IL299774A - Rail vehicle comprising an extendable step platform - Google Patents

Description

PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 1 - Description RAIL VEHICLE COMPRISING AN EXTENDABLE STEP PLATFORM The invention relates to a rail vehicle for passenger transport comprising a body having an entry region having at least one entry door and an extendable step platform for bridging a horizontal gap between the body and a fixed railway platform. Various forms of rail vehicles having sliding steps are known from the prior art. Thus, for example, EP 1 792 801 A1 discloses a sliding step having a step platform, which can be slid out directly under the floor, for substantially steplessly extending the floor. However, WO 2012/100872 A1 teaches a sliding step for being fitted under a door opening in a side wall of the rail vehicle having a horizontally extendable step arrangement having a plurality of step treads. An object of the invention is to provide a rail vehicle having a simple, extendable step platform. The object is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent patent claim 1. Developments and embodiments of the invention will be appreciated from the features of the dependent patent claims. A rail vehicle according to the invention for passenger transport comprises at least one body having at least one entry door in an entry region of the body of the rail vehicle and an extendable step platform for bridging a horizontal gap between the body of the rail vehicle and a fixed railway platform, wherein the rail vehicle has in the entry region a non-movable step strip which is fixedly connected to the body and which projects beyond an outer shell of the body of the rail vehicle, wherein the extendable step platform is constructed and arranged PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 2 - under the step strip in such a manner that a step of a predetermined height is constructed between the extendable step platform in an extended position and the step strip. The entry door is suitable for closing a door opening in an outer shell of the rail vehicle in the closed position and, in the open position, of releasing a door opening for entry into and exit from the vehicle for passengers. The entry door can therefore also be referred to as an outer door. It is particularly arranged laterally on the rail vehicle. The region in the rail vehicle behind the door opening of the entry door is generally referred to as the entry region. The entry region is outwardly extended here by the step strip. In this case, the step strip has a fixed, predetermined height above the rails, in particular the running faces thereof, of the rail vehicle. The step strip is arranged so as to be fixed in position on the body, in particular of a carcass structure of the body, and securely connected thereto. This means in this context not necessarily a materially engaging connection between the step strip and the body, which may, however, be advantageous – the step strip can also be releasably connected to the body – but instead that the step strip cannot be moved relative to the body or carcass during operation of the vehicle. According to a development of the solution according to the invention, the step strip is arranged in such a manner that it strikes against a floor of the rail vehicle in the entry region. Advantageously, it abuts it in a substantially gap-free manner, in particular in a flush manner. The step strip consequently extends the floor in the entry region of the rail vehicle, particularly beyond the outer shell of the vehicle.

PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 3 - The step strip forms an entry edge of the rail vehicle in the entry region and consequently terminates the entry region of the rail vehicle toward a railway platform. In this case, in a development the step strip can have an L-shaped profile in cross section in a region directed outward. A substantially horizontally extending portion, which is directed away from the inner space of the vehicle in the entry region, of the L-shaped region of the step strip is used in this case as a step region for persons. It is accordingly configured for being stepped on and projects beyond the outer shell of the body. A substantially vertically extending portion of the L-shaped region of the step strip, however, is constructed for abutment of the entry door in the closed position thereof. It can act both as a stop and in order to seal the closed entry door with respect to the body. The entry edge of the body of the rail vehicle in the entry region is formed in the L-shaped step strip by an upper edge of the vertical portion. From this entry edge, the step strip extends toward the inner side of the body, particularly as an extension relative to the floor in the entry region of the body of the rail vehicle and abuts it in particular in a flush manner. The entry edge forms the closure of the entry region of the body of the rail vehicle in an outward direction. As a result of the L-shaped profile, the step strip is constructed in a step-like manner in the front region which is directed outwardly. Consequently, it could also be referred to as a step tread. In this case, however, the step height is comparatively small, in particular the height of the vertical portion from the entry edge up to the horizontal portion of the step strip is less than 5 cm so that the primary effect of the step strip profile which is L-shaped in cross section is established by the abutment of the entry door and the sealing PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 4 - thereof relative to the body and by reducing a horizontal gap between the entry region and the entry edge thereof and the fixed railway platform, and less by construction of an additional step in order to reduce a vertical spacing between the entry edge and the railway platform. In cross section through the entire step strip, it may also have a double L-shaped profile, occasionally also referred to as a Z-shaped profile. It is then folded two times. Generally, the plane of section of a cross section through the step strip is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the body of the rail vehicle. In a development, the extendable step platform is constructed to be extendable between a retracted position and a completely extended position in accordance with the horizontal gap between the body and a fixed railway platform. In a development, it terminates in a flush manner in a retracted position with the outer shell of the body of the rail vehicle. The outer shell is occasionally also referred to as the outer skin. The extendable step platform is particularly arranged under the step strip, particularly in such a manner that in an extended position of the step platform a step of a predetermined height between the fixed step strip and the extendable step platform in the extended position is formed. In the extended position, therefore, the step platform has a predetermined spacing in a vertical direction relative to the step strip. In the extended position of the extendable step platform, it forms a step of a predetermined height with the step strip, wherein it projects beyond the outer shell of the vehicle. In the retracted position, however, according to the development PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 5 - it is located completely inside the outer shell of the vehicle. The extendable step platform is completely integrated in a substructure of the body in the retracted position. The extendable step platform is particularly pushed out and in and is therefore constructed in a linearly extendable manner. It may also be referred to as a sliding step or as a so-called insert step. In this case, the extendable step platform can be constructed to be extendable exclusively in a linear manner, in particular substantially in a horizontal direction, and to be free from pivot or articulated joints. The step platform per se is particularly constructed in a planar manner. In addition to an exclusively horizontal ability to extend, the step platform can also be constructed to be extendable with a vertical direction portion in a fixed angle less than 5°, for example, of approximately 2° relative to a horizontal plane. In the extended position, therefore, it is arranged in a slightly oblique manner. Nevertheless, it has in the completely extended position a predetermined, fixed spacing in a vertical direction from the step strip and the floor, which is arranged in a fixed manner on the body, in particular in a non-movable manner, of the rail vehicle in the entry region. In a development, the extendable step platform is constructed to be extendable between a retracted position and a completely extended position in accordance with the horizontal gap between the body and a fixed railway platform. Consequently, it is extendable in a variable manner and adjustable in terms of the horizontal spacing of the front side thereof directed toward the railway platform from the entry edge of the rail vehicle. According to another development, the rail vehicle is constructed in such a manner that the completely extended step platform also has in a horizontal direction a predetermined PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 6 - spacing greater than zero from the step strip. In order to construct a step, the step strip is consequently arranged in a manner offset relative to the completely extended step platform in the direction of the body of the rail vehicle. The completely extended step platform projects beyond the outer shell of the rail vehicle further than the step strip. The step strip does not project in principle beyond a predetermined envelope curve of the vehicle – it is located completely within this envelope curve. It is simply used to reduce the gap between the entry region of the rail vehicle and the railway platform. In particular, it projects only a few centimeters beyond the outer shell. For example, the spacing of a front edge of the step strip from the entry edge is less than cm. However, the step platform may be configured in such a manner that it projects beyond the predetermined envelope curve in the completely extended position. Its spacing in the completely extended position may be, for example, from 20 cm to 30 cm in a horizontal direction relative to the entry edge. As already set out above, at smaller spacings from the railway platform it can also be extended only by a smaller extent in order to bridge the gap. The vertical spacing – and therefore the step height – between the extended step platform and the entry edge in the entry region of the body of the rail vehicle corresponds to the specifications of the TSI (Technische Spezifikationen für die Interoperabilität im Europäischen Wirtschaftsraum/Technical specifications for interoperability in the European Economic Area) or comparable standards.

PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 7 - The rail vehicle is advantageously a double-deck rail vehicle. The entry region is then arranged in a lower deck of the double-deck rail vehicle. Another development is evident in that the rail vehicle, which is in particular a double-deck rail vehicle, has a plurality of, in particular at least three, bodies which are coupled together, wherein the body according to the invention is arranged between two bodies which are free from a non-movable step strip which is securely connected to the body and which projects beyond the outer shell of the body and from an extendable step platform under the step strip which is arranged in such a manner that a step is constructed between the extended step platform and the step strip. The described step arrangement with the step strip and the extendable step platform is consequently provided exclusively in one or more central carriages of the double-deck vehicle. According to another development of the rail vehicle according to the invention, it has a brush which is arranged in the region of the outer shell above the extendable step platform and which is constructed in a manner suitable for brushing away objects from the extendable step platform when the extendable step platform is extended and/or retracted and which is orientated toward the extendable step platform. In this case, the brush can be integrated in an aperture of the outer shell. The invention permits a large number of embodiments. It will be explained in greater detail with reference to the following Figure, in which one embodiment is illustrated. The Figure shows the schematic cross section through an entry region 2 of a body 1 of a rail vehicle according to the invention.

PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 8 - A floor 6 which declines obliquely toward the center of the body and a step strip 4 which abuts the floor in a flush manner and which terminates the entry region 2 in an outward direction is arranged in the entry region 2. The step strip 4 is connected to the body 1 in a non-movable and secure manner. In this instance, it is constructed in a Z-shaped manner with an outwardly directed L-shaped region 8 which forms a step. In this case, the L-shaped region 8 of the step strip 4 has a horizontally extending portion 9 and a vertically extending portion 10. The vertical portion 10 is used for the abutment of the entry door 5 in the closed position thereof, as indicated here, in which it closes the entry region 2 of the body 1 of the rail vehicle toward the environment – in this embodiment, extending in a manner flush with an outer shell 7 of the body of the rail vehicle. The horizontal portion 9 projects beyond an outer shell 7 of the body 1 and can be stood on without any risk by passengers or persons in general. It serves to reduce a horizontal gap between the entry region 2 and a fixed railway platform which is not illustrated. An upper edge of the vertical portion of the L-shaped step strip forms an entry edge 12 of the body 1 of the rail vehicle in the entry region 3 and consequently terminates the entry region toward the railway platform. In addition to the step strip 4, the rail vehicle comprises an extendable step platform 3 which is arranged under the entry region 2 for bridging the horizontal gap between the body 1 and the fixed railway platform.

PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 9 - In this case, the extendable step platform 3 is under the step strip 4 in such a manner that a step is formed between the extended step platform 3 and the step strip 4. A partially extended step platform 3 is illustrated between a retracted position and a completely extended position. The step platform 3 can be extended purely in a linear manner. In this instance, it extends so as to rise slightly obliquely toward the railway platform as a result of the construction type. However, it could also be inclined relative to the railway platform or extend horizontally. Furthermore, the step face thereof is constructed in a planar manner. In the retracted position thereof, the extendable step platform 3 is not only integrated completely in a substructure of the body 1, but also terminates flush with the outer shell 7 of the body 1 of the rail vehicle. In order to prevent introduction of dirt, the body 1 has an aperture with an integrated brush 11 as part of the outer shell 7, which brush is orientated so as to act relative to the step face of the step platform 3. In the extended position thereof, the step platform 3 has a predetermined fixed spacing in a vertical direction from the step strip 4, in particular from the entry edge 12. In the completely extended position, the step platform 3 further projects a long way beyond the outer shell 7 and also projects beyond the step strip 4 by a predetermined extent in a horizontal direction in order to form a step. The step strip 4 is accordingly arranged in a manner offset backward. The rail vehicle is constructed with two decks and the entry region 2 is arranged in the lower deck of the double-deck rail vehicle.

Claims (9)

1.PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 10 - Patent Claims 1. A rail vehicle for passenger transport comprising a body (1) having at least one entry door (5) in an entry region (2) and an extendable step platform (3) for bridging a horizontal gap between the body and a fixed railway platform, characterized in that it has in the entry region (2) a non-movable step strip (4) which is fixedly connected to the body (1) and which projects beyond an outer shell (6) of the body (1), wherein the extendable step platform (3) is arranged under the step strip (4) in such a manner that a step is constructed between the extended step platform (3) and the step strip (4).

2. The rail vehicle as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rail vehicle is a double-deck rail vehicle and the entry region (2) is arranged in a lower deck.

3. The rail vehicle as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the step strip (4) has an L-shaped profile in a region directed outward, wherein a substantially horizontal portion (9) is constructed for being stepped on and projects at least partially beyond the outer shell (7) of the body (1), and wherein a substantially vertical portion (10) is constructed for abutment of the entry door (5) in a closed position.

4. The rail vehicle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the extendable step platform (3) is constructed to be linearly extendable and is arranged in such a manner that it has in an extended position a predetermined, fixed spacing in a vertical direction from the step strip (4).

5. The rail vehicle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the extendable step platform (3) is constructed to be extendable between a retracted position and a PCT/EP2021/06742020P13928WOIL - 11 - completely extended position in accordance with the horizontal gap between the body (1) and a fixed railway platform.

6. The rail vehicle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the extendable step platform (3) is constructed in such a manner that it terminates flush with an outer shell (7) of the body of the rail vehicle in a retracted position.

7. The rail vehicle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the step strip (4) is arranged in an offset manner relative to the completely extended step platform (3) in the direction toward the body (1) of the rail vehicle in order to form a step.

8. The rail vehicle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the step strip (4) abuts a floor (6) in the entry region (2).

9. The rail vehicle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a brush (11) which is arranged in the region of the outer shell (7) above the extendable step platform (3) and which is constructed in a manner suitable for cleaning the extendable step platform (3) when the extendable step platform (3) is extended and/or retracted and which is orientated toward the extendable step platform (3).