CA2052106A1 - Entering and exiting step system for vehicles - Google Patents
Entering and exiting step system for vehiclesInfo
- Publication number
- CA2052106A1 CA2052106A1 CA002052106A CA2052106A CA2052106A1 CA 2052106 A1 CA2052106 A1 CA 2052106A1 CA 002052106 A CA002052106 A CA 002052106A CA 2052106 A CA2052106 A CA 2052106A CA 2052106 A1 CA2052106 A1 CA 2052106A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- resp
- vehicle
- floor
- plate
- platform
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61D—BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
- B61D23/00—Construction of steps for railway vehicles
- B61D23/02—Folding steps for railway vehicles, e.g. hand or mechanically actuated
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G3/00—Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
- A61G3/02—Loading or unloading personal conveyances; Facilitating access of patients or disabled persons to, or exit from, vehicles
- A61G3/06—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like
- A61G3/062—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like using lifts connected to the vehicle
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G3/00—Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
- A61G3/02—Loading or unloading personal conveyances; Facilitating access of patients or disabled persons to, or exit from, vehicles
- A61G3/06—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like
- A61G3/068—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like in combination with folding stairs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G2220/00—Adaptations of particular transporting means
- A61G2220/12—Trains
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)
- Artificial Fish Reefs (AREA)
- Road Paving Structures (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
In order to board or exit a vehicle, whereby one or a plurality of steps of plates, resp. are provided for a negotiating of a possible difference of hight by a person entering or getting off between the level of the floor of the vehicle and a platform at a higher or lower level, at least one step is forseen which is hight adjustable and can be positioned at a position above the floor of the vehicle, at a position equal to the level of the floor and/or below the floor, as well.
In order to board or exit a vehicle, whereby one or a plurality of steps of plates, resp. are provided for a negotiating of a possible difference of hight by a person entering or getting off between the level of the floor of the vehicle and a platform at a higher or lower level, at least one step is forseen which is hight adjustable and can be positioned at a position above the floor of the vehicle, at a position equal to the level of the floor and/or below the floor, as well.
Description
~0~.9 2 ~ ~ ~
AN ENTERING AND EXITING STEP S~STEM FOR VEHICLES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the entering and getting off, resp. a vehicle, which apparatus includes one or a plurality of steps or floor plates, resp.
for a negotiating of a possible difference of hight by a f person entering or getting off between the floor level of the vehicle and the level of a platform or of the terrain outside and opposite of the entry or exit, resp. of the vehicle which is higher or lower. It relates further to a railroad car having such an apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ~RT
The entering or getting off railroad vehicles proceeds generally via stairs or steps, resp. stationary mounted in such vehicles, via folding steps mounted at such vehicles or a combination of stationary stairs and moveable steps. In f case of commuter trains and subways the platforms at the stations are located often at the level of the floor of the car such that no steps are needed at all.
~t the known railway systems (combination of passenger cars and stations, i.e. their platforms) the level of the car or vehicle floor, resp. is located above or at the level of the platforms. This means that the stairs are necessary for climbing into the car or descending from the railroad car.
2Q-~2~ ~
Some of the recent modern specific high performance trains are characterized in that their wheels and associated undercarriages are located between the car bodies which accordingly have a car floor located at a very low level.
An example of such a high performance train is the TALGO
PENDULAR operating predominantly in Spain, but as of late on other European high speed railroad lines. Such vehicles or cars, resp. are relative to the entering of same quite comfortable as long as they operate on railway systems having platforms located at a low level such as is the case in most instances in Europe. As soon as, however, such special trains are operated on a railway syste~ having elevated platforms such as is e.g. the case in the North East Corridor in the USA, also recently in certain high speed lines in Europe, there exists the problem of descen-ding from the elevated platform down into the car. Because at the same railroad networks low level platforms are pre-sent at the same time, that the possibility of ascen-ding from the platform for entering the car and descending onto the platform, resp. must be given, too.
The using of railroad trains is specifically difficult for handicapped persons bound e.g. to wheel chairs. The entering or exiting at railroad systems in which the plat-form and the floor of the car are located about at the same level poses relatively no problems. As soon as, however, larger differences of hight levels must be negotiated bet-ween the platform and the level of the floor of the car the person bound to the wheel chair can not use the railroad without any aid.
The floor of the railroad vehicle is commonly located about 50 centimeters to 1 meter above the platform. In such a case the wheel chairs are loaded on or off, resp. by aid of fork lifts or elevating platforms or wheel chair eleva-tos are mounted to the railroad car which lift the handy--- 3 ~
capped per~ons together with their wheel chair into the car.The above mentioned special high performance trains in which the undercarriages are mounted such between the car bodies that latter have an extremely low floor are very problematic for handicapped persons in wheel chairs because the ~nown and simple method with the fork lift is not possible because obviously the wheel chair would have to be lowered from the high platform down to the low floor of the railroad car.
Otherwise, a fixedly mounted elevator would have to be pre-sent in the car which can bypass the there located steps for the entering and getting off of healthy people.
!
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to provide an entry and exit, resp. at a railroad car which allows an operating of the railroad car when various hight levels of platforms are present.
A further object is to provide an apparatus for the entering and getting off, resp. a vehicle, which apparatus includes one or a plurality of steps or floor plates, resp.
for a negotiating a possible difference of hight by a person entering or setting off between the level of the vehicle and a platform located higher or lower, or the terrain around the vehicle, resp. outside and opposite of the entry or exit, resp. of the vehicle, which apparatus includes at least one step or plate, resp. which is mounted in a hight adjustable manner and is adapted to be positioned at a lo-cation above the floor of the vehicle, a location at the level of the floor of the vehicle andtor lower than the floor of the vehicle.
Yet a further object is to provide and apparatus in-cluding at least one step arranged such that it is possible depending from the level of the platform located outside of 2 ~
the vehicle to ascend from the level of the flaor of the vehicle over the step located above the floor af the ve-hicle or, then, if the level of the platform is lower than the level of the floor of the vehicle to descend over the step located lower than the floor of the vehicle. If the level of the floor of the vehicle equals the level of the platform the one step is either positioned at the level of the floor of the vehicle, or also below same or in a folded in position~
Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step of plate, resp. is supported to pivot or rotate around a longitudinal axis of rotation at the vehicle at the area of its floor at the entry or exit such that the adjustment of the hight of the step or plate, resp. results from the pivotal or rotational move-ment of the step or plate, resp.
A further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step is mounted such to the longitudinal axis of rotation that it is positionable from the position above the floor of the vehicle by means of a pivoting move-ment of at least 180 into the po~ition lower than the floor, whereby in the position above and in the position below the fioor a respective opposite surface of the step may be walked upon for the entering and getting off, resp.
Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step or plate, resp. is mounted to the one axis of rotation by the agency of supporting members which support or hold the step or plate, resp., which sup-porting members themselves are rotationally mounted to the step or plate, resp. and rotationally mounted to the axis of rotation as well, which mounting is structured such that by a parallelogram like rotational movement of the support-ing members the step or plate,rsp.is hight adjustable in a displaceable manner.
.
Yet a further object is to provide an apparatus in which a step can be parallel displaced or is hlght adjust-able in a parallelogram like manner by a pivotal movement of the supporting members around the axis of rotation for instance from the level of the floor of the vehicle either to a position above or a position below the floor of the vehicle. It, thereby, may be one and the same step or stepS
of the stair or plate, resp. or then two steps may be pre-sent, whereby the one step is hight adjustable from the bottom of the vehicle upwards and the other step is hight adjustable downwards.
A further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step or plate, resp. is held on a base part to which it is stationary mounted to and which is ro-tatable around the axis of rotation, which base part is adapted to pivot from an upwards pivoted position holding the at least one step or plate, resp. in a state allowing to be walked upon at a high level, by at least approximately 180 to a downwards pivoted position in a state allowing to be walked upon, in which position the at least one step is located at a position below the floor level.
A further object is to provide an apparatus to allow handicapped persons which use wheel chair like vehicles to enter or disembark a vehicle of which the floor i5 lower than the platform, in which one step or plate is forseen which is supported to be rotationally hight adjustable in a parallelogram like manner around an axis of rotation in or above the floor of the vehicle from a position at the floor of the vehicle to a position above the floor of the vehicle, substantially at the level of a higher located platform and preferably resting thereupon by at least an edge area of the step or plate, resp.. By means of a con-tinued rotational movement possibly also a positioning of 2 ~
the step or plate, resp. to a level below the floor of the vehicle shall be possible, if necesssary, in case the plat-form is located further down. This one step or plat~, resp.
is suitable for the receipt of a person bound to a wheel chair like vehicle or then a person severly handicapped ln walking such to allow same to negotiate the hight difference between the floor of the vehicle and the platform.
Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in which the one step or plate, resp. is a floor plate set into the floor of the vehicle and which is supported to rotate in a parallelogram like manner over the at least one step with an axis of rotation located at the level of the at least one st~p or in the floor of the vehicle.
Yet a further object is to provide an apparatus having at least one further step adapted to be step like positioned at a location of the at least one step or plate, resp. in the direction towards the entry or exit, resp. or laterally displaced towards the platform, resp., such that if the at least one step or plate, resp. is above the floor of the veh7cle, the difference of hight between the further step and the at least*approximately substantially to the hight of the at least one step over the floor of the vehicle.
( A further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step is held at a base part which is pivo-table around the axis of rotation and in which a further pivoting or folding, resp. mechanism is forseen at the base part, such that the further step is pivotable from a down-wards folded, at least approximately vertical position extending along the at least one step at a ready to travel state of the vehicle, to an upwards folded position at a resting state of the vehicle and a free utilization of the entry or exit, resp.
* one step corresponds 2 ~ 1IL ~1 ~
Yet a further objeot is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step or plate, resp. and the further step are adapted to be arrestable in at least three posi-tions, namely in a firstposition zt a ready to travel state of the vehicle, where the base part is folded upwards and the further step is in a folded back position; in a second position at a resting state of the vehicle and free utili~
zation of the entry or exit, resp., where the base part is folded upwards and the further step is folded outwards such to allow a person getting on or getting off the vehicle to negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of the vehicle and a platform located at a higher level; and in a third position at a resting state of the vehicle and free utilization of the entry or exit, resp., where the base part is pivoted downwards and the further step is folded inwards such to allow a person getting on or getting off to negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of the vehicle and a platform located at a lower level.
A further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one further step is adapted to be located at least partly outside of the vehicle in order to bridge the distance between the floor of the vehicle and the platform or between the one step and the platform.
Yet a further object is to provide an apparatus in which when the level of the platform ecuals the level of the floor of the vehicle a manually positionable auxiliary step is located on the downwards pivoted base part or down-wards pivoted at least one step or plate, resp. in order to thereby form a support on the step pivoted downwards for a horizontal entry or exit in or out of the vehicle from or to the platform.
2~2~ ~5 .
A further object is to provide an apparatus having an auxiliary step adapted to be positioned or hung, resp.
laterally at the entry or exit, resp. of the vehicle or the at least one step in its downwards pivoted position, such to allow for instance an entering or getting off from or to, resp. the roadway or level, resp. of the tracks.
In order to prevent the possibility of an operating the steps or plates, resp. when they are walked upon by persons entering or exitins, it is a further object to provide an apparatus having control devices preferably of an electrical or electronical design by means of which it can be detected if the steps or plates, resp. are free or if persons are walking thereupon. Such control means as such are ~nown and are since a long time used in vehicles such as commuter trains, trolley cars, busses, etc. By means of such control means it is also possible to ascer-tain if a door which closes or opens the entry or exit, resp. is in an opened or closed state.
A further object is to provide an apparatus which in-cludes preferably pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical opera-ting devices for operating the apparatus, the base part, the steps or plates, resp. which operating devices are pre-ferably designed such that they are mechanically arrestable or lockable in the desired positions. The arresting and locking mechanisms are preferably such that a positioning of the apparatus by the operating devices is also possible in case of a loss of power. In case of emergencies the apparatus, the base part, the steps or plates shall be able to be moved manually into the desired positions.
Mentioned operating means for operating the apparatus shall preferably be designed such, that all possibilities of boarding and getting off, resp. the vehicle are possible also in case of loss of power, It is, thereby, due to safety reasons decisive that the locking of the apparatus including the steps or plates, resp. proceeds automatically in the various positions .
A further object of the invention is to provide a railroad car equipped with such an apparatus for boarding or getting off, resp. the car. Quite obviously, the inven-tive apparatus is also su~table for an application at any kind of vehicle, such as a trolley car, a bus or a trolley bus, for cable railways or cable cars, resp. for aerial tramways, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRA~INGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein :
Fig. 1 is a section through a railroad car with its entry and exit in a ready to travel state and including an inventive apparatus;
1 Fig. 2 illustrates the railroad car of figure 1 in a stopped state and opened door, and having the inventive apparatus arranged in such a state that it is possible that a person can step from an elevated platform down into the car;
Fig. 3 illustrates in cross section the car of Fig. 1 in a stopped state and having the inventive apparatus in such an operational state that it is possible to step down from the car onto a platform at a lower level;
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Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the state according to Fig. 2 as seen from the plat~orm;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the state according to Fig. 3 as seen from the platform;
Fig. 6 is a cross section through an inventive appa-ratus for negotiating the difference o~ hight in case of a platform located at a higher level;
Fig. 7 is a view of the apparatus in a downwards pivoted state for negotiating the difference of hight in case of a platform located at a lower level; and Figs. 8 - 10 are schematic sectional views of an inventive wheel chair elevator in order to allow a person bound to a wheel chair to negotiate a difference of hight from a floor of a vehicle located at a lower level to a platform located at a higher level.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI;~IENTS
Fig. 1 illustrates in cross section a railroad car 1 in a operative, i.e. ready to travel state and with a closed door 5. The railroad car illustrated in Fig. 1 in cross section is characterized in that the car body or the floor 3 of the car, resp. is located quite low which also follows from the fact that the floor 3 of the car lies directly on the undercarriage and accordingly the wheel 7 which rests on the rail 9 projects partly into the car body.
The inventive device 11, which is forseen and adapted to allow an entering or getting off the railroad car consists substantially of a first step 13 which is supported at or on a base part 15 which in turn is pivotably mounted to the floor 13 of the car via a axis 17 of rotation. The inven-tive apparatus 11 includes ? furthermore, an upwards pro-~Q~t2~ ~
jecting extension 19 of the base part, which in turn sup-ports a second step 21 and is rotatable around an axis 23 of rotation which second step 21 is folded do~lnwards in the ready to travel state of the railroad car 1 as illu-strated in Figure 1. The ready to travel state follows also from the fact that the door 5 is located integrated in the wall 6 of the car body such that latter is not visible in the illustration according to Fig. 1.
If now the railroad car 1 stops at a station the entry or exits of the railroad car is given free. This state is illustrated in the Figures 2 and 3, again in section rela-tive to the railroad car.
In Figure 2 the railroad car stops at a platform 31 of which the level is higher than the level of the floor 3 of the vehicle. In order to allow a person 33 which enters the car to negotiate the hight difference from the platform 31 to the level of the floor 3 of the railroad car the se-cond step 21 is pivoted upwards around the axis 23 of rotation. Obviously, this can happen only when the entry or exit is not obstructed, i.e. when the door S is opened.
In Fig. 5 this is illustrated in that the door 5 is opened in the sense of a laterally displaceable door wing and thus is located slightly in front of the wall 6 of the car. In comparison with Fig. 1 the first step 13 and the base part 15 and 19, resp. as well remain unchanged.
In Fig. 3 the level of the platform is lower than the level of the floor 3 of the railroad car such that the appa-ratus 11 can not remain in the position as illustrated in Fig. 2. In order to allow a person to board the car 1 from the platform 31 the apparatus 11 is now pivoted downwards (according to the direction of the arrow A) wherewith the first step 13 comes to be located roughly halfways between 2 ~ 2 ~1 ~3 7~
the ~wo terrain levels and acco~dingly allows a comfortable entering or ~etting off the railroad car 1. The second step 21 remains in the pivoted back state, i.e. it is not needed. As can be seen in Fig. 3 the first step 13 is now walked upon on the surface opposite of the walking surface at the state according to Fig. 2, i.e. the step 12 has been pivoted by 180. This is obviously also true for the base part 15 or 19, resp., which also has been pivoted by 180, In Figures 4 and 5 the state according to Figs. 2 and 3 is illustrated perspectively as seen from the platform 31.
A detailed description of Figures 4 and 5 is not needed be-cause the situation can be quite easyly derived from Figs.
2 and 3.
In Figures 6 and 7 the inventive apparatus similar to such of Figs. 1 and 3 is illustrated more in detail.
In Fig. 6 the inventive apparatus 111 is designed in an upwards pivoted state, forseen for the case according to which a platform is at a higher level than the level of the floor 3 of the railroad car 103.
The apparatus 111 includes a base part consisting of a lower section 115 and an upper section 119, whereby a first step 113 is arranged lying on the lower section and a second step 121 is arranged pivotably supported at the upper section 119. The second upper step 121 is illustrated in full lines in the folded up state in case the apparatus 111 is free for a person boarding or exiting the railroad car.
The second step 121 is illustrated in broken lines in the state of the railroad car being ready to move. The first step 113 is held laterally on a support which is rigidly mounted to the lower base section 115. The lower base sec-tion 115 is securely mounted to the bottom 103 of the rail-road car v~ia an axis 117 of rotation.
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The pivoting movement of the second step 121 is made possible or triggered in that it is rotatably supported at the center of its lower side via a knuckle ~oint con-sisting of the two legs 1~4 and 126 on an a~is 125 of rotation at the center between the lower and upper base section 115 and 119, resp. A further rotational bearing 127 is located at the center of the knuckle joint.
By a folding in or folding up, resp. of the second step 121 the axis 127 of rotation is moved at the one hand in the direction of the arrow 13 and, at the other hand the point 128 of rotation is moved in the direction of the arrow C. In order to avoid the knuckle joint consisting of the two legs 124 and 126 from hampering the stepping onto the first step 113 the folding in or folding up, resp.
mechanism is located at the side of the step 113 at the area of the base part 119. The leg 126 of the knuckle joint is designed in the embodiment according to Fig. 6 such, that a fine adjusting of the position of the second step 121 is possible, for instance by rotating the two illustrated nuts 129 which for instance can be arranged located on a thread.
In Fig. 7 the apparatus 111 is illustrated in a down-wards pivoted state in order to allow an exiting from the railroad car onto a pla~form at a lower level. For this, the apparatus 111 has been pivoted down in the direction of the arrow A around the axis 117 of rotation or pivot axis, resp. from the position of the base part section 115 illustrated by broken lines. The first step 113 is now to be walked upon on the opposite surface relative to Fig. 6 and is no longer supported laterally, by the support 116 but rather held. In order to allow a free view onto the step 113 the support 116 is illustrated by broken lines.
2~a2~a fj In the position according to Fig. 7 the second step 121 is arra~ed in a downwards foLded or folded in, resp.
state, i.e. the knuckle ~oint, consisting of the two legs 124 and 126 is correspondingly in the "bent in" state.
The apparatus for the entering or exiting of railroad cars from or to a platform located at a higher or lower level illustrated in the Figs. 1-7 may obviously be altered or modified, resp. by any kind of measure. It is, thus, obviously also possible to arrange a rotating mechanism in-stead of a pivoting mechanism, according to which the first step can for instance be rotated in a parallel displaceable manner around an axis of rotation in the floor of the ve-hicle from the upper into the lower position. Thereby the step is not pivoted around 180 such as illustrated in Figs. 1-7, but rather remains in the same position and is merely displaced parallel. This is for instance possible in that the base part is formed at the side of the step in a parallelogram like design by two legs which both are ro-tationally located on a respective axis of rotation in the floor of the vehicle.
Obviously it is also possible to provide two different steps for forming the first step whereby the first step is rotated upwards in a parallel displaceable manner out of the floor of the vehicle and a further step downwards out of the floor of the vehicle. According to a further variant it is possible to arrange the step arrangement for an entering or exiting from or onto a platform located at a lower level in a stationary fashion such as is still common practice at railroad cars and to merely arrange a pivotable or rotatio-nal apparatus which for an entering or exiting from or onto a platform located at a higher level is rotated or pivoted, resp. out of the floor of the vehicle.
2~2~f.
Figures ~ - 10 illustrate in section and designed schematlcally an inventive described wheel chair elevated by means of which a handicapped person ln a wheel chair can board or exit, resp. in case of a platform located at a higher level into or from a floor of a vehicle located at a low level.
In Fig. 8 a person 33 ready to get out of the car sits in a wheel chair 51 located on a floor plate ~1 set into the floor 3 of the vehicle. Seen in longitudinal direction of the car the floor plate 41 extends substan-tially along the entire length of the first step 13 which corresponds to the first step according to the earlier des-cribed figures. Also the base part 15, by means of which the first step 13 is pivotably mounted to the floor 3 of the vehicle, and also the upwards projecting extension 19 and the second pivotable step 21 correspond to the respec-tive parts illustrated in Figs. 1 - 7. The floor plate 41 set into the floor 3 of the vehicle is in turn mounted via respectively laterally located lever arms 45 to the base part 15, whereby these lever arms 45 are supported laterally of the first step 13 for rotation around an axis 47 of rotation. A sidewall part 43 is also located laterally of the floor plate 41, which side wall part 43 can for instance contain control elements for the operating of the wheel chair elevator and additionally can serve as guide for the hand of handicapped persons or then as a handle to be gripped by a handicapped pe~son. This side wall can be located either at one side only of the floor plate 41 or then also at both sides.
In Fig. 9 now the function of the operation of the inventive wheel chair elevator is illustrated schematically in that the floor plate 41 is moved upwards in a parallelo-gram like manner out of the floor 3 of the vehicle and pas-20~2~Q6 sing over the first step 13. In order to prevent a rolling away of the wheel chair 51 two small parts 41a located at both sides are automatically pivoted when the floor plate 41 begins to lift off such to form an upwards projecting arresting device for the wheel chair. The rotational move-ment of the floor plate 41 proceeds around the axis 47 of rotation which is located at the base part 15 at the level of the first step 13.
As soon as the floor plate 41 has rotated to such an extent around the axis 47 of rotation that it comes to rest with its front portion a2 onto the platform 31 the rotating movement is interrupted. Together with the floor plate 41 coming to rest on the platform 31 the forward located parts 41a are pivoted back into the plane of the floor plate 41 such that the wheel chair 51 can freely move forwards. In order to prevent the wheel chair elevator from ro~tating too much it is possible to arrange detecting devices such as for instance feelers in the forward portion ~2 of the floor plate 41 in order to automatically interrupt the rotational movement. The handicapped person can now easyly reach with its wheel chair 51 the platform 31. The movement of the plate 31 to the level of the floor 3 of the vehicle proceed in an analoguos manner in the opposite direction.
The drive system for performing the movements of the wheel chair elevator can be again hydraulic, pneumatic or electric. It is, thereby, again important that the drive devices are designed such that upon lossof power the appa-ratus or wheel chair elevator, resp. still remains in a functioning state and can be loc~ed in its end positions.
The statements made relative to Figs. 1 - 7 are also applicable to the design in accordance with Figs. 8 - 10, namely that the embodiments can be altered any way or modified, resp. It is, accordingly, for instance possible to position the floor plate by a continued rotational mo-vement according to Fiys. 8-10 at a level lower than the level of the railroad car in case the platform is located at a lower level. By means of such it is also possible to do away with the at present still necessary fork lift by the inventive wheel chair elevator in order to lift a wheel chair from a platform located at a lower level up to a rail-road car.
The illustration of operating and driving devices, such as for instance pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical ope-rating devices and also of the electronic or electric con-trol devices has been purposely left away in Figs. 1-10 in order not to impair a clear illustration o~ the figures.
These additional operating, control and driving, resp.
devices are generally known as such, specifically at com-muter trains, express trains,rural transportation vehicles such as trolley cars and trolley busses.
It is also possible to operate the inventive apparatus in emergencies manually instead of electrically.
The inventive disclosed apparatuses are not only suitable for railroad cars such as illustrated in Figs. 1-5, but also for any kind of other vehicles such as trolley cars, busses or trolley busses, aireal tramways and cable railways or cable cars, resp.
Decisive regarding the invention is that at least one step or plate, resp. can be iTl an hight adjustable manner located at at least one position above the floor of the ve-hicle and at at least one position on and/or below the level of the floor of the vehicle.
2~2~
While there are shown and descrihed present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly under-stood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced with the scope of the following claims.
AN ENTERING AND EXITING STEP S~STEM FOR VEHICLES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the entering and getting off, resp. a vehicle, which apparatus includes one or a plurality of steps or floor plates, resp.
for a negotiating of a possible difference of hight by a f person entering or getting off between the floor level of the vehicle and the level of a platform or of the terrain outside and opposite of the entry or exit, resp. of the vehicle which is higher or lower. It relates further to a railroad car having such an apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ~RT
The entering or getting off railroad vehicles proceeds generally via stairs or steps, resp. stationary mounted in such vehicles, via folding steps mounted at such vehicles or a combination of stationary stairs and moveable steps. In f case of commuter trains and subways the platforms at the stations are located often at the level of the floor of the car such that no steps are needed at all.
~t the known railway systems (combination of passenger cars and stations, i.e. their platforms) the level of the car or vehicle floor, resp. is located above or at the level of the platforms. This means that the stairs are necessary for climbing into the car or descending from the railroad car.
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Some of the recent modern specific high performance trains are characterized in that their wheels and associated undercarriages are located between the car bodies which accordingly have a car floor located at a very low level.
An example of such a high performance train is the TALGO
PENDULAR operating predominantly in Spain, but as of late on other European high speed railroad lines. Such vehicles or cars, resp. are relative to the entering of same quite comfortable as long as they operate on railway systems having platforms located at a low level such as is the case in most instances in Europe. As soon as, however, such special trains are operated on a railway syste~ having elevated platforms such as is e.g. the case in the North East Corridor in the USA, also recently in certain high speed lines in Europe, there exists the problem of descen-ding from the elevated platform down into the car. Because at the same railroad networks low level platforms are pre-sent at the same time, that the possibility of ascen-ding from the platform for entering the car and descending onto the platform, resp. must be given, too.
The using of railroad trains is specifically difficult for handicapped persons bound e.g. to wheel chairs. The entering or exiting at railroad systems in which the plat-form and the floor of the car are located about at the same level poses relatively no problems. As soon as, however, larger differences of hight levels must be negotiated bet-ween the platform and the level of the floor of the car the person bound to the wheel chair can not use the railroad without any aid.
The floor of the railroad vehicle is commonly located about 50 centimeters to 1 meter above the platform. In such a case the wheel chairs are loaded on or off, resp. by aid of fork lifts or elevating platforms or wheel chair eleva-tos are mounted to the railroad car which lift the handy--- 3 ~
capped per~ons together with their wheel chair into the car.The above mentioned special high performance trains in which the undercarriages are mounted such between the car bodies that latter have an extremely low floor are very problematic for handicapped persons in wheel chairs because the ~nown and simple method with the fork lift is not possible because obviously the wheel chair would have to be lowered from the high platform down to the low floor of the railroad car.
Otherwise, a fixedly mounted elevator would have to be pre-sent in the car which can bypass the there located steps for the entering and getting off of healthy people.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to provide an entry and exit, resp. at a railroad car which allows an operating of the railroad car when various hight levels of platforms are present.
A further object is to provide an apparatus for the entering and getting off, resp. a vehicle, which apparatus includes one or a plurality of steps or floor plates, resp.
for a negotiating a possible difference of hight by a person entering or setting off between the level of the vehicle and a platform located higher or lower, or the terrain around the vehicle, resp. outside and opposite of the entry or exit, resp. of the vehicle, which apparatus includes at least one step or plate, resp. which is mounted in a hight adjustable manner and is adapted to be positioned at a lo-cation above the floor of the vehicle, a location at the level of the floor of the vehicle andtor lower than the floor of the vehicle.
Yet a further object is to provide and apparatus in-cluding at least one step arranged such that it is possible depending from the level of the platform located outside of 2 ~
the vehicle to ascend from the level of the flaor of the vehicle over the step located above the floor af the ve-hicle or, then, if the level of the platform is lower than the level of the floor of the vehicle to descend over the step located lower than the floor of the vehicle. If the level of the floor of the vehicle equals the level of the platform the one step is either positioned at the level of the floor of the vehicle, or also below same or in a folded in position~
Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step of plate, resp. is supported to pivot or rotate around a longitudinal axis of rotation at the vehicle at the area of its floor at the entry or exit such that the adjustment of the hight of the step or plate, resp. results from the pivotal or rotational move-ment of the step or plate, resp.
A further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step is mounted such to the longitudinal axis of rotation that it is positionable from the position above the floor of the vehicle by means of a pivoting move-ment of at least 180 into the po~ition lower than the floor, whereby in the position above and in the position below the fioor a respective opposite surface of the step may be walked upon for the entering and getting off, resp.
Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step or plate, resp. is mounted to the one axis of rotation by the agency of supporting members which support or hold the step or plate, resp., which sup-porting members themselves are rotationally mounted to the step or plate, resp. and rotationally mounted to the axis of rotation as well, which mounting is structured such that by a parallelogram like rotational movement of the support-ing members the step or plate,rsp.is hight adjustable in a displaceable manner.
.
Yet a further object is to provide an apparatus in which a step can be parallel displaced or is hlght adjust-able in a parallelogram like manner by a pivotal movement of the supporting members around the axis of rotation for instance from the level of the floor of the vehicle either to a position above or a position below the floor of the vehicle. It, thereby, may be one and the same step or stepS
of the stair or plate, resp. or then two steps may be pre-sent, whereby the one step is hight adjustable from the bottom of the vehicle upwards and the other step is hight adjustable downwards.
A further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step or plate, resp. is held on a base part to which it is stationary mounted to and which is ro-tatable around the axis of rotation, which base part is adapted to pivot from an upwards pivoted position holding the at least one step or plate, resp. in a state allowing to be walked upon at a high level, by at least approximately 180 to a downwards pivoted position in a state allowing to be walked upon, in which position the at least one step is located at a position below the floor level.
A further object is to provide an apparatus to allow handicapped persons which use wheel chair like vehicles to enter or disembark a vehicle of which the floor i5 lower than the platform, in which one step or plate is forseen which is supported to be rotationally hight adjustable in a parallelogram like manner around an axis of rotation in or above the floor of the vehicle from a position at the floor of the vehicle to a position above the floor of the vehicle, substantially at the level of a higher located platform and preferably resting thereupon by at least an edge area of the step or plate, resp.. By means of a con-tinued rotational movement possibly also a positioning of 2 ~
the step or plate, resp. to a level below the floor of the vehicle shall be possible, if necesssary, in case the plat-form is located further down. This one step or plat~, resp.
is suitable for the receipt of a person bound to a wheel chair like vehicle or then a person severly handicapped ln walking such to allow same to negotiate the hight difference between the floor of the vehicle and the platform.
Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in which the one step or plate, resp. is a floor plate set into the floor of the vehicle and which is supported to rotate in a parallelogram like manner over the at least one step with an axis of rotation located at the level of the at least one st~p or in the floor of the vehicle.
Yet a further object is to provide an apparatus having at least one further step adapted to be step like positioned at a location of the at least one step or plate, resp. in the direction towards the entry or exit, resp. or laterally displaced towards the platform, resp., such that if the at least one step or plate, resp. is above the floor of the veh7cle, the difference of hight between the further step and the at least*approximately substantially to the hight of the at least one step over the floor of the vehicle.
( A further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step is held at a base part which is pivo-table around the axis of rotation and in which a further pivoting or folding, resp. mechanism is forseen at the base part, such that the further step is pivotable from a down-wards folded, at least approximately vertical position extending along the at least one step at a ready to travel state of the vehicle, to an upwards folded position at a resting state of the vehicle and a free utilization of the entry or exit, resp.
* one step corresponds 2 ~ 1IL ~1 ~
Yet a further objeot is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one step or plate, resp. and the further step are adapted to be arrestable in at least three posi-tions, namely in a firstposition zt a ready to travel state of the vehicle, where the base part is folded upwards and the further step is in a folded back position; in a second position at a resting state of the vehicle and free utili~
zation of the entry or exit, resp., where the base part is folded upwards and the further step is folded outwards such to allow a person getting on or getting off the vehicle to negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of the vehicle and a platform located at a higher level; and in a third position at a resting state of the vehicle and free utilization of the entry or exit, resp., where the base part is pivoted downwards and the further step is folded inwards such to allow a person getting on or getting off to negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of the vehicle and a platform located at a lower level.
A further object is to provide an apparatus in which the at least one further step is adapted to be located at least partly outside of the vehicle in order to bridge the distance between the floor of the vehicle and the platform or between the one step and the platform.
Yet a further object is to provide an apparatus in which when the level of the platform ecuals the level of the floor of the vehicle a manually positionable auxiliary step is located on the downwards pivoted base part or down-wards pivoted at least one step or plate, resp. in order to thereby form a support on the step pivoted downwards for a horizontal entry or exit in or out of the vehicle from or to the platform.
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A further object is to provide an apparatus having an auxiliary step adapted to be positioned or hung, resp.
laterally at the entry or exit, resp. of the vehicle or the at least one step in its downwards pivoted position, such to allow for instance an entering or getting off from or to, resp. the roadway or level, resp. of the tracks.
In order to prevent the possibility of an operating the steps or plates, resp. when they are walked upon by persons entering or exitins, it is a further object to provide an apparatus having control devices preferably of an electrical or electronical design by means of which it can be detected if the steps or plates, resp. are free or if persons are walking thereupon. Such control means as such are ~nown and are since a long time used in vehicles such as commuter trains, trolley cars, busses, etc. By means of such control means it is also possible to ascer-tain if a door which closes or opens the entry or exit, resp. is in an opened or closed state.
A further object is to provide an apparatus which in-cludes preferably pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical opera-ting devices for operating the apparatus, the base part, the steps or plates, resp. which operating devices are pre-ferably designed such that they are mechanically arrestable or lockable in the desired positions. The arresting and locking mechanisms are preferably such that a positioning of the apparatus by the operating devices is also possible in case of a loss of power. In case of emergencies the apparatus, the base part, the steps or plates shall be able to be moved manually into the desired positions.
Mentioned operating means for operating the apparatus shall preferably be designed such, that all possibilities of boarding and getting off, resp. the vehicle are possible also in case of loss of power, It is, thereby, due to safety reasons decisive that the locking of the apparatus including the steps or plates, resp. proceeds automatically in the various positions .
A further object of the invention is to provide a railroad car equipped with such an apparatus for boarding or getting off, resp. the car. Quite obviously, the inven-tive apparatus is also su~table for an application at any kind of vehicle, such as a trolley car, a bus or a trolley bus, for cable railways or cable cars, resp. for aerial tramways, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRA~INGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein :
Fig. 1 is a section through a railroad car with its entry and exit in a ready to travel state and including an inventive apparatus;
1 Fig. 2 illustrates the railroad car of figure 1 in a stopped state and opened door, and having the inventive apparatus arranged in such a state that it is possible that a person can step from an elevated platform down into the car;
Fig. 3 illustrates in cross section the car of Fig. 1 in a stopped state and having the inventive apparatus in such an operational state that it is possible to step down from the car onto a platform at a lower level;
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Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the state according to Fig. 2 as seen from the plat~orm;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the state according to Fig. 3 as seen from the platform;
Fig. 6 is a cross section through an inventive appa-ratus for negotiating the difference o~ hight in case of a platform located at a higher level;
Fig. 7 is a view of the apparatus in a downwards pivoted state for negotiating the difference of hight in case of a platform located at a lower level; and Figs. 8 - 10 are schematic sectional views of an inventive wheel chair elevator in order to allow a person bound to a wheel chair to negotiate a difference of hight from a floor of a vehicle located at a lower level to a platform located at a higher level.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI;~IENTS
Fig. 1 illustrates in cross section a railroad car 1 in a operative, i.e. ready to travel state and with a closed door 5. The railroad car illustrated in Fig. 1 in cross section is characterized in that the car body or the floor 3 of the car, resp. is located quite low which also follows from the fact that the floor 3 of the car lies directly on the undercarriage and accordingly the wheel 7 which rests on the rail 9 projects partly into the car body.
The inventive device 11, which is forseen and adapted to allow an entering or getting off the railroad car consists substantially of a first step 13 which is supported at or on a base part 15 which in turn is pivotably mounted to the floor 13 of the car via a axis 17 of rotation. The inven-tive apparatus 11 includes ? furthermore, an upwards pro-~Q~t2~ ~
jecting extension 19 of the base part, which in turn sup-ports a second step 21 and is rotatable around an axis 23 of rotation which second step 21 is folded do~lnwards in the ready to travel state of the railroad car 1 as illu-strated in Figure 1. The ready to travel state follows also from the fact that the door 5 is located integrated in the wall 6 of the car body such that latter is not visible in the illustration according to Fig. 1.
If now the railroad car 1 stops at a station the entry or exits of the railroad car is given free. This state is illustrated in the Figures 2 and 3, again in section rela-tive to the railroad car.
In Figure 2 the railroad car stops at a platform 31 of which the level is higher than the level of the floor 3 of the vehicle. In order to allow a person 33 which enters the car to negotiate the hight difference from the platform 31 to the level of the floor 3 of the railroad car the se-cond step 21 is pivoted upwards around the axis 23 of rotation. Obviously, this can happen only when the entry or exit is not obstructed, i.e. when the door S is opened.
In Fig. 5 this is illustrated in that the door 5 is opened in the sense of a laterally displaceable door wing and thus is located slightly in front of the wall 6 of the car. In comparison with Fig. 1 the first step 13 and the base part 15 and 19, resp. as well remain unchanged.
In Fig. 3 the level of the platform is lower than the level of the floor 3 of the railroad car such that the appa-ratus 11 can not remain in the position as illustrated in Fig. 2. In order to allow a person to board the car 1 from the platform 31 the apparatus 11 is now pivoted downwards (according to the direction of the arrow A) wherewith the first step 13 comes to be located roughly halfways between 2 ~ 2 ~1 ~3 7~
the ~wo terrain levels and acco~dingly allows a comfortable entering or ~etting off the railroad car 1. The second step 21 remains in the pivoted back state, i.e. it is not needed. As can be seen in Fig. 3 the first step 13 is now walked upon on the surface opposite of the walking surface at the state according to Fig. 2, i.e. the step 12 has been pivoted by 180. This is obviously also true for the base part 15 or 19, resp., which also has been pivoted by 180, In Figures 4 and 5 the state according to Figs. 2 and 3 is illustrated perspectively as seen from the platform 31.
A detailed description of Figures 4 and 5 is not needed be-cause the situation can be quite easyly derived from Figs.
2 and 3.
In Figures 6 and 7 the inventive apparatus similar to such of Figs. 1 and 3 is illustrated more in detail.
In Fig. 6 the inventive apparatus 111 is designed in an upwards pivoted state, forseen for the case according to which a platform is at a higher level than the level of the floor 3 of the railroad car 103.
The apparatus 111 includes a base part consisting of a lower section 115 and an upper section 119, whereby a first step 113 is arranged lying on the lower section and a second step 121 is arranged pivotably supported at the upper section 119. The second upper step 121 is illustrated in full lines in the folded up state in case the apparatus 111 is free for a person boarding or exiting the railroad car.
The second step 121 is illustrated in broken lines in the state of the railroad car being ready to move. The first step 113 is held laterally on a support which is rigidly mounted to the lower base section 115. The lower base sec-tion 115 is securely mounted to the bottom 103 of the rail-road car v~ia an axis 117 of rotation.
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The pivoting movement of the second step 121 is made possible or triggered in that it is rotatably supported at the center of its lower side via a knuckle ~oint con-sisting of the two legs 1~4 and 126 on an a~is 125 of rotation at the center between the lower and upper base section 115 and 119, resp. A further rotational bearing 127 is located at the center of the knuckle joint.
By a folding in or folding up, resp. of the second step 121 the axis 127 of rotation is moved at the one hand in the direction of the arrow 13 and, at the other hand the point 128 of rotation is moved in the direction of the arrow C. In order to avoid the knuckle joint consisting of the two legs 124 and 126 from hampering the stepping onto the first step 113 the folding in or folding up, resp.
mechanism is located at the side of the step 113 at the area of the base part 119. The leg 126 of the knuckle joint is designed in the embodiment according to Fig. 6 such, that a fine adjusting of the position of the second step 121 is possible, for instance by rotating the two illustrated nuts 129 which for instance can be arranged located on a thread.
In Fig. 7 the apparatus 111 is illustrated in a down-wards pivoted state in order to allow an exiting from the railroad car onto a pla~form at a lower level. For this, the apparatus 111 has been pivoted down in the direction of the arrow A around the axis 117 of rotation or pivot axis, resp. from the position of the base part section 115 illustrated by broken lines. The first step 113 is now to be walked upon on the opposite surface relative to Fig. 6 and is no longer supported laterally, by the support 116 but rather held. In order to allow a free view onto the step 113 the support 116 is illustrated by broken lines.
2~a2~a fj In the position according to Fig. 7 the second step 121 is arra~ed in a downwards foLded or folded in, resp.
state, i.e. the knuckle ~oint, consisting of the two legs 124 and 126 is correspondingly in the "bent in" state.
The apparatus for the entering or exiting of railroad cars from or to a platform located at a higher or lower level illustrated in the Figs. 1-7 may obviously be altered or modified, resp. by any kind of measure. It is, thus, obviously also possible to arrange a rotating mechanism in-stead of a pivoting mechanism, according to which the first step can for instance be rotated in a parallel displaceable manner around an axis of rotation in the floor of the ve-hicle from the upper into the lower position. Thereby the step is not pivoted around 180 such as illustrated in Figs. 1-7, but rather remains in the same position and is merely displaced parallel. This is for instance possible in that the base part is formed at the side of the step in a parallelogram like design by two legs which both are ro-tationally located on a respective axis of rotation in the floor of the vehicle.
Obviously it is also possible to provide two different steps for forming the first step whereby the first step is rotated upwards in a parallel displaceable manner out of the floor of the vehicle and a further step downwards out of the floor of the vehicle. According to a further variant it is possible to arrange the step arrangement for an entering or exiting from or onto a platform located at a lower level in a stationary fashion such as is still common practice at railroad cars and to merely arrange a pivotable or rotatio-nal apparatus which for an entering or exiting from or onto a platform located at a higher level is rotated or pivoted, resp. out of the floor of the vehicle.
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Figures ~ - 10 illustrate in section and designed schematlcally an inventive described wheel chair elevated by means of which a handicapped person ln a wheel chair can board or exit, resp. in case of a platform located at a higher level into or from a floor of a vehicle located at a low level.
In Fig. 8 a person 33 ready to get out of the car sits in a wheel chair 51 located on a floor plate ~1 set into the floor 3 of the vehicle. Seen in longitudinal direction of the car the floor plate 41 extends substan-tially along the entire length of the first step 13 which corresponds to the first step according to the earlier des-cribed figures. Also the base part 15, by means of which the first step 13 is pivotably mounted to the floor 3 of the vehicle, and also the upwards projecting extension 19 and the second pivotable step 21 correspond to the respec-tive parts illustrated in Figs. 1 - 7. The floor plate 41 set into the floor 3 of the vehicle is in turn mounted via respectively laterally located lever arms 45 to the base part 15, whereby these lever arms 45 are supported laterally of the first step 13 for rotation around an axis 47 of rotation. A sidewall part 43 is also located laterally of the floor plate 41, which side wall part 43 can for instance contain control elements for the operating of the wheel chair elevator and additionally can serve as guide for the hand of handicapped persons or then as a handle to be gripped by a handicapped pe~son. This side wall can be located either at one side only of the floor plate 41 or then also at both sides.
In Fig. 9 now the function of the operation of the inventive wheel chair elevator is illustrated schematically in that the floor plate 41 is moved upwards in a parallelo-gram like manner out of the floor 3 of the vehicle and pas-20~2~Q6 sing over the first step 13. In order to prevent a rolling away of the wheel chair 51 two small parts 41a located at both sides are automatically pivoted when the floor plate 41 begins to lift off such to form an upwards projecting arresting device for the wheel chair. The rotational move-ment of the floor plate 41 proceeds around the axis 47 of rotation which is located at the base part 15 at the level of the first step 13.
As soon as the floor plate 41 has rotated to such an extent around the axis 47 of rotation that it comes to rest with its front portion a2 onto the platform 31 the rotating movement is interrupted. Together with the floor plate 41 coming to rest on the platform 31 the forward located parts 41a are pivoted back into the plane of the floor plate 41 such that the wheel chair 51 can freely move forwards. In order to prevent the wheel chair elevator from ro~tating too much it is possible to arrange detecting devices such as for instance feelers in the forward portion ~2 of the floor plate 41 in order to automatically interrupt the rotational movement. The handicapped person can now easyly reach with its wheel chair 51 the platform 31. The movement of the plate 31 to the level of the floor 3 of the vehicle proceed in an analoguos manner in the opposite direction.
The drive system for performing the movements of the wheel chair elevator can be again hydraulic, pneumatic or electric. It is, thereby, again important that the drive devices are designed such that upon lossof power the appa-ratus or wheel chair elevator, resp. still remains in a functioning state and can be loc~ed in its end positions.
The statements made relative to Figs. 1 - 7 are also applicable to the design in accordance with Figs. 8 - 10, namely that the embodiments can be altered any way or modified, resp. It is, accordingly, for instance possible to position the floor plate by a continued rotational mo-vement according to Fiys. 8-10 at a level lower than the level of the railroad car in case the platform is located at a lower level. By means of such it is also possible to do away with the at present still necessary fork lift by the inventive wheel chair elevator in order to lift a wheel chair from a platform located at a lower level up to a rail-road car.
The illustration of operating and driving devices, such as for instance pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical ope-rating devices and also of the electronic or electric con-trol devices has been purposely left away in Figs. 1-10 in order not to impair a clear illustration o~ the figures.
These additional operating, control and driving, resp.
devices are generally known as such, specifically at com-muter trains, express trains,rural transportation vehicles such as trolley cars and trolley busses.
It is also possible to operate the inventive apparatus in emergencies manually instead of electrically.
The inventive disclosed apparatuses are not only suitable for railroad cars such as illustrated in Figs. 1-5, but also for any kind of other vehicles such as trolley cars, busses or trolley busses, aireal tramways and cable railways or cable cars, resp.
Decisive regarding the invention is that at least one step or plate, resp. can be iTl an hight adjustable manner located at at least one position above the floor of the ve-hicle and at at least one position on and/or below the level of the floor of the vehicle.
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While there are shown and descrihed present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly under-stood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced with the scope of the following claims.
Claims (17)
1. An apparatus for the boarding and getting off, resp. a vehicle, which apparatus includes one or a plura-lity of steps or floor plates, resp. for a negotiating a possible difference of hight by a person boarding and getting off between the level of the floor of the vehicle and a platform located higher or lower, or the terrain around the vehicle, resp. outside and opposite of the entry or exit, resp. of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising at least one step or plate, resp. which is mounted in a hight adjustable manner and is adapted to be positioned at a location above the floor of the vehicle, a location at the level of the floor and/or lower than the floor of the vehicle.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said at least one step or plate, resp. is supported to pivot or to rotate around a longitudinal axis of rotation at the vehicle at the area of the floor of the vehicle at the entry or exit such that the adjustment of the hight of the step or plate, resp. results from the pivotal or rotational movement of the step or plate, resp.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said at least one step is mounted such to the longitudinal axis of rotation that is positionable from the position above the floor of the vehicle by means of a pivoting movement of at least approximately 180° into the position lower than the floor, whereby in the position above and in the position below the floor a respective opposite surface of the step may be walked upon for the entering and getting off, resp.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said at least one step or plate, resp. is mounted by means of mounting members to the one axis of rotation supporting or holding, resp. said at least one step or plate, resp. which mounting members are rotationally mounted to said step or plate resp.
and to the axis of rotation as well, and in that said step or plate, resp. is hight adjustable in a parallel displace-able manmer by a rotational movement of said mounting members.
and to the axis of rotation as well, and in that said step or plate, resp. is hight adjustable in a parallel displace-able manmer by a rotational movement of said mounting members.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said at least one step or plate, resp. is held on a base part which is pivotable around said axis of rotation and rigidly mounted thereto, which base part is adapted to pivot from an upwards pivoted position holding said at least one step or plate, resp. above, around at least approximately 180° into a down-wards pivoted position in which said at least one step or plate, resp. is positionable at a location below the floor.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which one step or plate, resp. is supported rotationally hight adjustable in a parallelogram like manner around an axis of rotation in or above the floor of the vehicle from a position at the floor of the vehicle to a position above the floor of the vehicle, substantially at the level of a higher located platform and preferably resting thereupon by at least an edge area of the step or plate, resp. for receipt of a per-son located in a wheel-chair like vehicle in order to allow negotiating the difference of the level between the floor of the vehicle and such platform.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, in which said one step or plate, resp. is, furthermore, positionable into at least one position below the floor of the vehicle by means of said parallelogram like rotational movement.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, in which the one step or plate, resp. includes a floor plate set into the floor of the vehicle and which is supported to rotate in a paral-lelogram like manner over the at least one step with an axis of rotation located at the level of said at least one step or the floor of the vehicle.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least one further step adapted to be step like positioned at a loca-tion above said at least one step or plate, resp. in the direction towards the entry or exit resp. or laterally dis-placed towards the platform resp., such that if said at least one step or plate, resp. is above the floor of the vehicle the difference of hight between said further step and said at least one step corresponds at least approximately sub-stantially to the hight of said at least one step over the floor of the vehicle.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said at least one step is held at a base part which is pivotable around said axis of rotation and in which a further pivoting or folding mechanism is forseen at said base part, such that the further step is pivotable from a downwards folded, at least approximately vertical position extending along said at least one step at a ready to travel state of the vehicle an upwards folded position at a resting state of the vehicle and a free utilization of the entry or exit, resp.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said at least one step or plate, resp. and said further step are adapted to be arrestable in at least three positions, namely:
- in a first position at a ready to travel state of the vehicle, where said base part is folded up-wards and said further step is in a folded back position, - in a second position at a resting state of the vehicle and free utilization of the entry or exit, resp., where said base part is folded up-wards and said further step is folded outwards such to allow a person boarding or getting off the vehicle to negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of the vehicle and a platform located at a higher level, and - in a third position at a resting state of the vehicle and free utilization of the entry or exit, resp. where said base part is pivoted down-wards and said further step is folded inwards such to allow a person boarding or getting off to negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of the vehicle and a platform located at a lower level.
- in a first position at a ready to travel state of the vehicle, where said base part is folded up-wards and said further step is in a folded back position, - in a second position at a resting state of the vehicle and free utilization of the entry or exit, resp., where said base part is folded up-wards and said further step is folded outwards such to allow a person boarding or getting off the vehicle to negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of the vehicle and a platform located at a higher level, and - in a third position at a resting state of the vehicle and free utilization of the entry or exit, resp. where said base part is pivoted down-wards and said further step is folded inwards such to allow a person boarding or getting off to negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of the vehicle and a platform located at a lower level.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said further step is adapted to be located at least partly outside of the vehicle in order to bridge a distance between the floor of the vehicle and the platform or between said at least one step or plate, resp. and the platform.
13. The apparatus of claim 3, in which said at least one step or plate, resp. is located at least partially later-ally outside of the vehicle when the base part is pivoted downwards in order to bridge the lateral distance between the floor of the vehicle and the platform.
14. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising further a manually positionable auxiliary step adapted to be placed onto or hung onto, resp. the step pivoted downwards or ro-tated downwards for a planar entry or exit from the floor of the vehicle onto a platform which features the same hight level as the bottom of the vehicle, or entry or exit from or onto the hight level of the roadway or track of the vehicle.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising electrically or electronically operated or functioning, resp. control means for safeguarding that the pivoting and rotating and/or folding out or folding in movements may be executed only if the entry or exit is free or if the door is open, resp.
and only if the entry or exit is not used by a person.
and only if the entry or exit is not used by a person.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical operating means for the pivoting, rotating, folding open or folding in positioning of said at least one step or further step, resp.
17. A railroad car including the apparatus of claim 1.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH3778/90A CH682316A5 (en) | 1990-11-29 | 1990-11-29 | Access step for rail vehicle |
| CH3`778/90 | 1990-11-29 | ||
| CHP9100526 | 1991-03-01 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2052106A1 true CA2052106A1 (en) | 1992-05-30 |
Family
ID=4263289
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002052106A Abandoned CA2052106A1 (en) | 1990-11-29 | 1991-09-24 | Entering and exiting step system for vehicles |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2052106A1 (en) |
| CH (1) | CH682316A5 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2031762A6 (en) |
-
1990
- 1990-11-29 CH CH3778/90A patent/CH682316A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1991
- 1991-03-01 ES ES9100526A patent/ES2031762A6/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-09-24 CA CA002052106A patent/CA2052106A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CH682316A5 (en) | 1993-08-31 |
| ES2031762A6 (en) | 1992-12-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |