Back to results
US 4,424,751 AGranted
Entry stairs for vehicles
AssigneeSIG Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft
InventorErnst Blochlinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeSIG Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft
InventorErnst Blochlinger
Estimating the term…
The lifting step of the entry stair for rail vehicles is guided on both sides by two parallel guide brackets and while staying parallel to an extendable and retractable vehicle floor, forms a shallow arc from one end position to the other. In its upper end position it is level with the vehicle floor. The vehicle door closes along its outer edge with an elastic door seal. The folding step turns around the turning axis. In the "up" position the folding step stands about vertically and, together with the covering plate attached to the lifting step, forms a flush covering apron completing the side wall of the vehicle. The angle of incline for the stairs, in general, might be about 40.degree.. This stair system does not form any niches when in the "under way" position wherein ice and snow could accumulate. Nor does this stairway require additional covering parts such as movable covering aprons, etc.
Entry stairs for rail vehicles that are usable with rail platforms of varying height, said entry stairs including a first step and a second step below said first step, said first step when in an upper position being level with the floor of the vehicle and at that time said second step forming a part of the vertical side wall of the vehicle, said first step being mounted for movement from the upper position to a lower position for operation with relatively low rail platforms, said first step in moving between said upper and lower positions remaining generally horizontal, said second step being foldable between a generally vertical up position and a generally horizontal down position, a parallelogram-shaped pair of hinged guide brackets connected to said first step and guiding movement thereof so that said first step acts as a lifting step which executes essentially vertical motion only, a pivot means about which said second step moves between said up and down positions, said pivot means being firmly mounted on the vehicle and disposed at the lower end of the second step when it is in its said up position at which time said second step lies roughly in the plane of a side wall of a vehicle having said entry stairs.
Entry stairs according to claim 9 in which with the first step in said upper position the first knee-lever means is situated past its dead center point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.