GB493829A - Improvements relating to stretcher carriers or mountings in ambulance vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

493,829. Ambulance vehicles; litter carriages. SOUTHERN, H., SOUTHERN, P., and SOUTHERN, H. May 26, 1938, No. 15676. [Class 108 (i)] A stretcher - carrier or mounting when being moved endwise in an ambulance vehicle from the horizontal position of transport to an inclined position with its outer end substantially at floor-level for loading or unloading, follows a path divergent from its longitudinal axis such that in its two extreme positions before and after the movement its longitudinal axis lies in different vertical planes. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, the carrier, comprising parallel rails 7, 8 preferably of channel-section for receiving the wheels, feet, &c. of a stretcher, is supported at its inner end by legs 9 connected by a wheeled axle 10 and at its outer end by arms 12 pivoted to brackets 13 on the vehicle floor and having pins 14 adapted to engage vertical slots in blocks 15 fixed to the undersides of the rails. The pins 14 are normally secured in the slots by spring-pulled catches 16, Fig. 3, pivoted on the blocks 15 and having slots 17 engaging the pins, hand-levers 19 pivoted to the rails having members 191 slidable in slotted extensions 161 of the catches for releasing same. In order to prevent the carrier when moved from fouling the wheel-arch W, &c. or to provide access to both sides of the carrier when it is being loaded, the arms 12 are mounted so as to swing at an angle to the sides of the vehicle and the axle 10 is provided with rollers 20 engaging rails 21, 22 inclined to the vehicle sides, the rollers being brought into the correct position for entering the rails, when the carrier is being moved into the ambulance, by a channel-section rail 24 adapted to act as a guide for the inner wheel 11 of the carrier. Buffers 23 cushion the movement of the arms 12 when the carrier is being moved to the inclined position. To support the carrier horizontally when removed from the ambulance a stand comprising legs may be hinged to the carrier and retained in the folded-up position by pegs thereon engaging slots in 'the catches 16. Specification 492,547 is referred to.