Retractable step

ES 2 276 280 T3

DESCRIPTION

Retractable step.

The present invention relates to a so-called retractable passage. Retractable passageway is understood as an entrance assistance for the entry or exit of vehicles, particularly vehicles on rails, a passable surface or the like extending from the vehicle, essentially in a linear direction, to bridge the gap between the vehicle and the platform. One of these mechanisms is known from FR-2,165,030.

Depending on the position between the vehicle body and the platform, the retractable passage reaches, most of the time at the end of its unfolding movement, the platform area and, in this case, there is a danger that it will circulate laterally to the essentially vertical wall of the platform. This problem is overcome with sensors in the area of ​​the leading edge of the retractable passage.

Another problem consists in the fact that, during the stop of the vehicle at the station, in the case of the extended retractable passage, a height variation of the retractable passage may occur. This can happen due to suspension failure, due to variation in the load of the vehicle during the ascents and descents of the passengers, due to the variable load of the wind and the like, more in less time. The greatest possible variation in height is set, in this case, by various vehicle parameters (type of suspension, position of the stops, length of the retractable step crank with respect to the axis of rotation, etc.) and is referred to hereinafter maximum height variation. Due to the actual height variation, in the context of this maximum height variation, it may now happen that the luggage or passengers are restrained or the retractable passage is damaged, when the retractable passage is lowered accordingly. As endangered objects do not generally extend across the entire width of the retractable passageway and it cannot be predicted in which area of ​​the retractable passageway they are located, detection was impossible until now and the risk of catching parts of the vehicle had to be assumed. body and / or objects or a failure of the retractable passage.

The present invention refers to modifying this matter and specifying a mechanism, with which it is possible to carry out one of these detections without difficulties and in an economical way.

This is achieved in accordance with the present invention by connecting a belt to the retractable passageway in a displaceable manner, extending essentially along the entire length of the retraction passage and lying, in the activated state, essentially below the front end of the retractable passage, and providing at least one sensor, which registers the position of the belt and / or the force transmitted by the belt to the retractable passage.

In this way, each inadmissible approach to the upper face of the platform and the threatening danger of catching an object or part of the human body can be registered. Through the positioning of the belt, during the deployment of the retractable passage, the area (detection zone) is also recorded, in which during the descent, for example, for one of the reasons mentioned above, the retractable passage could move, and so it is assured. The activated state is adopted by the belt at least during the deployment of the retractable passage.

By means of the mobile connection between the belt and the retractable passage, it is possible to place the belt in the desired position, automatically if necessary, already during the deployment of the retractable passage. The monitoring of this position remains activated during the deployment of the retractable gate to its final position.

If a variation in the position of the belt is detected, the unfolding movement and the retractable step are stopped to move back a predetermined length, whereby an obstacle-free area is ensured. Additionally, for example, an acoustic and / or visual alarm signal can be emitted. Another reaction is clearly possible, if desired by the operator.

The belt itself can either lead entirely to an inclined, albeit essentially linear, extension movement towards the unfolding direction of the retractable passage, or it can also lead entirely to a turning movement and, as it were, come loose.

Depending on the design and movement of the belt, the most varied sensors are suitable as real sensors, which can be designed as switches or elastometric strips or are due to the electrodynamic or piezoelectric effect. The sensors can either be arranged directly on the belt and measure the force between the bottom and the belt or be placed in the area of ​​the belt bearing and measure the forces between the belt and the retractable passage, which do derive from the forces mentioned in first place.

The transition of the belt from the passive position to the active position can occur through the self-weight (tare) of the belt, a guide rail and eventually a spring. It is also clearly possible to provide a motor drive.

It is beneficial for the achievement of the objective of the invention and particularly, when the retractable passage must be retracted in case of determining a danger of being caught, that the belt eventually releases, in this withdrawal movement, objects already attached, as quickly as possible without load. additional and not caught and fixed.

The invention is explained in detail below on the basis of design. In this case, Fig. 1 shows a front view of an aid and entrance designed according to the invention, Fig. 2 in a purely schematic way, a section in the direction of arrow II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a variant of a retractable passage similar to that of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale, Fig. 4 a view similar to that of Fig. 3 of another variant of the invention and Fig. 5 the variant of the invention according to Fig. 4 in another position between the vehicle and the platform.

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 1 with a two-leaf door 2 and a retractable passage 3. Below the retractable passage 3 the so-called detection zone 4 is represented with broken lines, that is, that zone, which should be supervised by the mechanism according to the invention during the extension of the retractable passage due to the danger of collision and / or getting caught.

The positioning and meaning of this detection zone 4 is evident, thanks to the coordination of Figs. 1 and 2: in Fig. 2 a platform 5 is indicated, as it should run according to the norm with respect to vehicle 1 with its surface and its side wall. Between platform 5 and vehicle 1 there is inevitably a gap 6, exactly this gap, which in many cases, considering curved rail sections in the case of rail vehicles, can also be clearly wider than in the case of rail vehicles. Execution example shown and the retractable step 3 is provided for safely and / or exceeding it.

ES 2 276 280 T3

Fig. 3 presents the situation in the area of ​​platform 5 on an enlarged scale, but also in a fully schematic way. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the tape 7 provided according to the invention consists of a rotating flap, which extends along the entire length L (Fig. 1) of the retractable passage 3 and essentially lies exactly below the edge front 8 of the retractable passage 3, when it is deployed in its activated position, as shown in Fig. 3.

The broken line below the retractable passage 3 refers again to the detection zone 4, that is, the zone, covered by the lower edge 9 of the tape 7 during the unfolding in direction A of the double arrow EA. If the belt 9 collides, during deployment, against an obstacle in any position of the length L, this is indicated by a sensor, arranged in the exemplary embodiment in the bearing 10 between the belt 7 and the retractable passage 3, and is take advantage of the measures provided for this by the operator. The belt must be adjusted after reaching the end position of the retractable passage and must release / activate the detection zone.

FIG. 4 also shows, in a purely schematic manner, another embodiment of a tape 7 '. In this example the belt is lowered around a hinge 10 'downwards, similarly a retractable movement would be possible. The movement of the belt 7 and / or 7 'between the active position shown and the position placed in the retractable passage and / or inserted in notches of the profile of the retractable passage 3 is produced by its own weight (tare) and / or by support by spring; an active movement by means of a servomotor or the like is also clearly possible, as mentioned above.

Fig. 5 presents the situation, which results in the case of a mechanism according to the invention according to Fig. 4, when already during the deployment of the retractable passage 3 the height of the vehicle 1 is too low with respect to the upper edge of the platform 11 , so that the belt 7 'collides with its front end 9' against the vertical front 12 of platform 5 lower than the upper edge of platform 11. This is also indicated by the position sensor at joint 10 'and carries the given reaction, as discussed above. The same thing happens when the tape 7 'collides with another obstacle. Instead of the position sensor at the hinge 10 'a force sensor can be arranged directly on the leading edge 9' of the belt 7 '.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments characterized and described. Thus, it is possible to design the front ends 9, 9 'themselves as sensors, either carrying these ends profiles, designed as electrical connection strips or filled with gas, measuring and indicating the increase in gas pressure in the case of accumulation on a obstacle or consisting of tapes 7, 7 ', in turn, in two pieces so that they can move relative to each other and the movement of these pieces relative to each other is used as a measure for the appearance of an obstacle.

It is important to arrange a tape 7, 7 'in the area below the leading edge 8 of the retractable passage 3 and along the entire length 11 of the retractable passage and indicate by means of a sensor the loads acting on this tape in its entirety and / or or the position of the belt and stop the movement, if it exceeds a previously given value, and activate, in each case, the alarm.