FR3100712A1 - MOTORIZED LOADING AND / OR EXTRACTION SECURING DEVICE OF A TROLLEY CARRYING A STRETCHER, RECEIVER AND ASSOCIATED AMBULANCE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a securing device (20a) between a receiver (21) and a trolley, said device comprising: - a plate (22a) intended to be mounted mobile in translation; and- at least one hook (30a) mounted on said plate (22a); said securing device (20a) also comprising, at said at least one hook (30a), a keeper (32a) movable between a closed position and an open position; said keeper (32a) being moved by a link (34a), a first end of which is connected to said keeper (32a) and a second end is connected to a pin intended to cooperate with at least one stop (43) arranged on the path of said plate (22a) so that the movements of said plate (22a) cause cooperation of said pin and said stop (43) to control the opening or closing of said keeper (32a). Figure for the abstract: Fig 1

Description

LOAD SECURING DEVICE AND/OR MOTORIZED EXTRACTION OF A TROLLEY CARRYING A STRETCHER, RECEIVER AND ASSOCIATED AMBULANCE

The invention relates to a securing device for motorized loading and/or extraction of a trolley carrying a stretcher, that is to say a device making it possible to link a bar of a trolley carrying a stretcher to a receiver motorized arranged in an ambulance. The invention also relates to a motorized receiver and an ambulance incorporating the securing device.

The invention aims more particularly to allow the automated traction of the trolley by the receiver within the ambulance.

Prior art

An ambulance is a vehicle intended in particular to receive a trolley carrying a stretcher. To limit the musculoskeletal disorders of stretcher bearers, ambulances are increasingly equipped with an automated receiver configured to automatically move the trolley carrying the stretcher when the trolley is inserted or extracted from the ambulance.

The devices allowing the loading and the extraction of the carriage are generally provided with a movable arm arranged under a table for receiving the carriage, as for example described in the document WO 2009/135803. However, the kinematics of arm movement impose a large spacing between the reception table and the floor of the ambulance. Due to the presence of this arm, these securing devices are very heavy and bulky. They can be integrated into a large volume ambulance, for example hospital ambulances, but it is currently not possible to integrate this type of device into a low volume ambulance, for example private ambulances.

Other loading devices are made with a winch and have a smaller size and weight. However, these devices do not make it possible to assist the extraction of the trolley and the stretcher-bearer is always subject to musculoskeletal disorders during this extraction phase.

Whatever the type of device used, motorized arm or winch, the movements of the carriage are ensured by hooks, movable on the receiver, which cooperate with a bar arranged at the front end of the carriage, such as for example described in document WO 2009/135803.

In addition, a device is also sought for clamping or unclamping the connection between the hooks and the bar so that the latter does not risk being extracted from the hooks when a patient is introduced or extracted from the ambulance.

As described in the aforementioned document WO 2009/135803, the striker system can be mounted on the truck and controlled according to the position of a front stand of the truck. Thus, as long as the front crutch of the trolley is not extracted from the receiver, the trolley cannot be disengaged from the receiver and the stretcher-bearer cannot separate the trolley from the ambulance. However, this system requires the stretcher bearer to manually raise the front stand when inserting the trolley into the receiver.

The technical problem of the invention is to be able to provide a system in which the clamping of the carriage and the receiver can be carried out automatically.

Presentation of the invention

To solve this problem, the invention proposes to mount a striker on the receiver at the level of one or more hooks and to control the position of the striker directly according to the position of a plate carrying the at least one hook. To do this, the striker is formed by a striker mounted on a pivot link, such that the striker is movable between two positions: a closed position in which the striker is positioned in front of the hook, and an open position in which the striker is not arranged in front of the hook. The striker is moved between the two positions by means of a link, a first end of which is connected to the striker and a second end is connected to a pin intended to cooperate with a stop placed on the path of the plate carrying the hook. In doing so, the movements of the plate cause the pin to cooperate with the stopper, and they control the opening or closing of the striker.

It is thus possible to define positions in which the strike is open or closed. For example, in a waiting position for loading, the latch is preferentially closed. When a stretcher-bearer wants to load the trolley, he moves the trolley bar against the striker plate, which causes the plate carrying the hook to move by a few centimeters. Moving the plate makes it possible to reach a position in which the latch is open.

The stretcher-bearer then continues his effort to move the carriage over a very short distance so that the bar of the carriage enters the hook and once again moves the plate. This second movement of the plate has the effect of closing the latch and indicating to the loading mechanism to ensure the traction of the carriage while being assured that the latch is actually closed.

In addition, when extracting the carriage, the plate can be arranged at an exit position in which the striker is open, automatically releasing the carriage. The stretcher-bearer therefore only has to accompany the movement of the trolley. After the stage has moved to the output position, i.e. after a preset delay, the stage is moved to the loading standby position.

To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a securing device between a receiver of an ambulance and a trolley carrying a stretcher, said device comprising:
- A plate intended to be mounted movable in translation on said receiver so as to allow movement of the carriage; And
- At least one hook mounted on said plate, said at least one hook comprising a housing intended to receive a bar of said carriage.

The invention is characterized in that the securing device also comprises, at said at least one hook, a striker movable between two positions:
- A closed position in which said keeper is positioned in front of said housing; And
- An open position in which said keeper is not arranged in front of said housing;
said striker being moved by means of a connecting rod, a first end of which is connected to said striker, and a second end is connected to a pin intended to cooperate with at least one stop placed on the path of said plate, such that the movements of the plate cause cooperation of said pin and of said stop to control the opening or closing of said keeper.

The invention thus makes it possible to obtain a securing device in which it is easy to define positions in which the latch is open or closed by placing, at the desired locations, the stopper making it possible to control the position of the latch.

In addition, the invention makes it possible to obtain a particularly robust and compact securing device. Thus, the invention makes it possible to form a lighter and more compact receiver than the existing receivers making it possible to ensure the loading and the extraction of a trolley. In doing so, the invention makes it possible to obtain a receiver that can be integrated into all types of vehicle without requiring structural modifications.

According to one embodiment, said at least one hook is articulated on at least one axis of said plate. This embodiment makes it possible to retract the hook in a groove of the receiver when the hook is not in use, which allows paramedics to move around the receiver unhindered. In addition, the rotational mobility of the hook also allows the securing device to adapt to several types of trolley because the height between the bar and the wheels in the folded position is variable between several trolleys.

The securing device may comprise a single hook. In this embodiment, the hook is preferably arranged above the plate and centered between the side edges of the plate. To do this, the plate is provided with at least one upright extending perpendicular to the plate so as to maintain an axis of rotation of the hook. For example, the hook may have a central recess so that the post of the sinker is disposed in the central recess and the axis of rotation of the hook is fixed on the inner edges of the central recess of the hook. The central recess can also be configured to hold the pin and the link. Preferably, the pin extends through a central recess of the plate so as to cooperate with one or more stops arranged under the plate. The front end of the hook, that is to say the end opposite the axis of rotation, preferably comprises a central axis on which the striker plate is mounted. In this embodiment, the cooperation of the pin with an abutment generates a movement of the connecting rod and a movement of the striker between the closed position and the open position as previously described.

Alternatively, the securing device comprises two hooks, said hooks being interconnected by a spacer arranged above the plate. The spacer prevents the hooks from touching the bottom of the grooves when they are in the retracted position. To do this, the spacer is configured to extend above a shuttle of the receiver so as to bear against this shuttle when the hooks are in the retracted position.

Preferably, said at least one hook comprises a cam, articulated on an axis, said cam being intended to cooperate with at least one stop arranged on the path of said plate; in doing so, the movements of the plate cause the cam to cooperate with said stop to control the movement of said at least one hook around the axis. This embodiment makes it possible to define positions in which the hook(s) are raised to facilitate the insertion of the bar of a trolley into the hook housings. The movement of the hooks can be ensured by a single cam/stop assembly to move the hooks via the spacer or by two sets of two cams and two stops.

Preferably, the pin is mounted on the connecting rod on one of the sides of the latter, opposite the side of said connecting rod facing said cam. This embodiment makes it possible to juxtapose the two stops for the pin and for the cam in each groove of the receiver.

According to one embodiment, the plate has a U-shape in which pads are fixed to vertical uprights of said plate. The U-shape allows the plate to be inserted between a shuttle and a base of a receiver. The pads make it possible to cooperate with an edge of the shuttle so that the plate is only movable in translation on the shuttle. The side uprights also form a flange for two straps. The movements of the belts thus generate the translational movement of the plate.

As a variant, the invention can be implemented with other drive means, such as a winch.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an ambulance receiver comprising:
- A base having two parallel grooves;
- A mobile shuttle in translation on said base; And
- A securing device according to the first aspect of the invention, said securing device being moved by said shuttle.

Preferably, the shuttle is moved by means of a motor driven worm.

Preferably, the plate is moved in translation by two belts driven by said shuttle so as to obtain a reduction between the movement of said shuttle and the movement of the plate. It is thus possible to obtain a reduction by a factor of two of the stroke of the plate in relation to the stroke of the shuttle.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to an ambulance comprising a receiver according to the second aspect of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a step for mounting a securing device between a receiver of an ambulance and a carriage carrying a stretcher according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the securing device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the securing device of Figure 1 mounted on a receiver and arranged in a retracted position;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the securing device of Figure 1 in a pulling position;

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the securing device of Figure 1 in an unloading position;

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the securing device of Figure 1 in a load position;

Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a securing device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 7 in a waiting position for loading;

Figure 9 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 7 in a first connection position between a bar of a carriage and a housing of the device of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 7 in a second connection position between a bar of a carriage and a housing of the device of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 7 in a third connection position between a bar of a carriage and a housing of the device of Figure 7;

Figure 12 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 7 in a fourth connection position between a bar of a carriage and a housing of the device of Figure 7;

Figure 13 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 7 in a fifth connection position between a bar of a carriage and a housing of the device of Figure 7;

Figure 14 is a schematic perspective view of a securing device according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 15 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a closed position;

Figure 16 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in an open position;

Figure 17 is a schematic top view of the device of Figure 14 in the open position;

Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of the device of Figure 14 in the open position;

Figure 19 is a schematic top view of the device of Figure 14 in the closed position;

Figure 20 is a schematic perspective view of the device of Figure 14 in the closed position;

Figure 21 is a schematic three-quarter perspective view of the device of Figure 14 stowed with a cart;

Figure 22 is a schematic perspective view from below of the device of Figure 14 stowed with a trolley;

Figure 23 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a first connection position with a bar of a trolley with no difference in height;

Figure 24 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a second connection position with a bar of a trolley with no difference in height;

Figure 25 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a third connection position with a bar of a trolley with no difference in height;

Figure 26 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a fourth connection position with a bar of a trolley with no difference in height;

Figure 27 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a fifth connection position with a bar of a trolley with no difference in height;

Figure 28 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a sixth connection position with a bar of a trolley with no difference in height;

Figure 29 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a first connection position with a bar of a trolley with height difference;

Figure 30 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a second connection position with a bar of a trolley with height difference;

Figure 31 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a third connection position with a bar of a trolley with height difference;

Figure 32 is a schematic sectional view of the device of Figure 14 in a fourth connection position with a bar of a trolley with height difference.

Detailed description of the invention

Figures 1 to 6 schematically illustrate a securing device 20 a intended to make the connection between a receiver of an ambulance and a bar of a trolley carrying a stretcher. Indeed, the invention aims to motorize the insertion of a stretcher in an ambulance to prevent stretcher-bearers from having to push or pull the stretcher for the purpose of inserting or extracting a patient into and out of an ambulance.

The invention can be applied to different types of motorized movement of the stretcher in the receiver of the ambulance. As illustrated in Figure 3, the movement of the carriage carrying the stretcher can be ensured by a shuttle 27 moved by means of a worm screw 28 . Alternatively, any other carriage traction means can be implemented without changing the invention, for example traction by a winch.

The invention relates more particularly to the securing device 20 a making it possible to ensure the connection between the means of movement of the receiver 21 of the ambulance and the bar arranged substantially at the front of a trolley carrying a stretcher (not shown ). To ensure the connection between this bar and the receiver 21 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the securing device 20a has two hooks 30a . As a variant, the invention can be carried out with a single central hook.

One end of each hook 30a has a housing 31a intended to receive the trolley bar. When the carriage is towed on the receiver 21 , the bar of the carriage is held in the housing 31a by means of a striker 32a which closes the opening of the housing 31a and guarantees the positioning of the bar in the hooks 30 a .

The hooks 30a are articulated on a shaft 40a connected to a plate 22a . This plate 22a is movable in translation on the receiver 21 . To do this, the plate preferably has a "U" shape provided with two side uprights 24a extending in the direction of a base of the receiver 21 . The side uprights 24a are intended to move in two parallel grooves 25 formed in a base of the receiver 21 . Two belts 26 are arranged in these grooves 25 and allow plate 22a to be moved. To do this, pads 23 are mounted on either side of the uprights 24a of this plate 22a and cooperate with an edge of the shuttle so that the plate is only movable in translation on the shuttle. These side uprights 24a also form a flange for each belt 26 . The movements of the belts 26 thus generate the translational movement of the plate 22a .

As a variant, the belts 26 can be replaced by any type of tensioned loops mounted between two points of rotation. For example, a cable whose ends are integral, can form the loop. This cable is then mounted between two pulleys. Preferably, the cable is made of steel, aramid or polyester fibers in order to present a tension and a resistance avoiding the risk of breakage or the risk of elongation. In addition, any other type of torquers of transmissible mechanical actions can be used, such as a chain mounted between two sprockets.

Preferably, the movement of the belts 26 is controlled by the movement of the shuttle 27 , so as to achieve a reduction in the stroke of the plate 22a with respect to the stroke of the shuttle 27 . To do this, the belts 26 have a stroke length greater than the stroke length of the shuttle 27 .

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when no bar of a carriage is received in the housings 31 a , the hooks 30 a fall into the groove 25 . A spacer 29 preferably connects the two hooks 30a to each other, so as to prevent the hooks 30a from touching the bottom of the groove 25 . This retracted position, illustrated in FIG. 3, makes it possible to limit the impact of the presence of the securing device 20a when it is not used to tow a trolley. For example, the receiver 21 can be used with a trolley which is not towed and which is moved manually in the groove 25 without the presence of the securing device 20a disturbing the manual movement of this trolley.

In the case of a carriage whose traction is automated, the keeper 32a secures the bar of the carriage in each hook 30a . This keeper 32a is articulated on a pin 33a fixed in each hook 30a . On this axis 33a , a spring 39 is mounted so as to constrain the position of the striker 32a in the closed position, that is to say in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 in which the striker 32a blocks access to housing 31 a . In doing so, the stowage of the bar of the trolley in the receiver 21 of the ambulance is ensured. This keeper 32a is also connected to a connecting rod 34a by a fixing point 35a placed under the axis 33a . This rod 34a is mounted on a cam 38 , itself fixed on a pin 36 mounted on the hooks 30a between the pin 40a and the pin 33a .

This cam 38 is intended to cooperate with an abutment 42 mounted in the groove 25 so as to constrain a rotational movement of the hooks 30a when the cam 38 rises along a slope provided on the abutment 42 . In the example of Figures 1 to 6, the securing device 20a is symmetrical and two stops 42 are arranged in the two grooves 25 to move the hooks 30a with two cams 38 . Alternatively, it is possible to use a single stopper 42 arranged in only one of the two grooves 25 and to use the spacer 29 to mount the two hooks 30a simultaneously .

The opening or closing of the keeper 32 is controlled by the rod 34a . To do this, the link 34a has a pin 41a arranged at one of its ends, opposite the end fixed with the striker 32a . Each pin 41a is intended to cooperate with an abutment 43 also formed in a groove 25 .

To do this, the link 34a is mounted against a button 37 limiting the movements in height of the link 34a and forcing this link 34a to move in translation when the stop 43 moves the pin 41a .

When pin 41a comes into contact with stop 43a , and plate 22a is moved forward of receiver 21 , link 34a moves striker 32a and opens housing 31a to allow insertion of a bar of a trolley carrying a stretcher.

The pin 41a extends opposite the cam 38 so that the stops 42 and 43 can be juxtaposed in each groove 25 to control the rotational movements of the hooks 30a or the openings of the latches 32a .

This mode of controlling the movement in height of the hooks 30a and the opening or closing of the latches 32a makes it possible to define positions of the securing device 20a in which the hooks 30a are raised and the latches 32a are open . or closed.

It is thus possible to define positions in which the strike is open or closed. For example, in a loading standby position, not shown, the plate 22a is arranged on the front end of the stops 42 and in front of the stops 43 , the latches 32a are then closed. When a stretcher-bearer wishes to proceed with loading the carriage, he moves the bar of the carriage against the latches 32 a , which causes a displacement of the plate 22 a bearing the hooks 30 a over a few centimeters and the pins 41 a rise along the stops 43 . The displacement of the plate 22a makes it possible to reach a position, at the top of the stops 43 , in which the latches 32a are open.

The stretcher-bearer then continues his effort to move the trolley over a very short distance so that the bar of the trolley enters the hooks30 Toand moves the plate again22 Toto the traction position, illustrated in figure 4. This second movement of the plate22 Tohas the effect of closing the latches32 To and to indicate to the loading mechanism to ensure the traction of the carriage being assured that the latches32 To are actually closed. When the cart is pulled on the receiver21, the brackets30 Toremain in the high position since the height between the bar and the folded wheels of the trolley is fixed.

Thus, as illustrated in Figure 6, when the trolley is completely integrated into the ambulance, the hooks 30a are in the high position and continue to hold the bar of the trolley.

Conversely, when a stretcher-bearer wishes to extract a trolley from the receiver, the plate 22a is moved to the unloading position, illustrated in FIG. 5, and the bar of the trolley is automatically extracted from the housings 31a .

In fact, in this unloading position, the pins 41a cooperate with the stops 43 to open the latches 32a .

This embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 implements two hooks 30a to make the connection between the securing device 20a and a bar of a trolley carrying a stretcher. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 7 to 33, a single hook 30b , 30c may be used.

In the embodiment of Figures 7 to 13, the securing device 20b consists of a single hook intended to be placed in the center of the receiver 21 . To do this, the hook 30b is mounted on a plate 22b having side uprights 24b intended to guide the movements of the plate 22b and to form a flange for the translation means of the plate 22b . The flange is preferably made with a piece screwed into the bores 50 of the uprights 24b .

The plate 22b also has a central opening 51 formed on the front part of the plate 22b . The rear part of the plate 22b is, for its part, occupied by a support piece 54 making it possible to ensure the mechanical connection between the two sides of the plate 22b and to carry an axis 40b around which the hook 30b is mobile. The hook 30b is in the form of a substantially parallelepipedal body 52 at the front end of which extends a lip 53 intended to form a housing 31b with the height of the body 52 . Body 52 has a central recess allowing body 52 to be mounted around support piece 54 . More specifically, the body 52 is mounted on an axis 40b of the support part 54 so as to be rotatable relative to the plate 22b .

Opposite the lip 53 , the hook 30b also has a keeper 32b movable between an open position and a closed position. To do this, the keeper 32b is mounted on a pin 33b fixed in the body 52 . In addition, in this embodiment and as described with reference to Figures 21 to 32, the movements in height of the hook 30b are ensured by this axis 33b which extends on either side of the body 52 so as to cooperate with spatulas 62 of the carriage 60 .

The striker 32b and the front part of the body 52 form a housing 31b intended to receive a bar 61 of a carriage 60 . In addition, in this housing 31b there also extends a counter-support piece 56 passing through a central lumen of the body 52 . The movements of this counter-support piece 56 are guided in a slot 57 made in the internal part of the body 52 with a stop 58 fixed in the body 52 . Thus, the displacements of this counter-support piece 56 are only authorized along the length of the body 52 . This counter-support piece 56 drives a connecting rod 34b mounted between a manual displacement axis 55 and a fixing point 35b of the strike plate 32b . Thus, the displacements of the counter-support piece 56 towards the rear of the body 52 cause the striker plate 32b to move into the closed position.

The movements of the striker 32b and the link 34b are also guided by a pin 41b extending in the central opening 51 of the plate 22b . This pin 41b is also fixed at the level of the stop 58 and at the level of the axis of manual movement 55 . Thus, a stop placed on the path of the plate 22b can cooperate with the pin 41b to move the link 34b and control the opening or closing of the keeper 32b .

As illustrated in Figures 10 to 13, when a trolley 60 is inserted on the receiver 21 with a securing device 20b as illustrated in Figure 7, the bar 61 is introduced into the housing 31b by spreading the striker 32b due to the curved shape of the front part of the striker 32b . By penetrating into the housing 31b , the bar 61 pushes the counter-bearing piece 56 to an extreme position in which said counter-bearing piece 56 moves the link 34b to automatically close the keeper 32b around the bar 61 .

Thus, in the position illustrated in FIG. 13, striker 32b forms a solid support for bar 61 so that plate 22b can be pulled without risk of bar 61 being extracted from housing 31b . The receiver 21 also includes at least one position in which the opening of the keeper 32b is automated. To do this, a stop is arranged opposite the pin 41b and the displacements of this pin 41b induce both an opening of the keeper 32b by the connecting rod 34b , and a displacement of the counter-support piece 56 towards the end front of body 52 .

In addition, manual unlocking may be required in the event of an electrical malfunction of the receiver 21 . To do this, the manual displacement axis 55 extends outside the body 52 and makes it possible to move both the keeper 32b and the counter-support piece 56 , so as to manually control the extraction of the bar 61 of housing 31b .

Of course, the kinematics of the movement of the hook 30b is not limiting and, even in the case of a central hook, other shapes and other means of movement can be implemented.

For example, Figures 14 to 20 illustrate another embodiment of a securing device 20c with a central hook 30c . This securing device 20c comprises a large number of elements similar to those described with reference to Figures 7 to 13, such as the plate 22b , the body 52 , the axis 40b connecting the plate 22b and the hook 30c , the lip 53 or even the striker 32b and the axis 33b of this striker 32b .

The difference with the embodiment of Figures 7 to 13 lies in the kinematics of movement of the striker 32b between a closed and open position. Indeed, striker 32b is moved by a connecting rod 34c , the end of which is controlled by a cable 70 connected to a pulley 71 mounted in a slot in support part 54 and around axis 40b . At the output of the pulley 71 , the cable 70 is connected to a pin 41c rotatable on a shaft 72 arranged in the center of the plate 22b . Thus, the displacements of the pin 41c by a stop placed on the path of the plate 22b cause the opening or closing of the striker 32b via the cable 70 .

Unlike the use of a counter-support piece 56 , as illustrated in Figures 7 to 13, the striker 32b of Figures 14 to 20 is moved into the closed position by means of two springs 73 , one end of which is fixed to a front part of the body 52 and a second end is fixed to a pin 74 arranged at the end of the connecting rod 34c , opposite the end 35b fixed with the striker 32b .

This pin 74 of the connecting rod 34c is constrained in translational movement in a slot 75 provided in the body 52 . This axis 74 can also be moved by a handle 77 connected to a wheel 76 , so as to impose a movement of the axis 74 towards the rear of the body 52 to obtain a manual opening of the housing 31c in the event of electrical malfunctions of the receiver 21 .

In these two embodiments illustrated in Figures 7 to 20, the securing devices 20b and 20c do not include means for automatically rotating the hooks 30b , 30c to adapt to the height of the bar 61 of a cart 60 . To do this, the axis 33b of the keeper 32b extends on either side of the body 52 to cooperate with spatulas 62 , as illustrated in Figures 21 to 32.

As illustrated in Figures 21 and 22, the purpose of spatulas 62 is to match the height of hook 30c with the height of bar 61 of carriage 60 . Figures 23-28 illustrate a tie-down approach in which carriage 60 and receiver 21 are at the same height, while Figures 29-32 illustrate a tie-down approach in which a 13° angle is imposed between the carriage 60 and receiver 21 . Indeed, it is not uncommon for an ambulance to be parked on a sloping road or for the trolley to be used with an angle of inclination capable of keeping a patient safely on the trolley. It is therefore necessary that the trolley can be inserted into the ambulance with a variation of the angle of attack of at least 10°. To manage these variations in angle of attack, the bar of the carriage 60 is provided with spatulas 62 mounted in rotation on the bar 61 and on either side of the zone of the bar 61 intended to be inserted into the housing 31b . Each spatula 62 has a "C" shape with a lower part 63 larger than the upper part 64 and a central part forming a housing 68 intended to guide the movements of the axis 33c . In addition, a rear part 65 of the spatula 62 is intended to cooperate with an abutment 66 of the carriage 60 so as to limit the possible rotational movements of the spatula 62 around the bar 61 .

As illustrated in Figure 23, when a carriage 60 is inserted on the receiver 21 , it preferably rolls first on a shelf 67 and, when the carriage 60 arrives at the level of the hook 30c , the first element which enters in contact is constituted by the lower parts 63 of the spatulas 62 and the axis 33b . These lower parts 63 have a bias intended to drive the pin 33b into the housing 68 formed by the C-shape of each spatula 62 . During movements of the carriage 60 in the direction of the receiver 21 , the specific shape of the spatulas 62 causes a rotational movement of the hook 30c relative to the plate 22b so as to adapt the height of the bar 33b with the height of the housing 68 .

Even in the case of a difference in angle between the receiver 21 and the carriage 60 , the spatulas 62 make it possible to vary the height of the hook 30c by imposing a rotation of this hook 30c relative to the plate 22b . Thus, when the carriage 60 is not at the same height as the receiver 21 , the embodiments of Figures 7 to 32 do not require a pin to automatically move the height of the securing device 20b or 20c because the spatulas 62 are responsible for automatically compensating for variations in height.

The invention thus makes it possible to effectively tow a trolley carrying a stretcher while ensuring the connection between the trolley and the receiver 21 . The invention also makes it possible to define positions in which the securing device 20a -20c authorizes or not the loading and unloading of a trolley.

In addition, the securing device 20a -20c can disappear into the grooves 25 of the receiver 21 when not in use.

Claims (10)

Securing device (20a-20c) between a receiver (21) mounted within an ambulance and a carriage carrying a stretcher, said device comprising:
- A plate (22a-22b) intended to be mounted movable in translation on said receiver (21) so as to allow automatic movement of said carriage; And
- at least one hook (30a-30c) mounted on said plate (22a-22b), said at least one hook (30a-30c) comprising a housing (31a-31b) intended to receive a bar of the carriage;
characterized in that the securing device (20a-20c) also comprises, at the level of said at least one hook (30a-30c), a striker plate (32a-32b) movable between two positions:
- a closed position in which the keeper (32a-32b) is positioned in front of said housing (31a-31b); And
- an open position in which the keeper (32a-32b) is not arranged in front of said housing (31a-31b);
said striker (32a-32b) being moved by a link (34a-34c) of which a first end is connected to said striker (32a-32b) and a second end is connected to a pin (41a-41c) intended to cooperate with at at least one abutment (43) disposed on the path of said plate (22a-22b), so that the movement of the plate (22a-22b) generates a cooperation of said pin (41a-41c) with said abutment (43) in order to controlling the opening or closing of said keeper (32a-32b). Securing device according to claim 1, in which said at least one hook (30a-30c) is articulated on at least one axis (40a-40b) of said plate (22a-22b). Securing device according to claim 2, in which the securing device (20a) comprising two hooks (30a), said hooks (30a) are interconnected by a spacer (29) arranged above said plate (22a). Securing device according to claim 2 or 3, in which said at least one hook (30a-30c) is provided with a cam (38), articulated on an axis (36), said cam (38) being intended to cooperate with at least one stop (42) arranged on the path of said plate (22a-22b), so that the movements of said plate (22a-22b) cause the cooperation of said cam (38) with said stop (42) in order to control the movement of said at least one hook (30a- 30c) around the axis (40a-40b). Securing device according to claim 4, in which the pin (41a-41c) is mounted on the link (34a-34c) at one of the sides of said link (34a-34c) opposite the side of said link (34a-34c) positioned facing the cam (38). Securing device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the plate (22a-22b) has a U-shape in which pads (23) are fixed on vertical uprights (24a-24b) of said plate (22a-22b). Receiver (21) mounted within an ambulance comprising:
- a base having two grooves (25) parallel to each other;
- a shuttle (27) movable in translation on said base; And
- a securing device (20a-20c) according to one of claims 1 to 6, said securing device (20a-20c) being moved by said shuttle (27). Receiver according to claim 7, in which the shuttle (27) is moved in translation by means of an endless screw (28) actuated by a motor. Receiver according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the plate (22a-22b) is moved in translation by two belts (26) driven by the said shuttle (27) so as to obtain a reduction between the movement of the said shuttle (27) and moving said plate (22a-20b). Ambulance comprising a receiver according to one of Claims 7 to 9.