Rotary Actuator Having Clutch Assembly For Use With Patient Support Apparatus

A patient support apparatus comprising:

• a first member;
• a 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 including:
• a motor for providing a source of rotational torque;
• a carrier operatively attached to said first member;
• an input member rotatably supported by said carrier and coupled to said motor for concurrent rotation;
• an output member rotatably supported by said carrier and coupled to said movable member;
• a reduction geartrain supported in said carrier between said input member and said output member;
• and
• a clutch assembly supported in said carrier, disposed in selective torque-translating relationship between said reduction geartrain and said output member, and moveable between:
• an engaged configuration wherein rotational torque generated by said motor is translated across said reduction geartrain to move said movable member with respect to said first member, and
• a disengaged configuration wherein rotational torque is at least partially interrupted across said reduction geartrain to allow movement of said movable member independent of rotation of said motor.

An actuator for use in effecting movement of a movable member with respect to a first member of a patient support apparatus, said actuator comprising:

• a carrier adapted to be secured to the first member of the patient support apparatus;
• an input member rotatably supported by said carrier;
• an output member rotatably supported by said carrier and adapted to be coupled to the movable member of the patient support apparatus;
• a reduction geartrain supported by said carrier between said input member and said output member;
• and
• a clutch assembly supported by said carrier, disposed in selective torque-translating relationship between said reduction geartrain and said output member, and moveable between:
• an engaged configuration wherein rotational torque is translated across said reduction geartrain to move the movable member with respect to the first member, and
• a disengaged configuration wherein rotational torque is at least partially interrupted across said reduction geartrain to allow movement of the movable member independent of rotation of said input member.