Rail Vehicle

The invention relates to a rail vehicle with at least one boarding and/or disembarking area—hereinafter simply referred to in short as boarding area throughout—for passengers to board from and/or disembark onto a platform, at least one restroom area and at least one seating area.

In order to guarantee an optimum passenger flow and good access to the inside of the vehicle, including for passengers with reduced mobility, particularly also for wheelchair users, it is desirable for the boarding area of rail vehicles to be positioned at the height of the platforms being approached. In countries belonging to the European Union, platforms with nominal heights of 55 cm and 76 cm are commonplace, which means that the boarding area should be adapted either to the nominal platform height of 55 cm or to the nominal platform height of 76 cm.

The problem addressed by the invention is that of specifying a rail vehicle that can easily be produced for different platform heights and can also easily be retrofitted once the rail vehicle is in use to suit a different platform height.

This problem is solved according to the invention by a rail vehicle having the features according to patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the rail vehicle according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Accordingly, it is provided according to the invention that the floor in the seating area and the floor in the boarding area are raised or at least can be raised to a higher floor level than the floor level in the restroom area.

A substantial advantage of the rail vehicle according to the invention is that during the first assembly and also subsequently following the initial operation, the floor level can be suitably fixed by providing an elevation during the first assembly or subsequently or removing a previously installed elevation once again. It is therefore possible to ideally adapt the boarding area of the rail vehicle to the respective platform height of the platforms on the route on which the rail vehicle is to be operated. The floor height in the boarding area is preferably selected so as to be level with the platform height on the route concerned, because if the platform and floor in the boarding area are level this facilitates quicker boarding and disembarkation and also reduces the risk of accidents. Moreover, when the levels are the same, passengers with reduced mobility, in particular wheelchair users, are also able to board and disembark easily.

A further substantial advantage of the rail vehicle according to the invention is that despite the adaptability of the floor height in the boarding area, no adjustment of the floor height in the restroom area or other modification of the restroom area (e.g. repositioning of the sanitary equipment) has to be provided for. It is therefore possible for the floor height in the restroom area to be left at a predetermined low level, irrespective of any adjustment of the floor height in the boarding area and/or any adjustment of the floor height in the seating area, for example at a level that corresponds to the smallest platform height to be expected, in other words in countries belonging to the European Union, a nominal platform height of 55 cm.

In order to facilitate an easy transition between the boarding area and the restroom area, including for wheelchair users, if there is an elevation of the boarding area, it is regarded as advantageous for the floor in the seating area to be raised to an intermediate height which lies between the height of the restroom area and that of the raised boarding area.

The seating area preferably forms a storage area for wheelchairs, either entirely or sectionally.

For a simple, risk-free transition between the restroom area and the seating area and also between the seating area and the boarding area, it is regarded as advantageous for a ramp to be arranged between the restroom area and the raised seating area and also between the raised seating area and the raised boarding area for height adjustment in each case.

The two ramps preferably each have the same ramp incline and/or the same ramp height. The ramp height of the two ramps is preferably between 5 cm and 15 cm.

In order to make subsequent retrofitting of the rail vehicle simpler in respect of the floor height, it is regarded as advantageous for the floor in the seating area and the floor in the boarding area to be raised by means of detachably secured support members.

In order to ensure that the floor height in the restroom area does not have to be changed if retrofitting of the rail vehicle is necessary or advisable due to a change in platform height, it is regarded as advantageous for the floor height in the restroom area to be between 50 cm and 60 cm above the underside of the wheels of the rail vehicle or above the upper edge of the track and therefore to be level with platforms, the nominal platform height whereof is 55 cm above the upper edge of the track.

With regard to the use of the rail vehicle in the case of platforms with a nominal platform height of 76 cm, it is regarded as advantageous for the floor in the boarding area to be raised to a height of between 71 cm and 81 cm above the upper edge of the track or above the underside of the wheels on the rail vehicle and therefore level with platforms, the nominal platform height whereof is 76 cm above the upper edge of the track.

If there is an elevation in the boarding area, it is regarded as advantageous in relation to the height of the floor in the seating area for the floor to be raised to a height of between 65 cm and 75 cm above the upper edge of the track or above the underside of the wheels of the rail vehicle; a floor height of this kind in the seating area facilitates a barrier-free transition from the seating area into the boarding area and also from the seating area into the restroom area and vice versa. It is particularly preferable for the floor in the sitting area to be raised to a height of 70 cm above the upper edge of the track or above the underside of the wheels on the rail vehicle.

When the rail vehicle is used with platforms with a nominal height of 55 cm, the boarding area and the seating area are preferably left without elevation. In this case, it is regarded as advantageous for the rail vehicle floor in the restroom area, in the seating area and in the boarding area to exhibit the same height throughout without elevation.

The rail vehicle floor preferably exhibits in the restroom area, the seating area and in the boarding area a floor height without elevation in each case which is level with a platform with a low platform height. A platform with a low platform height should be understood to mean in this case a platform height which corresponds to the lowest platform height of the platforms that will probably be used over the service life of the rail vehicle. In the case of platforms, such as those used in countries within the European Union, these are platforms with a nominal platform height of 55 cm (+/−5 cm). Accordingly, it is regarded as advantageous for the rail vehicle floor in the restroom area, in the seating area and in the boarding area to exhibit a floor height without elevation of between 50 cm and 60 cm above the upper edge of the track or above the underside of the wheels of the rail vehicle in each case and to be level with platforms, the nominal height whereof above the upper edge of the track is 55 cm.

The invention further relates to a method of assembling a rail vehicle floor in a rail vehicle with at least one boarding area for passengers for boarding from and/or disembarking onto a platform, at least one restroom area and at least one seating area.

According to the invention, it is provided in relation to a method of this kind that the floor in the seating area and the floor in the boarding area will be raised to a higher floor height than the floor height in the restroom area.

In relation to the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the above comments in connection with the rail vehicle according to the invention, as the advantages of the rail vehicle according to the invention substantially correspond to those of the method according to the invention.

The invention is explained in greater detail below with the help of exemplary embodiments; the figures show by way of example:

FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a rail vehicle according to the invention as a sectional side view in which a raised seating area and a raised boarding area can be identified,

FIG. 2 the rail vehicle according to FIG. 1 as a view from above,

FIG. 3 the rail vehicle according to FIG. 1, once the elevation in the seating area and in the boarding area has been removed and the rail vehicle floor in the restroom area, in the seating area and in the boarding area is the same height throughout and

FIG. 4 the rail vehicle without elevation according to FIG. 3 as a view from above.

In order to offer an overview, the same reference numbers are always used in the figures for identical or comparable components.

FIG. 1 shows a section through a rail vehicle 10 that can be modified or retrofitted in relation to the floor height as a sectional side view. A restroom area 20 can be seen with a toilet 30 located therein, a sitting area 40 with a storage area 50 and also a boarding area 60 with a door 70. The upper edge of the shell construction of the rail vehicle 10 in the floor area is identified by the reference number 11; the floor covering lies directly on the upper edge of the shell construction or is separated by elevation.

The boarding area 60 allows passengers to board the rail vehicle 10; it is of course also possible for the boarding area 60 to be used for disembarking, so that the boarding area 60 could also be referred to as the disembarking area or else as the boarding and/or disembarking area. This area is referred to in short below as the boarding area.

Wheelchairs can be stored in the storage area 50 in the seating area 40, only one wheelchair being depicted by way of example and identified using the reference number 80.

The rail vehicle 10 exhibits a plurality of wheels 100 which are mounted on a track 110 guiding the rail vehicle 10 in a longitudinal direction. The wheel underside 101 of the wheels 100 lies directly on the upper track edge 111 of the track 110, so that both the wheel underside 101 and also the upper track edge 111 exhibit the same spatial height.

FIG. 1 shows that the floor heights differ from one another in three areas 20, 40 and 60. The floor height Ht in the restroom area 20 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 is around 55 cm±5 cm, so in a range of between 50 cm and 60 cm, above the wheel underside 101 of the wheels 100 on the rail vehicle 10 and therefore 55 cm±5 cm above the upper track edge 111 of the track 110. The restroom area 20 is therefore level with platforms, the nominal platform height whereof above the upper track edge 111 is 55 cm.

The floor in the seating area 40 is higher than the floor in the restroom area 20, because it has been raised by means of preferably detachably fixed support members to a greater height. Only three of the support members are shown in FIG. 1 by way of example and are identified there by the reference number 130. The floor height Hs in the seating area 40 is preferably 70 cm±5 cm, so between 65 cm and 75 cm, above the upper track edge 111 or else above the wheel underside 101 of the wheels 100. In order to facilitate a transition from the seating area 40 into the restroom area 20 and, conversely, from the restroom area 20 into the seating area 40, for wheelchairs 80 located in the seating area 40 or to make this easier, a ramp 200 is attached between the seating area 40 and the restroom area 20 which connects the restroom area 20 to the seating area 40. The ramp 200 is used to bridge the height difference between the floor height Ht in the restroom area 20 and the floor height Hs in the seating area 40 for wheelchairs. The height of the ramp 200 is preferably 10 cm±5 cm. The ramp incline is preferably between 5° and 20°.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the floor height He in the boarding area 60 is greater than the floor heights Hs and Ht in the seating area 40 and in the restroom area 20. The floor height He in the boarding area 60 is raised by means of preferably detachably fixed support members to a height of 76 cm±5 cm, in other words to a height of between 71 cm and 81 cm, above the upper track edge 111 or else above the wheel underside 101. In order to offer an overview, only three of the support members are depicted in FIG. 1 and identified using the reference number 131.

Due to the elevation by means of the support members 131, the floor in the boarding area 60 is level with platforms, the nominal height whereof is 76 cm above the upper track edge 111.

Between the boarding area 60 and the seating area 40 is located a ramp 210 for height adjustment, which ramp connects the boarding area 60 and the seating area 40 and is suitable for wheelchairs. In order to facilitate easy movement from the boarding area 60 into the seating area 40 and vice versa, the height of the ramp 210 is preferably 10 cm±5 cm. The ramp incline is preferably between 5° and 20°.

In addition to the restroom area 20, the seating area 40 and the boarding area 60 shown in FIG. 1, the rail vehicle 10 may exhibit further restroom areas, further seating areas and also further boarding areas. These further restroom areas, further seating areas and further boarding areas may exhibit floor heights that correspond to those of the restroom area 20, the seating area 40 or the boarding area 60 according to FIG. 1; alternatively, it is possible for individual or all further areas to exhibit different floor heights to the corresponding areas depicted in FIG. 1. Hence, it is possible, for example, for one or a plurality of further seating areas to be provided in the rail vehicle 10 in addition to the seating area 40 shown in FIG. 1, the floor height of which seating areas corresponds to that of the restroom area 20, in order to allow a ramp-free transition from the seating area into the restroom area 20. It is also possible for one or a plurality of further seating areas to be provided, the floor height whereof corresponds to that of the boarding area 60 according to FIG. 1, in order to create a ramp-free transition between the seating area and the boarding area 60.

Further restroom areas can also be provided, the floor height of which matches the floor height He in the boarding area 60 according to FIG. 1 or the floor height Hs in the seating area 40 according to FIG. 1, so that ramp-free transitions between the boarding and restroom area or between the seating and restroom area are created.

FIG. 2 shows the rail vehicle 10 according to FIG. 1 as a view from above. The restroom area 20 with the toilet 30, the seating area 40 with two wheelchairs 80 located in the storage area 50 and also the boarding area 60 can be identified. The two ramps 200 and 210 can also be identified, which ramps can be crossed by the wheelchairs 80 and guarantee a wheelchair-accessible transition from the boarding area 60 into the seating area 40 and also a wheelchair-accessible transition from the seating area 40 into the restroom area 20.

FIG. 3 shows the convertible or retrofittable rail vehicle 10 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 following the conversion, wherein the support members 130 and 131 according to FIG. 1 and also the floor plates located thereon have been removed and a floor height has been created in the seating area 40 and also in the boarding area 60 which matches the floor height Ht in the restroom area 20. The restroom area 20, the seating area 40 and the boarding area 60 therefore exhibit the same height Ht due to the lack of elevation. The floor height Ht in the three areas 20, 40 and 60 is chosen such that it is level with a platform with a low platform height, in other words, for example, a platform with a nominal platform height of 55 cm.

FIG. 3 illustrates a substantial advantage of the convertible rail vehicle according to FIGS. 1 to 3 which is based on the possible elevation of the seating area 40 and of the boarding area 60.

If the rail vehicle 10 is to be used on routes where the nominal platform height is 76 cm, the rail vehicle 10 is raised by means of the support members 130 and 131 shown in FIG. 1 in such a manner that the boarding area 60 exhibits the height He shown in FIG. 1 and the seating area 40 the floor height Hs shown in FIG. 1. With an elevation of this kind, the boarding area 60 is level with the nominal platform height of 76 cm and allows simple and risk-free boarding and disembarkation for passengers. Due to the intermediate level in the seating area 40 and due to the two ramps 200 and 210, it is also easily possible for wheelchair users to reach both the seating area 40 and also the restroom area 20.

On the other hand, if the rail vehicle 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 should be used on a route in which the nominal platform height above the upper edge of the track is 55 cm, the elevation shown in FIG. 1 in the seating area 40 and in the boarding area 60 is dispensed with or any existing elevation is simply removed, so that an identical floor height is created throughout in the restroom area 20, in the seating area 40 and also in the boarding area 60, as shown in FIG. 3. With this floor height, level boarding in the boarding area 60 is possible; at the same time, ramp-free accessibility exists between the boarding area 60 and the seating area 40 and also the restroom area 20.

FIG. 4 shows the rail vehicle 10 according to FIG. 3 without elevation as a view from above. It can be seen that because there is no elevation, no ramps 200 or 210 are required either, as is shown in FIG. 2. The rail vehicle floor is always the same height throughout in the restroom area 20, in the seating area 40 and in the boarding area 60.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail by preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be inferred by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.