Patient support apparatus with braking system

1. A method of actuating a brake on a caster wheel of a patient support apparatus to stop motion of the apparatus, the patient support apparatus including a support frame and a plurality of caster wheels supporting the frame, a patient support surface supported by the support frame, a manually operable brake for manually braking one or more of the caster wheels, and a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, the patient support apparatus further including an actuator for selectively outputting a driving force and a control system, said method comprising:

electrically coupling the control system to the actuator;

generating an actuating signal with said control system;

transmitting the actuating signal to the actuator to thereby actuate the actuator to generate a driving force;

mechanically coupling the actuator with the manually operable brake wherein the driving force generated by the actuator actuates the manually operable brake to thereby brake the caster wheel; and

mechanically coupling the actuator with the manual brake activation handle or pedal wherein the driving force of the actuator moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal between a first position and a second position when the actuator actuates the manually operable brake to brake the caster wheel.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising indicating the status of the manually operable brake.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising positioning a visual indicator for indicating the status of the manually operable brake in proximity to the manual brake activation handle or pedal wherein a caregiver can view the indicator when viewing the manual brake activation handle or pedal.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising selectively drivingly decoupling the actuator from the manually operable brake.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said selectively drivingly decoupling includes using the manual brake activation handle or pedal to drivingly decouple the actuator from the manually operable brake.

6. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising monitoring when the actuator is drivingly decoupled from the manually operable brake.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising selectively drivingly decoupling the actuator from the manual brake activation handle or pedal.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising sensing when the actuator is decoupled from the manual brake activation handle or pedal.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sensing the status of the manually operable brake.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising indicating the status of the manually operable brake.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said indicating includes indicating whether the manually operable brake is in a brake mode, a steer mode or a neutral mode.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said indicating includes illuminating one or more lights.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said generating an actuating signal includes generating an actuating signal using a user actuatable device.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said using a user actuatable device includes locating a user actuatable device responsive to pressure at the patient support apparatus and applying pressure to the user actuatable device to generate the actuating signal.

15. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a patient support surface, said patient support surface being configured to move across a floor or ground surface;

a manually operable brake operatively associated with said patient support surface;

a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake; and

an electrically powered actuator mechanically coupled to said manually operable brake and to said manual brake activation handle or pedal, and said electrically powered actuator actuating said manually operable brake and moving said manual brake activation handle or pedal from a first position to a second portion in response to a signal at said patient support apparatus.

16. The patient support apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein when actuated said electrically powered actuator actuates said manually operable brake to move to a brake position, a steer position, or a neutral position.

17. The patient support apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said electrically powered actuator is operable to move said manual brake activation handle or pedal to a brake position, a steer position, or a neutral position when moving said manually operable brake to move to said brake position, said steer position, or said neutral position, respectively.

18. The patient support apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said actuator is releasably coupled to said manual brake activation handle or pedal wherein said manual brake activation handle or pedal is operable to move said manually operable brake to said brake position, said steer position, or said neutral position independent of said actuator in an override mode.

19. The patient support apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a shaft drivingly coupled to said manually operable brake, to said manual brake activation handle or pedal, and to said actuator, and said manual brake activation handle or pedal being movable relative to said shaft between a stowed position and an operative position.

20. The patient support apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein said manual brake activation handle or pedal is pivotally movable between said stowed position and said operative position and drivingly decouples said actuator from said shaft when moved to said operative position.

21. The patient support apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a brake status indicator, and said indicator indicating a status of said manually operable brake.

22. The patient support apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said brake status indicator comprises a visual brake status indicator located at said manual brake activation handle or pedal.

23. The patient support apparatus according to claim 21 , further comprising a sensor sensing the status of said manually operable brake.

24. The patient support apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said brake status indicator comprises a light.