EP0114265B1 - Folding step for railway vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A folding step (2) for rail vehicles, more espcially high-speed passenger train carriages, comprising a tread (18) which is extensible out of a travel position in a step box (14) into a boarding position extending beyond the outer profile of the vehicle, and a driving mechanism (52) associated therewith,, characterized in that the tread (10) is designed as a multi-part folding step with a tread portion (20), inside the vehicle, which is guided displaceably in the lower part of the step box (14) and an outer tread portion (26) which is hinged thereto and which in the travel position is arranged in a tipped-up swivel position in that edge region of the step box which is contiguous to the vehicle's door (16), and in that the driving mechanism (52) is arranged in the main installation space of the step box which is defined downwardly and outwardly by the tread folded in an angularly L-shaped manner in the travel position.

Description

The invention relates to a folding step for rail vehicles according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the case of rail vehicles, especially those with a low vehicle floor and a heavily retracted car apron, there is only a very limited installation height and depth available for the folding step. Still must. the movable step is extended with a large part of its tread length over the vehicle's outer profile, so that in the entry position it extends from the step trough by bridging the relatively large distance between the vehicle wall and the platform beyond the front edge of the platform and ensures a comfortable and safe entry. Known folding steps of the type mentioned at the outset (DE-A-2245 085, DE-A-24 23 467 and 26 20 683) cannot be accommodated within such a cramped kick box installation space, so that one has to rely on parts of the folding step, in particular the movable step in the retracted state to be exposed outside the actual step box, with the result that, in addition to the undesirable large overall dimensions of the folding step, in addition to aerodynamic problems, there are also pollution and, above all, icing problems.

The invention has for its object to design the folding step according to the preamble of claim 1 so that it requires a significantly reduced installation volume and must be accommodated including its movable step in a protected position within a confined step box.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the folding step characterized in claim 1, in which the step movable over the vehicle outer profile is designed as a two-part, retracted L-shaped folding step in the driving position, which is completely protected in the driving position within a step box with a - compared to that relatively large tread length of the step-small installation height and depth is arranged, with the special feature that the movable step sections only the lower and the vehicle exterior or. Occupy the edge zone of the step box on the door side, while the remaining larger step box volume is used as installation space for the drive mechanism of the folding step. Due to this special design and arrangement, the folding step according to the invention has an extremely compact, simple construction and is excellently suitable for modern transport vehicles, in particular high-speed passenger coaches which, because of the low floor level and the heavily retracted apron, allow only very small step box dimensions and generally a wide one need extendable over the car profile, single-stage folding step, with the additional advantage that the folding step forms together with the kick box a quickly and easily replaceable unit.

In view of a further improved use of space in the step box, the outer step section according to claim 2 is preferably arranged in the driving position essentially parallel to the adjacent vehicle profile, that is to say to the adjacent wall section of the vehicle door. A particularly favorable connection in the entry position, which is free of tripping edges, is expediently achieved according to claim that the tread sections engage in a form-fitting manner via finger-like toothing. In order to secure the outer tread section in the entry position against tipping over under load, the stop plate characterized in claim 4 is preferably provided.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the gap between the floor tread edge and the vehicle door in the driving position is covered by the Si surface of the then tipped-up outer step section, so that the customary, separate, structurally and in terms of control complex step trough cover is dispensed with and another noticeable space saving and structural simplification is achieved.

While conventional, for example pneumatic, piston-cylinder units arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle for driving the folding step protrude inward far beyond the step box and hinder the installation of cables, lines or the like the kick box included that it is arranged with its longitudinal axis in the vehicle longitudinal direction within the unoccupied step box installation space, the lifting movement of the piston rod according to claim 7 expediently by a rack and pinion gear in a rotary movement of the drive linkage about a rotation axis parallel to the cylinder axis, step box fixed axis is implemented.

A kinematically particularly preferred embodiment of the drive mechanism, according to which, with a few linkage parts, a forcibly synchronous control of the linear movement of the inner step section and, on the other hand, a combined rotary and sliding movement of the outer step section is guaranteed, is that the drive linkage on both sides of the step box one drive lever stiffened by the drive motor of the folding step over a rotation range of less than 180 "and two crossing levers articulatingly connecting these to one of the step sections Includes control arms of different lengths, the shorter of which acts between a pivot point of the drive lever closer to the axis and the inner step section and controls its linear displacement, while the longer one is arranged between the outer end of the drive lever and the outer step section and whose forcibly synchronous rotary / sliding movement causes.

In order to impair as little as possible the installation space of the step box that is unoccupied by the step sections by the arrangement of a step end plate, it is expediently rotatably mounted below the floor tread edge according to claim 9 and is resiliently pressed into a vertical position in the entry position from which it passes the outer step section retracting into the travel position is tilted into an essentially parallel inclined position against the spring force.

• Fig. 1 eine stark schematisierte, teilweise geschnittene Darstellung des Klapptritts in Fahrtsteilung;
• Fig. 2 eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Darstellung des Klapptritts in der Einstiegsposition, wobei der Antriebsmechanismus im Bereich des Zahnstangen-Winkelgetriebes im Schnitt gezeigt ist;
• Fig. 3 die Aufsicht bzw. eine auseinandergezogene Schnittdarstellung der Trittstufenabschnitte im Bereich ihrer Verbindungsstelle.

The invention will now be explained using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. It shows:

• Figure 1 is a highly schematic, partially sectioned illustration of the folding step in the trip division.
• FIG. 2 shows a representation of the folding step corresponding to FIG. 1 in the entry position, the drive mechanism being shown in section in the region of the toothed rack angular gear;
• 3 shows the top view or an exploded sectional view of the tread sections in the region of their connection point.

The single-stage folding step 2 contains a step box 14 consisting of a rear wall 4, a floor plate 6, side walls 8 and a cover plate 12 fastened to the underside of the vehicle floor 10, in its lower and its outer side of the vehicle, i.e. adjacent to the vehicle door 16, the movable zone Step 18 is arranged in the driving position. This is a two-part folding step with a step section 20 inside the vehicle, which is connected via a roller carriage 22 in U-rails 24 fastened to the side walls 8 of the step box 14 between a travel position adjacent to the inside of the closed vehicle door 16 (FIG. 1) and one via the vehicle outer profile extending entry position is horizontally displaceable, and an outer step section 26 is formed, which is pivotally connected to the inner step section 20 via pivot 28. In the area of their connection point the tread sections 20, 26 are provided with finger-like interlocking toothings 30, 32 (FIG. 3) which overlap smoothly in the horizontal entry position of the two tread sections 20, 26 so that the on the top of the tread sections 20, 26 arranged, tread-resistant covering 34 in this position forms a continuous, stumbling-free tread that extends from the entrance trough over the relatively large gap due to the heavily retracted car apron 36 to the front edge A of the platform shown only in dash-dotted lines in a vertical extension . A stop plate 38 fastened on the underside in the area of the connecting point 28 secures the outer tread section 26 in the entry position against tipping over under load.

In the angularly L-shaped travel position of the step 18, the end face 40 of the outer step section 26 is arranged flush with the top edge of the floor, around the gap between the step edge 42 and the closed vehicle door 16, the width of which essentially corresponds to the step thickness corresponds to close, thus serves as a step trough cover and is coated with the floor covering 44 for this purpose.

About a pivot 46 below the floor leading edge 42 is pivotally limited a tread end plate 48, which is pressed by a rubber spring 50 into an aligned with the floor leading edge 42, vertical stop position (Fig. 2), in which it is in the extended state the step 18 forms a step boundary between the rear end of the inner step section 20 and the floor tread edge 42. When the step 18 is folded in, the end plate 48 is brought by the outer step section 26 retracting in the form of a pivoting sliding movement counter to the spring force into the inclined position lying essentially parallel to the step section 26, as shown in FIG.

The drive mechanism of the folding step 2, designated as a whole by 52, is accommodated inside the step box 14 in the main installation space of the step box 14, which is unoccupied by the step sections 20, 26 in its L-shaped driving position, and contains a longitudinal axis fastened to the step box 14 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, for example Pneumatic piston-cylinder unit 54 with a downstream rack and pinion gear 56 which consists of a drive pinion 60 which is rotatably mounted on the step box 14 about a transverse axis and meshes with the piston rod 58 of the piston-cylinder unit 54, a bevel gear 62 which is connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner a driven by this, further bevel gear 64, which has a in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Running drive shaft 66, which is rotatably mounted on the step box 14, drives the drive lever 68 of the step drive linkage 70 arranged on each side of the step box over a pivoting range of slightly more than 90 ° rotated between its end positions shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The synchronous positive control of the linear displacement of the inner step section 20 on the one hand and at the same time the combined pivot-slide movement of the outer step section 26 on the other hand between its travel and entry position is achieved by two simple control links 72, 74 of different lengths, which intersect the drive lever 68 and the sn Step sections 20, 26 are connected, the shorter control link 72 being arranged between a pivot point 76 of the drive lever 68 closer to the axis and the pivot 28 and taking over the longitudinal displacement, while the longer control link 74 on the one hand with the outer end of the drive lever 68 and on the other hand with one is pivotally connected in the vicinity of the pivot pin 28 on the outer tread section 26 and controls the swiveling movement of this tread section 26 superimposed on the longitudinal displacement.

If necessary, the tread sections 20, 26 can be biased into the driving position by springs (not shown) in order to prevent disturbing vibrations and noise phenomena caused by a joint play while driving, and are limited in their end positions by elastomer stops (also not shown). An electropneumatic control assigned to the piston-cylinder unit 54, triggered by limit switches, ensures that the folding step 2 is only extended when the pivoting sliding door 16 is fully open and is completely moved back into the driving position before the door 16 is closed.

Claims (9)

1. A folding step (2) for rail vehicles, more espcially high-speed passenger train carriages, comprising a tread (18) which is extensible out of a travel position in a step box (14) into a boarding position extending beyond the outer profile of the vehicle, and a driving mechanism (52) associated therewith, characterised in that the tread (10) is designed as a multi-part folding step with a tread portion (20), inside the vehicle, which isguided displaceably in the lower part of the step box (14) and an outer tread portion (26) which is hinged thereto and which in the travel position is arranged in a tipped-up swivel position in that edge region of the step box which is contiguous to the vehicle's door (16), and in that the driving mechanism (52) is arranged in the main installation space of the step box which is defined downwardly and outwardly by the tread folded in an angularly L-shaped manner in the travel position.

2. A folding step according to claim 1, characterised in that the outer tread portion (26) in the travel position is arranged in a sloping position which is substantially parallel to the profile of the vehicle.

3. A folding step according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the two tread portions (20, 26) are provided, at their longitudinal sides which are connected rotatably to one another, with finger-like toothings (30, 32) which intermesh in a smooth-surfaced manner in the boarding position.

4. A folding step according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer tread portion (26) is protected against tipping-up in the boarding position by a stop plate (38), fastened to the underside, on the inner tread portion (20).

5. A folding step according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the end surface (40) of the outer tread portion (26) in the tipped-up travel position is arranged flush with the upper edge of the vehicle floor (10) and is designed as a stop trough cover.

6. A folding step according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the driving mechanism (52) contains a piston/cylinder unit (54) which is arranged in the step box (14) with its longitudinal axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

7. A folding step according to claim 6, characterised in that piston rod (50) of the piston/cylinder unit (54) is connected by way of a rack mitre gear (56) in a drive-locking manner to driving linkage (70) for the tread (18) which is mounted in the step box (14) about an axis of rotation (66) which is parallel to the stroke direction of the piston rod.

8. A folding step according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the driving mechanism (52) contains a driving level (68) which is mounted rotatably in the step box (14) as well as a shorted control guide rod (72) which is effective between a hinge point (76), nearer to the axis, on the driving level and the inner tread portion (20) and a longer control guide rod (74) which is effective between a hinge point, further from the axis, on the driving level and the outer tread portion (26).

9. A folding step according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a tread cover plate (49) which is mounted rotatably in the region of the floor entrance edge (42) and which is tiltable out of a vertical position in the boarding position simultaneously with the swivel/ sliding movement of the outer tread portion (26) into a travel position contiguous thereto in a parallel manner on the inside of the vehicle.

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