sensors & systems - Industrial Technology Magazine

DESIGN COMPONENTS
Springs, Gas Springs & Dampers
Gas springs deliver
silent closing pedal bins
for critical care units
SKF’s Stabilus dampers are taking the noise out of pedal bin usage
on the wards to the benefit of patients and hospital workers alike
SKF has supplied a specially designed oil filled
damper for use in a new range of pedal
operated bins from Bristol Maid and Hospital
Metalcraft. The range combines smooth, silent
opening and closing with hygienic features that make
them ideal for use in hospital critical care units.
David Forrest, design engineer at Bristol Maid,
explains the requirement: “We were looking for a solution
that allowed pedal bins in hospitals, and critical care
environments in particular, to close smoothly and
silently, while meeting the exceptional hygiene standards
required in such applications. Coma patients often have
an extremely heightened sense of hearing and are
acutely aware of their surroundings. With pedal bins in
intensive care units being used between 60-100 times a
day, significant distress can be caused to patients and
may slow the recovery process. Likewise, at night in
shared wards, when patients are sleeping but doctors
and nurses still busy working, the problem of noise from
pedal bins also arises. This often results in the bins being
moved away from patients, which in turn causes issues
with harmful waste being carried across wards, risking
contamination and ultimately infection.”
Due to the existing partnership between the two
companies, Hospital Metalcraft contacted SKF in order
to provide a reliable solution based on its extensive
experience with Stabilus gas springs. SKF approached
the project from a customer focused perspective, taking
one of the new bins, and built a solution around it as
opposed to making an existing product fit. A
conventional gas spring that was initially trialled was
discarded as the product enabled smooth and easy
opening of the bin lids but not a soft and aesthetic
closure. A Stabilus STAB-O-SHOC oil filled damper
proved to be the solution.
Slow, gentle closure
The STAB-O-SHOC is designed to have a high resistance
force in compression but low to zero in extension,
resulting in unrestricted travel when the bin lid is
opened. When the foot pedal is released in order to close
the bin, the damper enables a relatively slow movement
until the last few seconds when the lid closes slowly and
gently with the support of the damping force allowing a
silent closure.
The damper includes a high quality oil with tightly
controlled viscosity and, coupled with Stabilus’ excellent
component quality, ensures optimum performance. The
STAB-O-SHOC has been tested in conditions between
0°C and 80°C with no detrimental effect on performance,
making it also suitable for use in extremely challenging
locations such as crematoriums or autopsy rooms. It is
compact – just 101.5mm when compressed and
128mm extended – and ergonomically designed,
allowing it to be easily incorporated into the existing
fixtures and fittings of the new bins, without the need for
major alterations.
The new high quality bins are available in a choice of
capacities (20, 50, 75 and 90 litre) and feature solid
steel construction with positive bag retention achieved
by means of elasticated cord or drop over clamp. This
reduces the risk of unhygienic spillages from the bag
onto the exterior of the bin, which can aid the spread of
harmful bacteria. For ease of cleaning, it has a
removable body with radius corners, rubber feet keeping
the unit clear of the floor, and an integral tube weld in
the chassis of the bin's structure.
The bins come with a number of additional features
making them simple to use, including rear mounted
wheels to aid mobility, and a front opening mechanism
for easy bag removal. The range is already being
supplied to the NHS and private health care
organisations.
Forrest concludes: “We are delighted with the
solution which SKF offered us. It is so refreshing for a
solution to be built around our products as opposed to
having to design our products around its components.
The bins are already proving to be a huge success and
are making a big difference to hospital workers and
patients alike.”
MORE INFORMATION:
Enter D325 on the enquiry card or visit ‘latest issue stories’ at
www.industrialtechnology.co.uk for further details. You can also find
more stories from SKF and more news on springs and dampers
32
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY • May 2008