Stairwell for railway vehicle
The stairwell design with a movable collection drawer and transparent side wall addresses access and cleanliness issues under stairs, ensuring ergonomic cleaning and aesthetic integration.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2021010738
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-10-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-17
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-10-11
AI Technical Summary
Stairwells in vehicles, particularly railway vehicles, often have spaces under the stairs that are difficult or impossible to access, leading to ergonomic issues and cleanliness challenges due to constraints like low height and risk of shock, which are critical for maintaining aesthetic visibility.
A stairwell design with a collection drawer that moves between collection and cleaning positions, allowing ergonomic access to the under-stair space for dust and object collection, and featuring a transparent side wall for visibility and aesthetic integration.
Enables efficient and ergonomic cleaning of under-stair spaces while maintaining aesthetic appearance, facilitating easy access and collection of debris, thus ensuring cleanliness and reducing operational time.
Smart Images
Figure 00000011_0000
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Stairwell for railway vehicle
[0001] The present invention relates to a stairwell for a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising:
[0002] - a lower floor and an upper floor, the upper floor being located rela tively higher than the lower floor, and
[0003] - a staircase extending from the lower floor to the upper floor, the staircase with steps.
[0004] In some stairwells, the space under the stairs is visible but difficult to access, or even inaccessible. This inaccessibility may be due to several constraints, such as a low height under the steps, a cramped area and / or a risk of shock for the cleaning operator. The working posture is therefore not ergonomic, or even impossible, for cleaning the floor of this space.
[0005] However, this space must be kept in a perfect state of cleanliness at all times, as it is a central and aesthetic visible element.
[0006] More generally, there is a need to clean spaces under stairs that are difficult to access, even in cases where these spaces are not visible.
[0007] An aim of the invention is therefore to provide a solution making it possible to ergonomically maintain cleanliness under a stairwell, preferably while maintaining a satisfactory aesthetic appearance for passengers.
[0008] A secondary aim of the invention is to provide such a solution for an under-stair space which would be visible.
[0009] For this purpose, the invention relates to a stairwell of the aforementioned type characterized in that the stairwell delimits, below the steps, a free space, the stairwell comprising a device for cleaning said free space; the cleaning device comprising at least one collection drawer capable of being moved relative to the staircase between a collection position, in which the collection drawer extends into the free space and is capable of collecting dust accumulating below the steps and / or an object and / or a liquid fallen below the steps, and a cleaning position, in which the collection drawer is outside the free space and is accessible to an operator.
[0010] The stairwell according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:
[0011] - the lower floor has a sub-stair region defined as the projection steps on the lower floor, and, when the or each collection drawer is in the collection position, the collection drawer(s) cover(s) at least 50%, before preferably at least 75%, preferably all of said under-stair region of the lower floor;
[0012] - the stairwell comprises a side wall, the free space being delimited laterally generally at least through the side wall, at least one region of the side wall being transparent to visible light, the free space being visible to the operator through said transparent region of the side wall outside the free space;
[0013] - the stairwell comprises a side wall, the free space being delimited laterally generally by the side wall, the side wall delimiting a passage opening of the collection drawer, the passage opening being suitable for allowing the movement of the collection drawer from one of the positions to the other;
[0014] - the side wall has an outer surface, the collection drawer comprising a outer side edge, and, when the collection drawer is in the collection position, the outer side edge of the collection drawer is flush with the outer surface of the side wall;
[0015] - the stairwell also comprises a side partition, the side partition being arranged opposite the side wall and having an inner surface, the free space being delimited laterally by said inner surface of the side partition, and, when the collection drawer is in the collection position, the collection drawer is in abutment against the inner surface of the side partition;
[0016] - the collection drawer rests on the lower floor;
[0017] - the collection drawer comprises a plate and an outer side edge, the plate being plane and the outer side edge extending inclined relative to the plate, the plate preferably extending parallel to the lower floor or inclined relative to the lower floor; and
[0018] - for each pair of adjacent steps, the adjacent steps delimit a free passage opening into the free space.
[0019] Furthermore, the invention preferably relates to a railway vehicle comprising at least one car having a low level, a high level and a stairwell allowing a passenger to move from one of the levels to the other, the stairwell being as described above.
[0020] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the attached drawing, in which:
[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic perspective view of an example of a cage staircase according to the invention.
[0022] An example of a stairwell 10 according to the invention, for example included in a vehicle 11, is illustrated in [Fig.l].
[0023] In the following description, we consider an elevation direction Z defined according to the height of the vehicle 11 and corresponding for example to the vertical direction when the vehicle 11 is on a horizontal track.
[0024] The terms "upper" and "lower" as well as "top" and "bottom" are defined with respect to the elevation direction Z.
[0025] Vehicle 11 is here a railway vehicle IL
[0026] The vehicle 11 comprises at least one car 12 having a low level 14A and a high level 14B, the stairwell 10 allowing a passenger to move from one of the levels to the other.
[0027] The stairwell 10 can be oriented in any direction inside the vehicle 11.
[0028] The stairwell 10 comprises a lower floor 16, an upper floor 18, and a staircase 20.
[0029] The stairwell 10 delimits, below the steps 22 of the staircase 20, a free space 24.
[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the stairwell 10 preferably comprises a side wall 26.
[0031] The stairwell 10 further comprises, for example, a side partition 28, arranged opposite the side wall 26.
[0032] Here and subsequently, the so-called “lateral” direction is for example taken perpendicular to the elevation direction Z and perpendicular to the lateral partition 28.
[0033] The upper floor 18 is located relatively higher than the lower floor 16.
[0034] The upper floor 18 is arranged at the high level 14B of said car 12, and the lower floor 16 is arranged at the low level 14A of said car 12.
[0035] The upper floor 18 and the lower floor 16 are horizontal when the vehicle 11 is on a horizontal track.
[0036] The staircase 20 extends from the lower floor 16 to the upper floor 18.
[0037] The staircase 20 has steps 22.
[0038] Each step 22 is arranged between the side partition 28 and the side wall 26.
[0039] The steps 22 are for example held in position by a support structure not shown and / or fixed on the side partition 28.
[0040] Each step 22 is here flat.
[0041] In this example, the steps 22 all have the same width, taken in the lateral direction.
[0042] The lower floor 16 has a sub-stair region 30 defined as the projection of the steps 22 onto the lower floor 16.
[0043] In the example of [Fig.l], the free space 24 extends, along the elevation direction Z, between the lower floor 16 and each of the steps 22.
[0044] By the term “free” we mean that air can circulate there.
[0045] In this example, each step 22 is away from the lower floor 16 and has a lower surface in contact with an air mass.
[0046] For example, the staircase 20 delimits at least one free passage 32 opening into the free space 24. In particular, in the example of [Fig.l], for each pair of adjacent steps 22, the adjacent steps 22 delimit such a free passage 32 opening into the free space 24. By “pair of adjacent steps”, we mean two steps 22 without any other step 22 interposed between them, along the staircase 20.
[0047] For each pair of adjacent steps 22, each free passage 32 is for example delimited by an upper surface of the lowest step of the pair and by a lower surface of the highest step of the pair.
[0048] In other words, an object and / or a liquid may fall below the steps 22 through one of said free passages. More generally, dust accumulates over time in the free space 24.
[0049] Preferably, the side wall 26 is flat and is perpendicular to the steps 22.
[0050] The side wall 26 extends in the elevation direction Z from the lower floor 16 and at least up to each step 22 of the staircase 20.
[0051] The side wall 26 has an inner surface 34A and an outer surface 34B.
[0052] The gap between the inner surface 34A and the outer surface 34B defines the thickness of the side wall 26.
[0053] Preferably, the side partition 28 is also flat and is perpendicular to the steps.
[0054] The lateral partition 28 extends in the elevation direction Z from the lower floor 16 and at least up to each step 22 of the staircase 20.
[0055] The side partition 28 has an interior surface 36.
[0056] Generally, the free space 24 is delimited laterally at least by the wall lateral 26. More precisely, the free space 24 is delimited laterally by the interior surface 34A of the lateral wall 26.
[0057] Opposite the side wall 26, the free space 24 is also, for example, delimited laterally by the side partition 28. More precisely, the free space 24 is delimited laterally by the inner surface 36 of the side partition 28.
[0058] In a preferred embodiment illustrated in [Fig.l], the free space 24 is inaccessible to an operator.
[0059] By “inaccessible” is meant that an operator placed outside said free space 24 cannot enter, with his entire person, into the free space 24.
[0060] Here and hereafter, we are talking about a medium-sized operator, for example in relation to the French population.
[0061] In other words, the stairwell 10 has different structural elements blocking the passage of an operator to the free space 24.
[0062] At least the steps 22, the side wall 26 and the side partition 28 are part of said structural elements of the stairwell 10 blocking the passage of an operator to the free space 24.
[0063] The free space 24 is thus framed by the side wall 26 and by the side partition 28, such that an operator cannot enter the free space 24.
[0064] More precisely, each step 22 has at least one lateral side facing the side wall 26 and the distance separating said lateral side and the side wall 26 is sufficiently small to block the passage of an operator to the free space 24.
[0065] For example, the side wall 26 is attached against said lateral side of the steps 22, the distance therefore being zero.
[0066] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment illustrated in [Fig.l], the free space 24 is visible to an operator placed outside the free space 24.
[0067] By "outside the free space" is meant for example a position on the other side of the side wall 26 relative to the free space 24.
[0068] In this preferred embodiment, the free space 24 is then visible to the operator, outside the free space 24, through the side wall 26.
[0069] In particular, at least one region 38 of the side wall 26 is transparent to visible light. Preferably, said region 38 corresponds to the entirety of the side partition 28.
[0070] By the terms "transparent to visible light", it is meant that said region 38 of the side wall 26 does not screen vision and is not opaque.
[0071] In other words, said region 38 of the side wall 26 allows at least part of the visible spectrum of wavelengths to pass.
[0072] Preferably, said region 38 of the side wall 26 has a transmittance, for at least a part of the visible spectrum of wavelengths, greater than 10%, preferably greater than 50%, advantageously greater than 80%, better still greater than 95%.
[0073] The transmittance is the ratio of the intensity of the radiation leaving the wall 26, after passing through the wall 26, to the incident intensity entering the wall 26.
[0074] Said transparent region 38 of the side wall 26 is for example made of any suitable transparent material, such as glass or transparent plastic material.
[0075] In this preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the person skilled in the art understands that this visibility of the free space 24 implies that the free space 24 must all the more be kept in a perfect state of cleanliness at all times.
[0076] Thus, the stairwell 10 comprises a device 40 for cleaning said free space 24.
[0077] The cleaning device 40 comprises at least one collection drawer 42.
[0078] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.l], the cleaning device 40 comprises only a single collection drawer 42.
[0079] The collection drawer 42 is for example made of wood, and / or metal, and / or resin, and / or glass, and / or mirror, and / or elastomer and / or laminate, and / or textile.
[0080] Preferably, the lower floor 16 comprises an outer covering made of a predetermined material, the collection drawer 42 being at least partly, preferably entirely, in said predetermined material. This improves the quality perceived by the traveler by providing a “trompe l’oeil” effect between the drawer 42 and the lower floor 16.
[0081] The collection drawer 42 comprises at least one plate 44 and an outer side edge 46.
[0082] The collection drawer 42 also comprises, for example, an inner lateral edge 48.
[0083] The plate 44 is for example flat.
[0084] The plate 44 preferably extends parallel to the lower floor 16, or inclined relative to the lower floor 16.
[0085] The plate 44 is for example kept raised relative to the lower floor 16 by the outer and inner lateral edges 46, 48.
[0086] The outer side edge 46 extends from the plate 44, in an inclined manner relative to the plate 44. Preferably, the outer side edge 46 extends in the elevation direction Z.
[0087] The inner side edge 48 extends from the plate 44, in an inclined manner relative to the plate 44. Preferably, the inner side edge 48 extends in the elevation direction Z.
[0088] According to the invention, the collection drawer 42 is capable of being moved relative to the staircase 20 between a collection position and a cleaning position.
[0089] [Fig.l] illustrates the collection drawer 42 in the cleaning position.
[0090] The collection drawer 42 is for example suitable for being moved relative to the staircase. 20 in a translational movement perpendicular to the elevation direction Z and preferably perpendicular to the side wall 26, the translation being illustrated by the arrow 50 in [Fig.l].
[0091] To do this, the side wall 26 delimits a passage opening 52 of the collection drawer 42, the passage opening 52 being suitable for allowing the movement of the collection drawer 42 from one of the positions to the other.
[0092] The passage opening 52 is located at the level of the lower floor 16.
[0093] The collection drawer 42 preferably rests on the lower floor 16.
[0094] Thus, the collection drawer 42 slides on the lower floor 16, when the drawer collection 42 is moved from one position to the other.
[0095] When the collection drawer 42 is in the collection position, the collection drawer 42 extends into the free space 24 and is suitable for collecting dust accumulating below the steps 22 and / or an object and / or liquid fallen below the steps 22.
[0096] Such an object corresponds, for example, to any object carried by one of the travelers, such as a telephone, a stuffed animal, keys.
[0097] When the collection drawer 42 is in the collection position, the collection drawer 42 covers at least 50%, advantageously at least 75%, preferably all of said under-stair region 30 of the lower floor 16.
[0098] When the collection drawer 42 is in the collection position, an upper surface of the plate 44 of the collection drawer 42 is spaced from the steps 22. In particular, a volume of air extends between a lower surface of the steps 22 and the upper surface of the plate 44 of the collection drawer 42.
[0099] Advantageously, when the collection drawer 42 is in the collection position, the collection drawer 42 is in abutment against the inner surface 36 of the side partition 28.
[0100] Preferably, when the collection drawer 42 is in the collection position, the outer side edge 46 of the collection drawer 42 is flush with the outer surface 34B of the side wall 26.
[0101] When the collection drawer 42 is in the collection position, the collection drawer 42 preferably extends at least below the lowest step 22 of the staircase 20. This is the step 22 closest to the lower floor 16.
[0102] When the collection drawer 42 is in the cleaning position, the collection drawer 42 is outside the free space 24 and is accessible to an operator.
[0103] When the collection drawer 42 is in the cleaning position, for example, at least 50%, advantageously at least 75%, preferably the entire upper surface of the plate 44 of the collection drawer 42 is outside the free space 24 and is accessible to an operator.
[0104] Alternatively, the cleaning device 40 does not comprise just one collection drawer 42, but at least two collection drawers 42.
[0105] At least two of the collection drawers 42 may have different dimensions.
[0106] The collection drawers 42 are then preferably aligned in the same plane.
[0107] Each collection drawer 42 rests in particular preferably on the floor lower 16.
[0108] In this case, when each collection drawer 42 is in the collection position, the collection drawers 42 cover at least 50%, advantageously at least 75%, preferably the entirety of said under-stair region 30 of the lower floor 16.
[0109] Alternatively, those skilled in the art will naturally understand that the solution of the invention also applies to the case where the free space 24 is not visible to an operator outside the space.
[0110] In this case, the side wall 26 is for example entirely opaque.
[0111] A method of cleaning the above stairwell 10 will now be described.
[0112] The method successively comprises:
[0113] - the positioning of the or at least one of the collection drawer(s) 42 in the position collection;
[0114] - the collection of dust accumulating below the steps 22 and / or an object and / or liquid falling below the steps 22 through the collection drawer 42 positioned in its collection position;
[0115] - moving the collection drawer 42 from the collection position to the collection position. cleaning; and
[0116] - cleaning, by an operator, of the collection drawer 42 outside the free space 24.
[0117] Thanks to the features described above, once the collection drawer 42 is extracted (i.e. in its cleaning position), the cleaning operator can easily access the entire surface to be cleaned in an ergonomic working posture. This device allows significant time savings for daily cleaning operations.
[0118] In addition, it is possible for the collection drawer 42 to take up the aesthetic code of the environment, to preserve the brand image and the aesthetic appearance of the stairwell 10.
[0119] In addition to the cleaning aspects, this device can also make it possible to contain objects that have fallen, for example through the staircase 20. It is then possible to quickly intervene to recover them.
Claims
Claims
1. Stairwell (10) for a vehicle (11), in particular a railway vehicle, comprising: - a lower floor (16) and an upper floor (18), the upper floor (18) being located relatively higher than the lower floor (16), - a staircase (20) extending from the lower floor (16) to the upper floor (18), the staircase (20) comprising steps (22); characterized in that the stairwell (10) delimits, below the steps (22), a free space (24), the stairwell (10) comprising a cleaning device (40) for said free space (24);the cleaning device (40) comprising at least one collection drawer (42) adapted to be moved relative to the staircase (20) between a collection position, in which the collection drawer (42) extends into the free space (24) and is adapted to collect dust accumulating below the steps (22) and / or an object and / or a liquid fallen below the steps (22), and a cleaning position, in which the collection drawer (42) is outside the free space (24) and is accessible to an operator.;
2. Stairwell (10) according to claim 1, wherein the lower floor (16) has a sub-stair region (30) defined as the projection of the steps (22) onto the lower floor (16), and, when the or each collection drawer (42) is in the collection position, the collection drawer(s) (42) cover(s) at least 50%, advantageously at least 75%, preferably all of said sub-stair region (30) of the lower floor (16).
3. A stairwell (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the stairwell (10) comprises a side wall (26), the free space (24) being delimited laterally at least by the side wall (26), and wherein: * at least one region (38) of the side wall (26) is transparent to visible light, the free space (24) being visible to the operator through said transparent region (38) of the side wall (26) outside the free space (24); and / or * the side wall (26) delimits a passage opening (52) of the collection drawer (42), the passage opening (52) being suitable for allowing the moving the collection drawer (42) from one position to the other.
4. A stairwell (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the collection drawer (42) comprises an outer side edge (46).
5. A stairwell (10) according to claim 3, taken in combination with claim 4, wherein the side wall (26) has an outer surface (34B), and, when the collection drawer (42) is in the collection position, the outer side edge (46) of the collection drawer (42) is flush with the outer surface (34B) of the side wall (26).
6. A stairwell (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the stairwell (10) also comprises a side partition (28), the side partition (28) being arranged opposite the side wall (26) and having an inner surface (36), the free space (24) being delimited laterally by said inner surface (36) of the side partition (28), and, when the collection drawer (42) is in the collection position, the collection drawer (42) abuts against the inner surface (36) of the side partition (28).
7. A stairwell (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the collection drawer (42) rests on the lower floor (16).
8. A stairwell (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, taken in combination with claim 4, wherein the collection drawer (42) comprises a plate (44), the plate (44) being planar and the outer side edge (46) extending inclined relative to the plate (44), the plate (44) preferably extending parallel to the lower floor (16) or inclined relative to the lower floor (16).
9. Stairwell (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, for each pair of adjacent steps (22), the adjacent steps (22) delimit a free passage (32) opening into the free space (24).
10. A railway vehicle (11) comprising at least one car (12) having a low level (14A), a high level (14B) and a stairwell (10) allowing a passenger to move from one of the levels to the other, the stairwell (10) being according to any one of claims 1 to 9.