Patent Abstract:
A movable footboard for a door of a rail vehicle comprises a footboard extendable below a tread strip at least substantially transversely to the direction of travel. To minimize the level difference between the footboard and the tread strip a pivot shaft extends at least substantially parallel to the direction of travel on at least one longitudinal bar of the footboard at the end region of the footboard away from the vehicle, about which pivot shaft at least two pivoting bars are pivotably supported, which pivoting bars each bear a transverse profile element, each of the pivoting bars being rigidly connected to the transverse profile element associated with the pivot bar, while the other transverse profile elements lie freely on said pivot bar, and a lifting mechanism is fastened to the vehicle and lifts the transverse profile element located directly in front of the tread strip.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE AND PRIORITY 
     Priority Paragraph 
       [0001]    This patent application is a U.S. National Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/AT2015/050068, filed Mar. 17, 2015, which claims priority to Austrian Patent Application No. A 263/2014, filed 7 Apr. 2014, the disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Disclosed embodiments relate to a movable footboard for the doors of vehicles, in particular of rail carriages. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Rail carriages are intended in the description and the claims to be understood to be all rail-bound vehicles for passenger transport whether these be trams, underground trains, high-speed trains, local trains or passenger trains. Disclosed embodiments is intended in particular for such applications but can also advantageously be used with other vehicle doors. 
         [0004]    With such vehicles, there is in many cases a problem that, when stopping in a station, there is between the floor, actually the so-called footrail, which constitutes the door-side end region thereof, on the one hand, and the platform, on the other hand, a gap in a horizontal direction and in many cases also a height difference. Various proposals have already been submitted for providing bridges for this gap either together with the opening of the door or independently thereof, but all these attempts involve different disadvantages and there inevitably also remains after a footboard has been extended a height difference between the upper floor edge of the carriage and the adjacent upper footboard edge. 
         [0005]    Another type of bridging comprises a so-called ramp which is always extended by the same length, comes to rest with the front thereof on the platform and is then raised with the carriage-side end until a consistent level is produced. The great disadvantage lies in the dangers which arise during the pushing-out action over the platform and in some cases also in the contact region with the tread step. 
         [0006]    A lowering or pivoting of the footrail onto the extended footboard has also been proposed, but as a result of the structural height of the footrail there is no actual balancing of the levels in this instance and in this instance the risk of jamming on the one hand and disruption as a result of contamination on the other hand is too great to permit general use or even implementation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Disclosed embodiments may solve or at least reduce this problem, consequently to provide an extendable footboard in which in the extended state ready for operation, even with different extension extents, the height difference between the upper floor edge (footrail) and the upper footboard edge is significantly reduced or eliminated. 
         [0008]    Disclosed embodiments, by the measures and features set out herein, for example, the footboard has on the surface thereof accessible or passable elements which can be raised, thus reduce or eliminate the height difference. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0009]    Disclosed embodiments is explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a footboard according to Disclosed embodiments in a partially extended position, 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows the footboard in a raised position ready for use, 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows the situation of  FIG. 2  in a variant, 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a footboard according to Disclosed embodiments, 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a first variant of the lifting mechanism, 
           [0015]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show variants of the lifting mechanism as views similar to  FIG. 5  in three different positions, 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of Disclosed embodiments, and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show two details, and 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  shows another detail. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    A footboard which is generally designated  1  is arranged below a footrail  2  of a carriage body which is not otherwise illustrated in greater detail in the door region. The footboard  1  can be displaced in a substantially horizontal direction transversely relative to the travel direction parallel with the double-headed arrow  3 . The displacement is carried out between a completely retracted position in which the footboard  1  does not protrude beyond the clearance profile and an extended position in which the footboard  1  is moved as close to a platform  4  as is technically possible.  FIG. 1  shows an intermediate position of the footboard  1  and there can clearly be seen the height differences between the upper floor edge  5 , the surface  6  of the footboard  1  and the upper platform edge  7 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the situation in the state ready for operation in a view similar to that of  FIG. 1 : the footboard  1  is in the extension direction of the arrow  3  extended so far that as many of the movable transverse profiles  8 - 12  thereof as possible can be lifted in the manner shown. The mechanism by means of which the lifting is carried out is explained in greater detail below. 
         [0021]    The illustrated position of  FIG. 2  shows that, when the footboard  1  is further pushed out, only a portion of the transverse profile  11  would protrude below the footrail  2  so that it would not be possible to lift the transverse profile  11 . For this reason, the pushing-out action terminates in the illustrated position, under some circumstances slightly further out, in order to divide the remaining gap  13  over two regions in an appropriate manner in accordance with the prevailing philosophy of the rail operator or the legal situation or the standards which can be applied. 
         [0022]    As a result of the lifting of the transverse profiles  8 ,  9  and  10  in the form of a pivot movement, it is possible for the accessible face which is formed by the transverse profiles to be continued in the region of the upper floor edge  5  without any height offset. This is particularly important and advantageous for access to this face, for use with wheelchairs, pushchairs, and the like. 
         [0023]    The remaining gap  13  is always smaller than the length of the transverse profiles in the pushing-out direction and consequently negligibly small in comparison with current solutions. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a variant of  FIG. 2  in which the footboard  1  is arranged so as to be able to be adjusted in terms of height, for example, so as to be able to be pivoted as illustrated, whereby the height difference  14  between the end of the transverse profile  8  and the upper platform edge  7  can be reduced or eliminated. The horizontal line  15  represents this in a striking manner. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the footboard  1  from which the construction is clearly evident. At the free end of two longitudinal struts  17 , the foremost transverse profile  8  is secured so as to be able to be pivoted about a longitudinal axis  16  which is at least substantially parallel with the travel direction. Below the transverse profile  8  there protrudes a pair of pivot struts  18 , which are also pivotably supported about the longitudinal axis  16 , from the free edge  19  toward the carriage body, the pivot struts  18  are securely connected to the next transverse profile  9 . The same applies to a pair of additional pivot struts  20  and the transverse profile  10  and so on (without any reference numeral) until the last transverse profile  12 . Of course, it is possible to provide in each case only one pivot strut or also more than two. 
         [0026]    As a result of this construction, when one of the transverse profiles  8  to  12  is lifted via the configuration of the pivot struts  18  to  20 , etcetera, away from the free edge  19 , each of the transverse profiles which are located therebetween is lifted whilst the profiles which are located further away therefrom at the carriage body side continue to remain resting on the longitudinal struts  17 . Five transverse profiles are illustrated; there may be more or fewer; at least two are necessary in order to be used in an advantageous manner. 
         [0027]    This operating method becomes clear when viewed together with  FIG. 5 , which in the first illustration thereof shows a side view with all the transverse profiles resting on the longitudinal struts  17 , the second illustration shows a schematic section in which the construction of the transverse profiles  8  to  12  can be seen clearly and the third illustration shows how the transverse profile  10  is raised by a rotary element  21  and, by means of the pivot struts  20  thereof, also pivots, and consequently raises, the transverse profiles  8  and  9  which are closer to the free edge  19  than the transverse profile  10  about the pivot axle  16 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows in a purely schematic manner how the rotary element  21  is rotated by means of a linear drive  22  in such a manner that in this instance it raises the transverse profile which is located in the region thereof, in this instance the transverse profile  10 . 
         [0029]    It is clear that the rotary element  21 , the bearing thereof and associated linear drive  22  are arranged so as to be secured to the carriage body in order to in each case raise the transverse profile which is located in the correct position with respect to the footrail  2  or the front edge thereof. 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  shows a mechanism which is very suitable for this movement. A linear drive  22  which can be moved linearly back and forth in the pushing-out direction has at the front end region thereof a folding axis  28  which is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis  16 . There is pivotably supported about this folding axis  28  a rotary element  21  which is under the force of a torque in a counter-clockwise direction and which, during the pushing-out movement, moves along below a guiding portion until it has moved past it and folds upward as a result of the action of the torque. 
         [0031]    As the second illustration of  FIG. 9  shows, the rotary element engages in the lifting portion  27  of the associated transverse profile  8 - 12  and lifts it upward, as illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 10  shows a variant in which in place of the guiding portion  29  there is arranged on the carriage body a guiding rail  30 , in which a pin  31  of the rotary element  21  engages; they are actually guiding elements which are provided at both sides of the rotary element. The rotary element  21  is in turn pivotably connected to the linear drive  22 .  FIG. 11  shows a configuration of the connection between the rotary portion  21  and lifting portion  27 , which configuration is advantageous to use. A flattened pin  32  of the rotary portion  21  whose angular position on the rotary portion  21  correlates to the angular position thereof at the time of the engagement strikes a catch face  33  of the lifting portion and when the linear drive  22  moves further ( FIG. 9, 10 ) is pushed into a circular recess  34 . When the pin  32  reaches the end of the recess  34 , the horizontal movement comes to an end and the pin  32  moves as a result in a vertical direction, wherein, as a result of the rotation of the pin, it is secured in the recess  34  in a positive-locking manner. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows a variant of  FIG. 6  relating to the lifting mechanism, in this instance, in place of a pure rotational movement of a rotary element  21 , an expansion movement of an expansion element  23  is again brought about by means of a linear drive  22 . In this instance, the connection between the rotary element  21  and lifting portion  27  can also be carried out as described above. 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  shows, also in a purely schematic manner, one possibility for the reduction or elimination of the height difference  14  ( FIG. 2 ) between the free end of the footboard and the upper platform edge: a guide  24  for the footboard  1  is in turn pivotably supported about a guiding axis  25  which extends parallel with the longitudinal carriage axis. Using a pivot mechanism, for example, a movable dual wedge  26 , or a linear drive such as a spindle or a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder/piston unit, the guide  24  and consequently the footboard  1  can be pivoted about the guiding axis  25  and can thus compensate for the height difference  14 . The double-headed arrow  26  indicates this movement; how it is limited is dependent on the respective vehicle and the provisions of the rail administration. 
         [0035]    Disclosed embodiments is not limited to the embodiment illustrated and described, but instead can be modified in different manners. It is thus possible not to arrange the lifting mechanism with the rotary element  21  or the expansion element  23  in a duplicate manner and at the lateral edge of the footboard  1 , but instead centrally and only in single form; the division of the remaining horizontal gap  13  at the side of the platform  4  or at the side of the floor  2  can be carried out differently from the way set out, but this then requires an adaptation of the position or the extent of the lifting action of the lifting mechanism in order not to unintentionally form a height difference, even a small height difference, in the region of the upper floor edge since the engagement location of the lifting mechanism with respect to the transverse profile then changes in accordance with the remaining gap width. 
         [0036]    The construction of the lifting mechanism may deviate from the illustrated examples; it is possible to provide a fixed hydraulic or pneumatic piston/cylinder unit which presses the respective transverse profile upward in a purely non-positive-locking manner, and the like. 
         [0037]    It is possible to use as materials, substances and components all those which are known in the prior art for retractable steps or folding steps; in the knowledge of Disclosed embodiments and in the knowledge of the field of the object and the vehicle to be equipped there are no problems in this regard for the person skilled in the art. 
         [0038]    In summary, it can consequently be set out that Disclosed embodiments substantially relates to a movable footboard for a door of a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, having a footboard  1  which can be extended below the footrail  2  at least substantially transversely relative to the travel direction. In order to improve the connection between the footboard and footrail, there is provision for there to be provided at the end region of the footboard  1  remote from the vehicle on at least one longitudinal strut  17  of the footboard  1  a pivot axle  16  which extends at least substantially parallel with the travel direction and about which there are pivotably supported at least two pivot struts  18 ,  20  which each carry a transverse profile  8 - 12 . In this instance, each of the pivot struts, as illustrated, may be divided into two aligned pivot struts in order to improve the mechanical and dynamic situation; there are also provided in most cases more than two such pivot struts in order to be able to provide more than two transverse profiles  8 - 12 . Furthermore, each of the pivot struts is only securely connected to the transverse profile  8 - 9  which is associated therewith, whilst the other transverse profiles are freely positioned thereon. Finally, there is provided a lifting mechanism  21 ,  22 ,  23  which is secured to the vehicle and which lifts only the transverse profile  8 - 12  which is located directly in front of the footrail  2 . 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               1 . Footboard 
               2 . Footrail 
               3 . Double-headed arrow 
               4 . Platform 
               5 . Upper floor edge 
               6 . Surface 
               7 . Upper platform edge 
               08 - 12 . Transverse profiles 
               13  Gap 
               14  Height difference 
               15  Horizontal 
               16  Pivot axle 
               17  Longitudinal struts 
               18  Pivot struts 
               19  Free edge 
               20  Pivot struts 
               21  Rotary element 
               22  Linear drive 
               23  Expansion element 
               24  Guide 
               25  Guiding axis 
               26  Arrow 
               27  Lifting portion 
               28  Folding axis 
               29  Guiding portion 
               30  Guiding rail 
               31  Pin 
               32  Flat pin 
               33  Catch face 
               34  Recess

Technology Classification (CPC): 1