Rotatable Front Section Rail Step Platform Gap Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail vehicle stepping platforms face challenges in accommodating height differences due to component tolerances and operational changes, making them non-handicapped accessible and costly to adjust, while existing height-adjustable platforms are complex and expensive to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A rail vehicle with a linearly displaceable stepping platform featuring a rotatable front section that forms a ramp, allowing easy adjustment to bridge horizontal gaps, combined with a drive for inclination adjustment, ensuring compliance with height and accessibility regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If linearly displaceable stepping platforms are used to bridge horizontal gaps, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but component tolerances cause significant deviations in tread surface height from nominal dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The front section is designed to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the tread surface height to be adjusted after manufacturing to compensate for component tolerances and operational changes, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and height precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire structure is designed to be movable in height to adapt to different platform heights, then height adaptability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Only the front section of the stepping platform is made rotatable while the rest remains fixed. This segmentation allows height adaptation without requiring the entire structure to be movable, thus maintaining structural simplicity while achieving the necessary adaptability for different platform heights and handicapped accessibility.
3Device complexity
If sliding steps are used with fixed height, then device complexity is reduced, but adjustment to platform level requires expensive vehicle raising or lowering operations
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable front section provides a simple mechanical means to adjust tread surface height to match the platform level. This eliminates the need for expensive vehicle raising or lowering operations, making height adjustment easy and cost-effective while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a passenger rail vehicle comprising at least one step platform (1) which can be moved linearly, which is arranged in a mounting area (7) of the rail vehicle and which is used to bridge a gap in the horizontal direction between the mounting area (7) of the rail vehicle and a platform (5). According to the invention, the step platform (1) comprises a front section (2) which forms one part of the step surface (13) of the step platform (1), said front section (2) being mounted about a horizontal axis (10) so that it can move on the step platform (1), for forming a ramp between the remaining step surface (14) of the step platform (1) and the platform (5).