Stretcher Loading Assembly

Abstract

A stretcher loading assembly including a support member operatively attachable to an aircraft floor, an elongate rail member attached to the support member, an elongate traverse beam movably attached to the rail member, and a trolley assembly movably attached to the traverse beam, the trolley assembly including lifting means movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the lifting means adapted to support a stretcher in the raised position, wherein the support member is at least twice as wide as the rail member.

Claims

1. A stretcher loading assembly comprising: a support member operatively attachable to an aircraft floor; an elongate rail member attached to the support member; an elongate traverse beam movably attached to the rail member; and a trolley assembly movably attached to the traverse beam, the trolley assembly including lifting means movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the lifting means adapted to support a stretcher in the raised position; wherein the support member is at least twice as wide as the rail member.

2. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member is attached to tracks attached to or incorporated into the aircraft floor.

3. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support member is attached to the tracks by a plurality of studs attached to the support member.

4. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of studs is releasably and movably attached to one of the tracks.

5. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of studs are oriented to fit into tracks that run in a substantially longitudinal direction relative to the aircraft when the support member is oriented in a substantially lateral direction relative to the aircraft.

6. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of studs are oriented to fit into tracks that run in a substantially lateral direction relative to the aircraft when the support member is oriented in a substantially lateral direction relative to the aircraft.

7. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 3, further including one or more stop levers movable between a first position in which the plurality of studs are movable relative to the tracks and a second position in which the plurality of studs are secured relative to the tracks.

8. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 1, further including a plurality of spacers attached to the support member to support the support member on the aircraft floor.

9. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member is at least 1.5 m in length and at least 500 mm in width.

10. The stretcher loading assembly as claimed in claim 1, further including a turntable member located between the support member and the aircraft floor, the turntable member enabling the support member to be rotated relative to the aircraft floor.

11. An aircraft having a stretcher loading assembly comprising a support member operatively attached to a floor of the aircraft; an elongate rail member attached to the support member; an elongate traverse beam movably attached to the rail member; and a trolley assembly movably attached to the traverse beam, the trolley assembly including lifting means movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the lifting means adapted to support a stretcher in the raised position; wherein the support member is at least twice as wide as the rail member.

12. The aircraft as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aircraft is a helicopter.

13. The aircraft as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aircraft is a fixed wing aircraft.

14. A method of loading a stretcher into an aircraft, using a stretcher loading assembly as described in claim 1, the method comprising the steps of moving the traverse beam to an extended position relative to the rail member; moving the trolley assembly along the traverse beam to an extended position distal to the rail member when the traverse beam is in the extended position; moving the lifting arms to the lowered position; positioning a stretcher adjacent the loading assembly; moving the lifting arms to the raised position to support the stretcher; moving the trolley assembly to a retracted position proximal to the rail member; and moving the traverse beam to a retracted position relative to the rail member.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further including the step of securing the stretcher to the support member.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of securing the stretcher to the support member includes securing the stretcher to attachment tracks of the support member.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the stretcher is attached to attachment members by straps, and the attachment members are attached to the attachment tracks of the support member.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, further including the step of lowering the lifting arms towards the lowered position when the trolley assembly is in the retracted position such that the stretcher is lowered onto the traverse beam.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein when the stretcher is lowered onto the traverse beam, the stretcher engages with and is secured to the traverse beam.

20. A stretcher loading assembly comprising a support member operatively attachable to an aircraft floor; an elongate rail member attached to the support member; an elongate traverse beam movably attached to the rail member; and a trolley assembly movably attached to the traverse beam, the trolley assembly including lifting means movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the lifting means adapted to support a stretcher in the raised position; wherein the support member is at least 500 mm in width.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

[0062] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stretcher loading assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rail member of the stretcher loading assembly of FIG. 1;

[0064] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a traverse beam of the stretcher loading assembly of FIG. 1

[0065] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a trolley assembly of the stretcher loading assembly of FIG. 1;

[0066] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a support member of the stretcher loading assembly of FIG. 1;

[0067] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the support member of FIG. 5;

[0068] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a support member according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0069] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the support member of FIG. 7;

[0070] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the stretcher loading assembly of FIG. 1 in a retracted position;

[0071] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the stretcher loading assembly of FIG. 1 in an extended position;

[0072] FIGS. 11-13 show the loading sequence of a stretcher using the stretcher loading assembly of FIG. 1; and

[0073] FIG. 14 shows the location of the stretcher loading assembly of FIG. 1 in an aircraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0074] With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a stretcher loading assembly 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The stretcher loading assembly 10 includes a support member 12 which is attachable to an aircraft floor (not shown).

[0075] A rail member 14 is centrally attached to the support member 12. A traverse beam 16 is movably attached to and supported by the rail member 14. The traverse beam 16 is able to slide along the rail member 14 between a retracted position (shown) and an extended position (not shown).

[0076] A trolley assembly 18 is movably attached to and supported by the traverse beam 16. The trolley assembly 18 is able to slide along the traverse beam between a retracted position (shown) and an extended position (not shown).

[0077] The trolley assembly 18 includes lifting means in the form of lifting arms 20. The lifting arms 20 are movable between a raised position (shown) and a lowered position (not shown). In the raised position, the lifting arms 20 are adapted to support and secure to a stretcher (not shown).

[0078] The trolley assembly 18 includes hydraulic means in the form of hydraulic cylinders (not shown) to move the lifting arms 20 between the raised position and the lowered position. The trolley assembly also includes an electric motor and a hydraulic pump (not shown) to provide hydraulic power to the hydraulic cylinders.

[0079] FIG. 2 shows the rail member 14 of FIG. 1 in more detail. The rail member 14 includes an attachment portion 15. The attachment portion 15 can secure the trolley assembly 18 (shown in dotted line format) to the rail member 14.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows the traverse beam 16 of FIG. 1 in more detail. The traverse beam 16 includes securing portions 17. The securing portions 17 can secure the lifting arms 20 (shown in dotted line format) to the traverse beam 16. In use, the lifting arms 20 are lowered slightly from the raised position (when the trolley assembly is in the retracted position) to secure the lifting arms to the traverse beam.

[0081] FIG. 4 shows the trolley assembly 18 including the lifting arms 20 of FIG. 1 in more detail.

[0082] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown the support member 12 of FIG. 1 in more detail. The support member 12 includes a plurality of studs 22,24, which are locatable in L-tracks in an aircraft floor (not shown).

[0083] The studs 24 near the lateral sides of the support member 12 include stop members 26 which are adapted to releasably secure the support member 12 to the L-tracks. The stop members 26 are movable between a secured position in which they can secure the support member 12 to the L-tracks and a released position in which the studs can move in the L-tracks and/or be removed from the L-tracks.

[0084] Stop levers 28 are movable between a raised position (not shown) and lowered position. In the lowered position, the stop levers 28 hold the stop members 26 in the secured position. In the raised position, the stop levers 28 move the stop members 26 to the released position.

[0085] The studs 22,24 are arranged to fit into L-tracks that run transverse to the support member 12.

[0086] The support member 12 includes a plurality of spacers 30 which provide additional support to the support member 12 when located on an aircraft floor.

[0087] The support member 12 includes apertures 32 (only some numbered) to secure studs 22,24 and spacers 30 to the support member 12 using screws (not shown).

[0088] The support member 12 further includes attachment tracks in the form of L-tracks 34 adjacent each lateral side of the support member 12.

[0089] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a support member 112 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Similar numbering to the support member of FIGS. 5 and 6 has been used, with the addition of the prefix 1.

[0090] The support member 112 includes a plurality of studs 122,124, which are locatable in L-tracks in an aircraft floor (not shown).

[0091] The studs 124 near the ends of the support member 112 include stop members 126 which are adapted to releasably secure the support member 112 to the L-tracks. The stop members 126 are movable between a secured position in which they can secure the support member 112 to the L-tracks and a released position in which the studs can move in the L-tracks and/or be removed from the L-tracks.

[0092] Stop levers 128 are movable between a raised position (not shown) and lowered position. In the lowered position, the stop levers 128 hold the stop members 126 in the secured position. In the raised position, the stop levers 128 move the stop members 126 to the released position.

[0093] The studs 122,124 are arranged to fit into L-tracks that run lengthwise to the support member 112.

[0094] The support member 112 includes a plurality of spacers 130 which provide additional support to the support member 112 when located on an aircraft floor.

[0095] The support member 112 includes apertures 132 (only some numbered) to secure studs 122,124 and spacers 130 to the support member 112 using screws (not shown).

[0096] The support member 112 further includes attachment tracks in the form of L-tracks 134 adjacent each lateral side of the support member 112. Attachment members (not shown) can be attached to the L-tracks 134.

[0097] With reference to FIG. 9, there is shown the stretcher loading assembly 10 of FIG. 1. The traverse beam 16 is in the retracted position. The trolley assembly 18 is in the retracted position. The lifting arms 20 are in the raised position.

[0098] With reference to FIG. 10, there is shown the stretcher loading assembly 10 of FIG. 1. The traverse beam 16 is in the extended position. The trolley assembly 18 is in the extended position. The lifting arms 20 are in the lowered position. In this position, the stretcher loading assembly can accept a stretcher (not shown).

[0099] With reference to FIGS. 11-13, there is shown a sequence of a stretcher 40 being loaded onto the stretcher loading assembly 10 of FIG. 1.

[0100] With reference to FIG. 11, the stretcher loading assembly 10 has accepted a stretcher 40 and the lifting arms 20 have moved to the raised position to support and secure the stretcher 40. Wheels 42 of the stretcher 40 have been raised after the lifting arms 20 have supported and secured the stretcher 40. The trolley assembly 18 is in the extended position and the traverse beam 16 is in the extended position.

[0101] With reference to FIG. 12, the traverse beam 16 has moved to the retracted position.

[0102] With reference to FIG. 13, the trolley assembly 18 has moved to the retracted position. The lifting arms 20 have been slightly lowered from the raised position to secure the trolley assembly to the traverse beam 16, and to lower and secure the stretcher 40 onto the traverse beam 16.

[0103] With reference to FIG. 14, there is shown the stretcher loading assembly 10 of FIG. 1 positioned in an aircraft 60. The support member 12 is attached to L-tracks 62 in a floor 64 of the aircraft 60 by studs (not shown). A stretcher 40 is shown loaded onto the stretcher loading assembly 10.

ADVANTAGES

[0104] An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the stretcher loading assembly includes eliminating patient stretcher transfer and improving the Golden Hour response time. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the stretcher loading assembly includes the ability to load stretchers used in road ambulances into aircraft. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the stretcher loading assembly includes the ability to move the stretcher loading assembly inside the aircraft along tracks in the floor. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the stretcher loading assembly includes the ability to appropriately distributing loads from the stretcher loading assembly into the floor of the aircraft using the support member.

VARIATIONS

[0105] While the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

[0106] Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word comprise and variations of that word such as comprises and comprising, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.