Shelter used as a waiting area for a transport vehicle, including a tiered-sided shade structure

Abstract

A waiting shelter for a transport vehicle or a bus stop, the shelter comprising a canopy (1) providing both protection against solar radiation and the collection of rainwater, the canopy (1) comprising a roof having two conical elements (7a, 7b, 7c) arranged in a staggered, superimposed manner and vertically separated from each other, the rainwater collected by the wall of a first conical element (7c) falling onto the wall of a second conical element (7b) placed below the first conical element (7c). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Shelter serving as a waiting area for a transport vehicle, comprising a tiered-sided canopy

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of shelters used as waiting areas for transport vehicles, such as buses or trams. The invention also relates to bus stop poles, that is to say, structures placed on a roadway at which transport vehicles stop to allow passengers to board or alight.

[0002] Such shelters are sometimes called shelters. They usually include a seat, possibly with a backrest.

[0003] The main function of these shelters or stop posts is to mark the stopping area of ​​the transport vehicle. The shelters offer people protection from the elements, in particular wind and rain.

[0004] Shelters can provide communication services for people waiting for their transport vehicle, for example by displaying schedules and estimated waiting times. Display devices provide passengers with information about the transport network, for example, network maps and fares.

[0005] Shelters must provide a clean, easy-to-maintain, and well-ventilated environment. Their structure must be resistant to malicious acts or vandalism. Shelters should preferably be accessible to people with disabilities or reduced mobility, and in particular, must be wheelchair accessible and allow for wheelchair maneuvering. Shelters should also preferably be accessible to shopping trolleys and strollers. The size of the shelters must be appropriate for the anticipated number of users. Passengers inside the shelters must be visible and protected from vehicles circulating nearby.

[0006] Shelters are important elements in the landscape, and their aesthetic or architectural aspects must be carefully considered.

[0007] Shelters must more broadly ensure the comfort of people, the needs for comfort being increased by the aging of the population, and certain functional limitations that may appear with age, whether they are motor, sensory or neurological functions.

[0008] Conventional shelters often include an advertising or information panel, downstream of the direction of traffic of transport vehicles.

[0009] To achieve the expected qualities just described, conventional shelters most often include a metal frame, typically made of galvanized steel or stainless steel, or aluminum alloy, and walls made of glass or polycarbonate. Document EP2893105 (Decaux, 2015) describes the use of polymer matrix composite materials for the manufacture of walls of a bus stop shelter, the shelter comprising a flat roof and three vertical walls.

[0010] We also know of shelters made of wood or concrete, which have the disadvantage of not easily allowing people to see approaching transport vehicles, and transport vehicle drivers to see people waiting in the shelters.

[0011] The invention relates more particularly to the improvement of the thermal comfort of people in shelters used as waiting areas for transport vehicles, such as buses, trams, trains.

[0012] The thermal comfort of people is particularly dependent on sunlight and wind, ambient air temperature and ambient air humidity.

[0013] Even though comfort is by nature dependent on people, and in particular on their acclimatization, it is possible, in an air temperature / air humidity diagram, to distinguish areas in which a majority of people have a feeling of heat, or a feeling of unbearable heat, or a feeling of comfort.

[0014] Human metabolism is indeed that of a homeotherm. When the human body is exposed to heat, skin temperature is sacrificed in favor of core temperature, as the human body only tolerates small variations in core temperature, from 35°C to 41°C. Cutaneous vasodilation, an increase in cardiac output, and perspiration facilitate this thermoregulation. Perspiration occurs when the air temperature exceeds 26°C. Evaporation is the only way for the body to lose heat in a hot environment.

[0015] When the ambient temperature is above 33°C, there is an increase in the core body temperature. When the ambient air has a high humidity level, sweat does not evaporate, and sweat production continues without heat dissipation, with risks of fatigue, hyperthermia (heat stroke), and dehydration.

[0016] According to IPCC forecasts, cities are likely to experience more intense and frequent heat waves during the 21st century.

[0017] However, for several decades, there has been a strong trend toward the concentration of populations in cities worldwide. In 2020, in France, one in six people lived in the Paris urban area, and one in four in an urban area with more than 200,000 inhabitants, excluding Paris. It is estimated that in 2020, 55% of the world's population lived in cities, a proportion expected to reach 7 out of 10 by 2050. Cities are particularly vulnerable to heat waves due to the urban heat island effect.

[0018] Population aging leads to increased health risks during heat waves. In older adults, there is a physiological decrease in blood flow, resulting in a reduced capacity to dissipate heat. In France, in 2020, people over 65 years of age represented 20% of the population, and it is estimated that this proportion will reach one in four by 2040. Population aging is observed more broadly within the European Union and internationally. It is estimated that by 2050, one in six people worldwide will be over 65, compared to one in eleven in 2019.

[0019] Conventional shelters, typically those with a steel frame on which glass panels are mounted, do not allow for thermal comfort of people in the event of a heat wave.

[0020] Various methods have been proposed to try to cool the space of a traveller shelter.

[0021] According to a first approach, a misting system propels humid air. Reference can be made, for example, to documents FR3070175 (Climespace, 2019), CN108843052 (Ping, 2018), and WO2004083566 (Domano, 2004). Such an approach has several drawbacks. There is a risk of spreading pathogens, such as viruses or Legionella. To limit these risks, the misting system can be supplied with potable water from the mains or equipped with a disinfection device, for example, using ultraviolet light, with the resulting complexity and costs. To limit the risks of spreading pathogens, near-continuous water circulation must be ensured, as well as regular water quality analyses, with the associated costs. Water consumption is significant, around 100 liters per day per misting system.The installation of misting systems can convey an image of water waste, which is incompatible with a message of water conservation, especially during heat waves. Misting systems usually require an electrical power supply to operate.

[0022] According to a second approach, the shelters are planted with vegetation. Reference can be made, for example, to documents CN110469152 (Ting, 2019), FR3081731 (JCDecaux, 2019).

[0023] According to a third approach, the shelter is equipped with an adiabatic evaporative air cooling system. The principle of evaporative air cooling is presented, for example, in documents WO2019 / 180737 (Siripurapu, 2019) and WO2005 / 045332 (Univ. Nottingham, 2005).

[0024] Document FR3106879 (JCDecaux, 2021) describes a waiting shelter for public transport users, the shelter comprising a rainwater tank and an air cooling system. A pump connected to the rainwater tank sends water to a humidifier placed in an evaporator. The rainwater flows vertically by gravity into the humidifier. A fan draws in ambient air. The system draws in hot, dry air and blows it horizontally through a water-filled evaporator, from which it emerges as a stream of cooled and humidified air. The shelter described in document FR3106879 has several drawbacks. The electrical components (particularly fans and pumps) require either a power supply from the public grid or a rechargeable battery, for example, powered by photovoltaic panels.

[0025] According to a fourth approach, the shelter is cooled by geothermal energy. See, for example, document KR20200113955 (Cse, 2020).

[0026] The diversity of approaches considered in the prior art for attempting to cool passenger shelters shows that no approach has met users' expectations, so the shelters remain largely of conventional structure, based on a metal frame and glass panels. The approaches proposed in the prior art for cooling shelters each have their drawbacks, and are limited by the requirement for a connection to an electrical power supply or a battery.

[0027] Moreover, in shelters known from the prior art, shading is most often unsatisfactory. Here, shading refers to the system of protection against sunlight.

[0028] In some prior designs, shade is provided by a fabric, most often made of PVC, stretched over a structure. The resulting shelter has a high wind resistance and a poor environmental impact, assessed for example by life cycle analysis.

[0029] In other prior designs, the shelter comprises one or more rigid panels, made of glass, polymer material (e.g., polycarbonate) or composite material, or metallic material, forming a flat or curved roof. See, for example, documents FR3051011 (Semco, 2017), FR2893343 (Lacroix, 2007), and US2010050541 (Bright, 2010). The resulting shelter exhibits high wind resistance and a poor environmental performance.

[0030] The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of prior art shelters.

[0031] A first object of the invention is to provide a shelter serving as a waiting place for a transport vehicle, such as for example buses or trams, this shelter comprising a canopy having high wind resistance.

[0032] A second object of the invention is to provide a shelter serving as a waiting area for a transport vehicle, such as, for example, buses or trams, this shelter comprising a canopy providing directional shading. By canopy providing directional shading, we mean here that the canopy generates maximum shade in a predefined zone, this zone being advantageously determined for the hottest hours.

[0033] Another object of the invention is to provide a shelter meeting at least one of the two above objects, and ensuring rainwater recovery, as well as protection of users against inclement weather.

[0034] Another object of the invention is to provide a shelter meeting at least one of the above objects, and exhibiting high resistance to deterioration.

[0035] Another object of the invention is to provide a shelter meeting at least one of the above objects, the manufacture and installation of the shelter being environmentally friendly, the environmental footprint of the shelter being reduced, the reuse and recycling of the elements forming the shelter being simple.

[0036] Another object of the invention is to provide a shelter meeting at least one of the above objects, and ensuring a feeling of security for people while waiting for the transport vehicle, the shelter being adaptable to different implementation conditions, for example in residential areas or in craft or industrial areas.

[0037] For these purposes, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a waiting shelter for a transport vehicle or stop post, the shelter comprising a canopy providing both protection against solar radiation, protection of users against inclement weather and the collection of rainwater, the canopy comprising a roof provided with two conical elements arranged in a tiered, superimposed manner and separated vertically from each other, the rainwater collected by the wall of a first conical element falling on the wall of a second conical element placed below the first conical element.

[0038] The spacing of the two conical elements from each other allows a lateral passage for air, the roof of the shade structure having a low wind resistance.

[0039] The vertical separation of the two conical elements creates a cascading gravity flow of rainwater from one conical element to the one below, this cascading flow promoting oxygenation of the rainwater. This cascading flow also provides cooling and generates sounds that promote relaxation.

[0040] Advantageously, the conical elements of the shade structure roof are arranged in an overlapping pattern. This overlapping of the conical elements advantageously ensures that only the outer edges of the conical elements are visible when the shade structure roof is viewed from below. Furthermore, in the event of a crosswind, rainwater does not fall on users located under the shade structure.

[0041] Advantageously, the roof of the shade structure comprises conical elements, each forming a wall in the shape of an oblique truncated cone.

[0042] Advantageously, the canopy roof is cantilevered over a post. Cantilevered here means that the canopy roof extends laterally beyond the supporting post. This allows the canopy roof to be positioned so that the shade cast is large and located in a predetermined area, advantageously corresponding to the hottest hours, particularly those when the sun is at its zenith or the hours immediately following its zenith.

[0043] In some embodiments, the roof comprises conical elements assembled together by assembly elements extending radially with respect to an axis perpendicular to the conical elements.

[0044] In some embodiments, the roof of the shade structure is supported by a hollow post, with rainwater falling on the wall of a lower conical element of the roof entering a pipe internal to the post.

[0045] In certain embodiments, the water collected by the roof of the shade structure is sent, via a roof support post, to a storage basin, or any other above-ground or underground storage system, such as a tank or porous material. The storage basin is, for example, buried.

[0046] In certain embodiments, the canopy roof is supported by at least one post equipped with means for ground connection, the post comprising a base plate, in particular one embedded in a concrete foundation, the base plate being positioned below ground level. This eliminates any ground obstructions around the post against which passengers' feet could trip. Furthermore, the risks of malicious or intentional damage are reduced.

[0047] In certain specific embodiments, the conical elements of the shade structure roof are made of steel, for example stainless steel, the roof being mounted on at least one post formed by a steel profile. The use of the same material for the manufacture of the support post and the shade structure roof facilitates the recycling of the shelter's components.

[0048] Advantageously, the conical elements of the shade structure's roof are cantilevered from a post, the shelter comprising a seat or a sit-stand platform located near the post. The term "sit-stand platform" here refers to means allowing a seated position with support. The sit-stand platform helps prevent pain associated with prolonged standing. Sit-stand platforms are known per se and are described, for example, in documents KR101393068 (Gu, 2014), GB2442873 (Ness Furniture, 2008), and FR2569964 (Gianni, 1986). Advantageously, the seat or sit-stand platform is fixed to the post supporting the shade structure's roof.

[0049] In certain embodiments, the canopy roof is mounted on a post equipped with internal piping, with an annular wall mounted at the extreme upper part From the post, rainwater collected on the wall of the lower conical element of the roof falls onto the annular wall and enters the internal piping of the post.

[0050] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments given below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: • [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a shelter used as a waiting area for a transport vehicle, comprising a tiered-walled shade structure, according to one embodiment; • [Fig.2] is a side view of the shelter shown in [Fig.1]; • [Fig. 3] is a perspective view of the shelter shown in figures 1 and 2, the conical elements being masked.

[0051] The shade structure 1 shown in the figures includes a post 2 supporting a roof 3.

[0052] According to various embodiments, the post is made of metallic material, for example steel, galvanized steel, or stainless steel (for example 304L or 316L), or of aluminum alloy (for example aluminum alloy of the 6000 series, in particular 6082), or even of composite material, for example with polymer matrix and reinforcement of glass fiber or plant fiber such as flax fiber.

[0053] Advantageously, the post is in the form of a closed profile, for example with a circular, oval or polygonal cross-section, and is obtained by extrusion or pultrusion. In some embodiments, the post is formed by bending a sheet of metal, for example cold bending of a steel sheet.

[0054] In some embodiments, the post is not of revolution symmetry and has, for example, a cross-section in the shape of an I or an H. When installing the shelter, it is thus advantageously taken advantage of the maximum moment of inertia of the post for the prevailing winds.

[0055] Post 2 is provided with means for connecting to the ground.

[0056] Advantageously, these means of ground connection comprise a base plate, that is to say- to say a base, a foundation or a supporting element.

[0057] In the embodiment shown, the connecting means include a base or plate 4, for example sealed in a concrete base or mass, the post 2 being fixed to the plate 4, for example by welding.

[0058] The plate 4 is for example made in the form of a steel plate, in particular galvanized steel, stainless steel.

[0059] In the embodiment shown, the base plate 4 is a square plate provided with holes 5 for anchoring screws into a concrete base or foundation. Advantageously, gussets 6 are fixed radially around the base of the post 2 and are attached to the base plate 4.

[0060] For example, six metal gussets 6 are welded radially to the base of the post 2 and are welded to the top face of the plate 4, the gussets 6 reinforcing the attachment of the post 2 to the plate 4.

[0061] Advantageously, the concrete base or mass is buried, the plate 4 and the gussets 6 being placed below ground level, for example between ten and twenty centimeters in the ground, and thus being hidden from view and out of contact with the feet of passers-by waiting for a transport vehicle, or the wheels of a bicycle or a wheelchair.

[0062] It is thus possible for people to move freely around the post 2 of the shade structure 1, in particular for people with reduced mobility.

[0063] By person with reduced mobility, we mean here in particular disabled persons (including persons with sensory or intellectual disabilities, persons with motor disabilities and persons in wheelchairs), persons with bulky luggage, elderly persons, pregnant women, persons with shopping trolleys, and persons with young children (including children in strollers).

[0064] The means of connecting the post 2 to the ground are also concealed to reduce the risk of accidental or malicious damage.

[0065] The roof 3 includes at least one conical element, providing both protection against solar radiation for persons located below the roof 3, and the collection of rainwater.

[0066] By conical element we mean here a wall in the shape of a truncated cone, the apex of the cone being placed below the roof 3.

[0067] It is recalled here that a conical surface is generated by a straight line passing through a vertex and moving around a plane curve. When the plane curve is circular and the height of the cone passes through the center of the circle, the cone is a cone of revolution. When the curve is symmetric, and the height of the cone passes through the center of symmetry, the cone is a right cone. When the height of the cone is outside the center of the curve, the cone is oblique.

[0068] In some embodiments, not shown, the roof includes a conical element defining a wall in the shape of a truncated right cone of revolution.

[0069] In other embodiments, not shown, the roof includes a conical element defining a wall in the shape of an oblique truncated cone.

[0070] In the embodiment shown, the roof 3 comprises three conical elements 7a, 7b, 7c, each forming a wall in the shape of an oblique truncated cone.

[0071] Advantageously, the walls formed by the conical elements 7a, 7b, 7c are not perforated and are arranged in a stepped, superimposed manner. A first internal conical element 7a is placed in the lower part of the roof 3. A second conical element 7b, intermediate, is placed above the first conical element 7a, and below the third conical element 7c, external.

[0072] As shown in the figures, the three conical elements 7a, 7b, 7c are advantageously slightly separated from each other, along the vertical direction. Thus, rainwater collected by the wall of the upper outer element 7c falls onto the wall of the intermediate element 7b, and rainwater collected by the wall of the intermediate element 7b falls onto the wall of the inner element 7a.

[0073] The rainwater collected on the wall of the internal element 7a then falls onto an annular wall 8, mounted at the upper end 9 of the post 2.

[0074] In other embodiments, not shown, the roof comprises more than three superimposed rainwater recovery elements, these elements being annular and in the shape of a right truncated cone, or in the shape of an oblique truncated cone.

[0075] The cascading flow of rainwater is advantageously gravity-driven and requires no energy input.

[0076] This cascading flow of rainwater allows for oxygenation of the rainwater, promoting the subsequent use of this rainwater, particularly for plant cultivation.

[0077] This cascading water flow provides cooling and generates sounds that promote relaxation.

[0078] This cascading flow of rainwater is advantageously ensured by guaranteeing the protection of persons under the roof 3, the lower edge of the conical element 7c being placed above the wall of the conical element 7b, the lower edge of the conical element 7b being likewise placed above the wall of the conical element 7a.

[0079] The conical elements 7a, 7b, 7c are thus mounted in overlapping, so that the roof 3 forms a watertight cover, protecting people from the rain.

[0080] In other words, there is advantageously no free space allowing the passage of rainwater in a vertical direction from the top to the bottom of the roof 3.

[0081] Advantageously, the vertical spacing between the conical elements 7a, 7b, 7c is of small dimension, for example a few centimeters, avoiding the risk of water leakage in case of lateral wind.

[0082] Rainwater falling on the annular wall 8 enters an internal pipe of the post 2, for example made of PVC or stainless material.

[0083] In certain embodiments, the collected water is sent to a storage basin, for example placed underground, or is used for watering plants placed, for example, in a container near post 2. These arrangements reinforce the comfort of people near the post, particularly through the shade of the plants and their evapotranspiration.

[0084] In the embodiment shown, the lower part 10 of the post 2 is provided with a water drainage hole 11, for example, the overflow of rainwater in case of severe weather.

[0085] Advantageously, the plate 4 is also provided with a hole, allowing water to drain.

[0086] This avoids the stagnation of rainwater, as well as the risks of damage to post 2, for example by corrosion or frost.

[0087] In some embodiments, heating means are arranged in the roof 3, and allow the melting of snow, frost or ice.

[0088] The conical elements 7a, 7b, 7c are assembled to the post 2 by means of assembly.

[0089] In the embodiment shown, the assembly means include plates 12 extending radially around the post 2, and comprising a lower fixing edge 13.

[0090] The plates 12 are for example made of steel, in particular stainless steel.

[0091] Advantageously, each plate 12 extends substantially around a vertical plane and comprises a base and two arms. The bases of each plate 12 are joined together, for example by welding, and are housed in the upper part 9 of the post 2.

[0092] By way of example, the post 2 has a height of approximately 2 meters and is circular in cross-section, with an external diameter of 100 mm. The upper conical element 7c, for example, has a maximum extension of approximately 1500 mm.

[0093] The shade structure according to the invention has many advantages.

[0094] Maximum shade is provided during the hottest hours of the day, for example, when the sun is at its zenith and in the hours that follow. The conical elements are advantageously solid and sized to maximize shading, taking into account the sunlight conditions. The shadow cast by the roof is advantageously predetermined to correspond to an area where the ground temperature is at its maximum. The conical elements are preferably light-colored, as are, more generally, all the components of the shade structure. This maximizes the proportion of reflected light energy. In some embodiments, reflective paint is used.

[0095] The presence of spacing between the superimposed conical elements reduces wind resistance, allows air currents to pass through, and reduces mechanical stress in the structure in the event of strong winds or storms. The shade structure is thus robust and resilient, and the sizing of the structural elements is achieved by reducing the need for raw materials, and therefore the environmental impact.

[0096] Rainwater cascades down the roof, with beneficial effects in terms of oxygenation, cooling, and the production of relaxing sounds.

[0097] The shading is advantageously offset with a preferred orientation, the roof being advantageously mounted in cantilever over the post. The shaded area is thus positioned, for the hottest hours of the day, over the waiting area of ​​a transport vehicle, or the parking area of ​​a transport vehicle for passenger boarding / alighting.

[0098] Maximum shade is obtained in an area located near the post, a seat or a sit-stand can be placed near the post, keeping people waiting for a transport vehicle or resting in the shade.

[0099] The shade structure is advantageously manufactured using a single material for the post, the roof and the base plate, for example steel, galvanized steel or stainless steel, or even an aluminum alloy, facilitating its recycling and installation in different implementation conditions, including residential or industrial areas.

[0100] People waiting for the transport vehicle feel safe, as the canopy does not obstruct their view of vehicle movements or surrounding events. The conical shape opens up the view and space for users under the canopy.

[0101] The shade structure has a general shape resembling that of a tree such as a domestic pine or a maritime pine.

Claims

Demands

1. A structure placed on a roadway for the waiting or stopping of a transport vehicle, the structure comprising a shade structure (1) providing both protection against solar radiation and the collection of rainwater, characterized in that the shade structure (1) comprises a roof (3) provided with two conical elements (7a, 7b, 7c) arranged in a tiered, superimposed manner and separated vertically from each other, the rainwater collected by the wall of a first conical element (7c) falling on the wall of a second conical element (7b) placed below the first conical element (7c).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the conical elements (7a, 7b, 7c) of the roof (3) of the shade structure (1) are arranged in overlapping.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the roof (3) of the shade structure (1) comprises conical elements (7a, 7b, 7c) each forming a wall in the shape of an oblique truncated cone.

4. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the roof (3) of the shade structure (1) is mounted cantilevered on a post (2).

5. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the roof (3) comprises conical elements (7a, 7b, 7c) assembled together by assembly elements (12) extending radially with respect to an axis perpendicular to the conical elements.

6. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the roof (3) of the shade structure (1) is supported by a hollow post (2), rainwater falling on the wall of a lower conical element (7a) of the roof entering a pipe internal to the post (2).

7. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the water collected by the roof (3) of the shade structure (1) is sent, via a roof support post, to a storage basin.

8. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the roof (3) of the shade structure (1) is supported by at least one post (2) provided with means for connecting to the ground, the post (2) comprising a plate (4), in particular sealed in a concrete block, the plate (4) being placed below ground level.

9. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the conical elements (7a, 7b, 7c) of the roof (3) of the shade structure (1) are made of steel, the roof (3) being mounted on at least one post (2) formed by a steel profile.

10. Layout according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the conical elements (7a, 7b, 7c) of the roof (3) of the shade structure (1) are mounted cantilevered on a post (2), the shelter comprising a seat or a sit / stand arranged near the post (2).

11. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the roof (3) of the shade structure (1) is mounted on a post (2) provided with internal piping, an annular wall (8) being mounted in the extreme upper part of the post (2), rainwater collected on the wall of the lower conical element (7a) of the roof (3) falling on the annular wall (8) and entering the internal piping of the post (2).

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