Rack and Pinion Powered Bed Width Expansion for Bariatric Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hospital beds with powered width expansion wings are often bulky, heavy, and costly, and lack efficient retrofit solutions for manually operated wings, making them difficult to repair and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A bed design featuring a motor assembly grounded to the fixed width section and lead screws with oppositely handed receivers, allowing for compact, lightweight, and cost-effective powered width adjustment, along with a retrofit kit for upgrading manually operated beds, utilizing a motor assembly, lead screws, and support brackets for easy installation and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hydraulic cylinders or linear actuators are used to power width expansion wings, then the wings can be deployed and stored, but the system becomes bulky, heavy, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hydraulic cylinders and linear actuators with a simpler mechanical system consisting of a motor assembly, lead screw, and rack and pinion mechanism. This substitution eliminates bulky hydraulic reservoirs and heavy actuator assemblies while maintaining the powered deployment function through a more compact mechanical transmission system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the unnecessary bulk and weight from traditional powered systems by eliminating hydraulic fluid reservoirs, complex valve assemblies, and heavy-duty linear actuators. The design keeps only the essential motor and mechanical transmission components needed for wing deployment, significantly reducing overall system weight.
2Ease of operation
If hydraulic cylinders or linear actuators are used to power width expansion wings, then the wings can be deployed and stored, but the system becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive hydraulic systems and precision linear actuators with a more economical mechanical system using a motor, lead screw, and rack and pinion. These components are generally less costly to manufacture and assemble, reducing overall system cost while maintaining the essential powered deployment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simpler, more cost-effective mechanical components that can be manufactured at lower cost. The motor assembly, lead screw, and rack and pinion represent a more economical approach compared to hydraulic systems, allowing for cost-effective production and potential easier replacement if needed.
3Device complexity
If manual operation is used for width adjustment, then the system is simple, but it requires significant caregiver effort and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service powered system where the motor assembly automatically performs the work of deploying and storing the wings. The motor receives electrical power and autonomously drives the lead screw and rack and pinion mechanism to move the wings, eliminating the need for caregivers to manually pull or push the heavy wings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes manual mechanical effort with an electric motor-driven mechanical system. The motor assembly converts electrical energy into mechanical motion through the lead screw and rack and pinion, replacing the need for human physical effort while adding only moderate system complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing beds are retrofitted with powered wings, then upgraded functionality is achieved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the retrofit system into separate modular components: a motor assembly, a lead screw mechanism, and a rack and pinion system. This segmentation allows each component to be independently installed on existing bed frames and wing structures, simplifying the retrofit process and reducing installation complexity compared to a fully integrated 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
Enables efficient, reliable, and cost-effective powered width adjustment of hospital beds, allowing for easier accommodation of bariatric patients and simplified maintenance, while being compact and lightweight, and suitable for retrofitting existing beds.
Implementation Method 1
a lead screw coupled to the motor assembly and to a lead screw receiver nonmovably associated with the other of the fixed width section and the wing
Implementation Method 2
A bed disclosed herein comprises a fixed width section having a width and an outboard edge, a wing movably coupled to the fixed width section, a motor assembly mechanically grounded to one of the fixed width section and the wing, and a lead screw coupled to the motor assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A bed comprises a fixed width deck section, a wing movably coupled to the fixed width section, and a rack and pinion mechanism for extending and retracting the wing.