Patent CA-3007226-A1 (CA)
Title: Interoperability with aoda-ada level boarding
Inventor: MAGYAROSI TIBOR MT
IPC: E01F1/00
Filed: 2018-06-05
Abstract: The present invention relates to novel accelerated platform alteration process of the 127 mm, 200 mm or 250 mm Above the Top Of Rail (ATOR) low platforms to 1219 mm ATOR , 653 mm ATOR or 1219 mm ATOR with Level Boarding for new cars as per the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA). Also provides a novel alteration process of the existing 635 mm bi-levels in order to provide a novel interoperability with Level Boarding as per the Americans with Disabilities Act, Subpart E Commuter Rail Cars 1192.93 (4) Exception Retrofitted vehicles (referenced as ADA Level Boarding) at the same platform with trains with 1219 mm floor elevation and the alteration process of the existing 635 mm bi-levels in order to provide a novel interoperability with ADA Level Boarding at the same platform with trains with 760 mm floor elevation. Also provides a novel accelerated platform alteration process to 635 mm platforms and the alteration process of the existing 635 mm bi-levels in order to provide a novel interoperability with ADA Level Boarding at the same platform with trains with 550 mm floor elevation. Also provides a novel accelerated platform alteration process to 635 mm platforms and the alteration process of the existing 635 mm bi-levels in order to provide a novel interoperability at the same platform with ADA Level Boarding for trains with 635 mm floor elevation and for 450 mm trains Level-Entry Boarding as per the Federal Railway Administration (FRA). During the accelerated platform alteration process the innovation will provide the final platforms at final elevation or temporary elevation with provision of jacking to the final elevation. During the accelerated platform alteration process three different methods will provide boarding from the existing low platforms and new platforms. Are two different methods establishing the geometry of the platform edge. The first method establishes the platform edge horizontal clearance as per the official clearance diagrams, thus variable with the degree of the platform curvature, which results in variable gap, minimal at tangent platforms and increasing with the degree of the platform curvature. Platform edge detection and gap fillers with variable horizontal movement are required to reduce the gap as required by ADA Level Boarding. The second novel method is to add to the above clearance in order to increase the horizontal clearance to the clearance required for the platform with the highest degree of curvature of a corridor in order to convert the variable movement of the gap filler to unique movement. The slight trade-in of platform area is generously compensated by providing ADA Level Boarding using simple pivoting floor extenders with unique movement controlled by simple door interlocking, without the risk of platform crash in case of equipment failure. Track lateral movement can be simply compensated by adding or removing platform edge extender strips. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) is pushing railways to provide AODA Level Boarding. For the existing cars instead AODA Level Boarding ADA Level Boarding is the reference because AODA does not have requirements for retrofitted vehicles. [0003] Boarding to bi-level trains is mostly done using low level platforms, using an intermediary very high step, a challenge even for athletic people, but a real risk for older people or people with disabilities. Railways currently provide assisted wheelchair boarding only for one door, using ramps, bridges, lifts, mini-platforms, and the mostly manual operation of the devices increases dwell time. The short mini-platform used for assisted boarding often requires coaches to be repositioned, additionally increasing the dwell time.