Sliding Step Flap for Obstacle Detection and Cassette Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding step arrangements for vehicles and rail vehicles face issues such as dirt, icing, and deformation leading to operational failures, and the height changes due to suspension and load variations can trap passengers or damage the system, while obstacle detection systems may not prevent contact with vertical surfaces effectively.
Innovation Solution
A sliding step arrangement with a combined closure and tactile element, a flap, that moves between a closed position to seal the cassette opening and a detection position to contact obstacles, generating a signal to prevent collision, using a guide device that converts translational movement into rotary motion for obstacle detection and sealing the opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal is mounted on the sliding step to close the cassette opening in the retracted position, then dirt, moisture, ice and snow are prevented from entering the sliding step cassette, but the sliding step arrangement becomes more complex and the sealing effectiveness is reduced because the seal remains in one position while the sliding step height changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the closure element and tactile element into a single integrated flap structure. This flap serves dual functions: sealing the cassette opening when retracted and detecting obstacles when extended, eliminating the need for separate sealing and detection mechanisms while improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The flap is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adapt its position based on the sliding step's extension state. When the sliding step is retracted, the flap closes the opening; when extended, the flap moves to a detection position, maintaining sealing effectiveness while accommodating height changes
2Ease of operation
If the sliding step is extended to bridge the gap between the vehicle and platform, then passenger boarding is facilitated, but the sliding step may contact vertical surfaces such as platform walls or curbs causing damage or operational failure
Solution Approach 1:
The tactile element on the flap performs preliminary obstacle detection before the sliding step fully extends. By detecting obstacles in advance during the extension process, the system can prevent contact with vertical surfaces before damage occurs, maintaining both ease of operation and reliability
3Reliability
If the sliding step is extended into the detection position, then obstacles can be detected to prevent collision, but the cassette opening is exposed to dirt, moisture, ice and snow
Solution Approach 1:
The flap dynamically transitions between closed and detection positions based on the sliding step's extension state. When the sliding step is retracted, the flap closes the cassette opening to prevent contamination. When the sliding step extends, the flap moves to the detection position to enable obstacle detection, thus achieving both protection and detection functions at different operational phases
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
Prevents operational failures due to dirt and icing, maintains consistent height, and effectively detects obstacles to avoid collisions with vertical surfaces, ensuring safe and reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a guide device (22) that converts translational movement into rotary motion for obstacle detection and sealing the opening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a sliding step assembly (7) for a vehicle or a rail vehicle (1) for bridging a gap (6) between the vehicle or rail vehicle (1) and a platform (5) or the like, with a sliding step cassette (10), which is fastenable to a body of the vehicle or rail vehicle (1) and has a cassette opening (14), a sliding step (3) which is guided movably on the sliding step cassette (10) along a sliding-step movement path between a retracted position and at least one extended end position, at least one closure element which is mounted on the sliding step (3) and closes the cassette opening (14) in the retracted position of the sliding step (3), an obstacle-detection device (8) which has at least one tactile element and is designed in such a manner that, when the tactile element (20) touches an obstacle (5) during the extension movement of the sliding step (3) from the retracted position into the at least one extended end position, a critical position of the sliding step (3) with respect to the obstacle (5) is identified and, in the event of such an identification, a detection signal is generated. The invention is characterized in that the closure element and the tactile element are formed together by a flap (20) which is guided movably by means of a guide device (22).