Bed frame assembly with a lift system having a translatable carriage
View Patent ↗A bed frame assembly includes a base frame 32 , an elevatable frame 40 and a lift system 80 . The lift system includes a carriage 82 longitudinally translatably mounted on the base frame and a lift arm 84 having a crank end 86 and a remote end 88 . The crank end of the lift arm is mounted to the carriage at a pivotable joint A for pivoting about a laterally extending crank axis 100 . The remote end of the lift arm is connected to the elevatable frame by a lift arm connector 102 , which may take various forms. The lift system also includes an actuator 120 mounted on the carriage at a juncture B and connected to the lift arm such that operation of the actuator rotates the lift arm about the crank axis. The lift system also includes a part span connector 130 pivotably connected to the lift arm at a joint D and pivotably connected to the base frame at a joint C. In one embodiment the lift arm connector is a single link 132 . In another embodiment the lift arm connector comprises multiple links such as first and second links 144, 146.
1. A patient support apparatus comprising
a base frame,
an elevatable upper frame that is movable vertically relative to a base frame,
a lift system comprising a first lift mechanism that includes a first lift arm that is pivotable about a first axis that is fixed relative to the base frame, the first lift mechanism operable to move one end of the elevatable upper frame vertically relative to the base, and a second lift mechanism that includes a carriage that translates relative to the base frame, the carriage supporting a second lift arm that is pivotable about a second axis, second axis movable during movement of the second lift mechanism to change the distance between the first and second axes, the second lift mechanism operable to move a second end of the elevatable upper frame relative to the base independently of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism including an actuator that has a first end that is pivotably coupled to the base frame a first pivot that is fixed relative to the base frame and a second end that moves relative to the base frame to cause rotation of the second lift arm relative to the carriage and movement of the carriage relative to the base frame,
wherein the second lift mechanism further comprises a link arm pivotably coupled to the carriage at a second pivot, a swing link coupled to the second lift arm at a third pivot and the link arm at a fourth pivot spaced apart from the second pivot, the lift arm, link arm, and swing link cooperating to form a parallelogram linkage.
2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second lift mechanism further comprises a ground link coupled to the base frame at a fifth pivot and the swing link at the third pivot, the ground link acting on the swing link to control movement of the parallelogram linkage during extension and retraction of the actuator.
3. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second lift mechanism further comprises a torque tube that is pivotable relative to the second lift arm and an arm extending from the torque tube, the arm pivotably coupled to the actuator such that extension or retraction of the actuator causes rotation of the torque tube relative to the second lift arm.
4. The patient support apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the lift arm is pivotably coupled to the elevatable frame.
5. A patient support apparatus comprising
a base frame,
an elevatable upper frame that is movable vertically relative to a base frame,
a lift system comprising a first lift mechanism that includes a first lift arm that is pivotable about a first axis that is fixed relative to the base frame, the first lift mechanism operable to move one end of the elevatable upper frame vertically relative to the base, and a second lift mechanism that includes a carriage that translates relative to the base frame, the carriage supporting a second lift arm that is pivotable about a second axis, second axis movable during movement of the second lift mechanism to change the distance between the first and second axes, the second lift mechanism operable to move a second end of the elevatable upper frame relative to the base independently of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism including an actuator that has a first end that is pivotably coupled to the base frame a first pivot that is fixed relative to the base frame and a second end that moves relative to the base frame to cause rotation of the second lift arm relative to the carriage and movement of the carriage relative to the base frame,
wherein the second lift mechanism further comprises swing link coupled to the lift arm at a second pivot, a ground link coupled to the base frame at a third pivot and pivotably coupled to the swing link at the second pivot, the ground link acting on the swing link to control movement of the lift arm during extension and retraction of the actuator.
6. The patient support apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the swing link and lift arm are cooperating members of a parallelogram linkage.
7. A patient support apparatus comprising
a base frame,
an elevatable upper frame that is movable vertically relative to a base frame,
a lift system comprising a first lift mechanism that includes a first lift arm that is pivotable about a first axis that is fixed relative to the base frame, the first lift mechanism operable to move one end of the elevatable upper frame vertically relative to the base, and a second lift mechanism that includes a carriage that translates relative to the base frame, the carriage supporting a second lift arm that is pivotable about a second axis, second axis movable during movement of the second lift mechanism to change the distance between the first and second axes, the second lift mechanism operable to move a second end of the elevatable upper frame relative to the base independently of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism including an actuator that has a first end that is pivotably coupled to the base frame a first pivot that is fixed relative to the base frame and a second end that moves relative to the base frame to cause rotation of the second lift arm relative to the carriage and movement of the carriage relative to the base frame,
wherein the second lift mechanism further comprises a torque tube that is pivotable relative to the second lift arm and an arm extending from the torque tube, the arm pivotably coupled to the actuator such that extension or retraction of the actuator causes rotation of the torque tube relative to the second lift arm, and
wherein the patient support apparatus includes a fixed cover supported on the base frame and a moving cover supported on the second lift mechanism the moving cover movable with the second lift mechanism relative to the fixed cover.
8. The patient support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the moving cover translates relative to the base frame.
9. The patient support apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the moving cover is secured to the carriage.
10. A patient support apparatus comprising
a base frame,
an elevatable upper frame that is movable vertically relative to a base frame,
a lift system comprising a first lift mechanism that includes a first lift arm that is pivotable about a first axis that is fixed relative to the base frame, the first lift mechanism operable to move one end of the elevatable upper frame vertically relative to the base, and a second lift mechanism that includes a carriage that translates relative to the base frame, the carriage supporting a second lift arm that is pivotable about a second axis, second axis movable during movement of the second lift mechanism to change the distance between the first and second axes, the second lift mechanism operable to move a second end of the elevatable upper frame relative to the base independently of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism including an actuator that has a first end that is pivotably coupled to the base frame a first pivot that is fixed relative to the base frame and a second end that moves relative to the base frame to cause rotation of the second lift arm relative to the carriage and movement of the carriage relative to the base frame,
wherein the second axis translates in a horizontal plane to reduce the distance between the first axis and the second axis as the second end of the elevatable frame is lowered, and
wherein the second lift mechanism further comprises a link arm pivotably coupled to the carriage at a second pivot, a swing link coupled to the second lift arm at a third pivot and the link arm at a fourth pivot spaced apart from the second pivot, the lift arm, link arm, and swing link cooperating to form a parallelogram linkage.
11. The patient support apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second lift mechanism further comprises a ground link coupled to the base frame at a fifth pivot and the swing link at the third pivot, the ground link acting on the swing link to control movement of the parallelogram linkage during extension and retraction of the actuator.
12. The patient support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second lift mechanism further comprises a torque tube that is pivotable relative to the second lift arm and an arm extending from the torque tube, the arm pivotably coupled to the actuator such that extension or retraction of the actuator causes rotation of the torque tube relative to the second lift arm.
13. The patient support apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the lift arm is pivotably coupled to the elevatable frame.
14. The patient support apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the patient support apparatus includes a fixed cover supported on the base frame and a moving cover supported on the second lift mechanism the moving cover movable with the second lift mechanism relative to the fixed cover.
15. The patient support apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the moving cover translates relative to the base frame.
16. The patient support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the moving cover is secured to the carriage.