Durable, smooth-running plain bearings for hospital monitor pivot arms

The first height-adjustable pivot arm developed in early 2000 was not for everyday office needs, but for medical technology. Siemens turned to a mechanical engineering company from the Münster region for this task, asking it for an individual solution for a TV/telephone system mount for patient beds in hospitals. The television arm had to move very smoothly and be individually adjustable so that the patient can orient the screen according to their individual needs with little effort. The designer developed a height-adjustable pivot arm.

The television adjustment mechanism required a plain bearing that would allow problem-free adjustment over a swivel arm swivel range from -18 to +38 degrees horizontally. The television support can also be tilted from -30 to +20 degrees. In order to implement these movements smoothly, the company relied primarily on lightweight components such as steel, aluminum and plastic in its design. Hygiene regulations in hospitals meant that the bearing point could not be lubricated. The customer was also concerned with price.

The search for bearings led the specialist directly to our iglide® products. A total of eight plain bearings made of iglide® G, a wear-resistant, high-performance plastic, are used in each arm. Like all iglide® polymers, this dynamic material is self-lubricating, so it requires no maintenance. Another consideration is noise intensity. The plain bearings are very quiet during motion whilst ensuring adequate support.

The family business uses igus® high-performance polymers not only in the height-adjustable pivot arm, but also in other television adjustments. For example, iglide® plain bearings and iglide® W300 thrust washers are used for new monitor adjustment mechanisms by a large American phone company.