Subject lift transfer assemblies and methods for operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11542128-B2
Application number	US-201916702726-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2019
Priority date	Dec 11, 2018
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

A lift system includes a trolley member defining an aperture extending through the trolley member, a locking unit coupled to the trolley member, the locking unit including a locking unit body and a pin that extends outward from the locking unit body, where the pin is repositionable between an engaged position, in which the pin extends through and outward from the aperture of the trolley member, and a disengaged position, a cable extending between and terminating at an actuator end that is engaged with the actuator and a subject lift end positioned opposite the actuator end, where the cable is selectively drawn to the trolley member or paid out from the trolley member upon actuation of the actuator, and a subject lift connecting member coupled the subject lift end of the cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lift system comprising:
a trolley member defining an aperture extending through the trolley member;
a locking unit coupled to the trolley member, the locking unit comprising a locking unit body and a pin that extends outward from the locking unit body, wherein the pin is repositionable between an engaged position, in which the pin extends through the aperture of the trolley member, and a disengaged position, in which the pin is retracted toward to the locking unit body such that the pin extends further outward from the locking unit body in the engaged position than in the disengaged position;
an actuator coupled to the trolley member;
a cable extending between and terminating at an actuator end that is engaged with the actuator and a subject lift end positioned opposite the actuator end, wherein the cable is selectively drawn to the trolley member or paid out from the trolley member upon actuation of the actuator; and
a subject lift connecting member coupled the subject lift end of the cable.

2. The lift system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an alignment member positioned on the subject lift connecting member; and
an alignment fixture coupled to the trolley member and defining a rotationally-discrete alignment feature, wherein the rotationally-discrete alignment feature restricts rotation of the subject lift connecting member when the alignment member is engaged with the rotationally-discrete alignment feature.

3. The lift system of claim 1 , further comprising a subject lift selectively coupled to the trolley member, the subject lift comprising:
a housing;
a subject lift actuator positioned within the housing, wherein the subject lift actuator lifts a subject selectively coupled to the subject lift;
a cable coupling member positioned on the housing and selectively coupled to the subject lift connecting member; and
a trolley coupling member positioned on the housing, the trolley coupling member defining an aperture extending through the trolley coupling member.

4. The lift system of claim 3 , wherein the pin of the locking unit extends through the aperture of the trolley coupling member and the aperture of the trolley member in the engaged position, and the pin of the locking unit is spaced apart from the aperture of the trolley coupling member in the disengaged position.

5. The lift system of claim 3 , further comprising a height sensor coupled to the trolley member, wherein the height sensor detects a position of the subject lift with respect to the height sensor and wherein the height sensor is communicatively coupled to the locking unit.

6. The lift system of claim 1 , further comprising an engagement sensor coupled to the trolley member, wherein the engagement sensor detects a position of the pin with respect to the aperture of the trolley member.

7. The lift system of claim 1 , further comprising a transfer assembly electrical interface coupled to the trolley member, wherein the transfer assembly electrical interface is electrically coupled to the actuator.

8. The lift system of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is powered via current passing from the transfer assembly electrical interface to the actuator.

9. A lift system comprising:
a subject lift transfer assembly comprising:
a trolley member defining an aperture extending through the trolley member;
an actuator coupled to the trolley member;
a cable extending between and terminating at an actuator end that is engaged with the actuator and a subject lift end positioned opposite the actuator end, wherein the cable is selectively drawn to the trolley member or paid out from the trolley member upon actuation of the actuator; and
a subject lift connecting member coupled the subject lift end of the cable;
a subject lift selectively coupled to the trolley member, the subject lift comprising:
a housing;
a subject lift actuator positioned within the housing, wherein the subject lift actuator lifts a subject selectively coupled to subject lift;
a cable coupling member positioned on the housing and selectively coupled to the subject lift connecting member; and
a trolley coupling member positioned on the housing, the trolley coupling member defining an aperture extending through the trolley coupling member; and
a locking unit coupled to the trolley member or the subject lift, the locking unit comprising a locking unit body and a pin that extends outward from the locking unit body, wherein the pin is repositionable between an engaged position, in which the pin extends through from the aperture of the trolley member and the aperture of the trolley coupling member, and a disengaged position, in which the pin is spaced apart from the aperture of the trolley coupling member.

10. The lift system of claim 9 , further comprising:
an alignment member positioned on the subject lift connecting member; and
an alignment fixture coupled to the trolley member and defining a rotationally-discrete alignment feature, wherein the rotationally-discrete alignment feature restricts rotation of the subject lift connecting member when the alignment member is engaged with the rotationally-discrete alignment feature.

11. The lift system of claim 9 , further comprising a height sensor coupled to the trolley member, wherein the height sensor detects a position of the subject lift with respect to the height sensor and wherein the height sensor is communicatively coupled to the locking unit.

12. The lift system of claim 9 , further comprising an engagement sensor coupled to the trolley member, wherein the engagement sensor detects a position of the pin with respect to the aperture.

13. The lift system of claim 9 , further comprising a transfer assembly electrical interface coupled to the trolley member, wherein the transfer assembly electrical interface is electrically coupled to the actuator.

14. The lift system of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is powered via current passing from the transfer assembly electrical interface to the actuator.

15. A method for coupling a subject lift to a rail, the method comprising:
coupling a subject lift connecting member to a subject lift;
lifting the subject lift toward a subject lift transfer assembly by drawing a cable coupled to the subject lift connecting member upward with an actuator of the subject lift transfer assembly;
aligning an aperture of a trolley coupling member of the subject lift with an aperture of a trolley member of the subject lift transfer assembly; and
moving a pin through the aperture of the trolley member and the aperture of the trolley coupling member to couple the subject lift connecting member to the subject lift transfer assembly.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising aligning the trolley coupling member of the subject lift with the subject lift transfer assembly by engaging an alignment member positioned on the subject lift connecting member with a rotationally-discrete alignment feature coupled to the trolley member, wherein the rotationally-discrete alignment feature restricts rotation of the subject lift connecting member.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising detecting that the pin is inserted through the aperture of the trolley member and the aperture of the trolley coupling member.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising restricting movement of the subject lift transfer assembly within the rail in response to detecting that the pin is not inserted through the aperture of the trolley member and the aperture of the trolley coupling member.

19. The method of claim 15

Assignees

• Liko Res & Dev Ab

Inventors

• Svintozelsky Samuel
• Mamidi Sravan
• Tari Joseph
• Tozer Renee
• Ajayi Abidemi
• Nigolian Tyler

Classifications

• B66F13/00

  Common constructional features or accessories · CPC title

• A61G2203/40

  for distance · CPC title

• B66F11/04 Primary

  for movable platforms or cabins, e.g. on vehicles, permitting workmen to place themselves in any desired position for carrying out required operations ({Working platforms on fork-lift trucks B66F9/127; } vehicle aspects of service vehicles B60P3/14; platforms for cleaning windows A47L3/02; devices for rescuing persons from buildings A62B1/02; liftable or lowerable platforms for use on ladders E06C7/16; maintenance travellers for bridges E01D19/10; scaffolds on an extensible sub-structure E04G1/22) · CPC title

• A61G7/1015 Primary

  Cables, chains or cords · CPC title

• B66C19/00 Primary

  Cranes comprising trolleys or crabs running on fixed or movable bridges or gantries (B66C17/00 takes precedence; base supporting structures with legs B66C5/00; jib cranes B66C23/00) · CPC title