GB2580601A

GB2580601A - Cubicle provided with a resettable tamper-evident indicator

Info

Publication number: GB2580601A
Application number: GB1900498.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pountain Dave
Original assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
Current assignee: Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2019-01-14
Filing date: 2019-01-14
Publication date: 2020-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-01-14
Also published as: CN213247739U; GB201905792D0; GB2580601B; GB2581215A; GB2581215B; GB201900498D0

Abstract

A storage device comprising a body, a door and a tamper evident indicator with a flag 38 wherein the flag 38 is attached to either the body or door and a protrusion 44 is attached to the other, the protrusion 44 maintains the flag in a first position when the door is closed, biasing means 42 urge the flag 38 towards a second position when the door is opened, a key actuated reset mechanism 30 is provided to move the flag 38 from the second position to the reset position and the biasing means 42 urges the flag from the reset position to the first position. The flag 38 may pivot and be biased by a spring 42 or magnet. A separate slam lock may be provided and the door may have a through hole 22 with a transparent cover to allow viewing of the flag. The device may be used on a public transportation vehicle such as a train.

Description

CUBICLE PROVIDED WITH A RESETTABLE TAMPER-EVIDENT INDICATOR

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a cubicle for e.g. a public transportation vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, provided with means for determining if the cubicle has been accessed.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In a number of situations, it is necessary to determine whether a storage cubicle has been accessed without authorization, e.g. to decide whether there is a need to check the content of the storage cubicle to refill it as far as necessary, or to check whether the content of the storage cubicle may have been tampered with.

[0003] This may be achieved by means of a seal or alternative tamper-evident means, which are visibly broken or otherwise submitted to a visible and irreversible change of state when the door of the cubicle is opened. Such means, however, need to be replaced once they have fulfilled their function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention aims to provide an improved tamper-evident indicator for a cubicle of e.g. a public transportation vehicle.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cubicle for a public transportation vehicle, comprising: two structural components consisting of a fixed structure and a door movable relative to the fixed structure between a closed position and an open position, characterised in that it further comprises a tamper-evident indicator comprising a flag movable relative to a first of the two structural components between a first position and a second position, an abutment fixed relative to a second of the two structural components for maintaining the flag in the first position when the door is in the closed position, biasing means for urging the flag towards the second position when the door is moved from the closed to the open position, and a key-actuated reset mechanism fixed to the first of the two structural components, wherein actuation of the reset mechanism from a neutral position to an activated position causes the flag to move from the second position to a reset position, and wherein the biasing means is such as to subsequently cause the flag to move from the reset position to the first position.

[0006] The combination of biasing means for moving the flag from the reset position to the first position and from the first position to the second position, and of a key-actuated reset mechanism for moving the flag from the second to the reset position ensures that the flag will automatically move to the second position when the door is opened and can only be reset by a member of the crew with an appropriate key.

[0007] Preferably, the flag in the first position does not hinder an opening of the door from the closed position to the open position. Similarly, the flag in the second position does not hinder an opening of the door from the closed position to the open position or a closing of the door from the open position to the closed position. In other words, the flag is not used to lock or otherwise hinder the movement of the door.

[0008] Advantageously, the biasing means may include one or more of the following: a spring, a weight, a magnetic biasing means. More generally, the biasing means may include a potential energy storage means, for storing mechanical or magnetic potential energy when the flag is moved from the second to the first position, and for releasing said potential energy when the flag is moved from the first to the second position.

[0009] In practice, the flag is able to move at least from the first position to the second position when the reset mechanism is in the neutral position.

[0010] In an embodiment, the reset mechanism is able to move from the activated position to the neutral position when the flag is in the first position.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the reset mechanism comprises a plug provided with a keyhole and a cylinder fixed to the first of the two structural components, wherein the plug is linked to the flag such that an actuation of the plug relative to the cylinder from the neutral to the activated position causes the flag to move from the second position to the reset position, and such that when the plug is in the neutral position, the flag is able to move from first position to the second position without the plug moving.

[0012] Preferably, the flag is guided such as to pivot about a pivot axis fixed relative to the first of the two structural components from the first position to the second position, from the second position to the reset position and from the reset position to the first position. In one embodiment, the movement of the flag from the first position to the second position and the movement of the flag from the second position to the reset position are in opposite directions, so that the flag does not complete a full revolution. In another embodiment, the movement of the flag from the first to the second position, from the second position to the reset position, and from the reset position to the first position are in the same direction, and the flag completes a full revolution about the pivot axis.

[0013] Most preferably, the pivot axis of the flag relative to the first of the two structural components is coaxial with a rotation axis of the plug into the cylinder.

[0014] The cubicle door assembly may comprise a lock for locking the door in the closed position, wherein the key-actuated reset mechanism is not interlocked with the lock. The tamper-evident indicator is voluntarily kept very simple, since it does not have to interact with the lock.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first of the two structural components is provided with a through hole through which a first portion of the flag is visible in one of the first and second positions and not in the other one of the first and second positions. Hence, the state of the flag can be easily checked through the through hole. Advantageously, a second portion of the flag is not visible through the through hole in said other one of the first and second positions and not in said one of the first and second positions, the second portion of the flag having a distinctive surface layout. The two portions of the flag may have different colours, pictograms or labels such as "SEALED" and "UNSEALED".

[0016] Preferably, the through hole is closed by a transparent pane. Hence, the flag cannot be tampered with from outside the closed cubicle.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the first of the two structural components is the door. In an alternative embodiment, the first of the two structural components is the fixed structure.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment the flag is located on an inner side of the door at least when the door is closed. A housing can be provided to prevent unauthorised access to the flag when the door is open.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] Other advantages and features of the invention will then become more clearly apparent from the following description of a specific embodiment of the invention given as non-restrictive examples only and represented in the accompanying drawings in which: -figure 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a cubicle of one embodiment of the invention in a closed position; -figure 2 is a diagrammatic isometric view of the cubicle of figure 1 in an open position; figure 3 is a diagrammatic front view a mechanism of a tamper-evident indicator of the cubicle of figure 1 according to one embodiment of the invention, in a first position; -figure 4 is a diagrammatic front view of the mechanism of the tamper-evident indicator of figure 3, in a second position; -figure 5 is a diagrammatic front view of the mechanism of the tamper-evident indicator of figure 3, in a reset position; figure 6 is a diagrammatic front view a mechanism of a tamper-evident indicator of the cubicle of figure 1 according to another embodiment of the invention, in a first position; -figure 7 is a diagrammatic front view of the mechanism of the tamper-evident indicator of figure 6, in a second position; -figure 8 is a diagrammatic front view of the mechanism of the tamper-evident indicator of figure 6, in a reset position; figure 9 is a diagrammatic front diagrammatic front view a mechanism of a tamper-evident indicator of the cubicle of figure 1 according to another embodiment of the invention, in a first position; -figure 10 is a diagrammatic front view of the mechanism of the tamper-evident indicator of figure 9, in a second position; -figure 11 is a diagrammatic front view of the mechanism of the tamper-evident indicator of figure 9, in a reset position; -figure 12 a diagrammatic isometric view of a cubicle of another embodiment of the invention in an open position.

[0020] Corresponding reference numerals refer to the same or corresponding parts in each of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] A cubicle 10, e.g. for a public transportation vehicle or a building, comprises a fixed structure 12 fixed to a vehicle body of the public transportation vehicle and a door 14 movable relative to the fixed structure 12 between a closed position illustrated in figure 1 and an open position illustrated in figure 2.

[0022] The door 14 is equipped with a lock 16 operated with a key (not shown) to lock and unlock the door 14 in the closed position.

[0023] The cubicle is also equipped with a tamper-evident indicator 18, which in this embodiment is centrally located on the inner side 20 of the door 14, and with a through hole 22 in the door 14. The through hole 22 is closed by a transparent pane.

In figure 2, only a housing 24 of the tamper-evident indicator 18 is shown, but this housing 24 has been removed in figures 3 to 5, which show the mechanism 26 of the tamper-evident indicator 18.

[0024] The tamper-evident indicator 18 is provided with key-actuated reset mechanism 30, which in this example comprises a cylinder 32 fixed to the door and a plug 34 received in the cylinder 32 (figures 3 to 5) and provided with a keyhole 36 accessible from outside the door 14 (figure 1). As is well known in the art, the plug 34 can rotate relative to the cylinder 32 about a rotation axis 100 between a neutral position and an activated position. When the plug 34 is in the neutral position, an authorised user can insert a key in the keyhole 36 to turn the plug 34 from the neutral position to the activated position in the direction 400 (figure 5). In order to remove the key, the user must turn the plug 34 and stop back to the neutral position in the direction 300 (figure 4).

[0025] The plug 34 has a protruding end portion, which protrudes from the cylinder 32 in the housing 22 of the tamper-evident indicator 18. A flag 38 is pivotally mounted on the protruding end portion so as to pivot relative to the plug 34 about a pivot axis 200 coaxial with the rotation axis 100 of the plug 34, in a direction 300 between a first position illustrated in figure 3 and a second position illustrated in figure 4, and in the opposite direction 400 between the second position of figure 4 and a reset position illustrated in figure 5. The protruding end portion of the plug 34 is provided with a stop 40, which can interfere with the flag 38. A biasing means 42, here a spring, urges the flag 38 towards the second position.

[0026] In figure 3, the flag 38 is in the first position and the plug 34 is in the neutral position. The stop 40 does not interfere with the flag 38. The flag 38 bears against an abutment 44, which is fixed to the fixed structure 12 of the cubicle 10 and protrudes through a slot 46 of the housing of the tamper-evident indicator. The spring 42 urges the flag 38 towards the second position and maintains a pressure force between the flag 38 in the first position and the abutment 44. A portion 138 of the flag 38 is visible from outside the cubicle through the through hole 22.

[0027] The flag 38 in the first position does not hinder an opening of the door 14 from the closed position of figure 1 to the open position of figure 2. When the door 14 is opened, the tamper-evident indicator 18 moves with the door 14 and the flag 38 is moved out of register with the abutment 44. The spring 42 causes the flag 38 to pivot about the pivot axis 200 in the direction 300 and move towards the second position against the stop 40, as shown in figure 4, so that the portion 138 of the flag 38 which was previously visible through the through hole 22 becomes masked. In this embodiment, the flag 38 becomes entirely invisible and the backwall of the casing 24 becomes visible through the hole 22.

[0028] The flag 38 bears against the stop 40 and is maintained in the second position by the spring 42. If the door 14 is closed again, the flag does not interfere 10 with the abutment 44, which can enter the slot 46 unhindered, and the door 14 can be closed and reopened while the flag 38 is maintained in the second position by the spring 42.

[0029] The housing 22 prevents access to the flag 38 in the open position of the door 14.

[0030] To reset the mechanism 26, an authorised user has to insert the key into the keyhole 36 and turn the plug 34 in the direction 400 so as to move the flag 38, pushed by the stop 40, to a reset position of figure 5, while the door 14 is maintained open. The door 14 can then be closed and the plug 34 turned back to the neutral position to extract the key from the keyhole 36. The spring 42 moves the flag 38 back to the first position against the abutment 44, and the mechanism 26 returns to the state illustrated in figure 3.

[0031] The reset mechanism 26 is kept very simple and is not interlocked with the lock 16 of the door 14. It can easily be retrofitted on an existing door 14 or provided as an option.

[0032] The tamper-evident indicator 18 is relatively compact, because the pivoting movement of the flag 38 between the first and second position and back to the first position is not a full revolution. However, the mechanism 26 cannot be reset when the door 14 is closed.

[0033] In the embodiment of figures 6 to 8, the plug 38 is provided with an additional stop 48, and the reset mechanism 26 is such that the plug 34 can complete a full revolution in the direction 300.

[0034] The operation of the tamper-evident indicator from the position of figure 6 to the position of figure 7 is similar to the one discussed with reference to figure 4 and 5.

[0035] To reset the mechanism 26, an authorised user closes the door 14, inserts the key into the keyhole 36 of the plug 34 and turns the key in the direction 300 in which the flag 38 pivots from the first to the second position. The additional stop 48 pushes the flag 38 until an unstable equilibrium position shown in figure 8 is reached. As the rotation of the plug 34 continues, the flag 38 is urged towards the first position by the spring 42. Once the full revolution of the plug 34 is completed, the key can be removed and the mechanism is back in the position of figure 6. The advantage of this embodiment is that it can be operated in the closed position of the door 14, after the door has been locked. However, the mechanism requires more space inside the cubicle to accommodate a full revolution of the flag 38.

[0036] Various changes can be made. Instead of a spring 42, other biasing means could be used, e.g. a weight at the free end of the flag 38 or a set of magnets. The biasing means 42 should be sufficiently strong to ensure that the flag 38 moves from the first to the second position and remains there in the standard operating conditions, e.g. when the inclination of the cubicle 10 changes or when the vehicle is subjected to vibrations. On the other hand, as the biasing means 42 are manually reset by the key-actuated reset mechanism 30, the potential energy of the biasing means 42 should not be too high.

[0037] In the embodiment of figures 9 to 11, the flag 38 is such that in the first position, a first portion 138 of the flag is visible through the hole 22, while in the second position, a second portion 238 of the flag is visible through the through hole 22. The portion 138 visible in the first position and the portion 238 visible in the second position should be clearly distinguishable, e.g. with different colours, pictograms or messages. To avoid any interference between the abutment 44 and the disc 38 in the second position of figure 10, a free space is provided between the first portion 138 and the second portion 238. The door 14 has to be opened before the flag 38 can be reset from the position of figure 11 to the position of figure 9. According to another variant (not shown), the flag 38 could be a disk.

[00381 In the embodiment of figure 12, the mechanism 26 of the tamper-evident indicator 18 is fixed to the fixed structure 12 of the cubicle 10, preferably inside the cubicle while the abutment 44 is provided on the door. The through hole 22 is provided on the fixed structure 12. In a variant, the door 14 can cover the wall of the fixed structure 12 provided with the hole 22, in which case the door should be provided with two holes registering with the holes 22 and the keyhole 36 in the closed position of the door 14.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cubicle (10) for a public transportation vehicle, comprising: two structural components (12, 14) consisting of a fixed structure (12) and a door (14) movable relative to the fixed structure (12) between a closed position and an open position, characterised in that it further comprises a tamper-evident indicator (18) comprising a flag (38) movable relative to a first of the two structural components (12, 14) between a first position and a second position, an abutment (44) fixed relative to a second of the two structural components (12, 14) for maintaining the flag (38) in the first position when the door (14) is in the closed position, biasing means (42) for urging the flag (38) towards the second position when the door (14) is moved from the closed to the open position, and a key-actuated reset mechanism (30) fixed to the first of the two structural components (12, 14), wherein actuation of the reset mechanism (30) from a neutral position to an activated position causes the flag (38) to move from the second position to a reset position, and wherein the biasing means (42) is such as to subsequently cause the flag (38) to move from the reset position to the first position.
2. The cubicle (10) of claim 1, wherein the flag (38) in the first position does not hinder an opening of the door (14) from the closed position to the open position.
3. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flag (38) in the second position does not hinder an opening of the door (14) from the closed position to the open position or a closing of the door (14) from the open position to the closed position.
4. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing means (42) include one or more of the following: a spring, a weight, a magnetic biasing means.
5. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flag (38) is able to move at least from the first position to the second position when the reset mechanism (30) is in the neutral position.
6. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reset mechanism (30) is able to move from the activated position to the neutral position when the flag (38) is in the first position.
7. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reset mechanism (30) comprises a plug (34) provided with a keyhole (36) and a cylinder (32) fixed to the first of the two structural components (12, 14), wherein the plug (34) is linked to the flag (38) such that an actuation of the plug (34) relative to the cylinder (32) from the neutral to the activated position causes the flag (38) to move from the second position to the reset position, and such that when the plug (34) is in the neutral position, the flag (38) is able to move from first position to the second position without the plug (34) moving.
8. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flag (38) is guided such as to pivot about a pivot axis (200) fixed relative to the first of the two structural components (12, 14) from the first position to the second position, from the second position to the reset position and from the reset position to the first position.
9. The cubicle (10) of claim 7 combined with claim 8, wherein the pivot axis (200) of the flag (38) relative to the first of the two structural components (12, 14) is coaxial with a rotation axis (100) of the plug (34) into the cylinder (32).
10. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a lock (16) for locking the door (14) in the closed position, wherein the key-actuated reset mechanism (30) is not interlocked with the lock.
11. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first of the two structural components (12, 14) is provided with a through hole (22) through which a first portion (138) of the flag (38) is visible in one of the first and second positions and not in the other one of the first and second positions.
12. The cubicle (10) of claim 11, wherein a second portion (238) of the flag (38) is not visible through the through hole (22) in said other one of the first and second positions and not in said one of the first and second positions, the second portion (238) of the flag (38) having a distinctive surface layout.
13. The cubicle (10) of any one of claims 11 to 12, wherein the through hole (22) is closed by a transparent pane.
14. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first of the two structural components (12, 14) is the door (14).
15. The cubicle (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flag (38) is located on an inner side (20) of the door (14) at least when the door (14) is closed.