BEDSTEADS FOR INVALIDS. 
339 
Fig, 1, shews a side view of a bedstead. 
A, A, is the standard frame, b, is the bed 
frame resting upon the standard frame, to 
which it is attached by hinges (marked a), 
c, is a frame to elevate the knees, placing 
the limbs on a double inclined plane, the 
frame is raised in the centre or knee point 
(which is rule jointed) by turning with the- 
windlass to the left hand. The roller mark 
ed, D, round which is a belt or strap attached 
to the bottom of the quadrant marked, e, 
as the roller turns round the strap, draws up 
the quadrant, and raises the knee-frame to 
what elevation i s required. A ratchet-wheel 
is fixed upon the roller, d, and is stayed by a 
catch when the frame is at the required height. 
G, shows the position of the knee-frame 
when not in use. h, is the bed-rest or frame 
for raisingthebody. i, is a roller and ratchet- 
wheel with strap round the roller attached to 
the bottom of the quadrant, J. By turning 
the roller to the right the quadrant is drawn 
up and raises the bed-rest at the head, which 
is also stayed when at its required elevation 
by the catch and ratchet, j, J, shews the 
bed-rest when not in use. K, shews one of 
two quadrants attached to the bed-frame, 
one on each side, l, is a roller, on which 
are two straps one attached to each qua- 
drant, K. On the roller l, are also two wheels 
or drums three times the diameter of the 
roller ; round each wheel or drum is another 
strap, which is also attached to the roller 
marked, m, on which roller is a ratchet- 
wheel ; the roller, m, is the moving power 
when it is turned to the right hand, the straps, 
connected to it, and the power- wheels or drums 
on, L, revolve the roller, L; and by the straps 
on, L. attached to the quadrants, k, the whole 
bed-frame is elevated at the head turning 
upon the hinged pivot (a) , but which will be 
better understood by referring to drawing, 
fig. 2. The necessity of two rollers and 
power- wheels in this movement is obvious. 
The -weight of the bed-frame and machinery, 
together with the bedding and the body 
would be too great for a single power. Thus 
by adding a second roller with power-wheels, 
the force required to raise the bed frame is 
reduced in the same proportion as the roller, 
M, is to the power-wheel, l, or one third 
the position of the quadx-ants, k, j, and e ; 
the rollers, straps, drums, ratchets, &c. will 
be more clearly comprehended by referring to 
fig. 3, that being a ground plan, n, shews 
one of two cylinders running lengthwise one 
on each side the bed-frame. These cylinders 
revolve each upon an axis running through 
them, the pivots of the axis acting in the 
head and foot boards of the bed-frame mark- 
ed, o and p. The axis is fixed by a ratchet- 
wheel and catch at the foot end marked, o,. 
Inside each cylinder are two springs upon the 
chronometer principle, but proportionately 
stronger, one near each end. The springs 
are attached like those of the chronometer 
to the axis and to the cylinder. The bed 
sacking is attached to the cylinders, being 
three times the width of the bed-frame, one 
third of the sacking is wound round each 
cylinder, the other occupies the space be- 
tween them ; when the springs are set up, 
which is done by winding the axles by the 
windlass (a) outwards or right and left from 
the centre, the sacking is drawn tight, as is 
shewn by dotted lines from each cylinder in 
figs. 4 and 5. The bedstead is thus ready 
for use, and the bedding is made up on it in 
the usual way. When you lay down upon 
the bed, the weight of your body causes 
each cylinder to revolve inwardly upon its axis 
(which is fixed by the ratchet and catch), and 
according to the strengh vrith which the 
springs are set up, the sacking with the bed- 
ding is compressed to a concave of any depth 
from three'to twelve inches (see fig. 4, dotted 
lines), the body riding in anundulating motion 
supported by the springs, and the back being 
relieved from pressure, which is imparted 
equally to the sides and shoulders. Vv^hen the 
position of the body requires changing, set 
the axis of either cylinder at liberty by press- 
ing upon the windlass, r, fig. 1, and freeing 
the ratchet from the catch, then gently let 
the cylinder revolve with the axle until the 
sacking, &c. is received by the concave plat* 
form (described by the double line in fig. 4.). 
The weight is now supported by the platform, 
and the springs of the cylinders are kept 
inactive by bolting the catches oif the rat- 
chets. As the bedstead is now arranged, the 
body may undergo the various changes by 
revolving the cylinder, a, fig. 4, outwards ; 
the sacking which occupies the space across 
the platform, and on which the bedding and 
the body rest, coils round the cylinder, and its 
place is su; plied by the sacking from the 
cylinder, b, fig. 4. The bedding is cai-ried with 
the sacking over the cylinder, a, whilst the 
body gently turns in the concave, and is placed 
on its right side ; one revolution of the cylin- 
der effects this, and a second ; places the 
body on its chest. A counteraction on the 
cylinder, B, produces the same changes on 
the left side ; a change of bed and bedding is 
thus effected. On a table placed along side 
the bedstead, make up the fresh bedding in 
the usual way, but intersecting it with the 
bedding already in use. The fresh bed and 
sheet being placed over the cylinder and un- 
der the bed in use, wrapping under about 
twelve inches ; thus prepared, revolve the op- 
posite cylinder outwards, this draws the 
sacking over the platform, the two beds and 
bedding going with it. That in use is drawn 
over the cylinder on to the floor, and its place 
is occupied by the fresh supply with the pa- 
tient on it, he having gently turned over once 
during the change, x, shevrs the bed-pan and 
groove frame in which it slides. 
Fig. 2, shews the bedstead w^hen converted 
into an easy chair. First raise the knee-frame 
to an angle of forty-five degrees, w^hich is 
marked on the quadrant; this forms the 
chair-seat ; next raise the bed-rest to an an- 
gle of thirty degrees (also marked on the qua- 
drant) ; this forms the chair back. Lastly, 
elevate the bed- frame to forty-five degrees 
(also marked on the quadrant) and chair is 
complete. 
Fig. 3, is a ground plan shewing the posi- 
tions of the vaious rollers, straps, drums, 
