AU2010275705B2

AU2010275705B2 - Trolley car vehicle having an additional collapsible seating arrangement for the operator’s cab

Info

Publication number: AU2010275705B2
Application number: AU2010275705A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Martin Brand; Tomasz Grzesiuk; Martin Langer
Original assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
Current assignee: Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2009-07-24
Filing date: 2010-07-23
Publication date: 2013-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-23
Also published as: DE102009034681A1; ES2419729T3; CN102282053A; AU2010275705A1; CN102282053B; WO2011009643A1; EP2456650B1; EP2456650A1; PL2456650T3

Abstract

For the space-saving accommodation of an additional seating arrangement (18) in the operator s cab (1) of a trolley car vehicle, it is proposed that the collapsible seating arrangement be insertably arranged in a lateral closet (6) in the operator s cab.

Description

BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH Trolley car vehicle with a collapsible seating device Description: 5 Field of the invention: The present invention relates to a trolley car vehicle comprising an operator's cab with an operator's seat and a closet. 10 Prior art: Collapsible seats are provided for different uses. They are installed for instance in public transport in order to provide seats which are disposed in a space saving manner when they are not used. Such seats are more specifically preferred when the available space must be 15 flexibly dedicated to seats and standing room. In this case, these seats can be characterized in that the seating surface can pivot around a horizontal axis and can be folded against the back rest in such a manner that the space used by the seating surface is cleared, for instance for standing passengers or luggage. 20 The German utility model 1 850 045 describes for instance a multiple user double folding seat for rail vehicles which can be advantageously used to equip a luggage compartment in the railcar, in the control car, and in the trailer with folding seats for passengers, so that when the luggage compartment is empty, the space can be used for transporting people. To this end, two multiple user folding seating surfaces are connected with a common back rest, 25 these folding seating surfaces with the back rest forming a foldable seating unit that can be folded up and down against the wall of the vehicle. DE 102 17 794 Al describes an auxiliary seat, more specifically for an ambulance. It has a seating surface and a back rest as well as a head rest. The upper part of the back rest can 30 be pivoted more specifically together with the head rest around a vertical axis. Since the back rest and the head rest are pivotable, a doctor or an ambulance man can easily access vehicle arrangements in the back of the ambulance, for instance a washing basin. FR 2 761 309 A describes an auxiliary seating arrangement for a motor vehicle. The back 35 rest and the seating surface of this seating arrangement are fastened to a side wall of the vehicle. The back rest is fastened to the wall in a vertical position and in one of the described embodiments it is additionally fastened so as to be movable horizontally. The seating surface 1 BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH is rotatable around a horizontal axis and is also fastened to this side wall so as to be movable horizontally. The seating surface can thus be stowed next to the back rest when folded up, so that the two seat parts can be housed in a space saving manner. 5 Another seating arrangement, which serves to optimize the use of space in a motor vehicle, is the auxiliary folding seat described in US 4,580,832 A. It is fastened to a side part of the vehicle. The side part forms a cavity so that the seat is contained in this cavity in the folded state. 10 In order for instance to allow for an optimal use of the space in a vehicle for luggage, US 2003/0193205 Al describes a collapsible seat, the back rest and seating surface of which can be disposed in a position where they are substantially parallel and aligned with each other by providing support units and movable supporting frames connected to them and rotatably fastening the seat upholstery respectively to a front end of the supporting frames 15 and the back rest respectively to a back end of the supporting frames, so that the seat upholstery and the back rest can be pivoted into the position described above. The seat can then be discharged into a cavity in the floor of the vehicle. Such seats are used for instance in minivans in order to dedicate the interior space normally provided for passengers to luggage. 20 US-Patent No. 808,679 also proposes a seat in a motor vehicle which can be stored as required under a neighboring seat by pushing the seat in its collapsed state under the neighboring seat in a suspended manner. 25 However, such solutions for a space-saving disposition of a seating device are not adapted for use in an operator's cab in a rail vehicle. In addition to a seating device for the operator of the rail vehicle, in general another seating device for another person occasionally riding along in the operator's cab, for instance a driving instructor, is needed. Since the operator's cab is usually small in its configuration, this additional seating device must not take up any or 30 at least only very little additional space when this additional seating device is not needed. Furthermore, it must be possible to easily convert this additional seating deviceinto a space saving stand-by position. The known seating devices have the disadvantage that they require a relatively big maneuvering space at least for the conversion from the use position into the stand-by position. 35 Object: 2 BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH The object of the present invention is therefore to find a solution to the aforementioned problems and more specifically to propose a trolley car vehicle in the operator's cab of which an additional seating device can be housed, wherein the seating arrangement can be easily converted from a use position to a stand-by position and back without substantially needing 5 additional space. Description of the invention: This object is solved by the trolley car vehicle according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments 10 of the invention are specified in the sub-claims. The trolley car vehicle according to the invention includes an operator's cab which has an operator's seat as well as a closet. According to the invention, a collapsible seating device can be slid into a lateral closet. 15 An optimal use of the available space in the operator's cab is achieved with this invention. The additional seating device in its opened state more specifically requires only little space in the operator's cab and does not take up any additional space at all in its folded state. This is of particular importance in that the seat is mostly not needed and is only occasionally brought 20 into the use position for an infrequently occurring training. An operator's cab of a trolley car vehicle is generally rather small, so that the available space must be optimally used. For security reasons, it is furthermore required that in a hazardous situation the person(s) in the operator's cab must be able to get out of the operator's cab and to safety. Thus, if the additional seating device is not needed, for instance when the seating device according to 25 the invention is provided for a driving instructor but no driving instructor is present in the operator's cab, the available space must be kept completely free. Even if a conventional seating arrangement is collapsible and is folded when not in use, it takes up additional space. This would pose a security risk. 30 In each operator's cab, there is a closet which serves to hold different pieces of equipment and other objects. The closet for instance typically constitutes a cover for the electric and electronic devices located in the operator's cab, which are installed there for instance in cable ducts. This also includes amongst others the electric installations required for connecting the driving instructor's control desk. To this end, the plug of the driving 35 instructor's control desk can additionally be housed in the closet. Furthermore, ventilation and air conditioning devices are usually housed therein. The closet additionally accommodates auxiliary material such as warning devices, for instance warning triangles, a 3 BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH cold box, wedges, etc. The closet further forms a part of the interior paneling of the operator's cab. An attractive appearance of the operator's cab can thus be achieved. The closet is provided both in the front area of the operator's cab as well as laterally. 5 According to the invention, the closet serves to accommodate the collapsible seating device. That way the collapsible seating device does not occupy any additional space in the operator's cab when in stand-by position. In this case, in a hazardous situation, the escape route for the operator is kept free, thus ensuring his safety. The visual appearance of the operator's cab is furthermore improved. 10 The collapsible seating device can be inserted into the lateral closet. A particularly space saving conversion of the seating device from the use position to the stand-by position and back is thus achieved. Indeed, the seating device merely needs to be pulled out of the closet to be converted to the use position or pushed into the closet to be converted to the stand-by 15 position. In the use position, the seating arrangement is not discharged in the closet. Due to the translational motion during conversion, substantially less space is used for maneuvering than with a seating device which can be lowered by means of a pivoting motion. This is the case for instance with the seat described in US 2003/0193205 Al which can be pivoted into a cavity in the vehicle floor. The seating device according to the present invention is thus ?0 pushed into or pulled out of the closet like a drawer. Moreover, when the collapsible seating device is discharged in the closet, it is in its folded state. The seating device is thus housed in the closet in a very space-saving manner because the size of the drawer merely needs to be designed according to the proportion of 25 the projection surface of the folded seating device. In the stand-by position, the folded seating device is thus oriented horizontally in the closet. The seating device according to the invention is thus characterized by its particularly space-saving horizontal kinematics and housing in the lateral closet of the operator's cab. 30 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the closet forms a mount for the seating device in the use position. Thus an additional mount for the seating device in this position is unnecessary. Furthermore, the collapsible seating device preferably has a seating surface and a pivotable 35 back rest. When the collapsible seating device is in its folded state, the pivotable back rest preferably rests against the seating surface. The seating surface and the back rest can be configured in the conventional manner as upholstered elements, for instance with a frame or 4 BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH a base plate on which a foam upholstery and a synthetic cover are located. The support frame consists preferably of steel and is covered with a synthetic material, for instance powder-coated. 5 In order to ensure that in the stand-by position the seating device stays in the closet and does not come out inadvertently, it can be lockable in the stand-by position. Likewise, the seating device is preferably lockable in the use position in order to ensure that the person sitting on the seating device has a secure hold more specifically during travel of the rail vehicle. In the present case, a lock must be understood as a complete locking as well as 10 providing a mechanical resistance opposing a traction force when pulling the seating device out of the closet, respectively a mechanical resistance opposing a thrust force when pushing the seating device into the closet. In order to easily discharge the seating device in the closet and to easily pull it out again, it 15 can be retracted into the closet and deployed out of the closet in the folded state, preferably by means of telescopic slides. To this end, double pull-out telescopic slides can more specifically be used. The telescopic slides must more specifically be configured in such a manner that they are adapted to carry heavy weights, more specifically to carry a person on the seating device. The telescopic slides are conveniently fastened in the closet. 20 The afore-mentioned locking functions are preferably implemented by appropriate features of the telescopic slides. The telescopic slides can for instance be designed in such a manner that the drawer can only be opened against a light resistance. A plastic part at one end of the telescopic slide, which is attached to one of the slide parts and is frictionally engaged with a 25 neighboring one, serves this purpose. In this case a slightly stronger traction force must be applied in order to open the drawer. This embodiment allows for an easy locking of the drawer in the stand-by position. Alternately, the telescopic slide can also be completely locked in the closed position by means of an internal mechanism. These embodiments prevent the seating device from independently sliding out of the closet. An additional external i0 lock can thus be dispensed with. Correspondingly the telescopic slide can be completely locked in the opened position by means of an internal mechanism. Furthermore, as in the case of a light resistance against deployment, the telescopic slide can be designed in such a manner that the drawer in its completely opened state exerts a light resistance against a thrust force so that the seating device cannot independently slide into the closet. This 35 embodiment can also be implemented by means of a plastic part at one end of the telescopic slide, which is attached to one of the slide parts and is frictionally engaged with a neighboring one. 5 BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH Furthermore, the telescopic slides can be completely pulled in by a spring force just before the limit stop. 5 Furthermore the conversion of the seating device from the stand-by position to the use position can be supported by a spring device, i.e. that the seating device slides out of the closet independently or alternately that the conversion of the seating device from the use position to the stand-by position is supported by a spring device, i.e. that the seating device slides into the closet independently. In the first case, the seating device can only be pushed 10 into the closet against a spring force. A pressure spring is preferably used to this end. In the latter case, the seating device slides back into the stand-by position on its own, and can only be pulled back from the standby position to the use position against the spring force. A tension spring is preferably used in this case. 15 In case of an independent conversion of the seating device from the stand-by position to the use position by means of a spring force, the previously described means for locking the seating device in the use position are of course not necessarily required. However, in this case, it is necessary to provide a lock in the stand-by position, in order to maintain the seating device in the stand-by position in the closet. Indeed, the spring device ensures that 20 the seating device stays in the use position and can only be discharged into the closet by applying force. On the other hand, in case of an independent conversion of the seating device from the use position to the stand-by position by means of a spring force, the previously described means for locking the seating device in the stand-by position are of course not necessarily required. However, in this case, it is necessary to provide a lock in the 25 use position, in order to maintain the seating device in this position. The latter alternative is particularly advantageous for security reasons, because in an emergency situation, the escape route from the operator's seat to the access door of the operator's cab is cleared very quickly, since the additional seating device in the operator's 30 cab independently sinks into the closet due to the spring force simply by releasing the lock. The spring device can more specifically act directly on the telescopic slides and be attached to the telescopic slides to this end. The spring device is preferably a gas spring device, the gas spring device being more specifically a gas pressure spring device or a gas tension 35 spring device. 6 BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH The collapsible seating device is preferably unfoldable in a position in which it is deployed out of the closet. In this case, the seating device is thus first pulled out of the closet, still in its folded state. It is only opened afterward, i.e. preferably by folding up the back rest of the seating device. 5 The closet furthermore has a horizontal visible surface. It can be formed more specifically by a desk plate. In this case, the seating device in the stand-by position forms at least a part of the horizontal visible surface of the desk plate. More specifically, the back side of the back rest in the stand-by position can form the part of the horizontal visible surface of the closet 10 formed by the seating device. This is the case when the seating device is attached approximately at the same level as the upper part of the closet. To this end, the seating device is preferably in a folded state, In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the closet has a horizontal visible surface, for 5 instance a desk plate, the seating device in the stand-by position being submersible in the closet beneath the horizontal visible surface of the desk plate. In this case, the visible surface of the closet forms a uniform surface. The seating device is thus housed in the closet under the visible surface of the desk plate. 0 In the following, the invention is further described by means of exemplary embodiments which are schematically represented in the figures. However, the invention is not limited to these examples. In the figures, identical reference signs identify identical elements or elements which have identical functions, respectively correspond to each other with regard to their functions. 5 In the drawings: Fig. I shows an operator's cab of a trolley car vehicle with an operator's seating device in a perspective representation approximately in a front view, the additional 0 seating device being in the stand-by position in the closet; Fig. 2 shows a part of the operator's cab from Fig. 1 represented in a view through the access door of the operator's cab, the additional seating device being in the stand-by position in the closet; Fig. 3 shows the operators cab of the trolley car vehicle from Fig. 1, the additional 5 seating device being in the use position; Fig. 4 shows a part of the operator's cab in the view from Fig. 2, the additional seating device being in the use position; 7 BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH Fig. 5 shows the operator's cab of the trolley car vehicle from Fig. 1 in a plan view, the additional seating device being in the use position; Fig, 6 shows the additional seating device in a perspective representation from above in the opened state in the use position; 5 Fig. 7 shows the additional seating device in a perspective representation from below in the opened state in the use position; Fig. 8 shows the additional seating device in a perspective representation from above in the folded state; Fig. 9 shows a variant of the housing of the additional seating device in the closet in a 10 perspective view. Fig. 1 shows an operator's cab 1 of the trolley car vehicle, for instance of a trolley car. An operator's seat 2 with lateral rests 3, 3' and a back rest 4, the back rest additionally also including a head rest 5, a closet 6 which is configured as a cover for electric, electronic 15 installations as well as ventilation and air-conditioning devices and also serves to accommodate various other devices and equipments, are located in the operator's cab. The closet extends along three sides of the operator's cab. The closet walls consist preferably of HPL plates (HPL = high pressure laminate, paper drenched in plastic resin and pressed together). Windows which are not shown in this figure are provided above the closets. The 20 operator's cab is separated toward the back from the passenger area by a wall 7 and a door 8 which may be transparent as required. Supporting parts 9, 9' which are covered inward by a paneling 10, 10' are located in the areas adjacent to the separation wall and door. The closet 6 has a desk plate 11 on its upper side (also preferably an HPL-plate). The control 25 panel 12 for the operator furthermore rises out of the front part of the closet. On the right hand side (in the direction of travel) of the operator's seat 2, a drawer 13 is provided in the closet 6, which carries an additional seating device (not visible in this representation). In this figure, only the front cover plate 14 of this seating device is visible. 30 This front cover plate is equipped with a handle arrangement 15 in order to be able to easily manually pull the seating device out of the closet. This additional seating device can more specifically serve as a seat for a driving instructor who supervises the learner sitting on the operator's seat 2 during the ride and to this end sits down next to him. 35 Similarly, Fig. 2 shows the operator's cab 1, in this case however in another perspective, namely in a view from the passenger area through the open door (not shown). One of the front windows 16 of the trolley car vehicle which delimits the operator's cab toward the front 8 BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH is additionally shown. A hinged compartment 17 containing the plug of the driving instructor's control desk is represented under the drawer 13. Fig. 3 shows the operator's cab 1 with the additional seating device 18 in the use position 5 and in the opened state. The front cover plate 14 and the handle device 15 attached to it can just be made out behind the operator. This additional seating device has a seating surface 19 and a pivotable back rest 20. In this figure, the latter is shown in the set-up state. In order to convert the additional seating device into the stand-by position, it is pushed into the closet 6. To this end, the back rest must be folded downward and rest against the seating surface. In 10 this folded state this additional seating device can then be pushed into the closet. Once it has been pushed in, only the front plate 14 which forms a part of the inner paneling of the operator's cab by the closet 6 is visible. Fig. 4 shows a part of the operator's cab 1, viewed through the access door (not shown). The 15 right hand part of the operator's seat 2 can just be made out in the left door section. Furthermore, the closet 6 is visible in parts, a part of its inner design being also shown in this figure. Furthermore, the additional seating device 18 is shown in the use position and in the opened 20 state. This additional seating device consists of the seating surface 19 and the back rest 20 which is pivotably fastened to the seating surface. In the representation in Fig. 4, the back rest is shown in the set-up position. On the left hand side of the additional seating device, it ends at the front plate 14 on which the handle device 15 is located. The additional seating device is fastened on two telescopic slides 21, one of which is represented in its pulled-out 25 state. The telescopic slides are preferably double pull-out slides in order to ensure a sufficient loading capacity of the seat. The telescopic slides are fastened on a support construction 29 inside the closet 6. When the back rest is folded forward against the seating surface so that the back rest rests against the seating surface, the additional seating device can be pushed into the closet like a drawer. 10 In another representation (Fig. 5), the operator's cab 1 is shown from above. In addition to Figs. 1-4, Fig. 5 shows displays 22, 22', 22" in the control desk 12 of the operator as well as a control lever 30 in the lateral rest 3. 5 In this representation, the additional seating device 18 is also shown in the opened state in the use position, 9 BOMPT09025WOAU 20 December 2011 Bombardier Transportation GmbH Fig. 6 shows the additional seating device 18 in a perspective representation from above in the opened state in the use position. The seating surface 19 of the seating device is fastened on two double pull-out telescopic slides 21, 21' by which it can be pulled out of the closet (not shown). These telescopic slides are supported by corresponding support constructions in the 5 closet. The front plate 14 is preferably an HPL-plate. It is fastened to the seating surface. Another front plate 23, also an HPL-plate, attached to the back rest 20 forms a cover plate (Fig. 2). The seating surface consists of a rigid seating surface support element 25 and seat upholstery 26. The back rest similarly consists of a rigid back rest support element 27 and back rest upholstery 28. The back rest support element is preferably an HPL-plate. 10 Fig. 7 also shows the additional seating device 18 in the opened state and in use position but seen from below. The fastening of the seating device to the telescopic slides 21, 21' by means of angle plates 24 is shown there. 15 Fig. 8 shows the seating device 18 in the folded state (without telescopic slides). In this state, the seating device is in the stand-by position in the closet. Fig. 9 shows a variant for housing the additional seating device 18 in the closet 6. In the left hand representation, the seating device is pushed into the closet and is thus in the stand-by 20 position. In the right hand representation, the seating device is pulled out of the closet and opened and is in the use position. As opposed to the embodiment shown in the figures 1-3 and 5, the back side of the back rest (preferably a HPL-plate) in the pushed-in state, forms the surface of the control desk 11 of the closet. 25 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. 30 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. Further, the reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that such art would be understood, ascertained or regarded as relevant by the skilled person in 35 Australia. 10

Claims

1. A trolley car vehicle comprising an operator's cab with a collapsible seating device, 5 comprising a seating surface and a pivotable back rest, the collapsible seating device being retractable into a lateral closet when in a folded state in which the pivotable back rest rests against the seating surface , the collapsible seating device being convertible from a use position to a stand-by position by pivoting the pivotable back rest against the seating surface and sliding the seating device in the folded state into the lateral 10 closet via a translational operation and without a pivoting motion.

2. The trolley car vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the collapsible seating device is a driving instructor's seat. 15

3. The trolley car vehicle according to any one of the afore-mentioned claims, characterized in that the closet forms a mount for the seating device in the use position,

4. The trolley car vehicle according to any one of the afore-mentioned claims, characterized in that the collapsible seating device is lockable in the stand-by position. 20

5. The trolley car vehicle according to any one of the afore-mentioned claims, characterized in that the collapsible seating device is lockable in the use position.

6. The trolley car vehicle according to any one of the afore-mentioned claims, 25 characterized in that the collapsible seating device in the folded state is retractable into the closet and deployable from the closet by means of telescopic slides.

7. The trolley car vehicle according to any one of the afore-mentioned claims, characterized in that the conversion of the seating device from the use position to the 30 stand-by position is assisted by a spring device.

8. The trolley car vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the spring device is a gas spring device. 35

9. The trolley car vehicle according to any one of the afore-mentioned claims, characterized in that the collapsible seating device can be opened when deployed out of the closet. 11

10. The trolley car vehicle according to any one of the afore-mentioned claims, characterized in that the closet has a horizontal visible surface and that in the stand-by position, the seating device forms at least a part of the horizontal visible surface. 5

11. The trolley car vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that in the stand-by position of the collapsible seating device in the folded state, the back side of the back rest forms at least a part of the horizontal visible surface.

12. The trolley car vehicle according to any one of the claims 1 - 9, characterized in that 10 the closet has a horizontal visible surface and that in the stand-by position, the seating device can be discharged in the closet under the horizontal visible surface.

13. A trolley car vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described. 12