columns and spacer element into a continuous stiffened unit, the system achieves high precision and reliability through the integrated structure rather than relying on precision of individual standardized components alone. The continuous stiffening provides inherent stability that compensates for tolerances in standardized parts.
3Reliability
If guide columns are continuously stiffened with a spacer element to prevent deformation, then structural reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer element is merged with the guide columns to form an integrated fixed column structure. This merging approach provides continuous stiffening and high structural reliability while avoiding the need for separate, complex bracing or support systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If play-free mounting and guidance are achieved through precise components, then guidance precision is improved, but production costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous stiffened unit of guide columns and spacer element provides inherent stability that enables play-free mounting and guidance. By merging these components into a rigid integrated structure, the system achieves high guidance precision without requiring complex precision components or adjustment mechanisms.
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 enables patient lifting tables to exceed minimum requirements with enhanced stiffness and reliability, using inexpensive components without compromising precision or resilience, and allows for a compact, maintenance-free lifting structure capable of handling high mechanical loads.
Implementation Method 1
sliding blocks equipped with at least one sliding shell having a substantially half-shell shape... sliding blocks act on both sides of the unit consisting of the two guide columns
Data Source
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AI summary
The lifting structure (1) of a height-adjustable support for patients comprises a telescopic lifting pillar having a fixed pillar structure (2), a linearly displaceable pillar structure (3) movable relative thereto, and a lift drive acting between the fixed and the movable pillar structure. The fixed pillar structure comprises two guide pillars (5) having a cylindrical surface aligned parallel with each other and held spaced apart from each other. The two guide pillars (5) are held spaced apart from each other by way of a spacer element (6) extending between the guide pillars substantially over the entire height thereof. Sliding blocks (22) forming a part of the movable pillar structure (3) and each fitted with at least one slide shell (25) of substantially half-shell form are guided in a sliding manner on the guide pillars (5).