Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
Rail vehicle
The invention relates to a rail vehicle with at least one
boarding and/or disembarking area - hereinafter simply referred
to in short as boarding area throughout - for passengers to
board from and/or disembark onto a platform, at least one
restroom area and at least one seating area.
In order to guarantee an optimum passenger flow and good access
to the inside of the vehicle, including for passengers with
reduced mobility, particularly also for wheelchair users, it is
desirable for the boarding area of rail vehicles to be
positioned at the height of the platforms being approached. In
countries belonging to the European Union, platforms with
nominal heights of 55 cm and 76 cm are commonplace, which means
that the boarding area should be adapted either to the nominal
platform height of 55 cm or to the nominal platform height of
76 cm.
The problem addressed by the invention is that of specifying a
rail vehicle that can easily be produced for different platform
heights and can also easily be retrofitted once the rail
vehicle is in use to suit a different platform height.
This problem is solved according to the invention by a rail
vehicle having the features according to patent claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments of the rail vehicle according to the
invention are specified in the dependent claims.
Accordingly, it is provided according to the invention that the
floor in the seating area and the floor in the boarding area
are raised or at least can be raised to a higher floor level
than the floor level in the restroom area.
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A substantial advantage of the rail vehicle according to the
invention is that during the first assembly and also
subsequently following the initial operation, the floor level
can be suitably fixed by providing an elevation during the
first assembly or subsequently or removing a previously
installed elevation once again. It is therefore possible to
ideally adapt the boarding area of the rail vehicle to the
respective platform height of the platforms on the route on
which the rail vehicle is to be operated. The floor height in
the boarding area is preferably selected so as to be level with
the platform height on the route concerned, because if the
platform and floor in the boarding area are level this
facilitates quicker boarding and disembarkation and also
reduces the risk of accidents. Moreover, when the levels are
the same, passengers with reduced mobility, in particular
wheelchair users, are also able to board and disembark easily.
A further substantial advantage of the rail vehicle according
to the invention is that despite the adaptability of the floor
height in the boarding area, no adjustment of the floor height
in the restroom area or other modification of the restroom area
(e.g. repositioning of the sanitary equipment) has to be
provided for. It is therefore possible for the floor height in
the restroom area to be left at a predetermined low level,
irrespective of any adjustment of the floor height in the
boarding area and/or any adjustment of the floor height in the
seating area, for example at a level that corresponds to the
smallest platform height to be expected, in other words in
countries belonging to the European Union, a nominal platform
height of 55 cm.
In order to facilitate an easy transition between the boarding
area and the restroom area, including for wheelchair users, if
there is an elevation of the boarding area, it is regarded as
advantageous for the floor in the seating area to be raised to
an intermediate height which lies between the height of the
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restroom area and that of the raised boarding area.
The seating area preferably forms a storage area for
wheelchairs, either entirely or sectionally.
For a simple, risk-free transition between the restroom area
and the seating area and also between the seating area and the
boarding area, it is regarded as advantageous for a ramp to be
arranged between the restroom area and the raised seating area
and also between the raised seating area and the raised
boarding area for height adjustment in each case.
The two ramps preferably each have the same ramp incline and/or
the same ramp height. The ramp height of the two ramps is
preferably between 5 cm and 15 cm.
In order to make subsequent retrofitting of the rail vehicle
simpler in respect of the floor height, it is regarded as
advantageous for the floor in the seating area and the floor in
the boarding area to be raised by means of detachably secured
support members.
In order to ensure that the floor height in the restroom area
does not have to be changed if retrofitting of the rail vehicle
is necessary or advisable due to a change in platform height,
it is regarded as advantageous for the floor height in the
restroom area to be between 50 cm and 60 cm above the underside
of the wheels of the rail vehicle or above the upper edge of
the track and therefore to be level with platforms, the nominal
platform height whereof is 55 cm above the upper edge of the
track.
With regard to the use of the rail vehicle in the case of
platforms with a nominal platform height of 76 cm, it is
regarded as advantageous for the floor in the boarding area to
be raised to a height of between 71 cm and 81 cm above the
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upper edge of the track or above the underside of the wheels on
the rail vehicle and therefore level with platforms, the
nominal platform height whereof is 76 cm above the upper edge
of the track.
If there is an elevation in the boarding area, it is regarded
as advantageous in relation to the height of the floor in the
seating area for the floor to be raised to a height of between
65 cm and 75 cm above the upper edge of the track or above the
underside of the wheels of the rail vehicle; a floor height of
this kind in the seating area facilitates a barrier-free
transition from the seating area into the boarding area and
also from the seating area into the restroom area and vice
versa. It is particularly preferable for the floor in the
sitting area to be raised to a height of 70 cm above the upper
edge of the track or above the underside of the wheels on the
rail vehicle.
When the rail vehicle is used with platforms with a nominal
height of 55 cm, the boarding area and the seating area are
preferably left without elevation. In this case, it is regarded
as advantageous for the rail vehicle floor in the restroom
area, in the seating area and in the boarding area to exhibit
the same height throughout without elevation.
The rail vehicle floor preferably exhibits in the restroom
area, the seating area and in the boarding area a floor height
without elevation in each case which is level with a platform
with a low platform height. A platform with a low platform
height should be understood to mean in this case a platform
height which corresponds to the lowest platform height of the
platforms that will probably be used over the service life of
the rail vehicle. In the case of platforms, such as those used
in countries within the European Union, these are platforms
with a nominal platform height of 55 cm (+/- 5 cm).
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Accordingly, it is regarded as advantageous for the rail
vehicle floor in the restroom area, in the seating area and
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in the boarding area to exhibit a floor height without
elevation of between 50 cm and 60 cm above the upper edge of
the track or above the underside of the wheels of the rail
vehicle in each case and to be level with platforms, the
nominal height whereof above the upper edge of the track is 55
cm.
The invention further relates to a method of assembling a rail
vehicle floor in a rail vehicle with at least one boarding area
for passengers for boarding from and/or disembarking onto a
platform, at least one restroom area and at least one seating
area.
According to the invention, it is provided in relation to a
method of this kind that the floor in the seating area and the
floor in the boarding area will be raised to a higher floor
height than the floor height in the restroom area.
In relation to the advantages of the method according to the
invention, reference is made to the above comments in
connection with the rail vehicle according to the invention, as
the advantages of the rail vehicle according to the invention
substantially correspond to those of the method according to
the invention.
The invention is explained in greater detail below with the
help of exemplary embodiments; the figures show by way of
example:
Figure 1 an exemplary embodiment of a rail vehicle
according to the invention as a sectional side
view in which a raised seating area and a raised
boarding area can be identified,
Figure 2 the rail vehicle according to Figure 1 as a view
from above,
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Figure 3 the rail vehicle according to Figure 1, once the
elevation in the seating area and in the
boarding area
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has been removed and the rail vehicle floor in
the restroom area, in the seating area and in
the boarding area is the same height throughout
and
Figure 4 the rail vehicle without elevation according to
Figure 3 as a view from above.
In order to offer an overview, the same reference numbers are
always used in the figures for identical or comparable
components.
Figure 1 shows a section through a rail vehicle 10 that can be
modified or retrofitted in relation to the floor height as a
sectional side view. A restroom area 20 can be seen with a
toilet 30 located therein, a sitting area 40 with a storage
area 50 and also a boarding area 60 with a door 70. The upper
edge of the shell construction of the rail vehicle 10 in the
floor area is identified by the reference number 11; the floor
covering lies directly on the upper edge of the shell
construction or is separated by elevation.
The boarding area 60 allows passengers to board the rail
vehicle 10; it is of course also possible for the boarding area
60 to be used for disembarking, so that the boarding area 60
could also be referred to as the disembarking area or else as
the boarding and/or disembarking area. This area is referred to
in short below as the boarding area.
Wheelchairs can be stored in the storage area 50 in the seating
area 40, only one wheelchair being depicted by way of example
and identified using the reference number 80.
The rail vehicle 10 exhibits a plurality of wheels 100 which
are mounted on a track 110 guiding the rail vehicle 10 in a
longitudinal direction. The wheel underside 101
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of the wheels 100 lies directly on the upper track edge 111 of
the track 110, so that both the wheel underside 101 and also
the upper track edge 111 exhibit the same spatial height.
Figure 1 shows that the floor heights differ from one another
in three areas 20, 40 and 60. The floor height Ht in the
restroom area 20 in the exemplary embodiment according to
Figure 1 is around 55 cm 5 cm, so in a range of between 50 cm
and 60 cm, above the wheel underside 101 of the wheels 100 on
the rail vehicle 10 and therefore 55 cm 5 cm above the upper
track edge 111 of the track 110. The restroom area 20 is
therefore level with platforms, the nominal platform height
whereof above the upper track edge 111 is 55 cm.
The floor in the seating area 40 is higher than the floor in
the restroom area 20, because it has been raised by means of
preferably detachably fixed support members to a greater
height. Only three of the support members are shown in Figure 1
by way of example and are identified there by the reference
number 130. The floor height Hs in the seating area 40 is
preferably 70 cm 5 cm, so between 65 cm and 75 cm, above the
upper track edge 111 or else above the wheel underside 101 of
the wheels 100. In order to facilitate a transition from the
seating area 40 into the restroom area 20 and, conversely, from
the restroom area 20 into the seating area 40, for wheelchairs
80 located in the seating area 40 or to make this easier, a
ramp 200 is attached between the seating area 40 and the
restroom area 20 which connects the restroom area 20 to the
seating area 40. The ramp 200 is used to bridge the height
difference between the floor height Ht in the restroom area 20
and the floor height Hs in the seating area 40 for wheelchairs.
The height of the ramp 200 is preferably 10 cm 5 cm. The ramp
incline is preferably between 5 and 20 .
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As can be seen in Figure 1, the floor height He in the boarding
area 60 is greater than the floor heights Hs and Ht in the
seating area 40 and in the restroom area 20. The floor height
He in the boarding area 60 is raised by means of preferably
detachably fixed support members to a height of 76 cm 5 cm,
in other words to a height of between 71 cm and 81 cm, above
the upper track edge 111 or else above the wheel underside 101.
In order to offer an overview, only three of the support
members are depicted in Figure 1 and identified using the
reference number 131.
Due to the elevation by means of the support members 131, the
floor in the boarding area 60 is level with platforms, the
nominal height whereof is 76 cm above the upper track edge 111.
Between the boarding area 60 and the seating area 40 is located
a ramp 210 for height adjustment, which ramp connects the
boarding area 60 and the seating area 40 and is suitable for
wheelchairs. In order to facilitate easy movement from the
boarding area 60 into the seating area 40 and vice versa, the
height of the ramp 210 is preferably 10 cm 5 cm. The ramp
incline is preferably between 5 and 200
.
In addition to the restroom area 20, the seating area 40 and
the boarding area 60 shown in Figure 1, the rail vehicle 10 may
exhibit further restroom areas, further seating areas and also
further boarding areas. These further restroom areas, further
seating areas and further boarding areas may exhibit floor
heights that correspond to those of the restroom area 20, the
seating area 40 or the boarding area 60 according to Figure 1;
alternatively, it is possible for individual or all further
areas to exhibit different floor heights to the corresponding
areas depicted in Figure 1. Hence, it is possible, for example,
for one or a plurality of further seating areas to be provided
in the rail vehicle 10 in addition to the seating area 40
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shown in Figure 1, the floor height of which seating areas
corresponds to that of the restroom area 20, in order to allow
a ramp-free transition from the seating area into the restroom
area 20. It is also possible for one or a plurality of further
seating areas to be provided, the floor height whereof
corresponds to that of the boarding area 60 according to Figure
1, in order to create a ramp-free transition between the
seating area and the boarding area 60.
Further restroom areas can also be provided, the floor height
of which matches the floor height He in the boarding area 60
according to Figure 1 or the floor height Hs in the seating
area 40 according to Figure 1, so that ramp-free transitions
between the boarding and restroom area or between the seating
and restroom area are created.
Figure 2 shows the rail vehicle 10 according to Figure 1 as a
view from above. The restroom area 20 with the toilet 30, the
seating area 40 with two wheelchairs 80 located in the storage
area 50 and also the boarding area 60 can be identified. The
two ramps 200 and 210 can also be identified, which ramps can
be crossed by the wheelchairs 80 and guarantee a wheelchair-
accessible transition from the boarding area 60 into the
seating area 40 and also a wheelchair-accessible transition
from the seating area 40 into the restroom area 20.
Figure 3 shows the convertible or retrofittable rail vehicle 10
according to Figures 1 and 2 following the conversion, wherein
the support members 130 and 131 according to Figure 1 and also
the floor plates located thereon have been removed and a floor
height has been created in the seating area 40 and also in the
boarding area 60 which matches the floor height Ht in the
restroom area 20. The restroom area 20, the seating area 40 and
the boarding area 60 therefore exhibit the same height Ht due
to the lack of elevation. The floor height Ht in the three
areas 20, 40 and 60 is chosen such that it is level with a
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platform with a low platform height,
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in other words, for example, a platform with a nominal platform
height of 55 cm.
Figure 3 illustrates a substantial advantage of the convertible
rail vehicle according to Figures 1 to 3 which is based on the
possible elevation of the seating area 40 and of the boarding
area 60.
If the rail vehicle 10 is to be used on routes where the
nominal platform height is 76 cm, the rail vehicle 10 is raised
by means of the support members 130 and 131 shown in Figure 1
in such a manner that the boarding area 60 exhibits the height
He shown in Figure 1 and the seating area 40 the floor height
Hs shown in Figure 1. With an elevation of this kind, the
boarding area 60 is level with the nominal platform height of
76 cm and allows simple and risk-free boarding and
disembarkation for passengers. Due to the intermediate level in
the seating area 40 and due to the two ramps 200 and 210, it is
also easily possible for wheelchair users to reach both the
seating area 40 and also the restroom area 20.
On the other hand, if the rail vehicle 10 according to Figures
1 to 3 should be used on a route in which the nominal platform
height above the upper edge of the track is 55 cm, the
elevation shown in Figure 1 in the seating area 40 and in the
boarding area 60 is dispensed with or any existing elevation is
simply removed, so that an identical floor height is created
throughout in the restroom area 20, in the seating area 40 and
also in the boarding area 60, as shown in Figure 3. With this
floor height, level boarding in the boarding area 60 is
possible; at the same time, ramp-free accessibility exists
between the boarding area 60 and the seating area 40 and also
the restroom area 20.
Figure 4 shows the rail vehicle 10 according to Figure 3
without elevation as a view from above. It can be seen
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that because there is no elevation, no ramps 200 or 210 are
required either, as is shown in Figure 2. The rail vehicle
floor is always the same height throughout in the restroom area
20, in the seating area 40 and in the boarding area 60.
Although the invention has been illustrated and described in
greater detail by preferred exemplary embodiments, the
invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other
variations can be inferred by the person skilled in the art
without departing from the scope of protection of the
invention.
