Step platform for gap bridging for a rail vehicle with monitoring device for gap monitoring, as well as rail vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a step platform (1) for a rail-bound vehicle (5) for passenger transport for bridging a gap (7) between an entry area of the rail-bound vehicle (5) and a land-side boarding platform (6), as well as to a rail-bound vehicle (5) for passenger transport with at least one entry area and at least one step platform (1) for bridging a gap (7) between the at least one entry area of the rail-bound vehicle (5) and a land-side boarding platform (7), wherein the step platform has a step surface (2) for walking on by passengers and two mutually opposite sides (3, 4), as well as at least one monitoring device for detecting objects at least on a first side (3) of the two mutually opposite sides (3, 4) of the step platform (1).

Description

Technical FieldThe invention relates to a step platform for a track-bound vehicle of passenger traffic for bridging a gap between a boarding area of the track-bound vehicle and a land-side boarding platform, and to a track-bound vehicle of passenger traffic having at least one boarding area and at least one step platform for bridging a gap between the at least one boarding area of the track-bound vehicle and a land-side boarding platform, wherein the step platform has a step surface for passenger access and two mutually opposite sides.Background ArtStep platforms of the generic type have been known for a long time in rail vehicles for bridging gaps.One problem is that persons get into the gap between the track-bound vehicle and the land-side access platform. To protect these persons, it must be ensured that this area is free when the track-bound vehicle travels from the stop with the access platform. For this purpose, a visual inspection of train personnel on the access platform or by the vehicle driver is usually carried out. This is particularly difficult and expensive in the case of longer rail vehicles and is therefore considered unsafe. Cameras are known as auxiliary means, which are arranged on the platform or on the track-bound vehicle. These solutions are, on the one hand, technically complex and therefore quite costly, are sensitive and are rapidly prone to contamination and are thus maintenance and maintenance intensive, which leads to further costs during operation.The patent specification DE 101 04 315 C1 discloses a protective device which prevents a rail vehicle holding a platform from starting again as soon as a person has fallen into a gap formed by the holding rail vehicle and the platform edge of the platform or is at least briefly clamped in the gap, wherein the protective device has a band switch which is activated by the person. The strip switch is mounted on the platform or on the rail vehicle.The utility model specification DE 202 06 926 U1 teaches a monitoring system for optoelectronically checking whether persons or objects have entered or entered hazardous areas of station stations. The monitoring system with light-emitting diodes and photo sensors is arranged on the land side, in particular in a track bed, and forms a light grid for monitoring the hazardous area.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is based on the object of simplifying the monitoring of the gap.The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Further developments and embodiments of the invention are found in the features of the dependent patent claims.Advantages of the solution according to the invention consist in particular in that it is significantly more cost-effective and available in comparison with camera monitoring with person recognition. This is accompanied by a significant increase in the safety and protection of persons. Moreover, the safety of the track-bound vehicle is improved even against severe damage due to objects in the gap.Embodiments of the InventionA step platform according to the invention for an, in particular large-scale, track-bound vehicle of passenger traffic, in particular for a rail vehicle, for bridging a gap between a boarding area of the track-bound vehicle and a land-side boarding platform comprises a step surface for passenger walking and two mutually opposite sides and at least one monitoring device for, in particular contactless, detection of objects of a predefined type, shape and / or size at least on a first of the two mutually opposite sides of the step platform. Objects of a predetermined type can be persons who have fallen into the gap between the track-bound vehicle and the access platform.A track-bound vehicle according to the invention for transporting persons, in particular a large-scale track-bound vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, for example a rail vehicle of public transportation with a plurality of car bodies coupled to one another, comprises at least one boarding area and at least one step platform according to the invention for bridging a gap between the at least one boarding area of the track-bound vehicle and a boarding platform situated opposite the at least one boarding area, having at least one monitoring device for detecting objects on at least one first side of the step platform. The boarding area likewise also serves as a disembarking area, but is usually called a boarding area. The access platform also serves analogously as an exit platform. If the track-bound vehicle is a rail vehicle, the access platform is also referred to as a platform.The step platform has a step surface which serves for entry by passengers of the track-bound vehicle and correspondingly forms an upper side of the step platform in the intended orientation. An opposite underside, in particular parallel to the tread surface, is oriented in the intended orientation toward the surface of the earth, for example toward a track bed. The tread surface or the underside of the tread platform need not necessarily lie in a horizontal plane, but can be inclined at a small angle to the horizontal, in particular to overcome a vertical height difference between the floor in the boarding region of the track-bound vehicle and the boarding platform. In addition, the step platform has a front side which points to the intended orientation of the step platform with respect to the access platform. A rear side opposite the front side correspondingly points toward the track-bound vehicle or is accommodated in the track-bound vehicle. The mutually oppositely oriented sides of the step platform and thus mutually remote sides of the step platform are thus oriented in the intended position of the step platform for bridging the horizontal gap between the track-bound vehicle and the access platform and / or for bridging the vertical gap between the floor of the entry region of the track-bound vehicle and the access platform towards the, in particular horizontal, gap between the track-bound vehicle and the access platform. They extend in particular perpendicularly on a vehicle longitudinal axis of the track-bound vehicle.The at least one step platform of the track-bound vehicle can be arranged immovably with respect to and fixedly on the track-bound vehicle. According to a further development of the invention, however, the at least one step platform is arranged on the track-bound vehicle such that it can be moved relative to the track-bound vehicle, in particular such that it can be extended and / or deployed. In the case of linearly extendable step platforms, sliding steps are referred to, pivotable or foldable step platforms are also referred to as folding steps. There are also mixed forms and step platforms have become known which are initially pushed out linearly in order to bridge the horizontal between the boarding area of the track-bound vehicle and the boarding platform and which have a height-adjustable section or a section adjustable in its inclination in order to compensate for the vertical height difference between the boarding area of the track-bound vehicle and the boarding platform and thus ensure a continuous boarding / off-board entry. In the intended position for bridging the gap, the at least one step platform is correspondingly pushed out and / or unfolded toward the access platform.The at least one monitoring device is arranged on the step platform, for example on the underside of the step platform, or it is arranged in the step platform, in particular integrated therein, and in this case is suitably designed and aligned for detecting objects of a predefined type, shape and / or size at least in a region of the gap between the track-bound vehicle and the access platform at least on a first of the two mutually opposite sides of the step platform. The at least one monitoring device thus serves for monitoring the, in particular horizontal, gap between the track-bound vehicle and the access platform, at least for monitoring a region of the gap between the track-bound vehicle and the access platform, e.g. between two, in particular adjacent, step platforms on one side of the track-bound vehicle. The at least one monitoring device can be arranged laterally, i.e. at least in the region of the first side of the step platform, but it can also be arranged centrally on or in the step platform and be aligned laterally. In the intended position of the platform, it is freely accessible, in particular at least in the region of the first side of the platform, for receiving and / or transmitting, for example for emitting, signals for monitoring, in particular electromagnetic waves, for example light, or sound waves.According to a further development of the invention, the at least one monitoring device is configured for detecting objects on a second of the two mutually opposite sides of the step platform. This comprises the step platform having a first monitoring device for detecting objects on the first side of the step platform and a second monitoring device for detecting objects on the second side of the step platform. For example, the first monitoring device can be arranged in the region of the first side of the platform and the second monitoring device can be arranged in the region of the second side of the platform. However, it is equally also included that the step platform comprises only one monitoring device which is designed and aligned to monitor both sides of the step platform and is therefore configured to detect objects on the first side and on the second side of the two mutually opposite sides of the step platform. In the latter case, the monitoring device can be arranged centrally on or in the step platform and be oriented toward both sides.According to a further development of the invention, the at least one monitoring device comprises at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic receiver. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one monitoring device further comprises at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic transmitter. In one embodiment, the at least one monitoring device thus comprises at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic transmitter and receiver or, briefly, at least one corresponding light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic sensor.The at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic transmitter and / or receiver of the at least one monitoring device is configured, in particular suitably configured, arranged and aligned on the track-bound vehicle, to receive and / or transmit light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic signals at least in one plane. In the track-bound vehicle, this plane extends at least between the track-bound vehicle and the access platform, optionally also a distance beyond a front edge of the access platform facing the track-bound vehicle, and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, i.e. parallel to a longitudinal axis of the track-bound vehicle. Thus, the gap between the track-bound vehicle and the land-side access platform can be monitored over a predefined length of the vehicle, in particular in a plane parallel to the tread surface of the tread platform.In particular in the case of light or laser sensors, so-called light or laser barriers, light or laser gratings or laser compartments have become known. These detect an interruption of a light beam or laser beam and indicate this by means of a generated electrical signal in order to detect objects in a contactless manner. In order to transmit and / or receive light or laser gratings or compartments, in particular a plurality of light or laser receivers and / or transmitters of the at least one monitoring device are provided. Lidar, radar or ultrasonic fields also make it possible to monitor the gap at least parallel to the tread surface of the tread platform. However, these could be formed not only 2 dimensionally but also 3 dimensionally, for example in the form of cones or lobes.In a correspondingly further development, the at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic transmitter and / or receiver of the at least one monitoring device can have a three-dimensional emission and / or reception characteristic which is, for example, cone- or beam-shaped. Other directional characteristics have also become known in principle. Thus, a space, starting from the at least one side of the step platform, can be monitored, which extends from the surface on which the track-bound vehicle stands to above the access platform and over a predefined length parallel to the track-bound vehicle.The at least one monitoring device can only be designed as a receiver, i.e. in particular comprise at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic receiver, and a light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic transmitter can be arranged at another point of the track-bound vehicle and oriented toward the at least one monitoring device. In particular, the track-bound vehicle comprises at least two adjacent step platforms on one side of the track-bound vehicle. A first of the at least two steps comprises at least one receiver and a second step of the at least two steps comprises at least one transmitter which is correspondingly complementary to the receiver of the first step, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are aligned with one another and together form a monitoring device. The monitoring devices can also each have transmitters and receivers. In the case of a plurality of monitoring devices, these can be of identical design. Alternatively or additionally to the mentioned light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic sensors, the at least one monitoring device can also have a camera for gap monitoring. By means of algorithms of image recognition, a camera signal can also serve for recognizing a relevant object in the gap.According to a further development of the track-bound vehicle, the track-bound vehicle comprises at least two, in particular a plurality of, boarding areas on one side of the track-bound vehicle and in each case one tread platform assigned to the at least two boarding areas for bridging the respective gap between the respective boarding area of the track-bound vehicle and the boarding platform in each case. The track-bound vehicle can also have a plurality of car bodies with a plurality of boarding areas and in each case one step platform for each of the boarding areas. The monitoring devices of at least two adjacent step platforms can be aligned with one another. The step platforms can be arranged approximately next to one another in the intended position for bridging the gap.The track-bound vehicle can preferably have a plurality of boarding areas, wherein at least one boarding area of the plurality of boarding areas, advantageously each boarding area of the plurality of boarding areas, is assigned in each case exactly one tread platform which is arranged in particular in the area of the respective corresponding boarding area, for example in, on or under the respective boarding area. Thus, the track-bound vehicle with multiple boarding areas also has multiple step platforms, which serve for the respective gap bridging. Accordingly, a plurality of trip platforms each have at least one monitoring device. The at least one monitoring device of the at least one step platform serves for detecting objects at least on a first side of the at least one step platform; i.e. a first monitoring device of a first step platform is configured for detecting objects at least on a first side of the first step platform, alone or together with at least one further, second monitoring device of a further, second step platform, in particular an adjacent step platform arranged on the same side of the track-bound vehicle.According to a further development, the track-bound vehicle comprises at least one control unit for generating a signal for an object detected by the at least one monitoring device of the at least one step platform. The at least one control unit is connected to the at least one monitoring device, in particular to a plurality of, in particular to all, monitoring devices, by signal technology and is configured to generate a signal, for example an alarm signal, in the case of an object of a predefined type, shape and / or size detected by the at least one monitoring device in the space monitored by the at least one monitoring device. For this purpose, for example, the time of interruption of a light, laser, radar, lidar or ultrasonic signal can be evaluated. The at least one control unit can be integrated into the at least one monitoring device, in particular into all monitoring devices, or a central control unit is provided for the at least one monitoring device, in particular for all monitoring devices, in the track-bound vehicle, to which the control unit is then connected in a corresponding signal-related manner. The at least one control unit can optionally also be configured for object recognition, in particular by means of image recognition algorithms. In the case of an interruption of a light, laser, radar, lidar or ultrasonic signal for only a short period of time, it is possible to infer only small objects, for example leaves, which resulted in the interruption. If, on the other hand, the signal is interrupted for a longer time, the vehicle driver or attendant personnel of the track-bound vehicle should receive a warning message. Accordingly, the at least one control unit is designed to transmit the generated signal, for example to a driver's station of the track-bound vehicle, to a land-side service center or to an Internet server, via which an application of a mobile terminal is addressed by attendant personnel of the track-bound vehicle in order to output the corresponding warning message. In this case, the location of the monitoring device which has detected an object can also be output.Regardless of the grammatical sex of a certain term, individuals with male, female or other sex identity are included.The invention permits numerous embodiments. It is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures, in each of which an exemplary embodiment is shown. Identical elements in the figures are provided with identical reference numerals.Exemplary Embodiments of the DrawingsThe figure schematically shows an embodiment of a rail vehicle of public transportation with step platforms according to the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSThe figure schematically shows a rail vehicle 5 for passenger transport. In the embodiment illustrated here and described in more detail below, it comprises a plurality of boarding areas each having a step platform 1, 11, wherein only two adjacent boarding areas are drawn on the same side of the rail vehicle 5. The rail vehicle is depicted at a stop with a platform as a land-side access platform 6, wherein the step platforms 1, 11 are designed to be movable relative to the rail vehicle 5 and are depicted here in an extended or folded-out position in order to bridge a gap 7 between the platform 6 and the entry regions of the rail vehicle 5 and to enable a barrier-free access into the rail vehicle 5 and / or exit from the rail vehicle 5.In the view shown here from above, the tread surfaces 2, 22 of the adjacent tread platforms 1, 11 point toward the viewer. The respective front sides of the step platforms 1, 11 are situated opposite the access platform 6. The rear sides are correspondingly oriented toward the rail vehicle 5. A first side 3 of the first step platform 1 points to a second side 44 of the second step platform 11 - they face each other. A second side 4 of the first step platform 1, on the other hand, is opposite a first side 33 of the second step platform 11.Both the first step platform 1 and the second step platform 11 each have monitoring devices which are not provided with a reference sign and are arranged on a lower side of the respective step platform 1, 11 pointing into the plane of the drawing.In this exemplary embodiment, the monitoring devices each comprise a transmitter and receiver for laser light arranged laterally on the steps 1, 11 and which, in the intended position of the steps 1, 11, are aligned with one another in order to bridge the gap 7 between the two entry regions of the rail vehicle 5 and the land-side entry platform 6. A laser beam 8 emits laterally from the transmitter on the first side 3 of the first step platform 1 and radiates the receiver on the second side 44 of the second step platform 11.Similarly, a laser beam emits laterally from the transmitter on the first side 33 of the second platform 11 and emits a further receiver on a second side of a further platform, which is not shown any more and is adjacent to the second platform, and also a laser beam leads from a further platform adjacent to the first platform to the second side 4 of the first platform. In this exemplary embodiment, the transmitter and the receiver are thus arranged alternately on each platform, so that a transmitter and a receiver are always opposite one another and are aligned with one another. Alternatively, a step platform can also have only one or more transmitters which emit a signal, for example a light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic signal, on both sides to adjacent step platforms which in turn comprise only one or more receivers in each case. The steps platforms thus have alternately either transmitters or receivers. Similarly, transmitters and receivers can also transmit and receive light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic signals on both sides of each step platform. If the signal between the step platforms is interrupted for a longer time, an object, in particular a person, can be deduced that has fallen between rail vehicle 5 and platform 6, and a warning or alarm signal is generated and output. The gap 7 is monitored in such a way that it also covers the cars in a straight or slightly curved platform 6. If the radius in the platform becomes too narrow, this is no longer possible as simply as there is no line of sight between the step platforms of adjacent cars. This can also be indicated to the responsible personnel of the vehicle by the at least one monitoring device; for example, by generating and outputting a corresponding signal. An unbuilt connection between the step platforms can be recognized in that from the beginning no contact can be established between the step platforms during extension or folding out.Regardless of the grammatical sex of a certain term, individuals with male, female or other sex identity are included.

Claims

Step platform (1, 11) for a track-bound vehicle (5) of passenger traffic for bridging a gap (7) between a boarding area of the track-bound vehicle (5) and a land-side boarding platform (6) comprising: • a step surface (2, 22) for passenger walking, • two mutually opposite sides (3, 4, 33, 44), characterized in that • the step platform (1, 11) comprises at least one monitoring device for detecting objects at least on a first side (3, 33) of the two mutually opposite sides (3, 4, 33, 44) of the step platform (1, 11).Step platform (1, 11) according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one monitoring device is configured for detecting objects on a second side (4, 44) of the two mutually opposite sides (3, 4, 33, 44) of the step platform (1, 11).Step platform (1, 11) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the at least one monitoring device comprises at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic receiver.Step platform (1, 11) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one monitoring device comprises at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic transmitter.Guided vehicle (5) for transporting persons, comprising: • at least one boarding area, • at least one step platform (1, 11) according to one of Claims 1 to 4 for bridging a gap (7) between the at least one boarding area of the guided vehicle (5) and a land-side boarding platform (6).Track-bound vehicle (5) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the at least one step platform (1, 11) is arranged on the track-bound vehicle (5) such that it can be extended or deployed.The track-bound vehicle (5) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises at least two boarding areas on one side of the track-bound vehicle (5) and in that it comprises a step platform (1, 11) each.Track-bound vehicle (5) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the monitoring devices of at least two adjacent step platforms (1, 11) are aligned with one another.Track-bound vehicle (5) according to Claim 8, characterized in that a first of the two adjacent step platforms (1, 11) comprises at least one monitoring device having at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic transmitter, wherein a second of the two adjacent step platforms (1, 11) comprises at least one monitoring device having at least one light, laser, lidar, radar or ultrasonic receiver.Track-bound vehicle (5) according to one of Claims 5 to 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one control unit for generating a signal in the case of an object detected by the at least one monitoring device of the at least one step platform (1, 11).

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