Railway Vehicle Entry Threshold Vertical Gap Bridging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railway vehicle boarding aids are complex, time-consuming to deploy and retract, prone to malfunctions, and not suitable for modern low-floor trams, increasing station staying time and collision risks.

Innovation Solution

A simplified vehicle boarding aid with a fixedly arranged entry threshold that vertically adjusts using a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, remaining within the loading gauge and operating independently of the vehicle's state, allowing quick and easy access with minimal displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complex vehicle boarding aid with multiple moving parts is used, then the vertical gap between station platform and passenger entrance area can be accommodated, but the device complexity increases and deployment time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical gap accommodationVSAvoidnumber of moving parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The entry threshold is separated from the complex boarding aid mechanism and fixedly arranged in the access position, while only the vertical position adjusting device remains movable. This segmentation reduces the number of moving parts while maintaining the ability to accommodate vertical gaps through vertical adjustment only.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of moving the entire boarding aid structure to accommodate vertical gaps, the invention inverts the approach by fixing the entry threshold in the access position and only adjusting its vertical position. This eliminates horizontal movement and reduces mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a vehicle boarding aid with multiple deployment steps is used, then the vertical gap can be bridged, but the station staying time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical gap bridgingVSAvoidstation staying time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The boarding aid function is segmented into a fixed entry threshold structure and a separate vertical position adjusting device. This eliminates the need for multiple deployment steps (sliding, rotating tread, rotating entry threshold) and reduces station staying time to only the time required for vertical adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The entry threshold is pre-positioned in the access position with the vertical position adjusting device ready to operate. This eliminates the need for sequential deployment steps and allows immediate vertical adjustment when needed, reducing station staying time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a vehicle boarding aid protruding across the loading gauge is used, then the vertical gap can be accommodated, but the collision risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical gap accommodationVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing the boarding aid to protrude horizontally across the loading gauge, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the entry threshold fixed in the access position within the loading gauge and only permitting vertical movement. This eliminates the collision risk while maintaining vertical gap accommodation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a bulky vehicle boarding aid is installed under modern low floor trams, then the vertical gap can be bridged, but the space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical gap bridgingVSAvoidspace under vehicle

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The entry threshold structure is separated from the vertical position adjusting device, allowing the entry threshold to be fixed in the access position without requiring storage space. Only the compact vertical position adjusting device needs to be accommodated under the vehicle, significantly reducing space requirements compared to bulky traditional boarding aids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces the complexity and operational time of the boarding aid, ensures it remains within the loading gauge, and allows for safe operation even in case of malfunctions, minimizing station staying time and collision risks, while being adaptable to modern low-floor trams.

Implementation Method 1

a vertical position adjusting device for vertically adjusting the access position of the entry threshold as a function of a potential vertical gap between a station platform and the passenger entrance area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic or hydraulic actuation: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentUS10507848B2Railway vehicle with a movable, vertical gap bridging entry threshold

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 ALSTOM HOLDINGS SA

AI summary

A railway vehicle for passenger transport comprising a vehicle body, said vehicle body including a passenger entrance area and a vehicle boarding aid for facilitating passengers' access to the passenger entrance area, the vehicle boarding aid comprising a movable entry threshold arranged in an access position facilitating passengers' access to the passenger entrance area and a vertical position adjusting device for vertically adjusting the access position of the entry threshold as a function of a potential vertical gap between a station platform and the passenger entrance area, wherein said entry threshold is fixedly arranged in said access position in all operating states of the railway vehicle.