Rail Vehicle Movable Footboard with Pivoting Cross Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing railway carriage running boards often leave a significant height difference between the top edge of the floor and the top edge of the running board, even when extended, which poses safety risks and usability issues, especially when accessing platforms.
Innovation Solution
The running board features a mechanism where cross profiles can be raised via pivoting movements, allowing the surface to align with the platform edge, reducing or eliminating the height difference, and includes a lifting mechanism using rotating elements and swivel bars to adjust to different extension widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the running board is extended horizontally to bridge the gap to the platform, then the horizontal distance is reduced, but a height difference remains between the floor and the running board surface
Solution Approach 1:
The running board incorporates movable cross profiles that can be dynamically raised or lowered based on the extension width. When the running board is extended, additional cross profiles are raised to maintain a level surface with the floor, eliminating the height difference that would otherwise exist at different extension positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The height position of the cross profiles is changed based on the extension width parameter. As the running board extends horizontally, the system automatically adjusts the vertical position of specific cross profiles to maintain a constant surface level, effectively adapting the running board's geometry to different extension states.
2Length of moving object
If a fixed-length ramp is used to bridge the gap, then the horizontal gap is covered, but safety risks arise when pushing out over the platform and contacting the step
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a fixed ramp, the invention uses a dynamic running board with adjustable cross profiles that can be raised or lowered. This allows the running board surface to remain level with the floor throughout the extension process, eliminating the safety risks associated with fixed ramps that create height differences and potential tripping hazards.
3Strength
If the step bar is lowered or pivoted onto the extended running board, then the height difference is reduced, but the risk of jamming and disruption due to contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of lowering the step bar onto the running board, the invention inverts the approach by raising the running board's cross profiles to meet the floor level. This prevents the step bar from coming into contact with potentially contaminated surfaces, eliminating the risk of jamming and disruption while still achieving height adjustment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a movable footboard for a door of a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, comprising a footboard (1) that can be extended below the tread strip (2) at least substantially transversely to the direction of travel. In order to minimize the level difference between the footboard and the tread strip, according to the invention, a pivot shaft (16) extending at least substantially parallel to the direction of travel is provided on at least one longitudinal bar (17) of the footboard (1) at the end region of the footboard (1) away from the vehicle, about which pivot shaft at least two pivoting bars (18, 20) are pivotably supported, which pivoting bars each bear a transverse profile element (8-12), that each of the pivoting bars is rigidly connected only to the transverse profile element (8-12) associated with said pivot bar, while the other transverse profile elements lie freely on said pivot bar, and a lifting mechanism (21, 22, 23) is provided in such a way that the lifting mechanism is fastened to the vehicle, which lifting mechanism lifts the transverse profile element (8-12) located directly in front of the tread strip (2).