Extendable vehicle ladder

Abstract

Extendable ladder for vehicle The present invention relates to a ladder (20) for accessing a floor (16) of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle (10). The ladder comprises at least one extendable step (24) which comprises an upper plate (26) and a lower plate (28) movable relative to the upper plate between a retracted position and a deployed position below the upper plate, as well as a return means (36) of the lower plate from the deployed position to the retracted position. The upper plate comprises a notch (42) for accessing a support zone of the lower plate placed opposite the notch when the lower plate is in the retracted position, the notch opening on an edge (43) of the upper plate and passing through the upper plate (26) right through its thickness. Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Extendable ladder for vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a ladder for accessing a floor of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, the ladder comprising at least one extendable step which comprises: (i) an upper tray, (ii) a lower tray movable relative to the upper tray between a retracted position and a deployed position below the upper tray, (ii) a means for returning the lower plate from the deployed position to the retracted position, so that: - if a force whose direction is normal to the lower plate and of intensity greater than or equal to an opening threshold value is exerted on the lower plate in an opening direction, the lower plate moves to or remains in the deployed position, - and otherwise, the lower plate moves to or remains in the retracted position.

[0002] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, equipped with such a ladder.

[0003] The outline of railway vehicles is the subject of a national, regional or international standard. The outline of railway vehicles must fit into a static gauge and a kinematic gauge which are defined in relation to the obstacles that these vehicles are likely to encounter.

[0004] In particular, to avoid impacts between the rolling stock and obstacles located along the tracks close to the ground, the lowest step of the access ladders to railway vehicles must be located above the railway track at a height greater than a standard minimum height.

[0005] The lowest step of the ladders may be too high for a user to access the train without excessive effort, for example when access to the train must be from a ground whose level is lower than that of the station platforms or on a slope, or when the user is of small stature.

[0006] US 2015 / 197198 describes an extendable ladder for a railway vehicle designed to overcome this problem. This ladder comprises a lower step and an additional step, identical to the lower step but movable relative to it between a retracted position, in which the additional step is located just below the lower step, and a deployed position. The additional step can be deployed by train personnel using an automated system. It can optionally be deployed manually by a person outside the train. However, for manual deployment, the user must be able to insert his hand into a gap between the lower step and the additional step. He must then maintain hand support until you have placed your foot on the step, to prevent the additional step from spontaneously rising. In addition, manual deployment is not possible for a person inside the train who wishes to get off.

[0007] The aim of the invention is then to propose an extendable ladder for a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, allowing a user to deploy the ladder easily, without tools or automated opening system, whether the user wishes to get into or out of the vehicle.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an extendable ladder characterized in that the upper plate comprises a notch for access to a support zone of the lower plate placed opposite the notch when the lower plate is in the retracted position, the notch opening on an edge of the upper plate and passing through the upper plate from one side to the other along its thickness.

[0009] The notch in the upper plate allows a user to directly support his foot on the support area of ​​the lower plate, whether the user is on the ground and wishes to climb onto the upper plate or the user is on the upper plate and wishes to descend.

[0010] The deployment of the lower plate from the retracted position is therefore easy in both directions, regardless of the size - and in particular the thickness - of the user's foot.

[0011] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the extendable ladder comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0012] - the upper plate delimits a housing for receiving at least part of the plate lower in its retracted position;

[0013] - the ladder comprises means for detecting the position, retracted or deployed, of the lower tray;

[0014] - the opening of the notch is positioned in a first half of the plate superior ;

[0015] - a visual indicator is formed on at least one of the lower plate and the plate upper and configured to allow a user to distinguish the upper plate from the support area of ​​the lower plate placed opposite the notch;

[0016] - a visual indicator is formed on the lower plate, this indicator constituting a end of a path to be followed by a user, the path further comprising a plurality of additional visual indicators distributed over the other components of the scale;

[0017] - the lower plate is mounted in sliding connection with respect to the upper plate at by means of a plurality of telescopic tubes connected respectively to the lower plate and to the upper plate, and in which the return means is arranged in at least one of the telescopic tubes;

[0018] - the ladder includes at least one additional step fixed above the platform upper, the telescopic tubes being further connected to the additional step; and

[0019] - the lower tray is provided with a grip handle positioned in the area support of the lower plate opposite the notch or projecting from the upper plate.

[0020] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising a floor and a ladder for access to this floor.

[0021] The invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a side view of a railway vehicle at the platform, equipped with a extendable ladder according to the invention and whose lower platform is in the deployed position;

[0023] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] differs from [Fig.l] in that the lower plate is in position retracted;

[0024] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of an extendable ladder according to the invention, the lower platform of which is in the deployed position;

[0025] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] differs from that of [Fig.3] in that the lower plate is in retracted position;

[0026] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a detailed view of a portion of the ladder of [Fig.4] comprising part of the return means of the lower plate; and

[0027] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] differs from that of [Fig.5] in that the lower platen is in the retracted position.

[0028] With reference to [Fig.l], a vehicle 10 according to the invention is described.

[0029] The vehicle 10 is preferably a railway vehicle. For example, the railway vehicle 10 is a train or a subway. The railway vehicle 10 comprises a body 12 carried by wheels 14.

[0030] The body 12 comprises a door 15 opening onto a side face of the railway vehicle 10. The door 15 allows access to a floor 16 of the railway vehicle 10, in particular from a boarding platform 18.

[0031] A ladder 20 is fixed to the body 12 under the door 15, along the side face of the railway vehicle 10.

[0032] The dimensions of the railway vehicle 10, in particular a height H1 at which the floor 16 is placed relative to a railway track 22 on which the railway vehicle 10 moves, are determined to comply with a railway standard, such as the international all-purpose gauge (PPI).

[0033] The ladder 20 comprises an extendable step 24 arranged under an additional upper step 25.

[0034] The extendable step 24 comprises an upper plate 26 fixed relative to the body 12.

[0035] The upper plate 26 defines an upper bearing surface 26A, substantially horizontal and which fits into a rectangular outline.

[0036] A height H2 at which the upper platform 26 is placed relative to the railway track 22 is determined to comply with the international all-purpose gauge (IPG).

[0037] The bearing surface 26A is bordered over its entire periphery by a peripheral skirt 26B facing towards a lower plate 28 of the extendable step 24. The skirt 26B delimits a housing 26C for receiving the lower plate 28 when the latter is in a retracted position.

[0038] Advantageously, the lower plate 28 in its retracted position is bordered over its entire thickness by the skirt 26B. The upper plate 26 then delimits a housing for receiving the entirety of the lower plate 28 in its retracted position.

[0039] The lower plate 28 defines a substantially horizontal bearing surface 28A.

[0040] The bearing surface 28A is of a shape similar to that of the bearing surface 26A but of smaller dimensions.

[0041] The lower plate 28 and the upper plate 26 are connected by means of several telescopic tubes 30 extending in a vertical direction, normal to the lower plate 28 and upper plate 26.

[0042] The telescopic tubes 30 are configured to allow the movement of the lower plate 28 relative to the upper plate 26 between its retracted position, which can be seen in Figures 2, 4 and 6, in which the bearing surface 28A abuts against a lower surface 31 of the upper plate 26 and a deployed position lower than the retracted position, shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5.

[0043] In its deployed position, the lower plate 28 is positioned at a height H3 relative to the railway track 22.

[0044] The height H3 is less than the height H2.

[0045] The height H3 is advantageously chosen so that the lower plate 28 in its deployed position either outside a gauge set by a railway standard.

[0046] Thanks to this arrangement, the extendable step 24 is within a gauge set by a railway standard when the lower plate 28 is in its retracted position.

[0047] Advantageously, the dimensions of the bearing surface 28A and of the skirt 26B are chosen to optimize the stability of the upper plate 26 and simultaneously that of the lower plate 28 in its deployed position.

[0048] Each telescopic tube 30 comprises an outer tube 30A and an inner tube 30B.

[0049] In [Fig.5], an upper end 32 of the outer tube 30A is welded to the additional step 25 and a lower end 33 of the outer tube 30A is welded above the upper plate 26.

[0050] Alternatively, the upper end 32 of the outer tube 30A is bolted to the additional step 25 and the lower end 33 of the outer tube 30A is bolted above the upper plate 2.

[0051] The inner tube 30B of each telescopic tube 30 is fixed relative to the lower plate 28 and mounted to slide relative to the respective outer tube 30A in the vertical direction.

[0052] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the extendable step 24 comprises four outer tubes 30A, the lower ends 33 of which are fixed to the upper plate 26 near the corners of the rectangular contour in which the bearing surface 26A is inscribed.

[0053] A helical compression spring 36 is disposed in each outer tube 30A. A lower end of the spring 36 bears on the upper plate 26. An upper end of the spring 36 bears on a guide collar 37 secured to the upper end of the inner tube 30B.

[0054] The springs 36 are chosen: - on the one hand, so that if no vertical force other than the weight of the lower plate 28 and of intensity greater than a predetermined threshold value is exerted on the lower plate 28 downwards, the lower plate 28 remains in its retracted position or returns there if it was previously in its deployed position, and - on the other hand, so that as long as a vertical force of intensity greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value is exerted downwards on the lower plate 28 in addition to its weight and the force exerted by the inner tubes 30B, the lower plate 28 remains in its deployed position, the spring being totally compressed, or that it passes there if it was previously in its retracted position.

[0055] Advantageously, the predetermined threshold value is defined relative to a gripping force corresponding to the fifth percentile of the gripping force of female persons in a reference population. Advantageously, the predetermined threshold value is between 30 and 40 N, in particular of the order of 35 N.

[0056] Advantageously, the predetermined threshold value complies with standard EN 1005-3+A1, version published in November 2008.

[0057] Each spring 36 is chosen so that for any compressive force applied to the lower plate 28 and greater than the predetermined threshold value, increased by the weight of the lower plate 28 and the force exerted by the lower tubes 30B, the springs 36 are completely compressed between the guide collar 37 and the upper plate. 26, so that the turns of the spring 36 are joined.

[0058] Optionally, a contact stud 38 is positioned on an upper base 40 of at least one, advantageously several, of the inner tubes 30B.

[0059] Advantageously, a normally open switch is fixed to the upper plate 26 and adapted to cooperate with the contact pin 38 for its closing when the lower plate 28 is in its retracted position. This switch is integrated into an electrical circuit comprising an audible or visual alarm, the triggering of which is caused by the opening of the circuit and the extinction of which by its closing.

[0060] A notch 42 is formed throughout the thickness of the upper plate 26 from a front edge 43, to provide access to a support zone 44 of the lower plate 28 in its retracted position.

[0061] The notch 42 extends into the right half of the upper plate 26 for the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4.

[0062] When the lower plate 28 is in its retracted position, the support zone 44 is placed opposite the notch 42. It is practically in continuity with the support surface 26A, but nevertheless lower down and visible and accessible due to the presence of the notch 42.

[0063] The dimensions of the notch 42 and the support zone 44 are advantageously chosen to allow 95% of male users in a given population to position their forefoot on the support zone 44.

[0064] Advantageously, a visual indicator 46 is formed on the support zone 44 to facilitate recognition of the support zone 44 by the user in the retracted position.

[0065] Optionally, a visual indicator 48 is formed on the bearing surface 26A and possibly, if applicable, on a bearing surface of the additional step 25 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or on the floor 16, the visual indicators 48 forming a path for the user, one end of which is the visual indicator 46.

[0066] Optionally, the lower plate 28 is provided with a gripping handle 50, as seen in Figures 3 and 4.

[0067] When the lower plate 28 is in its retracted position, the gripping handle 50 projects laterally relative to the upper plate 26 from a slot 52 provided on a side wall 54 of the upper plate 26.

[0068] In a variant not shown, the gripping handle 50 consists of an imprint made in the support zone 44.

[0069] We will now describe the use of scale 20.

[0070] The user who wishes to board the railway vehicle 10 from platform 18 places his right foot on the support zone 44, his left foot remaining on the platform 1, to cause the lower platform 28 to move from its retracted position to its deployed position.

[0071] For this step, the user can, if necessary and if applicable, at least partially lower the lower plate 28 by means of the gripping handle 50 before placing his right foot on the support zone 44.

[0072] For this step, the user uses the visual indicator 46 if necessary to position his right foot on the support zone 44.

[0073] Then, once the lower plate 28 is in the deployed position, the user shifts his weight onto his right foot, which allows him to maintain the lower plate 28 in its deployed position while raising his left foot and hoisting himself onto the lower plate 28. This step requires less effort from the user than if he had had to climb onto the upper plate 26 directly.

[0074] Then, while keeping the right foot on the support zone 44, he positions his left foot on the support surface 26A, using the visual indicator 48 if necessary.

[0075] All that remains is for him to move his right foot onto the additional step 25, taking support on the support surface 26A, before setting foot on the floor 16 of the vehicle.

[0076] As soon as the right foot leaves the support zone 44, the lower plate 28 returns to its retracted position under the effect of the action of the springs 36. The ladder 20 is then within the gauge imposed by the standard for the movement of the railway vehicle 10.

[0077] In the direction of descent, the user leans on the additional step 25 with his left foot. He uses the visual indicator 48 formed on the additional step 25 if necessary.

[0078] Then the descent is carried out in the opposite way to the ascent, except that the grip handle 50 cannot be used in this case.

[0079] The extendable ladder 20 according to the invention therefore has the advantage of being compatible with the standards imposed on rolling stock while allowing easy access to the body of a railway vehicle 10. The user does not need any tool or intermediary to manipulate this ladder 20, which he can cause to extend simply with his foot, both in the direction of ascent and descent.

Claims

Claims

1. Ladder (20) for accessing a floor (16) of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle (10), the ladder (20) comprising at least one extendable step (24) which comprises: i) an upper platform (26), ii) a lower platform (28) movable relative to the upper platform (26) between a retracted position and a deployed position below the upper platform (26), ii) a return means (36) of the lower platform (28) from the deployed position to the retracted position, so that: - if a force whose direction is normal to the lower platform (28) and of intensity greater than or equal to an opening threshold value is exerted on the lower platform (28) in an opening direction, the lower platform (28) passes or remains in the deployed position, - and otherwise, the lower platform (28) passes or remains in the retracted position,characterized in that the upper plate (26) comprises a notch (42) for access to a support zone (44) of the lower plate (28) placed opposite the notch (42) when the lower plate (28) is in the retracted position, the notch (42) opening on an edge (43) of the upper plate (26) and passing through the upper plate (26) right through its thickness.,

2. Ladder (20) according to claim 1, in which the upper plate (26) delimits a housing for receiving at least part of the lower plate (28) in its retracted position.

3. Ladder (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means (38) for detecting the position, retracted or extended, of the lower platform (28).

4. A ladder (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening of the notch (42) is positioned in a first half of the upper plate (26).

5. A ladder (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein a visual indicator (46) is formed on at least one of the lower plate (28) and the upper plate (26) and configured to enable a user to distinguish the upper plate (26) from the support area (44) of the lower plate (28) positioned opposite the notch (42).

6. Ladder (20) according to the preceding claim, comprising a visual indicator (46) formed on the lower plate (28), this indicator (46) constituting one end of a path to be followed by a user, the path further comprising a plurality of additional visual indicators (48) distributed over the other components (25, 26) of the ladder (20).

7. A ladder (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower plate (28) is slidably mounted relative to the upper plate (26) by means of a plurality of telescopic tubes (30) connected respectively to the lower plate (28) and to the upper plate (26), and wherein the return means (36) is arranged in at least one of the telescopic tubes (30).

8. Ladder (20) according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one additional step (25) fixed above the upper platform (26), the telescopic tubes (30) being further connected to the additional step (25).

9. Ladder (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the lower plate (28) is provided with a gripping handle (50) positioned in the support zone (44) of the lower plate (28) opposite the notch (42) or projecting relative to the upper plate (26).

10. Vehicle (10), in particular railway, comprising a floor (16) and a ladder (20) for access to this floor (16) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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