DEVICE FOR HANDLING A HELICOPTER STRETCHER

Abstract

A device for handling a stretcher is suitable to be installed in a helicopter cockpit for displacing the stretcher between a patient transportation position, in which the stretcher is arranged horizontally and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the helicopter, and a patient loading and unloading position in which the stretcher is at least partially removed from the helicopter cockpit substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis, and vice-versa.

Claims

1. A device for handling a helicopter stretcher comprising: a platform for supporting the stretcher, a bearing structure of said support platform, handling means to carry out a translation and rotation motion of said platform, said handling device being suitable to be installed in a helicopter cockpit for displacing said stretcher between a patient initial transportation position, in which the stretcher is arranged horizontally and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the helicopter on said support platform, and a patient loading and unloading position in which the stretcher is at least partially removed from the helicopter cockpit substantially transversely to said longitudinal axis, said handling means include a vertical displacement device of the stretcher in said loading and unloading position between a raised condition and a lowered condition keeping the stretcher substantially horizontal, a horizontal plate movably arranged on which is said support platform, said plate comprising a movable portion, said translation and rotation motions of the stretcher are obtained through engagement means of the support platform suitable to be slidably coupled with curved sliding guides provided for on said horizontal plate, said vertical displacement device comprises said movable portion, and said movable portion being designed to remain substantially parallel to the initial position during the vertical displacement.

2. Handling device according to claim 1, wherein said vertical displacement device of the support platform of the stretcher is motor-driven.

3. Handling device according to claim 1, wherein said handling means of the support platform of the stretcher are motor-driven.

4. Handling device according to claim 3, further comprising an electronic control unit suitable to control said handling means and said vertical displacement device so that said translation, rotation and raising-lowering displacements of the stretcher are automated in a synchronized fashion.

5. Handling device according to claim 1, wherein said vertical displacement device of the stretcher comprises an articulated quadrilateral mechanism.

6. Handling device according to claim 5, wherein said articulated quadrilateral mechanism comprises a movable portion of the horizontal plate of the bearing structure including telescopic means suitable to support part of the support platform.

7. Handling device according to claim 1, further comprising a manual actuation for displacing the stretcher in case of failure of said motor-driven handling means.

8. Handling device according to claim 1, wherein safety means are provided to prevent the handling of the stretcher according to displacement sequences different from those actuated by said electronic control unit.

9. Handling device according to claim 1, further comprising a safety blocking device to inhibit handling of the stretcher.

10. Handling device according to claim 1, wherein said lowered loading and unloading position said support platform is substantially at the same height as the floor of the helicopter cockpit.

11. Handling device according to claim 2, wherein said handling means of the support platform of the stretcher are motor-driven.

12. Handling device according to claim 2, wherein said vertical displacement device of the stretcher comprises an articulated quadrilateral mechanism.

13. Handling device according to claim 3, wherein said vertical displacement device of the stretcher comprises an articulated quadrilateral mechanism.

14. Handling device according to claim 2, further comprising a manual actuation for displacing the stretcher in case of failure of said motor-driven handling means.

15. Handling device according to claim 3, further comprising a manual actuation for displacing the stretcher in case of failure of said motor-driven handling means.

16. Handling device according to claim 2, wherein safety means are provided to prevent the handling of the stretcher according to displacement sequences different from those actuated by said electronic control unit.

17. Handling device according to claim 2, further comprising a safety blocking device to inhibit handling of the stretcher.

18. Handling device according to claim 2, wherein said lowered loading and unloading position said support platform is substantially at the same height as the floor of the helicopter cockpit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the attached drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the handling device according to the invention represented in a configuration for the transportation of a patient in a helicopter cockpit,

[0025] FIGS. 2 to 4 are views similar to FIG. 1 wherein the support platform of the stretcher, represented semi-transparent, moves from the transportation configuration of FIG. 2 to the raised loading and unloading configuration of FIG. 4,

[0026] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the rear part of FIG. 4, seen from the rear,

[0027] FIGS. 5 to 7 are views similar to FIG. 4 in which the support platform of the stretcher, represented semi-transparent, is displaced vertically between the raised and lowered loading and unloading positions,

[0028] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the rear part of FIG. 5A, seen from the rear,

[0029] FIGS. 8 to 10 are partial enlargements of a distal portion of the handling device according to the invention starting from the transportation configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Initially with reference to FIG. 1, a device for handling a helicopter stretcher according to an embodiment of the invention is generally indicated with 1 and it comprises a support platform 2 fixed on which in a generally known manner is a medical stretcher, not represented in the figures, and a support structure 3 of the platform 2.

[0031] The support structure 3 is configured to be fixedat the lower part thereofto the floor of a helicopter cockpit, not shown, and it comprises a first substantially box-shaped distal portion 4 andin front of ita proximal portion 5, including an articulated quadrilateral mechanism which will be addressed hereinafter. The upper part of the proximal and distal portions 4, 5 forms a horizontal platform or plate 6 movably arranged in which is the support platform 2 of the stretcher.

[0032] Now, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 and 8 to 10 shown are the main means for the translation and rotation motion of the support structure 3 of the stretcher, which comprise an electric motor 7 provided for in the box-shaped portion 4 and designed to control the rotation of a gearwheel 8 engaged with a chain 9. The chain 9 slides in a hollow guide 13 obtained on the upper surface of the horizontal platform 6 it is configured as a closed loop. Further three gearwheels 8 for idling the chain 9 are positioned substantially at the vertices of the closed loop. Three curvilinear sliding guides 10, 11, 12 are obtained on the upper surface of the horizontal platform 6 and they are designed for the slide guiding of a plurality of engagement devices 24 projecting from the lower face of the support platform 2. The chain 9 is removably connectedat a pointto the support platform 2 by means of an articulated bracket 25.

[0033] In an embodiment of the handling device according to the invention the translation and rotation motion of the support structure 3 of the stretcher is carried out manually: in this case the electric motor 7 may not be provided.

[0034] FIGS. 4A to 7 show the vertical displacement device 5 of the stretcher comprising the previously mentioned articulated quadrilateral mechanism.

[0035] Such articulated quadrilateral mechanism comprises a pair of articulated arms 16 and a pair of lower fixed rods 14 fixed to the floor of the helicopter transversely to the longitudinal axis AL of the helicopter. Respectively articulated at the proximal ends of the fixed rods 14 are oscillating rods 15 rotatably actuated by the pair of arms 16 as it will be better explained subsequently. A quadrangular panel 18 is articulatedat the bottom part to the distal ends of the fixed rods 14 so as to be able to rotate between a substantially vertical position (better observable in FIG. 4A) and a substantially horizontal position (FIG. 7). A movable portion 19 of the horizontal platform 6 of the support structure 3 completes the articulated parallelogram mechanism being connectedon one partto the upper side of the quadrangular panel 18 andon the opposite partto the oscillating rods 15.

[0036] FIGS. 3 and 4 also show a telescopic device, provided in the movable portion 19 of the horizontal platform 6, comprisingin case of the illustrated example three slider-like box-shaped members 26, 27, 28 with progressively decreasing width and slidable one into the other between the retracted configuration of FIG. 2 and the extracted configuration of FIG. 4.

[0037] The box-shaped member 26 is provided, in the vacant end thereof, with a transversal bracket 30 bearing devices 24 for engagement with the support platform 2 so that the translation and rotation motion of the platform 2 actuates the telescopic device to support a portion of the platform 2 when removing from the helicopter cockpit.

[0038] The length of the oscillating rods 15 and the height of the quadrangular panel 18 are almost identical hence the movable portion 19 of the horizontal platform 6 is subjected, during the actuation of the articulated parallelogram mechanism by means of the pair of arms 16, to a vertical displacement remaining substantially parallel to the horizontal initial position.

[0039] Each arm 16 is articulatedat the outer end thereofat the top part of the respective oscillating rod 15, whileat the opposite endit is articulated to a screw and lead screw device 20 actuated by a respective electric motor 21 and movable in a respective track 22 provided for in the support structure 3.

[0040] The motor 7 (if present) and the motor 21 are actuated by means of an electronic control unit (not illustrated), conveniently arranged on board the handling device, in a sequential, coordinated and continuous manner as clarified hereinafter. The characteristics of the control unit are known to a man skilled in the art and does not require further specification.

[0041] Now described is the translation and rotation motion of the support structure 3 of the stretcher with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4A and 8 to 10.

[0042] Initially, the support structure 3 of the stretcher is arranged in a transportation position that is horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal axis AL of the helicopter, as visible in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0043] Following the actuation of a special control of a control panel (not represented in the figures) the electronic control unit initially designated to control the activation of the electric motor 7 so as to actuate the chain 9 which, by means of the bracket 25, drives the support platform 2 which will move with an initial trajectory defined by the curvatures of the sliding guides 10, 11, 12. Such trajectory of the support platform 2, and thus the geometry of the sliding guides 10, 11, 12, are such that the stretcher, arranged on the support platform 2, does not interfere with the internal equipment or structures usually different for each type of helicopter.

[0044] The support platform 2 continues the translation and rotation motion until the engagement devices 24 reach the ends of the respective sliding guides 10, 11, 12 and the telescopic device 26, 27, 28 for supporting the platform 2 is driven by it up to reaching a fully extracted condition. At this point, the platform 2 is at the raised position for the maximum extracted part of the helicopter cockpit substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis AL while the distal portion of the platform 2 remains supported by the movable part 19 of the horizontal platform 6.

[0045] Following is a description of the vertical displacement of the stretcher.

[0046] At this point, the electronic control unit stops the rotation of the electric motor 7 and activates the electric motors 21, 21 of the arms 16 for displacing the articulated quadrilateral mechanism so as to start the vertical displacement of the movable portion 19 of the platform 6, and thus of the platform 2 supported by it, up to the lowered loading and unloading position in which the support platform 2 is arranged substantially at the same height as the floor of the helicopter cockpit, i.e. in a position suitable for transfer by hand-lifting the stretcher. In a first step of the vertical displacement the articulated bracket 25 of the support platform 2 is disconnected from the chain 9.

[0047] Once the patient has been loaded or unloaded with respect to the support platform 2, the latter can be returned from the lowered loading and unloading position to the transportation position by actuating the programmable electronic control unit so as to control the handling device described above in a synchronised fashion in the reverse direction with respect to the description outlined above.

[0048] The handling device 1 according to the invention is also conveniently provided with safety devices that can be activated in case of emergency, for example disconnection from electrical power supply, mechanical failure or malfunction of motor-driven handling means. Thus, the handling device may also provide for a manual actuation, not illustrated in that known to a man skilled in the art, to return the platform 6 to the transportation configuration.

[0049] The various parts of the system can also have mechanical interlocks or of another type, not illustrated in that also known to a man skilled in the art, which prevent the inadvertent movement thereof outside the correct sequence.

[0050] Mechanical safety devices suitable to displace the stretcher according to displacement sequences different other than the ones programmed in the programmable control unit can also be provided for. By way of example, using a single safety plug (not shown), that is easy to access and actuate, capable of preventing both the mechanical movement and electrical actuation if need be, could be provided for.

[0051] When using the handling device 1 according to the invention, all that is required of the operator is to control the displacement of the support platform of the stretcher by means of the control panel and supervise the actuation steps, andwithout prejudice to the emergency proceduresthe use of the device requires very limited training.

[0052] Furthermore, the stretcher is carried to project more from the helicopter cockpit with respect to a conventional handling device, thus allowing two people per side to near, on the ground, the stretcher.

[0053] Obviously, the construction details and the embodiments may widely vary with respect to what has been described and illustrated, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention as defined in the claims that follow. Thus, for example, the general conformation of the handling device of the stretcher could be different from the one represented in the drawings.