Elastomeric Bridge Element for Rail Vehicle Door Gap Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail vehicle gap bridging solutions, such as extendable sliding steps, often fail to completely bridge the gap between the vehicle and the platform, are complex, prone to mechanical failure, and inflexible, leading to height offsets and safety issues for passengers.
Innovation Solution
An elastically deformable bridge element that can be deformed vertically to compensate for height differences between the rail vehicle floor and the platform, interacting with guide elements on the vehicle and platform to achieve a stable and adaptable bridging mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If extendable sliding steps are used to bridge the gap, then the gap between vehicle and platform can be reduced, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to actively operated mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The active operation mechanism is extracted and removed from the system. The bridge element is designed to be passively deployed by the opening door itself, which pushes the element outward to bridge the gap without requiring separate motors, sensors, or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening action automatically deploys the bridge element through mechanical coupling. As the door opens, it pushes the bridge element outward until it contacts the platform, at which point the element self-limits its extension and provides stable support without requiring active control.
2Length of stationary object
If extendable sliding steps with active mechanisms are used, then gap bridging is achieved, but the reliability decreases due to proneness to mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The active operation mechanism is extracted and removed from the system. The bridge element is designed to be passively deployed by the opening door itself, which pushes the element outward to bridge the gap without requiring separate motors, sensors, or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using an active mechanism to deploy the bridge element, the invention inverts the approach by using the passive mechanical action of the opening door to automatically deploy the element. The door's motion becomes the deployment mechanism, eliminating complex actuators and control systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid steps are used for gap bridging, then structural stability is maintained, but adaptability to different platform levels decreases resulting in height offsets
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge element's physical parameters (length, height, angle) are made variable through elastic deformation. The element can flex and change shape to adapt to different platform heights and gap widths, while maintaining sufficient structural stability to support passenger weight during boarding.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge element is constructed from elastomeric material that combines flexibility for adaptation with load-bearing capacity for stability. This composite approach allows the element to deform elastically to match different platform levels while remaining structurally sound under passenger load.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a simple, maintenance-free, and adaptable system that can completely or partially bridge gaps, ensuring safe and consistent contact between the vehicle and platform, accommodating various platform levels and widths, and is compatible with existing infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable bridge element (6) which can be deformed in the vertical direction, upwards or downwards, so that a height difference between the vehicle floor and the platform can be bridged or reduced
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Rail vehicle (1) comprising a bridge element (6, 65) that is elastically deformable in parts or as a whole for bridging a gap (S1, S2) between a floor (10) of the rail vehicle and a platform (15) in the area of a door (5), and/or for bridging a height difference (H1, H2) between a floor of the rail vehicle and a platform in the area of a door, wherein the bridge element is attached to the outside of the rail vehicle below the door, wherein a first guide element (22, 24, 28) is formed or attached to the bridge element, which is contactable with a second guide element (23, 30) provided on the platform, such that when the first and second guide elements interact, a force can be exerted on the bridge element, by which the bridge element is deformable.