Vehicle for transporting passengers having a variable number of seats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11912177-B2
Application number	US-202217805838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2022
Priority date	Jun 9, 2021
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A passenger transport vehicle includes a system configured to vary the number of available seating places in accordance with the level of passenger traffic to be transported. The system has a mechanical support structure having a fixed part and a movable part movable between a first position in which the mechanical support structure forms a seating place, and a second position in which the seating place is unavailable for seating. The mechanical support structure includes a covering surface connected to and disposed around a portion of the movable part. The covering surface includes two rigid portions and a deformable portion. One rigid portion forms a seating surface when the movable part is in the first position, while both rigid portions and the deformable portion form an ischiatic support surface when the movable part is in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A passenger transport vehicle comprising a system for managing the space inside the vehicle which is configured to vary the number of available seating places in accordance with the level of passenger traffic to be transported, the management system comprising
at least one mechanical support structure having a fixed part and a movable part which is movable, relative to the fixed part, between a first position in which the movable part is extended relative to the fixed part so that the mechanical support structure forms at least one available seating place for passengers, and a second position in which the movable part is retracted towards the fixed part so that the at least one seating place is unavailable for seating,
wherein the mechanical support structure comprises at least one covering surface which is connected to and is disposed around at least a portion of the movable part, the covering surface and the movable part moving together substantially solidary with each other, and
wherein the at least one covering surface comprises at least a first substantially rigid portion, a second substantially rigid portion, and a third deformable portion which is disposed between the first and second substantially rigid portions and which is connected to the first substantially rigid portion and the second substantially rigid portion, the first substantially rigid portion forming a seating surface when the movable part is in the first position, while the first and second substantially rigid portions form with the third deformable portion an ischiatic support surface when the movable part is in the second position,
wherein the fixed part of the mechanical support structure comprises at least:
a first longitudinal bar which is fixedly installed inside the vehicle;

and wherein the movable part of the mechanical support structure comprises at least:
a second longitudinal bar having a first end connected to the first longitudinal bar, in proximity to a first end of the first longitudinal bar; and
a third longitudinal bar having a first end slidably connected to the first longitudinal bar; and
first connection means configured to connect a second end of the second longitudinal bar to a second end of the third longitudinal bar in an movable manner one with respect to the other.

2. The vehicle as in claim 1 , wherein the mechanical support structure is configured to form at least one ischiatic support for the passengers when the movable part is in the second position.

3. The vehicle as in claim 1 , wherein the fixed part of the mechanical support structure comprises a plurality of first longitudinal bars which are fixedly installed within the vehicle at a distance from each other and aligned along a transverse axis, and wherein the movable part of the mechanical support structure comprises a plurality of second longitudinal bars, a plurality of third longitudinal, and a plurality of first connecting means, each second longitudinal bar having its first end connected to a corresponding first longitudinal bar, proximate to a first end of the corresponding first longitudinal bar, each third longitudinal bar having a first end slidably connected to a corresponding first longitudinal bar, and each first connecting means being configured to connect a second end of a second longitudinal bar to a second end of a corresponding third longitudinal bar in a movable manner relative to each other.

4. The vehicle as in claim 1 , wherein the fixed part of the mechanical support structure comprises second connection means configured to connect the second end of the or each second longitudinal bar to the or each corresponding first longitudinal bar, such that said second end is fixed along the corresponding first longitudinal bar while the or each second longitudinal bar is tiltable relative to the corresponding first longitudinal bar.

5. The vehicle as in claim 4 , wherein the fixed part of the mechanical support structure comprises third connection means configured to connect the second end of the or each third longitudinal bar to the or each corresponding first longitudinal bar, the or each third longitudinal bar being movable relative to the or each corresponding first longitudinal bar.

6. The vehicle as in claim 1 , wherein the or each first connecting means comprises a joint which is connected to the second end of the corresponding second longitudinal bar and to the second end of the corresponding third longitudinal bar.

7. The vehicle as in claim 5 , wherein the fixed part of the mechanical support structure comprises a plurality of fourth longitudinal bars, each fourth longitudinal bar being configured to connect two first connection means placed one after the other along a transverse axis.

8. The vehicle as in claim 7 , wherein the fixed part of the mechanical support structure further comprises at least a fifth longitudinal bar and fourth connection means which are configured to connect a first end of the fifth longitudinal bar to the first longitudinal bar, proximate to the second end of this first longitudinal bar, a free space being formed between the fifth longitudinal bar and the first longitudinal bar to accommodate at least a portion of the movable part when the movable part is in the second position.

9. The vehicle as in claim 8 , wherein the fixed part of the mechanical support structure comprises at least two fifth longitudinal bars and the fourth connection means are configured to connect the first end of each fifth longitudinal bar to a corresponding first longitudinal bar, proximate to the second end of that corresponding first longitudinal bar, a free space being formed between the fifth longitudinal bars and the corresponding first longitudinal bars to accommodate at least a portion of the movable part when the movable part is in the second position.

10. The vehicle as in claim 9 , wherein the fourth connection means are configured to allow rotation of each fifth longitudinal bar about a transverse axis relative to the corresponding first longitudinal bar.

11. The vehicle as in claim 1 , wherein the management system further comprises a control device installed on board the vehicle and configured to provide at least one remote control signal for activating the displacement of the movable part relative to the fixed part.

12. The vehicle as in claim 11 , wherein the management system comprises actuation means which are configured to move the at least one movable part between the first position and the second position as a function of a control signal emitted remotely by the control device.

13. The vehicle as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the actuation means comprises at least one remotely controlled motor.

14. The vehicle as claimed in claim 13 ,
wherein the at least one remotely controlled motor is a linear motor which is slidably mounted on the first longitudinal bar and moves substantially solidary with the corresponding third longitudinal bar.

Assignees

• Alstom Holdings

Inventors

• Konieczka Jérôme
• Stocker Quentin Marcel Daniel
• Ecoue Adrien

Classifications

• B60N2/30 Primary

  Non-dismountable {or dismountable} seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats · CPC title

• B60N2/242 Primary

  Bus seats · CPC title

• B64D11/0691

  specially adapted for cabin crew · CPC title

• B60N2002/247

  to support passengers in a half-standing position · CPC title

• B61D33/0078

  adjustably mounted · CPC title