Person Support Frame Orientation Control on Angled Floors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Person support apparatuses with fluidized particulate material bladders face challenges in maintaining desired distribution of the material during height adjustments, leading to inadequate support due to gravitational migration, especially on angled floors.
Innovation Solution
The system adjusts the angular orientation of the upper frame with respect to the base frame using actuators and sensors, maintaining the fluidized particulate material within a predetermined distribution range by comparing readings from sensors and adjusting actuator speeds to ensure the material remains evenly distributed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the height of the upper frame is adjusted using actuators, then the height of the person support apparatus is changed, but the angular orientation becomes unstable causing particulate material migration
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect the actual angular orientation of the upper frame during height adjustment, compares it with the target orientation, and dynamically adjusts actuator speeds to correct deviations. This closed-loop feedback control maintains stable angular orientation despite height changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator speeds are dynamically adjusted during the height adjustment process rather than operating at fixed speeds. The system modifies actuator velocities in real-time based on feedback from orientation sensors, enabling the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain orientation stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the person support apparatus is positioned on angled surfaces, then the apparatus can be used in varied environments, but gravitational migration of particulate material occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system preemptively counteracts gravitational migration by adjusting the angular orientation of the upper frame before and during height adjustments. By maintaining the correct angular relationship between frames, the system prevents particulate material from migrating due to gravity on angled surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the angular orientation parameter of the upper frame relative to the base frame to compensate for tilted surface conditions. By adjusting this angular parameter, the system maintains proper particulate material distribution even when operated on non-horizontal surfaces.
3Productivity
If actuator speeds are increased to improve adjustment speed, then productivity increases, but angular orientation control precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically varies actuator speeds during the adjustment process. Actuator speeds are higher during initial positioning phases and automatically reduced when approaching the target orientation or when precision control is required, optimizing both productivity and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback from orientation sensors allows the system to monitor angular orientation during high-speed adjustment and automatically reduce actuator speeds when precision control is needed, maintaining both high productivity and accurate orientation control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling an angular orientation of a person support apparatus including a bladder portion containing fluidized particulate material, an upper frame, and a base frame may include adjusting a height of the upper frame with respect to the base frame with at least one of a first and second actuator at respective speeds, determining a dynamic angular orientation of the upper frame with respect to the base frame based on at least one of a respective operating characteristic of the first and second actuator, determining a corrected angular orientation based on the dynamic angular orientation and a floor angle indicative of the orientation of the base frame with respect to horizontal, comparing the corrected angular orientation with an orientation reference range, and adjusting at least one actuator speed when the corrected angular orientation is outside the orientation reference range until it is within the orientation reference range.