Variable speed patient transfer apparatus

A patient transfer apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a track assembly including a track coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame for traversing stairs in an ascending direction and in a descending direction opposite the ascending direction;
• a brake configured to selectively apply a braking force imparted on the track based on movement of the track in the ascending direction or descending direction, wherein the brake includes a motor operably coupled to the track to drive the track to apply the braking force;
• an operator interface operatively attached to the frame and arranged for user engagement, the operator interface including:
• a direction selector operable by the user to select between forward movement of the track for ascending stairs and backward movement of the track for descending stairs, and
• a speed selector operable by the user to select between a plurality of speed settings for the motor including a slow speed, a fast speed, and one or more intermediate speeds between the slow speed and the fast speed;
• and
• a controller coupled to the motor and to the operator interface configured to operate the motor by adjusting an output of the motor in a selected direction and at a selected one of the plurality of speed settings based on user engagement with the operator interface, the controller being configured to operate the motor:
• in a first direction to drive the track with movement for descending stairs in response to user engagement with the operator interface,
• in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to drive the track with movement for ascending stairs in response to user engagement with the operator interface,
• in the second direction to impart the braking force on the track to stop the patient transfer apparatus from moving in the descending direction along stairs in response to an absence of user engagement with the operator interface, and
• when the patient transfer apparatus is traversing the stairs and when slip is occurring between the track and the stairs, to decrease or halt the slip.