Tiltable Patient Support Scissors Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient-supporting apparatuses lack the ability to tilt without additional subassemblies, which limits installation space and increases the minimum rise height, and they require modifications to existing lifting structures to achieve tilting functionality.
Innovation Solution
A tiltable patient-supporting apparatus with a lifting apparatus featuring a scissors-form linkage where the central articulation's point of rotation is movable, either linearly or rotatably, allowing the upper part to tilt about a transverse axis without additional components, and integrating the tilting mechanism into existing lifting structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional subassemblies are added to existing lifting structures to achieve tilting functionality, then tilting capability is improved, but device complexity and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tilting mechanism directly into the existing scissors-form lifting linkage by making the central articulation's point of rotation movable. This merging approach integrates two functions (lifting and tilting) into a single structure, eliminating the need for separate tilting subassemblies and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full tilting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The scissors-form lifting linkage is designed to perform multiple functions: vertical lifting through the movement of connecting articulations and tilting through the movable point of rotation in the central articulation. This multi-functionality allows a single structure to replace what would traditionally require separate lifting and tilting mechanisms
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional subassemblies are added to achieve tilting functionality, then tilting capability is improved, but installation space and minimum rise height increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the tilting function into the existing lifting linkage structure through the movable point of rotation, the patent eliminates the need for additional space-consuming subassemblies. The tilting mechanism utilizes the same structural components already present in the lifting apparatus, thereby minimizing installation space requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing lifting structures are modified to achieve tilting, then tilting functionality is added, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics to the traditionally static point of rotation in the central articulation by making it movable along a guided path. This dynamic element allows the structure to transition between lifting-only mode and tilting-capable mode without requiring complex additional mechanisms, achieving tilting functionality through a single degree of freedom modification
Data Source
AI summary
A patient-supporting apparatus includes a lifting apparatus. The lifting apparatus includes an upper part, a lower part, and a lifting linkage. The lifting linkage connects the upper part to the lower part and has at least one scissors-form sub-linkage having a central articulation. A point of rotation of the central articulation is arranged in a displaceable manner such that the upper part may be tilted in a transverse direction.