EP3554916B1 - Rail vehicle - Google Patents

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a rail vehicle which is supported on rails so that it can roll by means of a wheel train. For example, this can be a locomotive or a railcar. Such rail vehicles are equipped with a driver's cab in which control consoles for the train or vehicle driver are installed. Such a driver's cab often has a separate entry and exit option, with a vehicle wall of the vehicle body being able to be walked through by means of a door.

Known prior art

It turns out that such entrance doors are arranged well above the level of the rails in the vehicle body. In order to enable a vehicle driver to be able to reach the entrance door even without an existing platform, many such rail vehicles include a type of ladder device in the outer wall of the vehicle body. In this way, the vehicle driver can overcome the difference in height between the floor or rail level and the entrance door and get into the driver's cab.

It is generally known that these ladder devices may protrude beyond what is known as the structure gauge of the rail vehicle. Thus, it may be necessary to provide for folding or retraction of such a ladder device.

In the German Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2012 213 181 A1 in this context, an extendable ladder and a vehicle with an extendable ladder are disclosed. This has an end section facing a floor, which comprises at least one extendable rung. In the extended state, this extendable rung is in a position facing the ground, so that the vehicle driver can climb into the rail vehicle using this rung. Furthermore, a pneumatic pressure cylinder and a gas spring that counteracts this are installed in this ladder device, so that the extendable rung of the ladder device can be extended using compressed air, and retraction is ensured by the restoring force of the gas spring. The extendable ladder is connected to the vehicle's existing compressed air system. In the DE 10 2012 104 987 A1 discloses an outside step with a step for the driver's cab of rail vehicles, with which boarding and alighting on terrain that is below platform height, for example the track bed, is easily possible. The step's own weight automatically extends it downwards. The extension movement is dampened by the action of a tension damper. To retract the step from the driver's cab, an upper handle is pulled up until both handles can be pivoted into a locking recess. If the step is to be retracted from the outside, which is also possible when the driver's cab door is closed, the step is raised manually to its upper end position.

Disadvantages of the Prior Art

However, the previously known concepts of such rail vehicles with corresponding boarding aids either have a very complex structure, are difficult to operate and/or are prone to errors.

problem

One object of the present invention is therefore to specify an improved rail vehicle with an boarding device, the boarding device having a simple and robust structure and being characterized in particular by high reliability and positive ergonomics in use.

Solution according to the invention

The above object is achieved by a rail vehicle according to claim 1. Advantageous configurations of the invention result from the dependent claims.

The rail vehicle is formed, among other things, by a vehicle body and a wheel train, as a result of which the rail vehicle is mounted on rails so that it can roll. Furthermore, the rail vehicle or the vehicle body of the rail vehicle an entry area and an entry device arranged thereon, making it possible to get into an interior of the vehicle body. The entry area can be formed together with a door device. However, it is also conceivable that the boarding area is arranged on a platform-like section of the rail vehicle, it being possible to enter the interior of the vehicle body from this platform-like section, for example through a door device.

In particular, this is access exclusively for a train driver and/or for personnel on the rail vehicle. I.e. the boarding device is not suitable and/or intended to allow passengers who use the rail vehicle for passenger transport to board and alight between a platform and the passenger compartment of the rail vehicle in normal use.

The entry device is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the entry area and has a lower step, a guide device, a restoring element and a damping element. In particular, the entry area can be designed as a door sill and/or the lower door edge of a door device. The entry device is arranged in the vicinity of the door device in such a way that a person using the entry device can directly grip and operate the door device and ultimately move through the door device.

The lower step of the boarding device is arranged displaceably on the boarding area by means of the guide device, wherein the translation of the lower step can take place in a vertical direction between an upper position and a lower position.

In the context of the invention and the description of the exemplary embodiments, the term "vertical direction" is always to be understood in connection with the operating position of the rail vehicle. In particular, this means that the lower step is positioned closer to the ground when in the lower position and closer to the boarding area when in the upper position.

According to the invention, the restoring element and the damping element are arranged between the lower step and the entry area such that the lower step can be brought from the lower position to the upper position by a restoring force provided by the restoring element during a restoring movement. At the same time, the damping element generates a damping force that can counteract the restoring force.

In this way it is made possible that, for example, a vehicle driver can easily climb onto the rail vehicle when the lower step is in the lower position. Because in this way it is possible for the first time to overcome an excessive distance between the boarding area and the ground in a simple manner using the boarding device without external boarding aids, for example if the rail vehicle is parked in an area without a platform or other boarding aids. This significantly improves the usability by the vehicle driver.

In particular, the arrangement of the restoring element of the described entry device of the rail vehicle has the effect that the lower step is basically in the upper position. If a person, for example the vehicle driver, wants to get into the rail vehicle, the person would manually move the lower step from the upper position to the lower position. In particular, the entry device is designed in such a way that the lower step is arranged in the lower position so close to the ground that the distance between the ground and the lower step can be overcome by a normal-sized, healthy person. In particular, all vertically displaceable parts, for example the lower step, are held in the retracted position by the spring preload, with the damping element effectively preventing the damping element from springing back from the lower position to the upper position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the restoring element and the damping element are designed in such a way that the restoring movement of the lower step is slow and/or delayed so that the person can easily climb onto the lower step immediately after it has been extended or pulled out. In particular, the speed of the restoring movement, in particular the force ratio of damping force and restoring force, is selected so that the person is able to step onto the step with one foot before it moves too far away from the ground during the course of the restoring movement. If the lower step is in the lower position and at the same time is subject to part of the weight of a person's foot, it remains in the lower position. In particular, the restoring element can be designed in such a way that the weight force required to hold the lower step in the lower position is at most 50 N, preferably at most 40 N, in particular at most 30 N.

In an extension of this basic principle, it is proposed according to the invention to dimension the return element in such a way that it can accommodate a normal-sized and It is possible for healthy people to move the lower step from the upper position to the lower position by manually overcoming the restoring force by the person.

According to a special embodiment, the maximum restoring force is between 10 N and 100 N, preferably 15 N and 75 N, particularly preferably 20 N and 30 N. In particular, the restoring force can also take into account the weight of the lower tread device, if any components that are permanently connected to it. This is particularly useful when the mass of the lower treadle acts against the restoring force. This is the case with a displacement direction of the lower tread device exclusively in the vertical direction.

In particular, the damping element is designed such that its damping constant has a value between 5 kg/s and 80 kg/s, preferably between 10 kg/s and 50 kg/s, and particularly preferably between 15 kg/s and 20 kg/s .

In terms of a further development, it is stated that the boarding device is designed as a telescoping ladder arrangement with at least one spar running transversely to the vertical direction. The ladder arrangement or the stile is made up, among other things, of a fixed part and an extendable part that is slidably arranged thereon and thus form the guide device. The fixed part is fastened to the entry area and is arranged such that it can be moved. The pull-out part carries the lower step and/or is formed integrally with it.

According to one embodiment, the guide device can be partially integrated into the vehicle body, for example the fixed part of the ladder arrangement or the rail. This would be conceivable, in that the lower step would be guided in the vertical direction directly in a rail provided in the vehicle body. In this case, said guide device would be formed by the rail and by a part of the step that engages in the rail.

In the course of a further embodiment it is disclosed that the entry device has an upper step. In particular, this can be arranged essentially at the location of the upper position of the lower step. Consequently, the lower step is in the up position and the upper step is in substantially the same position. If the lower step is in the lower position, it is spaced apart from the upper step in the vertical displacement direction, with the upper step and the lower step forming two rungs of the ladder-like entry device in terms of their function.

According to a particular embodiment, the upper step can be designed with a receptacle that has a shape that corresponds to the lower step. In particular, the lower step can be accommodated essentially completely in the receptacle of the upper step. As a result, the lower step, which is in the upper position, disappears into the seat of the upper step, reducing the wind resistance of the individual components and the risk of injury thereto and creating increased structural-visual homogeneity.

It is conceivable, for example, that the upper step has a box-shaped receptacle which opens downwards - for example similar to the lid of a shoebox - and that the lower step shows a similar, smaller box-shaped form. Due to the smaller shape of the lower step in relation to the upper step, it can be accommodated at least partially, preferably completely, in its underside.

Furthermore, the damping element and the restoring element can be arranged within the guide device, in particular the spar. This achieves a compact size.

According to a further embodiment, the damping element and restoring element are provided parallel or coaxially to one another with respect to their longitudinal axes on the guide device, in particular on or in the spar.

If the ladder device is provided with two bars arranged in parallel, with the upper step being provided on the fixed parts of the bars and the lower step on the extendable part in the bars, the ladder device has two rungs, one rung opposite the other rung is slidably provided.

In particular, it is conceivable to provide the restoring element in the first spar and the damping element in the second spar, and/or to arrange a restoring element and a damping element in each spar parallel or coaxially to one another.

In the course of a further development, it is stated that the boarding device has at least one additional auxiliary step, which is firmly arranged on the extension part of the ladder device. Thus, when the lower step is extended and retracted, the auxiliary step is also moved in the vertical direction. In particular, it is advantageous to provide the auxiliary step in the vertical direction above the lower step on the pull-out part.

According to a further development of the invention, the entry device can comprise a further fixed step which is arranged in the vertical direction above the upper step. In particular, a distance in the vertical direction between the step located in the lower position and the upper step can be essentially equal to the distance between the upper step and the fixed further step lying above it in the vertical direction. In this way, the boarding device forms a ladder device with essentially three equally spaced rungs.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the auxiliary step and the further fixed step can be designed and arranged on the entry device such that the auxiliary step is in the upper position in the vertical direction essentially at the same level as the further fixed step.

This meant that a person getting out of the rail vehicle could step on the fixed step with one foot and put the other foot on the auxiliary step. In this way, the lower step can be extended vertically against the restoring movement in the extension direction by partially applying weight to the auxiliary step. If the pull-out part with the auxiliary step and lower step is fully extended, the auxiliary step and/or the lower step can be used as additional support for one foot. The auxiliary step, like the lower step, is a movable rung.

Furthermore, it is also conceivable to perform the auxiliary step either completely or partially as a step and / or with a handle or as a In this way, a person who wants to get on can pull out the lower step from the upper position to the lower position by pulling the handle of the auxiliary step.

According to a further development of the invention, the rail vehicle or the boarding device comprises a latching device, with which the lower step can be fixed in the lower and/or in the upper position. This locking aid makes it possible for the lower step to be permanently in the lower and/or upper position, so that the lower step does not have to be actuated every time, for example when getting in and out of the vehicle several times.

Correspondingly, the latching device can have a release mechanism for releasing this latching device. In particular, such a release mechanism with a trigger is to be designed in such a way that the latch can be opened by a human footstep and/or by manual actuation of the trigger. The trigger could be advantageously arranged in such a way that it can be actuated when the person boarding is standing on the upper step and/or on the other fixed step.

Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the locking device can be released in that the lower step is briefly relieved, loaded and then relieved again in the course of 'stepping' or 'kicking'. This means that while the person boarding is already supporting a significant part of their body weight with one leg on the upper step or possibly on the further fixed step, the release mechanism of the locking device can be released with the other leg by stepping on the lower step again or possibly on the auxiliary step be actuated. The lower step is thus retracted when the person boarding has already reached the boarding area of the rail vehicle.

Boarding the rail vehicle can thus take place as follows: the person wishing to board approaches the rail vehicle, for example being on the track bed next to the rails or on a low boarding platform. The lower step of the entry device is either in the upper position or is already held in the lower position by the locking device. In the first case, the person grips an area of the displaceable part of the entry device, for example the lower step, the pull-out part and/or the auxiliary step, and causes the lower step to extend by pulling accordingly. Where applicable, the latching device is provided with a snapping mechanism so that the lower step automatically latches once it has reached the lower position. The person now steps onto the lower step and climbs onto the rail vehicle by using the upper step and, if necessary, the other fixed step. If necessary, the trigger of the release mechanism of the locking device can then be actuated, so that the lower step is retracted from the lower position to the upper position due to the restoring force.

According to a further embodiment, the entry device comprises a holding device, with which the lower step can be fixed in the upper position. In this way it can be redundantly ensured that the lower step is always in the upper position. In particular, this could be necessary for the operation of the rail vehicle if the restoring element were defective and could not provide any restoring force for holding the lower step in the upper position, for example in the event of a restoring spring breaking.

According to a further development, the entry device is provided with a sensor element for detecting a position of the lower step. In this way, the lower step can be prevented from being in the lower position in an undesired manner. In particular, a warning signal can be output when the rail vehicle is set in motion but the lower step has not yet been retracted. For example, a limit switch, in particular with an integrated mechanical lock, can be provided for this purpose,

According to a further embodiment, the rail vehicle can be equipped with a lighting device in the area of the boarding device, so that it can be safely used even when visibility is poor. In particular, the lighting device can be coupled to a limit switch, so that the boarding area is always illuminated when the boarding device is extended.

The above-described embodiments can be combined with one another and extended as desired, but in a sensible manner; it is particularly conceivable that the displaceable part of the entry device has two lower steps includes, possibly several upper steps are provided. In this way, larger differences in altitude could be managed.

Brief description of the figures

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. The elements of the drawings are relative to one another and are not necessarily to scale.

• Fig. 1 zeigt ein Schienenfahrzeugs mit einer Einstiegsvorrichtung in einer ersten Ausführung;
• Fig. 2 stellt die Einstiegsvorrichtung in einer Seitenansicht in der oberen Position O,
• Fig. 3 in einer Seitenansicht in der unteren Position U, und
• Fig. 4 die Einstiegsvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 3 in einer Längs-Ansicht dar.

The same reference symbols designate identical or correspondingly similar parts.

• 1 shows a rail vehicle with a boarding device in a first embodiment;
• 2 represents the boarding device in a side view in the upper position O,
• 3 in a side view in the lower position U, and
• 4 the boarding device according to 3 in a longitudinal view.

exemplary embodiments

To clarify the overall context, 1 a part of an exemplary rail vehicle 1 is shown, this being a control car of a push-pull train or multiple unit. Regardless of the specific embodiment, such a rail vehicle 1 has a vehicle body 4 which is mounted on a wheel train 3 on rails 2 such that it can roll. Correspondingly, the rail vehicle 1 is in a vertical direction 7 above the rails 2. The vertical direction 7 is thus based on the operating position of the rail vehicle 1.

In the front area or in the end area of the vehicle body 4 of the rail vehicle 1 there is a control cabin 26, in which the control devices necessary for the train control are provided for the train driver. To direct from To enter an interior space 5 of the control cabin 26 from the outside, a door device 9 is provided in the outer wall of the vehicle body 4 .

Since the distance between a floor 27, for example a ballast bed of the rails 2, and the door device 9 can be quite considerable in the vertical direction 7, depending on the embodiment, the rail vehicle 1 is provided with an entry device 10, by means of which the distance between the floor 27 and a Entry area 6 of the door device 9 can be overcome by one person.

The boarding device 10 is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the boarding area 6 of the vehicle body 4 of the rail vehicle 1 . In the present case, the boarding area 6 is located directly on a door sill of the door device 9. Handrails 28 can be provided to the right and left in the transverse direction 8 next to the door device 9 to support boarding.

The actual entry device 10 is the Figures 2 to 4 arranged at the boarding area 6 of the rail vehicle 1 reproduced in detail. According to this non-limiting embodiment, the boarding device 10 is composed, among other things, of two lateral bars 17 and 18 running substantially in the vertical direction 7, a lower step 13, an upper step 12 and another fixed step 22 arranged above it.

The rails 17 and 18 are formed by a fixed part 19 and an extending part 20 that is movably arranged on the fixed part 19 in the vertical direction 7 and represent a guide device 11 for the movable lower step 13. The lower step 13 is firmly connected to the Pull-out parts 20, which thus together with the lower step 13 together have a U-shape. Furthermore, an auxiliary step 21 is provided on the pull-out parts 20 in the vertical direction 7 above the lower step 13 . The spars 20, the lower step 13 and the auxiliary steps 21 are thus formed fixed to each other and form a rigid unit.

The fixed parts 19 are firmly connected to one another via the upper step 12 and the further fixed step 22 and form a further rigid structural unit which is fastened to the boarding area 6 of the rail vehicle 1 .

The pull-out parts 20 are slidably mounted in or on the fixed parts 19 in the vertical direction 7 , wherein—according to this embodiment—the pull-out parts 20 can be at least partially accommodated by the fixed parts 19 . The bars 17 and 18 are thus formed by the mutually displaceable fixed parts 19 and pull-out parts 20 and can be understood as a guide device 11 .

Based 2 the entry device 10 is shown in the retracted position with the lower step 13 in the upper position O. The lower step 13 is completely accommodated in a box-shaped receptacle 24 of the upper step 12 . Furthermore, the beams 17 and 18 are in a retracted position with the extension parts 20 located within the bodies of the fixed part in 19 .

In 3 and 4 is the step 13, and thus also the extension parts 20 and the auxiliary steps 21, extended in the lower position U. It can be seen that the lower step 13 is positioned at a lower end of the extension parts 20 and the auxiliary steps 21 are positioned at an upper end of the Pull-out parts 20 are attached so that the auxiliary steps 21 in the upper position O in the vertical direction 7 are essentially the same vertical position as the further fixed step 22 . In contrast, the auxiliary steps 21 are in the lower position U of the lower step 13 with respect to the vertical direction 7 at the location of the upper step device 12.

Furthermore, at least one restoring element 14 and one damping element 15 are installed in each of the bars 17 and 18 in an effective manner between the fixed part 19 and the pull-out part 20 . The restoring element 14 provides a restoring force R, as a result of which the pull-out parts 20 together with the lower step 13 and the auxiliary steps 21 always strive to assume the upper position O. In particular, the restoring element 14 can be designed as a compression or tension spring element. According to the embodiment in 4 damping element 15 are also provided in the bars 17 and 18 coaxially with the restoring elements 14 . These suitably designed damping elements 15 can be used to generate a damping force that counteracts the restoring force R, so that the sliding components, pull-out parts 20, lower step 13 and auxiliary steps 21, are effectively prevented from snapping back in the vertical direction 7.

According to 2 is the boarding device 10 in the upper position O, so that the rail vehicle 1 has a minimal light profile. In contrast, the light profile of the rail vehicle 1 is increased when the boarding device 10 according to 3 and 4 is in the lower position U.

Furthermore, for example, a sensor element 25 can be provided within the bars 17 and 18 in such a way that the present position O or U of the lower step 13 can be detected. In particular, the sensor element 25 can be connected to a controller of the rail vehicle 1 in such a way that it is impossible for the rail vehicle 1 to move off when the lower step 13 is in the lower position U, or a corresponding warning is issued in advance.

While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it is within the scope of the present invention to appropriately modify the shown embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. In particular, the entry device can have a number of lower steps and/or a number of upper steps for this purpose. It is also conceivable that the guide device of the entry device has only one bar, which carries the lower step and/or the upper step in a T-shape or F-shape.

Reference List

1

rail vehicle

2

rail

3

gear train

4

vehicle body

5

inner space

6

entry area

7

vertical direction

8th

transverse direction

9

door device

10

boarding device

11

guiding device

12

upper step

13

lower step

14

return element

15

damping element

17

spar

18

spar

19

fixed part

20

pull-out part

21

auxiliary kick

22

another solid step

23

reset movement

24

Mounting for lower step

25

sensor element

26

driver's cabin

27

Floor

28

handrail

O

upper position

u

lower position

R

restoring force

D

damping force

Claims (15)

1. Rail vehicle (1) with a wheel set (3) and with a vehicle body (4) supported by the wheel set (3) so that it can roll on rails (2), comprising

   - a boarding region (6) for entering an interior (5) of the vehicle body (4), and a boarding device (10) arranged at the boarding region (6) and comprising a lower step (13), a guide device (11), a return element (14) and a damping element (15),

   - wherein the lower step (13) is arranged on the boarding region (6) so as to be displaceable in a vertical direction (7) between an upper position (O) and a lower position (U) by means of the guide device (11), and

   - wherein the return element (14) and the damping element (15) are arranged between the lower step (13) and the boarding region (6) in such a way that the lower step (13) can be brought from the lower position (U) into the upper position (O) by a return force (R) provided by the return element (14) in accordance with a return movement (23) and can be held therein, and in that a damping force (D) counteracting the return force (R) can be generated by means of the damping element (15).
2. Rail vehicle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the boarding device (10) is designed as a telescopic ladder arrangement with at least one spar (17, 18), wherein the ladder arrangement, in particular the spar, comprises a fixed part (19) and an pull-out part (20) arranged displaceably thereon and in this way forms the guide device (11), and wherein the fixed part (19) is fastened to the boarding region (6) and the pull-out part (20) carries the lower step (13).
3. Rail vehicle (1) according to claim 2, wherein the fixed part of the spar is formed integrally in the vehicle body and the pull-out part is formed integrally with the lower step.
4. Rail vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the boarding device (10) comprises an upper step (12), and wherein the upper step (12) is located substantially at the location of the upper position (O) of the lower step (13).
5. Rail vehicle (1) according to claim 4, wherein the upper step (12) comprises a receiving means (24) having a shape corresponding to the lower step (13) such that the lower step (13) can be substantially completely received in the receiving means (24).
6. Rail vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 5, wherein the damping element (15) and the return element (14) are arranged within the spar (17, 18).
7. Rail vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the damping element (15) and the return element (14) are arranged parallel or coaxial to each other.
8. Rail vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ladder arrangement comprises two spars (17, 18) extending substantially in the vertical direction (7), wherein the upper step (12) and the lower step (13) are supported in a rung-like manner by the spars (17, 18).
9. Rail vehicle (1) according to claim 8, wherein the return element (14) is integrated in the first spar (17) and the damping element (15) is integrated in the second spar (18), or wherein a return element (14) and a damping element (15) are each arranged parallel or coaxially to one another in both spars (17, 18).
10. Rail vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 9, wherein the boarding device (10) comprises at least one auxiliary step (21) which is fixedly arranged in the vertical direction (7) above the lower step (13) on the pull-out part (20), wherein in particular the auxiliary step (21) is configured as a step or as a step and handle.
11. Rail vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the boarding device (10) comprises a locking device, wherein the lower step (13) can be fixed in the lower position (U) by means of the locking device.
12. Rail vehicle (1) according to claim 11, wherein the locking device comprises a release mechanism for releasing the locking device, wherein the release mechanism is configured such that it can be released by a human footstep on a trigger of the release mechanism.
13. Rail vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the boarding device (10) comprises a holding device, wherein the lower step (13) can be fixed in the upper position (O) by means of the holding device.
14. Rail vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the boarding device (10) comprises at least one sensor element (25) for detecting a position of the lower step (13).
15. Rail vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the boarding device (10) comprises at least one lighting device, in particular wherein the lighting device is activated when the lower step (13) is displaced.

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