Transport Trolley Castor Limiting Unit for Operating Table Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport trolleys for operating tables face challenges in maneuverability and stability due to collisions between guide rollers and operating table columns, particularly when reversing direction, which complicates the movement of patient support surfaces and operating table columns.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a limiting unit that restricts the pivoting movement of castors about their pivot axis, allowing unimpeded movement when not activated and preventing pivoting when reversing near the operating table column to avoid collisions, with the ability to release this restriction when the operating table column is raised or moved away from the floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If castors are made pivotable to improve maneuverability, then the transport trolley can be easily positioned and steered, but collisions occur when reversing direction near operating table columns
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting unit dynamically changes the pivoting capability of the castor based on operational conditions. When the transport trolley approaches an operating table column, the limiting unit activates to restrict pivoting movement, preventing collision. When away from obstacles, the castor regains full pivoting freedom for maneuverability. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maneuverability and collision risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The limiting unit preemptively restricts castor pivoting when detecting proximity to operating table columns, preventing the harmful collision before it occurs. By anticipating the potential collision scenario and applying counter-action (limiting pivoting), the system avoids the harmful effect while maintaining operational capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the limiting unit restricts castor pivoting to prevent collisions, then stability is improved, but maneuverability is reduced when not near columns
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting unit dynamically adjusts castor behavior based on spatial context. When the transport trolley is positioned away from operating table columns, the limiting unit remains inactive allowing full pivoting freedom for maneuverability. When approaching columns, it activates to provide stability by preventing collision-causing pivots. This conditional activation resolves the contradiction between stability and maneuverability.
3Length of moving object
If the transport trolley is designed with a narrow width to pass through doors, then ease of transport is improved, but the castors have less space to pivot without colliding
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting unit acts as an intermediary mechanism that compensates for the reduced pivoting space caused by narrow castor design. By actively controlling and restricting castor pivoting movement when approaching obstacles, the limiting unit prevents collisions that would otherwise occur due to insufficient pivoting clearance, enabling the use of narrow-width trolleys without sacrificing safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
The carriage (100) has a chassis (102) that is connected with a patient support and/or with an operating table column. The chassis comprises two longitudinal beams (104,106) that are arranged at a distance to form a fork-shaped opening (150). Multiple castors (110,112,114,116) which are pivotable about a swiveling axis are arranged at the opening of the longitudinal beams. A pair of delimiting unit (158,160) is provided for disabling and/or enabling delimiting of a swiveling movement of one of the castors about the swiveling axis, in the respective operational states. An independent claim is included for an operating table arrangement.