Patent Publication Number: US-9903151-B2

Title: Platform landing door casement comprising a glass pane and associated methods for fitting and removing the glass pane from the platform

Description:
This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 15306096.7 filed on Jul. 3, 2015, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to a landing door casement for a platform running along a traffic lane and including a glass pane. The invention relates also to a method for removing the glass pane and a method for fitting the glass pane, the two methods being implemented from the platform. 
     SUMMARY 
     The platform landing doors make it possible to separate the platform deck from the traffic lane. These landing doors comprise doors that slide in their plane which make it possible to free or block a passage for access to a passenger vehicle parking along the platform on the traffic lane. Generally, each access passage includes a pair of sliding doors whose respective translational movements are symmetrical mirror-wise. Also, each sliding door moves relative to a fixed part of the landing door. This fixed part is equipped with emergency doors. Whether sliding doors or emergency doors, the casements thereof generally include at least one glazing panel. Hereinafter in the description, the platform landing door casement can refer both to the casement of the sliding door and to the casement of the emergency door. 
     In order to perform maintenance on the glazing panel of a platform landing door casement, such as the replacement of a degraded glass pane, it is usually performed from the traffic lane so that the dismantle able elements allowing access to the glass pane are not within reach of the users from the platform. That requires this maintenance to occur outside of the traffic lane service hours. 
     Now, vandalism, in particular, on certain traffic lanes, such as a subway line, may require a daily replacement of degraded glass panes. It is then no longer possible to perform the replacement of all the degraded glass panes over just the between-service period of the traffic lane. 
     There is therefore a need to have a platform landing door casement which allows replacement of a glass pane at any time of the day during the traffic lane service hours. 
     To that end, there is provided, according to the invention, a platform landing door casement comprising: 
     a platform face; 
     a casement frame comprising first and second lateral uprights separated from one another by first and second cross members, the first and second lateral uprights and the first and second cross members delimiting a glazing opening; 
     a glass pane mounted in the glazing opening by being received in the first and second lateral uprights and the first and second cross members; 
     a glazing bead mounted removably on one of the first and second lateral uprights by reversible fixing means, for retaining the glass pane in the glazing opening; and, 
     a glazing bead cover mounted removably on the glazing bead to conceal the reversible fixing means; 
     the glass pane, the glazing bead and the glazing bead cover being mounted on the platform face side and the casement further comprising, on the platform face side, a protective trim for locking and securing the glazing bead cover on the glazing bead. 
     Thus, the fact that the dismantleable elements such as the glass pane, the glazing bead and the glazing bead covers are accessible from the platform, because they are mounted on the platform face of the casement, allows for a maintenance intervention which does not monopolize the traffic lane. Furthermore, with such a casement, it is possible to perform the maintenance without having to open the casement: this makes it possible to not interrupt service on the traffic lane since all the platform landing doors remain operational. Also, using a locking and securing protective trim makes the removal of the dismantleable elements impossible by a user of the platform. 
     Advantageously, but optionally, the casement according to the invention presents at least one of the following additional technical features: 
     the other of the first and second lateral uprights comprises a profile member comprising a groove for receiving and holding a lateral edge of the glass pane; 
     the profile member is of a single piece; 
     the casement further comprises first and second cross member covers mounted, on the platform face side, removably on the first and second cross members respectively, the first and second cross member covers comprising a first lateral end received in the other of the first and second lateral uprights and a second lateral end, opposite the first lateral end, retained by the glazing bead; 
     the first and second cross member covers are clipped onto the first and second cross members respectively; 
     the glazing bead cover is clipped onto the glazing bead; 
     the reversible fixing means comprise fixing screws; and, 
     the glass pane comprises an ant-graffiti film. 
     Also provided, according to the invention, is a method for removing a glass pane from a casement having at least one of the preceding technical features comprising, from the platform face, steps of: 
     unlocking and removing the protective trim; then, 
     removing the glazing bead cover; then, 
     removing the reversible fixing means and removing the glazing bead; then, 
     removing the glass pane from the glazing opening. 
     Advantageously, but optionally, the removal method according to the invention presents at least one of the following additional technical features: 
     prior to the removal of the glass pane and following the removal of the glazing bead, the method comprises a step of removal of the first and second cross member covers; and 
     the removal of the glass pane is performed by a tilting of the glass pane on an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the other of the first and second lateral uprights. 
     Also provided, according to the invention, is a method for fitting a glass pane of a casement presenting at least one of the preceding technical features, comprising, from the platform face, steps of: 
     placement of the glass pane in the glazing opening; then, 
     placement of the glazing bead then of the reversible fixing means in one of the first and second lateral uprights; then, 
     placement of the glazing bead cover on the glazing bead; then, 
     placement and locking of the protective trim. 
     Advantageously, but optionally, the fitting method according to the invention presents at least one of the following additional technical features: 
     following the placement of the glass pane and prior to the placement of the glazing bead, the method comprises a step of placement of the first and second cross member covers on the first and second cross members respectively; 
     the step of placement of the glass pane comprises sub steps of: 
     pressing a bottom edge of the glass pane onto a bottom cross member out of the first and second cross members; then, 
     insertion of a lateral edge of the glass pane into the other of the first and second lateral uprights; then, 
     tilting of the glass pane in the opening on an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the other of the first and second lateral uprights; and, 
     the fitting method comprises a preliminary step of cleaning and/or replacement of seals of the glazing opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment. In the attached drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional view of a set of platform landing doors installed on a platform edge; 
         FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional view of a casement according to the invention of a landing door of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view at the level of the protective trim of the casement of  FIG. 2 , with the glazing bead cover removed; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view in partial cross section along IV-IV; 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view at the level of the protective trim of the casement of  FIG. 2 , with a glazing bead cover fitted; 
         FIG. 6  is a view in cross section along IV-IV; 
         FIG. 7  is a view in partial cross section along VII-VII. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there now follows a brief description of a platform  1  equipped with landing doors. The platform  1  runs along a traffic lane (not represented). At a head end of the platform  1 , a set of landing doors  2 ,  3  is positioned. Here, the landing doors form landing door modules. Each landing door module  2 ,  3  comprises an access passage which is blocked or freed by a pair of sliding doors, each comprising a sliding casement  5 . On either side of the passage, the landing door module  2 ,  3  comprises two fixed parts each equipped with an emergency door comprising an emergency casement  4 . The two fixed parts frame the access passage associated with the landing door module. Each of the sliding casements  5  moves in translation relative to the fixed part to which it is linked. Herein below, the landing door casement denotes both the sliding casement and the emergency casement. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 7 , there now follows a detailed description of a casement according to the invention. Here for purely illustrative purposes, the description of the casement according to the invention is provided with reference to a sliding casement  5 . The rest of the description applies equally to an emergency casement  4 . 
     The casement  5  according to the invention comprises a casement frame  20 . The casement frame  20  comprises a first lateral upright  22  and a second lateral upright  26 . The first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights are separated from one another by cross members  21 . Here, there are three cross members  21 ,  25 ,  27 : a top first cross member  21 , an intermediate second cross member  25  situated substantially at mid-height of the casement  5  according to the invention and a bottom third cross member  27 . The first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights and the first  21  and second  25  cross members delimit a glazing opening in which a glass pane  10  is mounted. Similarly, the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights and the second  25  and third  27  cross members delimit another glazing opening in which another glass pane  10  is mounted. 
     In a variant embodiment, the casement frame comprises only a top first cross member  21  and a bottom second cross member and it has only a single glass pane  10  extending over the entire height of the casement according to the invention. 
     According to another variant embodiment, the casement frame comprises a top first cross member  21  and an intermediate second cross member  25  substantially at mid-height of the casement according to the invention, the part of the casement according to the invention below the intermediate second cross member being solid. 
     Also, the casement  5  according to the invention comprises a platform face, corresponding to the visible face in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 , and a lane face not visible in the figures. On the platform face side of the casement  5  according to the invention, the latter comprises a glazing bead  50  mounted removably along one  26  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights. Reversible fixing means  6  ensure the mounting of the glazing bead  50  onto the lateral upright  26 . Here, the reversible fixing means  6  are screws comprising a screw head with a specific imprint which requires a specific screwdriver tip of complementary form, the screws cooperating with the nuts  61  fixed to one  26  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights. The reversible fixing means  6  are distributed over the entire length of the glazing bead  50 . Once mounted on one  26  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights, the glazing bead  50  defines therewith a groove  24  for receiving an edge of the glass pane  10 . The receiving groove  24  is then U-shaped in section, an interior face of each of the branches of the “U” receiving a seal  9 , which is, for example, made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer). One  26  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights comprises a protective trim base  71  which protrudes from the glazing bead  50 . The protective trim base  71  is fixed here onto the upright by two reversible fixing means  6 . The glazing bead  50  comprises an orifice  53  passing through a thickness of the glazing bead  50 , the orifice  53  receiving the protective trim base  71 . In section, the glazing bead  50  comprises, from left to right in  FIG. 4 , a first part forming one  51  of the branches of the “U” shape in section of the receiving groove  24 , then a concave part comprising a flat bottom  52  in the thickness of which are formed the orifice  53  and orifices for receiving the reversible fixing means  6  and two lateral walls  54 , each comprising a protuberance protruding toward the interior of the concave part. 
     Furthermore, the casement  5  according to the invention comprises, still on the platform face side, a glazing bead cover  40  which encloses the concave part of the glazing bead  50  to conceal and block access to the reversible fixing means  6 . The glazing bead cover  40  comprises a planar longitudinal strip  42  comprising, on each of its longitudinal edges, a branch  41  comprising a hook. When the glazing bead cover  40  is fitted onto the glazing bead  50 , here by clipping, the hooks of the branches  41  of the glazing bead cover  40  cooperate with the protuberances of the lateral walls  54  of the concave part of the glazing bead  50 . The glazing bead cover  40  further comprises an orifice  43  passing through the strip  42  which slidingly receives a tip of the protective trim base  71 . The glazing bead cover is either of a single piece covering the entire length of the glazing bead  50 , or in two pieces, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , abutted with one another on fitting, the through orifice  43  straddling the two abutted pieces. 
     To lock and secure the glazing bead cover  40  onto the casement  5  according to the invention, the casement  5  according to the invention comprises, still on the platform face side, a locking and securing protective trim  70  which is positioned to be locked and secured onto the protective trim base  71 . The locking and securing protective trim  70  comprises locking means  72  cooperating with the protective trim base  71  and a head  70  that comes to bear against the glazing bead cover  40 , upon fitting, by covering the through orifice  42  thereof. To apply the locking and securing protective trim, a specific tool is necessary. Thus, it is not possible to remove the locking and securing protective trim  71  manually or with conventional tools. 
     The other  22  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights comprises a profile member  22  which here is of a single piece and which comprises a receiving groove  23 , the inside of which is covered with a seal  8 . The receiving groove  23  receives and retains a lateral edge of the glass pane  10 . 
     The casement  5  according to the invention further comprises, still on the platform face side, cross member covers  30  mounted removably on the cross members  21 ,  25 ,  27 . For example, the cross member covers  30  are clipped onto the cross members  21 ,  25 ,  27 . Each cross member cover  30  comprises first  32  and second  31  lateral ends. When assembling, still on the platform face side, the first lateral end  32  is inserted into the receiving groove  23  of the other  22  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights. The second lateral end  31  is retained in the receiving groove  24  of one  26  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights by the glazing bead  50 , when this glazing bead  50  is fitted. Also, each cross member cover  30  serves as glazing bead for the bottom and/or top edges of the glass panes  10 . It comprises, optionally, along its longitudinal edge/edges, a seal in contact with the glass pane(s) that it retains. 
     It should be noted that all the seals  8 ,  9  are mounted to be able to be replaced if necessary during maintenance. Preferably, they are produced in EPDM. In addition, the seals also make it possible to grip the glass pane and avoid the vibrations between the glass pane and the casement structure. 
     With the sliding casements  5  produced according to the invention, the other  22  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights corresponds to the lateral upright which is on the side of the fixed part associated with the sliding casement  5  concerned. In the case of the emergency casements  4 , the other  22  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights corresponds to the lateral upright which bears the hinges or the pivots, or even any system allowing a rotational movement of the emergency casement about a vertical axis. 
     There now follows a description of a method according to the invention for removing a glass pane from a casement according to the invention just described. All of the operations which will be described are performed on the platform face side, with the casement  4 ,  5  in a closed position. It should be noted that, for the sliding casement  5 , in closed position (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), the other  22  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights is partially concealed, on the platform side, by the associated fixed part. That is why this lateral upright does not have any removable element. 
     First, the operator removes the locking and securing protective trim  70  using a specific tool. 
     Second, the operator removes the glazing bead cover  40  by unclipping the latter from the glazing bead  50  by freeing the hooks of the branches  41  of the glazing bead cover  40  from the protuberances of the lateral walls  54  of the glazing bead  50 . 
     Then, the operator removes the glazing bead  50 . For that, he removes all the reversible fixing means  6 , then made accessible by the removal of the glazing bead cover  40 , using suitable tools. 
     Next, the operator removes the cross member covers  30  which are below and above the glass pane  10  to be removed. The glass pane  10  is then held in the glazing opening only by the lateral edge of the glass pane which is inserted and retained in the receiving groove  23  of the other  22  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights. 
     Finally, the operator removes the glass pane  10  to be replaced. For that, he introduces, between the glass pane  10  to be replaced and the bottom of the receiving groove  24 , a lever, like a flat blade screwdriver, to tilt the glass pane about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the other  22  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights. In a variant, the operator uses suckers positioned on the glass pane to manipulate it. This tilting is made possible by deformation (flattening) of the seal  8  with which the receiving groove  23  is equipped. The glass pane  10  is then bearing on the cross member  25  or  27  situated under the glass pane  10 . A simple translational movement then makes it possible to completely remove the glass pane  10  to be replaced. 
     Once the degraded glass pane has been removed a new replacement glass pane is fitted onto the casement according to the invention. For that, there now follows a description of a method according to the invention for fitting a glass pane of a casement according to the invention. Once again, all the operations which will be described are performed on the platform face side, the casement  4 ,  5  being in a closed position. 
     In a preliminary step, the operator cleans the seals  8 ,  9  and optionally replaces them if necessary. 
     First, the operator fits the new glass pane  10 . For that, the glass pane  10  is fitted bearing by its bottom edge on the cross member  25  or  27  in the bottom part of the glazing opening receiving the new glass pane  10 . The operator then inserts the lateral edge of the glass pane  10  into the receiving groove  23  by a translational movement, for example by tapping the section of the opposite lateral edge of the glass pane  10  with the hand or using a “wooden hand” by levering. Once the lateral edge is inserted into the receiving groove  23 , a tilting movement makes it possible to fully insert the glass pane  10  into the glazing opening of the casement according to the invention, by causing the opposite lateral edge to bear against the seal  9  fixed in the part of the receiving groove  24  of one  26  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights. This tilting is done about the axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the other  22  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights. The glass pane  10  is then held in place by the receiving groove  23 . 
     Next, subsequently, the operator fits the cross member covers  30  by inserting the lateral end  32  of each cross member cover  30  into the receiving groove  23 , then by clipping the cross member covers  30  onto the cross members delimiting the glazing opening receiving the glass pane  10 . 
     Next, the operator fits the glazing bead  50  back in place. This finalizes the receiving groove  24  making it possible to retain in place the lateral edge of the glass pane  10  received in the receiving groove  24  and the lateral end  31  of the cross member covers  30  previously put back in place. The reversible fixing means  6  are put back in place to grip the glazing bead onto one  26  of the first  22  and second  26  lateral uprights. 
     Next, the operator fits the glazing bead cover  40  onto the glazing bead  50 , by clipping by making the hooks of the branches  41  of the glazing bead cover  40  cooperate with the protuberances of the lateral walls  54  of the glazing bead  50 . That conceals the reversible fixing means  6  and makes them inaccessible from outside. 
     Finally, the operator fits the locking and securing protective trim using the specific tools. 
     All the maintenance operations just described in relation to methods for removing and fitting a glass pane according to the invention are performed only on the platform side because all the removable elements (protective trim, covers, glazing bead, glass pane) are accessible from the platform face of the casement according to the invention. That makes it possible to conserve the casement according to the invention which undergoes maintenance while closed without neutralizing the traffic lane. That makes it possible to perform the maintenance at any time without interrupting service. The fitting and removal methods according to the invention are rapid, which makes it possible to replace a glass pane in approximately 15 minutes. The particular arrangement of the casement according to the invention makes fixing the glazing beads  50  inviolable. 
     Obviously, the invention can have numerous modifications made to it without departing from the scope of the invention.