Folding Step Auxiliary Support Surface for Railway Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding step devices for railway vehicles do not facilitate access when platform heights vary, as they either protrude and hit higher platforms or fail to provide adequate support for lower platforms.
Innovation Solution
A folding step device with an auxiliary support surface inclined relative to the main support surface, articulated around a parallel axis, allowing support in the raised position and extending to fill the gap between platforms and thresholds, with specific dimensions and positioning to ensure stability and ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the step is kept in the raised position to avoid hitting higher platforms, then the step does not protrude beyond the vehicle height, but access to the vehicle is not facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The step is divided into two functional surfaces: the main support surface for lowered position access and the auxiliary support surface for raised position access. This segmentation allows the step to provide support functionality in both positions, resolving the contradiction between avoiding platform collision and facilitating vehicle access.
Solution Approach 2:
The step transitions between two dynamic states: lowered position using the main support surface for high platform access, and raised position using the auxiliary support surface for low platform access. This dynamic adaptability allows the same step structure to serve different access needs based on platform height.
2Ease of operation
If the step provides adequate support for lower platforms, then access is facilitated, but the step structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary support surface is integrated into the step structure itself rather than being a separate component. The inclined auxiliary surface is formed as part of the step body, merging the support function into the existing structure and avoiding additional complexity while still providing adequate support for lower platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The step structure is designed to perform multiple functions: the main support surface handles lowered position access while the auxiliary support surface handles raised position access. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate structures for different platform heights, reducing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If the auxiliary support surface has sufficient dimension for stability, then user support is secure, but the step design becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary support surface is designed with localized dimensions optimized for its specific function. The surface has sufficient area (greater than 50mm in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis) to provide stable support, but only in the specific region where it is needed. This local optimization provides adequate stability without requiring the entire step structure to be enlarged.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The footboard has a parallelepiped shaped step (2) with an upper surface (4) forming a main support surface, and an articulation unit articulating the step on a rail transient car around a rotation axle (A). The step is articulated between low and high positions. The step has an auxiliary support surface formed by an edge (10) of a front end (8) of the step, where the edge is inclined with respect to the surface (4). The edge has a dimension along a direction orthogonal to the rotation axle higher than 50 millimeters, where the ratio between the edge and the axle is a specific value.