Getting-on-and-off device

Abstract

To provide a getting-on-and-off device which can be hung at a cockpit of a driving simulator regardless of a state of a floor surface on which the driving simulator is set and also can be removed from the cockpit, and allows a driver of a vehicle to get in or get out of the vehicle safely.SOLUTION: A getting-on-and-off device is for a user to get in or get out of a mobile simulator. The device includes: a bridge having an expansion mechanism; a driving device for driving the expansion mechanism; and a platform to which the bridge is fixed. The bridge has a cantilever structure and has an expandable supporting device to support a free end of the cantilever, the free end side being a tip of the bridge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an access device, and more particularly to an access device for a cockpit of a simulator. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as an example of a simulator, for example, a driving simulator described in Patent Document 1 changes the attitude of a simulated vehicle body relative to a floor surface by a servo cylinder. By combining this change in the attitude of the simulated vehicle body (cockpit) relative to the floor surface with an image projected by a projector on a screen, it is possible to simulate the situation in which a driver inside the simulated vehicle body is driving an automobile.

[0003] However, in order to make the vehicle body movement more realistic and to make the driver's driving sensation more realistic, it is desirable to use an actuator that changes the attitude of the cockpit with a longer stroke.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a driving simulator equipped with a long-stroke actuator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4493575 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5813706 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the case of a driving simulator using such a long-stroke actuator, the height of the cockpit from the floor surface becomes relatively high. In this case, a boarding and alighting device in the form of a ladder is considered for the driver to get in and out of the cockpit. However, since a driving mechanism such as an actuator or a hydraulic pipe is present on the floor surface, when the ladder is installed in the cockpit, it interferes with the driving mechanism, making it difficult to secure an installation location for the ladder. In addition, during the simulation, it is necessary to remove the ladder from the installation location. Therefore, in order to get in and out of the cockpit without using a driving mechanism such as an actuator or a hydraulic pipe on the floor surface, the boarding and alighting device is preferably in the form of a bridge, but in this case, the bridge may twist or bend, making it difficult for the driver to get in and out of the cockpit safely.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a boarding and alighting device that can be attached to and detached from the cockpit of a driving simulator regardless of the condition of the floor surface on which the driving simulator is installed, and that allows a driver to board and alight safely. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the boarding and alighting device is a boarding and alighting device for boarding and alighting from a moving body simulator, and is characterized in that it comprises a bridge equipped with an extension mechanism, a drive device that drives the extension mechanism, and a platform to which the bridge is fixed, and the bridge has a cantilever structure and is equipped with an extendable support device for supporting the tip of the bridge, which is the free end side of the cantilever.

[0009] In addition, the boarding / alighting device may be such that the bridge includes a plurality of bridges, and the telescopic mechanism is a mechanism in which the plurality of bridges are stored in a nested structure and extend and deploy relative to each other when in use.

[0010] In addition, in the above-mentioned boarding and disembarking device, the telescopic mechanism may further include a ball screw and a linear guide.

[0011] In addition, the boarding and alighting device may be configured so that the telescopic mechanism is a lift-up bridge.

[0012] In addition, the boarding / alighting device may be configured such that the telescopic mechanism is a rotating bridge.

[0013] In addition, the above-mentioned boarding and alighting device may be such that the extendable support device is a tension jack having support legs.

[0014] In addition, the boarding / disembarking device may be configured such that the support leg is formed of a ball screw.

[0015] In addition, the boarding / disembarking device may be configured such that the support leg is formed of a trapezoidal screw.

[0016] In addition, the boarding / alighting device may be configured so that the support device includes foldable support legs.

[0017] In addition, in the boarding / disembarking device, the tension jack may be a hydraulic jack.

[0018] In addition, the bridge structure of the boarding / alighting device may be a truss structure. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a boarding and alighting device that can be attached to and detached from the cockpit of a driving simulator regardless of the condition of the floor surface on which the driving simulator is installed, and that allows a driver to board and alight safely. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a driving simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2(a) and 2(b) are a schematic plan view and a schematic side view, respectively, showing the positional relationship of the boarding / exiting device according to the embodiment of the present invention with the cockpit in FIG. [Figure 3A]3A(a) and (b) are schematic perspective views showing the state of a boarding bridge of the boarding / disembarking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B(c) is a schematic perspective view showing a state of a boarding bridge of the boarding / disembarking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4(a) and (b) are schematic perspective views showing the extended state of the support legs of the tension jack according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a boarding bridge of the boarding / disembarking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 6(a) and 6(b) are an enlarged plan view and a schematic perspective view, respectively, showing a jack position displacement plate of the getting-on / off device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7(a) and (b) are an enlarged plan view and a schematic perspective view, respectively, showing a jack position displacement plate of a get-on / off device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a driving simulator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the driving simulator 100 includes a cockpit 110, an actuator system 120 for operating the cockpit, a screen 130 for displaying the view seen from the cockpit in response to the operation of the cockpit, a boarding bridge 140 as a boarding / alighting device for the cockpit, a platform 150 on which the boarding / alighting device is provided and on which the driver gets on and off, and a recessed pit 160 (see FIG. 2(b)) in which the actuator system 120 is disposed and which has a bottom surface lower than that of the platform. Note that this embodiment relates to a simulator for an automobile as the driving simulator 100, but is not limited thereto. For example, it will be apparent from the following description that the simulator can be a simulator for a moving body such as a railroad car or an aircraft.

[0024] The cockpit 110 is a boarding section where a driver boards and performs a driving simulation, and is provided with components for driving that imitate an actual automobile, such as a steering wheel, a seat, an instrument panel, door mirrors, and doors. A boarding bridge (boarding and alighting device) 140 for the driver to get on and off the cockpit 110 is provided on a platform 150, and as will be described in detail later, when the driver gets on and off, the boarding bridge 140 extends as a whole, and its tip is in a position corresponding to the boarding and alighting door of the cockpit 110 (FIG. 1 shows this state). In this state, a pair of support legs provided on the underside of the tip of the boarding bridge 140 extends into a pit 160 in which the actuator system 120 is provided and touches the floor surface of the pit. As a result, the tip of the boarding bridge 140 is supported by the support legs. When a simulation is not performed, the boarding bridge 140 is in a state where the support legs are contracted and the whole of the boarding bridge 140 is contracted and positioned on the platform 150 (see FIG. 3(a)). That is, when using the driving simulator 100, first, the boarding bridge 140 is extended so that its tip corresponds to the position corresponding to the boarding and alighting entrance of the cockpit. Next, the driver opens the entrance door 142 at the front side of the boarding bridge 140 on the platform 150, gets on the boarding bridge, walks along the safety fence 146 to the boarding and alighting opening 141, and gets on the cockpit 110 through this opening. After using the driving simulator 100, the driver moves from the cockpit 110 to the boarding bridge 140 through the boarding and alighting opening 141 at the tip of the boarding bridge 140 in the reverse manner to the above, and moves to the platform 150 through the entrance door 142 on the platform 150 side of the boarding bridge 140. Then, the boarding bridge 140 is contracted to a stored state.

[0025] 2(a) and (b) are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing the positional relationship between the boarding bridge 140 and the cockpit 110 shown in FIG.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the boarding bridge 140 is extended from the platform 150, and the tip of the boarding bridge 140 reaches a position adjacent to the cockpit 110. At this time, the boarding bridge 140 extends to the cockpit 110 stopped at a predetermined stop position, but does not contact the cockpit 110. Then, the door 115 of the cockpit 110 opens toward the boarding and disembarking opening 141 at the tip of the boarding bridge 140, thereby ensuring a boarding and disembarking path for the driver from the boarding bridge 140 to the cockpit 110. In addition, since the boarding bridge 140 does not contact the cockpit 110, the weight of the boarding bridge 140 and the impact during extension and contraction are not applied to the cockpit 110, and there is no effect on the cockpit 110 and the actuator system 120 described later.

[0027] 2(b), the boarding bridge 140 is configured so that the bottom of the boarding bridge 140 and the bottom of the cockpit 110 are at the same height when the boarding bridge 140 is extended. In this way, even if the height from the floor on which the actuator system 120 of the cockpit 110 is provided to the cockpit 110 is relatively high, the boarding bridge 140 can be easily installed and removed from the cockpit 110 by using the boarding bridge 140 of this embodiment. In addition, since the driver can get on and off the cockpit 110 by walking on the boarding bridge 140, the driver can move in the same way as in an actual vehicle where the driver walks on the ground to get on, and a high sense of immersion can be obtained.

[0028] 1 and 2(b), the actuator system 120 includes three actuators 121a, 121b, and 121c that are arranged at three positions along the circumferential direction at equal intervals so as to surround the periphery of the cockpit 110. These three actuators can be partially contracted in their respective axial directions, and are connected to a swing base 111 fixed to a cockpit support provided on the bottom side of the cockpit 110 via a hexapod 124. The hexapod 124 is fixed to a base plate 126. This allows the actuator system 120 to drive the actuators 121a, 121b, and 121c by a driving source such as hydraulic pressure, and to operate the cockpit 110 in two axial directions, X and Y. The hexapod 124 also allows the cockpit 110 to operate with six degrees of freedom in three axial directions, X, Y, and Z, and in rotational directions around each of these axes. The operation of the cockpit by these actuators 121a, 121b, 121c and hexapod 124 is controlled by a host computer (not shown).

[0029] Screen 130 is installed above pit 160 so as to surround cockpit 110, and images are projected onto it by a projector (not shown) suspended from the ceiling. Screen 130 is located at a predetermined height from the floor of the pit in order to avoid the drive sources and hydraulic pipes of actuators 121a, 121b, and 121c installed on the floor of pit 160.

[0030] When the projector receives image signals from a computer (not shown), it projects a simulated image, which is an image of the scenery seen from inside the vehicle when traveling on a simulated road in accordance with each image signal, onto the screen 130. The driver obtains information about the road, signs, traffic signals, other vehicles, pedestrians, etc. while looking at the simulated image projected onto the screen 130, and performs driving operations according to that information.

[0031] Here, drive mechanisms for the three actuators 121a, 121b, 121c, the hexapod 124, etc. are provided, and particularly when the actuator of the hexapod 124 has a relatively long stroke, the height of the cockpit 110 provided above the hexapod 124 becomes relatively high. Therefore, in this embodiment, the drive mechanisms are provided in a pit that is a recessed portion in the platform. Also, by providing the pit, boarding and disembarking to and from the cockpit 110 is performed using a boarding bridge 140, and the boarding bridge 140 provided on the platform is configured to extend and retract with respect to the cockpit 110.

[0032] The platform 150 is a platform for the driver to enter the room in which the driving simulator 100 is installed and to board onto the upper part of the boarding bridge 140. The platform 150 is made of, for example, concrete and has a horizontal floor surface on the upper part. The platform 150 also has the above-mentioned pit 160 in the center.

[0033] The boarding bridge 140 is fixed to the platform 150 via a base 180. The base 180 is fixed by being embedded into the platform 150 when laying the concrete that constitutes the platform 150. The base 180 is also supported on the floor surface of the pit 160 by fixing legs 181.

[0034] 3A(a), (b), and 3B(c) are diagrams illustrating a boarding bridge 140 according to this embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 3A(a) is a perspective view showing a stored state of the boarding bridge 140 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the boarding bridge 140 includes a bridge 143 having a structure in which rectangular frames that also serve as a safety fence 146 are connected. The bridge 143 includes a plurality of bridges, and is composed of a first bridge 143a that is a fixed part to the platform 150, a second bridge 143b that is an intermediate part, and a third bridge 143c that is a tip part. The bridge includes an extension mechanism that allows the first bridge 143a, the second bridge 143b, and the third bridge 143c to extend and unfold relative to each other and, conversely, to contract and retract relative to each other when in use. The first bridge 143a of the boarding bridge 140 is fixed to a base 180 that is a fixed base for fixing to the platform 150. When the boarding bridge 140 is in the stored state, the first bridge 143a, the second bridge 143b, and the third bridge 143c are nested within each other and contracted to be stored as a unit on the base 180 by the telescopic mechanism. The bridge 143 may have, for example, a truss structure. If the bridge 143 has a truss structure, the rigidity of the bridge 143 can be sufficiently ensured during telescopic extension and after extended deployment, and telescopic extension of the bridge 143 and the support legs 172 described later are not hindered.

[0036] FIG. 3A(b) is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of deployment when the boarding bridge 140 according to the embodiment of the present invention is used. From the above-mentioned stored state, the first ball screw 148b for extension, which is a telescopic mechanism, is rotated by the first motor 148a for extension, which is a drive device for driving the telescopic mechanism, so that the third bridge 143c is extended and deployed toward the cockpit 110 relative to the first bridge 143a along the first linear guide 148c for extension, which is a telescopic mechanism. At the same time, the second motor 149a for extension is used to rotate the second ball screw 149b for extension, which is a telescopic mechanism, so that the second bridge 143b is extended and deployed toward the cockpit 110 relative to the first bridge 143a along the second linear guide 149c for extension. In this way, since the telescopic mechanism is configured by a ball screw, the telescopic speed can be increased compared to the case of using other screws. As described above, the boarding bridge 140 has a nested structure in which the first bridge 143a, the second bridge 143b, and the third bridge 143c move and expand relative to one another. This allows the boarding bridge 140 to expand only toward the cockpit 110, preventing collision with the cockpit 110, the screen 130, and other peripheral equipment. Because of this nested structure, the number of parts is smaller and the system is simpler than when the bridge is of the bellows type or pantograph type, and furthermore, the installation of a safety fence is easier.

[0037] 3B(c) is a perspective view showing the boarding bridge 140 according to the embodiment of the present invention when fully deployed during use. The second bridge 143b and the third bridge 143c are fully deployed in the extension direction relative to the first bridge 143a. In this state, as described below, the support legs 172 of the tension jack 170 extend from the storage section 171 to the floor surface of the pit 160 in order to support the tip of the boarding bridge 140.

[0038] When the driving simulator 100 is used, the boarding bridge 140 is retracted and stored toward the platform 150 in the reverse order to the procedure in which the boarding bridge 140 is extended and deployed toward the cockpit 110 described above.

[0039] In this embodiment, the boarding bridges 140 are stored in a nested structure, but are not limited to this. A boarding bridge having a bridge with a length equal to the distance from the platform 150 to the cockpit 110 may be a lift-up bridge that is lifted up to a position above the platform 150 and becomes stationary. Alternatively, instead of being lifted up, a rotating bridge may be used in which the tip of the bridge rotates toward the platform 150 so as to draw an arcuate trajectory in a plan view and becomes stationary. Alternatively, a bridge having an integral structure may be moved directly to the vicinity of the cockpit 110 and returned directly to the platform 150.

[0040] In this way, the boarding bridge 140 is stored in a nested structure and deployed in the extension direction. Furthermore, the boarding bridge 140 has the support legs 172 as described above at the tip. This allows the boarding bridge 140 to extend to the cockpit 110 without being hindered by the actuators 121a, 121b, 121c and hydraulic pipes that crawl on the floor surface of the pit 160. Therefore, the boarding bridge 140 can be attached to and detached from the cockpit 110 regardless of the condition of the floor surface on which the driving simulator is installed.

[0041] Furthermore, as described above, if the boarding bridge is stored by a flip-up or rotating system, it is not necessary to make the bridge part of the boarding bridge into a nested structure, and the boarding bridge can be extended to the cockpit 110 with a simple mechanism. The same effect can also be obtained when the integrated bridge itself moves directly to the vicinity of the cockpit 110 and returns directly to the platform 150.

[0042] <Tension jack> 4(a) and 4(b) are enlarged perspective views showing details of the tension jack 170 of the boarding bridge 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 4(a) is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the support leg 172 of the tension jack 170, which is an extendable support device of the boarding bridge 140, is stored in the storage section 171. As described above, the support leg 172 maintains a state stored in the storage section 171 until the boarding bridge 140 is fully deployed. The support leg 172 has a leg portion 172a made of a ball screw. A jack motor 173 is attached to a drive shaft 174 for extending and retracting the support leg 172 via a gear (not shown). As a result, when the jack motor 173 is not rotating, the support leg 172 can be kept stationary relative to the storage section 171 due to the frictional force between the leg portion 172a and the storage section 171 and the frictional force between the gear of the jack motor 173 and the drive shaft 174. Note that the jack motor 173 may be kept energized and the holding torque of the jack motor 173 may be used to maintain the stationary state.

[0044] FIG. 4(b) is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the support leg 172 extends and reaches the floor surface in the pit 160 from the storage section 171. When the boarding bridge 140 is deployed, the jack motor 173 rotates from the stationary state described above, and the driving force is transmitted through the gear, the drive shaft 174, and the leg 172a. As a result, the support leg 172, which is a ball screw, extends from the storage section 171 to the floor surface in the pit. The support leg 172 has a foot 172b, and when the foot 172b touches the floor surface in the pit, the jack motor 173 stops rotating. The support leg 172 remains stationary relative to the storage section 171 due to the meshing friction between the leg 172a, which is a ball screw, and the storage section 171, which has a female thread corresponding to the ball screw. Thus, the boarding bridge 140 is supported by the support leg 172. As a result, the free end of the boarding bridge 140, which has a cantilever structure, is supported and fixed, and the boarding bridge 140 does not twist or bend, allowing the driver to safely approach the cockpit 110 using the boarding bridge 140 and to safely board. Since the leg 172a is made of a ball screw, the leg 172a can quickly respond to the rotation of the jack motor 173 and quickly expand and contract. As described above, the jack motor 173 may be kept energized and the holding torque of the jack motor 173 may be used to hold the extended support leg 172.

[0045] As described above, in this embodiment, the tension jack 170 having the support legs 172 which are ball screws is used, but the support legs are not limited to this. For example, a trapezoidal screw or a worm gear can also be used. The support device may also have foldable support legs that are folded when stored. The tension jack 170 may also be a hydraulic jack. Even when such a support device is used, the support legs can be quickly extended and retracted.

[0046] <Jack position displacement plate> FIG. 5 is a plan view of the boarding bridge 140 seen from above.

[0047] 6(a) and 6(b) are enlarged views showing the jack position displacement plate 144. FIG.

[0048] 5, the boarding bridge 140 is provided with a jack position displacement plate 144 at the tip of the third bridge 143c. The jack position displacement plate 144 is for rotating the tension jack 170 in a plane relative to the third bridge 143c.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6(a), the jack position displacement plate 144 side is provided with scale holes 144a and 144b for determining the rotational position of the tension jack 170 in a plane, and an arc-shaped through hole 145. The third bridge 143c side is provided with a tap hole at a position corresponding to the arc-shaped through hole 145, into which a pin 144c is screwed. The pin 144c protrudes from the third bridge 143c and can be seen through the arc-shaped through hole 145, and serves as a guide for the jack position displacement plate 144 to rotate on an arc. When the pin 144c reaches the end of the arc-shaped through hole 145, the rotation of the jack position displacement plate 144 stops, so the pin 144c also serves as an end stopper for the left and right rotation of the jack position displacement plate 144.

[0050] The rotational position of the tension jack 170 in a plane using the jack position displacement plate 144 is determined by aligning the aforementioned scale holes 144a and 144b with the pin 144c. Specifically, the jack position displacement plate 144 is positioned corresponding to the boarding bridge 140 by adjusting the scale holes 144a, 144b and the pin 144c to be at a position where a line L1 passing through the central axis of the jack motor 173 in a plan view coincides with a line L2 passing through the center of the boarding bridge 140 in a plan view. The jack position displacement plate 144 is rotated manually, but may be rotated automatically using a motor, for example.

[0051] In this way, the jack position displacement plate 144 equipped with the tension jack 170 rotates to a predetermined position relative to the third bridge 143c. This allows the support leg 172 of the tension jack 170 to be placed on the floor of the pit while avoiding the actuators 121a, 121b, 121c and hydraulic pipes that are crawling on the floor of the pit, as shown in Fig. 6(b).

[0052] Fig. 7(a) is an enlarged plan view showing the jack position displacement plate 144, and Fig. 7(b) is a schematic perspective view showing the direction of a jack displaced by the jack position displacement plate 144 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Components having the same reference numbers as those related to the boarding bridge 140 described above have the same functions, and therefore detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0053] 8(a), when the jack position displacement plate 144 is rotated leftward, the pin 144c reaches the right end of the arc-shaped through hole 145, where it hits the right end of the arc-shaped through hole 145, stopping the rotation of the jack position displacement plate 144. This allows the jack position displacement plate 144 to rotate leftward from the aforementioned position relative to the third bridge 143c.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 8(b), in the same manner as described above, by rotating the jack position displacement plate 144 to a predetermined position, the support leg 172 can come into contact with the floor surface of the pit while avoiding interference with the actuators 121a, 121b, 121c and hydraulic pumps, etc., which are crawling along the floor surface of the pit.

[0055] With the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a boarding and alighting device that can be hung and removed from the cockpit of the driving simulator regardless of the condition of the floor surface on which the driving simulator is installed, and that allows the driver to board and alight safely. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 100 Driving Simulator 110 Cockpit 120 Actuator System 121a, 121b, 121c Actuators 130 screens 140 Jetway 141 Passenger door 142 Entrance Door 143 Bridge 143a First Bridge 143b 2nd Bridge 143c 3rd Bridge 144 Jack position displacement plate 144a, 144b Scale hole 144c Pin 145 Arc-shaped through hole 150 Platform 160 Pit 170 Tension Jack

Claims

1. A boarding and disembarking device for boarding and disembarking a moving body simulator, comprising: A bridge having an extension mechanism; A drive device that drives the extension mechanism; a platform to which the bridge is fixed; Equipped with The bridge has a cantilever structure and is equipped with an extendable support device for supporting the tip of the bridge, which is the free end side of the cantilever.

2. 2. The boarding / exiting device according to claim 1, wherein the bridge comprises a plurality of bridges, and the telescopic mechanism is a mechanism in which the plurality of bridges are stored in a nested structure with each other and extend and deploy relative to each other when in use.

3. The boarding / exiting device according to claim 2 , wherein the telescopic mechanism further comprises a ball screw and a linear guide.

4. The boarding / alighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the telescopic mechanism comprises a lift-up bridge.

5. The boarding / exiting device according to claim 1 , wherein the telescopic mechanism comprises a rotating bridge.

6. The boarding / exiting device according to claim 1 , wherein the extendable support device is a tension jack having support legs.

7. The boarding / exiting device according to claim 6 , wherein the support leg comprises a ball screw.

8. The boarding / egress device according to claim 6 , wherein the support leg comprises a trapezoidal screw.

9. The boarding and egress device according to claim 1 , wherein the support device comprises foldable support legs.

10. The boarding / exiting device according to claim 6, wherein the tension jack is a hydraulic jack.

11. The boarding / egress device according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge structure is a truss structure.

Images