Tiltable Ambulance Cot Support Structure for Low Loading Edge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ambulance vehicles with high gross vehicle mass, such as mobile stroke units, face challenges in loading patients due to high interior floor levels, limiting the use of automated loading systems and preventing the installation of features like air suspension between the cot and floor.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a support structure with an actuator that can tilt and being partially housed in a recess formed in the floor of the interior space, allowing for lower loading edges and enabling the use of air suspension systems in vehicles with high floors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the gross vehicle mass of the ambulance vehicle is increased to accommodate heavy-duty equipment (e.g., computer tomography device), then the vehicle mass and structural strength are improved, but the interior floor height increases, causing the loading edge height to exceed the maximum loading height of common ambulance cots
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is made tiltable through the actuator, allowing dynamic adjustment of the loading edge height. During loading operations, the support structure can be tilted to lower the loading edge to an acceptable height for common ambulance cots, while during patient transport, it returns to a horizontal position to support the patient at the required height. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between high vehicle mass and ease of loading operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is partially housed in a recess formed in the floor, utilizing the vertical dimension to accommodate the support structure when not in use. This allows the loading edge to be lowered when needed without permanently reducing the interior floor height, thus maintaining both the high gross vehicle mass capability and the ability to perform easy loading operations.
2Ease of operation
If the loading edge height is reduced to enable automated loading with common ambulance cots, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to install air suspension systems and other features requiring higher loading edges is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tiltable support structure provides dynamic height adjustment, allowing the system to achieve low loading edge height for automated loading when needed, while maintaining the capability to support higher configurations for air suspension systems during patient transport. This resolves the contradiction by making the loading edge height variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is separated from the floor by being partially housed in a recess, allowing independent optimization of the floor height for structural integrity and the support structure height for loading operations. This segmentation enables the system to accommodate both automated loading requirements and air suspension installation requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If common ambulance cots are used worldwide, then the ease of manufacture and availability are improved, but the interoperability with heavy-duty ambulance vehicles having high interior floors is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tiltable support structure with actuator enables heavy-duty ambulance vehicles to dynamically adjust their loading edge height to be compatible with common ambulance cots. This maintains the advantages of using widely available standard cots while enabling interoperability with heavy-duty vehicles through active height control.
Solution Approach 2:
The tiltable support structure serves multiple functions: it enables compatibility with common ambulance cots for automated loading, supports air suspension systems for patient comfort, and maintains the required patient height during transport. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between using standard cots and achieving interoperability with heavy-duty vehicles.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment is directed to an ambulance vehicle, especially mobile stroke unit. The embodiment of the ambulance vehicle includes a support structure within an interior space of the ambulance vehicle for supporting a cot or stretcher used for transporting the patient. The embodiment of the ambulance vehicle further includes an actuator for tilting the support structure and/or the support structure being at least partially housed in a recess formed in a floor of the interior space.