Person lifting apparatuses including lifting straps and methods of operation based on current draw
AssigneeLiko Research & Development AB
InventorsJoseph Tari, Derek Strassle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A person lifting apparatus includes a first lifting strap feeding device including a first drum and a first lifting strap wound on the first drum. A second lifting strap feeding device includes a second drum and a second lifting strap wound on the second drum. A controller is communicatively coupled to the first lifting strap feeding device and to the second lifting strap feeding device. The controller includes logic that controls operation of the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device based on a comparison of current draws of the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device.
Claims20
A person lifting apparatus comprising:
- a first lifting strap feeding device comprising a first drum and a first lifting strap wound on the first drum;
- a second lifting strap feeding device comprising a second drum and a second lifting strap wound on the second drum;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the first lifting strap feeding device and to the second lifting strap feeding device, the controller includes logic, the logic configured to compare a plurality of current draw values when a load is present on both the first and second lifting straps, wherein the current draw values include a first and second current draw value, wherein the first current value results from a first load, and the second current value results from a second load, the logic configured to cause the controller to determine an imbalance value through a comparison of the current draw values of both the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device indicative of the loads, and compares the imbalance value to a predetermined value stored in the controller to detect an imbalance condition between the first and second lifting strap feeding devices, and control operation of both the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device when an imbalance condition is detected between the first and second lifting strap feeding devices.
A method of operating a person lifting apparatus, the method comprising:
- controlling operation of a first lifting strap feeding device and a second lifting strap feeding device thereby tilting a patient supported by lifting straps connected to the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device;
- determining a first current draw value of the first lifting strap feeding device during operation and when a load is present using a controller;
- determining a second current draw value of the second lifting strap feeding device and when a load is present during operation using the controller;
- comparing the first and second current draw values of the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device;
- the controller determining an imbalance value through a comparison of both the first and second current draw values of the first and second lifting strap feeding devices indicative of the loads and comparing the imbalance value to a predetermined value stored in the controller;
- and
- the controller controlling operation of both the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device when an imbalance condition is detected between the first and second lifting strap feeding devices.
A person lifting apparatus comprising:
- a first lifting strap feeding device comprising a first drum and a first lifting strap wound on the first drum;
- a second lifting strap feeding device comprising a second drum and a second lifting strap wound on the second drum;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the first lifting strap feeding device and to the second lifting strap feeding device, the controller includes logic that is configured to use a determined ratio between a first current draw value of the first lifting strap device and a second current draw value of the second lifting strap feeding device, wherein the first and second current draw values indicative of loads carried by the first and second lifting strap devices, respectively, are compared by the controller to detect an imbalance condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.