NL1013174C2 - Lifting device. - Google Patents

Description

Lifting device.

The present invention relates to a lifting device comprising a lifting device and a carrying strap connected to the lifting device for engaging the person to be lifted, said lifting device comprising an electric lifting device controlled by a control. Such a lifting device is generally known in the prior art. Reference is made as an example to European application EP 0782430 A. It is to be understood that other lifting devices and in particular other lifting devices also fall within the scope of the present invention. As an example, a ceiling lift is mentioned in which cables or the like extend downwards from the ceiling, which can be coupled to a sling and move a patient.

The sling can be a single sling that is wrapped, for example, under the patient's armpits or buttocks. It is also possible that the carrying strap 15 is of multiple design, that is to say has four free ends and that the patient can move horizontally.

Carrying strap also includes carrying jackets and other constructions. It is only important that the carrying strap is somewhat flexible and is arranged around the patient and must be connected to the lifting device in order to be able to perform the lifting. It is also understood that in the case of lifting, it is also meant to lower the patient.

It has been found in practice that the increase in the working pressure increases the risk that the connection between the carrying strap and the lifting device is not perfect. In general, this is not a problem, because before the actual lifting the carrying strap comes off and the person remains in the original position.

However, if the sling comes loose during lifting, there are health risks for the patient and liability risks for the institution or the operating personnel concerned.

In order to solve this problem, improved connection methods have been proposed in the prior art between the carrying strap and, for example, the lifting arm of a lifting device. For example, it has been proposed to provide a pin with chest on the lifting arm and to provide the strap with a keyhole-shaped opening at the end. Under load, the narrowed portion of the keyhole-shaped opening will rest on the pin portion.

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However, it has been found that there is still a risk of accident. This applies to both double-ended and multi-ended tires such as three or four ends.

A crane hook is known from DE 4447393 C, provided with a sensor which checks whether a load is correctly positioned or not. Lifting is not possible if positioned incorrectly. Lifting heavy loads with large cranes, as described in this publication, is not comparable to lifting patients.

The aim is to provide a safe lifting device that removes the dangers of an imperfect connection and the resulting consequences. This object is achieved in a lifting device described above in that sensor means are present, which observe a correct attachment of the carrying strap to the lifting device and which are connected to that control in such a way that in the event of incomplete or incorrect attachment, at least the lifting movement through that lifting element. is hindered.

Generally, the lifting devices operate electrically with some kind of control. Think of remote controls, control panels and the like. According to the invention it is proposed to influence this control in such a way that if the connection between the carrying strap and the lifting device is not perfect, lifting is not possible. The sensor means described above may comprise any construction known in the prior art. The simplest construction is, for example, a (micro) switch fitted in the lifting arm of the lifting device, which detects the presence of the relevant coupling part of the belt. Only if the coupling is perfect is the relevant part of the coupling present at that location.

It is also possible to provide electrical contact or to build up an electrical circuit which is only complete if all connections with the lifting device meet the requirements. The sensors can include any mechanical, electrical or electronic, magnetic or optical sensors.

The connection between the lifting device and the carrying strap can be any connection known in the art, but preference is given to a quick coupling 30 with a male and female part, the carrying strap being provided with the male part. The implementation of the coupling is now less demanding. After all, if the connection is not perfect, according to the invention it will not be possible to carry out lifting. The risk of accidents has in principle been reduced to zero.

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According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a weight sensor is also present. This detects whether the tire is subject to a load. If the belt is unloaded, the lifting member such as an electric motor can be operated without further ado. After all, then there is no danger of accidents. Therefore, it is possible to use the device even though the tape is not perfectly closed. This can be important when driving towards a patient to move it later.

The invention also relates to a lift comprising a carrying part provided with attachments for attaching a carrying strap for carrying a patient, as well as comprising a fixing part for attaching to an elevator. Such constructions are generally known in the art and consist of metallic parts that have a relatively high weight. It has been found in practice that improper or awkward manipulation of such a lifting yoke can strike a patient, whereby injuries can occur. Due to the high weight of the lifting yoke, such injuries can be serious.

On the other hand, it is necessary that a lifting yoke has sufficient strength to ensure that even heavy patients can be moved with it without any risk.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lifting yoke which, on the one hand, has a low weight and, on the other hand, sufficient strength.

This object is achieved in an above-described tool in that the connection between fastening part and supporting part comprises a flexible member. This flexible member can for instance be a cable, cord or tape. This has shown that it is possible to achieve optimum manipulability of the carrying part of the lifting yoke with sufficient strength. Surprisingly, it has been found that this part of the construction can only be made on strength and not on stiffness.

The carrying part preferably consists of a tube part provided with fixings for one or more carrying straps.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 schematically a lifting device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 schematically the electrical connections according to the invention;

Fig. 1 shows a lifting device according to the invention. Details thereof can be found in European application 96904387.6, which is expressly referred to here from V0T3174 · 4. Of importance to the present invention is the understanding that it consists of a frame 2 which is movable on wheels 15. The other end of the frame is provided with a lifting arm assembly consisting of an auxiliary arm 3 and a lifting arm 4. These are not further shown in the manner shown can be operated independently of each other. The main lift motor is indicated by 10. Operation thereof takes place via console 16 which is connected to controller 19. The power supply is indicated by 18. A remote control may be available. Knee supports 12 are also arranged on the frame. Close to the free end of the lifting arm 4, closures 8 are arranged to cooperate with the free ends of a belt 13. Belt 13 can be disconnected from the free ends of lifting arm 4.

The coupling between strap 13 and the end of lifting arm 4 is not shown in detail. It is only important for the invention that sensors 7 are present which register the perfection of the coupling and the signal derived therefrom is applied to control 19. 11 denotes a weight sensor that registers the load on the lift arm assembly 3, 4.

The device described above operates as follows. For example, if a patient is to be moved from a sitting to a standing position, the lifting device 1 is moved to the patient who is seated on a chair, for example. One side of the strap 13 is disengaged from lifting arm 4 and is placed under the armpits and behind the shoulder of the patient. The free end of strap 13 is then connected to lifting arm 4 again. If this connection is not perfect, there is a risk that the connection will come loose during lifting and the patient will fall after removing the chair, which could lead to injuries or other problems.

According to the invention, operation of motor 10 by control 19 is, however, only possible after both sensors 7 have established that the connection of the two free ends of belt 13 with the free end of the lifting arm 4 is perfect. Only then does controller 19 enable operation by means of console 16.

This only has an exception if the strap 13 and thus the arm assembly 3, 4 are not loaded. This is recorded by weight sensor 10. If the load on the lift arm assembly and more particularly on the free end of lift arm 4 is, for example, less than 10 kg, this is detected by sensor 11 and in that case the sensors 7 are not effectively connected to the control, i.e. operation of the motor 10 is possible.

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It will be understood that such weight sensors can also be integrated in the coupling between the free end of strap 13 and the free end of the lifting arm 4.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the end of the sling 5 shown here can be used with any kind of sling and is not exclusively used in the construction according to the present invention. However, with the construction shown in Fig. 3, an electric switch can be operated in a simple manner.

The construction described here works as described above with all types of lifting devices. This also applies to lifting devices where, for example, balance brackets 10 are used, which are connected between the lifting arm and the carrying strap. As indicated above, the invention can also be applied to ceiling lifts and the like. It is essential only that the invention provides protection against lifting or lowering a patient under load, wherein the connection between the carrying strap which in any way carries a patient and the lifting arm, balance bracket or other part of the lifting device is not perfect is. In the case of lifts in which the position of the free ends of the belt is accurately known when lifting, it is also possible to design the sensors as position sensors.

Fig. 4 shows the lifting yoke according to the invention. This is denoted in its entirety by 41 and attached to an arm 49 of a lifting device. It should be understood that mounting is also possible on a ceiling lift on any other lift. The lifting yoke consists of a carrying part 42 near the ends provided with attachments 43, 44 for receiving a carrying strap 45. The patient can be received therein. The patient's head is located near the attachments 43 while the legs are near the attachments 44. It is to be understood that the carrying strap 45 can be designed in any manner known in the art. For example, it is possible that there is only one confirmation near 44.

Connection between the mounting of the carrying yoke 41 and part 50 of the lifting arm takes place by means of a construction consisting of a flexible band 47 and a rotary knob 46. Band 47 is connected to an auxiliary band 51 which in turn is connected to the free ends of carrying part 42. On the other hand, strap 47 is connected to the free end near fastening 44. The rotary knob 46, not shown in detail, is designed such that strap 47 is transported upon rotation. As a result, the angular position of support part 42 can be adjusted. Optionally, an (automatic) $ 013174 6 lock is provided so that when the rotary knob 46 is released, the strap 47 and the yoke 41 can no longer be moved.

By using belt 47 and belt 51, a particularly high strength can be obtained at a particularly low weight. This makes it possible to design the entire lifting yoke 5 considerably lighter than in the prior art. As a result, there is no longer a risk that injuries may be caused by the weight of the lifting yoke in the event of unintentional movements of it, as a result of which the patient or carer is hit by the lifting yoke.

These and further variants are within the scope of the present invention as described in the appended claims.

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Claims (12)

Lifting device comprising a lifting device (1) and a carrying strap (13) connected to the lifting device for engaging the person to be lifted, said lifting device comprising an electric lifting device (10) controlled by a control (19), with characterized in that sensor means (7) are present which detect a correct attachment of the carrying strap (13) to the lifting device and which are connected to said control (19) in such a way that in the event of incomplete or incorrect attachment, at least the lifting movement through that lifting element (10) 10 is obstructed. Lifting device according to claim 1, comprising sensor means (11) for detecting the presence of a person to be lifted, which sensor means are connected to the control (19) in such a way that the sensor means (7), which correctly attach the carrying strap ( 13) to perceive the lifting device, become effective only in the presence of a patient. 3. Lifting device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two connections between the carrying strap and the lifting device, each provided with sensor means, which each individually influence the movement of the lifting member. The device of claim 3, wherein said sensor means detects the closure of a chain formed by the tape. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein said connection between said carrying strap and the lifting device comprises a quick coupling. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said quick coupling comprises a male and female part and the male part is included in said carrying strap. Device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said sensor means are included in said quick coupling. 8. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims in combination with claim 2, wherein said sensor means (11) comprise a weight sensor which, under a certain load, emits a signal enabling the lifting movement through said lifting element, independently of the signal from the sensor means. . §0181741 » Lifting yoke (41) comprising a support member (42) provided with attachments (43, 44) for attachment of a support strap (45) for carrying a patient and provided with an attachment member (46) for attachment to an elevator, with the characterized in that the connection between fastening part (46) and support part 5 (42) comprises a flexible member (47). Lifting yoke according to claim 9, wherein said flexible member comprises a strap. Lifting yoke according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said flexible member is arranged displaceable relative to the fixing part. Lifting yoke according to claim 11, wherein said flexible member is arranged to be lockable relative to said fastening part. 1013174 «