Offset Door Assembly for Rail Passenger Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current door systems in passenger transport vehicles, particularly rail vehicles, face challenges in managing high passenger flows and reducing dwell times due to limitations in door size and mechanical resistance, where large doors compromise mechanical strength and small doors restrict passenger flow.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a passenger transportation system with at least two doors on each side wall, where one door is flush with the wall in the closed position and the other is offset inward when open, allowing for centralized passenger flow and optional configuration as sliding, pivot-and-slide, or swing doors, with controlled opening based on passenger numbers to optimize boarding and alighting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If door size is increased to accommodate high passenger flow, then passenger flow capacity is improved, but mechanical resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger flow capacityVSAvoidmechanical resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The door system is divided into multiple door leaves (first door leaf and second door leaf) that can operate independently. This segmentation allows the door assembly to provide sufficient opening area for high passenger flow while each individual door leaf maintains adequate mechanical strength and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of time

If door opening time is minimized to reduce dwell time, then operational efficiency is improved, but passenger flow capacity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedwell timeVSAvoidpassenger flow capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The door system employs dynamic operation where the first door leaf and second door leaf can be opened and closed independently at different times. This dynamic control allows the door assembly to maintain a compact closed position for quick operation while providing sufficient opening area when needed for passenger flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If multiple doors are added to increase passenger flow capacity, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger flow capacityVSAvoiddoor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple door leaves are merged into a single integrated door assembly that operates as a coordinated unit. The first door leaf and second door leaf are positioned adjacent to each other and can be controlled together, reducing the overall complexity compared to having completely separate door systems while still providing increased passenger flow capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3798083A1A passenger transportation means for improved passenger flow and reduced dwell times and a method for controlling doors
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 ALSTOM HOLDINGS SA
  • EP3798083A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3798083A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3798083A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a passenger transportation means for improved passenger flow and reduced dwell times, - the passenger transportation means comprising at least two doors in each side wall. - A set (21, 22) of at least one first door (31) and at least one second door (32) located adjacent to the first door (31) is positioned in each side wall (11) of the passenger transportation means (10), wherein - the first door (31) is flush with the side wall (11) of the passenger transportation means (10) when the first door (31) is in a closed position and - the second door (32) is offset (d) from the side wall (11) towards an interior space of the passenger transportation means when the second door (32) is in an open position.