GB2420100A - Passenger bus with wheelchair space - Google Patents

Abstract

A passenger carrying bus has a space 10 for the location of a wheelchair 11, where said space is located in front of a front-wheel axle 2, on the opposite side of the bus to a drivers seat 21 (see also figure 3) and on a floor surface 5 which is at the same level on the drivers side of the vehicle. An entrance 12 to the bus may comprise first 14 and second 15 doors, the first for the entry and exit of foot passengers and the second specifically for the wheelchair occupant. The space for the wheelchair may be separated from the first door by a barrier (20) which may have one or more recesses for the wheelchair and which may be capable of being partly dismounted or swung aside. A lift 17 may be provided for wheelchair access, and two or more passenger seats (22) may be provided on the same floor level as the wheelchair space.

Description

1 2420100 Improved bus.

The present invention concerns an improved bus.

More particularly, the present invention concerns a bus of the type in which is provided a space at the front, more particularly in front of the position of the front- wheel axle, which is provided as a place for a wheelchair on the opposite side of the driver's seat.

From WO 02/079020 is already known what is called a "lowered floor bus", whereby the wheelchair user can ride his wheelchair or can be ridden into the bus via a separate entrance with the help of an inclined plane or the like, and can put his wheelchair in a place having a floor situated at the same height as the footboard, but considerably lower than the floor part on which the passengers' seats and the driver's seat have been provided.

A disadvantage of such known busses is that the wheelchair user is situated at a lower level than the other passengers and that this somewhat separates him from th other travellers Another disadvantage of such busses where the driver's seat is placed above the height of the footboard and where the wheelchair user is Situated at the height of the footboard, is that the windscreen is usually not low enough for the wheelchair user to be able to look through it, as a result of which it is difficult for him to watch the scenery, and which moreover can make him feel shut in.

An additional disadvantage is that the place which is provided for the wheelchair user takes up relatively much space, so that less seats can be provided for the other passengers.

Another disadvantage is that the ring structure or the so- called "roll-over structure" of conventional busses having no space for a wheelchair user, whereby the chassis is provided with a reinforcement brace which is to restrict the deformation of the bus should it accidentally tip over, cannot be maintained in such busses, but must be adjusted and provided in another place, which requires extra work.

The present invention aims to remedy one or several of the abovementioned and other disadvantages.

To this end, the present invention concerns an improved bus in which is provided a space at the front, more particularly in front of the position of the front-wheel axle, which is provided as a place for a wheelchair on the opposite side of the driver's seat, whereby this place is provided with a floor part which continues as of the side concerned of the bus where the place is situated which is provided for the wheelchair up to the above- mentioned driver's seat, and which offers the necessary space for manoeuvring said wheelchair and putting it in position.

An advantage of such an improved bus is that the wheelchair user is situated at a larger height than in conventional busses, such that he is situated at a sufficient height to be able to look through the windows of the bus, and as a result of which he is situated closer to the other passengers.

Another advantage of such an improved bus according to the invention, is that the existing ring structures can be maintained, keeping the safety guaranteed without any need for additional measures.

An additional advantage is that use can be made of the common floor part there in between for manoeuvring the wheelchair, such that no additional space must be provided to that end and a maximum number of seats can be provided in such an improved bus according to the invention.

An extra advantage is obtained in that the above- mentioned floor part, when no wheelchair user is being transported, can be used for the transport of goods, whereby the bus driver can constantly keep an eye on these goods. For loading and unloading the goods, use can be made, if required, of the lift system which is provided for the wheelchair user; moreover, the goods can be fastened in the bus in this case by means of locking means which also serve as locking means for the above- mentioned wheelchair.

An improved bus according to the invention is preferably made in the shape of what is called a "raised-floor bus", by which is meant that the largest part of the floor in the bus is considerably higher than the footboard for the passengers.

An advantage thereof is that a considerable space can be provided under the floor to place luggage, tools, a spare wheel or the like, such that the Space inside the bus remains optimally available for placing passengers' seats.

In order to better explain the characteristics of the present invention, the following preferred embodiments of an improved bus according to the invention are given as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 schematically represents a side view of an improved bus according to the invention; figure 2 represents the part indicated in figure 1 by arrow F2 to a larger scale; figure 3 represents a section according to line 111111 in figure 2.

The improved bus 1 represented in the figures is what is called a raisedfloor bus, and it is mainly built of a supporting structure or chassis with a motor and wheel axles 2, not represented in the figures, with wheels and a coachwork 3 provided on the above-mentioned chassis.

In the bus 1 is provided a floor 4 which extends over the entire length of the bus 1, which floor 4 is in this case composed of a lowered floor part 5 which extends in front of the front wheels, at the front side of the bus 1, a raised floor part 6 above the motor compartment 7 at the back of the bus 1, and a central part 8 above the wheels 2, as well as a loading space 9.

On the above-mentioned lowered floor part S is provided a space 10 according to the invention which can serve as a place for a wheelchair ii and its user, if necessary.

In the coachwork of the improved bus 1 are in this case provided two doorways on one side, namely a first, front doorway 12 and a second doorway 13 which is situated practically in the middle of the abovementioned bus 1.

The above-mentioned first doorway 12 can be closed by two doors 14 and 15, namely a first door 14 which provides access to the lowered floor part 5 for able- bodied passengers via stairs 16, and a second door 15 which, by means of a lift system 17 of a known type and which is not described into further detail, provides direct access to the above-mentioned space 10 for a wheelchair user.

The above-mentioned second doorway 13 is in this case closed by a single door 18 and gives access to the able-bodied passengers, via stairs 19, to the central part 8 of the bus 1.

Between the above-mentioned stairs 13 and the space io where the wheelchair 11 can be placed are preferably provided separation means 20, for example in the shape of a standing partition, a railing, a fender or the like.

The above-mentioned separation means 20 are preferably made such that the wheelchair ii can be easily placed and positioned in the space 10, whereby for example recesses are provided in these separation means for the foot rests of the wheelchair 11 or because the separation means can be swung aside and/or can be dismounted at least partially.

According to the invention is also provided a driver's seat 21 on the above-mentioned lowered floor part 5, next to the above-mentioned space 10 for the wheelchair user.

In this case are also provided two passengers' seats 22 on the abovementioned lowered part 5 where possible companions of the wheelchair user can be seated, which is advantageous in that they can help and accompany the wheelchair user much faster.

On the central part 8 and the raised floor part 6 are also provided a number of passengers' seats 23, in between which is provided an aisle 24, which in this case gradually ascends as of a step 25 at the far end of the lowered floor part 5 up to the height of the central part 8.

The use of an improved bus 1 according to the invention is very simple and as follows.

The able-bodied passengers can get on the lowered floor part 5 through the first doorway 12 and via the stairs 16, and they can go and sit down directly on the passengers' seats 22, or they can go and sit on the passengers' seats 23 via the aisle 24.

The able-bodied passengers can also go directly to the central part 8 via the second doorway 13 and the stairs 19.

When a wheelchair user is to be transported by the bus 1 according to the invention, he will be raised by means of the above-mentioned lift system 17 up to the height of the above-mentioned lowered floor part 5, after which the wheelchair user can be placed in the space io provided to that end, via the first doorway 12.

Next, the wheelchair 11 is to be manoeuvred such that the wheelchair user faces the driving direction of the bus 1, whereby use can be made of a large part of the lowered floor part 5.

If necessary, the above-mentioned separation means can be swung aside or dismounted partly or as a whole while positioning the wheelchair ii, such that extra room to move is created.

In a preferred embodiment of an improved bus 1 according to the invention are provided locking means, which are not represented in the figures, with which the wheelchair 11 and/or the wheelchair user can be fastened.

Since the wheelchair user is situated on the same floor part 5 as the bus driver, the latter can always watch the wheelchair user getting on and stepping down the bus from the driver's seat 21, which is time-saving and as a result of which the bus 1 will never be put in motion before the wheelchair user has entered the bus 1 entirely and has fastened himself if necessary.

According to the invention, the lift system 17 can be part of a bus 1 according to the invention, and the bus driver can preferably control this lift system 17 from the driver's seat 21.

In order to leave the bus 1, the wheelchair user can again ride his wheelchair 11 on the above-mentioned lift system 17 and he can be carried to the ground level again.

It is clear that the above-mentioned lift system 17 can be realised in many ways, for example hydraulically, mechanically or electromechanically, and that it can be excited manually as well as automatically.

It is also clear that, according to the invention, it is not necessary to provide several doorways 12 and 13 through which the able-bodied passengers can enter the bus 1, but that it is also possible to provide only one such doorway which is preferably made such that it can be constantly used, also when the lift system 17 is operational.

If necessary, however, the lift system 17 can also be made such that it is moved over the front stairs 16 while in use, either or not partially.

In a special embodiment of an improved bus according to the invention, the above-mentioned passengers' seats 22 on the lowered floor part 5 are provided with extra leg space, such that they can be used by handicapped persons. In order to get to their seats, if they are unable to use the stairs, they can also make use of the above-mentioned lift system 17, if said lift system 17 is provided thereon.

Although, in the given example, two passengers' seats 22 are provided on the lowered floor part 5, it is not excluded to provide more or less of such passengers' seats 22, or to even omit them entirely.

It also goes without saying that, according to the invention, the floor part 5 upon which the space 10 and the driver's seat 21 are provided must not be lowered in relation to the rest of the floor 4 of the bus 1.

The distance between this floor part 5 and the ground is preferably as small as possible, however, such that the lift system 17 must bridge a distance which is as small as possible, such that the time to get on and step down is restricted, and such that the wheelchair user feels safe at all times. Moreover, such a lowered floor part 5 is advantageous in that the view of the passengers in the central part 8 is less obstructed.

Hence, an improved bus according to the present invention is not restricted to what is called a raised-floor bus, but it can also be made in the shape of a bus which is provided with at least one footboard and one step.

If there is sufficient space in the bus 1, it is possible to switch the place of the front stairs 16 for the able-bodied passengers and of the lift system 17 according to the invention, or to realise them as a single entrance with a single door, two separate doors or a double door, provided the bus 1 is solid enough.

It is also clear that the above-mentioned first doorway 12 can be made in the form of two separate doorways, one for each door 14 and 15 respectively, whereby these doorways are separated from each other by means of a middle post which can also serve as a self-supporting ring structure if necessary.

The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments given as an example and represented in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such an improved bus according to the invention can be made in all sorts of shapes and dimensions while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

Claims.

1.- Improved bus in which is provided a space (10) at the front, more particularly in front of the position of the front-wheel axle (2), which is provided as a place for a wheelchair (11) on the opposite side of the driver's seat (21), characterised in that this place is provided with a floor part which continues as of the side concerned of the bus (1) where the place (10) is situated which is provided for the wheelchair (11) up to the above-mentioned driver's seat (21), and which offers the necessary space for manoeuvring said wheelchair (11) and putting it in position.

2.- Improved bus according to claim 1, characterjsed in that the abovementioned floor part (5) is made lower than the rest of the floor (4) of the bus (1)

3.- Improved bus according to claim 1, characterjsed in that at least one passenger's seat (22) is provided on the above-mentioned floor part (5) as well.

4.- Improved bus according to claim 1, characterised in that it is what is called a raised-floor bus.

5.- Improved bus according to claim 1, characterised in that, next to the above-mentioned space (10) for the wheelchair (11) is provided an entrance to the above- mentioned floor part (5).

6.- Improved bus according to claim 5, characterised in that the abovementioned entrance is formed of stairs (16)

7.- Improved bus according to claim 6, characterised in that between the above-mentioned stairs (16) and the space (10) are provided separation means (20)

8.- Improved bus according to claim 7, characterjsed in that the above- mentioned separation means (20) are formed of a partition or a railing.

9.- Improved bus according to claim 7, characterised in that the abovementioned separation means (20) are provided with one or several recesses.

10.- Improved bus according to claim 7, characterised in that the abovementioned separation means (20) can be at least partly dismounted and/or swung aside.

11.- Improved bus according to claim 1, characterised in that it is provided with a lift system (17) which provides direct access to the above-mentioned floor part (5)

12. A bus substantially as herein described with reference to, or with reference to and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.