MOBILE APPARATUS FOR LIFTING PATIENTS

Abstract: Floor supported mobile lifting apparatus for diseased or invalid persons are known and consist of a wheel base having a vertical column and a lifting arm projecting there­ from, in which lifting arm said person is supported by a lifting element. In order to improve known lifting apparatus of above-mentioned type so that it is prevented that the centre of gravity will be moved during the lifting movement of the patient the column is formed of two parts (2, 3) of which one (3) is driven by a motor to move up and down in parallel relation to the second part (2) or telescoping over the second part (2), whereby the second part is secured to a wheel base and the movable part in its free end supports the lifting arm (5). A hoisting cable (6) is fixed at the second part and is running in stearing means (8) over the top end of the first part and along the lifting arm (5) and suspends from here. The free end of the cable (6) supports the lifting element (10), the operation being so that when the first part (3) of the column is projected upwards in relation to the second part (2), the free end of the hoisting cable will be placed in the neighbour­ hood of the free end of the lifting arm (5).

Description: This invention concerns a floor supported mobile lifting apparatus for deseased or invalid persons and consisting of a wheel base having a vertical column and a lifting arm projecting therefrom, in which lifting arm said person is supported by a lifting element, said column consisting of two parts of which one is driven by a motor to travel up and down in parallel relation to the second part or telescoping over the second part, whereby the second part is secured to a wheel base and the movable part in its free end supports the lifting arm, a hoisting cable being fixed at the second part and is running in stearing means over the top end of the first part and along the lifting arm and suspends from here, whereby the free end of the cable supports the lifting element. The object of the invention is to improve known lifting apparatus, see. US 1948611 and US 2891256 so that it is prevented that the centre of gravity will be moved during the lifting movement of the patient. It is also an object to increase the freedom of the lifting apparatus between the position of the patient before the lifting operation and the position of the lifting apparatus in relation to the patient. Further it is an object to eliminate adjustment of the range in order to reach the patient by the lifting arm. Known lifting elements can be used as an equipment to the lifting apparatus according to the invention for supporting the patient and there is less a risk that the patient will be hurt by the lifting arm while at known lifting apparatus the arm very often is very close to the face of the patient during the lifting movement. The invention is characterized in that the operation, being so that when the first part of the column is projeced upwards in relation to the second part, the free end of the hoisting cable will be placed in the neighbourhood of the free end of the lifting arm, said hoisting cable being fixed to the column part by being rolled in on a drum, which is secured on the column part and which drum is fixable against rotation and releasable in order to freely let out said hoisting cable. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to the enclosed drawings 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a side view of the lifting apparatus having the lifting element in its lowermost position. Fig. 2 is a side view of the lifting apparatus having the lifting element in its highest position. Enclosed Fig. 3 illustrates schematically two ways of placing the column on the wheel base. The lifting apparatus consists of a wheel base 1 of any known type. The wheel base supports a vertical column, which consists of two telescoping movable parts 2 and 3. The two parts are movable in relation to each other by a hydraulic cylinder 4. The part 2 is fixed to the wheel base and thus the bottom end of the hydraulic cylinder is fixed to the column part 2 and the top end of the hydraulic cylinder is fixed to the column part 3. The column part 3 carries a lifting arm 5 in its top end. A hoisting cable 6 is secured by a holder 7 placed at the top end of the column part 2 and the cable runs upwards along the column part 3. A wheel 8 is placed at the top end of the part 3 and the cable runs over this wheel and along the lifting arm 5. The lifting arm 5 has in its free end a wheel 9 and the hoisting cable is suspended from this wheel. The hoisting cable 6 supports a lifting element 10 in which can be fastened a harness, stretcher or the like. Different types of lifting elements can be fastened to the hoisting cable 6 depending on how the lifting operation of the patient shall be carried out. When a person shall be lifted the column part 3 first is moved downwards within the column part 2 by being driven by the hydraulic cylinder 4, whereby the hoisting cable 6 automatically extends downwards from the wheel 9, which means that the lifting element 10 is moved downwards a distance twice as long as the column part 3 is moved into the column part 2. The person to be lifted is secured in the harness or the like and thereafter the column part 3 is moved upwards, the person hereby being lifted. The holder 7 is including a drum on which the hoisting cable is rolled in suitable amount of turnings. The drum 7 is fixed against rotating during normal use of the lifting apparatus. A safety release is however arranged so that the drum can run freely if that should be necessary. Thus the hoisting cable may run freely so that the lifting element 10 can be descended without descending the column part 3. Fig. 3 shows schematically the wheel base 1 seen from above, whereby the column 2 is placed on two different places on the wheel base. The invention is not restricted to the shown form of the column. Thus the column can include two parts whereby one part can be moved beside a second part upwards and downwards while the second part is supported by the wheel base. The second column part may also include two parts placed beside each other, whereby the movable column part is placed between those two parts. The motor for driving the movable part may be other than a hydraulic cylinder and for instance an electrical engine. The safety releasing means for the fixed end of the hoisting cable can be of any suitable type.

Claims: Floor supported mobile lifting apparatus for diseased or invalid persons, consisting of a wheel base (1) having a vertical column and a lifting arm projecting therefrom, in which lifting arm said person can be supported by a lifting element (10), said column consisting of two parts (2, 3) of which one (3) is driven by a motor (4) to travel up and down in parallel relation to the second part (2) or telescoping over the second part (2), whereby the second part (2) is secured to a wheel base (1) and the movable first part (3) in its free end supports the lifting arm (5), a hoisting cable (6) being fixed at the second part (2) and is running in stearing means (8) over the top end of the first part (3) and along the lifting arm (5) and suspends from here, whereby the free end of the cable (6) supports the lifting element (10), the hoisting cable (6) being fixed to the column part (2) by being rolled in on a drum, which is secured on the column part (2), characterized in that the lifting apparatus has only one normal operation mode, whereby the lifting element (10) is moved a distance twice as long as the column part (3) is moved in relation to the fixed column part (2), and in that the drum is releasable in order to freely let out said hoisting cable when necessary.

Inventors: LILJEDAHL, GUNNAR
Applicants: LILJEDAHL, GUNNAR
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A61G7
IPC codes: A61G7