Roll-in cots having wheel alignment mechanisms. According to one embodiment, a roll-in cot includes a support frame, a pair of legs pivotably and slidably coupled to the support frame, and a pair of hinge members that are pivotably coupled to the support frame and to one of the legs. The roll-in cot also includes a wheel linkage pivotably coupled to the pair of legs and a wheel alignment mechanism. The legs and the hinge members pivot relative to one another in a relative angular rotation ratio and the wheel alignment mechanism rotates the wheel alignment mechanism relative to the hinge members at a reduction ratio. The relative angular rotation ratio of the legs and the hinge members is approximately inverse to the reduction ratio of the wheel alignment mechanism.

Embodiments of a method of operation of a roll-in push cot for transport onto a first surface comprising initially loading the roll-in cot onto a first surface thereby releasing automatically at least one leading leg, continuing of loading the roll-in cot onto the first surface to move a front carriage member toward a front actuator, such that movement of the front carriage member triggers the front actuator that releases a middle release lever, thereby initiating the release of at least one trailing leg, supporting the weight of the cot at least partially in order to disengage a locking mechanism for the at least one trailing leg, and loading the cot in order to move a rear carriage member in conjunction with folding of the at least one trailing leg and thereby trigger a reset actuator and release a latch pin to engage the rear carriage member when the trailing and leading legs of the roll-in push cot are in a fully folded position on the first surface.

Embodiments of a method of operation of a roll-in push cot for transport onto a first surface comprising initially loading the roll-in cot onto a first surface thereby releasing automatically at least one leading leg, continuing of loading the roll-in cot onto the first surface to move a front carriage member toward a front actuator, such that movement of the front carriage member triggers the front actuator that releases a middle release lever, thereby initiating the release of at least one trailing leg, supporting the weight of the cot at least partially in order to disengage a locking mechanism for the at least one trailing leg, and loading the cot in order to move a rear carriage member in conjunction with folding of the at least one trailing leg and thereby trigger a reset actuator and release a latch pin to engage the rear carriage member when the trailing and leading legs of the roll-in push cot are in a fully folded position on the first surface.

A transport apparatus includes a frame, a lift mechanism supporting the frame, and a litter deck for supporting a person. The litter deck is adapted to be reconfigured between a chair configuration and a cot configuration. The litter deck is also adapted to be removably mounted to the frame, with the litter deck being adapted to be supported by the frame while the litter deck is in its chair configuration and also while being reconfigured between its chair configuration and its cot configuration.

The present invention provides an elevating bed capable of detecting braking performance. The elevating bed comprises an elevating assembly, a driving motor connected to the elevating assembly and driving the elevating assembly to move, a brake device connected to the driving motor and a control module connected to the driving motor and controlling the driving motor to rotate, and connected to the brake device and controlling the brake device to be enabled or disabled; when the control module disables the brake device, the control module controls the driving motor to drive the elevating assembly to move for a first movement distance and calculates a first torque value of the driving motor; when the control module enables the brake device, the control module controls the driving motor to drive the elevating assembly to move for a second movement distance and calculates a second torque value of the driving motor, the control module determining whether the brake device is normal or abnormal according to a relationship between the first torque value and the second torque value.

A lift system 100 may comprise two sets of two pistons with each set of pistons attached to an upper cross bar 210 and a lower cross bar 275, with the lower cross bar having distal ends comprising distal insertion areas 276 with the distal insertion areas passing through a first void 241 defined within a wheelie bar 240 and the distal insertion areas 276 reaching further to move a wedge bar 270. To lift a patient from a lowered position, a piston moves a lower cross bar 275 which in turn moves a wedge bar 270 into a wedge 280, causing the lower cross bar to break out of plane with a top bar 205. The use of two wheelie gears 220 ensures that the lift remains horizontal even if piston forces are not uniform. The use of four top bars 205 allows for folded storage.

A lift system 100 may comprise two sets of two pistons with each set of pistons attached to an upper cross bar 210 and a lower cross bar 275, with the lower cross bar having distal ends comprising distal insertion areas 276 with the distal insertion areas passing through a first void 241 defined within a wheelie bar 240 and the distal insertion areas 276 reaching further to move a wedge bar 270. To lift a patient from a lowered position, a piston moves a lower cross bar 275 which in turn moves a wedge bar 270 into a wedge 280, causing the lower cross bar to break out of plane with a top bar 205. The use of two wheelie gears 220 ensures that the lift remains horizontal even if piston forces are not uniform.

A lift system 100 may comprise two sets of two pistons with each set of pistons attached to an upper cross bar 210 and a lower cross bar 275, with the lower cross bar having distal ends comprising distal insertion areas 276 with the distal insertion areas passing through a first void 241 defined within a wheelie bar 240 and the distal insertion areas 276 reaching further to move a wedge bar 270. To lift a patient from a lowered position, a piston moves a lower cross bar 275 which in turn moves a wedge bar 270 into a wedge 280, causing the lower cross bar to break out of plane with a top bar 205. The use of two wheelie gears 220 ensures that the lift remains horizontal even if piston forces are not uniform.

A mechanical lift features the low profile of a traditional wood and cloth cot stretcher allowing patients to be easily rolled or moved upon a flat surface. An integrated mechanical lift system then lifts a patient to a raised position without need for manual lifting. The lift allows patients to be moved and transported without back strain to health care workers or first responders. The lift may be raised by the mechanical movement or expansion of a piston.

A powered ambulance cot and methods of raising and lowering the cot as well as loading and unloading the cot are disclosed. The cot includes a support frame and legs, each leg having a wheel. An actuator of an actuation system interconnects the frame and legs, and is configured to effect changes in elevation of the frame relative to the wheel of each of the legs. A control system controls activation of the actuation system, and detects both the actuator at a first location relative to the frame, where the first location is remote from a second location and which situates an end of the actuator that is remote from each wheel closer to the frame, and a presence of a signal requesting a change in elevation of said support frame to thereby cause the legs to move relative to the support frame.