Improvements in Operating Tables and Couches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1899-Accepted, 4th NOV., 1899
COMPLETE DI
Improvements in Operating Tables and Couches.
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM DOWN, of 21, St. Thomas's Street, Borough, London,
rgical Instrument Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
ntion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
escribed and ascertained in and by the following statement;-
1
My invention relates especially to tables or couches used for surgical opera-
ons and examinations.
In the annexed drawings:-
Fig. I is a side elevation of the table made and fitted according to my
vention, Fig. II is an end elevation of the same, Fig. III is a part elevation and
art section through the right hand front leg as shewn in Fig. I, and Fig. IV
s a transverse section through the table shewing the raising and lowering
ction.
My improvement consists of a table or couch made up of light metal tubes
and fitted with a mechanical device by means of which the upper portion may
be raised or lowered to any desired height. Also an arrangement of gearing,
whereby the castors on which the table runs are made to engage and disengage
with the floor, so that the table may be moved about or
required.
+6
"7
anchored as
In Figs. I and II, AAAA are tubular legs, framed together by the hori-
zontal and diagonal pieces B and C as shewn, forming the lower or stationary
To these lower ends four
part of the table. DDDD are sliding tubes telescoping into AAA and A,
and passing right down through the bottom.
The tubes DDDD can be raised or lowered by
feet EEEE are attached.
means of the lever F with its double and single cranks GG and G, G₁ and
IIII are sliding tubes telescoping into
connecting rods HH and H'H¹.
DDDD carrying the upper or moveable part of the table JJ, upon which the.
patient is placed. In Fig. II, K and L are boxes in which are contained worm
and worm wheel gearing. K is a right-hand worm and L is a left-hand worm,
both operated simultaneously, through the shaft M, when rotated by the hand-
wheel. N. These worm wheels are attached to two tubular shafts Ŭ and P, to
which are secured two cranks each QQ and R R, which engage the upper part
of the table JJ, through the connecting rods SSSS. In Fig. II, the lever F
and double cranks GG are secured to tubular shafts passing through and work-
ing independently of the shafts 0 and P. These cranks carry the connecting
5 rod T. At the right-hand end of the table in Fig. I only single cranks G, G₁
are used, which are also attached to connecting rods H'H¹.
By referring to Figs. III and IV, the action of this mechanism can be still
further explained.
In Fig. III the tubes AD and I forming the stationary and moveable sup-
10 ports of the table are shewn in section. K is the box carrying the worm and
worm-wheel gearing which operates the tubular shaft P. To this shaft the
E is the foot
crank Q is fixed, and through the connecting rod S imparts motion to the
upper frame of the table J together with its guide legs I.
hed to the lower end of the tube D which is raised or lowered by means

page_text: In
of the crank G and the connecting rod H. W is the tubular shaft to which
the crank G is attached and imparts motion to similar cranks at the other end.
B is part of the lower framing and U is a suitable ball-bearing castor.
Fig. IV L is the box containing the worm and worm-wheel gearing, and M is
the worm shaft. Q is the lifting crank secured to the shaft P. S is the con-
necting rod carrying the upper part J. BB and B are parts of the lower
framing. G is a double crank operating through the connecting rod H the move-
ments of the tube D and its foot E. T is a connecting rod attached to a similar
double crank at the other end, and W is the internal tubular shaft to which
these cranks are attached.
!
Figs. I and II. By rotating the hand-wheel N the screw worms K and L
revolve their respective right and left handed worm wheels which communi-
cating motion to the shafts 0 and P cause the four cranks QQ and RR to rise,
which in turn through the connecting rods SSSS lift the upper structure JJ
as shewn in the dotted portion of both figures in the accompanying drawing.
In using this table great steadiness is desirable, for which purpose a special
device is provided to engage and disengage the castors, upon which under
ordinary circumstances it is moved about. In Figs. I and II the table is shewn
bearing upon the castors, with the four feet EEEE clear of the ground. To
disengage the castors and anchor" the table the lever F, and F is raised
up, which at once communicates a downward movement through the connect-
ing rods HH and HH to the four sliding legs DDDD, the feet of which
now touch the ground; by further raising the lever F its action is changed from
the first to the second order, and on a position H and H (Fig. II) for a fulcrum,
the weight of the upper and lower portions of the table (except the legs DDDD)
is carried on O and P, when the castors are clear of the ground.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In tables or couches used for surgical operations the application of a com-
bined right and left hand screw worm gearing K and L operating simul-
taneously the four legs of the table by means of which the upper portion may
be raised or lowered with perfect safety.
2. In tables or couches used for surgical operations, a device by means of
which the table may be "anchored
or released" by disengaging and engaging
the castors upon which it runs.
3. In tables or couches used for surgical operations the device of raising the
table off the castors, by operating four internal legs DDDD, as described above
by the arrangement of levers F and G and the connecting rods H'H' and HH
substantially as set forth.
Dadd
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A T
1000