Traverse dental chair and a sensor assembly for monitoring positions thereof

A dental chair, comprising:

• a chair assembly configured to support a patient;
• a height adjustment assembly coupled to the chair assembly, the height adjustment assembly configured to move the chair assembly in a vertical direction between a lowered position and a raised position;
• a platform coupled to the chair assembly;
• a pair of roller assemblies coupled to the platform;
• and
• a traverse motion assembly coupled to the chair assembly, the traverse motion assembly having:
• a mounting plate,
• a pair of tracks mounted to the platform, the pair of tracks coupled to the mounting plate and that receive the pair of roller assemblies, respectively, and
• a cylinder assembly having a first end coupled to the mounting plate, and a second end coupled to the platform, wherein the cylinder assembly is configured to move the chair assembly in a forward-backward direction.

A method, comprising:

• selecting a desired position of a dental chair with an interface of a controller of a control system;
• determining, with a sensor assembly and a processor, a current position of the dental chair;
• sending, with the processor, control signals to a forward direction valve assembly and a backward direction valve assembly of a hydraulic system, wherein the control signals cause the forward direction valve assembly and the backward direction valve assembly to adjustably open and close;
• causing the dental chair to traverse along a forward-backward direction from the current position to the desired position based on the control signals to control movement of fluid from the respective valve assemblies into a cylinder assembly, wherein the dental chair moves in a forward direction when the forward direction valve assembly is opened, and the dental chair moves in a backward direction when the backward direction valve assembly is opened;
• determining, with the sensor assembly and the processor, a distance of linear movement of the dental chair along the forward-backward direction, wherein the distance of linear movement is determined based on rotational movement of a rod based on data from a potentiometer received via a detecting end coaxially coupled to a gear shaft, the gear shaft coaxially coupled to an end of the rod, the potentiometer positioned proximate to the detecting end in a non-coaxial orientation with the detecting end, the rotational movement of the rod caused by traverse of the dental chair along the forward-backward direction;
• and
• adjusting the desired position of the dental chair based on data generated by the sensor assembly.