US3672311A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Movable stair mounting arrangement for vehicles
Assignee: Alstom Transport Deutschland GmbH
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Filing: 1970-07-27
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A mounting arrangement for a movable step of a multi-step entry for a vehicle, particularly for rail vehicles, includes a movable step member having a flat outwardly extending platform portion and an oblique inner end portion which rides in an oblique groove to permit the step to be shifted between an upward position at which the platform is level with the entrance way and a lower position in which it is slightly above a lower entrance step of the entry. The construction includes a mounting for a running roller which facilitates the running upward and downward movement of the guide for the step and a mounting for a support roller. The support roller is pivotally mounted on a bracket of the guide and it may be biased into engagement with the wall bounding the guide way for controlling the movement of the step. An apron is pivoted to the front end of the step platform and it includes a bracket having a roller which extends into a guideway so as to shift the apron inwardly and outwardly during the downward and upward movement of the platform. In this manner the apron closes the space between the platform and the bottom of the cut out entry of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Erwin Duba
- 👤 Conrad Fischer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:57
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D23/00; B61D23/02; B61D23/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontal platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said guide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step and not laterally therebeyond, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontal platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said guide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step and not laterally therebeyond, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A multi-step entry, according to claim 1, including a railway car having an entrance way with a side wall at each end, said guide means comprising a guide track on each of said side walls extending obliquely downwardly and upwardly from said floor toward and extending substantially parallel to said guide portion of said step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A multi-step entry, according to claim 1, wherein said guide track includes at least two wall portions and said guide portion includes at least one support roller resting against one wall portion of said guide track and at least one running roller engaged with the other wall portion of said track.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A multi-step entry, according to claim 3, wherein there are at least two pairs of rollers each pair including at least one running roller and one support roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A multi-step entry, according to claim 1, wherein said means for raising and lowering said track comprises a fluid pressure operated cylinder having a piston rod movable therein connected to said movable step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A multi-step entry, according to claim 5, including a linkage connected between said piston rod and said step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A multi-step entry, according to claim 6, wherein said linkage comprises a rotatable shaft connected to said piston rod for rotation thereby, a first link carried on said rotatable shaft and rotatable therewith, a second link pivotally connected to the outer end of said first link and pivoted at its opposite end to said step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
247 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontaL platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said guide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step, a railway car having an entrance way with a side wall at each end, said guide means comprising a guide track on each of said side walls extending obliquely downwardly and upwardly from said floor toward and extending substantially parallel to said guide portion of said step, said guide track includes first and second walls disposed at an angle to each other, said guide portion having at least one running roller and at least one support roller, a support arm pivoted on said guide portion and carrying said support roller, an adjustment means engageable with said arm for presetting said support roller against one of said walls of said walls of said guide track, said guide running roller being engaged with the other of said walls of said guide track.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
247 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontaL platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said guide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step, a railway car having an entrance way with a side wall at each end, said guide means comprising a guide track on each of said side walls extending obliquely downwardly and upwardly from said floor toward and extending substantially parallel to said guide portion of said step, said guide track includes first and second walls disposed at an angle to each other, said guide portion having at least one running roller and at least one support roller, a support arm pivoted on said guide portion and carrying said support roller, an adjustment means engageable with said arm for presetting said support roller against one of said walls of said walls of said guide track, said guide running roller being engaged with the other of said walls of said guide track.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
207 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontal platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said guide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step, said means for raising and lowering said track comprises a fluid pressure operated cylinder having a piston rod movable therein connected to said movable step, a linkage connected between said piston rod and said step, said linkage comprises first and second link members connected to said step platform portion at spaced locations and depending downwardly therefrom, first and second crank arm members pivotally connected to said walls and having ends connected to said first and second link members respectively, and a steerer crank arm connected to the opposite ends of said crank levers and connected to said fluid pressure operated piston rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
207 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontal platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said guide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step, said means for raising and lowering said track comprises a fluid pressure operated cylinder having a piston rod movable therein connected to said movable step, a linkage connected between said piston rod and said step, said linkage comprises first and second link members connected to said step platform portion at spaced locations and depending downwardly therefrom, first and second crank arm members pivotally connected to said walls and having ends connected to said first and second link members respectively, and a steerer crank arm connected to the opposite ends of said crank levers and connected to said fluid pressure operated piston rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontal platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said guide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step, an apron pivotally connected to the forward end of said step platform and depending downwardly therefrom to close the space below said platform, and apron guide means associated with said apron for guiding said apron inwardly and outwardly during downward and upward movement of said step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
151 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontal platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said guide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step, an apron pivotally connected to the forward end of said step platform and depending downwardly therefrom to close the space below said platform, and apron guide means associated with said apron for guiding said apron inwardly and outwardly during downward and upward movement of said step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multi-step entry, according to claim 10, including spring means connected between said platform and said apron to urge said apron outwardly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
198 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontal platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said gUide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step, including a vehicle having a cut out portion with a bottom wall extending inwardly from said fixed step and an inclined rear wall extending upwardly from said bottom to said floor said cut out portion of said vehicle including a side wall end of said cut out portion, said step platform including an apron at the front thereof depending downwardly therefrom, said step platform with said apron closing the space below interiorly of said step and said apron between said fixed step and said rear wall and said movable step and said bottom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
198 words
A multi-step entry particularly for rail vehicles having a fixed outer step lower than the entrance floor of the vehicle, comprising a movable step having a top normally horizontal platform portion and an obliquely extending guide portion, guide means associated with the entry extending obliquely alongside said gUide portion engageable with said guide portion for guiding said step between an upper position at which said platform is level with said floor and a lower position between said floor and said fixed step, and means connected to said movable step for moving said movable step upwardly and downwardly between the floor and the outer fixed step, including a vehicle having a cut out portion with a bottom wall extending inwardly from said fixed step and an inclined rear wall extending upwardly from said bottom to said floor said cut out portion of said vehicle including a side wall end of said cut out portion, said step platform including an apron at the front thereof depending downwardly therefrom, said step platform with said apron closing the space below interiorly of said step and said apron between said fixed step and said rear wall and said movable step and said bottom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |