EP3904175B1 - Lockable wheelchair ramp - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a ramp for a public transport vehicle for bridging a gap between an entry area of the vehicle and a stationary platform on land, the ramp being designed to be placed on the platform and on a floor in the entry area of the vehicle. In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle for public transport and a method for operating the ramp and the vehicle.

Ramps are used in public transport vehicles, in particular in rail vehicles, in order, for example, to make it easier for wheelchair users to get into the rail vehicle or even to make it possible in the first place. The ramps are used to bridge a gap between the boarding area of the vehicle and a platform and to create stepless entry into the vehicle, even if the top edge of the floor of the boarding area of the rail vehicle is higher or lower than the platform edge.

In addition, mobile, manually designed ramps have become known, which are to be secured against slipping according to the provisions of the TSI PRM (Technical specification of interoperability "persons with reduced mobility").

That is what the pamphlet teaches DE 10 2011 004 453 A1 such a ramp with C-rails arranged on its side edges and sliding blocks guided therein. The sliding blocks can in turn be connected to safety brackets fixed in the vehicle so that the sliding blocks are clamped in the C-rails and the ramp is secured.

The DE 10 2011 005 238 A1 also discloses a ramp with mounting arms located at various positions laterally can be attached to the ramp. In addition, the fastening arms can be connected to corresponding means that are firmly anchored on the floor in the vehicle.

The document JP-A-09-194039 describes a ramp device with a ramp that is designed to rest on a stationary loading ramp on the one hand and on a loading floor of a delivery vehicle on the other hand. The ramp device comprises a fold-out stopper as a fixing means, which is connected to the ramp so as to be rotatable about a pivot point.

The patent specification U.S. 5,540,474A teaches a ramp having forks on its face for attaching the ramp to a pickup truck tailgate. The tailgate is surrounded by the forks.

The invention is based on the object of proposing a ramp that can be installed easily and quickly while maintaining short cycle times.

The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims 1 and 7. Further developments and refinements of the invention are reflected in the features of the dependent patent claims.

A ramp according to the invention for a public transport vehicle, in particular for a rail vehicle, for bridging, in particular steplessly, a gap between an entry area of the vehicle and a land-based, stationary platform, in particular a platform, is to be placed on the platform on the one hand and on a floor formed in the entry area of the vehicle on the other hand and comprises at least one, arranged in the area of one side of the ramp, laterally aligned fork for fixing the ramp to the vehicle for enclosing a door leaf of an entry door of the vehicle.

According to a further development, the fork is designed in a U-shape for gripping around a door leaf of an entry door of the vehicle. A U-shaped fork includes an opening delimited by two arms which, when the ramp is in the ready-to-fix state, point outwards to fix the ramp and thus to secure the ramp against slipping away in the entry area of the vehicle and are thus directed away from a surface of the ramp that can be walked on to accommodate the door panel of the vehicle's access door in the opening between the arms.

The opening of the fork, ie the distance between its arms delimiting the opening, is further adapted to a predetermined thickness of the door leaf of the entrance door.

In addition, the ramp has at least one rail arranged in the area of one side of the ramp for guiding the fork at least along a section of the ramp, as a result of which the fork is arranged on the ramp so that it can be displaced along the section thereof.

In a further development, the rail is designed as a C-rail. The rail has a C-shaped profile with an opening directed outwards, for example, away from the ramp. The fork is guided in it, for example by means of a sliding block. The rail can have an end stop on both sides. In order to lock the fork in the rail and block it against displacement, fixing means, for example clamping means, as are already known from the prior art, can be provided. The slot nut inserted in the C-profile can have an internal thread, the fixation means can have a rotary handle with an external thread, and the fork can have a through-opening for the external thread of the rotary handle to pass through. When tightened, the fork is clamped between the sliding block and rotary handle and locked in the rail by the clamping of the sliding block. Only when the fork is locked against displacement along the ramp on this, the ramp is through the change of grip of the door leaf of the vehicle's entrance door on the vehicle.

In addition to adapting to different vehicles with different entry areas, the fact that the fork can be moved has the advantage that the ramp is suitable for vehicles with a level entry area as well as for vehicles with steps in the entry area. In this way, the ramp can be placed on a level floor of the vehicle without a vertical offset and at the same time secured against slipping on the entrance door, which is horizontally removed from the floor. Nevertheless, the steps in between are bridged with the ramp.

A further development provides that the ramp has a fork in the area of both sides. Correspondingly, in the area of both sides of the ramp, the ramp can have a rail for guiding the respective fork at least along a section of the ramp. The following explanations regarding a fork or a rail also apply correspondingly to embodiments with two forks and/or rails.

In a further development, the fork is designed to be folded over, in particular foldable, so that it is in a folded over state and in a projection perpendicular to the ramp in the projected area of the ramp. In particular, in the folded-over state, the fork rests on the ramp, in particular on the surface of the ramp that can be walked on, which forms an upper side of the ramp, or on an underside opposite thereto. For this purpose, the fork has at least one joint around which it can be folded. The ramp therefore takes up less space for stowage in the vehicle and has no protruding forks as a source of danger during transport.

In the unfolded, aligned state of the fork and thus in a state of the ramp that is ready for fixing, the opening points the fork away from the ramp. It lies, for example, on a level with the accessible area of the ramp. In the folded state, on the other hand, the fork can lie in a plane parallel to the accessible surface of the ramp, but points in the opposite direction. In this case, the fork can be folded down by 180°.

Alternatively, the rail can be designed to be foldable. The rail is arranged on the ramp so that it can be folded down via a joint.

According to a further development, the fork is designed to be rotatable about its axis of symmetry. Larger angles of the ramp can thus be compensated. The fork can still be aligned horizontally.

In a further variant, the fork is designed to be rotatable and foldable, so that it encompasses the ramp in a twisted and folded-in state.

A public transport vehicle according to the invention, in particular a rail vehicle, comprises at least one entrance door, in particular a double-leaf entrance door, in particular a sliding, pivoting or pivoting-sliding door, and a door control for controlling the entrance door, in particular for controlling its opening and closing movement, wherein the door control is designed to close the entry door in a predetermined operating mode, in particular from a fully open position, only up to a predetermined, partially open position and to hold it in the partially open position.

In the case of a double-leaf entrance door, the ramp is placed approximately halfway between the two door leaves. The door leaves are embraced by the forks on both sides of the ramp. However, a ramp with forks arranged on both sides can also be used with a single-leaf entrance door. Then the one facing the door leaf grabs Fork only around a door leaf. The fork on the other side then grips around a post of a door frame, for example. It can be designed accordingly for gripping around the post, in particular the opening of the fork, ie the distance between its arms delimiting the opening, is adapted to a predetermined thickness of the post of the door frame of the entrance door. As already explained above, however, the ramp can already be fixed to the vehicle with a laterally aligned fork that is arranged on or even on only one side of the ramp.

In a further developed vehicle, the door control can have a manually operable control unit for selection of the operating mode by vehicle personnel. The manually operated control unit can be arranged separately from the door control in the vehicle and is freely accessible to vehicle personnel. This is then a locally separate device, e.g. a switch, which is connected to the door control in a suitable manner, in particular electrically. The control unit is suitably designed for manual selection of the operating mode by vehicle personnel.

The control unit is arranged in particular in the area of the entrance door and thus allows the vehicle personnel, who also places the ramp in the entrance area and on the platform, to select the operating mode of the entrance door manually.

In normal operation, the access door would automatically fully close again at the fully open position. If an object were detected in the door opening that blocks the closing movement, the entrance door would first open again automatically to prevent the object from being trapped.

In the specified operating mode, however, the entrance door is only partially closed to a specified extent and held in position without further opening and closing movement.

The door control can be designed to start and end a closing movement of the entrance door by manual actuation of the control unit.

The control unit to be operated manually is suitably set up accordingly. For example, it is designed as a lock. The vehicle personnel can manually control the closing movement of the entrance door using a key. The entrance door is slowly closed by hand.

Alternatively, the door control is further developed to end a closing movement of the entrance door in the specified operating mode if a force counteracting the closing movement exceeds a specified level while the closing movement is being carried out.

The vehicle crew aligns the ramp and manually selects the default mode of operation of the access door. The access door then closes automatically, but does not open upon sensing a force opposing the closing movement exceeding the predetermined level caused by the ramp obstruction, but instead automatically stops the closing movement and remains in the partially closed position. The pinch protection is changed in the default operating mode.

The detection of an object in the door opening, which blocks the closing movement, is known in principle from the prior art. Thus Hall sensors can be provided in a drive motor for the opening and closing movement, or the motor current of the drive motor is monitored.

In another variant, the predefined operating mode is recognized by the door control when the force counteracting the closing movement exceeds the predefined level the access door is in the partially open position, in particular within a predetermined interval. The door control is suitably designed to determine an operating mode as a function of a position of the entrance door and as a function of a force counteracting the closing movement.

As soon as the force for closing the entrance door, for example a drive torque or a motor current of the drive motor, exceeds a certain limit value depending on the position of the entrance door, the closing movement is stopped. In this embodiment of the invention, too, the entrance door is not automatically opened again, but rather is held in the partially closed position without any further opening and closing movement.

1. a. Auflegen der Rampe auf die Plattform und auf einen Fußboden im Einstiegsbereich des Fahrzeugs bei geöffneter Einstiegstür des Fahrzeugs und
2. b. Ausrichten der Gabel in Verlängerung eines Türflügels der Einstiegstür;
3. c. Schließen des Türflügels der Einstiegstür bis zu einer vorgegebenen, teilweise geöffneten Stellung, so dass die Gabel den Türflügel der Einstiegstür umgreift;
4. d. Halten des Türflügels der Einstiegstür in der vorgegebenen, teilweise geöffneten Stellung zur Fixierung der Rampe.

A method according to the invention for operating a ramp according to the invention and a vehicle according to the invention comprises the following method steps:

1. a. Laying the ramp on the platform and on a floor in the boarding area of the vehicle with the vehicle's boarding door open and
2. b. aligning the fork in extension of a door panel of the entrance door;
3. c. closing the door panel of the access door to a predetermined partially open position such that the fork engages the door panel of the access door;
4. i.e. Holding the door leaf of the access door in the predetermined, partially open position to fix the ramp.

Before deploying and aligning the ramp, the entrance door is of course opened when the vehicle stops. When the fork is folded in, it is unfolded beforehand. In the case of a fork that is slidably guided in a rail along the ramp, this is correspondingly shifted to a position when the ramp is aligned in order to be flush with the complementary door leaf to be aligned with the entrance door. The fork is then locked and thus secured against further displacement in the rail. In a further developed method, corresponding to the execution of method step b. the fork is displaced along a rail arranged in the region of one side of the ramp for guiding the fork at least along a section of the ramp and is then locked, for example clamped, on it. The at least one door leaf, which is only partially closed, is surrounded by the fork of the ramp, as a result of which the ramp is fixed to the vehicle.

According to a further development of the method, before method step c. a predetermined operating mode of the entrance door is selected manually and/or the closing movement of the door leaf is performed during the execution of method step c. controlled manually by operating a control unit of a door controller. For example, there is a manual switchover from automatic to manual execution of the closing movement.

On the other hand, another development can be seen in the fact that when carrying out method step c. detecting a force opposing the closing movement of the door leaf and stopping the closing movement when the access door is in the partially open position and when the detected force opposing the closing movement of the door leaf exceeds a predetermined level.

The ramp and the vehicle are each designed to be suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention. They include the means already mentioned for carrying out the respective method steps.

The invention permits numerous embodiments. It is explained in more detail with reference to the following figure, in which an embodiment example is shown.

The figure shows a ramp 1 according to the invention in a three-dimensional representation. It comprises an accessible surface 4 on its upper side, two laterally arranged rails 3, and laterally aligned forks 2 guided in the rails 3 on each side of the ramp 1.

The forks 2 each have two arms 5 which delimit an opening 6 . The openings 6 are designed to accommodate door panels of an entry door of a vehicle. The arms 5 embrace them accordingly.

In addition, the forks have fixing means 7, here in the form of levers, in order to secure them against further displacement in the respective rail. They can be fixed quickly and easily and removed again with a flick of the wrist.

The ramp 1 is illustrated in a ready-to-fix condition with the forks 2 unfolded and aligned. In addition, the forks 2 can be folded over, so that when they are folded over, they face each other and rest on the surface 4 of the ramp 1 that can be walked on. For this purpose, they each have a hinge joint 8 .

The rails 3 have a C-profile in cross-section, the opening of the C-profile being directed upwards. They run parallel to the accessible area 4 of the ramp. But they can also be aligned to the side.

The figure also shows that the rails 3 have end stops 9 which limit the rails 3 and thus the ability of the forks 2 to slide in the rails 3 .

Claims (10)

1. Ramp (1) for a public passenger transport vehicle, for bridging a gap between an entrance region of the vehicle and a land-proximal stationary platform, wherein the ramp (1) is configured to be placed onto the platform and onto a floor in the entrance region of the vehicle, wherein the ramp (1) for fixing the ramp (1) to the vehicle has at least one laterally oriented fork (2), which is disposed on one side of the ramp (1), for encompassing a door leaf of an entrance door of the vehicle,
   characterized in that
   the ramp (1) has at least one rail (3), which is disposed in the region of the side, for guiding the fork (2) at least along a portion of the ramp (1).
2. Ramp (1) according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the rail (3) is configured as a C-rail.
3. Ramp (1) according to one of Claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the fork (2) for encompassing a door leaf of an entrance door of the vehicle is configured to be U-shaped.
4. Ramp (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that
   the ramp (1) in the region of both sides comprises in each case one fork (2).
5. Ramp (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that
   the fork (2) lies in a plane including an area of the ramp (1) that is able to be walked on.
6. Ramp (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that
   the fork (2) is configured so as to be able to be folded inward so that said fork (2) in a folded-in state and in a projection perpendicular to the ramp (2) lies in the projected area of the ramp (2).
7. Method for operating a ramp (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6 and a public passenger transport vehicle having at least one entrance door and a door control for controlling the entrance door, wherein the door control in a predefined operating mode is configured to close the entrance door up to a predefined, partially opened position, and to hold the entrance door in the partially opened position, characterized by the following method steps:

   a) placing the ramp (1) onto a platform and onto a floor in the entrance region of the vehicle while the entrance door of the vehicle is open;

   b) aligning the fork (2) in the extension of a door leaf of the entrance door;

   c) closing the door leaf of the entrance door up to a predefined, partially opened position so that the fork (2) encompasses the door leaf of the entrance door;

   d) holding the door leaf of the entrance door in the predefined, partially opened position for fixing the ramp (1).
8. Method according to Claim 7, wherein the door control has a manually activatable control unit for selecting the operating mode by vehicle personnel, and/or wherein the door control is configured to start and end a closing movement of the entrance door by manual activation of the control unit,
   characterized in that,
   prior to method step c), a predefined operating mode of the entrance door is manually selected, and/or in that the closing movement of the door leaf when carrying out the method step c) is controlled manually by activating a control unit of a door control.
9. Method according to Claim 7, wherein the door control in the predefined operating mode is configured to end a closing movement of the entrance door when a force counteracting the closing movement exceeds a predefined level when a closing movement has been performed, characterized in that
   when carrying out the method step c) a force counteracting a closing movement of the door leaf is detected and the closing movement is stopped when the entrance door is in the partially opened position and when the detected force counteracting the closing movement of the door leaf exceeds a predefined level.
10. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 9,
    characterized in that
    for carrying out the method step b) the fork (2) is displaced along a rail (3) for guiding the fork (2) at least along a portion of the ramp (1), said rail (3) being disposed in the region of one side of the ramp (1).

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