JP7296928B2 - Getting on and off assist device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a boarding/alighting assist device that fills a gap between a platform and a train when the train stops at a station.

A certain gap is provided so that there is no interference between the platform and the railcar when the railcar stops at the station. A user of a railway vehicle must step over this gap when getting on and off the vehicle.

However, for people with small physiques (for example, some children) and people with short strides (for example, some elderly people), it may not be easy to cross over the gap. Wheelchair passengers may also find it difficult to cross this gap. Therefore, an invention has been proposed that fills the gap between the vehicle and the platform to reduce the obstacles to getting on and off of the user.

For example, there is an invention in which a transfer plate is protruded from the lower side of a vehicle entrance/exit toward a platform to be passed (see Patent Document 1). However, projecting objects from the vehicle side toward the platform may interfere with people on the platform.

Therefore, a device has been proposed that is provided on a vehicle underframe and lifts up a step member from below to fill the gap between the platform and the entrance/exit (Patent Document 2). In Patent Document 2, the step portion that fills the gap between the vehicle and the platform extends once in the width direction from the portion of the vehicle below the platform, is positioned between the vehicle and the platform, and then moves upward from the bottom. .

JP-A-2002-187547 JP 2011-110950 A

A gap between the vehicle and the platform (hereafter referred to as a "VP gap") is actually a big barrier when getting on and off in a wheelchair or the like. Moreover, even if the VP gap is such that it can be crossed over, the psychological pressure is high. Therefore, filling the VP gaps so as not to interfere with the passengers on the platform is important for enhancing the convenience of use.

In this regard, in Patent Document 2, the step portion rises from below the VP gap, so that the VP gap can be filled without interfering with the passengers.

However, since the length of the step portion is fixed in Patent Document 2, it cannot be said that the VP gap, which varies for each station and each number of passengers in the vehicle, can be filled sufficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been conceived in view of the above problems, and provides an assisting device for getting on and off that can fill the VP gaps that change for each station and each number of passengers in a vehicle.

More specifically, the boarding/alighting assist device according to the present invention includes:
An assist device for getting on and off that is placed under the underframe of a vehicle and fills a gap between the vehicle and the platform,
a baking sheet;
a bellows-type expandable part fixed to the top plate;
an air control unit for taking air in and out of the bellows type expansion and contraction part;
a guide portion for regulating movement of the top plate from under the underframe toward a gap between the vehicle entrance and the platform ;
The top plate is characterized by having a length that changes in a direction from the vehicle toward the platform after the movement according to a gap between the vehicle and the platform.

In the boarding assist device according to the present invention, the length of the top plate that fills the gap between the vehicle and the platform is changed according to the VP gap. It can fill the gap, physically help getting on and off the wheelchair, and reduce the psychological pressure when crossing over.

In addition, since the mechanism of the assist device for getting on and off according to the present invention is simple, it can be installed later without notching or removing the underframe of an existing vehicle.

It is a figure which shows the boarding/alighting assistance apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship among the boarding/alighting assist device, the vehicle, and the platform; It is a figure which shows the structure of a bellows-type expansion-contraction part. It is a figure which shows the structure of a top plate. It is a figure explaining operation|movement of a boarding/alighting assistance apparatus. It is a figure explaining operation|movement of a boarding/alighting assistance apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A boarding/alighting assist device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the following description illustrates one embodiment and one example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following description. The following description can be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b) show a state in which the boarding/alighting assist device 1 according to the present invention is deployed. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the vehicle 52 and the platform 50 when the vehicle 52 is equipped with the boarding assist device 1 according to the present invention and is unfolded. A boarding assist device 1 according to the present invention has a top plate 16 , a bellows-type expandable section 12 , an air control section 14 , and a guide section 10 . Moreover, the operation panel 20 which controls operation|movement of the boarding/alighting assistance apparatus 1 may be included.

Further, the boarding/alighting assist device 1 of the present invention is attached to the underside of the underframe 56, and is in the unfolded state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when used. It should be noted that the boarding/alighting assist device 1 does not need to be installed at all the boarding/alighting gates. Since the boarding/alighting assist device 1 has a certain size, it is preferably provided below the boarding/alighting opening provided in the center of the vehicle without a bogie. The getting-on/off assist device 1 will be described in detail below.

<Guide part>
Referring to FIG. 1, the guide portion 10 is composed of a fixed guide 10a and a floating guide 10b. The fixed guide 10a is composed of a pair of left and right rails. Also, the fixed guide 10a is fixed on the center side of the track. The floating guide 10b is movably connected along the fixed guide 10a. A method of connecting the fixed guide 10a and the floating guide 10b is not particularly limited. Here, an example is shown in which the fixed guide 10a is connected to the fixed guide 10a by rollers 10br that sandwich the fixed guide 10a.

The floating guide 10b is composed of a pair of left and right L-shaped cross-sectional members. A top plate 16 is fixed to one end of the floating guide 10b. Also, the floating guides 10b are fixed to each other by a connecting bar 10ba. The connecting bar 10ba connects the L-shaped cross-sectional members to each other and also serves to ensure the movement of the floating guide 10b when the bellows-type expandable portion 12 described later expands. This action will be explained in detail when explaining the operation.

<Accordion type expansion part>
FIG. 3 shows the bellows-type telescopic part 12 . FIG. 3(a) shows a state in which the accordion-type extensible portion 12 is extended together with the top plate 16, and FIG. 3(b) shows a state in which the accordion-type extensible portion 12 is contracted. The bellows-type expandable part 12 can be expanded and contracted in this way, and can be preferably used in a form in which the volume is fixed when expanded. In the boarding/alighting assist device 1 according to the present invention, since the bellows-type extendable portion 12 supports the weight applied to the top plate 16, it is necessary to obtain pressure against the load applied to the top plate 16 from above by air pressure. Therefore, the bellows-type expandable part 12 is required to have a volume that does not substantially change when expanded.

For example, the bellows-type stretchable part 12 can be suitably used by connecting frames of metal, hard plastic, or the like, which are alternately arranged and have different cross-sectional areas, with an airtight film.

One end of the accordion-type expandable part 12 is airtightly connected to the top plate 16 . The other end is airtightly joined to the substantially flat bottom portion 12b. An air hole 12bh for taking in and out air is formed in the bottom portion 12b.

<Air control section>
Referring to FIG. 2, the air control portion 14 has an air inlet/outlet hole 14a, which communicates airtightly with an air hole 12bh in the bottom portion 12b of the bellows-type extensible portion 12. As shown in FIG. An air control unit 14 inflates or removes air from the bellows-type extensible portion 12 . At this time, compressed air stored in the vehicle 52 may be used.

Note that the bellows-type expansion/contraction part 12 returns to the retracted position when the air is released. However, in order to avoid danger during travel, the assist device 1 must be positioned inside the vehicle limit 60 (see FIG. 5(b)). Therefore, it is desirable that the air control unit 14 forcibly sucks out the air in the bellows-type extensible unit 12 so that the top plate 16 is securely positioned at the storage position and does not move due to vibration during running. Therefore, the air control section 14 may include a vacuum pump. A mechanism may be provided to mechanically fix the movement of the top plate 16 and the floating guide 10b after they are stored.

<Top plate>
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of only the top plate 16 . The top plate 16 is composed of a housing 16a having an opening 16ao on one side and a plate 16b that can be inserted into the opening 16ao of the housing 16a. The plate 16b is inserted into the opening 16ao of the housing 16a and does not protrude from the housing 16a by a stopper (not shown) provided in the housing 16a. You may call the housing|casing 16a a 1st member and the plate 16b a 2nd member.

Further, an urging means (not shown) such as a spring is arranged in the housing 16a, and the plate 16b is always urged to be pushed out from the housing 16a. That is, the plate 16b and the housing 16a are biased in the longitudinal direction of the top plate 16 with respect to each other. The housing 16a and the plate 16b serve as steps for getting on and off.

The side of the plate 16b opposite to the housing 16a is bent into an L shape. A piece 17 is provided on each of the L-shaped corner portion 16ba and the arm portion 16bb.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 again. A bellows-type expandable section 12 is fixed to the bottom surface 16ad of the housing 16a. The left and right sides of the housing 16a are fixed to the floating guides 10b. Therefore, the top plate 16 also moves with the movement of the floating guide 10b.

<Operation unit>
Please refer to FIG. The boarding/alighting assist device 1 according to the present invention desirably has an operation panel 20 on at least one of the inside and outside of the vehicle 52, preferably both. FIG. 2 shows the operation panel 20 provided inside and outside the side structure 58 . The boarding/alighting assist device 1 only needs to be used when necessary, and does not have to be always unfolded in synchronism with the door of the boarding/alighting entrance. The operation panel 20 is electrically connected to the air control section 14 . An instruction signal Sc from the operation panel 20 can cause the boarding/alighting assist device 1 to shift from the stowed state to the unfolded state, and from the unwound state to the stowed state.

<Operation of the boarding assist device>
Next, the operation of the boarding/alighting assist device 1 will be described. FIG. 5(b) shows a state in which the assist device 1 is stored, and FIG. 5(a) shows a state in which the assist device 1 is deployed. In the retracted state, the floating guide 10b is pulled in along the fixed guide 10a. At this time, the top plate 16 is housed inside (toward the center of the track) of the vehicle limit 60, and the vehicle 52 can run without interfering with other buildings.

After the vehicle 52 stops at the station, the boarding/alighting assist device 1 is driven by an instruction signal Sc from the operation panel 20 outside or inside the side structure 58 . The air control unit 14 sends air into the bellows type expansion/contraction unit 12 according to the instruction signal Sc. The bellows-type expandable part 12 expands according to the amount of air injected inside. At this time, since the front end of the bellows-type extensible portion 12 is fixed to the top plate 16, it extends while pushing up the floating guide 10b. Further, since the connecting bar 10ba is provided, the bellows-type extendable portion 12 does not protrude from the floating guide 10b toward the platform 50 side. It can be said that the connecting bar 10ba guarantees the movement of the bellows-type extensible portion 12. As shown in FIG.

The floating guide 10 b extends along the fixed guide 10 a , and when the tip side of the top plate 16 abuts the platform 50 , the top 17 reduces friction between the top plate 16 and the platform 50 . Furthermore, since the plate 16b can enter the interior of the housing 16a against the bias inside the housing 16a, the length of the top plate 16 changes according to the gap (VP gap 5) between the vehicle 52 and the platform 50. can be done.

The floating guide 10b stops at the tip of the fixed guide 10a. At this time, the upper surface of the top plate 16 is arranged at a position equal to or lower than the floor surface 54 of the entrance/exit of the vehicle 52 . At this time, since there is a difference in height of 50 mm or more between the floor surface 54 of the entrance/exit and the upper surface of the platform 50, the height of the top plate 16 and the floor surface 54 of the entrance/exit is within the range of 0 mm to 50 mm. preferred.

Even if the top plate 16 stops, the air control part 14 further introduces air. Since the bellows portion of the bellows-type extensible portion 12 hardly expands, the volume is fixed and a desired pressure can be applied to the top plate 16 . Assuming that the sole area of one foot of a normal adult male is about 230 cm ² and the weight is 80 kg, the pressure applied to the foot when the weight is supported by one foot is 0.35 kg/cm ² . Therefore, by applying a pressure of 0.5 kg/cm ² to 1 kg/cm ² to the bellows type extension part 12, the top plate 16 hardly dents even when a passenger gets on, and the VP gap 5 can be safely filled. can be done.

After the passenger has finished boarding and alighting, the boarding/alighting assist device 1 moves to the retracted position according to the instruction signal Sc of the operation panel 20 . Specifically, the air control unit 14 discharges the air from the bellows-type expansion/contraction unit 12 . It is desirable that this discharge be forcibly discharged at least after the inside of the bellows-type expandable section 12 reaches atmospheric pressure. This is because the position of the top plate 16 is quickly retracted to the inside of the vehicle limit 60, and the inside of the bellows-type telescopic portion 12 is kept below the atmospheric pressure, thereby fixing the movement of the floating guide 10b.

Please refer to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a case where the thickness of the top plate 16 (thickness of the housing 16a) is higher than the platform 50 at the unfolded position. In such a case, there is a gap between the step housing 16a and the platform 50, and there is a risk that the toe of the passenger may be caught. However, the arm portion 16bb of the plate 16b closes this gap to avoid the risk of the passenger's toe being caught.

As described above, the boarding/alighting assist device 1 according to the present invention can satisfactorily fill the VP gap 5, and can satisfy the VP gap 5 even if the VP gap 5 varies depending on the station or the number of passengers. can be done.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably used for rail vehicles.

1 Boarding Auxiliary Device 5 VP Gap 10 Guide Part 10a Fixed Guide 10b Floating Guide 10ba Connecting Bar 10br Roller 12 Accordion Type Expandable Part 12b Bottom 12bh Air Hole 14 Air Control Part 14a Air Inlet/Outlet 16 Top Plate 16a Housing 16ad Bottom 16ao Opening 16b Plate 16ba Corner portion 16bb Arm portion 17 Top 20 Operation panel 50 Platform 52 Vehicle 56 Underframe 58 Side structure 60 Vehicle limit Sc Instruction signal

Claims (2)

An assist device for getting on and off that is placed under the underframe of a vehicle and fills a gap between the vehicle and the platform,
a baking sheet;
a bellows-type expandable part fixed to the top plate;
an air control unit for taking air in and out of the bellows type expansion and contraction part;
a guide portion for regulating movement of the top plate from under the underframe toward a gap between the vehicle entrance and the platform ;
An assist device for getting on and off, wherein the length of the top plate changes in a direction from the vehicle toward the platform after the movement according to a gap between the vehicle and the platform. The top plate is composed of a first member and a second member, and has biasing means for applying a bias in a direction from the vehicle toward the platform between the first member and the second member. The boarding/alighting assist device according to claim 1.

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