Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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AN ENTERING AND EXITING STEP S~STEM FOR VEHICLES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the
entering and getting off, resp. a vehicle, which apparatus
includes one or a plurality of steps or floor plates, resp.
for a negotiating of a possible difference of hight by a
f person entering or getting off between the floor level of
the vehicle and the level of a platform or of the terrain
outside and opposite of the entry or exit, resp. of the
vehicle which is higher or lower. It relates further to a
railroad car having such an apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ~RT
The entering or getting off railroad vehicles proceeds
generally via stairs or steps, resp. stationary mounted in
such vehicles, via folding steps mounted at such vehicles or
a combination of stationary stairs and moveable steps. In
f case of commuter trains and subways the platforms at the
stations are located often at the level of the floor of the
car such that no steps are needed at all.
~t the known railway systems (combination of passenger
cars and stations, i.e. their platforms) the level of the
car or vehicle floor, resp. is located above or at the level
of the platforms. This means that the stairs are necessary
for climbing into the car or descending from the railroad
car.
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Some of the recent modern specific high performance
trains are characterized in that their wheels and associated
undercarriages are located between the car bodies which
accordingly have a car floor located at a very low level.
An example of such a high performance train is the TALGO
PENDULAR operating predominantly in Spain, but as of late
on other European high speed railroad lines. Such vehicles
or cars, resp. are relative to the entering of same quite
comfortable as long as they operate on railway systems
having platforms located at a low level such as is the case
in most instances in Europe. As soon as, however, such
special trains are operated on a railway syste~ having
elevated platforms such as is e.g. the case in the North
East Corridor in the USA, also recently in certain high
speed lines in Europe, there exists the problem of descen-
ding from the elevated platform down into the car. Because
at the same railroad networks low level platforms are pre-
sent at the same time, that the possibility of ascen-
ding from the platform for entering the car and descending
onto the platform, resp. must be given, too.
The using of railroad trains is specifically difficult
for handicapped persons bound e.g. to wheel chairs. The
entering or exiting at railroad systems in which the plat-
form and the floor of the car are located about at the same
level poses relatively no problems. As soon as, however,
larger differences of hight levels must be negotiated bet-
ween the platform and the level of the floor of the car the
person bound to the wheel chair can not use the railroad
without any aid.
The floor of the railroad vehicle is commonly located
about 50 centimeters to 1 meter above the platform. In such
a case the wheel chairs are loaded on or off, resp. by aid
of fork lifts or elevating platforms or wheel chair eleva-
tos are mounted to the railroad car which lift the handy-
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capped per~ons together with their wheel chair into the car.The above mentioned special high performance trains in which
the undercarriages are mounted such between the car bodies
that latter have an extremely low floor are very problematic
for handicapped persons in wheel chairs because the ~nown
and simple method with the fork lift is not possible because
obviously the wheel chair would have to be lowered from the
high platform down to the low floor of the railroad car.
Otherwise, a fixedly mounted elevator would have to be pre-
sent in the car which can bypass the there located steps
for the entering and getting off of healthy people.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to
provide an entry and exit, resp. at a railroad car which
allows an operating of the railroad car when various hight
levels of platforms are present.
A further object is to provide an apparatus for the
entering and getting off, resp. a vehicle, which apparatus
includes one or a plurality of steps or floor plates, resp.
for a negotiating a possible difference of hight by a person
entering or setting off between the level of the vehicle
and a platform located higher or lower, or the terrain
around the vehicle, resp. outside and opposite of the entry
or exit, resp. of the vehicle, which apparatus includes at
least one step or plate, resp. which is mounted in a hight
adjustable manner and is adapted to be positioned at a lo-
cation above the floor of the vehicle, a location at the
level of the floor of the vehicle andtor lower than the
floor of the vehicle.
Yet a further object is to provide and apparatus in-
cluding at least one step arranged such that it is possible
depending from the level of the platform located outside of
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the vehicle to ascend from the level of the flaor of the
vehicle over the step located above the floor af the ve-
hicle or, then, if the level of the platform is lower
than the level of the floor of the vehicle to descend over
the step located lower than the floor of the vehicle. If
the level of the floor of the vehicle equals the level of
the platform the one step is either positioned at the level
of the floor of the vehicle, or also below same or in a
folded in position~
Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in
which the at least one step of plate, resp. is supported
to pivot or rotate around a longitudinal axis of rotation
at the vehicle at the area of its floor at the entry or
exit such that the adjustment of the hight of the step or
plate, resp. results from the pivotal or rotational move-
ment of the step or plate, resp.
A further object is to provide an apparatus in which
the at least one step is mounted such to the longitudinal
axis of rotation that it is positionable from the position
above the floor of the vehicle by means of a pivoting move-
ment of at least 180 into the po~ition lower than the floor,
whereby in the position above and in the position below the
fioor a respective opposite surface of the step may be
walked upon for the entering and getting off, resp.
Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in
which the at least one step or plate, resp. is mounted to
the one axis of rotation by the agency of supporting members
which support or hold the step or plate, resp., which sup-
porting members themselves are rotationally mounted to the
step or plate, resp. and rotationally mounted to the axis
of rotation as well, which mounting is structured such that
by a parallelogram like rotational movement of the support-
ing members the step or plate,rsp.is hight adjustable in a
displaceable manner.
.
Yet a further object is to provide an apparatus in
which a step can be parallel displaced or is hlght adjust-
able in a parallelogram like manner by a pivotal movement
of the supporting members around the axis of rotation for
instance from the level of the floor of the vehicle either
to a position above or a position below the floor of the
vehicle. It, thereby, may be one and the same step or stepS
of the stair or plate, resp. or then two steps may be pre-
sent, whereby the one step is hight adjustable from the
bottom of the vehicle upwards and the other step is hight
adjustable downwards.
A further object is to provide an apparatus in which
the at least one step or plate, resp. is held on a base
part to which it is stationary mounted to and which is ro-
tatable around the axis of rotation, which base part is
adapted to pivot from an upwards pivoted position holding
the at least one step or plate, resp. in a state allowing
to be walked upon at a high level, by at least approximately
180 to a downwards pivoted position in a state allowing
to be walked upon, in which position the at least one step
is located at a position below the floor level.
A further object is to provide an apparatus to allow
handicapped persons which use wheel chair like vehicles to
enter or disembark a vehicle of which the floor i5 lower
than the platform, in which one step or plate is forseen
which is supported to be rotationally hight adjustable in
a parallelogram like manner around an axis of rotation in
or above the floor of the vehicle from a position at the
floor of the vehicle to a position above the floor of the
vehicle, substantially at the level of a higher located
platform and preferably resting thereupon by at least an
edge area of the step or plate, resp.. By means of a con-
tinued rotational movement possibly also a positioning of
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the step or plate, resp. to a level below the floor of the
vehicle shall be possible, if necesssary, in case the plat-
form is located further down. This one step or plat~, resp.
is suitable for the receipt of a person bound to a wheel
chair like vehicle or then a person severly handicapped ln
walking such to allow same to negotiate the hight difference
between the floor of the vehicle and the platform.
Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in
which the one step or plate, resp. is a floor plate set into
the floor of the vehicle and which is supported to rotate
in a parallelogram like manner over the at least one step
with an axis of rotation located at the level of the at
least one st~p or in the floor of the vehicle.
Yet a further object is to provide an apparatus having
at least one further step adapted to be step like positioned
at a location of the at least one step or plate, resp. in
the direction towards the entry or exit, resp. or laterally
displaced towards the platform, resp., such that if the at
least one step or plate, resp. is above the floor of the
veh7cle, the difference of hight between the further step
and the at least*approximately substantially to the hight of
the at least one step over the floor of the vehicle.
( A further object is to provide an apparatus in which
the at least one step is held at a base part which is pivo-
table around the axis of rotation and in which a further
pivoting or folding, resp. mechanism is forseen at the base
part, such that the further step is pivotable from a down-
wards folded, at least approximately vertical position
extending along the at least one step at a ready to travel
state of the vehicle, to an upwards folded position at a
resting state of the vehicle and a free utilization of the
entry or exit, resp.
* one step corresponds
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Yet a further objeot is to provide an apparatus in
which the at least one step or plate, resp. and the further
step are adapted to be arrestable in at least three posi-
tions, namely in a firstposition zt a ready to travel state
of the vehicle, where the base part is folded upwards and
the further step is in a folded back position; in a second
position at a resting state of the vehicle and free utili~
zation of the entry or exit, resp., where the base part is
folded upwards and the further step is folded outwards such
to allow a person getting on or getting off the vehicle to
negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of the
vehicle and a platform located at a higher level; and in a
third position at a resting state of the vehicle and free
utilization of the entry or exit, resp., where the base
part is pivoted downwards and the further step is folded
inwards such to allow a person getting on or getting off
to negotiate the difference of hight between the floor of
the vehicle and a platform located at a lower level.
A further object is to provide an apparatus in which
the at least one further step is adapted to be located at
least partly outside of the vehicle in order to bridge the
distance between the floor of the vehicle and the platform
or between the one step and the platform.
Yet a further object is to provide an apparatus in
which when the level of the platform ecuals the level of
the floor of the vehicle a manually positionable auxiliary
step is located on the downwards pivoted base part or down-
wards pivoted at least one step or plate, resp. in order to
thereby form a support on the step pivoted downwards for a
horizontal entry or exit in or out of the vehicle from or
to the platform.
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.
A further object is to provide an apparatus having
an auxiliary step adapted to be positioned or hung, resp.
laterally at the entry or exit, resp. of the vehicle or
the at least one step in its downwards pivoted position,
such to allow for instance an entering or getting off from
or to, resp. the roadway or level, resp. of the tracks.
In order to prevent the possibility of an operating
the steps or plates, resp. when they are walked upon by
persons entering or exitins, it is a further object to
provide an apparatus having control devices preferably of
an electrical or electronical design by means of which it
can be detected if the steps or plates, resp. are free or
if persons are walking thereupon. Such control means as
such are ~nown and are since a long time used in vehicles
such as commuter trains, trolley cars, busses, etc. By
means of such control means it is also possible to ascer-
tain if a door which closes or opens the entry or exit,
resp. is in an opened or closed state.
A further object is to provide an apparatus which in-
cludes preferably pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical opera-
ting devices for operating the apparatus, the base part,
the steps or plates, resp. which operating devices are pre-
ferably designed such that they are mechanically arrestable
or lockable in the desired positions. The arresting and
locking mechanisms are preferably such that a positioning
of the apparatus by the operating devices is also possible
in case of a loss of power. In case of emergencies the
apparatus, the base part, the steps or plates shall be
able to be moved manually into the desired positions.
Mentioned operating means for operating the apparatus
shall preferably be designed such, that all possibilities
of boarding and getting off, resp. the vehicle are possible
also in case of loss of power, It is, thereby, due to
safety reasons decisive that the locking of the apparatus
including the steps or plates, resp. proceeds automatically
in the various positions .
A further object of the invention is to provide a
railroad car equipped with such an apparatus for boarding
or getting off, resp. the car. Quite obviously, the inven-
tive apparatus is also su~table for an application at any
kind of vehicle, such as a trolley car, a bus or a trolley
bus, for cable railways or cable cars, resp. for aerial
tramways, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRA~INGS
The invention will be better understood and objects
other than those set forth above, will become apparent when
consideration is given to the following detailed description
thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed
drawings wherein :
Fig. 1 is a section through a railroad car with its
entry and exit in a ready to travel state and including an
inventive apparatus;
1 Fig. 2 illustrates the railroad car of figure 1 in a
stopped state and opened door, and having the inventive
apparatus arranged in such a state that it is possible that
a person can step from an elevated platform down into the
car;
Fig. 3 illustrates in cross section the car of Fig. 1
in a stopped state and having the inventive apparatus in
such an operational state that it is possible to step down
from the car onto a platform at a lower level;
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Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the state according
to Fig. 2 as seen from the plat~orm;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the state according
to Fig. 3 as seen from the platform;
Fig. 6 is a cross section through an inventive appa-
ratus for negotiating the difference o~ hight in case of a
platform located at a higher level;
Fig. 7 is a view of the apparatus in a downwards
pivoted state for negotiating the difference of hight in
case of a platform located at a lower level; and
Figs. 8 - 10 are schematic sectional views of an
inventive wheel chair elevator in order to allow a person
bound to a wheel chair to negotiate a difference of hight
from a floor of a vehicle located at a lower level to a
platform located at a higher level.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI;~IENTS
Fig. 1 illustrates in cross section a railroad car 1
in a operative, i.e. ready to travel state and with a closed
door 5. The railroad car illustrated in Fig. 1 in cross
section is characterized in that the car body or the floor 3
of the car, resp. is located quite low which also follows
from the fact that the floor 3 of the car lies directly on
the undercarriage and accordingly the wheel 7 which rests
on the rail 9 projects partly into the car body.
The inventive device 11, which is forseen and adapted
to allow an entering or getting off the railroad car consists
substantially of a first step 13 which is supported at or
on a base part 15 which in turn is pivotably mounted to the
floor 13 of the car via a axis 17 of rotation. The inven-
tive apparatus 11 includes ? furthermore, an upwards pro-
1 1
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jecting extension 19 of the base part, which in turn sup-
ports a second step 21 and is rotatable around an axis 23
of rotation which second step 21 is folded do~lnwards in
the ready to travel state of the railroad car 1 as illu-
strated in Figure 1. The ready to travel state follows
also from the fact that the door 5 is located integrated
in the wall 6 of the car body such that latter is not
visible in the illustration according to Fig. 1.
If now the railroad car 1 stops at a station the entry
or exits of the railroad car is given free. This state is
illustrated in the Figures 2 and 3, again in section rela-
tive to the railroad car.
In Figure 2 the railroad car stops at a platform 31
of which the level is higher than the level of the floor 3
of the vehicle. In order to allow a person 33 which enters
the car to negotiate the hight difference from the platform
31 to the level of the floor 3 of the railroad car the se-
cond step 21 is pivoted upwards around the axis 23 of
rotation. Obviously, this can happen only when the entry
or exit is not obstructed, i.e. when the door S is opened.
In Fig. 5 this is illustrated in that the door 5 is opened
in the sense of a laterally displaceable door wing and thus
is located slightly in front of the wall 6 of the car. In
comparison with Fig. 1 the first step 13 and the base part
15 and 19, resp. as well remain unchanged.
In Fig. 3 the level of the platform is lower than the
level of the floor 3 of the railroad car such that the appa-
ratus 11 can not remain in the position as illustrated in
Fig. 2. In order to allow a person to board the car 1 from
the platform 31 the apparatus 11 is now pivoted downwards
(according to the direction of the arrow A) wherewith the
first step 13 comes to be located roughly halfways between
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the ~wo terrain levels and acco~dingly allows a comfortable
entering or ~etting off the railroad car 1. The second
step 21 remains in the pivoted back state, i.e. it is not
needed. As can be seen in Fig. 3 the first step 13 is now
walked upon on the surface opposite of the walking surface
at the state according to Fig. 2, i.e. the step 12 has been
pivoted by 180. This is obviously also true for the base
part 15 or 19, resp., which also has been pivoted by 180,
In Figures 4 and 5 the state according to Figs. 2 and 3
is illustrated perspectively as seen from the platform 31.
A detailed description of Figures 4 and 5 is not needed be-
cause the situation can be quite easyly derived from Figs.
2 and 3.
In Figures 6 and 7 the inventive apparatus similar to
such of Figs. 1 and 3 is illustrated more in detail.
In Fig. 6 the inventive apparatus 111 is designed in
an upwards pivoted state, forseen for the case according to
which a platform is at a higher level than the level of the
floor 3 of the railroad car 103.
The apparatus 111 includes a base part consisting of
a lower section 115 and an upper section 119, whereby a
first step 113 is arranged lying on the lower section and a
second step 121 is arranged pivotably supported at the upper
section 119. The second upper step 121 is illustrated in
full lines in the folded up state in case the apparatus 111
is free for a person boarding or exiting the railroad car.
The second step 121 is illustrated in broken lines in the
state of the railroad car being ready to move. The first
step 113 is held laterally on a support which is rigidly
mounted to the lower base section 115. The lower base sec-
tion 115 is securely mounted to the bottom 103 of the rail-
road car v~ia an axis 117 of rotation.
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The pivoting movement of the second step 121 is made
possible or triggered in that it is rotatably supported
at the center of its lower side via a knuckle ~oint con-
sisting of the two legs 1~4 and 126 on an a~is 125 of
rotation at the center between the lower and upper base
section 115 and 119, resp. A further rotational bearing
127 is located at the center of the knuckle joint.
By a folding in or folding up, resp. of the second
step 121 the axis 127 of rotation is moved at the one hand
in the direction of the arrow 13 and, at the other hand the
point 128 of rotation is moved in the direction of the
arrow C. In order to avoid the knuckle joint consisting
of the two legs 124 and 126 from hampering the stepping
onto the first step 113 the folding in or folding up, resp.
mechanism is located at the side of the step 113 at the
area of the base part 119. The leg 126 of the knuckle
joint is designed in the embodiment according to Fig. 6
such, that a fine adjusting of the position of the second
step 121 is possible, for instance by rotating the two
illustrated nuts 129 which for instance can be arranged
located on a thread.
In Fig. 7 the apparatus 111 is illustrated in a down-
wards pivoted state in order to allow an exiting from the
railroad car onto a pla~form at a lower level. For this,
the apparatus 111 has been pivoted down in the direction
of the arrow A around the axis 117 of rotation or pivot
axis, resp. from the position of the base part section 115
illustrated by broken lines. The first step 113 is now to
be walked upon on the opposite surface relative to Fig. 6
and is no longer supported laterally, by the support 116
but rather held. In order to allow a free view onto the
step 113 the support 116 is illustrated by broken lines.
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In the position according to Fig. 7 the second step
121 is arra~ed in a downwards foLded or folded in, resp.
state, i.e. the knuckle ~oint, consisting of the two legs
124 and 126 is correspondingly in the "bent in" state.
The apparatus for the entering or exiting of railroad
cars from or to a platform located at a higher or lower
level illustrated in the Figs. 1-7 may obviously be altered
or modified, resp. by any kind of measure. It is, thus,
obviously also possible to arrange a rotating mechanism in-
stead of a pivoting mechanism, according to which the first
step can for instance be rotated in a parallel displaceable
manner around an axis of rotation in the floor of the ve-
hicle from the upper into the lower position. Thereby the
step is not pivoted around 180 such as illustrated in
Figs. 1-7, but rather remains in the same position and is
merely displaced parallel. This is for instance possible
in that the base part is formed at the side of the step in
a parallelogram like design by two legs which both are ro-
tationally located on a respective axis of rotation in the
floor of the vehicle.
Obviously it is also possible to provide two different
steps for forming the first step whereby the first step is
rotated upwards in a parallel displaceable manner out of the
floor of the vehicle and a further step downwards out of the
floor of the vehicle. According to a further variant it is
possible to arrange the step arrangement for an entering or
exiting from or onto a platform located at a lower level in
a stationary fashion such as is still common practice at
railroad cars and to merely arrange a pivotable or rotatio-
nal apparatus which for an entering or exiting from or onto
a platform located at a higher level is rotated or pivoted,
resp. out of the floor of the vehicle.
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2~2~f.
Figures ~ - 10 illustrate in section and designed
schematlcally an inventive described wheel chair elevated
by means of which a handicapped person ln a wheel chair
can board or exit, resp. in case of a platform located at
a higher level into or from a floor of a vehicle located
at a low level.
In Fig. 8 a person 33 ready to get out of the car
sits in a wheel chair 51 located on a floor plate ~1 set
into the floor 3 of the vehicle. Seen in longitudinal
direction of the car the floor plate 41 extends substan-
tially along the entire length of the first step 13 which
corresponds to the first step according to the earlier des-
cribed figures. Also the base part 15, by means of which
the first step 13 is pivotably mounted to the floor 3 of
the vehicle, and also the upwards projecting extension 19
and the second pivotable step 21 correspond to the respec-
tive parts illustrated in Figs. 1 - 7. The floor plate 41
set into the floor 3 of the vehicle is in turn mounted via
respectively laterally located lever arms 45 to the base
part 15, whereby these lever arms 45 are supported laterally
of the first step 13 for rotation around an axis 47 of
rotation. A sidewall part 43 is also located laterally of
the floor plate 41, which side wall part 43 can for instance
contain control elements for the operating of the wheel
chair elevator and additionally can serve as guide for the
hand of handicapped persons or then as a handle to be
gripped by a handicapped pe~son. This side wall can be
located either at one side only of the floor plate 41 or
then also at both sides.
In Fig. 9 now the function of the operation of the
inventive wheel chair elevator is illustrated schematically
in that the floor plate 41 is moved upwards in a parallelo-
gram like manner out of the floor 3 of the vehicle and pas-
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20~2~Q6
sing over the first step 13. In order to prevent a rolling
away of the wheel chair 51 two small parts 41a located at
both sides are automatically pivoted when the floor plate
41 begins to lift off such to form an upwards projecting
arresting device for the wheel chair. The rotational move-
ment of the floor plate 41 proceeds around the axis 47 of
rotation which is located at the base part 15 at the level
of the first step 13.
As soon as the floor plate 41 has rotated to such an
extent around the axis 47 of rotation that it comes to rest
with its front portion a2 onto the platform 31 the rotating
movement is interrupted. Together with the floor plate 41
coming to rest on the platform 31 the forward located parts
41a are pivoted back into the plane of the floor plate 41
such that the wheel chair 51 can freely move forwards. In
order to prevent the wheel chair elevator from ro~tating too
much it is possible to arrange detecting devices such as
for instance feelers in the forward portion ~2 of the floor
plate 41 in order to automatically interrupt the rotational
movement. The handicapped person can now easyly reach with
its wheel chair 51 the platform 31. The movement of the
plate 31 to the level of the floor 3 of the vehicle proceed
in an analoguos manner in the opposite direction.
The drive system for performing the movements of the
wheel chair elevator can be again hydraulic, pneumatic or
electric. It is, thereby, again important that the drive
devices are designed such that upon lossof power the appa-
ratus or wheel chair elevator, resp. still remains in a
functioning state and can be loc~ed in its end positions.
The statements made relative to Figs. 1 - 7 are also
applicable to the design in accordance with Figs. 8 - 10,
namely that the embodiments can be altered any way or
modified, resp. It is, accordingly, for instance possible
to position the floor plate by a continued rotational mo-
vement according to Fiys. 8-10 at a level lower than the
level of the railroad car in case the platform is located
at a lower level. By means of such it is also possible to
do away with the at present still necessary fork lift by
the inventive wheel chair elevator in order to lift a wheel
chair from a platform located at a lower level up to a rail-
road car.
The illustration of operating and driving devices,
such as for instance pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical ope-
rating devices and also of the electronic or electric con-
trol devices has been purposely left away in Figs. 1-10 in
order not to impair a clear illustration o~ the figures.
These additional operating, control and driving, resp.
devices are generally known as such, specifically at com-
muter trains, express trains,rural transportation vehicles
such as trolley cars and trolley busses.
It is also possible to operate the inventive apparatus
in emergencies manually instead of electrically.
The inventive disclosed apparatuses are not only
suitable for railroad cars such as illustrated in Figs. 1-5,
but also for any kind of other vehicles such as trolley
cars, busses or trolley busses, aireal tramways and cable
railways or cable cars, resp.
Decisive regarding the invention is that at least one
step or plate, resp. can be iTl an hight adjustable manner
located at at least one position above the floor of the ve-
hicle and at at least one position on and/or below the level
of the floor of the vehicle.
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While there are shown and descrihed present preferred
embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly under-
stood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be
otherwise variously embodied and practiced with the scope
of the following claims.
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