A lifting device for railway vehicles

(54) (56) (57)

INVENTOR'S OFFICE NAME

Willy Karlsson, Kalmar SE

Bjerkens Patentbyrå KB

Lifting device for track vehicles

CALLED PUBLICATIONS: - - SUMMARY:

In a device for transferring in particular a wheelchair-bound person between a platform and a passenger compartment of a vehicle with a floor at a higher level than the platform, a first floor area (5) inside the vehicle is closest to an entrance (2) into the vehicle from a platform side. arranged at substantially the same level as the platform. Power means are arranged to move a carrier surface (6) disposed within the vehicle and reachable via the first floor surface (5) between the platform level and the level of the passenger compartment floor to connect to the first floor surface and to a second, to the passenger compartment leading or this belonging ( 10). A staircase (8) is arranged between the two levels adjacent to the support surface (6) and is directly accessible via both the first floor surface (5) and the second floor surface (10) independently of the position of the support surface (6).

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The numbers in brackets indicate international identification code, INID code. Letters in clamps indicate international document &lt;od.

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PREVIOUS PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a device for transferring, in particular, passengers with reduced mobility, especially in wheelchairs, between a platform and a passenger compartment of a vehicle with the passenger compartment having a floor at a first level at least substantially a normal step height higher than a second level. platform level for a vehicle standing next to a platform, wherein it comprises a device arranged to receive the passenger on a carrier surface and force means arranged to move said carrier surface between the two levels, and wherein one or more steps are arranged to allow other passengers to move between the different levels themselves.

Devices of this type are mainly used for wheelchair-bound persons to be able to get on and off railway wagons with said difference in level between the floor of the passenger compartment and the platform, and therefore for purposes of illustration and no limitation of the present invention, this particular application will be discussed. At a mentioned level difference, which the vast majority of railway cars exhibit, between the floor of a passenger compartment, ie of a passenger car, and the platform plane, difficulties arise when wheelchair-bound passengers must get on and off the train.

It is impossible for anyone sitting in a wheelchair to move between the two levels without any kind of lifting device, and devices of the kind initially defined are therefore arranged in certain railway wagons. In these, a said carrying surface having a platform is extendable at the doorway into the railway carriage in question, where also a staircase leads from the railway carriage down to the platform, and the platform can be lowered to the platform for a wheelchair bound person to

511 405 be able to roll on the platform, whereupon it can be raised to level with the door opening, so that the person can roll in with the wheelchair on the floor located on the first level. A disadvantage of these prior art devices is that when the device is used to bring the wheelchair bound between the two levels, this device blocks the stairs going between the two levels, so that other passengers cannot rise on or off the train at the doorway in question as long as used as the lifting device, but it must be completely folded or retracted before others can pass through the doorway, which can be very disturbing10.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of initially defined type which remedies the drawbacks of previously known such devices.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the fact that, in an initially defined device, a first floor area inside the vehicle, at least one entrance into the vehicle from a platform side, is arranged at substantially said second level, the power means being arranged to move said carrier surface between said two levels. the second level connects to the first floor surface and at the first level connects to a second, to the passenger compartment conductor or associated floor area, 25 the device is arranged with its carrying surface at a distance from said entrance inside the vehicle and with this reachable from the entrance via said first floor surface, and a staircase between the second and first level is arranged next to the support surface of the device and directly accessible via both said first floor surface and said second floor surface. regardless of the position of the support surface.

By arranging in this way a first floor area, ie platform level, located first floor area inside the vehicle and the device with its supporting surface inside the vehicle at a distance from the entrance and reachable from the entrance aisle via the first floor surface and a staircase between the second and first level next to it the bearing surface of the device and directly accessible via both said first floor surface and said second floor surface irrespective of the position

511 405 of the carrier surface, free passage for other passengers is obtained in and out of the vehicle and between the platform level and the passenger compartment level regardless of whether at present any wheelchair bound passenger is in the process of moving between said two levels, so that his behavior does not in any way interfere. the other passengers and the latter are also not in the way of the wheelchair bound.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle has said inputs on both sides thereof and the device is arranged with said support surface in a middle region between the two inputs and accessible from these inputs via said first floor surface with a stairway leading between the first and second floor surfaces on each side. about said support surface laterally between the entrance and the support surface. This allows free passage on both sides of the lifting device for other passengers between the two levels, that is, regardless of which entrance to be used at a given moment, ie on which side of the train the platform is located, and the wheelchair bound can enter the train from both sides and reach the support surface to reach the passenger compartment floor surface. The same reasoning applies of course to the descent case.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the support surface is arranged pivotally about a substantially vertical axis. Hereby it is possible, for example, that a wheelchair with a wheelchair-bound passenger can be driven on the carrier surface with a certain alignment not fitting with the orientation the wheelchair should have when lifting or lowering between the two levels is carried out, when a rotation of the carrier surface in connection with this increase or decrease can fix this discrepancy.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, which is a further development of the latter embodiment, the device comprises power means controllable to effect selectable rotation of the carrier surface to change the alignment of a passenger resting on the carrier surface between the two levels. Of course, it is advantageous that the rotation can be via a selectable controllable power means.

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According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said rotating force means are arranged to provide a rotation of the support surface by substantially 90 ° to enable the on and off surface of the support surface in substantially transverse direction on said second level and substantially longitudinal direction on said first level. with respect to the direction of travel of the tracked vehicle. This is very advantageous when it is convenient to get in and out of, for example, a rail car straight from the side, ie in said transverse direction, but then move in the carriage in its longitudinal direction, ie in said longitudinal direction. A desired change of direction in the transfer between the two levels is conveniently achieved in this embodiment.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said rotary movement force means is arranged to automatically provide a rotation of the support surface of substantially 90 ° in connection with its movement between the two levels. In this way, an automatic alignment of, for example, a wheelchair with regard to the respective level is achieved in a convenient way with automaticity.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said rotary movement force means is selectively operable to rotate in one or the other direction in connection with vertical movement of the support surface between the first level and the second level depending on which side of the vehicle a platform for descent / ascent. Hereby, adequate alignment of the alignment of a wheelchair on the carrier surface is achieved, regardless of which direction it is rolled on the carrier surface or in which direction it is intended to be rolled by the carrier surface.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises actuators for controlling the device arranged operably by a said passenger with reduced mobility. Thereby, the operation of the device according to the invention is greatly simplified, as no train staff is needed for this, as is the case with previously known devices of this type, since these are designed so that the wheelchair bound cannot reach the actuators, and

511 Nor is it desirable that this should be possible because of the accidents this could cause.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a ratchet-like member disposed extendable from the vehicle at said entrance at substantially the same level as the first floor surface to at least partially bridge the gap between said first floor surface and adjacent platform when the vehicle is at a platform. This facilitates the on-and-off of a wheelchair-bound person on or off the vehicle.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said support surface is substantially circular. Such a design of the support surface has been found to be advantageous, since it is desirable that the support surface be able to be rotated, and interaction with surrounding floor surfaces becomes very advantageous in such a rotation on such a support surface.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said staircase has three stages. This is advantageous as the level differences between the platform and the floor area of ​​the passenger compartment are normally such that three steps are appropriate.

Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and other independent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, an exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention with the supporting surface of a raised device included therein at a raised level, ie at the same level as the floor area of ​​the passenger compartment;

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FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, but with the carrier surface at a lower level substantially corresponding to the platform level;

Figures 3-5 are simplified views according to the transverse sections of a railway carriage equipped with the inventive device according to Figures 1 and 2 illustrating the different phases of disembarkation of a wheelchair bound person, and

Figures 6-8 are Figures 3-5 corresponding views illustrating the ascent of a wheelchair bound person on the train.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made simultaneously to Figures 1-3, in which the structure of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The device has adjacent entrances 2 of doors 1 covered by doors 1 to a railway carriage 3 at substantially the same level as a platform 4, at which the carriage is intended to stop for disembarkation and disembarkation, inside the carriage arranged first floor surfaces 5. These floor surfaces extend from each of the entrances 2 to a platform 7 provided with a circular support surface 6. The platform has substantially circumferential walls to prevent neither the toes nor the luggage of other passengers from being jammed during the downward movement of the lift.

On either side of the support surface 6, a stair 8 with three steps is arranged between the support surface and the respective entrance 2 and extending between said first floor surface 5 and a second, via a door 9 to a passenger compartment leading floor surface 10. The floor surface 10 is arranged on substantially the same level as the floor area of ​​the passenger compartment of the railway wagon. Typically, the level difference between the two levels is about 600 mm.

The platform 7 with the support surface 6 is arranged to be raised and lowerable vertically between the two positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, i.e. a position in which the support surface is at the same level as the second floor surface 10 and a position in the

511 405, which is on the same level as the first floor surface 5, via a force member 11 schematically indicated in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the platform with the support surface 6 is rotatable about a vertical axis, which is indicated by the pivoted arrows in FIG. 3 very schematically indicated power means 12. The operation of the lifting device formed by the platform with power means is intended to be effected by the actuation of actuator 13, which are schematically illustrated in, for example, Fig. 5. These actuators 13 can be accessed by a wheelchair-bound person both when he wants to use the device to rise on the railway carriage and to rise from it, which will be explained in more detail later. In this case, the operating means 13 are designed to actuate the force means 12 for the rotation of the platform, so that in connection with a lifting or lowering movement of the carrier surface 6, it is rotated 90 ° in the desired direction to change the alignment of a wheelchair located on the carrier surface from the longitudinal direction of the railway carriage to a direction transversely opposite or vice versa. Also included in the device is a walkway-like member 14 disposed extendably via a power member 15 from the railway carriage at each entrance at substantially the same level as the first floor surface 5 and thus the platform 4 to at least partially bridge the gap between this first floor surface and adjacent platform when the vehicle is at a platform. In this way, it becomes possible to effortlessly roll a wheelchair between the platform and the first floor surface. On the platform 7, two support surfaces 6 are partially surrounded by hinged handles 18. These are only drawn in Fig. 3. In the normal position of the device, the carrier surface 6 is always level with the first floor surface 5 and so arranged that the hinge handles 18 do not impede free lateral passage between the two vestibule doors 1. In this position, they also provide joint handles for other passengers and at the same time ensure that other passengers cannot be damaged due to the level difference between the first 5 and second 10 floor surfaces as they come out of the door at disembarkation 9. The device also has a grating gate 19 shown in Fig. 1. at the floor level of the passenger compartment immediately adjacent to the lifting device in front of the door 9.

The operation of the device according to the invention will now be described with reference to all figures. Preferably, the controls included in the actuators 13 coordinate the movements of the platform surface

511 405 with opening and closing of doors 9 and possibly also doors 1. We imagine that the train has just stopped at a railway station and a person sitting in a wheelchair 16 wants to get off the train. The latter then pushes a button 17 arranged in the passenger compartment, which is arranged in the passenger compartment 13, which causes the door 9 to open and the chip-like member 14 is pushed out, the support surface 6 is turned 90 ° and raised to the level of the floor surface 10 and the gate 19 is opened. Thereafter, the person rolls out on the support surface 6 via the second floor surface 10 (see the position according to Figures 1 and 3). Once the wheelchair 16 is on the platform, the wheelchair-bound person, via the actuator 13, selects the direction of rotation of the platform depending on which side it should rise and that the platform is to lower with the carrier surface 6 to the same level as the first floor surface 5, and this also occurs. Thus, the platform is rotated by 90 ° either during the immersion movement itself or directly before or after it. In this embodiment, the rotary movement occurs when the carrier surface has reached the lower position. Then, when the wheelchair bound is in the position of Fig. 4, it can roll out onto the platform 4 via the first floor surface 5 and the foot-like member 14 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5.

It is obvious from the just described how boarding on the train can take place, but this is now explained briefly with reference to Figures 6-8. When the train is at a platform 4 and a wheelchair bound wishes to rise on the same, it rolls in through the entrance 2 via the ridge-like means 14 and then over the first floor surface 5 up onto the support surface 6. Thereafter, the wheelchair-bound actuator 13 serves to select the direction of rotation on the support surface and to raise it to substantially the same level as the second floor surface 10, and this is accomplished and upon arriving at the position of FIG. 8, the gate 19 is opened and the door 9 and the wheelchair-bound can then roll. into said passenger compartment. At the same time, the chip-like member 14 is controlled to retract. Then the grating gate is automatically closed with a certain time delay, after which the downward movement of the carrier surface continues. When it has reached the lower level, the support surface is rotated 90 ° so that the hinge handles are not in the way and can be used in the desired manner.

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It is pointed out that it is in no way compulsory for the wheelchair bound person to choose the direction of rotation, but it can easily be done automatically. The direction of rotation is then checked by checking on which side of the vehicle the vestibular doors 1 are opened. From a practical point of view, traveling is facilitated if the wheelchair-bound or disabled person is only forced to choose between the "up" and "down" positions.

When raising and lowering the carrier surface 6, both stairs 8 are constantly accessible by other passengers both from the passenger compartment via the second floor surface 10 and from the entrances 2 via the first floor surface 5, so that they can easily rise on and off the train while lifting the wheelchair bound. or lowered between the two levels.

The invention is of course not limited in any way to the preferred embodiment described above, but a number of possibilities for modifications thereof will be apparent to a person skilled in the art without departing from the basic idea of ​​the invention as defined in the claims.

For example, it would be entirely possible to arrange stairs also on the opposite side of the respective entrance to what is shown in the figures for connection to a second floor area located on the opposite side of the second floor surface shown in the figures, so that the platform could then be used to take get up on this second floor area so that the wheelchair-bound could enter, for example, an adjacent carriage with the floor surface at that level.

As already indicated, the device could come in handy for people who are not wheelchair-bound but have impaired mobility and difficulty climbing stairs. Of course, it would also be possible to occasionally use the device to lift heavy objects between the two levels, or to load and unload, for example, trolleys, such as trolleys, on the vehicle, which need not be tracked but may be another type of public transport vehicle, such as a bus.

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Perrong is to give a wide significance and means that it is a descent plan at a higher level than the ground on which the vehicle rests. In principle, it could be a sidewalk.

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