Passsenger car with emergency exit
AssigneeFutrex, Inc.
InventorLawrence K. Edwards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elevated passenger car having an emergency exit feature. The passenger car is of the type supported such that there are substantially no obstructions between the underside of the car and the ground below it. The car includes a body having a passenger compartment and an opening through the body generally at one end thereof defining an exit from the passenger compartment to outside the body. An end section is pivotally mounted on the body at the one end. Fluid pressure actuated cylinders swing the end section between a closed position in which the end section closes the exit and an open position in which said exit is opened to the outside. An elevator supported by the end section in its open position lowers passengers from the elevated passenger car.
Claims15
An elevated passenger car adapted for emergency exit therefrom, the car being of the type adapted to be supported in its elevated position such that there are substantially no obstructions between at least a portion of the underside of the car and the ground below, the car comprising
- a body having a passenger compartment therein,
- an opening through the body generally at one end thereof defining an exit from the passenger compartment to outside the body,
- a debarking platform at said one of the body,
- an end section pivotally mounted on the body at said one end,
- means for swinging the end section between a closed position in which the end section closes said exit and an open position in which said exit is opened to the outside, said means for swinging the end section comprising at least one strut pivotally mounted at one end on the body and pivotally attached to the end section at an opposite end thereof, the strut being extensible and retractable for motion between a retracted position in which the end section is in said closed position and an extended position in which the end section is in said open position,
- an elevator supported by the end section for lowering passengers from the elevated car to below the elevated car, the elevator including which means mounted on the underside of the end section for lowering passengers therefrom and an escape pod adapted to be suspended from said winch means, said winch means swinging conjointly with said end section to a position above the debarking platform in which there is sufficient clearance to allow passengers to walk thereunder, said winch means comprising a frame pivotally attached to the underside of the end section at a first side of the frame for pivoting about a first axis, means mounted on the frame generally at a second side generally opposite said first side of the frame for holding at least two lengths of cable at laterally spaced apart locations, the cables being adapted to be attached at one end to the escape pod at locations spaced laterally of one another for suspending it generally below said cable holding means and preventing the pod from rotating about its vertical axis, said cable holding means being rotatable about a second axis for raising and lowering the pod, and
- means for moving the elevator between a loading position in which a passenger may board the escape pod from the debarking platform and a descent position in which the pod is clear of the car body for descent to below the elevated car.
An elevated passenger car adapted for emergency exit therefrom, the car being of the type adapted to be supported in its elevated position such that there are substantially no obstructions between at least a portion of the underside of the car and the ground below, the car comprising:
- a body having a passenger compartment therein;
- an opening through the body generally at one end thereof defining an exit from the passenger compartment to outside the body;
- an end section pivotally mounted on the body at said one end;
- means for swinging the end section between a closed position in which the end section closes said exit and an open position in which said exit is opened to the outside, said means for swinging the end section comprising at least one strut pivotally mounted at one end on the body and pivotally attached to the end section at an opposite end thereof, the strut being extensible and retractable for motion between a retracted position in which the end section is in said closed position and an extended position in which the end section is in said open position;
- an elevator supported by the end section for lowering passengers from the elevated car to below the elevated car, the elevator including winch means mounted on the underside of the end section and an escape pod adapted to be suspended from said winch means, and wherein the car body further comprises a debarking platform at said one end of the body, said winch means comprises a frame pivotally attached to the underside of the end section at a first side of the frame for pivoting about a first axis, means mounted on the frame generally at a second side generally opposite said first side of the frame for holding at least two lengths of cable, each adapted to be attached at one end to the escape pod for suspending it generally below said cable holding means, said cable holding means being rotatable about a second axis for raising and lowering the pod and comprising a pair of drums mounted at spaced apart locations on said second side of the frame for rotation about said second axis constituting the axis of rotation of the drums, each drum holding a length of said cable thereon and wherein said winch means further comprises a motor mounted on the frame for rotating the drums, the elevator further comprising means for leveling the winch means frame to maintain the axis of rotation of the drums at a true horizontal, said leveling means is adapted to pivot the frame of the winch means about a third, substantially horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the winch drums;
- and
- means for moving the elevator between a loading position in which a passenger may board the escape pod from the debarking platform and a descent position in which the pod is clear of the car body for descent to below the elevated car.
An elevated passenger car adapted for emergency exit therefrom, the car being of the type adapted to be supported in its elevated position such that there are substantially no obstructions between at least a portion of the underside of the car and the ground below, the car comprising a body having a passenger compartment therein, an opening through the body generally at one end thereof defining an end section pivotally mounted on the body at said one end, means for swinging the end section between a closed position in which the end section closes said exit and an open position in which said exit is opened to the outside, an elevator supported by the end section for lowering passengers from the elevated car to below the elevated car, and means for leveling the elevator to maintain it at a true horizontal, said leveling means comprising a gimbal adapted to support the elevator thereon, the gimbal being mounted for rotation to the underside of the end section.
An elevated passenger car adapted for emergency exit therefrom, the car being of the type adapted to be supported in its elevated position such that there are substantially no obstructions between at least a portion of the underside of the car and the ground below, the car comprising:
- a body having a passenger compartment therein;
- an opening through the body generally at one end thereof defining an exit from the passenger compartment to outside the body;
- an end section pivotally mounted on the body at said one end;
- means for swinging the end section between a closed position in which the end section closes said exit and an open position in which said exit is opened to the outside, said means for swinging the end section comprising at least one strut pivotally ;mounted at one end on the body and pivotally attached to the end section at an opposite end thereof, the strut being extensible and retractable for motion between a retracted position in which the end section is in said closed position and an extended position in which the end section is in said open position;
- an elevator supported by the end section for lowering passengers from the elevated car to below the elevated car, the eleveator including winch means mounted on the underside of the end section and an escape pod adapted to be suspended from said winch means, and wherein the car body further comprises a debarking platform at said one end of the body, said winch means comprises a frame pivotally attached to the underside of the end section at a first side of the frame for pivoting about a first axis, means mounted on the frame generally at a second side generally opposite said first side of the frame for holding at least two lengths of cable, each adapted to be attached at one end to the escape pod for suspending it generally below said cable holding means, said cable holding means being rotatable about a second axis for raising and lowering the pod and comprising a pair of drums mounted at spaced apart locations on said second side of the frame for rotation about said second axis constituting the axis of rotation of the drums, each drum holding a length of said cable thereon and wherein said winch means further comprises a motor mounted on the frame for rotating the drums, the elevator further comprising means for leveling the winch means frame to maintain the axis of rotation of the drums at a true horizontal, said leveling means comprising a gimbal on which the winch is mounted, the gimbal being mounted for rotation to the underside of the end section to maintain the axis of rotation of the drums of said winch substantially at true horizontal;
- and
- means for moving the elevator between a loading position in which a passenger may board the escape pod from the debarking platform and a descent position in which the pod is clear of the car body for descent to below the elevated car.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.