[0001] The present invention concerns a method and a system of protection of the passengers
on a platform according to claims 1 and 12.
[0002] In particular, the present invention relates more generally to the protection and
security of passengers waiting for a transportation on a platform, as well as the
protection and security of passengers boarding and deboarding said'transportation,
wherein said transportation is in particular a train, a mass transit, a trolley, a
metro, etc, or more generally speaking a guided vehicle.
[0003] According to the present invention, the expression "guided vehicle" refers to a vehicle
configured for following a guide or a succession of guides, to which we will refer
to hereafter as track, and which determine at least one route for the guided vehicle.
Said track being for example a rail, or a line on the ground, or a way determined
by specific panels for said guided vehicle, etc., and said guided vehicle being for
example a train, a metro, a bus, a tram, or an automatic guided vehicle.
[0004] The security of passengers at a station, and in particular at a platform of a station,
is of crucial importance. For example, it deals with systems for protecting people
from falling onto the tracks as well as systems for avoiding accidents with arriving
or departing guided vehicles. Such systems are for example automatic gates, like platform
screen doors or platform edge doors designed for screening the platform from the guided
vehicle, disposed at edges of a platform and requiring the precise positioning of
the arriving guided vehicle, so that the position of each door of the guided vehicles
coincides with the position of a gate on the platform. Unfortunately, such security
systems are complex, expensive, and require a precise knowledge of the position of
the guided vehicle in the station next to the platform, since positions of the gates
on the platform and the guided vehicle doors shall match.
[0005] Consequently, there is a standing need for developing a simple, cost effective and
efficient system of protection of passengers at a platform, which does not require
a precise positioning of the guided vehicle compared to the gate position on the platform.
[0006] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a method and a system
for protecting passengers at a platform and for securing said platform, which is simple,
cost effective, decrease the stopping accuracy of the guided vehicle, and which is
able to protect people from falling onto the tracks and avoids accident between passengers
and moving guided vehicles.
[0007] This objective is achieved according to a system configured for equipping a platform
serving a track, said system being designed for protecting passengers on the platform,
in particular for protecting passengers from falling onto said track, said system
comprising:
- an array, i.e. an orderly arrangement or sequence, of aligned automatic barriers configured
for barring passages between said track and the platform serving said track, wherein
said barriers are notably mounted on an edge of said platform aligned with the track;
- each barrier comprising
o an elongated element, e.g. a thin bar, configured for being moved by rotation around
a center of rotation, or by extension according to a telescopic movement, from a first
position to a second position and inversely, wherein the first position is designed
for barring a passage between the platform and the track, and the second position
is designed for keeping said passage open, the first position being preferentially
a lowered position and said second position a raised position, wherein said elongated
element is substantially horizontal in said first position and substantially vertical
in said second position,
o an approximately vertical support beam designed for being mounted on the platform
and for supporting said elongated element, and
o means for moving, e.g. by rotation or extension/retraction, said elongated element
relatively to the support beam, from said first to said second position and inversely;
- a controller capable of controlling and commanding the means for moving of each of
said barriers, said controller being configured for commanding a movement of said
elongated element from the first to the second position if and only if a guided vehicle
completely stops at said platform.
[0008] The objective is also achieved according to the present invention with respect to
the method by a method for protecting passengers on a platform and for securing said
platform from a track served by said platform, in particular for protecting said passengers
from falling onto said track, the method comprising the steps of:
- by complete stop of a guided vehicle on said track at said platform, and preferentially
before an opening of the guided vehicle doors, automatically moving, e.g. by rotation
around a center of rotation, or respectively by extension along a direction of extension,
an elongated element, e.g. a thin bar or a telescopic bar, from a first position to
a second position, wherein in the first position, said elongated element is barring
a passage between the platform and the track, and in the second position, said passage
is let open by the elongated element;
- maintaining the elongated element at said second position until closure of the guided
vehicle doors;
- moving, e.g. rotating, or respectively retracting, said elongated element from the
second position to the first position after and/or in parallel to the closure of the
guided vehicle doors and before departure of said guided vehicle;
- maintaining the elongated element at said first position after departure of said guided
vehicle and until complete stop of another guided vehicle at said platform serving
said track.
[0009] Preferentially, the method according to the present: invention comprises rotating
at the same time each elongated element of each barrier of said array of barriers.
Therefore, when a guided vehicle stops at said platform, each elongated element might
be moved from the first to the second position at the same time, synchronously. Similarly,
each elongated element of the barriers might be moved from the second to the first
position at the same time in a synchronous manner, preferentially after or simultaneously
to the closure of the doors of the guided vehicle, but before departure of said guided
vehicle. According to a preferential embodiment, only a part of the barriers of said
array have their elongated elements moving together synchronously, while the elongated
elements of the remaining barriers of said array stay at a fixed first position without
moving, wherein said part comprises only consecutive barriers of said array. Advantageously,
moving the elongated elements of a part of consecutive barriers while keeping the
elongated elements of the remaining barriers at the first position still allows to
prevent passengers boarding the part of the guided vehicle which is next to the remaining
barriers.
[0010] In particular, the rotation of the elongated element by the means for moving leads
to a rising of the elongated element of the barrier, preferentially a synchronous
rising of the elongated element of each barrier of said array of aligned barriers
from the first position, e.g. the lowered position, to the second position, e.g. the
raised position, as well as inversely, a lowering of the elongated element of the
barrier, preferentially a synchronous lowering of the elongated element of each barrier
of said array of aligned barriers from the second position to the first position.
In other words, rotating the elongated element from the first to the second position
notably enables a rising of said elongated element e.g. in its substantially vertical
position, while rotating said elongated element from the second to the first position
enables a lowering of the elongated element e.g. in its substantially horizontal position.
[0011] Preferentially, the center of rotation is close to or comprised in the extremity
of the elongated element that is the closest one to the support beam, said center
of rotation being consequently close to the support beam of said elongated element.
In particular, the movement from the first to the second position, and inversely,
might be a combination of said rotation and a translation of the elongated element,
wherein the rotation and/or translation is operated by said means for moving.
[0012] Preferentially, the method according to the invention comprises a reception by the
controller configured for controlling and commanding the array of aligned barriers
of a control signal designed either for signaling the complete stop of the guided
vehicle at the platform and leading to the command by the controller of the activation
of the rotation of said elongated element from the first to the second position, or
for signaling the closure of the doors of the guided vehicle and leading to the command
by the controller of the activation of the rotation of the elongated element from
the second to the first position. Said control signal related to the complete stop
of the guided vehicle or the closure of its doors might be sent to the controller
either by the guided vehicle itself, or by an automatic control system, or by a system
of detectors.
[0013] In particular, the method according to the invention comprises a reception, e.g.
by said controller, of an alarm signal designed either for signaling the arrival of
a guided vehicle at a station, wherein said guided vehicle is going to stop at said
platform of a station, and leading to the command by the controller of the activation
of a signaling device at said platform, or for signaling the departure of the guided
vehicle and leading to the command by the controller of the deactivation of said signaling
device. Preferentially, said signaling device is mounted on the top of the support
beam and/or on said elongated element. The signaling device is e.g. flashing or shining
lights accompanied or not with sounds. Therefore, the controller according to the
present invention is notably capable of activating said signaling device upon an arrival
of the guided vehicle at the platform and of deactivating said signaling device upon
departure of said guided vehicle from said platform.
[0014] Preferentially, the controller comprises an electronic circuit and/or a mechanical
switch configured for providing a first signal for moving said elongated element from
the first position to the second position only when the guided vehicle stops on the
track at said platform, or preferentially upon reception of said control signal signaling
the complete stop of the guided vehicle, and a second signal for moving said elongated
element from the second position to the first position before departure of the guided
vehicle, simultaneously to or after closure of guided vehicle doors, or preferentially
upon reception of said control signal signaling the closure of the doors of the guided
vehicle. Said first and second signal are communicated to the means for moving of
each barrier for commanding the movement of the elongated bar. Said controller is
in particular connected to each means of moving of each barrier of the array of barriers
and the means for moving is for instance a motor configured for being commanded by
the controller and for moving by rotation said elongated element.
[0015] Preferentially, the elongated element is a beam or a level bar, or a telescopic bar,
which can be hollow, and notably made of a light material, like wood or plastic or
some metallic compounds, and having a loud color surface. For instance, the telescopic
bar may extend from the first position to the second position and inversely retract
from the second position to the first position by movement of at least one extendable/retractable
element. In particular, the length L separating two consecutive support beams of the
elongated element might be correlated to a guided vehicle inter-door distance and
stop accuracy. Typically the length L might be comprised between 2 and 5 meters. The
elongated element may comprise in particular freely hanging secondary elements attached
to its body along its length. Preferentially, the height of the elongated element
compared to the platform ground when it is at its substantially horizontal first position
is comprised between 0.9 and 1.3 meters.
[0016] Preferentially, the barriers are mounted on an edge of said platform aligned with
the track, and the number of barriers is such that the whole length of the platform
bordering or edging the track is mounted with the barriers of the present system.
The array of the aligned automatic barriers comprises notably at least three barriers
aligned with each other and designed for being mounted on said platform. Preferentially,
the present invention is also related to a platform comprising the system for protecting
passengers as previously described.
[0017] The invention will now be described in a preferred but not exclusive embodiment with
reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:
- Figure 1
- is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the system according to the
invention.
[0018] Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of a system for
protecting passengers on a platform 1 according to the invention, wherein an edge
11 of said platform 1 is aligned with a track 2 serving as guide for a guided vehicle
3.
[0019] The system according to the invention is configured for equipping the platform 1
serving said track 2. The system comprises:
- an array of aligned automatic barriers 4 configured for barring passages between said
track 2 and the platform 1, wherein said passage would be e.g. a way for a passenger
for accessing said track 2 from the platform 1;
- each barrier 4 comprising an elongated element 41 configured for being moved by rotation
around a center of rotation 43 from a first position to a second position and inversely,
wherein the first position is designed for barring a passage between the platform
and the track, and the second position is designed for keeping said passage open for
passengers, the barrier 4 further comprising an approximately vertical support beam
42 designed for being mounted on the platform 1 and for supporting said elongated
element 41, and means 45 for moving by rotation said elongated element 41 relatively
to the support beam 42, said means 45 being notably build in the top of the support
beam 42 and comprising arms attached to the elongated element 41 in order to move
it, the second position allowing passengers to freely move from the platform to coaches
of the guided vehicle 3 and respectively from said coaches to the platform 1 by passing
between the support beam 42;
- a controller 5 capable of controlling and commanding the means 45 for moving of each
of said barriers 4, said controller being configured for commanding a movement of
said elongated element from the first to the second position if and only if a guided
vehicle 3 completely stops at said platform 1, said controller being connected to
each means 45 for commanding said the motion of the elongated element 41 of the barrier
4. The connection between the controller and said means can be a wired or wireless
connection.
[0020] Preferentially, when a guided vehicle 3 is approaching the platform 1 and if said
platform is a stop for said guided vehicle, the controller 5 receives an alarm signal
designed for signaling the arrival of said guided vehicle 3 at the station comprising
said platform 1, and by reception of said alarm signal, the controller 5 activates
a signaling device 6. Said signaling device 6 is designed for informing passengers
of the imminent arrival of said guided vehicle 3. The signaling device 6 is in particular
a radio based approaching alarm.
[0021] Preferentially, upon reception by said controller 5 of a control signal which is
designed for signaling the complete stop of the guided vehicle 3 at the platform 1,
the controller 5 activates the means 45 in order to move the elongated element 41
from the first position substantially horizontal to the second position substantially
vertical. For this purpose, the controller 5 might send a first signal to the means
45. The elongated element 41 remains then at the second position until closure of
the guided vehicle doors. Preferentially, upon reception by the controller 5 of another
control signal configured for signaling the closure of the doors of the guided vehicle
3, the controller 5 activates the means 45 for rotating the elongated element 41 from
the second position to the first position before departure of the guided vehicle 3.
For this purpose, the controller 5 might send a second signal to the means 45. Then,
once the guided vehicle 3 left the platform 1, and preferentially upon reception by
the controller 5 of another alarm signal designed for signaling the departure of the
guided vehicle 3, the controller 5 deactivates said signaling device 6, and maintains
the elongated element 41 of the barriers of the array at said first position until
the next complete stop of another guided vehicle at said platform.
[0022] The various above-mentioned signals, i.e. control and alarm signals, received by
the controller might be sent by the guided vehicle 3 itself, by a control center of
the platform 1, or by guided vehicle detection systems. The array of barriers is in
particular mounted substantially parallel to the track 2 on the edge 11 of the platform
1 aligned with said track 2, in order to border the passengers on the platform 1,
protecting thus said passengers from falling onto the track 2.
[0023] To summarize, the method and the system according to the present invention have the
following advantages:
- they protect passengers from falling onto tracks;
- they allow to use "level crossing" types of barriers;
- they allow to relax the stopping accuracy of guided vehicles at the platform compared
e.g. to screen doors, since the guided vehicle does not have to stop at a precise
position in order that each door of the guided vehicle faces a screen door;
- they are simple and cheaper that complex systems like said screen doors;
- they may extend the field of application of existing products involved in "level crossing"
types of barriers by using said existing products for the barriers according to the
present invention;
- they avoid the use of screen doors;
- they reduce the risk of passengers being jammed between the screen doors and the train
(escaping towards the platform possible).
1. System configured for equipping a platform (1) serving a track (2), said system being
designed for protecting passengers on the platform (1) and comprising:
- an array of aligned automatic barriers (4) configured for barring passages between
said track (2) and the platform (1);
- each barrier (4) comprising an elongated element (41) configured for being moved
from a first position to a second position and inversely, wherein the first position
is designed for barring a passage between the platform (1) and the track (2), and
the second position is designed for keeping said passage open, the barrier (4) further
comprising an approximately vertical support beam (42) designed for being mounted
on the platform (1) and for supporting said elongated element (41), and means (45)
for moving said elongated element (41) relatively to the support beam (42);
- a controller (5) capable of controlling and commanding the means (45) for moving
of each of said barriers (4), said controller (5) being configured for commanding
a movement of said elongated element (41) from the first to the second position if
and only if a guided vehicle (3) completely stops at said platform (1).
2. System according to claim 1, wherein said controller (5) comprises an electronic circuit
and/or a mechanical switch configured for providing a first signal for moving said
elongated element (41) from the first position to the second position when the guided
vehicle (3) stops on the track (2) at said platform (1), and a second signal for moving
said elongated element (41) from the second position to the first position before
departure of the guided vehicle (3) simultaneously to or after the closure of guided
vehicle doors.
3. System according to one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein said barriers (4) are mounted
on an edge (11) of said platform (1) aligned with the track (2).
4. System according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the length L separating two
consecutive support beams (42) of the elongated element (41) is correlated to a guided
vehicle inter-door distance and stop accuracy, typically the length L being comprised
between 2 and 5 meters.
5. System according to one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein said means (45) for moving is
a motor configured for being commanded by the controller (5).
6. System according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein a signaling device (6) is mounted
on the top of the support beam (42) and/or on said elongated element (41).
7. System according to one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the controller (5) is capable
of activating said signaling device (6) upon an arrival of the guided vehicle (3)
at the platform (1) and of deactivating said signaling device (6) upon departure of
said guided vehicle (3) from said platform (1).
8. System according to one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the elongated element (41) is
a thin bar.
9. System according to one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the elongated element (41) comprises
along its length freely hanging secondary elements.
10. System according to one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the array of aligned automatic
barriers (4) comprises at least three barriers (4) aligned with each other.
11. Platform comprising the system according to one of the claims 1 to 10.
12. Method for protecting passengers on a platform (1) and securing said platform (1)
from a track (2) served by said platform (1), the method comprising the steps of:
- by complete stop of a guided vehicle (3) on said track (2) at said platform (1),
automatically moving an elongated element (41) of a barrier (4) of an array of barriers
which are aligned with the track (2) on a edge of the platform (1) from a first position
to a second position, wherein in the first position, said elongated element (41) is
barring a passage between the platform (1) and the track (2), and in the second position,
said passage is open;
- maintaining the elongated element (41) at said second position until closure of
the guided vehicle doors;
- moving said elongated element (41) from the second position to the first position
after and/or in paralellel to the closure of the guided vehicle doors and before departure
of said guided vehicle (3);
- maintaining the elongated element (41) at said first position after departure of
said guided vehicle (3) until complete stop of another guided vehicle at said platform
(1) serving said track (2).
13. Method according to claim 12, comprising rotating at the same time each elongated
element (41) of each barrier (4) of said array of barriers.
14. Method according to one of the claims 12 or 13, comprising a reception by a controller
(5) configured for controlling and commanding the array of aligned barriers (4) of
a control signal designed either for signaling the complete stop of the guided vehicle
(3) at the platform and for activating the rotation of said elongated element (41)
from the first to the second position, or for signaling the closure of the doors of
the guided vehicle (3) and activating the rotation of the elongated element (41) from
the second to the first position.
15. Method according to one of the claims 12 to 15, comprising a reception of an alarm
signal designed either for signaling the arrival of a guided vehicle (3) at the station
which is going to stop at said platform (1) and for activating a signaling device
(6) at said platform (1), or for signaling the departure of the guided vehicle (3)
and deactivating said signaling device (6).