Patient support systems with hollow rotary actuators
AssigneeStryker Corporation
InventorGary L. Bartley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A patient support apparatus with a patient support surface, a first member, a movable member movable relative to the first member, and an actuator coupled to the movable member to move the movable member relative to the first member. The actuator includes motor and a gear assembly defining a through passage. The gear assembly has an input member, an output member connected to the movable member, and a gear arrangement operable between the input member and the output member. The motor is configured to apply torque to the input member to rotate the output member through the gear arrangement.
Claims21
A patient support apparatus comprising:
- a patient support surface;
- a first member and a movable member, said movable member movable relative to said first member;
- and
- an actuator coupled to said movable member to move said movable member relative to said first member, said actuator comprising:
- a gear assembly having an input member rotatable about a center axis and having external teeth, an output member supported within said input member and rotatable about said center axis, said output member connected to said movable member, and a gear arrangement operable between said input member and said output member;
- and
- a motor supporting a drive gear for rotation, said drive gear spaced radially from said center axis and disposed in meshing relationship with said external teeth of said input member, said motor configured to apply torque to said input member via said drive gear to rotate said output member through said gear arrangement,
- said gear assembly defining a through passage, said through passage is configured to permit objects to pass through said gear assembly while said motor applies torque to said input member and rotates said output member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.