US2418606A - Invalid lift and transfer device - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1947. R. N. SMITH INVALID LIFT AND TRANSFER DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed Sept. 18, 1944 A2 /V/ c/oL 5M/7'H,

' INVENTOR rag/ 4L 7474M ArToRA/Ex April 8, 1947. R.- SMITH 2,413,606

INVALID LIFT AND TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1944 s Sheet-Sheet 2 Arm/max Patented Apr. 8, 1947 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE INVALID LIFT AND TRANSFER DEVICE Ralph Nichol Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 18, 1944, Serial No. 554,663

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to hydraulic lifting devices, and more particularly to appliances for supporting, raising, transporting, transferring to other supporting means, and otherwise eificaciously servicing sick or injured persons.

A principal object of my invention is to furnish supporting means upon which a patient may be placed and removed therefrom with a minimum of movement, pain, and assistance, and when so supporting will allow exercise of the natural body (3) To provide supporting means upon which 7 the patient may remain for long periods of time in maximum comfort;

(4) To provide means for moving patients to and from various parts of a hospital, and which will require little extra storage space when not in use;

(5) To furnish means for the support of various appliances used in the care and treatment of patients;

(6) To provide a simple unified control of the lifting means, thus leaving the attendants hands free to attend patient or doctor.

Physical conditions of hospital patients vary greatly in their nature. In view of this, means for handling must of necessity be also variable, both in combination and separatelyin order to be of adequate service. For this vital reason my appliance is necessarily divided into parts or species, some of which may be used independently,

or, when used in combination, form parts of the whole. It will be readily understood that any basic support for the attainment of the foregoing objects must be of very strong, rigid construction; while it is obvious that the primary means used 'for getting the patient upon the heavy base must be extremely light and easily adaptable to the bed position and condition of the body. It will also be seen that while the basic support mustbe of permanent construction and design, the attachments which it supports may be various and more or less temporary both in design and construction, in order to be adaptable to the case in hand.

With the foregoing and other objects in View,

reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a caster-mounted frame, the base of which is adapted to extend under a hospital bed and the vertical lifting members and laterally collapsible elements to sustain a torso or body-supporting panel or frame;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, but showing in solid lines upper members of the frame in collapsed position, and in dotted lines such collapsible elements in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a panel torso support with service opening;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of end mem'bers'of the frame as shown in Fig. 1 in bed-side position, the relative position of the bed being illustrated in dotted lines, and also depicting in dotted lines manipulation of the panel shown in Fig 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of hook-on panel extension for full length body support;

Fig. 6 is an end view in partial section. of the frame in bed-side position, showing a modified form of crane arm and sling support;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a modified form of body support;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of still another form of body support;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the body support taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view in partial section of the hydraulic control valve and part of its manipulating meanssuperimposed upon oil reservoir;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of control valve taken on line |l-l| of Fig. 10, showing valve member in center position, both control ports fully open.

Fig. 12 is a similar sectional view, showing valve member 60 fully closing entrance to pipe 49, entrance to pipe 48 being fully open;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line l 3-l3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of valve member 60 Referring to the drawings in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, and particularly for the moment to Fig. 1: Members of a base, comprising ends I 5|5 and their longitudinal connecting member iii, are secured by any means well known in the art at contiguous ends adjacent to lower portions, respectively, of vertical tubular members l8|8, said base being supported on casters l9-l9.

Tubular members I8,-|8 arealso held in verannular packing 23, well known in the art. Upper ends of vertical tubular members i8i8 are annularly enlarged to house ball bearings 2d so placed to prevent binding under load Ends of tubular rams 2i2l (Fig. 4) extend above upper ends of verticaltubular members l8l8, respectively; and hollow cylindrical fit-,

sp acejdjfro m their respective vertically supported ends, witha preferably integral vertically bored lug, 28, to each of which is loosely pivotally attached by a suitable pin (not nurnbered) an adjoining end of one, of rods 29', the innerends, res ctively, of each of which rods 29, after passhroughj concentric bore in'the adjacent end or' losure cap i) of tube 3i, telescope within tube 3i. Each. of, extensions of rods 29 within tube '51 is. lended w h' n nn la i ,2 to vent it's retraction from telescoped' relation, thus to limit estensibility, of the assemblage of telescoping members 29-23 and, 3 ,i.,3l Inner ends "of"'r'ods'29 seat respectivel upon an adjoining endof one of helical springs-33. .3,3; inner ends of said springs each being seated on an appropriate stop,(r 1ot numberedlwithin said tube 3|. The outer side of right crane arm. 2 ,61 isprovidedwith a pair of. spaced-apart sl'o'ts 363l, which slots each have. a longitudinal extension dotted lines in Fig 1)' Within said aid, slots. 39/ functioning to receive n rnbers titre-55hr attachment and sup.- port an obvious manner, of a, panel extens'i new; asillustrated in Fig. 5 of thedrawings,

. lugs s. ss.

n iPerspectiv ely, the hydraulic lifting operating nieanslare depicted in Fig. 1, details of construction'thereof being illustrated in Figs. 6, 11, 1 2 13 and 14, and will now be described.

and, which may, be made of wood, light metal,

hydraulic fluid reservoir which is in communication through pipe ll! with the interior of pump cylinder M, which cylinder contains a pump piston (which, being well known, need not be fur-. ther described), the rod of which piston extends through an appropriate packing gland (not shown in detail) through the opposite end of pumpcylinder ll. Above said protruding end of said piston rod there is rigidly attached to "an adjoining end of said-pump cylinder diva bracket 42, the outer end of said bracket being bifurcated as shown at $3, between which bifurcations is pivoted, by an appropriate pin (not numbered), pedal bar Mi. .Eelow the point of pivoting of pedal bar id, said bar at is provided with a downwardextension (not numbered), to which is pivotally attached" the protruding end of said Referring first to Fig l which showsmjo-st clearly thec'o'mplete assemblageit indicates a pump piston rod. Pedal bar 44 is normally held in uppermost position by coil spring it, its upper movement onrelease of the pedal retracting the pump piston. Y

Through the opposite end of pump cylinder 41 pipe-conduit 46 communicates With a valve chamber (later to be described) in valve hou ing All (details of valve operating means to be later described) and said chamber in said housingt ll" communicates by pipe conduits 48 and 69 with respective hydraulic chambers 22--.22 below rams 2I-.2i within vertical tubularmemr bers l-8l8.

Still referring to the general, assemblage of hydraulic lifting means shown in Fig. 1 Tubular valve stem 5,!) extends through a packing 58a and through hous ng cap, 41a of the valve chamher (later described) and rotatably 'throughan appropriate bore in member 20 of the supporting frame, to the upper end of which valve stem Eii'is rigidly attached (by any well-known means) operating lever-handle 5|, which latter is, provided with springmeans 52 (Fig.10) Well known in the art and not in detail illustrated, to) re,- siliently engage in slots in arcuate member 53, the latter being carried; on the upper, surface of frame member. 2d f54l1 igs. ljOand 13) is an operating pedal for relieving hydraulic pressure in hydraulic lifting chambersv 22-22 tolowerpa'nelsupporting members of the frame.

In Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are illustrated details. of. valve mechanismwithin, valve housin 4.1. .In F s. ,0 11; a l lzth ip 46 fro Bored passage: 56 (Figs. 11 and 12).is enlarged adjacent its ends, to form. compartments. for ball check valves 5 'l.-'.51., each of which latter, re,- spectively, is normally pressed, upon: its Seat (010s ing its. respective end. of passage) lay-helical springs 5-87.58, which. latter.- arerrespectively, seated, on. one of annular rims-v 5&,5 9., Valve member 60 (shownperspectively i'nfFig. 149 mm,- prisesa, circular head 6 I. having extending. down;- fwardly from it's perir gher-y and of thesameoutsid radius ashead 6i, a fiange. '62, of uniform ,width a segment of which flange is cut away as at 63in, providea; fluid passage.- Concentric with head 6| of valve 60 extends upwardly tubuglag;- valve stern 5ll, ;which;passes. through ya; suitable packing 5M, and thence upward through cap 41a of valve casing 41, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1, and 13.

In Figs. 11 and 12 is illustrated the rotative movement of valve member 60 by which the cutaway portion 63 (shown most clearly in Fig. 14) of its segmental flange provides, partially or wholly, optional opening (controlled by the manipulating handle 5|) for communication through pipe conduits 48 and 49, respectively, with the hydraulic chambers 22-22.

Referring particularly to Figs, 11, 12 and 13: Drain conduit 64 communicates at each of. its ends 65-65, respectively, with bored passage 56, and, through port 66 (Fig. 13), communicates through pipe 6'! with hydraulic fluid reservoir 39.

Within tubular valve stem 56 (as most clearly' shown in Fig. 13) needle-valve '68 slidingly fits, annular packing ring 69 around said needlevalve 68 permitting sliding movement of the valve, but preventingleakage of pressure fluid. Said needle-valve 68 is adapted to seat on the bevel (not numbered) around port 66. Pedal bar 10 is pivoted to lug N (Fig. 13) which latter is preferably integral with valve casing cap 41a. The inner end of pedal bar 10, which extends through an aperture 562), as shown in Fig. 14, in tubular valve stem 59, is secured by link 72 to the upper end of needle-valve 68. Needlevalve 68 is normally held seated over port 66 by helical spring 13 within tubular valve stem 59, the lower end of spring 13 being seated on the upper side of the inner end of pedal bar 19, and the upper end of spring t3 being seated on a, pin M which extends through an appropriate bore through walls of tubular valve stem 59 in which it is secured by any means well known in the art.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a supplemental frame and sling support in which 15 indicates a crane-arm, the lower end of which is rotatably telescoped into the upper end of ram 2|, and

which is vertically supported in telescoped relation on the upper end of ram 2| and upon fitting 25 by. an annular flange 16. Obviously each of rams 2| as shown in Fig. 1 are provided with l a like crane arm 15, so that upper ends of said crane arm 15 may swing toa position over the bed (indicated in dotted lines) or outward from the side of the bed.

Crane arms 15 are formed with hooks 11 adjacent their upper ends, from each of which hooks 11-11 is suspended a sling of heavy cord, the two reaches 18-18 of which are spaced apart by passing through slots or holes (not numbered) in the ends of spacing bar 19. Lower ends of each cord 18 has attached to it a hook 80 which is adapted to engage sides of a supporting panel (such; for instance, as illustrated in Figs. 7 or 8) the contour of the patient supported by the sling being indicated (Fig. 6) by dotted lines.

Figs. 3, 7 and 8 illustrate alternate forms of body-supporting panels, each designed as a special form of litter for the support of a patient, and each adapted while so supporting to be raised, lowered, transferred or transported on crane arms 26-26 and their appurtenances as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings hereof, the specific forms of such body-supporting panels illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 being particularly also designed for such manipulation by the crane-arm and sling support illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated an approximately torsolength supporting panel comprising a rectangular strip 8| of sheet metal, plywood, plastic, or other suitable material having service opening 82 and hand holes 83-83. Where, when using the torso length support of Fig. 6, full length body support is desired for transportation or transference, the extension panel 84 illustrated in Fig.5 is slipped under the patients legs before raising, its hookon members 35-35 being attached to crane arm 26 as heretofore described. i

In Fig. 4 of the drawing a method of use of torso-supporting panel 8| (Fig. 3) is illustrated. Crane arms 26-26 with their connecting members being opened and lowered to rest upon the bed-mattress (the latter being shown in dotted lines), and the patient being rolled toward the opposite side of the bed. resting on his side at the edge of the frame supporting means, pane1 8| is then placed in semi-vertical position (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4) its service opening approximating the patient, and the patient is then rolled onto panel 8| which is coincidentally lowered in the direction indicated by the arrows in said Fig. 4 until it rests upon crane arms 26-26.

The form of body support shown in Fig. 7 is designed for those patients who are badly injured and require raising and lowering with as little body disturbance as possible. In this form each of side members 85 and 86 of a long rectangular frame, preferably of metal tubing, are provided adjacent their respective ends with short lateral extensions 67 and 88, circular in cross section and adapted to telescope within corresponding ends, respectively, of end frame members 89 and 99. A sheet of fabric of any suitable material (such as canvas) of long rectangular form is cut to form spaced-apart strips 9l-9I, connected at outer ends by a continuous portion of the fabric which is Wrapped around and sewed to frame member 36 by obvious means well known in the art. Adjacent each end corner of each ofstrips 9|, shanks of spring hook members 92-92, (well known in the art, and which need not be further described) are secured, opposite ends being formed to hook over side member 85, the spring (not numbered) intervening the shank of the hook member serving to provide a longitudinal resilience of the hook member. The technique of the use of the body support shown in Fig. 7 is as follows: Side member 86, with its attached fabric strips 9| bunched, is placed at one side of the patient, and each strip 9| is separately slipped under the body of. the patient and drawn snug. The frame end members 89 and 90 are then slipped beneath the patient and telescoped over lateral extensions 88 respectively. Said frame member is now placed parallel with the hookcarrying ends of strips 9|, and the hooks of members 92-92 are placed over side member 85, which is pulled outward to permit lateral extensions 81-8! to telescope within adjacent respective end members 89 and 90.

In Figs. 8 and 9 are shown another alternate form of body support in which the rigid tubular frame is divided into parts 93-94, which may be joined by socket members 99. Torso supporting frame 93 is crossed by rigid or semi-rigid band members 95-95 secured at their respective ends by any means well known in the art, as illustrated in dotted lines in plan in Fig. 8, a short slip-covered pad 96 of aerated latex or other resilient material being placed over and supported by said cross members 95. When full length support of the patient is desired, frame part 94 may be slipped into place as shown in Fig. 8, the legs of the patient being supported by the spaced-apart strips 91-91 of fabric, such as canvas or the like, ends of which carry members 98-98 adapted to 2 BEDS I The operation of the hydraulic lifting means is as follows: Assuming, first, that it is desired to raise rams 2l2l equally, operating handle BI is placedin} central position, thus moving valve member 60 in position shown in Fig. 11 with ingress or hydraulic fluid into pipes 49 and 49 fully open. The pump piston in cylinder. ll h'as been spaced a predetermined distance between th ends of cylinder 4! and with a conventional ball check valve (not shown) closing pipe Ml from hydraulic fluid reservoir 9, pipes 43 and 49 of two respective hydraulic fi uidlifting chambers and cylinder 41 on its reservoir side being filled with-hydraulic fluid, a downward stroke of pedal 45-will force hydraulic fluid through pipe 46 and passage 56-, unseating ball check valves 51, and then through the ends of passage 56 and through pipes 48 and 49 in equal quantities below each of rams 21, thus, the weight upon rams being equal, their upward movement will also be equal. Weight differential upon rams 2! may be readily compensated by partial closure of passage 56 to'- the lighter side by rotation of valve member 60; while the completeclosing of passage 56, as shown Fig. 12, at either end as desired makes the jack operation at the opposite end entirely independent regardless of the weight upon it,

thusallowing either the head or feet of the patient to be raised or lowered at will. The springmeans 45, heretofore described, after release ofsuch-depression of pedal 44- will return the pump piston to its initial position, and in doing so will pump a new charge of hydraulic fluid into the pump cylinder, the hydraulic fluid in' the hydraulic lifting chambers and connecting conduits being prevented from returning to the pump cylinder by ball check valves (not shewn, but well'know'n in the art) within valve chamber 47". Such-first depression of the pedal will raise the rams 21 a distance measured by the amount oi i luid which has by the first pedal depression: been forced beneath them. With each succeeding depression and release of pedal 45,.an additional volume of: pressure will be forced into the lifting chambers, further'raising the rams 2 1-2 i When, after having-been equally raised, it is desired to equally lower each or rams 2| and the frame supported by them, the valve member 62 being in the position shown in Fig. 11, pedal 54 is depressed, opening needle valve 68 which permits (while the needle valve is ofi its seat) the? fluid in. the lifting chamber 22-22 below-rams. iii-2| and within" pipe conduits 48 and 49 to" flow backthrough drain conduit 6-4, through pipe 61, and intoffluidreservoir 39: Obviously, release of pedal 54 will result; in closing needle valve 68, and will stop the drain back tothefiuid reservoir. Iffoun'd desirable to lower one arm while holding the position of the other, valve member 62 may be movedby operating han .dle'5l to wholly or partially close the appropriate side of the 'drainline.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of. the character described, a base supported on casters, a plurality of vertical-1y extending tubular members supported on said base, a plurality. of crane arms, a plurality of members,- each rotatably telescoping within one'of' said tubular members, and each rigidly attached at its upper end to an adjoining end of one of said crane arms, and means adiust= ably connecting a plurality of said cr'an'earins to permit their relative'movement inan'arc with respect to their respective tubular members.

2. In" a device ofthe character described, a hollow vertical standard, a hydraulic ram tele scope within said standard, and a crane arm rigidly attached to an upper end of said ram and adapted to rotate with said ram in an arc with respect to said ho'llow vertical standard.

3.111 a device of the character described, a base, a pair of tubular members, supported on' said base, a pair of rams, eachrespectively telescoped into one of said tubular .members and rotatable with respect thereto, a pair of crane arms, each of said crane arms being rigidly attached to an upper end of one of said'rams, means resiliently connecting said crane arms, and a body-supporting panel adapted to be supported on saidcrane arms.

R; NICHOL SMITH.

precursors CITED The following references are of recordin the me of this patent? V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,354,693 Martin Aug. 1, 1944 2,319,347 Reed May 18, 1943 808,785 Thompson ;Jan. 2, 1906 1,823,890 Ettinger Sept. .22, .1931 1 1,094,117 Butler 1;- Apr,2-1,' 1914 2,218,883 Jones Oct. 22,- 1940 2,951,536 Parmley Aug; 18,- 1936 1,033,277 Seasliole July 23, 1912 924,754 Fos'dick June15',1909' 2,234,483 Suttlo measur n Mar. I1, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Gountry Date 29,364 Danish Feb. 20, 1922

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