EP0689979A1 - A lifting device which can be fitted in railway and tramway vehicles, particularly for enabling disabled people to board and alight - Google Patents
A lifting device which can be fitted in railway and tramway vehicles, particularly for enabling disabled people to board and alight Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0689979A1 EP0689979A1 EP95102632A EP95102632A EP0689979A1 EP 0689979 A1 EP0689979 A1 EP 0689979A1 EP 95102632 A EP95102632 A EP 95102632A EP 95102632 A EP95102632 A EP 95102632A EP 0689979 A1 EP0689979 A1 EP 0689979A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- platform
- axis
- pulley
- vehicle
- relative
- 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.)
- Ceased
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61D—BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
- B61D47/00—Loading or unloading devices combined with vehicles, e.g. loading platforms, doors convertible into loading and unloading ramps
-
- 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
- A61G2220/00—Adaptations of particular transporting means
- A61G2220/12—Trains
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a lifting device which can be fitted in railway and tramway vehicles, particularly for enabling disabled people to board and alight.
- a lifting device with a vertical guide upright along which a horizontal platform is movable vertically between a lowered position substantially level with the railway platform or pavement and a raised position substantially level with a floor of the vehicle has already been proposed.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a simple and compact lifting device which does not require appreciable modification of the access opening of the vehicle.
- this object is achieved by a lifting device having the characteristics which form the subject of the claims.
- a railway vehicle schematically indicated 1 is beside a railway platform 2.
- the vehicle 1 has a floor 4 which is above the platform 2 by a distance H.
- a lifting device according to the invention, generally indicated 6, comprises a platform 8 and an operating device 10 which can move the platform 8 parallel to its starting position between a lowered position substantially level with the railway platform 2 and a raised position substantially level with the floor 4.
- the operating device 10 comprises a structure 12 which, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, takes the form of a right-angled arm.
- a first end of the arm 12 is articulated to the body of the vehicle 1 about a horizontal axis 14 and its second end carries a pulley 16 which can rotate freely relative to the arm 12 about a second axis 18 parallel to the first axis 14.
- the platform 8 is connected to the pulley 16 so as to be fixed rigidly thereto for movements about the axis 18. This connection is effected by means of a plate 20 fixed to the pulley 16 and carrying a shaft 22 on which the platform 8 is articulated about an axis 24.
- the plate 20 has one or more abutments (not visible in the drawings) which prevent the platform 8 from pivoting under the effect of its own weight in the sense indicated by the arrow 26 in Figure 1.
- the platform 8 is free, however, to pivot about the axis 24 in the opposite sense, indicated by the arrow 28 in Figure 1.
- a pulley 30 On the first end of the arm 12 there is a pulley 30 which is rotatable about the axis 14 independently of the arm 12.
- a radial flange 32 is fixed to the pulley 30 and the end of a fluid actuator 34 is articulated thereto, the body 36 of the actuator being articulated to a support (not shown) which is fixed relative to the vehicle 1.
- a first end of a flexible and inextensible transmission element 38 constituted, for example, by a metal cable or a chain, is anchored on the pulley 30.
- the second end of the flexible element 38 is anchored on the pulley 16.
- the ends of the flexible element 38 are wound partially onto the pulleys 16 and 30 and a central portion of the flexible element 38 cooperates with a transmission pulley 40 rotatable on the arm 12 about an axis 42.
- a pressurized-fluid actuator, indicated 44, is intended to pivot the arm 12 about the axis 14.
- the arm 12 and the actuator 44 are connected by means of a wheel 46 which is fixed rigidly to the arm 12 and on which a cable or chain 48, connected to the end of the rod of the actuator 44, is anchored.
- the operating device 10 described above has the characteristic that it enables the platform 8 to move between the lowered position and the raised position in a direction such that it is constantly parallel to its starting position and this is achieved solely by means of the pivoting of the arm 12 about the axis 14. This is possible since the device described reproduces the kinematic behaviour of an articulated quadrilateral.
- the arm 12 and its pulleys 16 and 30 and the flexible transmission member 38 are equivalent to an articulated quadrilateral 50 having a horizontal side 52 which is fixed relative to the vehicle, a side 54 which is fixed to the platform 8, and two further sides 56 and 58 which interconnect the corresponding ends of the sides 52, 54.
- the side 58 of the articulated quadrilateral 50 would correspond to a line joining the pivot axes 14, 18 of the operating device 10.
- the concept upon which the present invention is based consists of the provision of transmission means which can impart to the platform 8 an angular movement relative to the arm 12 about the axis 18 the movement being equal in extent but in the opposite sense to the angular movement of the arm 12 relative to the axis 14.
- the side 58 is inclined at an angle ⁇ to a vertical axis, in the condition in which the platform 8 is level with the railway platform.
- the angle between the platform 8 and the side 58 is 90°+ ⁇ .
- the side 58 is made to perform an angular movement of amplitude ⁇ 1 about the axis 14 until the platform 8 is brought level with the floor of the vehicle.
- the side 58 is inclined at an angle of ⁇ + ⁇ 1 to the vertical reference axis whilst the platform 8 is inclined at an angle of 90°+ ⁇ + ⁇ l to the side 58.
- the platform 8 performs an angular movement relative to the arm of equal extent but in the opposite sense to the angular movement of the arm relative to the vehicle.
- the actuator 34 connected to the pulley 30 is in the rest position and the flange 32 fixed to the pulley 30 cooperates with a stop 60 carried by a support which is fixed to the vehicle and can prevent the pulley 30 from rotating in the sense indicated by the arrow 62 in Figure 2.
- the platform 8 is substantially level with the railway platform 2 and can receive a wheelchair 64.
- the actuator 44 is operated so as to bring about a pivoting of the arm 12 in the sense 66.
- the pivoting movement of the arm 12 ends when the actuator 44 reaches the end of its travel and, in this situation, the platform 8 is level with the floor 4 ( Figure 3).
- the arm 12 In order to retract the lifting device into the vehicle, starting from the configuration of Figure 3, the arm 12 is kept in the raised position and the actuator 34 is operated, rotating the pulley 30 in the sense 68.
- the flexible element 38 is tensioned and brings about rotation of the pulley 16 and pivoting of the platform 8 fixed thereto, retracting the platform 8 into the vehicle (see Figure 4).
- the platform 8 Upon completion of the lifting, the platform 8 extends parallel to the access opening of the vehicle and obstructs the way through the access opening. To place the device in the rest condition, it suffices to rotate the platform 8 through 90° about the axis 24 as indicated by the arrow 70 in Figure 4 so as to orient the platform 8 perpendicular to the access opening of the vehicle.
- the device according to the invention also enables the platform 8 to be oriented in a chute configuration, as indicated in Figure 5, to allow disabled people to be evacuated from the vehicle 1 in the event of an emergency.
- this can be achieved simply by pivoting the platform 8 so that it is parallel to the loading opening and then allowing the pulley 30 to rotate freely.
- the platform 8 is brought to the inclined position of Figure 5 under the effect of its own weight.
- the pulley 30 can be released in various ways and one of these consists of the removal of the stop 60 and the de-activation of the actuator 34.
- the pulley 30 is thus no longer restrained in any way and is free to rotate under the effect of the weight of the platform 8.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)
Abstract
The device comprises an arm (12) which is pivotable relative to the vehicle about a first axis (14) and carries a platform (8) in a manner such that it can pivot about a second axis (18). An actuator (44) imparts to the arm (12) an angular movement which brings the platform (8) from a lowered position to a raised position. Transmission means (30, 38, 16) enable the platform (8) to remain constantly parallel to its starting position during the pivoting movement of the arm (12).
Description
- The present invention relates to a lifting device which can be fitted in railway and tramway vehicles, particularly for enabling disabled people to board and alight.
- A lifting device with a vertical guide upright along which a horizontal platform is movable vertically between a lowered position substantially level with the railway platform or pavement and a raised position substantially level with a floor of the vehicle has already been proposed.
- The fitting of a lifting device in existing railway or tramway vehicles involves a series of problems connected with the need to retract the lifting device fully into the vehicle and with the problem of permitting access to the vehicle in conventional manner, without using the lift.
- In most cases, the fitting of a lifting device of known type in a vehicle which has not been specially designed to house the lifting device involves the need to carry out substantial modifications of the access opening of the vehicle.
- The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and compact lifting device which does not require appreciable modification of the access opening of the vehicle.
- According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a lifting device having the characteristics which form the subject of the claims.
- Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear in the course of the detailed description which follows, given purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a lifting device according to the invention,
- Figures 2-5 are schematic side views showing the operation of the device according to the invention, and
- Figure 6 is a diagram showing the kinematic principle upon which the device according to the invention is based.
- With reference initially to Figure 3, a railway vehicle, schematically indicated 1, is beside a
railway platform 2. Thevehicle 1 has a floor 4 which is above theplatform 2 by a distance H. - With reference now to Figure 1, a lifting device according to the invention, generally indicated 6, comprises a
platform 8 and anoperating device 10 which can move theplatform 8 parallel to its starting position between a lowered position substantially level with therailway platform 2 and a raised position substantially level with the floor 4. - The
operating device 10 comprises astructure 12 which, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, takes the form of a right-angled arm. A first end of thearm 12 is articulated to the body of thevehicle 1 about ahorizontal axis 14 and its second end carries apulley 16 which can rotate freely relative to thearm 12 about asecond axis 18 parallel to thefirst axis 14. - The
platform 8 is connected to thepulley 16 so as to be fixed rigidly thereto for movements about theaxis 18. This connection is effected by means of aplate 20 fixed to thepulley 16 and carrying ashaft 22 on which theplatform 8 is articulated about anaxis 24. Theplate 20 has one or more abutments (not visible in the drawings) which prevent theplatform 8 from pivoting under the effect of its own weight in the sense indicated by thearrow 26 in Figure 1. Theplatform 8 is free, however, to pivot about theaxis 24 in the opposite sense, indicated by thearrow 28 in Figure 1. - On the first end of the
arm 12 there is apulley 30 which is rotatable about theaxis 14 independently of thearm 12. Aradial flange 32 is fixed to thepulley 30 and the end of afluid actuator 34 is articulated thereto, thebody 36 of the actuator being articulated to a support (not shown) which is fixed relative to thevehicle 1. A first end of a flexible andinextensible transmission element 38, constituted, for example, by a metal cable or a chain, is anchored on thepulley 30. The second end of theflexible element 38 is anchored on thepulley 16. The ends of theflexible element 38 are wound partially onto thepulleys flexible element 38 cooperates with atransmission pulley 40 rotatable on thearm 12 about an axis 42. - A pressurized-fluid actuator, indicated 44, is intended to pivot the
arm 12 about theaxis 14. Thearm 12 and theactuator 44 are connected by means of awheel 46 which is fixed rigidly to thearm 12 and on which a cable orchain 48, connected to the end of the rod of theactuator 44, is anchored. - The
operating device 10 described above has the characteristic that it enables theplatform 8 to move between the lowered position and the raised position in a direction such that it is constantly parallel to its starting position and this is achieved solely by means of the pivoting of thearm 12 about theaxis 14. This is possible since the device described reproduces the kinematic behaviour of an articulated quadrilateral. - In fact, with reference to Figure 6, from a kinematic point of view, the
arm 12 and itspulleys flexible transmission member 38 are equivalent to an articulated quadrilateral 50 having ahorizontal side 52 which is fixed relative to the vehicle, aside 54 which is fixed to theplatform 8, and twofurther sides sides side 58 of the articulated quadrilateral 50 would correspond to a line joining thepivot axes operating device 10. - The diagram of Figure 6 enables it to be understood immediately that pivoting of the
side 58 between a lowered position and a raised position corresponds to a vertical movement of theplatform 8 and, during this movement, theplatform 8 is kept constantly parallel to its starting position. - More generally, the concept upon which the present invention is based consists of the provision of transmission means which can impart to the
platform 8 an angular movement relative to thearm 12 about theaxis 18 the movement being equal in extent but in the opposite sense to the angular movement of thearm 12 relative to theaxis 14. - This concept will become clearer with reference to Figure 6 and by observing that, initially, the
side 58 is inclined at an angle α to a vertical axis, in the condition in which theplatform 8 is level with the railway platform. The angle between theplatform 8 and theside 58 is 90°+α. Starting from this condition, theside 58 is made to perform an angular movement of amplitude α1 about theaxis 14 until theplatform 8 is brought level with the floor of the vehicle. In this condition, theside 58 is inclined at an angle of α+α1 to the vertical reference axis whilst theplatform 8 is inclined at an angle of 90°+α+αl to theside 58. This demonstrates that, during the movement of theside 58, theplatform 8 performs an angular movement relative to the arm of equal extent but in the opposite sense to the angular movement of the arm relative to the vehicle. - The sequence of operation of the embodiment of the device shorn in Figure 1 will now be described with reference to Figures 2-5.
- In the operative position of Figure 2, the
actuator 34 connected to thepulley 30 is in the rest position and theflange 32 fixed to thepulley 30 cooperates with astop 60 carried by a support which is fixed to the vehicle and can prevent thepulley 30 from rotating in the sense indicated by thearrow 62 in Figure 2. Theplatform 8 is substantially level with therailway platform 2 and can receive awheelchair 64. - Starting from this configuration, the
actuator 44 is operated so as to bring about a pivoting of thearm 12 in thesense 66. The pivoting movement of thearm 12 ends when theactuator 44 reaches the end of its travel and, in this situation, theplatform 8 is level with the floor 4 (Figure 3). - In order to retract the lifting device into the vehicle, starting from the configuration of Figure 3, the
arm 12 is kept in the raised position and theactuator 34 is operated, rotating thepulley 30 in thesense 68. Theflexible element 38 is tensioned and brings about rotation of thepulley 16 and pivoting of theplatform 8 fixed thereto, retracting theplatform 8 into the vehicle (see Figure 4). Upon completion of the lifting, theplatform 8 extends parallel to the access opening of the vehicle and obstructs the way through the access opening. To place the device in the rest condition, it suffices to rotate theplatform 8 through 90° about theaxis 24 as indicated by thearrow 70 in Figure 4 so as to orient theplatform 8 perpendicular to the access opening of the vehicle. - The device according to the invention also enables the
platform 8 to be oriented in a chute configuration, as indicated in Figure 5, to allow disabled people to be evacuated from thevehicle 1 in the event of an emergency. Starting from the rest configuration of Figure 4, this can be achieved simply by pivoting theplatform 8 so that it is parallel to the loading opening and then allowing thepulley 30 to rotate freely. Theplatform 8 is brought to the inclined position of Figure 5 under the effect of its own weight. Thepulley 30 can be released in various ways and one of these consists of the removal of thestop 60 and the de-activation of theactuator 34. Thepulley 30 is thus no longer restrained in any way and is free to rotate under the effect of the weight of theplatform 8.
Claims (7)
- A lifting device which can be fitted in railway or tramway vehicles, particularly for enabling disabled people to board and alight, comprising:- a platform (8) which is movable parallel to its starting position between a lowered position substantially level with a railway platform or pavement (2) and a raised position substantially level with a floor (4) of the vehicle (1), and- an operating device (10) for moving the platform (8) from the lowered position to the raised position and vice versa,characterized in that the operating device (10) comprises:- a structure (12) mounted for pivoting relative to the vehicle (1) about a first axis (14) and carrying the platform (8) in a manner such that it can pivot about a second axis (18),- drive means (44) for imparting to the structure (12) an angular movement about the first axis (14), and- transmission means (16, 30, 38) for imparting to the platform (8) an angular movement relative to the structure (12) about the second axis (18) the movement being of an extent substantially equal to the extent of the angular movement of the structure (12) relative to the first axis (14) but in the opposite sense to the sense in which the structure (12) pivots about the first axis (14).
- A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transmission means (16, 30, 38) bring about the kinematic behaviour of an articulated quadrilateral mechanism (50) with one side (52) fixed rigidly to the vehicle and one side (54) fixed rigidly to the platform (8) for movements about the second axis (18).
- A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the transmission means comprise a first pulley (30) which is rotatable relative to the structure (12) about the first axis (14), a second pulley (16) which is rotatable relative to the structure (12) about the second axis (18) and is fixed rigidly to the platform (8) for movements about its pivot axis (18), and a flexible and substantially inextensible transmission element (38) with ends anchored and wound at least partially on the first and second pulleys (30, 16).
- A device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the aforesaid structure comprises a right-angled arm (12) carrying the first and second pulleys (30, 16) at its ends and also carrying a transmission pulley (40) cooperating with the flexible transmission element (38).
- A device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the right-angled arm (12) is connected to a fluid actuator (44) for pivoting the arm (12) about the first axis (14) between two positions corresponding to the lowered position of the platform and the raised position of the platform, respectively.
- A device according to Claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a second fluid actuator (34) which is connected to the first pulley (30) and, by means of the flexible transmission element (38), can bring about an angular movement of the platform (8) between a substantially horizontal, operative position and a substantially vertical, inoperative position.
- A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pulley (30) is rotatable both relative to the arm (12) and relative to the vehicle (1), and in that the first pulley (30) is associated with a releasable stop (60) which prevents the first pulley (30) from rotating relative to the vehicle during the movement of the platform (8) between the raised and lowered positions and vice versa, the stop being releasable to allow the platform (8) to be brought, under the effect of its own weight, to an inclined position for emergency evacuation.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITTO940536 | 1994-06-29 | ||
IT94TO000536A IT1268086B1 (en) | 1994-06-29 | 1994-06-29 | ELEVATOR DEVICE APPLICABLE ON BOARD RAILWAY VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY FOR DISABLED PEOPLE GETTING ON AND OFF. |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0689979A1 true EP0689979A1 (en) | 1996-01-03 |
Family
ID=11412636
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP95102632A Ceased EP0689979A1 (en) | 1994-06-29 | 1995-02-24 | A lifting device which can be fitted in railway and tramway vehicles, particularly for enabling disabled people to board and alight |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0689979A1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1268086B1 (en) |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0069611A1 (en) * | 1981-06-17 | 1983-01-12 | Société à Responsabilité Limitée dite: MANUTIS | Lifting device for a platform mounted on a motor vehicle |
EP0318670A2 (en) * | 1987-11-28 | 1989-06-07 | MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Aktiengesellschaft | Wheel chair lift for utility vehicles, particularly for omnibusses |
-
1994
- 1994-06-29 IT IT94TO000536A patent/IT1268086B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1995
- 1995-02-24 EP EP95102632A patent/EP0689979A1/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0069611A1 (en) * | 1981-06-17 | 1983-01-12 | Société à Responsabilité Limitée dite: MANUTIS | Lifting device for a platform mounted on a motor vehicle |
EP0318670A2 (en) * | 1987-11-28 | 1989-06-07 | MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Aktiengesellschaft | Wheel chair lift for utility vehicles, particularly for omnibusses |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ITTO940536A0 (en) | 1994-06-29 |
ITTO940536A1 (en) | 1995-12-29 |
IT1268086B1 (en) | 1997-02-20 |
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