Abstract: A hydraulic valve for controlling a hydraulically-operated surgical table and the like comprising a body having a piston slidable in a piston chamber. Normally closed outlet check valves communicate with the chamber on opposite sides of the piston. Similarly located on each side of the piston are respective normally-closed inlet valves and relief valves. Slidable plungers are carried by the piston and may be rotated into and out of alignment with the associated check valve. In operation, the piston is rotated to align a selected plunger with an associated check valve and a fluid under pressure is introduced into the chamber on the opposite side of the piston to force the plunger against the associated check valve to open the same and permit the fluid to flow to and operate the load.

Abstract: A surgical operation table has a patient supporting surface supported on a column on a movable base. The base has a plurality of feet which can rest on the ground to support the base in a fixed position. The base can be moved on running wheels which are movable with respect to the base to and from a position in which they are engaged with the ground, and the feet are clear of the ground. A support frame is displaceable with respect to the base to move the running wheels into the position in which they are engaged with the ground and the feet are clear of the ground. The frame is also displaceable with respect to the base to enable the running wheels to move clear of the ground and the feet to engage the ground.

Abstract: A surgical operation table has a patient supporting platform including a main section and a removable extension section. The extension section has a pair of support arms which can be inserted in sockets at the sides of the main section. A toothed wheel is located in at least one of the sockets. At least one of the support arms has teeth which mesh with the teeth of the toothed wheel when the support arm is inserted in the socket. The toothed wheel is rotatable only in a direction to permit the support arm to be inserted in the socket so that once the support arm has been inserted in the socket it cannot be withdrawn unless the toothed wheel is disengaged from the teeth of the support arm. The toothed wheel is mounted on a shaft which is axially displaceable by pressure on a plunger to disengage the wheel from the teeth of the support arm.

Abstract: A surgical operation table has a platform with a main section and an end extension section removably fitted adjacent an end of the main section. The extension section has a pair of support arms removably engageable in complementary sockets secured to the main section. At least one of the sockets has a spring locking plate which is engageable with a support arm inserted in the socket to prevent the arm being withdrawn from the socket. Means are provided for disengaging the locking plate from the arm when it is desired to remove the extension section from the main section.