Incubator Cot Project

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

While I am waiting to get the 54XL back from the radiator shop I took the time to work on the cot for my Ohio Transport Incubator. After doing much research on the internet the choice for a donor cot came between a FW Model 30 or a FW Model 54 (I think). Since I already had a spare M 30, that is what I used as a donor.

I am quite happy with the progress so far. Still need a little work , but overall the work on the cot is done.



Now I need to build the fasteners that will hold the incubator to the cot. Would anyone have any suggestions on what I could use for this? The fasteners used look like the Ferno aluminum sliders for the cot bar, but they do not work for this application.



Any suggestions or better pictures of the fastening system will be appreciated.

 

[Tim Prieur]

Terrific work J-M. For those that served in the 70's, neonatal transport was an essential for these young souls. Great you are preserving this piece of history.
I tried to find a picture of the Calgary neonatal transport car, but no luck. It would have logged a lot of miles.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Here are a couple more detailed views of the bracket.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

That does appear that they used a long piece of that extruded aluminum for it. Give them a call they might still use it.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

That does appear that they used a long piece of that extruded aluminum for it. Give them a call they might still use it.

I did call them. No luck.

The original company was sold to GE Medical and GE Medical does not have any records because the incubator has been discontinued for so long.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

Dis you call ferno? They werethe ones that most likly built the mount. They might have the stock you need.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Dis you call ferno? They werethe ones that most likly built the mount. They might have the stock you need.

I sent them an e-mail, waiting to hear back.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Dis you call ferno? They werethe ones that most likly built the mount. They might have the stock you need.

Nothing at Ferno Canada, they are reaching out to Ferno US.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Nothing at Ferno Canada, they are reaching out to Ferno US.

No luck there either.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Looks like I'm going to have to go with Plan B which is make my own, so I picked up a pice of aluminum flat bar. Will see if I can turn this bar into a reasonable facsimile of the original brackets.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

Could have started with a U piece. It would be close. But the flat one will look ok and be stronger.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

If the guys on YouTube can do it, so can I!

It was raining tonight so I did not work on the car, I started on the incubator cot bracket instead.

Still a lot of work to do, but I am getting there.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

Looking good.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

I purchased a keyhole router bit yesterday to make the 90° slit in the channel for where the base of the incubator bracket will sit, well, that didn't quite work out as I planned.

My guess is that by using the router table it puts too much pressure on the bit and that's what broke it. When doing it freehand I can feel how much pressure is applying the bit better. I guess we're going back to the hardware store...

 

[John ED Renstrom]

Will now you know what not to do.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Will now you know what not to do.

That's how we learn, trial and error.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Little bit more work on this project this evening. I had to save about 1/8 of an inch off the top of the bar so that the incubator parts would touch the bottom of the channel. Then with my new router bit I was able to carefully cut the groove in the bottom, unfortunately this is how deep the groove gets.

With anyone have any idea how I could get that groove to go deeper so that it mates probably with the incubator parts?

 

[John ED Renstrom]

Need the next size bigger router. Some times you get to do it in steps.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Need the next size bigger router. Some times you get to do it in steps.

I went to all of the stores that I can think of that carry these and this id the biggest I can find. Next option if I cannot think of anything else is to go online to find a bigger key hole router or similar cutting tool.