A Passenger Rail Vehicle Having an Emergency Exit

Abstract

A passenger rail vehicle includes an emergency exit, wherein the passenger space is divided into a plurality of compartments and the compartments are located on at least two levels, where two adjacent compartments have a common window having a pane, where the window forms the emergency exit, where a separating wall is provided between the adjacent compartments, where the separating wall is locked to the pane of the common window, and an interior trim part is fastened to the pane of the common window, and where an emergency exit aid that is stowed in its idle position is fastened both to the car body structure of the passenger rail vehicle and to the pane of the common window so that, when the pane is destroyed, the emergency exit aid is brought into its usage position by virtue of the pane falling into the open.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a U.S. national stage of application No. PCT / EP 2022 / 085408 filed 12 Dec. 2022. Priority is claimed on Austrian Application No. A 51000 / 2021 filed 14 Dec. 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a passenger rail vehicle with an emergency exit, in particular a couchette or sleeping car.2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] Modern concepts for passenger rail vehicles, in particular couchettes and sleeping cars, provide for a multi-level arrangement of individual passenger compartments. These compartments offer maximum privacy, which is not guaranteed in the customary 4 or 6-person couchette, and thus also ensures acceptable travel comfort for individual travelers. These compartments are arranged on two levels and normally oriented along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and have an external window. However, the dimensions of these compartments do not allow the window to have the minimum size required for evacuation through this window, so that a common window area is created for two compartments. A partition wall between the compartments extends to the inside of the window so that the privacy of each passenger is maintained. Another problem during an evacuation is that the height of the windows in the upper level of the compartments is too great above the top of the track, making it too dangerous to exit safely without additional aids. In the event of an evacuation on the open track beyond a stop, this height is even greater and leaving the compartment via the window is impossible. Current approval regulations for passenger rail vehicles require a maximum time for the evacuation of passengers, so that an evacuation route via the compartment windows must also be available at all times.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit, in which evacuation is also possible from upper compartments of multi-level vehicles with the least possible risk to passengers.

[0005] This and other objects and advantages are achieved in accordance with the invention by a passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit, where the passenger space within the passenger rail vehicle is divided into a plurality of compartments and the compartments are located on at least two levels and where two adjacent compartments have a common window that forms the emergency exit, where a partition wall is provided between the adjacent compartments, which partition wall is locked to the pane of the common window, and an interior trim part is fastened to the pane of the common window, and where an emergency exit aid that is stowed in its idle position is fastened both to the car body structure of the passenger rail vehicle and to the pane of the common window so that, when the pane is shattered, the emergency exit aid is brought into its position by virtue of the pane falling into the open.

[0006] This has the advantage of being able to provide passengers with an evacuation route, even from upper floors in multi-level vehicles, which can be used with as little risk as possible as an emergency exit aid is available.

[0007] In accordance with the invention, in a passenger rail vehicle which has at least two levels accessible to passengers and which is divided into individual passenger compartments, an escape route is provided via an external pane. The vehicle is structured such that a common pane is available for two adjacent passenger compartments.

[0008] The proportion of the surface area of this pane for each compartment may be too small for evacuation. In accordance with the invention, the entire surface of the pane is therefore used jointly for two adjacent compartments. If a passenger in one of the compartments triggers the evacuation process, he / she shatters the pane in front of the associated compartment and, as a consequence, the entire pane, i. e., including the pane in front of the adjacent compartment. As a result of this shattering of the pane, it is released from its frame, falls into the open next to the vehicle and, as a result, moves the emergency exit aid into its position of use.

[0009] Furthermore, the shattering of the pane releases the lock of the partition wall so that it can be opened and the entire window area is available for evacuation. This partition wall separates the adjacent compartments, which have a common window, from each other, so that the passengers have maximum privacy. The partition wall can be fitted with a lock that allows the partition wall to also be opened in a situation other than an evacuation, for example, when people traveling together wish to connect the adjacent compartments. It is particularly advantageous to form the partition wall as a sliding wall or as a folding wall, because it thus consumes very little space when open.

[0010] The adjacent compartments can be formed as couchette compartments, in particular as couchette compartments for one person. These are particularly advantageous when arranged on a plurality of levels and meet the privacy requirements of passengers traveling alone.

[0011] An emergency exit aid can be any facility that enables the safest possible descent from a low height, typically 2 to 3 meters, and which can also be used by untrained persons. The use of a rope ladder as an emergency exit aid is particularly advantageous because its use is probably familiar, or at least known, to most passengers. In addition, a rope ladder is particularly easy to stow away and requires little space.

[0012] Alternative emergency exit aids, such as the knotted ropes provided for the crew in aircraft, can be used in principle, but their use by untrained persons may pose too great a potential danger.

[0013] In accordance with the invention, an interior trim part is provided, which is arranged on the pane of the window and behind which the emergency exit aid is concealed in its idle position. This interior trim part is preferably made of plastic and can be used for the attractive visual design of the passenger space. In a further embodiment, the interior trim part can be equipped with upholstery.

[0014] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the pane is double-walled, with a layer of safety glass on the side facing the passenger compartment and a layer of laminated glass on the side facing the outside. This has the advantage of ensuring good sound and heat insulation of the window, and at the same time guaranteeing easy destruction of the pane due to the arrangement of safety glass on the inside. In the event of breakage, safety glass breaks into very small fragments without sharp edges, minimizing the risk of injury to passengers.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous to configure the pane such that it can be shattered on one part of its surface with less effort than on the remaining part of its surface. This preferred part of the surface should preferably be marked so that passengers can shatter the pane completely with greater speed in an emergency.

[0016] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a sectional illustration of an emergency exit through a compartment wall in accordance with the invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a sectional illustration of an emergency exit through the compartment wall, in the evacuation position in accordance with the invention;

[0020] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a compartment interior view in accordance with the invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a compartment interior view, in the evacuation position in accordance with the invention;

[0022] FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exterior view in accordance with the invention; and

[0023] FIG. 6 is an exterior view, with the pane removed in accordance with the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows, by way of example and in a diagrammatic and highly abstracted manner, an emergency exit of a passenger rail vehicle in a section through a compartment wall. A section through a compartment wall of a passenger rail vehicle 1 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle is shown. The section is through a partition wall 3 arranged between the compartments, as well as through the pane 2 of a common outer window of the two compartments. The partition wall 3 can be configured to be movable, so that the compartments can be connected to form a larger compartment by opening the partition wall. The partition wall 3 separates the compartments such that each of the compartments has a certain proportion of the window area, but the compartments are self-contained units. Locks 6 are fastened to the pane 2, which hold the partition wall 3 in the closed position. Furthermore, an interior trim part 4 is fastened to the pane 2, which forms part of the trim of the interior of the metal car body which is customary in passenger spaces, and which is typically made of plastic. An emergency exit aid 5 is stowed in its idle position in this interior trim part 4. FIG. 1 shows an example of a rope ladder which can be stowed away in a particularly space-saving manner.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows, by way of example and in a diagrammatic view, the emergency exit of a passenger rail vehicle from FIG. 1 in the evacuation position. The passenger rail vehicle 1 from FIG. 1 is shown, the pane 2 having fallen from its frame or shattered. This has been caused by the force acting on the pane 2 from the inside. The emergency exit aid 5 is brought into its position of use by the pane 2 falling out, so that the emergency exit aid 5, which is formed as a rope ladder in the exemplary illustrated embodiment, can be used. Furthermore, due to the pane 2 that has fallen out or shattered, the locks 6 of the partition wall 3 have been released, so that the partition wall 3 can be pushed back or folded. This also occurs if the partition wall 3 was previously closed and locked, so that the adjacent compartments were separated before the evacuation process was triggered. Triggering an evacuation and the resulting release of the locks 6 makes it possible to move the partition wall 3 and use the entire window area for evacuation.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows, by way of example and in a diagrammatic view, the interior view of a compartment. The interior view of a one-person couchette is shown, which can be connected to an adjacent compartment via an openable partition wall 3. These two compartments have a common window with a pane 2, the configuration of the interior of the car meaning that the compartments are self-contained such that this is not readily discernible from inside the vehicle. The pane 2 is equipped with a mark 7 in each compartment, which marks a point on the pane at which it can be shattered particularly easily. A corresponding impact apparatus (emergency hammer) can be arranged in an easily accessible manner in the compartment. An interior trim part 4 is arranged on the pane 2, behind which an emergency exit aid 5 (not shown in FIG. 3) is arranged that is common to both compartments connected in this way.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows, by way of example and in a diagrammatic view, the interior view of a compartment in the evacuation position. The compartment in FIG. 3 is shown after an evacuation has been triggered, i.e., the shattering of the pane 2. The pane 2 and the interior trim part 4 arranged on it have fallen out of the passenger rail vehicle 1 and the lock of the partition wall 3 has been released so that it can be pushed back and the entire window area is available for evacuation.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows, by way of example and in a diagrammatic view, an exterior view of a compartment in the evacuation position, i.e., after an evacuation has been triggered. The compartment in FIG. 4 is shown from the outside, the pane 2 having fallen out of its frame and the emergency exit aid 5 having been brought into its position of use so that passengers from the compartments on the upper level can leave the passenger rail vehicle 1.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows, by way of example and in a diagrammatic view, an exterior view of a passenger rail vehicle, one pane having been removed. The passenger rail vehicle 1 from FIG. 3 to 5 is shown, one pane 2 having been removed, but the components arranged on the pane 2 having remained in their idle position, so that the principle of the invention and the arrangement of the components is clearly visible. In particular, the arrangement of the emergency exit aid 5 inside an interior trim part 4 is clearly visible, as are the locks 6, which lock the partition wall 3 in its closed position. The components arranged on the inside of the pane 2, in particular the interior trim part 4, reduce the transparent area of the pane 2 and divide it into two sections, each of which is assigned to a compartment.

[0030] Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements that perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and / or elements shown and / or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. -7. (canceled)8. A passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit, comprising:a passenger space divided into a plurality of compartments which are located on at least two levels, two adjacent compartments having a common window having a pane, the window forming the emergency exit;a partition wall arranged between the adjacent compartments, said partition wall being locked to the pane of the common window; andan interior trim part fastened to the pane of the common window,an emergency exit aid which is stowed in an idle position is fastened to a car body structure of the passenger rail vehicle and fastened to the pane of the common window such that, when the pane is shattered, the emergency exit aid is brought into its position by virtue of the pane falling into an open space.

9. The passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the emergency exit aid is formed as a rope ladder.

10. The passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the compartments are formed as berths for one person each.

11. The passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the compartments are formed as berths for one person each.

12. The passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:an interior trim part fastened to an inside of the pane in which the emergency exit aid is stowed in an idle position.

13. The passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:an interior trim part fastened to an inside of the pane in which the emergency exit aid is stowed in an idle position.

14. The passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:an interior trim part fastened to an inside of the pane in which the emergency exit aid is stowed in an idle position.

15. The passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pane can be shattered with less force on one part of a surface of the pane than on a remaining part of the surface of the pane, the one part of a surface of the pane forming a preferred part of the surface and being marked.

16. The passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pane is double-walled, with a layer of safety glass on a side facing the passenger compartment and a layer of laminated glass on an exterior facing side.

17. The passenger rail vehicle having an emergency exit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the partition wall is formed as a sliding or folding wall.

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