U.S. patent application number 14/764003 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-17 for rail vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Siemens Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Ulrich KLEIN, Klaus PAFFRATH.
Application Number | 20150360702 14/764003 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50033476 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150360702 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KLEIN; Ulrich ; et
al. |
December 17, 2015 |
Rail Vehicle
Abstract
A rail vehicle includes at least one boarding area for
passengers to board from and/or disembark onto a platform, at least
one restroom area and at least one seating area. The floor in the
seating area and the floor in the boarding area are raised or at
least can be raised to a floor level higher than the floor level in
the restroom area. A method of assembling a rail vehicle floor is
also provided.
Inventors: |
KLEIN; Ulrich; (Meerbusch,
DE) ; PAFFRATH; Klaus; (Kempen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft |
Munchen |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
50033476 |
Appl. No.: |
14/764003 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
January 20, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2014/050990 |
371 Date: |
July 28, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
105/329.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61D 17/00 20130101;
B61D 3/04 20130101; B61D 1/00 20130101; B61D 17/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B61D 17/00 20060101
B61D017/00; B61D 1/00 20060101 B61D001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2013 |
DE |
10 2013 201 356.6 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A rail vehicle, comprising: at least one boarding area
permitting passengers to at least one of board from or disembark
onto a platform, said at least one boarding area having a floor
with a floor level; at least one restroom area having a floor with
a floor level; and at least one seating area having a floor with a
floor level; said floor level in said seating area and said floor
level in said boarding area being raised or at least configured to
be raised to a higher level than said floor level in said restroom
area.
17. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said floor
level in said seating area is raised to an intermediate height
lying between said floor level of said restroom area and said floor
level of said raised boarding area.
18. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said seating
area entirely or sectionally forms a storage area for
wheelchairs.
19. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, which further comprises
a ramp disposed between said restroom area and said raised seating
area and another ramp disposed between said raised seating area and
said raised boarding area, for height adjustment.
20. The rail vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said ramps each
have at least one of the same ramp incline or the same ramp
height.
21. The rail vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said ramps each
have a ramp height of between 5 cm and 15 cm.
22. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, which further comprises
detachably secured support members raising said floor in said
seating area and said floor in said boarding area.
23. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said floor
level in said restroom area is between 50 cm and 60 cm above an
upper edge of a track and is therefore level with platforms having
a nominal platform height being 55 cm above the upper edge of the
track.
24. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said floor in
said boarding area is raised to a height of between 71 cm and 81 cm
above an upper edge of a track and is therefore level with
platforms having a nominal platform height being 76 cm above the
upper edge of the track.
25. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said floor in
said seating area is raised to a height of between 65 cm and 75 cm
above an upper edge of a track.
26. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said floor in
said seating area is raised to a height of 70 cm above an upper
edge of a track.
27. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said floor
level in said restroom area, said floor level in said seating area
and said floor level in said boarding area have the same height
throughout without elevation.
28. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said floor
level in said restroom area, said floor level in said seating area
and said floor level in said boarding area have a height without
elevation each being level with a platform having a low platform
height.
29. The rail vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said floor
level in said restroom area, said floor level in said seating area
and said floor level in said boarding area have a height without
elevation each being between 50 cm and 60 cm above an upper edge of
a track and being level with platforms having a nominal platform
height being 55 cm above the upper edge of the track.
30. A method of assembling a rail vehicle floor in a rail vehicle,
the method comprising the following steps: providing at least one
boarding area permitting passengers to at least one of board from
or disembarking onto a platform, the at least one boarding area
having a floor with a floor level; providing at least one restroom
area having a floor with a floor level; providing at least one
seating area having a floor with a floor level; and raising the
floor level in the seating area and the floor level in the boarding
area to a higher level than the floor level in the restroom area.
Description
[0001] 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.
[0002] 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.
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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 restroom area and that of the raised boarding area.
[0009] The seating area preferably forms a storage area for
wheelchairs, either entirely or sectionally.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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). Accordingly, 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 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.
[0018] 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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.
[0021] The invention is explained in greater detail below with the
help of exemplary embodiments; the figures show by way of
example:
[0022] FIG. 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,
[0023] FIG. 2 the rail vehicle according to FIG. 1 as a view from
above,
[0024] FIG. 3 the rail vehicle according to FIG. 1, once the
elevation in the seating area and in the boarding area 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
[0025] FIG. 4 the rail vehicle without elevation according to FIG.
3 as a view from above.
[0026] In order to offer an overview, the same reference numbers
are always used in the figures for identical or comparable
components.
[0027] FIG. 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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 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.
[0031] FIG. 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 FIG. 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.
[0032] 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 FIG. 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.degree. and 20.degree..
[0033] As can be seen in FIG. 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 FIG. 1
and identified using the reference number 131.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.degree. and 20.degree..
[0036] In addition to the restroom area 20, the seating area 40 and
the boarding area 60 shown in FIG. 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 FIG. 1; alternatively, it
is possible for individual or all further areas to exhibit
different floor heights to the corresponding areas depicted in FIG.
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 shown in FIG. 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 FIG. 1, in
order to create a ramp-free transition between the seating area and
the boarding area 60.
[0037] Further restroom areas can also be provided, the floor
height of which matches the floor height He in the boarding area 60
according to FIG. 1 or the floor height Hs in the seating area 40
according to FIG. 1, so that ramp-free transitions between the
boarding and restroom area or between the seating and restroom area
are created.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows the rail vehicle 10 according to FIG. 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.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows the convertible or retrofittable rail vehicle
10 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 following the conversion, wherein the
support members 130 and 131 according to FIG. 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 platform with a low platform height, in
other words, for example, a platform with a nominal platform height
of 55 cm.
[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates a substantial advantage of the
convertible rail vehicle according to FIGS. 1 to 3 which is based
on the possible elevation of the seating area 40 and of the
boarding area 60.
[0041] 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 FIG. 1 in such a
manner that the boarding area 60 exhibits the height He shown in
FIG. 1 and the seating area 40 the floor height Hs shown in FIG. 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.
[0042] On the other hand, if the rail vehicle 10 according to FIGS.
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 FIG. 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 FIG. 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.
[0043] FIG. 4 shows the rail vehicle 10 according to FIG. 3 without
elevation as a view from above. It can be seen that because there
is no elevation, no ramps 200 or 210 are required either, as is
shown in FIG. 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.
[0044] 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.
* * * * *