AU663457B2 – Bathtub-insertable lifting apparatus
– Google Patents
AU663457B2 – Bathtub-insertable lifting apparatus
– Google Patents
Bathtub-insertable lifting apparatus
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Publication number
AU663457B2
AU663457B2
AU56476/94A
AU5647694A
AU663457B2
AU 663457 B2
AU663457 B2
AU 663457B2
AU 56476/94 A
AU56476/94 A
AU 56476/94A
AU 5647694 A
AU5647694 A
AU 5647694A
AU 663457 B2
AU663457 B2
AU 663457B2
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
valve
servo
lifting apparatus
valves
actuator
Prior art date
1993-03-05
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
AU56476/94A
Other versions
AU5647694A
(en
Inventor
Peter Schmidt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Schmidt and Lenhardt GmbH and Co oHG
Original Assignee
Schmidt and Lenhardt GmbH and Co oHG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
1993-03-05
Filing date
1994-03-01
Publication date
1995-10-05
1994-03-01
Application filed by Schmidt and Lenhardt GmbH and Co oHG
filed
Critical
Schmidt and Lenhardt GmbH and Co oHG
1994-09-08
Publication of AU5647694A
publication
Critical
patent/AU5647694A/en
1995-10-05
Application granted
granted
Critical
1995-10-05
Publication of AU663457B2
publication
Critical
patent/AU663457B2/en
2014-03-01
Anticipated expiration
legal-status
Critical
Status
Ceased
legal-status
Critical
Current
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Classifications
B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
B66F7/00—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts
B66F7/22—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with tiltable platforms
A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
A61G7/10—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto
A61G7/1001—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto specially adapted for specific applications
A61G7/1003—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto specially adapted for specific applications mounted on or in combination with a bath-tub
A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
A61G7/10—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto
A61G7/1013—Lifting of patients by
A61G7/1019—Vertical extending columns or mechanisms
A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
A61G7/10—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto
A61G7/1013—Lifting of patients by
A61G7/1021—Inflatable cushions
A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
A61G7/10—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto
A61G7/1049—Attachment, suspending or supporting means for patients
A61G7/1059—Seats
A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
A61G7/10—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto
A61G7/1073—Parts, details or accessories
A61G7/1082—Rests specially adapted for
A61G7/1088—Back
B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
B66F3/00—Devices, e.g. jacks, adapted for uninterrupted lifting of loads
B66F3/22—Lazy-tongs mechanisms
B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
B66F7/00—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts
B66F7/06—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported by levers for vertical movement
B66F7/065—Scissor linkages, i.e. X-configuration
B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
B66F7/00—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts
B66F7/06—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported by levers for vertical movement
B66F7/08—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported by levers for vertical movement hydraulically or pneumatically operated
Abstract
The lifting plate (16) of a lifter (10) can be moved up and down by means of a hydraulically actuated lifting device (12). The back rest (18) can be pivoted forwards and backwards by means of a pivoting device (19) which is likewise operated hydraulically. Both working devices (12, 19) are connected to a multi-valve housing (20) which is located below the lifting plate (16) and does not have any manually operated devices. By contrast, the actuation takes place hydraulically via remote control. For this purpose, a manual control unit (30) having a number of in-built servo valves is connected to the multi-valve housing (20) via a flexible cable (28) which comprises a number of thin control tubes and a pressure water supply tube.
Description
-~–C~III
AUSTRALIA 66345 7 Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(ORIGINAL)
Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Schmidt Lenhardt GmbH Co. oHG *t Actual Inventor(s): SPeter Schmidt Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: BATHTUB-INSERTABLE LIFTING APPARATUS Our Ref 357807 POF Code: 1407/167486 S t1 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1- 1A Title of the invention Bathtub-insertable lifting apparatus Background of the invention The invention relates to a lifting apparatus for handicapped persons useful for insertion in a bathtub, comprising a bottom frame, a lift platform, a guide frame connecting the lift platform to the bottom frame, and an hydraulic lifting device with valve means.
Prior art A lifting apparatus of this kind is known from EP-C- 0347652, in which a manually operated valve is mounted beneath the lift platform, with the operating lever passing through a slot in the lift platform and protruding upwards over the seat of the lift platform. The valve means is attached to an hydraulic water supply line by means of a hose and, when the control lever is mI in one swivelled position, connects the lifting device 20 to the hydraulic water supply, so that the lift platform travels upwards; when the control lever is in the other Ie “swivelled position, it connects the lifting device to a discharge line, so that the lift platform travels downwards. When the manual lever is in a central position, 25 the lift platform remains in its present position.
The manual operating lever must be easy to reach both for the handicapped person sitting on the lift platform .,”and for helpers outside the bathtub. For this reason, in the known lifting apparatus, the lever is positioned close to the lateral edge of the lift platform, approxic mately in the region where the thighs rest. Since many bathtubs are built in beside one of the bathroom walls, the manual operating lever ought to be located on the side of the lifting apparatus next to the bathroom wall, because the lever would otherwise be in the way when the handicapped person climbed into or out of the bath. For 2 this reason, there are left and right-hand versions for the way in which the bathtub is fitted in each case.
Hospitals, however, do not have a separate lifting appai ratus available for each bathtub, so that it is unavoidable that, in many cases, the operating lever will also be on the side where people climb in or out.
In order to overcome these shortcomings, lifting apparatuses are known in which the manual operating element has two buttons protruding only slightly above the lift platform. This solution has other disadvantages in that many handicapped persons have difficulty finding and selecting the correct button underwater.
Summary of the invention The object of the invention is to improve a lifting apparatus of the type described at the beginning with regard to the control system for the hydraulic drives in such a way that operation is facilitated both for a handicapped person and for the helper.
rThis problem is solved according to the invention in that the valve means, including its operating means, is located completely beneath the bottom plane of the lift S 25 platform and comprises a number of remotely operable working valves; a manual control unit is connected to r .the valve means via a plurality of flexible hoses; the manual control unit comprises a number of manually operable servo valves of substantially identical design with, in each case, a control chamber on one side of a valve seat and one of the hoses terminating in said chamber; a pressure chamber is formed in each servo valve on the other side of the valve seat; the pressure chambers of all the servo valves are connected to a common hose of the plurality of hoses; all the servo valves Sare hydraulically and/or mechanically biased in the 3 closed position; the control chamber of each servo valve is connected, in its closed position, to a discharge line; and each servo valve has a manually operable actuator which can be moved from an initial position, against the effect of a restoring force, into one or more working positions, in which the pressure chamber communicates with the control chamber, while the latter is sealed towards the discharge line.
The invention firstly provides the advantage that there are no manual control means on the lift platform at all, so that it is possible to mount or alight from the lift platform without hindrance. Furthermore, the manual control unit can be positioned anywhere. Depending on the nature of his disability, the handicapped person can hold the control unit in his hand, lay it on his lap, hang it up on the bathroom wall in a position where it is easy to reach, or simply place it beside him on the lift platform. Helpers can operate the lifting apparatus with the manual control unit more easily and quickly, and when the lift platform is in its lowered position, Cthey do not need to fumble about underwater for the actuator member.
Thanks to the division of the valve means into a working-valve block or a number of separate working valves beneath the lift platform, on the one hand, and the hydraulic control unit, on the other, a further development of the lifting apparatus with a plurality of hydraulic operating devices is facilitated. Thus, one embodiment of the invention consists in having pivotably disposed on the lift platform a back rest with which an hydraulic swivelling means engages, and in having the valve means possess at least four working valves and the manual control unit possess the same number of servo 4 valves. Since experience has shown that it is quite difficult for a helper to raise from a supine position the upper part of the body of a handicapped person sitting on the lowered lift platform because the back rest lock must first be released and swivelled forwards with the upper part of the body and then locked again this embodiment offers a solution, and the swivelling means for the back rest is controlled with the same control unit as for raising and lowering the lift platform. The manual control unit is small in size, so that it can be held in one hand. The hydraulic connection lines do not impair this handiness, since they require an outer diameter of only four millimetres or less, because small quantities of water are sufficient to trigger the working valves. The at least five hoses to operate four working valves are preferably surrounded by a spiral hose, which hardly needs to be any thicker than a stant r4 dard shower hose.
tcc 20 The manual control unit can have a separate operating S,:T element, such as a push-button for example, for each C t servo valve. It is, however, preferable to provide a common operating element for all the servo valves, e.g.
in the form of a joy-stick, or in other words a lever i 25 that can be moved in a plurality of planes at angles to C one another. Preferably, a gate is proposed for this purpose so that the central lever can be directed pre- S-cisely. In this connection, it is also within the scope of the invention to manage without a gate, in which case the central lever can then be swivelled in all direc- C C tions, with the possibility of having the central lever tin a diagonal position, with the effect of raising the lift platform and swivelling the back rest forwards simultaneously.
The thin control lines each terminate in a control chamber of a servo valve. An important point now is that this control chamber must be permanently connected either to the pressure supply line or to the discharge line. As long as no hydraulic device on the lifting apparatus is in operation, all the servo valves are in the closed position and the associated control hoses are connected to the discharge line or, in each case, to a drain hole on the control unit. The control lines are then free of pressure. Similarly, the working valves in the valve block beneath the lift platform are likewise closed. When the manual operating element on the control unit is then operated, at least one servo valve is moved to the open position. In this case, the control chamber is first sealed off from the discharge line before being allowed to communicate with the hydraulic water supply line. When the operating element is released, it, an actuator and the closing element are returned by means of spring resistance, and the pressure in ‘The control hoses is released, so that the hydraulic water can flow out of the respective working valve of the valve block, which closes because of its built-in spring.
cC
I
According to one embodiment of the invention, the four servo valves in the manual control unit are arranged with parallel axes, and their axes intersect the corners of a square. The manual operating element has a bearing part in the shape of a universal ball joint, which is mounted on complementary spherical surfaces of the manual control unit housing and is pivotable in at least two mutually perpendicular planes, such that the lift platform is raised and lowered in one swivelling plane and the back rest is moved backwards or forwards in the other plane. This bearing part has either a circumferentially closed outer flange or at least four radial arms 1 6 distributed about the circumference. In the neutral position of the manual operating element, the faces of the four spring-operated actuating members press against said outer flange or, where applicable, said four radial arms, so that the operating element is kept in its central position.
Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing, which shows one embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a lifting apparatus with hydraulic operating means and a manual control unit, oFIG. 2 is a top view of the manual control unit, FIG. 3 is a side view of the manual control unit, FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the manual control unit, FIG. 5 is a larger-scale longitudinal sectional view through the manual control unit in the region of a servo valve device, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line 6-6 in FIGURE r~irr S 30 Detailed description A lifting apparatus 10 useful for insertion in a bathtub consists of a bottom mount or frame 13, with a guide frame 14 shaped like scissor arms disposed thereon and supporting a lift platform 16, a lifting device 12 in the form of a pressure-tight hose, closed at the end, being disposed between said lift platform 16 and said 7 bottom frame 13. A back rest 18 is releasably mounted on the lift platform 16 by means of a swivel armature. An hydraulic swivelling means 19 serves to adjust the angle of said back rest 18.
Attached to the underside of the lift platform 16 there is a multi-valve housing 20 with an hydraulic water supply line 22, a connecting hose 24 leading to the lifting hose 12, a connecting hose 26 leading to the swivelling means 19, and a spiral cable 28 terminating there, and with a manual control unit 30 disposed at the end of said spiral cable 28. The multi-valve housing 20 contains four working valves, which are triggered hydraulically. There is therefore no need for manual operating elements on the multi-valve housing 20. The lift platform \does not require any holes to be punched through in the region of the multi-valve housing e The manual control unit 30 consists of a two-part hous- 20 ing 32 in which there is a servo valve system with four servo valves 34 whose axes are perpendicular to the floor of the housing 32 and intersect the corners of a square. The spiral cable 28 contains six thin hoses, viz. four control hoses 36, an hydraulic water supply line 38 and a discharge hose 40. The six hoses are surrounded by the spiral cable 28, which is approx. r metres long. The discharge hose 40 could be dispensed with, in which case the voids formed between the outer surfaces of the hoses 36, 38 and the inner surface of the spiral cable 28 take care of the return flow of the water to the multi-valve housing 20. At the end with the lifting apparatus, the spiral cable has a rotatable screwed-gland joint in which a coupling unit is inserted, to which the six lines are connected, each to one hole. On the multi-valve housing 20 there is a complementary counter-coupling part into which the coupling 4 8 insert of the spiral cable 28 can be plugged. The screwon sleeve is then screwed on to its counterpart, and the six lines 36, 38, 40 of the cable 28 are connected pressure-tight to a corresponding channel system in the multi-valve housing 20. The four control hoses 36 each lead to one of the four working valves in the multi-valve F\6.
housing. %2 and 3 show the manual control unit in actual size.
The servo valve system in the manual control unit comprises a bottomi plate 42, which is part of the lower portion of the housing, and, in addition, a central plate 44 and a cover plate 46. The three plates 42-46 are bolted together by means of a bolt 48, with washers between them. The four control hoses 36 and the hydraulic water supply line 38 terminate side by side in a row (FIG. at the same height, in the central plate.
Three coaxial longitudinal holes 8X;of the hoses 36 terminate directly in cylinder chambers 50 of the servo 20 valves 34. The fourth longitudinal hole 52 is connected via a transverse channel 54 to the cylinder hole 50 of the fourth control hose 36. In each cylinder hole there is an insert sleeve 56 with a cylindrical actuator 58 possessing radial play disposed therein. At both end faces of the insert sleeves 56 there are O-ring seals i 60, which seal the actuator 58 towards the valve housing and the insert sleeves. A central housing head 62 has four pot-like indentations which engage in the cylindrical holes 50 and in turn guide the actuators 58. in the central portion, the housing head 62 has a hemispherical bearing surface 64 for a bearing plate 66 with a circular outline, which is designed in the central portion with a counter-surface 68 in the shape of a universal ball joint. The bearing plate 66 supports an operating lever 70, which is vertical when the bearing plate 66 is in a horizontal pcsition and which passes through a gate 4!.
