US2625839A - Hand or power-operated actuating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. r20, 1953 B. v. COLEMAN 2,625,839

HAND OR POWER-OPERATED ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 24, 195o 74INVENTOR. l 56.4410 K Cahir/"0N /7 TTOR/VEXS Patented `lan. 20, 1953 HAND 0R POWER-OPERATED ACTUATING MECHANISM -Beamon V. Coleman, Birmingham, Ala.

Application February 24, 1950, Serial No. 146,032

(Cl. 'i4- 625) 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to hospital beds and more particularly to hospital beds embodying an articulated head and foot section which, as is well known, are disposed to be raised out of the normal plane of the mattress carrying frame of the bed, thus to support the patients head or legs at a given desired angle.

An object of my invention is to provide simple, economical and positively actuated means for raising the head and foot sections of the bed and which shall be in the form of mechanism readily attached to and removed from an existing bed equipped with the usual manually operated screws and rods for raising the head and foot sections.

More specically, my invention contemplates a hospital bed of the character designated in which there is associated with the link mechanism forming a part of the actuating means for the head and foot sections, a pair of fluid pressure cylinders or electric motors mounted pivotally on brackets which may be removably attached to a portion of the under frame of the bed and operatively connected to the raising and lowering mechanism of the bed, whereby the actuating mechanism may be attached in minimum y time and with minimum effort.

A further object of my invention is to provide power driven apparatus for operating the head and foot sections of the bed and which may be associated with the existing manually operated screw mechanism for accomplishing the raising and lowering functions, and which when installed on a bed permits the use of the power raising and lowering mechanism or the manually operated and existing crank mechanisms, selectively, thus assuring that the bed may be raised or lowered at all times.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates various forms of apparatus for raising and lowering the pivoted or articulated head and foot sections of hospital beds have been proposed. Insofar as I am aware none of the apparatus and systems heretofore proposed have been practical or economical enough to permit the installation of the same on the average hospital bed. My invention is characterized by the absence of complicated parts, by its simplicity of operation and structure, and by the fact that it may be attached to a bed of standard design and which when so attached permits the bed to be operated either by the pre-existing manually operated means or by my improved hydraulic, air or electrical mechanism.

Apparatus illustrating the features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of a hospital bed, partly broken away and in section and having my improved apparatus applied to the pivoted head section and articulated foot section there- Fig. 2 is a view of the bed partly broken away and in section and taken generally along line Il--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view partly broken away and illustrating one of the manually operated raising and lowering mechanisms generally employed on hospital beds;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View taken generally along line IV-IV of Fig. 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the control valves for use with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental side elevational View showing a slightly modified form of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a View corresponding to Fig. 6 and showing a still further slightly modified form in which the power supply for raising and lowering the head and foot sections may be in the form of electric motors;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuits and control switches for the modied apparatus shown in Fig. 7; and,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention and more particularly to Figs. l to 4 inclusive, I show a hospital bed embodying a head section I and a foot section i l. The head and foot of the bed are connected in the manner understood by means of the side rails l2 through the medium of slotted brackets I3 and pins I4. The bed embodies a cross brace member I6 at the head section, a cross brace member ilia at the foot section.

Secured in suitable manner to each of the rails i2 of the bed is a stationary mid section of the upper or mattress frame indicated at Il. Pivotally mounted as at i8 to the fixed mid section Il is the head section I9 of the mattress frame. The foot section comprises a section of the mattress framework indicated at 2| and pivoted to the center section Il at 22. Pivoted to the section 2! at 23 is the foot section proper 213 carrying rollers 25 which roll on the upper surface of the rails l2.

Pivoted at 2S to the side of one of the rails l2 is a crank arm indicated generally by the numeral 2'! and having arms 28 and 29. Pivotally mounted at 3l to the outer end of the arm 29 3 is a link 32 which may be adjustable as to length by means of screws 33 and slots 34. The opposite or upper end of the link 32 is pivoted at 36 to the head section I9, which is at a point fowardly of the pivot point I8.

Similarly to the manner just desecribed, and preferably on the opposite rail i2, there is pivotally mounted a crank arm indicated generally by the numeral 3l and having arms 58 and 35. The arm 39 carries at its outer end a link ill, pivotally mounted at 52 to the end of the arm 39 and at 53 to the section 2| of the mattress frame. The link may be adjustable as to length by means of screws 54 and slots 45.

Pivotally mounted in suitable brackets, usually at the foot of the bed are the manually operable mechanisms for raising and' lowering the sections of the mattress frame. In the manner runderstoodV these units comprise a tubular member :il pivoted at 48 to brackets |59 and 5| mounted in suitable manner beneath the rails 2. Telescopically mounted within the outer tube 41 is a push pull tube 52. Secured to the inside of the tube 52 isa nut 53. Threadably passing through the nut 53 is a stem 54 carrying on its outer end a crank 55 having ahandle 51. It will be seen that when the crank 55'is turned the tube 52 moves axially of the tube 51. Suitable anti-friction bearings indicated at 53 in Fig. 2 may be provided if desired.

The structure so far described is, for the most part, substantially standard with respect to certain types of hospital beds now in existence. While my invention is adapted for association with other types of hospital beds it is particularly adapted for use in association with that type embodying the axially movable tubes for lraising and lowering the head and foot sections.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 I provide -a pair of hydraulic cylinders 59 and 5| which are connected respectively to raise the head and foot sections vby the means now to be described.

Each of the cylinders 59 and 6| preferably is an air cylinder embodying pistons 62 and 53 and piston rods 54 and 66, respectively. Each of the cylinders is pivotally mounted as at 6l between the legs of a U-shaped clamp GS. The clamp 63 may have an upwardly extending portion 59 having a laterally directed flange and is disposed .to straddle the cross frame member I6 of the bed. A set screw 12 serves to secure the bracket and hence the cylinders to the cross member l5 whereby the cylinders are pivotally mounted for movement in -a vertical plane.

As best shown in Fig. 4 .of the drawing I prefer.- ably provide an elongated slot 'i3 adjacent the outer ends of each of the push pull tubes 52. Around the tubes 52 I place sleeves M each of which has a screw 1 5 threaded therein and passing slidably into the slot 13. Each of the sleeves 14 has an upstandingbracket 'Il secured thereto.

The piston rods 544. and 6 6 are pivotally secured to the upper ends of one of the brackets TI by means of a bolt 7 8. In like manner, the arms 28 and 38 are pivotally connected by means of the bolts 'i8 to the respective piston rods 64 and 55. The arm 38 is biasedclockwise as viewed in Fig. l by means vof a spring le having one end anchored to the arm 38 and Aits opposite end anchored to a bracket 8| depending from the bed rails |2.

Adjustably mounted on the tubes 52 are collars 82 carrying therein set screws 83. In the end of each of the rods 52 is a stop in Athe form of a through bolt 84.

Mounted adjustably along the outer tube 4l of each of the manually actuated screw mechanisms is a collar 86 held in place by means of a set screw 81. Loosely tting about the tubes 52 is another collar 88, and the collars 88 and 85 are joined by a bar 89. Adjustably mounted on the tube 52 between the collar 88 and the ends of the tubes 4l is a collar 9| which may be secured to the tube 52 by means of a set screw 92.

Air under pressure may be admitted from a source not shown through a iiexible hose 93 through a hand operated valve 95 to a bank of control valves indicated generally by the numeral 54, See Fig. 5. The bank of Valves may conveniently be mounted on the head of the head section I, and may embody valves of the push type indicated at 5B and 51 for admitting air into hose 98 and 53 leading respectively to the cylinders 59 and 5|. Discharge or exhaust Valves |0| and |02 may be respectively associated with the hose 98 and 99, thus to exhaust air from the cylinders 55 and 5| through exhaust ports |l|a and |2a. At the time air is being discharged throughr the exhaust Valves ||l| and |52, the supply of air from the hose 53 is cut off by closing the valve 95 or by providing other suitable means for automatically cutting off the supply of air from the hose 93 when the exhaust valveis opened. The hose 98 and 95 are connected to the respective cylinders by means of a quick connector coupling |50.

From the foregoing the method of construction and operation ofthe embodiment of my invention just described may now be explained and understood. The cylinders 55 and 5| are pivotally secured to the bed by means of the clamps 58 and the screws 'i2 thereof. `The bolts 84 are temporarily withdrawn and the sleeves 'Hl are slipped over the outerV ends of ther tubes 52 with the screws 'I6 thereof engaged in the slots of the tubes. The piston rods 55. and 55 are connected respectively to the arms 2,8. and 38 and to the brackets Tl. The collars 85 and S8 are put in place, and the stop collars 82 and 5| are likewise secured to the respective parts as shown for the purpose later -to be mentioned. If it is desired to operate the bed by means of the cylinders, the head and foot sectionsare raised merely by pressing the valves 5.5.and 9,1, and having raised the same they may be lowered by opening the valves lll. and |52. It will beV seen that the sleeves 'I4 slide on the rods 52 in accordance with the setting of the collars ,82. Thus, if itis desired vto limit the .upward travel of the head or foot sec.- tions, the collars are Vset vcloser to the ends of the rods .52, or if it is desired that the cylinders move the head and foot sections through the maximum allowable travel of the piston rods 5.4 and 56, the collars 82 are moved out of the range of movement of the sleeves .14.

VWhen itis desired to operate the head and foot sections by means of the screws and cranks 56 the hose 9.8 and are disconnected, or the valves 5| and |52 are held open. When the cranks are operated in one direction the tubes 52 move to the right as viewed in Fig. l bringing the stop 8 4 against the left side o f the sleeves ifi, whereby further rightward movement of the vtubes raises the sections of the bed. The collars 8 5 and 88 tosetherfwith the tie bar .83 therebetween and the set collar 9| are adapted to prevent the screws 54 from .being run .Completely `out. 0f the nuts .5.3 in the tubes .5.2. The. ,Spring .i8 biases .the foot section toward lowered position for 'the reason that there is considerable friction vin this part of the usual bed.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings I may employ an electric motor I 03 having thereon a gear box |04 as the motive power in place of the cylinders 59 and 6I. In this instance the drive for the head or foot section may be in the form f a threaded rod |06 passing through a sleeve |01 pivotally secured to the arm 28 or 38 as the case may be. As shown in Fig. 9 the sleeve I0'I has threaded therethrough a screw I0'Ia having a thread engaging end. By loosening the screw it will be appreciated that the sleeve |01 is readily slidable on the rod |05.

The control system for this modification of my invention may comprise a bank of electric switches indicated at |08 and comprising a series of individual push button switches indicated at |09. Likewise, the motors |03 are reversible so that the selective closing of the switches |09 is effective to complete the circuits clearly indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings at the will of the person lying on the bed. Power is supplied through the lines I I I from any suitable source, not shown.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I show a self -contained electric-hydraulic unit embodying an electric motor II2 having associated therewith an hydraulic pump H3. The pump II3 supplies fluid selectively to the ends of a fluid pressure -cylinder I I4 in response to the direction of rotation of the motor II2. The motor |I2 may be under control of a bank of switches IIIBa, comprising the indi- Vidual switches, I09a, similar to those just described. The piston rod I I6 may be connected directly to the arm 28 or 38 as the case may be.

In the modifications just described it is contemplated that the motors |03 or the motor driven hydraulic units and cylinders be pivotally mounted as indicated at II'I and IIB, respectively, o n the brackets 68, attachable to the cross member I6 or the like of the bed. The hydraulic system just described may be provided with the usual manually operated bypass valve indicated at |20. When it is desired to operate the bed from the screws valve I is opened, permitting the hydraulic fluid to flow freely from either end of the cylinder back into the reservoir of the unit, rendering the same inoperable.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved actuating mechanism for use on hospital bed. My improved apparatus may be easily attached to an existing hospital bed of the usual type, and as such lends itself admirably to those cases wherein a relatively few ysuch devices may be kept in a hospital and applied to a bed when desired. The provision of the f removable clamps 68 for pivotally mounting either the cylinders 59 or BI, the motors |03, or the electrically driven fluid pump and cylinder unit shown in Fig. 6 afford simple and reliable means for removably secu-ring such units to a hospital bed. Likewise, it will be apparent that with either form of my invention applied to the push pull tubes 52 the use of the mechanical system or the manually operated system already in existence may be employed at Will. Also, the stop collars 82 provide means for accurately limiting the movement of the mechanically actuated mechanism, while the collar 9| may be used to similarly limit the movement of the manually operated mechanism.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a manually operable reciprocable member operatively connected to a crank arm for raising and lowering a pivoted mattress frame section of a hospital bed, of a power actuated reciprocable member, a pivotal connection between the crank arm and said power actuated member, a member slidable on the manually operable reciprocable member, a pivotal connection between the slidable member and said power actuated member, and means engaging the slidable member with the manually operable reciprocable member when said manually operable reciprocable member moves in a direction to elevate the pivoted mattress frame section.

2. Apparatus as dei-ined in claim 1 in which there is provided stop means on the manually operable reciprocable member disposed to limit movement of the power actuated member when it moves in a direction to elevate the pivoted mattress frame section.

3. The combination with a manually operable reciprocable member operatively connected to a crank arm for raising and lowering a pivoted mattress frame section of a hospital bed, of a. power driven reciprocable member, a pivotal connection between said power driven member and the crank arm, a sleeve slidable on the manually operable reciprocable member and pivoted to said crank arm adjacent the point of connection therewith of the power driven member, a stop member on the manually operable reciprocable member engageable with said sleeve when the manually operable reciprocable member moves in a direction to elevate the pivoted mattress frame section, control mechanism for energizing and de-energizing the power driven member, and means to render inoperable the power driven member.

BEAMON V. COLEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,027,805 Bergamini Jan. 14, 1936 2,349,701 Buttikofer May 23, 1944 2,481,477 Peery Sept. 6, 1949 2,520,849 McVicker Aug. 29. 1950 2,560,465 McVicker et a1 July 10, 1951

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