PLATFORM DOOR, SYSTEM COMPRISING THE PLATFORM DOOR AND METHOD OF ACTUATING THE PLATFORM DOOR

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The platform door of the present invention is of the type which enables the platform to be separated from the track area in which trains transit and park, and form passageways to access the train doors of a parked train.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a railway system consisting of a set of train stations and a set of trains transiting between the stations, it is important that the boarding and alighting of passengers from trains parking at each station is carried out in a very agile manner in order to avoid accumulating delays that would affect the overall operation of the train service. Therefore, it is crucial that after the arrival of a train at a platform, passengers are already close to the track area and, after the train has stopped and the train doors have been quickly opened, the interchange between passengers alighting and boarding can be carried out.

In order for the passengers to be located on the platform close to the parking area of the train, platform doors are typically used, which allow the passengers to be located safely very near the area where the train doors will be situated, without the danger of falling into the track area, since these platform doors are provided with closed doors that only open when a train is parked at the platform.

Normally, platform doors are provided by way of a barrier with a set of doors, normally sliding doors, which once a train is parked, allow the opening thereof forming passageways in correspondence with the train doors, thus allowing the passengers to exit and enter the train. For example, document EP1964747 describes one of these platform doors.

However, this type of platform door exhibits the drawback that the position of the doors is fixed, so that they can only be used in stations in which trains with doors of the same composition and configuration transit, or with coinciding door arrangements. This entails that the use thereof is very difficult in stations in which trains with different composition and configuration stop. This drawback can even entail that the train fleet cannot be renewed if the new trains have a different door arrangement without replacing the doors, a progressive renewal of trains not being possible as the same train doors cannot be used in old and new trains.

In addition, it must be taken into account that trains exhibit a tolerance regarding the breaking distance, so that it cannot be unequivocally established where the train doors will be arranged after the train stops. Therefore, in order to allow a passageway from the train doors regardless of the stopping position of the train, the platform doors must be oversized taking into account this tolerance. The oversizing of the doors implies that these will be of greater size, greater weight and therefore, it means greater opening and closing times as the doors have to travel a greater distance between the opening and the closing position thereof, in addition to being more difficult to control. This drawback can be solved using faster means for closing and opening the doors. However, this makes the doors even more difficult to control, as they will have to reach high speeds especially when they are oversized.

However, even if the doors are oversized, this does not prevent the train doors from not being correctly aligned with the platform doors due to braking tolerances, meaning that passengers will not be able to exit or enter the train and the train will have to be moved, with the consequent loss of time, which may affect the overall service of the railway system.

To solve this problem, platform doors such as those described in document WO201273658 are known, wherein the platform door is made up of a plurality of mobile units, wherein each unit is provided with expandable doors, such that the units can be placed in a target position prior to the arrival of a train to the platform according to the door distribution of the next train arriving to the platform, which must be known. Even then, due to the braking tolerances of the train, a readjustment of the position of the mobile units will always be required depending on the final stop position of the train that oftentimes will prevent the train doors from opening immediately.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to disclose a platform door that allows the use thereof with different train models, with different door arrangement and sizes, and that further achieves optimal opening and closing times after the train stops regardless of the breaking position of the train.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The platform door for accessing train doors from a platform of the present invention is of the type comprising a plurality of sliding mobile panels that can slide horizontally along the platform, i.e., laterally, in an independent manner by means of respective traction means.

Essentially, the platform door is characterised in that each mobile panel has a fixed panel length and is adapted to slide laterally, for example on one or more rails, and be arranged adjacent to other mobile panels adopting a closing position leaving no passageway between mobile panels, i.e., the adjacent panels touching each other or leaving a negligible space between them, and each mobile panel being further adapted to slide laterally and at least partially overlap with one of the adjacent mobile panels thereof, adopting an opening position defining passageways between mobile panels for accessing train doors, such that the mobile panels of the platform door can adopt different positions and thus leave different passageways between mobile panels, even with different passageway sizes to thus adapt to the arrangements of the doors of a train that is parked in the platform, in the opening position, and allow users to board and alight comfortably and easily, and the mobile panels being able to adopt a position in which the mobile panels do not allow a passageway, in the closing position, to prevent the users from accessing the tracks when there is no train parked at the platform. In this way, the interoperability of trains with different composition and configuration is facilitated, since the platform doors can be adapted to the train door configuration of each type of train, configuration that can vary between train companies or even between train models of the same company or that will vary depending on the type of cars forming each train.

In a variant embodiment, from the closing position the mobile panels are adapted to slide laterally and separate from any of their adjacent mobile panels, in one or other side, thus allowing to leave passages between any pair of adjacent mobile panels from the closed position.

In a variant embodiment, from the closing position, the mobile panels are adapted to at least partially and telescopically overlap with one of the adjacent mobile panels thereof, such that smaller size ones can be introduced inside larger size ones, generally in the shape of an arch defining a hollow, by way of a tunnel, in which the adjacent mobile panel with smaller size can at least be partially housed. It is also foreseen that all the mobile panels have an arch shape, thus allowing each end of the arch to rest on a rail and achieving at least two support points and therefore better stability and resistance to lateral forces.

In a variant embodiment, from the closing position, each mobile panel is adapted to telescopically and completely overlap with one of the adjacent mobile panels thereof, such that a smaller size panel can be completely concealed inside a larger size panel.

In a variant embodiment, from the closing position, each mobile panel is adapted to exceed, i.e., pass through one of the adjacent panels thereof, two adjacent mobile panels being able to entirely cross each other, thus enabling two adjacent mobile panels to exchange position.

In a variant embodiment, the panel length of each mobile panel is equal, such that in the closing position, all the mobile panels exhibit a homogeneous display of the platform door, further enabling, when the mobile panels are telescopic, a mobile panel to be able to be inserted and perfectly adjusted inside another mobile panel, during the opening position or during the transitions between the closing position and the opening position.

In a variant embodiment, in the closing position, at least one mobile panel of each pair of adjacent mobile panels is provided with a hollow, which defines a tunnel that passes through the inside of the mobile panel, for the other mobile panel to pass therethrough.

In a variant embodiment, in the closed position, at least one mobile panel of each pair of adjacent mobile panels has a general arch shape, determining two support points on the ground and achieving greater resistance to lateral forces, such as the force that can be exerted by people waiting for the train on the platform.

In a variant embodiment, in the closing position, adjacent mobile panels have a first panel width and a second panel width in an alternate manner, such that the mobile panels are telescopic two by two.

In a variant embodiment, the platform door comprises at least one rail on which mobile panels of the platform door slide and are mounted, the traction means being adapted to move the mobile panels mounted on the rail in an independent manner. Naturally, the one or more rails may be mounted on the platform floor, so that the mobile panels will be held by the platform floor, or with the platform ceiling, so that the mobile panels will be held by the platform ceiling, i.e., the mobile panels will be hanging from the platform ceiling. It is also intended that the rails are distributed between the platform floor and the ceiling, such that some mobile panels are held on the floor and others will be held in the platform ceiling. In this way, each mobile panel will be able to move independently from the rest of mobile panels and, in turn, between the closing position and the opening position, thus adopting the configurations required to adapt to the configuration of the train doors of a train that is parked at the platform. These traction means can be wheels actuated by motors that move the mobile panels which in turn can be directed as appropriate, preferably in a straight line since they are mounted on straight rails. Naturally, it is intended that there are different sets of rails if a mobile panel must pass through another adjacent mobile panel, or exceed another mobile panel in a parallel plane. Other traction means are envisaged such as electromagnetic movement means.

In a variant embodiment, the platform door comprises pairs of rails, each mobile panel being mounted on a pair of rails and thus allowing greater stability and resistance to lateral forces.

In a variant embodiment, each mobile panel comprises return means adapted for actuating the traction means of each mobile panel to return to the closing position from the opening position. These return means can memorise the original position or the movement performed by each mobile panel between the closing position and the opening position to undo this movement by actuating the traction means in a timely manner, the mobile panels thus quickly returning to the closing position.

A system is also disclosed comprising a platform door installed on a platform, and a train with one or more train doors parked at the platform, the system being provided with detection means for detecting the position of the train doors of the train, and control means adapted for defining the one or more mobile panels of the platform door that are arranged in front of each train door and actuate these mobile panels to open respective passageways in front of each train door to adopt the opening position.

In a variant embodiment, the panel length of each mobile panel is equal to or greater than the train door length of each train door, i.e., the width or free passageway thereof, such that only one or two panels must be moved per train door for opening the platform door.

In one variant embodiment, the detection means comprise a detector of the position of the head of the train parked by the platform, such that misalignments in the stopping area of the train due to tolerances can be quickly reported, for a fast preparation of the mobile panels.

In a variant embodiment, the distance between train doors is greater than the panel length, such that several mobile panels can be arranged between train doors, the mobile panels being able to have a smaller size, facilitating the movement and modularity thereof.

A method of actuating the platform door of the system described is also disclosed, from a closing position, in which there are no passageways between the mobile panels, comprising, upon the arrival of a train provided with train doors, the steps of detecting the one or more mobile panels that are arranged in front of each train door once the train is parked on the platform; and laterally slide the one or more mobile panels detected, opening respective access passageways before each train door, adopting an opening position. In an embodiment of interest, the method further comprises after adopting the opening position, the step of returning each panel that has been laterally moved until it adopts the previous closing position of the platform door again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, said specification is accompanied by a set of drawings, which by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show top views of platform doors according to the present invention in the closing position;

FIG. 4a shows the platform door of FIG. 1 in an opening position;

FIG. 4b shows a cross-sectional view of the platform door of FIG. 4a;

FIGS. 5a to 5d show lateral movements for a type of mobile panels of a platform door according to the present invention;

FIGS. 6a to 6b show lateral movements for another type of mobile panels of a platform door according to the present invention;

FIGS. 7a to 7c show a first system comprising a train and a platform door in the closing position and in the opening position;

FIGS. 8a to 8c show a second system comprising a train and a platform door in the closing position and in the opening position;

FIGS. 9a and 9b show a third system comprising another train and the platform door in the closing position and the opening position;

FIGS. 10a and 10b show a fourth system comprising another train and the platform door in the closing position and the opening position; and

FIGS. 11a and 11b show a curved platform door according to the present invention in the closing position and the opening position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show platform doors 1 for accessing the train door 2 from a platform 3, the platform door comprising a plurality of sliding mobile panels 5 that can slide laterally in an independent manner, for example on one or more rails, by means of respective traction means 6. The figures show that each mobile panel 5 is rigid and has a fixed panel length l1, preferably the panel length l1 of each panel 5 is equal, and is arranged adjacent to other mobile panels 5 adopting a closing position A leaving no passageway between mobile panels 5, and each mobile panel 5 being further adapted to slide laterally and at least partially overlap with one of the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof, thus being able to adopt an opening position B and defining passageways 7 between mobile panels 5 for accessing the train doors 4 parked at the platform 3. Also, from the closing position A, the mobile panels 5 are adapted to slide laterally and separate from any one of its adjacent mobile panels 5. Thus, from the closed position A, each mobile panel can slide and move independently of the other mobile panels 5, even at different speeds and in different directions, and being able to determine different strokes, and without the movement of a mobile panel 5 from the closed position A causing movement of another mobile panel.

The platform door 1 represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed by telescopic mobile panels 5, adapted to at least partially and telescopically overlap with one of the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof, such that the mobile panels 5 can slide and form a single body with at least the adjacent mobile panel 5, one penetrating inside the other.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment with two levels, i.e., two panel widths w1, w2, such that the mobile panels 5 can telescopically overlap and form a single body every two mobile panels 5, while FIG. 2 shows an embodiment with three levels, i.e., three panel widths, such that the mobile panels 5 can slide and form a single body in groups of three. Naturally, other platform doors 1 with several telescopic levels can be envisaged, such that the mobile panels 5 can be joined together and be combined with the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof.

It is also intended that the mobile panels 5 are arranged in several rows 14, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 for example, wherein the mobile panels 5 are arranged in two rows 14, and that they can be arranged adjacent to other mobile panels 5 of the other row 14, adopting a closing position A leaving no passageway between mobile panels 5. As can be seen, in the closing position A the mobile panels 5 are arranged one after the other in a continuous manner, for example in alternating rows 14 leaving no passageway between mobile panels 5. In addition, each sliding mobile panel 5 is adapted to slide laterally and at least partially overlap with one of the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof, in this case, the adjacent panel in the other row 14, thus being able to adopt an opening position B and defining passageways 7 between mobile panels 5 for accessing the train doors 4 parked at the platform 3. Naturally, although not illustrated by these figures, it is intended that the mobile panels 5 are even able to exceed the adjacent mobile panel 5 thereof to adopt the closing position A or opening position B as appropriate, thus conferring great flexibility in the arrangement of mobile panels 5. The flexibility in the arrangement of mobile panels 5 being a feature that is shared by all the displayed embodiments of platform door 1 is highlighted. Although this FIG. 3 displays all the mobile panels 5 having a same panel length l1, it is also intended that the panels are able to have different panel lengths l1 as appropriate, for example, with a greater panel length l1 in the end mobile panels 5 and a smaller panel length l1 in the central mobile panels 5, thus facilitating the quick movement of the central mobile panels. In this case, the mobile panel 5 height can be the same.

In the telescopic mobile panels 5 displayed in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, each mobile panel 5 is adapted to telescopically and completely overlap with one of the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof from the closing position A. From the closing position A, it is also intended that each mobile panel 5 is adapted not only to overlap with one of the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof, but even so that a mobile panel 5 exceeds one of the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof, different combinations being thus possible between mobile panels 5 and defining passageways 7 as appropriate, such that when a train 4 parks at a platform 3 the passageways 7 of the train door 1 coincide with the train doors 2, thus allowing passengers to access and exit the train 4.

FIG. 4a shows the platform door 1 previously displayed in FIG. 1 but in an opening position B wherein passageways 7 are defined between mobile panels 5, for example for accessing the doors of the train 4 parked at the platform 3 as will be described later. Some mobile panels 5 can be seen partially overlapped with the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof, while some mobile panels 5 are completely overlapped with the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof, the mobile panels 5 with the same panel width w1, w2, being locked. In this way, a great versatility is achieved for forming passageways 7 in the platform door 1 and being able to adapt to different arrangements of train doors 2.

FIG. 4b displays a C-C cross-sectional view of FIG. 4a. This figure shows that, in the closing position A, at least one mobile panel 5 of each pair of adjacent mobile panels 5, is provided with a hollow 13 for the other mobile panel 5 to pass therethrough, by way of a tunnel that traverses the mobile panel 5, so that one mobile panel 5 can pass through the other one. An embodiment is displayed for telescopic mobile panels 5 with two levels. For telescopic mobile panels 5 with three levels, two mobile panels 5 with an eye 13 would be provided, the smaller panel being able to pass through the inside of the eye 13 of the greater one, and a mobile panel 5 that could have no hollow 13 to pass through the eye of the smaller mobile panel 5 with hollow 13. Thus, in the closed position A, at least one mobile panel 5 of each pair of adjacent mobile panels 5 has a general arch shape, and all the mobile panels may even have a general arch shape, which confers greater stability and resistance to lateral forces, such as the force that can be exerted by people waiting for train 4 on platform 3.

FIG. 4b shows that the mobile panels 5 of the platform door 1 have a first panel width w1 and a second panel width w2, in an alternate manner and such that a mobile panel 5 can pass through the hollow 13 of another mobile panel 5. The height of each mobile panel 5 will also be that which is suitable to be able to carry out the telescopic effect, heights will be typically alternated, the mobile panel 5 with the lesser height being that which must pass through the hollow 13 of another mobile panel 5.

In addition, the mobile panels 5 are mounted on a set of rails 12, which can be one or more, and the mobile panels 5 are in turn provided with traction means 6 adapted to move the mobile panels 5 mounted on the rail 12 or rails 12 in an independent manner, these traction means 6 can be for example, drive wheels. Naturally, other traction means 6 that enable the lateral movement of the mobile panels 5 along the platform 3 are also intended.

FIGS. 5a to 5d display different configurations that can be adopted by the sliding mobile panels 5 of a platform door 1, specifically FIG. 5a displays a position wherein the mobile panels 5 are arranged adjacent leaving no space between them; FIG. 5b displays the movement of one of the mobile panels 5, a smaller panel, until it is partially inserted inside another mobile panel 5, a greater panel, through the hollow 13 of this greater panel, leaving a passageway 7 between mobile panels 5. FIG. 5c illustrates the way the smaller mobile panel 5 can completely traverse the greater mobile panel 5, moving in one direction while the greater panel moves in the opposite direction, said greater and smaller panels being exchanged relative to the position previously shown in FIG. 5c. Since each mobile panel 5 can move in an independent manner, these can even move away from each other, enabling respective passageways 7 in the way illustrated in FIG. 5d.

FIGS. 6a and 6b display the sliding mobile panels 5 of another platform door 1 wherein the mobile panels 5 are rigid, can slide laterally and can move in two rows 14, in two parallel planes, such that they can be overlapped with at least the adjacent mobile panels 5 thereof. FIG. 6a displays the mobile panels 5 in a closing position A of the platform door 1, wherein there is no passageway 7 between mobile panels 5, the mobile panels 5 being arranged in an alternate manner in each row 14, and FIG. 6b shows the mobile panels 5 in an opening position B of the platform door 1 wherein there is passageway 7 between the mobile panels 5 and the mobile panels 5 are at least overlapped or even exceeding the adjacent mobile panel 5 thereof.

It is further noted that the platform doors 1 presented in FIGS. 5a to 6b present pairs of rails 12, each movable panel 5 being mounted on a pair of rails 12, such that, for example, the movable panels having a general arch shape can support each of their ends on a rail 12 different from a pair of rails 12, thus conferring more stability and resistance to lateral forces.

FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c display a system 100 comprising a platform door 1, installed on a platform 3, and a train 4 with one or more train doors 2, in this case three train doors 2, the train 4 being parked at the platform 3. FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate the system 100 with the platform door 1 in the closing position A. The system 100 is provided with detection means 9 for detecting the position of the train doors 2, and control means 10 adapted to define the one or more sliding mobile panels 5 of the platform door 1 arranged in front of each train door 2 and actuate these mobile panels 5 to move them and open respective passageways 7 in front of each train door 2 to adopt the opening position B shown in FIG. 7c. Said detection means 9 can obtain information from the train 4 for example from the railway signalling system and can incorporate a transponder adapted to directly receive information from the train, as well as detecting the stopping point thereof in the platform 3. It is intended that the detection means 9 comprise a detector of the position of the head 11 of the train 4 parked by the platform 3, such that misalignments in the stopping area of the train due to tolerances can be quickly reported, for a fast preparation of the mobile panels 5. Thus, the detection means 9 can obtain information from the train 4, such as the length and door configuration thereof, and transfer this information to the control means 10 that will define the mobile panels 5 that must be moved to adopt the opening position B. Naturally, it is also intended that the detection means 9 are able to be arranged along the platform 3, or in the platform door 1, for example in the mobile panels 5, and are adapted to detect passive signals placed in the train 4 that make it possible to define the position of the train doors 2 when the train parks at the platform 3 so that the control means 10 actuate the mobile panels 5. It is also intended that the detection means 9 can be adapted to communicate with active devices arranged in the train 4 such that communication is established between the train 4 and the platform 3 to obtain the door configuration of the train. It is also intended that the detection means 9 are also envisaged to be able to be arranged away from the platform 3 and be provided, for example, with a camera directed towards the platform 3, such that the door configuration of the train 4 and the position of the mobile panels 5 can be obtained by processing the images captured to thus define the mobile panels 5 that must be moved for opening the platform door. It is intended that the detection means 9 and the control means 10 are able to be integrated in the same device. It is also intended that each mobile panel 5 has dedicated detection means 9 and control means 10 which, for example, detect that upon a train 4 parking at the platform 3, one of the train doors 2 is arranged in front of the mobile panel 5, the mobile panel 5 thus being moved in an autonomous manner between the closing position A, in which it is arranged in front of the train door 2 and the opening position B in which it is away from the train door 2.

After moving the defined mobile panels 5, represented by respective arrows in dashed lines, and upon adopting an opening position B shown in FIG. 7c, the passengers can board and alight from the train 4. Preferably, the panel lengths l1 of each mobile panel 5 will be equal to or greater than the train door length l2 of each train door 2 to minimise the number of mobile panels 5 to be moved between the closing position A and the opening position B. However, since oftentimes the train door lengths l2 or the arrangement thereof will not be known beforehand, the required movements of the mobile panels 5 to be able to access the train 4 from the platform 3 will have to be carried out. It is also desirable that the distance between train doors l3 is greater than the panel length l1 to thus minimise the movements of the mobile panels 5. However, as explained before, if the type of train 4 and the arrangement of train doors 2 or the distance between train doors l3 is not known, the required movements of the mobile panels 5 to open passageways 7 and be able to access the train 4 from the platform 3 will have to be carried out.

Each mobile panel 5 of the platform door 1 is intended to further comprise return means adapted to actuate the traction means 6 of each mobile panel 5 to return the mobile panels 5 to the closing position A, such that the passageways 7 that could be between mobile panels 5 are closed and the platform door 1 can get ready to receive another train 4. The return means can be a computer programmed to undo the path that has been travelled by each mobile panel 5 between the closing position A and the opening position B, or even simply a rotary encoder that counts the turns of the wheels of each mobile panel 5 during the movement over the rails 12 and actuates the traction means 6 so that the wheels turn the same number of times but in the reverse direction to return the mobile panel 5 to the previous closing position A. It is intended that these return means are also able to be centralised and to allow for instructions to be sent to each one of the mobile panels 5 to return them to the closing position A.

Thus, upon the arrival of a train 4 as illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b in which the platform door 1 is in a closing position A, with no passageway 7 between the mobile panels 5, and wherein the train 4 is provided with train doors 2, a method of actuating for opening the platform door will be performed comprising the steps of detecting the one or more mobile panels 5 that are arranged in front of each train door 2 once the train 4 is parked by the platform 3; and laterally sliding or moving the one or more mobile panels 5 detected opening respective access passageways 7 in front of each train door 2, as FIG. 6b illustrates by means of arrows, adopting the opening position B displayed in FIG. 7c.

Naturally, after adopting the opening position B, and preferably before the train 4 leaves the platform 3, for example, once the train doors 2 are closed, or while the train doors 2 are being closed, the platform door 1 will carry out the step of returning each mobile panel 5 that has been laterally moved until it adopts the previous closing position A of the platform door 1 again, such that the passageways 7 that could be between the platform 3 and the train 4 are closed, thus preventing access to the tracks when there is no train 4 parked by the platform.

The platform door 1 of the present invention allows for adaptations to a great variety of train door 2 arrangements, without requiring the adaptation or pre-programming to be made in advance, moving the mobile panels 5 thereof as appropriate. Therefore, if the train 4 arriving to the platform 3 has another number and arrangement of train doors 2, such as the train 4 displayed in FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c, the train 4 displayed in FIGS. 9a and 9b or the train 4 displayed in FIGS. 10a y 10b, the detection means 9 for detecting the position of the train doors 2 will allow actuating and moving the required mobile panels 5 to open respective passageways 7 in front of each train door 2 to adopt the opening position B and thus, to be able to access the train doors 2 from the platform, and subsequently return the mobile panels 5 to the initial position thereof closing the passageways 7 and returning to the closing position A again pending the arrival of a new train 4.

Although the mobile panels 5 of the platform door 1 are sliding and move in a straight lateral line in the previous embodiments, according to the shape of each platform 3, it is intended that the platform door 1 can have other shapes. For example, FIGS. 11a and 11b display another embodiment of a platform door 1 of the present invention arranged in a curve, FIG. 10a illustrating the closing position A and FIG. 11b illustrating the opening position B.