EP1895965B1 - Patient transport system for overcoming differences in level, in particular, swimming pool lifter - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a patient transport system (1) for overcoming differences in level, in particular, a swimming pool lifter, which comprises a portable track (4), supported on a base (10) in the direction of gravity and provided with rail bodies (20), on which a transport device (2) with a patient carrier (26) can move for upward and downward transport. The aim of said invention is to make portable patient transport systems more user-friendly. Said aim is achieved, whereby the transport device (2) can move on at least three rail bodies (20) of the track (4) and said track (4) has at least two sections (6-9) with a different angle of inclination (11, 12), at least one distance (D) in the direction of gravity (G) between two rail bodies (20) being different in at least two sections (6-9) of the track (4).

Description

The invention relates to a person-conveying device for overcoming differences in height, in particular swimming pool lift, with a transportable, in the direction of gravity supportable on a surface roadway having rail body on which a transport device with a person recording for up and down transport is movable.

Such a person conveyor device with a transportable roadway is needed, for example, where temporarily a handicapped or immobile person to be transported without the person-conveyor is permanently installed.

In contrast to permanently installed lifts, the conveyor described here can be set up at short notice and then dismantled when it is no longer needed. The conveyor can also be used as a boarding aid. Such boarding aids are used for example in the swimming pool area as a swimming pool lifter.

Such a person conveyor is off DE 102 45 277 A1 known. The swimming pool lift arrangement described there makes it possible to move immobile persons into and out of the swimming pool. The known swimming pool lift arrangement has a height-adjustable person receiving, which is displaceable from a position outside of the Bekkens in a position within the basin. This is done with a tilted to the vertical mobile roadway along which the person recording is movable.

The invention has for its object to make transportable people conveyors user-friendly.

This object is achieved in a persons conveying device of the type mentioned above in that the transport device is movable on at least three rail bodies of the roadway and the roadway has at least two sections each having a different pitch angle, wherein at least one distance in the direction of gravity between two rail bodies in at least two sections of the roadway is different.

Rail bodies are parts of the roadway that carry one or more transport devices along the roadway and provide any course of the roadway. In this case, at least three rail bodies are arranged side by side in the axial direction, wherein the rail body in the horizontal direction at a distance from each other. The rail bodies are laid so that the roadway has at least two sections, each with a different pitch angle. A section of the roadway is understood to be a partial section of the roadway in which all the rail elements have the same constant pitch angle and run parallel to one another in the axial direction. It may also be provided that a first section and a second section do not merge directly into one another. There is then a transition region in which the pitch angle gradually changes, that is, does not abruptly pass from one angle of one section to another angle of another section. A horizontal section is also possible, where the pitch angle is 0 °. In the arrangement of the rail body is provided that at least one distance in the direction of gravity between two rail bodies in at least two sections of the roadway is different. The distance in the direction of gravity is the shortest connection in the vertical direction between two rail bodies. The distance is determined from the cross-section center of a first rail body to the cross-section center of a second rail body, wherein the cross-sections of the rail body lie in the same vertical plane. With three rail bodies installed, there are three such distances. This is the distance between the first and second rail bodies, the distance between the second and third rail bodies, and the distance between the first and third rail bodies. If the cross sections of these three rail bodies lie on a triangle with a horizontally oriented baseline and a vertical height, the height of the triangle, for example, changes when the first section is compared with the second section of the roadway. By this change of the distance in the direction of gravity, it is possible to guide a transport device at the same orientation angle of the persons occupancy, without it being necessary to align the person recording itself in the respective section. This is particularly advantageous in transport devices having a plurality of axes, wherein the axes are arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel. The person can be transported, for example, sitting, standing and lying. This depends on the design of the person admission. Under a person recording are all devices to understand that make it possible to accommodate one or more people at the same time, so that the people can be transported using the transport device. As a person recording, for example, a seat, a chair, a couch, a conveyor basket, a platform and the like can be used. The person recording can also be designed so that a handicapped person can be taken with their wheelchair from the person recording.

It is particularly preferred that in at least a portion of the roadway the rail bodies are arranged so that their cross-sections are in a straight line lie, and in at least a portion of the rail body are arranged so that their cross sections lie on a polygon. If the cross sections of the rail bodies lie on an imaginary line, for example a horizontally extending line, this is a space-saving arrangement since the rail bodies are laid in one plane. In the arrangement of the cross sections of the rail body on an imaginary polygon, so a spatial arrangement, more space is required than in a planar arrangement. However, in a spatial arrangement of the cross sections, for example, on the vertices of an imaginary equilateral triangle, the stability of the roadway is greater than in a planar arrangement. These two advantages of stability and space savings are combined here. At the same time can be achieved by the arrangement of the rail body that the orientation of the person recording regardless of the pitch angle of the roadway is consistent, for example, with respect to the horizontal aligned. The stability of the rail body assembly is important on horizontal routes, as these are preferably used for entry and exit. The rail body are increasingly exposed to lateral forces. Transverse forces arise, for example, as a result of loads to be transported with centers of gravity far above the rail body or due to sideways movements, as occur during entry and exit. By contrast, if the cross sections of the rail bodies are arranged on a polygon, this contributes to the stability of the roadway. During the process of the transport device, the lateral forces are lower. Therefore, it is provided that on oblique sections of the road, the cross sections of the rail body on an imaginary line can run and where there are more lateral forces occur, the cross sections of the rail body are arranged spatially on a polygon.

It is particularly preferred that the person conveyor device comprises an adjusting device. This adjustment device is used to align the road at a desired angle. The adjusting device may for example comprise a roller assembly or a single roller, which are rotatably mounted. With these, the roadway can be moved at one end during assembly and disassembly. The desired slope of the roadway can also be adjusted with Justierprofilen. These adjustment profiles are extendable, for example, from the rail body up to a certain length and thus can also change the inclination angle to the support surface.

The person conveyor device preferably has four rail bodies. With four rail bodies, a particularly favorable road stability is achieved. The person to be transported can have a great weight. On the one hand, the weight to be carried divides into four rail bodies. On the other hand, the transport device drives more stable, especially in horizontal sections of the road.

In a practical way, the rail body can be assembled from rail elements. The rail elements can be connected in the axial direction according to a modular principle. Since the person conveyor is degraded again after use, such connection techniques are particularly suitable which create a solid and secure connection, but also quickly and easily solvable. These are, for example, screw or plug connections. In a transportable person conveyor device, it is expedient that the dismantled roadway in small units with small geometric dimensions is manageable. These small units are the rail elements whose geometric shape can be adapted to the desired conveyor line.

Preferably, the rail elements have a profiled cross-section. With a profile in cross-sectional view of the rail element is achieved that existing rolling body or slider of the transport device guided on the rail elements are movable. In this case, the profiled cross section can extend over the entire axial length of the rail body. In this way, the safety of the person conveyor is increased because a derailment of rolling or sliding is unlikely.

It is particularly preferred that the person conveyor be corrosion resistant. Since transportable conveyors are often used where harsh conditions prevail, corrosion resistance is particularly advantageous when using the outdoor personal transport device under various weather conditions. Since a corrosion-resistant material does not rust, the person-conveying device can also be used in swimming pools and in seawater, where it has direct contact with water. As a material, for example, stainless steel comes into question.

The roadway preferably has changes in angle. Angle changes allow the road to be adapted to any spatial requirements. The angle changes may relate to both the horizontal component and the vertical component of the roadway. A simultaneous change of both components is also possible. There are thus set inclinations to the horizontal. Also, curves in the vertical direction are possible, e.g. avoid a fixed obstacle, such as a wall.

It is particularly preferred that the transport device is connected via rollers with the roadway. Rollers are a simple means of connecting between the conveyor and the roadway. Rollers are cylindrical bodies that are rotatably mounted about a rotation axis. These include, for example, rollers and wheels.

In a practical way, the transport device on handles. Handles on the transport device can serve on the one hand during transport to allow people to hold on to it. Handles are also useful when the person conveyor is being dismantled and is to be transported away itself.

Appropriately, the person receiving height adjustable. A height-adjustable person recording can be adjusted so that the person can get in and out at a comfortable height. For heavy loads, the people recording can be adjusted towards the road so that the center of gravity of the load moved closer to the roadway and the transport device is safely moved while driving.

It is preferred that the person receiving is rotatable about at least one axis. A rotatably mounted axle can be used to facilitate the entry and exit of a person. This can arise, for example, by tilting the seat, which supports the person, for example, when disembarking. It is also possible that the seat is rotatable about a vertical axis, so that a person can first get in and then the seat can be rotated in the direction of travel, so that the person looks in the direction of travel.

It is advantageous if a drive device for moving the transport device is arranged stationarily with respect to the roadway. The drive means is not moved, so that the transport device does not carry unnecessary loads. This is particularly useful in portable personal conveyors. This also saves energy because less mass is on the road to move.

It is envisaged that the drive device has a pulling device. The pulling device can exert a braking effect both when lowering the transport device along the road as well as exert the necessary driving forces when pulling the transport device on the road. The traction device may be formed for example by a tension belt or a rope. A tension belt or a rope have hardly any weight and can be easily rolled up. This has the advantage that no protruding parts are generated when moving the transport device on the road. It is also possible to use a toothed belt as a pulling device, which is guided, for example, over deflection rollers and tensioned with the aid of tensioning rollers. With a drive, the toothed belt can be moved, so that the person receiving between a limit switch, for example in a swimming pool, and another limit switch, for example, outside the swimming pool is moved. With such traction devices, it is easily possible that the roadway can take any course and the transport device is moved in a controlled manner.

Preferably, the person conveyor is remotely controllable. In this way, from any point from the drive means can be operated to position the transport device and to proceed. The remote control can be made via a cable connection or through a wireless connection. It is also possible that the person to be transported remotely controls the person conveyor device itself.

It is preferred that the total weight of the roadway is less than 500 kg. In this way, the road is manageable and can be easily transported without large equipment. It is then also possible that the mounted roadway is raised or pulled up to save space, for example, stored in the ceiling area of a swimming pool hall. The person conveyor device can do this via a pulley or be pulled up with a crane. Since the total weight of the roadway is distributed over the length of the roadway, the roadway can also be built on soft ground. This can be advantageous, for example, in seawater swimming pools.

Preferably, the weight of a rail element is less than 5 kg. Such a rail element can be carried by a person alone and mounted with other rail elements to a rail body of a roadway.

Preferably, the length of the road is less than 60 m. The length of the road is kept as low as possible and installed as possible on a direct path between the height differences to be overcome.

It is advantageous that the rail body are laid visible. In the case of visibly installed rail bodies, the effort for assembly and disassembly of the roadway remains low since they are directly accessible. There is no need to provide channels into which the rail elements are routed.

It is envisaged that the rail body are bent at the end of the road towards the middle of the lane. In such a bend of the rail body, the transport device is mechanically held on the road and prevented from the transport device leaves the rail body. This is a further safety aspect, which may also be present in addition to a drive device with, for example, limit switches. The bend inward also has the advantage that the installed rail body does not pose a risk of injury to the entering and exiting person at the end of the road.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Personen-Fördervorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer Transport-vorrichtung in der Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

eine Anordnung der Querschnitte der Schienen-körper in einem ersten Abschnitt,

Fig. 4

eine Anordnung der Querschnitte der Schienen-körper in einem zweiten Abschnitt,

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung einer Transport-vorrichtung auf einer Fahrbahn und

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung eines Antriebssy-stems mit einem Zahnriemen und Spannrollen.

The invention will be described below with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. Herein show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a person conveyor device,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a transport device in the plan view,

Fig. 3

an arrangement of the cross sections of the rail body in a first section,

Fig. 4

an arrangement of the cross sections of the rail body in a second section,

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of a transport device on a road and

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of a Antriebssy-stems with a toothed belt and tensioners.

Fig. 1 shows a person conveyor device 1 with a transport device 2, which is movable via a drive device 3 on a roadway 4. The roadway 4 is composed of rail elements 5 and has a plurality of sections 6-9. In a first section 6, the roadway 4 with a horizontal contact surface 10 forms a first angle 11 of 45 °. One Angle of 45 ° for at least one section has been found to be favorable. The vertical component of motion is then substantially equal to the horizontal component of motion.

In a second section 7 and in a fourth section 9, the rail body 5 are aligned horizontally, ie parallel to the base 10. In a third section 8, the roadway 4 extends at a steeper second angle 12 of more than 45 °. In this case, all rail elements 5 are e.g. aligned at a second angle 12 of 60 ° with respect to the horizontal. Between sections 6-9 transition areas 13 are arranged. In these transition areas 13, a part of the rail elements 5 has a different pitch angle than the rail elements 5, which are relatively displaced thereto, e.g. 0 ° and 45 ° between sections 6 and 7.

With the person-conveying device 1, a height difference H between the points X and Y is overcome, wherein between the points X and Y, an increase Z is present. This increase Z can be for example a wall, a railing or the like. In the present case, the passenger conveyor 1 is used for the transport of people with impaired mobility in order to transport them into and out of a pool 14 filled with water. At the bottom of the Schwimmbekkens, so on the contact surface 10, the person-conveying device 1 is supported by an adjusting device 15. The adjusting device 15 with a supporting body 16 and a telescopic device 17 serves to adjust the first angle 11 of the roadway 4 from 45 ° relative to the contact surface 10. Also, the support body 16 are used to support the still mounted rail elements 5 on the vertical wall 18 of the Bekkenrandes while they are pulled out of the water 14. Further adjusting devices 15 may be arranged on the surfaces in the vicinity of the locations Y and Z in order to support the road 4 in the direction of gravity G and to fix. These adjusting devices 15 can also be equipped with a telescopic device 17. In the present case, only one telescopic device 17 is shown with the support body 16, which is designed as a roller body in the form of a roller, so that during assembly or disassembly of the road, a pulling-up movement of the rail elements 5 can be supported on the wall 18.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the lane 4 with four parallel rail members 20, which are composed of rail elements 5 with connectors. In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 in each case a sectional view of the road 4 is shown. The illustrated cross sections 19 of the rail body 20 have a circular cross section 19. This cross section 19 is solid here. To reduce the weight of the rail elements 5, these cross sections 19 may also be hollow or partially hollow.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the roadway 4 in the first section. 6 Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the lane 4 in the second, third, fourth section 7, 8, 9 or in the transition areas 13. In the first section 6 of the person conveyor 1, the cross sections 19 of the rail body 20 are arranged on an imaginary line 21, while in the second, third, fourth section 7, 8, 9 and the transition regions 13, the cross-sections 19 of the rail body 20 lie on an imaginary polygon 22 respectively at the corner points. The polygon is here a rectangle in the form of a trapezoid. It should be noted that the cross sections 19 of these sections 6-9 and the transition regions 13 are shown only schematically. The horizontal and vertical distances of the cross sections 19 are unchanged within a section 6-9 to each other. The distances are constant within a section until an angle change 23 initiates a transition region 13. Within this transition region 13, the distance of the rail body 5 to each other can also change continuously. If one compares the arrangement of the rail body 5 in the various sections 6-9 with each other, a distance D in the direction of gravity G between the rail bodies 5 is changed in at least two sections 6-9. This also goes from a comparison of the two 3 and 4 out. In Fig. 3 is the distance D in the direction of gravity G zero and in Fig. 4 this distance D is greater than zero. The horizontal distances of the rail body 5 remain unchanged. The distance D may also be different in each of the sections 7, 8, 9.

In Fig. 1 is the transport device 2 with a total of four rollers, which are designed as stainless wheels 25 made of polyamide, on the roadway 4 to see from a side view. The transport device 2 is shown here in two different positions, once in the oblique first section 6 and once in the horizontal fourth section 9. In both illustrated positions, as well as on the entire route the lane 4 is a person recording 26 aligned horizontally. On this person seat 26, which is designed here as a simple seat, a person can be transported from the horizontal fourth section 9 of the lane 4 in the pool. With the transport device 2 and a wheelchair is receivable. This has the advantage that can be easily transported people who are dependent on a wheelchair. It is then not necessary for these persons to leave their wheelchair. This also contributes to the user-friendliness of the conveyor.

As in Fig. 1 shown, the transport device 2 between the beginning of the track at location Y and swimming pool is moved to just before the X location. Serves the drive device 3, which is arranged outside the swimming pool at the beginning of the roadway. The drive device 3 has an electric motor. An electric motor is easy to control. This is arranged in a housing, so that there is no risk of contamination. If the electric motor is splash-proof, there is no danger that electrical currents will have negative effects on people. An installed outside the swimming pool drive device 3 has the advantage that the drive device 3 hardly comes into contact with water 14 and thus does not have to be sealed costly. The drive device 3 is connected to the transport device 2 via a pulling device, not shown in connection. The traction device is designed for example as a water-repellent, rust-free rope.

The drive device 3 is operated with an electric accumulator 27. A 12 volt or 24 volt accumulator system is widely used and, on the one hand, has the required electrical capacity to carry people up and down the sloped roadway 4. On the other hand, such an accumulator system is still small enough that it is manageable. Also, one accumulator 27 can be charged while another is in operation. It is also independent of a fixed power grid and the local power supply, so that you can use the people conveyor at any point.

The drive device 3 can be remotely controlled with a remote control 28. This can be connected via a cable to the drive device 3 or come about in the present case via a radio link. By the horizontal portion 9 at the entry point of the lane 4, it is easily possible for a handicapped person to get to the person receiving 26 with the help of another person or independently.

In Fig. 5 is a sectional view of another lane 4 with a further transport device 2 shown, in which the rail body 20 do not have a circular cross section 19, but rather a rectangular with a profile 24 at two opposite sides. With the help of this profile 24 wheels 25 can be performed on the rail bodies 20. There are four rail body 20 arranged side by side, wherein each of the two outer rail body 20 are spaced closer to each other than the inner rail body 20. Die Transport device 2 in FIGS. 2 and 5 has eight wheels 25 made of polyamide. In Fig. 5 the transport device 2 is shown from the front, wherein the wheels 25, which bear against a common rail body 20, are arranged directly above one another. The wheels 25 can also, as in Fig. 2 shown at another transport device 2, be arranged offset to each other. The wheels 25 form pairs of wheels. Thus, the transport device 2 is securely moved on the rail bodies 20, wheels 25 are provided above and below the rail body 20, as shown in the FIGS. 2 and 5 is shown. The wheels 25 of the pairs of wheels each engage above and below the rail members 20. The wheels 25 may themselves have a guide profile on their periphery or are as in Fig. 5 shown guided on the rail body 20 due to the profile 24 of the cross sections of the rail elements 5. The front and rear axles 29 of the transport device 2 are connected to each other via struts 30. The struts 30 carry a fastening device 31 for the person receiving 26 of the transport device 2. On the fastening device 31 may be mounted, for example, a seat, a chair or a platform for receiving a person. The fastening device 31 can also accommodate a wheelchair with person. To accommodate different types of wheelchair an adapter may be necessary for this purpose. A platform for wheelchair admission is also possible.

In Fig. 1 the rail body 20 are aligned with rail elements 5 to each other so that the person receiving 26 at each point of the roadway 4 is parallel to the horizontal base 10. At the edge areas of the Person conveyor device 1 can be provided that the person receiving 26 is inclined due to the arrangement of the rail elements 5, so as to facilitate, for example, the person being conveyed an exit.

In the end of the lane 4 near the places X and Y limit switches are provided. Limit switches are used for safety during operation of the person conveyor device 1. The limit switches turn off the drive device 3, so that the transport device 2 comes to a stop at a certain point.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a drive system for the conveyor device 1 described above. The drive system has a toothed belt 32, which is moved by a drive 33. The drive 33 is stationary and has a driven roller 34 which moves the toothed belt 32. With the help of tension rollers 35 of the timing belt 32 is tensioned and changed its direction of deflection rollers 36. By driving the driven roller 34, the person receiving 26 is moved between not shown limit switches outside the swimming pool and within the pool. The drive system can be adapted to any geometry of the swimming pool. Further deflection rollers 36 and tension rollers 35 allow additional changes in direction of the roadway. 4

It is also possible to use the person conveyor device 1 according to the invention for the transport of objects. This is suitable, for example, to transport objects during a move, for example, to transport crates and furniture from an apartment. In a furniture removal, the person conveyor device 1 can be led to a balcony or through a window. Due to the horizontal section 9, it is then possible to place objects inside the apartment directly on the people conveyor 1, without these still have to be carried to the window or balcony. In the apartment thus a lane 4 is laid, which can follow any height differences H and horizontal curves. It is also possible to drive the transported objects outside the apartment directly into a moving truck on the track elements 5 placed there. After completed transport work, the person conveyor device 1 can then be dismantled and come to a next location for use.

Claims (20)

1. Person-conveying system (1) for overcoming differences in level, in particular a swimming pool lifter, with a transportable track (4) which can be supported in the direction of gravity on a base (10) and which comprises rail bodies (20) along which a transport device (2) with a person support (26) can move so as to convey the person upwardly and downwardly, characterized in that the transport device (2) can be moved along at least three rail bodies (20) of the track (4), and the track (4) comprises at least two sections (6-9) each having a different angle of inclination (11, 12), wherein at least one distance (D) in the direction of gravity (G) between two rail bodies (20) is different in at least two sections (6-9) of the track (4).
2. Person-conveying system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rail bodies (20) are arranged in at least one section (6) of the track (4) such that their cross sections (19) lie on a straight line (21), and the rail bodies (20) are arranged in at least one section (7, 8, 9) such that their cross sections (19) lie on a polygon (22).
3. Person-conveying system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the person-conveying system (1) comprises an adjusting device (15).
4. Person-conveying system (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the person-conveying system (1) comprises four rail bodies (20).
5. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rail bodies (20) can be assembled from rail elements (5).
6. Person-conveying system according to Claim 5, characterized in that the rail elements (5) have a profiled cross section (24).
7. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the person-conveying system (1) is corrosion-resistant.
8. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the track (4) has angle changes (23).
9. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the transport device (2) is connected to the track (4) via rollers (25).
10. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the transport device (2) has handles.
11. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the transport surface (26) is height-adjustable.
12. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the transport surface (26) can be rotated about at least one axis.
13. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a drive unit (3) for moving the transport device (2) is arranged fixed in position with respect to the track (4).
14. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the drive unit (3) comprises a hauling means.
15. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the person-conveying system (1) is remotely controllable.
16. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the total weight of the track (4) is less than 500 kg.
17. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the weight of a rail element (5) is less than 5 kg.
18. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the length of the track (4) is less than 60 m.
19. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the rail bodies (20) are laid such that they are visible.
20. Person-conveying system according to one of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the rail bodies (20) at the end of the track are bent towards the centre of the track.

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