WO2011059339A1

WO2011059339A1 - System for transportation of people in a staircase

Info

Publication number: WO2011059339A1
Application number: PCT/NO2010/000407
Authority: WO
Inventors: Øivind Sund
Original assignee: Sund Oeivind
Priority date: 2009-11-10
Filing date: 2010-11-10
Publication date: 2011-05-19
Also published as: EP2499080A1; NO20093311A1; EP2499080A4

Abstract

A system for transportation of people in a staircase, further characterised by that said system comprises a rail secured to either the roof or the underside of above staircase and a traction machine with the possibilities for moving along said rail and that said traction machine has connected to it a device for transporting people.

Description

System for transportation of people in a staircase

The present invention concerns a means of transport between floors in a building for people with reduced mobility.

Background of the invention: Large parts of the western world are facing major challenges in the future with more and more elderly people who become more and more dependent on aids to move.

To illustrate this makes the following figures apply to Norway, in 1900 there were 2,240,860 people in Norway, of which 12,097 were over 80 years. In 2009, we where 4,799,252 Norwegians, of whom 219 631 over 80 years. Calculations show that in 2030 we will be about 333 000 over 80 years. Furthermore, it is a fact that the elderly want to stay in their own homes, in their local area and only 5% of those over 60 years moves, then most often to chaire homes or nursing homes because they have to.

When 362 000 homes are located in buildings of three storeys or more and less than 10% of these have a lift it is easy to conclude that the need is great in the future for assistive devices for people with reduced mobility.

Buildings of 3 storeys or more, almost never have room for the elevator. There has been little tradition of building a lift in the Scandinavian housing, and stairwells are usually placed at the centre of the building so that a normal lift is not possible.to retrofit.

Today's stairlifts are unlikely to go over several floors. These are either wall mounted or mounted to the railing. Wall-mounted can therefore just go up to the first door, while railing installed stair lifts have a very sharp turn at the end of the railing and must have a corresponding low speed.

Summary of invention:

The present invention has, in accordance with requirements set the goal of addressing the above- mentioned problems with the present day solutions. The purpose of the invention is primarily to transport persons with reduced movement to their own home if it is in an apartment building where conventional elevator is not installed or cannot be retrofitted. We think, especially of apartments located from 1 to 4 floors above / below the entrance.

The invention uses a rail in the ceiling, on the underside of stairs and landings in the stairwell. On this rail there runs a motor driven tractor with eight wheels to which it hangs a chair. The invention is based also on the progress of an electrically driven motor which uses ordinary line voltage that is capable of continuous operation with multiple users on multiple floors, in contrast to other patents which are battery driven.

Short description of the figures: Figure 1 shows a cross section of rail with the tractor and attachment.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of rail with the tractor.

Figure 3 shows a floor plan for a staircase with rail, chair and passenger.

Figure 4 shows a section of a staircase with rail and chair.

Figure 5 shows a bracket for mounting in repos. Figure 6 shows a section of rail in the longitudinal direction of a bracket for mounting in repos.

Figure 7 shows a section of the rail length direction for a bracket with fixing in steps.

Figure 8 shows a cross section of an example of how power can be supplied to the tractor.

Figure 9 shows a section of the rail length of a rubber gasket / cushion for fixing the repos.

Figure 10 shows a detail of the turning / locking mechanism for the chair. Figure 11A and 11B shows a schematic diagram of the tractor respectively in cross section and longitudinal section.

Figure 12A shows a schematic diagram of the tractor with the gears and tooth or tooth belt rail with a horizontally placed engine.

Figure 12B shows a schematic diagram of the tractor with the gears and tooth or tooth belt rail with a vertically positioned engine.

Figure 13 shows a cross section of how an electrically energized rail can be built.

Figure 14 shows a section of how a rail with the pantograph can be built.

Figure 15 Shows safety sensors in a shock absorbing list. Detailed Description:

Figure 1 shows a cross section of an embodiment of the present invention. Here it is shown an electric powered tractor 100. The tractor runs on a rail attached to the roof 101, staircase or landings 701 in a stairwell. It shows how the rail 103 is attached to the concrete deck 101 via bolts 102. The rail 103 is in this figure, partially closed with the drive wheels 104 and parts of the tractor 100 inside the rail 103

The electric tractor 100 is driven by drive wheels 104 and has a set of stabilizing wheels 105 mounted so that they hold the tractor 100 in place, making the tractor 100 stable sideways as well as to provide the best possible friction for the drive wheels 104. Where the stairs are particularly steep it can, instead of rubber drive wheel 104, use gears which run in corresponding grooves in the rail. As a "rack" previously used on railway lines with a steep incline.

Moreover, we can see how the wheelchair 106 is attached directly to the electric tractor 100.

Figure 2 shows the same principle as figure 1. Here we see a longitudinal section of the rail with the tractor. We see an embodiment where the stabilizing wheels 105 and the drive wheels 104 are positioned above each other. Furthermore, we see how the drive wheels 104 and stabilizing wheels 105 are positioned on each side of the lower part of the rail.

The embodiment shown in the Figures 1 and 2 are a way to solve the problem, it is however obvious to a person skilled in the art that the design of the rail and the tractor, with the drive wheels and stabilizing wheels, can be shaped in different ways. Moreover, the tractor 100 and its speed are adjusted so that it has the same path and speed as a person with normal movement will have a staircase.

Figure 3 and 4 provide an overview of how the chair lift will move in a stairwell. Here it is stated that the chair lift is attached either to the ceiling of the floor it is located in or underneath the above stairs. ONE USER

Moreover, it is stated that the elevator should have the ability to transport a person directly into the apartment or house that they wish to enter. The rail goes then, if desired, through the stairwell door and into the apartment / house. The rail is then lowered to the upper door leaf and goes through the door frame. Similarly, it is also possible to let the rail running between the property's various rooms. In the fire door it must be established fire dampers in the rail. Where it is desirable to use the stair lift into their own home an electric bolt and automatic door opener can be operated by remote.

MULTIPLE USERS

Stair lifts can be used by several residents with calling to the various floors. The handicapped is assumed to operate the stair lift from a control panel.

It is assumed to use electronics common for controlling elevators for calling the stair lift chair and the choice of which floor you should be transported to. This requires an adjustment in relation to the safety of this particular type of lift.

When starting, the chair is raised before it moves in the direction of the rail and by stopping the chair is lowered accordingly.

End stop switches are installed in the rail and sensors are mounted in the chairs to avoid collision.

When the rail is inserted into the users own home, fire dampers are installed in the rail and fire sealing around the implementation.

In relation to the fire, in the cases where the stair lift only has one user, it is assumed that the stair lift is approved to use as a means for escape. During use, the stair lift move in the same direction as the others who escape the building via the stairwell. It would also be possible to pass the stair lift in the same manner as if it was a person going there.

If the stair lift stops, the user will be able to descend the stairs / landing without assistance. WHEELCHAIR For wheelchair users the elevator can be used by replacing the seat with a platform or a fork adapted to each wheelchair.

PERSON, WHEELCHAIR AND ARTICLES

Stair lifts with a platform can also be used for transportation of furniture, people and goods.

Figure 5, 6 and 7 show different ways to fix the rail 103 to the roof 601 in the stairwell or in the bottom of the stairs above stairs 701. It shows how a bracket 602 can be used to secure the rail 603 to the mounting point. When there is an open stair the bracket 602 can be fastened over the step above with a fastening in the back of the step. Figure 8 shows a procedure for transferring power to the electric motor in the tractor 100. Here it is shown how the electrical conductors 802 are placed in an insulated rail 801 while two traces 803 transmit energy to the tractor and the electric motor. This is shown in further detail in Figure 13 and 14 Figure 9 shows how to solve the drawback in the stair lifts that are mounted on the wall or on the stair railings spreads noise to all the residences in the building.

When the rail is mounted underneath the above stairs and landings, the installation of noise absorbing pads 901 will ensure less transfer of noise from the stair lift. Likewise, it is far easier to control, reduce noise, by adding a noise reducing element when fixing the rail. This can be done in different ways, but likely a rubber gasket will have a sufficient effect.

Figure 10 shows how the arm the chair is hanging in is spring loaded so that one does not encounter resistance when the chair is turned. The chair glides down a notch in both directions under load so that it does not change position during use. Once the user has used the stair lift, and later wants to use it in the opposite direction, the chair is turned at least 180 degrees with a simple movement when the chair is not loaded.

Before the stair lift can move up or down the stairs, the chair is raised about 35-40 cm. A telescopic spindle is inserted in the arm attached to the chair in order to raise it automatically at start and lower it automatically at stop.

The chair should be able to swing sufficiently lengthwise to take up the inclination angle of the stairs, to achieve stability this is regulated by a shock absorber.

It is possible to imagine that it can be used several methods to energize the chair. It is possible to use these methods, both as a main source of energy, but also as a support source.

For example, it is conceivable that there are may be sources of energy, like compressed air or batteries and that they too can receive energy from the system by draining some of the energy created when the chair is moving downward. Other energy sources may be used in this system.

In figures 11 A and 11 B it will be shown how the tractor is equipped with a total of 8 wheels, 4 of which are stabilizing wheels that runs underneath the rail. Inside the rail there are two stabilizing wheels and two drive wheels. The drive wheels are coated with a friction coating. Alternatively, the drive wheels are cogwheels and running on a tooth belt / rail. The arm of the chair lift is jointed at the tractor in the driving direction and stabilized by a shock absorber. At the same time the arm is not placed centric on the tractor in the driving direction, but moves closer to the drive wheels. This is to increase the load on the drive wheels and provide better grip between the drive wheel and rail. The engine is exchanged so that the rear wheels achieve a progress on the tractor corresponding to approx. 0.6 m / sec or normal walking speed for an adult human.

The engine is electronically controlled. The control unit is placed in the tractor. It manages the processes of starting and stopping, the motor speed and direction of driving. This makes it possible to call the chair to that particular floor. When starting and stopping the program controls also a spindle that raises or lowers the chair when the tractor starts / stops.

At start and stop the engine accelerates / breaks the engine to give the chair a comfortable start and stop. Similarly, the speed is reduced a little when turning, even if the rail is also given a small incline to reduce the centrifugal force and provide comfortable ride. When the tractor goes through a turn, the wheel that runs in the outer side has a longer way to go than the inner wheel. The stabilizing wheels have no other task than to keep the tractor stable against the rail. The six stabilizing wheels can be made of material that reduces friction against the rail, and should run independently of each other's speed.

The two drive wheels on the rail, however, are dependent on the contact and friction against the rail. Different rotation speed can be accomplished by a differential and differential break.

In Figure 12A and 12B an alternative is shown where the wheel size is adjusted so that the drive wheel in the inner turn receives the same rotation speed as the drive wheel in the outer side. This is done by giving the rail an extra track in the inner turn. This runs a small wheel attached to the drive shaft, while the regular drive wheel is lifted up and loses contact with the substrate. The invention is expected to be faced with different needs as to the slope angle, outdoor and indoor environment, security requirements and legislation. It is assumed therefore that it is possible to install a toothed rail, or a toothed belt in the main rail. Drive wheels and internal stabilization wheels are then replaced with similar gears.

When saying a toothed rail it is implemented a tooth belt that is placed inside the main rail when there is a need for greater traction between the rail and the drive wheel than can be achieved with friction. In a turn, using a toothed rail, it is assumed that the four stabilizing wheels under the rail runs freely and independently of each other's speed. The two stabilizing wheels inside the rail runs also independent of the other wheel speed, but it is otherwise constructed in the same way as the drive wheels. For the drive wheels, we assume that these should have full contact with the rail in a turn. The outer drive wheel will have the longest path to go in a turn, this is the gears, and runs in a toothed rail. To achieve synchronization between the outer and the inner drive wheel in the turn, it must be placed a spare wheel on the axis of the inner bend. The wheel diameter is calculated to get the same number of turns as the gear that runs the outer side. The smaller wheel is running at a similar reconstructed track. In the inner bend there is mounted no toothed rail / belt. Thus it runs the gears in the inner bend freely in the air, while the smaller drive wheel will take over all energy transfer.

The wheel in the inner bend is synchronized with the wheel running the outer bend. It rests on the reconstructed track in the inner bend and takes over all energy transfers.

The stabilizing wheels under the drive wheels get here the important task to ensure that the gears teeth is kept stable against the rail and do not get the opportunity to slip.

As long as the stair lift has only one user it can be operated manually from the control panel in the chair. It is then assumed that the lift follows the user, and at any time is on the same floor as the user. The elevator may also be used to escape fire. It assumes that the spindle is also battery powered and can lower the chair to the stairs in case of power failure. It is hence not used a call switch.

It is only when there are several users that the elevator may be located on a different floor than the person who needs the lift at that particular time. The elevator must hence be called to the actual floor.

The basis for the control of the elevator with more than one user is to use a common elevator system.

When the stair lift has transported a passenger to the wanted floor and the passenger has left the chair, the chair is no longer weighted down, and it returns the chair to the exit. In the same manner as for many ordinary elevators. Here the rail goes to a resting place where it does not hinder the traffic in the escape routes. In Figure 13 and 14 it will be shown how the engine is supplied with electrical energy from an overhead wire placed inside an H-profile of insulating material. It is located on the inside of the rail and located over the tractor's track. The purpose of the H-profile is to ensure that it is not possible to place the fingers into the list. Underneath and inside the list runs a pantograph attached to the tractor. A tractor pulling a sled behind itself. Spring loaded brushes in the sled runs along the power conductors and transmits power to the engine via insulated wires. When the elevator is called, or transporting a user, there may be located people or objects in their path. The chair must be equipped with sensors that stop the lift before a collision occurs. The elevator then makes a stop with time delay before it continues or is lowered.

• If the obstacle is removed from the path within the delay, the chair lift continues.

• tf the obstacle is not removed from the path within the delay, the chair is lowered until it meets resistance in the staircase, the landing or the floor.

Safety:

• In front of and behind the chair, the aforementioned sensors, is mounted that stop the lift if there are any objects or persons in its path. The sensors will override both the panel and call switches.

· The control panel overrides the calling switches.

• The control panel is also equipped with an emergency stop switch.

• In the rail ends, on the top and the bottom, it is placed an end stop switch with sensors that overrides the control panel and the call switches.

• In case of power failure, the lift stops, and the chair is lowered until it meets resistance in the stairs or on the landing. The spindle is also operated by a battery.

The safety sensor in the chair if mounted in the shock absorber around the footplate and when the spindle lifts the chair the shock absorber containing the sensors falls down to get a clear view underneath the chair. The shock absorber and the tilt is adjustable at any time corresponding to the angle of the rail. This can be done mechanically or electronically. The electronics will ensure that the stretch of an emergency stop is made very short. At the same time the chair will swing a little bit forward in the direction of travel. Some of the forces that would normally help to throw the user out of the chair will instead work so that the user is pressed down in the chair. However, it is assumed that the user is equipped with a safety harness around his or her waist. In figure 15 it is required that a shock absorber containing sensors "falls down" when the chair is lifted so that it gets a view clear of the footplate. At the same time it must have the same angle as the rail. This can be done both electronically and mechanically.

The shock absorber will have a function that can be compared with the bumper of a car. The sensors can also be compared with the cars parking sensor, but in our case, override and stop the chair when there are obstacles in its path.

Claims

Claims:

1. System for transportation of people in stairways, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said system comprises

• a rail anchored to the ceiling or to the underside of above staircase,

· a tractor with the ability to move along said rail,

• said tractor is connected to a device for transporting people,

• in connection with said rail, is a source for supply of energy to that tractor.

2. System for transportation of people in stairways in accordance with claim 1 in which said supply of energy is from the power grid.

3. System for transportation of people in stairways in accordance with claim 1 in which said tractor has at least one set of drive wheels.

4. System for transportation of people in stairways in accordance with claim 1 in which said tractor unit has at least one set of stabilizing wheels.

5. System for transportation of people in stairways in accordance with claim 1 in which said tractor can be driven by chains.

6. System for transportation of people in stairways in accordance with claim 1 in which said tractor can be driven by the corresponding gears and belts.

7. System for transportation of people in stairways in accordance with claim 1 where said device for the transport of people is a chair, a platform or a fork adapted to lift wheelchairs.

8. System for transportation of people in stairways in accordance with claim 1 where said device for transportation of people is connected with said tractor via a spring loaded arm.

9. System for transportation of people in stairways in accordance with claim 1 where said device for the transport of people can be rotated at least 180 °.

10. System for transportation of people in stairways in accordance with claim 1 where said device for transporting people can swing sufficient lengthwise to compensate for the stairs sloping angle.