GB2514673A

GB2514673A - Emergency system for a vehicle, in particular a bus

Info

Publication number: GB2514673A
Application number: GB1406785.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vijaya Rajagopal; Shailesh D Souza; Thilagan Abraham; Arul Anand
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2014-04-15
Filing date: 2014-04-15
Publication date: 2014-12-03
Also published as: GB201406785D0

Abstract

An emergency system for a vehicle 10 which may be a bus. The emergency system comprising at least one unfastening device (32, Figure 4) capable of removing at least one window 26 attached to a body (18, Figure 4) of the vehicle 10 from the body (18) at least partially. The window 26 covering a window opening 22 of the body (18) where the emergency system comprises at least one escape chute 36 deployable from a stowage position into at least one rescue position. The escape chute 36 being arranged in an edge region (37, Figure 5) of the window opening 22 at least in the rescue position. Preferably the unfastening device (32) may be explosive means, pressurised gas, a means to shatter the window pane or an electric pulse device to provide an electric current to an electric wire or filament (42, Figure 4) to remove the window 26.

Description

Emergency System for a Vehicle, in particular a Bus The invention relates to an emergency system according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such an emergency system for a vehicle can be found in ER 1101 895 A2. The emergency system comprises at least one unfastening device capable of removing at least one window attached to a body of the vehicle from the body at least partially. The body comprises at least one window opening which is covered by the window attached to the body. By removing the window from the body and, thus, from the window opening, occupants of the vehicle can exit the vehicle through the uncovered window opening.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an emergency system of the aforementioned kind, by means of which emergency system occupants of the vehicle can exit the vehicle in a particularly safe and easy way.

This object is solved by an emergency system having the features of patent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

In order to provide an emergency system of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1, by means of which emergency system occupants of the vehicle can exit the vehicle in a particularly safe and easy way, according to the present invention, the emergency system comprises at least one escape chute deployable from a stowage position into at least one rescue position. The escape chute is arranged in an edge region of the window opening at least in the rescue position. For example, the escape chute is arranged in a lower edge region of the window opening with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle.

By removing, i.e. dismanteling or loosening the window from the body and, thus, from the window opening, occupants inside the vehicle can exit the vehicle through the uncovered window opening. For example, an occupant of the vehicle can move through the uncovered window opening. Moreover, the occupant exiting the vehicle can use the escape chute being in the rescue position in order to easily and safely reach a ground on which the vehicle is standing. The escape chute being in the rescue position allows the occupant to reach the ground in a particularly easy and safe way since the occupant can move from the window opening along the escape chute to the ground. Thereby, the occupant can reach the ground in a particularly easy and safe way even if a distance between the window opening and the ground is very high.

Preferably, the emergency system comprises at least one sensor configured to detect fire in the vehicle and provide a signal indicative of the detected tire. The unfastening device is contigured to receive the signal and remove the window in dependency on the signal.

Hence, the window can be removed trom the body automatically when a tire in the vehicle is detected by the sensor.

For example, the sensor is configured as at temperature sensor capable of detecting a temperature in the vehicle. If the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predeterminable threshold value, a fire in the vehicle is detected. Thus, the window is removed from the body by means ot the untastening device. Then, occupants in the vehicle can leave the vehicle via the uncovered window opening and the escape chute.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the emergency system comprises at least one actuator contigured to deploy the escape chute from the stowage position into the rescue position. For example, the actuator is a pneumatic actuator configured to intlate the escape chute thereby deploying the escape chute into the rescue position.

Preferably, the actuator is configured to receive the signal provided by the sensor.

Moreover, the actuator can be configured to deploy the escape chute from the stowage position into the rescue position in dependency on the received signal indicative of the detected fire. Thereby, the escape chute can be moved from the stowage position into the rescue position automatically by means of the sensor and the actuator.

For example, the vehicle is a bus. Moreover, the vehicle can be a car, in particular a passenger car, a train, a tram or an underground railway.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawings show in: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a vehicle having an emergency system which comprises at least one unfastening device capable of removing at least one window attached to a body of the vehicle from the body at least partially, the window covering a window opening of the body, wherein the emergency system comprises at least one escape chute deployable from a stowage position into at least one rescue position, the escape chute being arranged in an edge region of the window opening at least in the rescue position; Fig. 2 part of a schematic sectional view of the window attached to the body; Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view of the vehicle, wherein the escape chute is in its rescue position; Fig. 4 part of a sectional view of the window attached to the body, wherein the unfastening device is shown schematically; and Fig. 5 a schematic front view of the window attached to the body according to Figs. 2 and 4.

In the figures the same elements or elements having the same functions are designated with the same reference signs.

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 10 in the form of a bus. The vehicle 10 has an interior 12 in which a plurality of seats 14 for occupants of the vehicle 10 is arranged. Moreover, a driver's seat 16 is arranged in the interior 12. The interior 12 is bounded by a body 18 of the vehicle 10. For example, the body 18 is mounted on a frame of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 further comprises wheels 20 which are connected to the frame.

The body 18 has a plurality of window openings 22 and 24. The window openings 22 are lateral window openings of the body 18, wherein the window opening 24 is a front window opening. The respective window openings 22, 24 are covered by windows 26, 28 which are attached to the body 10. The lateral window openings 22 are covered by the lateral windows 26. The front window opening 24 is covered by the front window 28. The front window 28 is a windscreen of the vehicle 10.

As can be seen in Fig. 2 by the example of one of the windows 26, the respective windows 26, 28 are attached to the body 18 by means of an adhesive. The adhesive forms an adhesive layer 28 by means of which the window 26 is glued to the body 18. For example, the adhesive layer 28 can be a rubber layer via which the window 26 is attached to the body 18.

As can be seen from Figs. 2 to 4, the vehicle 10 comprises an emergency system 30. The emergency system 30 comprises at least one unfastening device 32 which is described in Fig. 4 by the example of the window 26. The unfastening device 32 is configured to remove at least the windows 26 from the body 18 at least partially. By removing the windows 26 from the body 18, the window openings 22 get uncovered. Thereby, occupants in the interior 12 can exit the vehicle 10 through the uncovered window openings 22.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the emergency system 30 comprises sensors 34 configured to detect fire in the interior 12. Moreover, the respective sensor 34 is configured to provide at least one signal indicative of the detected fire.

The sensors 34 are electrically connected to the unfastening device 32 so that the unfastening device 32 can receive the signal indicative of the detected fire and provided by the respective sensor 34. The unfastening device 32 is configured to receive the signal and remove the respective windows 26 in dependency on the signal. Thereby, the windows 26 or at least one of the windows 26 can be removed from the body 18 automatically by means of the unfastening device 32.

Moreover, the emergency system 30 comprises escape chutes 36 which are deployable from respective stowage positions not shown in the Figs. into respective rescue positions shown in Fig. 3. The escape chutes 36 are arranged in respective lower edge regions 37 of the corresponding window openings 22 at least in the rescue positions. Thereby, the occupants in the interior 12 can move through the uncovered window openings 22 and slide along the escape chutes 36. Thereby, the occupants can reach a ground on which the vehicle 10 is standing in a particularly easy and safe way in case of fire in the vehicle 10.

For example, the sensor 34 can be configured as a temperature sensor or a heat sensor configured to detect a temperature in the interior 12. If the temperature detected by the sensor 34 exceeds a predeterminable threshold value, the windows 26 are removed from the body 18.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensor 34 can be configured as a smoke sensor. If smoke in the interior 12 is detected by the sensor 34, the windows 26 are removed from the body 18 automatically by means of the unfastening device 32.

For example, the emergency system 30 comprises at least one actuator which is configured as, for example, a pneumatic actuator. The pneumatic actuator can deploy the respective escape chutes 36 by inflating the escape chutes 36 thereby moving the escape chutes 36 from the respective stowage positions into the respective rescue positions.

For example, the actuator is electrically connected to the sensor 34. Moreover, the actuator is configured to receive the signal indicative of the detected fire. Furthermore, the actuator is configured to deploy the respective escape chutes 36 from the stowage positions into the rescue positions in dependency on the signal. Thereby, the escape chutes 36 can be moved from the stowage positions into the rescue positions automatically.

Thus, the occupants in the interior 12 do not have to open or break the windows 26 themselves. Moreover, the occupants can reach the ground even if a distance between the window openings 22 and the ground is high. For example, the body 18 is made of a metallic material. For example, the respective window 26 is made of glass.

As can be seen from Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the unfastening device 32 comprises at least one unfastening element 38. For example, the unfastening element 38 is arranged between the window 26 and the body 18. For example, the unfastening device 38 can be arranged between the adhesive layer 28 and the body 18. Moreover, the unfastening element 38 can be arranged besides the adhesive layer 28. The respective window 26 is removed from the body 18 by means of the unfastening element 38. Moreover, the unfastening device 32 comprises further elements 40 and 42 which can be connected to one another and/or to the unfastening element 38.

In a first embodiment of the unfastening device 32, the unfastening element 38 is an explosive means configured to remove the window 26 from the body 18, for example, by loosening a connection between the window 26 and the body 18. In the first embodiment, the element 40 is an electric pulse generator configured to activate the element 42 which is, in the first embodiment, an igniter for igniting the explosive means. By igniting the explosive means in case of fire in the interior 12, the window 26 can be moved from the body 18, for example, by shattering the window 26.

In a second embodiment of the unfastening device 32, the unfastening element 38 is an inflatable element in the form of, for example, an inflatable tube, in particular an inflatable rubber tube. In the second embodiment, the element 40 is a tank for storing a pressurized gas. In the second embodiment, the element 42 is a gas-release-element in the form of, for example, a valve. If a fire in the interior 12 is detected, the pressurized gas contained in the tank is released by the valve. Thus, the pressurized gas flows from the tank into the unfastening element 38 thereby inflating the unfastening element 38. Thereby, the volume of the unfastening element 38 is increased. Thereby, the window 26 and, for example, the adhesive layer 28 can be pushed away from the body 18 thereby removing or dismanteling the window 26 from the body 18.

In a third embodiment of the unfastening device 32, the element 40 is an electric pulse generator. In the third embodiment, the element 42 is an electric wire for conducting an electric current from the element 40 to the unfastening element 38. Moreover, in the third embodiment, the unfastening element 38 is an electric wire or an electric filament. For example, the unfastening element 38 is made of a metallic material. Thereby, the unfastening element 38 can be heated by means of the electric current provided by the electric pulse generator. By heating the unfastening element 38, the adhesive and, thus, the adhesive layer 28 can be heated and melted so that the connection between the window 26 and the body 18 is loosened. Thus, the window 26 can drop off the body 18 thereby uncovering the window opening 22. The mechanism of the unfastening device 32 can be extended to all window and metal parts, in particular sheet metal parts, glued or fixed to the body 18.

The explosive means can be made of any chemical composition that can generate a significant volume of gas or contain enough energy to remove the window 26 from the body 18.

For example, the unfastening device 32 is configured to either shatter or detach the respective window 26, 28 from the body 18. The trigger mechanism to activate the unfastening element 38 can be extended to unexpected forces, high G-forces and orientation of the vehicle. For example, the sensor 34 can be configured as an acceleration sensor capable of detecting forces acting upon the vehicle 10 so that the sensor 34 can, for example, detect an orientation of the vehicle 10.

Additionally or alternatively, the unfastening device 32 can comprise at least one ultrasonic device configured to shatter the window 26 thereby removing the window 26 from the body 18.

List of reference signs vehicle 12 interior 14 seats 16 drivers' seat 18 body wheel 22 window opening 24 window opening 26 window 28 window emergency system 32 unfastening device 34 sensor 36 escape chute 37 edge region 38 unfastening element element 42 element

Claims

Claims An emergency system (30) for a vehicle (10), the emergency system (30) comprising at least one unfastening device (32) capable of removing at least one window (26) attached to a body (18) of the vehicle (10) from the body (18) at least partially, the window (26) covering a window opening (22) of the body (18), characterised in that the emergency system (30) comprises at least one escape chute (36) deployable from a stowage position into at least one rescue position, the escape chute (36) being arranged in an edge region (37) of the window opening (22) at least in the rescue position.
2. The emergency system (30) according to claim 1, characterised in that the escape chute (36) is arranged on the body (18) in the stowage position and the rescue position.
3. The emergency system (30) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the unfastening device (32) comprises explosive means configured to remove the window (26) from the body (18).
4. The emergency system (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the unfastening device (32) comprises a pressurized gas for removing the window (26) from the body (18).
5. The emergency system (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the window (26) is attached to the body (18) by means of an adhesive (28), the unfastening device (32) comprising electric means for heating the adhesive (28) thereby removing the window (26) from the body (18).
6. The emergency system (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the unfastening device (32) is configured to shatter the window (26) thereby removing the window (26) from the body (18).
7. The emergency system (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the emergency system (30) comprises at least one sensor (34) configured to detect fire in the vehicle (10) and provide a signal indicative of the detected fire, wherein the unfastening device (32) is configured to receive the signal and remove the window (26) in dependency on the signal.