Innovative Monitoring System from SKF Simplifies Bed Actuator Maintenance

An innovative new monitoring device from SKF, the leading knowledge engineering company, will make the latest linear actuators even easier to use and maintain. Based on a tiny silicon chip fitted within each actuator, coupled to a simple green, amber and red traffic light arrangement of an LED mounted externally, the new monitoring system provides an extremely accurate indication of impending component failure, therefore reducing unplanned breakdowns or maintenance that may leave a patient ward a bed down or unserviceable. Designed for use initially with SKF¡¯s electromechanical actuators, the new monitoring system collects data based on the running time and operating load of each actuator, and analyses this in real time against the design life of the device. Under normal conditions, the green LED remains lit, with the amber LED being activated only once the actuator has reached a pre-determined stage in its design life; typically, this is set at 90%. The red indicator is then automatically illuminated when the design life has been exceeded, showing that the device should be overhauled or replaced. The red indication can optionally be supplemented by an audible alert to ensure that it receives immediate attention. More sophisticated versions of the monitor are also available which connect to a laptop, PDA or even a mobile phone, allowing data about the usage and loading of the actuator to be downloaded for later analysis, and for use in maintenance planning. As a result of predictive maintenance, downtime for maintenance and repair of patient beds can be minimised, allowing a hospital to function at full capacity and have beds available for as many patients as possible at all times. This can improve the hospital¡¯s statistics and reputation, but, perhaps most importantly, it can also enable the hospital to achieve significant reductions in patient waiting time and thus higher standards of care. Among the first SKF products to be offered with the new monitor are the RUNNER series of linear actuators. These are available in three sizes, with push force capacities up to 12,000N, stroke lengths from 100mm to 700mm and operating speeds up to 7.5mm per second under full load conditions. In addition, the SKF Actuator Lifetime Monitoring system complies with the common EMC guidelines and requirements. With the latest RUNNER series actuators, as with all other SKF actuators that offer a monitoring option, the monitoring system is housed entirely within the actuator. Compared with standard actuators, there is no change to the footprint or mounting arrangements, so that the standard and monitored versions are completely interchangeable. This makes it easy and inexpensive to add monitoring facilities to existing patient beds that already use SKF actuators.