GB2580383A

GB2580383A - Storage cubicle for a piece of equipment, e.g a wheelchair ramp, and public transportation vehicle provided with a storage cubicle

Info

Publication number: GB2580383A
Application number: GB1900246.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pountain Dave
Original assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
Current assignee: Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2019-01-08
Filing date: 2019-01-08
Publication date: 2020-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2039-01-08
Also published as: GB2580383B; GB201900246D0

Abstract

A storage cupboard with a fixed structure 12 which defines an enclosure with an opening, a sliding frame 14 which can move out of the enclosure in a horizontal direction to an extended position and a pivoting frame 16 connected to the sliding frame 14 which can pivot about a vertical axis. The pivoting frame 16 may have a pair of parallel rails 28 which extend away from the vertical axis. The cupboard may store equipment 26 for accessing a train such as a wheelchair ramp, a platform, steps or a ladder. The cubicle may have a greater height than its width or depth. Locking means may be provided to lock the sliding frame and pivoting frame in extended and retracted positions dependent on the state of the other. The cupboard may be used in a public transportation vehicle.

Description

STORAGE CUBICLE FOR A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, E.G. A WHEELCHAIR RAMP, AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH A STORAGE

CUBICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage cubicle, in particular to a storage cubicle for storing a wheelchair ramp.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A portable wheelchair ramp is often necessary to allow access to a rail vehicle. The wheelchair ramp can be stored on the station platform or on the vehicle itself, in a storage near an access door of the rail vehicle. The wheelchair ramp is usually a cumbersome and somewhat heavy article, which has to be stored vertically to save space. Storing a wheelchair ramp in a conventional cubicle proves unsatisfactory from an ergonomic point of view. Similar problems arise with other detachable and portable pieces of equipment for accessing or exiting a rail vehicle, such as removable steps or escape ladders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention aims to provide a storage cubicle that allows easy and ergonomic access to pieces of equipment received in the cubicle, without negatively impacting the storage capacity of the cubicle.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage cubicle, comprising: a fixed structure defining at least one enclosed space and an aperture for accessing the enclosed space, the fixed structure comprising translation guides, a sliding frame linked to the translation guides so as to be movable relative to the translation guides in a horizontal translation direction between a retracted position in which the sliding frame is within the enclosed space and an extended position in which the sliding frame protrudes through the aperture outside the enclosed space, and a pivoting frame pivotably linked to the sliding frame, so as to pivot about a vertical pivot axis, between a storage position and a protruding position, when the sliding frame is in the extended position.

[0005] The pivoting frame is adapted to receive the piece of equipment, which can be releasably attached to it. When the pivoting frame is in the protruding position, the user can easily access the piece of equipment to detach or attach it. Once the piece of equipment has been fixed to the pivoting frame, the latter is moved to the storage position before the sliding frame is pushed back to the retracted position to store the piece of equipment into the cubicle.

[0006] In an embodiment, the pivoting frame is provided with a pair of parallel rails for a piece of equipment, oriented in a direction perpendicular to the vertical pivot axis. The rails are particularly adapted for supporting, guiding, and/or attaching the piece of equipment. Preferably, the pair of rails are located in a common plane parallel to the vertical pivot axis, preferably containing the vertical pivot axis. The position of the rails relative to each other should not change when the pivoting frame is moved between the storage and the protruding positions.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the storage cubicle contains a detachable and portable piece of equipment for accessing or exiting a rail vehicle, e.g. a wheelchair ramp, a platform, a set of steps or ladder. Alternatively, the storage cubicle can be used to store other bulky or heavy pieces of equipment. The piece of equipment is arranged to be removably attached to the pivoting frame when the pivoting frame is in the protruding position. The piece of equipment. is such as not to impair a closing motion of the sliding frame from the extended position to the retracted position when the piece of equipment is fixed to the pivoting frame and the pivoting frame has been moved to the storage position.

[0008] In an embodiment, the enclosed space has a height, a width and a depth, the depth being in a direction parallel to the translation direction, the depth being larger than the width, preferably at least twice as large as the width. Preferably, the height is greater than the width. In an embodiment, the height is greater than the depth. The sliding frame may occupy all or only part of the height of the storage cubicle. The pivoting frame may extend over all or only part of the height of the sliding frame, e.g. over the lower half of the sliding frame.

[00091 Advantageously, a door panel can be fixed relative to the sliding frame.

The door panel extends so as to dose the aperture in the retracted position of the sliding frame. Hence, the cubicle can be opened or closed and the sliding fame pulled in a single translation movement.

[0010] For safety reasons, locking or interlocking means can be provided to ensure that no uncontrolled movement of one of the components of the storage cubicle can take place. Such locking or interlocking means may include one or more of the following: Locking means for locking the pivoting frame relative to the sliding frame in the storage position, so as not to interfere with the motion of the sliding frame between the retracted position and the extended position.

Locking means for locking the pivoting frame relative to the sliding frame in the protruding position, so as to ensure that the pivoting frame does not move when a user wants to access the piece of equipment.

Locking means for locking the sliding frame relative to the fixed structure in the extended position, so as to ensure that the sliding frame does not move when a user wants to access the piece of equipment.

Locking means for locking the sliding frame relative to the fixed structure in the retracted position, so as to secure the closed position of the storage cubicle. These locking means can be provided with a key to limit the access to authorised users.

- Interlocking means for locking the sliding frame in the extended position, whenever the pivoting frame is in the protruding position. The sliding frame is automatically locked as soon as the user moves the pivoting frame to the protruding position.

-Interlocking means for locking the pivoting frame in the storage position, whenever the sliding frame is not in the extended position. The pivoting frame is automatically prevented from pivoting when the sliding position is not in the extended position.

[00111 According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a public transportation vehicle comprising a storage cubicle as described hereinbefore. The invention is particularly adapted to a rail vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[00121 Other advantages and features of the invention will then become more clearly apparent from the following description of a specific embodiment of the 15 invention given as non-restrictive examples only and represented in the accompanying drawings in which: - figure 1 is an isometric view of a storage cubicle according to one embodiment of the invention in a closed position; figure 2 is an isometric view of the storage cubicle of figure 1, with a sliding frame in an extended position and a pivoting frame in a protruding position; - figure 3 is an isometric view of the storage cubicle of figure 1, in the same position as in figure 2, but from another perspective; -figure 4 is an isometric view of the storage cubicle of figure 1, with an additional drawer pulled out; - figure 5 is an isometric view of the storage cubicle of figure 1, in the same position as in figure 4, but from another perspective.

[0013] Corresponding reference numerals refer to the same or corresponding parts in each of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] With reference to figures 1 to 3, a storage cubicle 10 for a vehicle, in particular a public transportation vehicle, or a building, comprises a fixed structure 12, a sliding frame 14 and a pivoting frame 16.

[0015] The fixed structure 12 is to be fixed to the structure of the rail vehicle body or is integrally formed with the structure of the rail vehicle body. It defines at least one enclosed space 18 and an aperture 20 for accessing the enclosed space 18.

[0016] The fixed structure 12 comprises translation guides 22, to which the sliding frame 14 is linked so as to be movable relative to the translation guides 22 in a horizontal translation direction T between a retracted position in which the sliding frame is entirely within the enclosed space (see figure 1) and an extended position in which the sliding frame 14 at least partially protrudes through the aperture 20 outside the enclosed space 20 (see figures 2 and 3).

[0017] The enclosed space 20 has a height H, a width W and a depth D, the depth D being in a direction parallel to the translation direction T (see figure 3). The depth D of the enclosed space 20 is preferably larger than the width W, preferably at least twice as large as the width W. The height H is greater than the width W, and preferably greater than the depth D. [0018] A door panel 24 is fixed relative to the sliding frame 14. The door panel extends in a vertical plane perpendicular to the translation direction T so as to close the aperture 20 in the retracted position of the sliding frame 14.

[0019] The pivoting frame 16 is pivotably linked to the sliding frame 14, so as to pivot about a vertical pivot axis V, between a storage position depicted in figure 2 and a protruding position depicted in figure 3, when the sliding frame 14 is in the extended position.

[0020] A detachable and portable piece of equipment 26 for accessing or exiting a rail vehicle, e.g. a wheelchair ramp, a platform or a set of one or more steps, is arranged to be removably attached to, and detached from, the pivoting frame 16 when the pivoting frame is in the protruding position.

[0021] More specifically, the pivoting frame is provided with a pair of parallel rails 28 for supporting and guiding the piece of equipment 26, oriented in a direction perpendicular to the vertical pivot axis. In this particular embodiment, the rails 28 lie in a common plane parallel to the vertical pivot axis V. preferably containing the vertical pivot axis V. The piece of equipment 26 is provided with a handle 30, which is accessible in the protruding position of figure 3 and enables a member of the train crew to pull the piece of equipment 26 out of pivoting frame 16 and to push it back in place for storage.

[0022] The piece of equipment 26 is such as not to impair a closing motion of the sliding frame 14 from the extracted position to the retracted position when the piece of equipment 26 has been fixed to the pivoting frame 16 and the pivoting frame 16 has been moved to the storage position.

[0023] Locking means can be provided for locking the pivoting frame relative to the sliding frame in the retracted position, and/or the protruding position, and/or for locking the sliding frame relative to the fixed structure in the extended or in the closed position. Interlocking means may be provided for locking the sliding frame in the extended position, whenever the pivoting frame is in the protruding position and/or for locking the pivoting frame in the storage position whenever the pivoting frame is not in the protruding position.

[0024] The cubicle can be provided with an additional enclosed space 32, separated from the enclosed space 20 by a partition 34, as illustrated in figures 4 and and provided with an additional aperture 36. The fixed structure 12 comprises additional translation guides (not visible in the figure), to which an additional sliding frame 38 is linked so as to be movable relative to the fixed structure 12 parallel to the horizontal translation direction T between a retracted position in which the additional sliding frame 38 is entirely within the enclosed space (see figures 1 to 3) and an extended position in which the additional sliding frame 38 at least partially protrudes through the additional aperture 36 outside the additional enclosed space 32 (see figures 2 and 3). In this embodiment, this additional space 32 is used to store safety items 40 as well as a ladder 42, which are fixed to the common a sliding frame 38.

[00251 An additional door panel 44 is fixed relative to the additional sliding frame 38. The door panel extends in a vertical plane perpendicular to the translation direction T so as to close the additional aperture 36 in the retracted position of the additional sliding frame 38.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A storage cubicle (10), comprising: -a fixed structure (12) defining at least one enclosed space (18) and an aperture (20) for accessing the enclosed space (18), the fixed structure (12) comprising translation guides (22), -a sliding frame (14) linked to the translation guides (22) so as to be movable relative to the translation guides (22) in a horizontal translation direction between a retracted position in which the sliding frame (14) is within the enclosed space (18) and an extended position in which the sliding frame (14) protrudes through the aperture (20) outside the enclosed space (18), and -a pivoting frame (16) pivotably linked to the sliding frame (14), so as to pivot about a vertical pivot axis (V), between a storage position and a protruding position, when the sliding frame (14) is in the extended position.
2. The storage cubicle (10) of claim 1, wherein the pivoting frame (16) is provided with a pair of parallel rails (28) for a piece of equipment (26), oriented in a direction perpendicular to the vertical pivot axis (V).
3. The storage cubicle (10) of claim 2, wherein the pair of rails are located in a common plane parallel to the vertical pivot axis (V), preferably containing the vertical pivot axis (V).
4. The storage cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a detachable and portable piece of equipment (26) for accessing or exiting a rail vehicle, e.g. a wheelchair ramp, a platform, a set of steps or ladder, arranged to be removably attached to the pivoting frame (16) when the pivoting frame (16) is in the protruding position, wherein the piece of equipment (26) is such as not to impair a closing motion of the sliding frame (14) from the extended position to the retracted position when the piece of equipment (26) is fixed to the pivoting frame (16) and the pivoting frame (16) has been moved to the storage position.
S. The storage cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosed space (20) has a height (H), a width (W) and a depth (D), the depth (D) being in a direction parallel to the translation direction (T), the depth (D) being larger than the width (W), preferably at least twice as large as the width (W).
The storage cubicle (10) of claim 5, wherein the height (H) is greater than the width (W).
The storage cubicle (10) of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the height (H) is greater than the depth (D).
The storage cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a door panel (20) fixed relative to the sliding frame (14), the door panel (20) extending so as to close the aperture (20) in the retracted position of the sliding frame (14).
9. The storage cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising locking means for locking the pivoting frame relative to the sliding frame in the storage position.
10. The storage cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising locking means for locking the pivoting frame relative to the sliding frame in the protruding position.
11. The storage cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising locking means for locking the sliding frame relative to the fixed structure in the extended position. 6. 7. 8.
12. The storage cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising locking means for locking the sliding frame relative to the fixed structure in the retracted position.
13. The storage cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising interlocking means for locking the sliding frame in the extended position, whenever the pivoting frame is in the protruding position.
14. The storage cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising interlocking means for locking the pivoting frame in the storage position, whenever the sliding frame is not in the extended position.
15. A public transportation vehicle comprising a storage cubicle (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.