Motorized traction device for a patient support

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a moveable support frame;
• a mattress supported by the support frame to provide a patient rest surface;
• a plurality of casters supporting the support frame, each caster being supported for swiveling movement and including a rotatable wheel, a brake configured for inhibiting rotation of the wheel in a brake mode of operation, and a steer lock for inhibiting swiveling movement of the caster in a steer mode of operation;
• a traction device coupled to the support frame;
• an actuator configured to move the traction device between a first position spaced apart from the floor and a second position in contact with the floor;
• a caster mode detector configured to detect at least one of the brake mode of operation and the steer mode of operation of the casters and to provide a caster indication signal in response thereto;
• and
• a traction engagement controller coupled to the caster mode detector to receive the caster indication signal therefrom, the traction engagement controller being configured to provide a control signal to the actuator in response to the caster indication signal.

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a moveable support frame;
• a mattress supported by the support frame to provide a patient rest surface;
• a plurality of casters supporting the support frame;
• a traction device coupled to the support frame;
• an actuator configured to move the traction device between a first position spaced apart from the floor and a second position in contact with the floor;
• an external power detector being configured to determine if external power is supplied to the transport apparatus and provide a power indication signal in response thereto;
• and
• a traction engagement controller coupled to the external power detector to receive the power indication signal therefrom, the traction engagement controller being configured to provide a control signal to the actuator in response to the power indication signal.

A transport apparatus comprising:

• a moveable support frame;
• a plurality of casters supporting the support frame, each caster being supported for swiveling movement and including a rotatable wheel, a brake configured for inhibiting rotation of the wheel in a brake mode of operation, and a steer lock for inhibiting swiveling movement of the caster in a steer mode of operation;
• a traction device coupled to the support frame;
• an actuator configured to move the traction device between a first position spaced apart from the floor and a second position in contact with the floor;
• an external power detector configured to determine if external power is supplied to the transport apparatus and provide a power indication signal in response thereto;
• a caster mode detector configured to detect at least one of the brake mode of operation and the steer mode of operation of the casters and to provide a caster signal indication signal in response thereto;
• an enable input device being operable to receive an enable command from a user and provide an enable signal in response to the enable command;
• and
• a controller coupled to the external power detector to receive the power indication signal therefrom, coupled to the caster mode detector to receive the caster indication signal therefrom, and coupled to the enable input device to receive the enable signal therefrom, the controller being operable to provide a control signal to the actuator in response to the power indication signal, the caster indication signal and the enable signal.