GB2286813A - Trolley transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An ambulance has rear doors through which stretchers (1) are passed. It is equipped with a carrier (7) which can shift only laterally, clearing any wheel arch (5) between a central position and one up against a side wall. Beneath the floor (10) of the carrier (7) there is normally stowed a ramp (8). In the central position of the carrier (7), this ramp is pulled out rearwardly and inclined down to the ground. It may be of telescoping pants (16, 17) to provide a gradual incline, and a bridge (9) can provide a transition from its upper end to the floor (10). Wheeled stretchers can then easily be rolled between the ground and the interior of the ambulance, and stowed against a side wall. Provision (30, 41) is made for rapidly and securely locking the stretcher (1) to the carrier (7) when properly positioned on it. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relating to Trolley Transfer Apparatus" This invention relates to trolley transfer apparatus.

It was primarily developed as a means for getting wheeled stretchers in and out of ambulances, but it could have other applications.

Ambulances almost invariably have rear doors through which stretchers are moved in and out. To stop them being a hazard to traffic on the offside and to pedestrians on the near side, the doors often only open to 900. In other words, they align with the sides of the vehicle when open. To pass a stretcher into the ambulance normally needs people on either side, and so the stretcher has to be located centrally, to allow the attendants room to stand between the open doors and the stretcher. Once in the vehicle, the stretcher is moved to one side or the other, to keep a central alleyway clear.

But even if the doors open through 2700, as is sometimes the case, it is still more convenient to load and unload centrally.

Another reason for entering the stretcher along the centre line, in some vehicles at least, is that the wheel arches would get in the way if the stretcher was entered straight along one side or the other.

Even when in the ambulance, these wheel arches can form an obstruction preventing the stretcher being pushed neatly against a side wall. A platform is often provided and the stretcher lifted onto that. But in the cramped conditions of a small ambulance, this means lifting from one side only in a bent position, and that can be very awkward and difficult, especially if the patient is large and heavy.

It is the aim of this invention to provide apparatus which will enable the stretcher, assuming it has wheels, to be run up smoothly into the ambulance and then shunted sideways with the minimum of effort. Removing the stretcher from the ambulance would be a simple reversal of the process, and just as easy.

According to the present invention there is provided trolley transfer apparatus for moving a trolley from the ground to the interior of a vehicle through a rear door, the apparatus comprising a carrier, with a floor for receiving a trolley, mounted in the vehicle and guided for movement transverse to the vehicle between lateral and generally central positions, means for holding the carrier in each such position, and a ramp linked to the carrier and being movable between a stowed position beneath the floor and an extended position in which it is pulled out from the stowed position and hinged down to the ground, thereby providing a path between the ground and the carrier.

Normally, this extension of the ramp will be carried out when the carrier is in the central position. When the transfer operation has been carried out, the ramp is stowed, and the carrier is released, pushed sideways and re-secured.

For a smooth transfer over a step between the upper end of the extended ramp and the rear end of the carrier floor, a bridge may be required, and this can be a simple plate hinged to the rear end of the carrier floor.

For a gradual slope the ramp may need to be much longer than the carrier. It may therefore be composed of a plurality of parts that telescope together when the ramp is stowed and which are drawn out when the ramp is extended. Generally two will be sufficient.

It will be advisable to have means for positively holding a trolley to the carrier floor. Such holding means may comprise a hook device which is engaged by the loading end of the trolley as it is moved fully onto the carrier floor and a locking member that is engageable with the trailing end of the trolley and actuable to urge the trolley forwards into firmer engagement with the hook device.

Conveniently, the hook device is upstanding from the carrier floor but pivots on abutment by the advancing trolley until the hook portion positively engages. This automatically caters for different trolleys presenting different height members which are to be captured by the actual hook or hooks.

The locking member can be manually shiftable from a position substantially flush with the carrier floor to a raised position where it can engage the trolley, there being a toggle mechanism to urge it forwards. The connection of the locking member to the toggle mechanism will also preferably cause the locking member to be urged downwardly on actuation of that mechanism. In other words, it will perform a holding down action as well as providing an abutment against rearward movement. The toggle mechanism can be predominantly below the carrier floor, but actuable by a member projecting up through the floor.

The carrier will be constructed to clear any wheel arches.

For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a transfer assembly for stretchers when in use, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the assembly with a ramp stowed but in a position ready to be extended, Figure 3 is a top plan view of the assembly, Figure 4 is an underneath plan view of the assembly with the ramp removed, Figure 5 is a side view of the assembly, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bearer forming part of the assembly, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of the framing of the assembly.

The transfer assembly is for moving a trolley 1 between ground 2 and a vehicle 3. The trolley may also be referred to as a stretcher, since that is what the invention was developed for, but it will be understood that it could be any other wheeled unit.

The vehicle 3 is simplified down to an outline of its floor 4, a wheel arch 5, and a rear lip 6.

The transfer assembly comprises a carrier 7 which remains in the vehicle and is capable of sideways movement only, as described below, and a ramp 8 which can be pulled rearwardly out of the carrier and extended to provide a slope down to the ground. A hinged bridge 9, spring biased into a substantially horizontal attitude, spans the gap between the upper end of this ramp 8 and the floor 10 of the carrier 7 on which the stretcher rests when in the vehicle.

Referring now primarily to Figure 2, the carrier 7 has two horizontal side members 11 of inverted U section with the outer limb 12 substantially deeper than the inner limb 13. The lower ends of these limbs support the ends of cross beams 14 and 15, the upper beams 15 acting as bearers for the floor 10. One side member 11, adjacent a side wall of the vehicle, is locally cut away to clear the wheel arch 5 (not shown in Figure 2).

The ramp 8 stows between the beams 14 and 15 above wheel arch level. It consists of two parts, 16 and 17, which telescope together into a nesting arrangement. The slightly smaller part 16, which will be the lower end of the ramp when it is extended, has two longitudinal side members 18 of channel section, the channels facing inwardly towards the centre line. The upper flange is turned down in a rim 19, and the lower flange has its edge thickened and grooved to receive the edge of a plate 20 that provides one part of the floor of the ramp.

The upper part 17 is similar, with its side members 21 embracing the members 18, the upper flange having a downwardly turned rim 22 confining the rim 19 and the lower edge being thickened and grooved to hold a plate 23 that provides the other part of the floor of the ramp. The ramp side members 18 and 21 house within the inverted U side members 11 of the carrier.

At the rear end, the carrier is spanned by a shaft 24 with flanged rollers 25, preferably of nylon, at opposite ends which help to guide and carry the ramp as it is pulled out or pushed back in.

The inside of the outer limb 12 of each carrier side member 11 has a track 26 extending horizontally along almost the entire length. Each track is a channel section, the channels being open towards the longitudinal centre line.

If, as is preferred, the side members 11 are extrusions they can be integrally formed with the tracks 26. At its rearward end, near the lip 6, each track 26 is closed by a buffer 27.

A slider 28 runs in each track 26 and is centrally engaged by a pivot stud (not shown) projecting outwardly from the outside of the adjacent ramp member 21 at its forward end.

There is a provision for holding a stretcher firmly to the carrier. Near the front end the floor 10 has two parallel slots 29 symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal centre line. Arms 30 extend up through these slots and have rearwardly facing hooks 31 at their upper ends. Their lower ends, below the floor 10, are fixed to a rotary transverse shaft 32 carried between blocks 33 that can slide on fore and aft guides 34. The shaft 32 passes through a central block 35 which is guided by a central longitudinal slot 36 in the floor 10 and which can be clamped in a desired position by a hand screw 37 just above the floor.

This adjustment is to provide for different trolleys. A further transverse shaft 38 spans the blocks to rigidify the structure, and a spring 39 acts between the central block 35 and the rotary shaft 32 to bias the arms 30 to an upright attitude, as in Figure 5.

Towards the rear, there is a trolley locking bar 41 with legs 42 making a 7T form. The bar 41 is transverse to the carrier and the legs 42 incline forwardly through parallel slots 43 in the floor 10. Below that they are joined by a transverse shaft 44 which spans and can pivot with respect to a frame 45. This is held to the underside of the floor 10 by brackets 46 which allow the frame limited fore and aft movement. The frame 45 is coupled at its rear end to a guided longitudinal shaft 47 with a swinging link 48 pivoted at its rear end, this forming a toggle mechanism.

The free end of the link 48 is guided by an arcuate slot 49, and a knob 50 just above the floor 10 enables an attendant to swing it and thereby actuate the toggle mechanism. The shaft 47 is made adjustable in length, to accommodate to different trolleys.

The carrier 7 can shift laterally between a position up against a side wall of the vehicle and a position away from that side wall central of the vehicle. That is the position shown in Figure 2, and it is there that the ramp is extended for moving a stretcher up into the vehicle or for taking it out. The lateral movement is guided by the beams 14, which are arranged in two pairs (see Figures 4 and 6), co-operating with guides 48.

The preferred version of the guide 48 is best seen in Figure 7. It is of inverted T form with base flanges 49 for securing to the floor 4 and a central upstanding block 50 which has opposite vertical edges recessed to receive rollers 51. These are just proud of each face, and are slightly less in diameter than the gap between the pair of co-operating beams 14. When these lie either side of the rollers 51, it will be appreciated that they will be guided into movement transverse to the length of the carrier. Also, one base flange 49 has an upstanding stud 52 for a locking arrangement to be described below.

As shown in Figure 2, a plate 53 is bolted over the guide 48 and will extend out of the plane of the drawing to overlie both adjacent beams 14. This will restrain the carrier from lifting.

Angled out from one of the beams 14 of each pair are two struts 54. They carry wheels 55 below them, oriented to run transversely to the longitudinal direction of the carrier over the floor 4.

On the side of the carrier 7 remote from the wall against which it stows there are brackets 56 attached to the member 11 which carry a rod 57 parallel to the length of the carrier. The rod can slide longitudinally within limits. It has two downwardly extending arms 58 bifurcated at their lower ends to receive pins 59 at the ends of transverse bars 60. These bars are carried by brackets 61 on adjacent beams 14 and are spring loaded horizontally towards the adjacent beams. Each bar has notches 62 near each end (only one on each bar being visible in Figure 4) which will register with the studs 52 when the carrier is in either of its extreme positions (against the side wall or central of the vehicle).

The spring bias will cause the notches 62 to be engaged by the studs 52 and so the carrier 7 will be held. To release it, the rod 57 is pulled rearwardly to retract the bars 60 via the arms 58 and pins 59. This clears the notches 62 from the studs 52 and the carrier can be rolled sideways. The rod 57 is released but when the carrier reaches its other extreme position it snaps forward again as the other notches 62 engage.

When the carrier 7 is positioned centrally of the vehicle (to the left of the Figure 2 position), the ramp can be pulled out rearwardly using a handle 63 exposed by a central cutaway portion of the bridge 9. The part 16 slides with respect to the part 17, and the latter draws the sliders 28 along the tracks 26 until they meet the buffers 27. There can be a stop arrangement preventing the parts 16 and 17 extending too far, thereby retaining an overlap as best seen in Figure 1. The mutual engagement of the channel members 18 and 21 will be sufficient to retain the structure straight and rigid. At the upper end, the step or gap between the floor 10 of the carrier and the upper part 17 of the ramp is spanned by the hinged bridge 9. Its spring bias normally maintains it clear of the ramp, so that it will not interfere with it, particularly during the stowing operation, but the gap between its free lip and the plate 23 will not be large. When a trolley 1 is rolled up the ramp its wheels will override the ramp 9 and press it down onto the plate 23. Rolling a trolley off the carrier 7 will be even easier, the ramp pivoting down as soon as the trolley wheels pass the hinge axis.

The holding of a trolley 1 to the carrier 7 is achieved by the hooked arms 30 and the locking bar 41. Initially the bar 41 is lowered flush with the floor 10 to provide no impediment to a trolley 1 rolled up the ramp and onto that floor. The front end of the trolley will have a cross bar which will meet the upright arms 30. As the trolley is pushed further, the arms are swung down until the hooks 31 engage against that cross bar. Then the bar 41 is raised and dropped over the rear castors of the trolley. The knob 50 is swung around the slot 51 and the toggle mechanism urges the frame 45 forwardly, which pulls the bar 41 forwardly and downwardly. The toggle mechanism goes overcentre and the trolley is firmly secured. Releasing it just requires the knob 50 to be swung back and the bar 41 to be lifted off and dropped.

Claims (10)

1. Trolley transfer apparatus for moving a trolley from the ground to the interior of a vehicle through a rear door, the apparatus comprising a carrier, with a floor for receiving a trolley, mounted in the vehicle and guided for movement transverse to the vehicle between lateral and generally central positions, means for holding the carrier in each such position, and a ramp linked to the carrier and being movable between a stowed position beneath the floor and an extended position in which it is pulled out from the stowed position and hinged down to the ground, thereby providing a path between the ground and the carrier.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the carrier also has a bridge hinged to the rear end of the floor to span a step between the upper end of the extended ramp and the carrier floor.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the ramp is composed of a plurality of parts that telescope together when the ramp is stowed and which are drawn out when the ramp is extended.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, and further comprising means for positively holding a trolley to the carrier floor.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the holding means comprise a hook device which is engaged by the leading end of the trolley as it is moved fully onto the carrier floor and a locking member that is engageable with the trailing end of the trolley and actuable to urge the trolley into firmer engagement with the hook device.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the hook device is upstanding from the carrier floor but pivots on abutment by the advancing trolley until the hook portion positively engages.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein the locking member is manually shiftable from a position substantially flush with the carrier floor to a raised position where it can engage the trolley, there being a mechanism to urge it forwards.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the connection of the locking member to the toggle mechanism causes the locking member also to be urged downwardly on actuation of that mechanism.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein the toggle mechanism is predominantly below the carrier floor, but is actuable by a member projecting up through the floor.

10. Trolley transfer apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.