Monitoring System

• US 20090102667A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joerns Healthcare Ltd. (Joerns Healthcare LLC), John Christopher Rees
• Original Assignee: Joerns Healthcare Ltd. (Joerns Healthcare LLC), John Christopher Rees
• Inventors: Rees, John Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,085,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/72 for collision prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/10 Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1065 with electronic monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2829 Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

There is described a monitoring system for monitoring an apparatus for raising and lowering a person, for example an item of adjustable furniture or a hoist. The monitoring system comprises a memory for recording information relating to the operational history of the monitored apparatus. Amongst other information the memory may record periods when power supplied to an actuator of the apparatus exceeds a pre-defined threshold, and the number of operations performed by the apparatus. When the number of operations reaches a pre-determined amount the system can inhibit operation of the device.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for monitoring an apparatus for raising and lowering a person, the monitoring system comprising a memory for storing information regarding the apparatus and/or monitoring system.

2. A monitoring system according to claim 1, the monitoring system further comprising a clock and wherein the monitoring system is arranged to store in the memory the date indicated by the clock when the number of monitored operations of the apparatus reaches a pre-determined amount.

3. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the memory stores information that identifies one or more components of the apparatus.

4. A monitoring system according to claim 3 wherein the information comprises one or more component serial numbers.

5. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring system monitors the re-charging of a rechargeable battery for powering the apparatus and stores in the memory information regarding the recharging of the battery.

6. A monitoring system according to claim 5 wherein the monitoring system stores in the memory information identifying the number of times the battery has been re-charged in-correctly.

7. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring system is arranged to store in the memory data indicating the cumulative usage over a time period of an actuator of the apparatus.

8. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein data indicating the amount of usage of an actuator of the apparatus over time is stored in the memory and the monitoring system inhibits operation of the apparatus when the amount of usage reaches a predetermined amount.

9. A monitoring system according to claim 8 wherein the memory records the number of operations performed by the apparatus and the monitoring system inhibits operation of the apparatus when the number of performed operations reaches a pre-determined amount.

10. A monitoring system according to claim 8 the system further comprising an arrangement by which an operator can re-activate an apparatus, the operation of which has been inhibited by the system.

11. A monitoring system according to claim 10 wherein the arrangement comprises data input means for inputting a code to re-activate the apparatus.

12. A monitoring system according to claim 9 wherein the system is arranged to indicate to a user that a maintenance service of a monitored apparatus is due, if the system has inhibited the operation of the apparatus.

16. A monitoring system according to claim 1, the system being arranged to record in the memory data relating to the monitored operational history of the apparatus, the system being able to present the data to an operator.

17. A monitoring system according to claim 16, the system arranged to display the data to a user on a display.

18. A monitoring system according to claim 16 the system comprising a printer for generating a printout of the data.

43. A monitoring system according claim 1, wherein the device or apparatus is an item of adjustable furniture.

44. A monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the item of adjustable furniture is a rise and recline chair or bed.

45. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the device or apparatus is a hoist.

46. Apparatus for raising and lowering a person comprising a monitoring system according to claim 1.

13. A monitoring system for monitoring an apparatus for raising and lowering a person wherein the monitoring system is arranged to present to an operator fault information relating to a fault detected in an apparatus monitored by the system.

14. A monitoring system according to claim 13 wherein the system arranged to display the fault information to the operator on a display.

15. A monitoring system according to claim 14 the system further comprising a memory for storing a plurality of codes, each code being indicative of a different possible fault in an apparatus monitored by the system, the system arranged to display a code from the plurality of codes when a fault is detected in the apparatus, which code is appropriate for the detected fault.

19. A monitoring system for monitoring the status of at least one circuit of a device, said system providing indication means and recordal means for recording at least one period when power supplied to said at least one circuit exceeds a predefined threshold.

20. A monitoring system according to claim 19 wherein the at least one circuit incorporates an actuator.

21. A monitoring system according to claim 20, wherein each circuit includes an actuator.

22. A monitoring system according to claim 20, wherein each circuit is associated with a shared main actuator.

23. A monitoring system according to claim 19 wherein the operational characteristics of the or each circuit or actuator are displayed on the display.

24. A monitoring system according to claim 23, wherein the display is mounted either within the monitoring system or on a remote handset.

25. A monitoring system according claim 23, wherein the display provides information about one or more of the following parameters that are detected by the monitoring system;

a) how many times the circuit has been overloaded;

b) the time and duration that the circuit was overloaded;

c) the levels of overloading;

or d) the levels of overloading over a pre-defined time period.

26. A monitoring system according to claim 23, wherein the display is provided as an alphanumeric display.

27. A monitoring system according to claim 26, wherein the display is a digital display.

28. A monitoring system according to claim 27, wherein display is illuminated.

29. A monitoring system according to claim 23 wherein the display is provided on a handset which is in communication with the device either physically or which is in wireless communication¹ with a receiver or transmitter on the device.

30. A monitoring system according claim 23 wherein the display is incorporated in the device itself.

31. A monitoring system according to claim 19, wherein the monitoring system includes a sensor such that if tampering of the system of the display is detected an alarm is activated to indicate that tampering is, or has occurred.

32. A monitoring system according to claim 19 including recordal means to record a remaining battery charge available to the actuator or actuators within the circuit.

33. A monitoring system according to claim 32, wherein when the battery charge that is detected is below certain level, an alarm, is activated to prompt a user to recharge batteries for operating the device.

34. A monitoring system according to claim 19 including a memory for recording the cumulative usage of the device over a period of time.

35. A monitoring system according to claim 34, wherein the memory includes data which can be used to activate a signal indicating that the device needs to be serviced.

36. A monitoring system according to claim 19, wherein the monitoring system includes means to allow access to data recorded remotely via a telephone modem system.

37. A monitoring system according to claim 19, wherein data recorded is re-callable by a plug-in peripheral computer.

38. A monitoring system according to claim 19 in communication with an alarm that can be activated.

41. A monitoring system according to claim 38 wherein the monitoring system is arranged to turn off or to reverse an actuator that drives the moveable part, in response to the monitoring system determining that the moveable part of the apparatus is abutting against an object.

39. A monitoring system for monitoring an apparatus for raising and lowering a person, wherein the monitoring system is arranged to monitor for a moveable part of the apparatus being moved into abutment against an object.

40. A monitoring system according to claim 39, wherein the monitoring system is arranged to monitor for a signal generated by a sensor on the apparatus, the signal being generated in response to the moveable part of the apparatus abutting against an object.

42. A monitoring system according to claim 40 wherein the signal is generated by a pressure sensor.