Pre-biased delayed emergency release

Abstract

The manual release mechanism described herein enables a passenger to attempt to manually open the door but delays opening until the vehicle is no longer moving. A motion transfer device moves to an unlocking position of the door lock only when the manual release mechanism is activated to release store energy in a mechanical energy storage device and an electromechanical device is de-energized to release the motion transfer device.

Claims

1. A door lock release mechanism comprising: a base plate configured to be coupled with a vehicle; a sliding plate coupled with a door lock of the vehicle, the sliding plate configured to move relative to the base plate between an extended position and a retracted position; a magnetizable plate coupled with the sliding plate; an electromagnet configured to fix the sliding plate in the retracted position relative to the base plate while the electromagnet is energized, the electromagnet configured to release and allow movement of the sliding plate to the extended position relative to the base plate while the electromagnet is de-energized; a spring coupled with the base plate and coupled with the sliding plate, the spring biased to move the sliding magnetizable plate away from the electromagnet; a detent mechanism configured to engage the sliding plate while the detent mechanism is in a first position and to disengage from the sliding plate while the detent mechanism is in a second position, the detent mechanism configured to prevent movement of the sliding plate relative to the base plate to the extended position while the detent mechanism is in the first position, the detent mechanism configured to allow movement of the sliding plate relative to the base plate to the extended position while the detent mechanism is in the second position, wherein the sliding plate is configured to move away from the electromagnet to the extended position and release the door lock while (a) the detent mechanism is in the second position and (b) the electromagnet is de-energized, and wherein the sliding plate is configured to remain in the retracted position by one or both of the detent mechanism or the electromagnet and maintain the door lock in a locked state while one or both of (c) the detent mechanism is in the second position or (d) the electromagnet is energized.

2. The door lock release mechanism of claim 1, further comprising: a cable coupled with the detent mechanism and configured to move the detent mechanism between the first position and the second position.

3. The door lock release mechanism of claim 1, wherein the sliding plate includes a slot, and the base plate includes a pin extending through the slot in the sliding plate.

4. The door lock release mechanism of claim 1, wherein the electromagnet is coupled with the base plate.

5. The door lock release mechanism of claim 1, wherein the sliding plate remains coupled with the electromagnet in the retracted position and maintain the door lock in the locked state while the electromagnet is energized.

6. The door lock release mechanism of claim 1, wherein the electromagnet is configured to be energized by a train berthing system and a zero-speed system of the vehicle, the electromagnet de-energized by the train berthing system and the zero-speed system while the vehicle is berthed and stationary.

7. A door lock release mechanism comprising: a base plate for being secured to a vehicle; a sliding plate abutting and movable relative to the base plate, the sliding plate having at least one elongate slot, at least one pin fixed to the base plate extending into the at least one elongate slot constraining the relative movement between the base plate and sliding plate in a lateral direction; a first end bracket secured to the base plate at or near a first lateral end of the base plate and having an electromagnet secured thereto, the first end bracket having an aperture therein for receiving a manual release cable; a second end bracket secured to the base plate at or near a second lateral end that is opposite the first end bracket; a bracket fixed to the sliding plate and supporting a magnetizable plate in a position to be captured by the electromagnet; a coil spring that stores energy upon closing of a door to bias the spring to move the sliding plate away from the electromagnet, the coil spring anchored at a first end to the second end bracket and connected at a second end to the bracket supporting the magnetizable plate; and a detent mechanism fixed to the base plate that captures the sliding plate and releases the sliding plate, the sliding plate connected to a door lock such that when the manual release cable is pulled, the sliding plate moves away from the electromagnet, the door lock manually released only when the manual release cable is pulled to release the detent mechanism and the electromagnet is de-energized to release the magnetizable plate.

8. The door lock release mechanism of claim 7, further comprising: the manual release cable coupled with the detent mechanism and configured to move the detent mechanism.

9. The door lock release mechanism of claim 7, wherein the sliding plate remains coupled with the electromagnet and maintains the door lock in a locked state while the electromagnet is energized.

10. The door lock release mechanism of claim 7, wherein the electromagnet is configured to be energized by a train berthing system and a zero-speed system of the vehicle, the electromagnet de-energized by the train berthing system and the zero-speed system while the vehicle is berthed and stationary.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic and prospective view of an emergency manual door lock release mechanism for releasing a door lock on a transit vehicle according to this invention when release is not actuated.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic and prospective view of an emergency manual door lock release mechanism for releasing a door lock on a transit vehicle according to this invention when manual release has been attempted but the door lock is not released.

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic and prospective view of an emergency manual door lock release mechanism for releasing a door lock on a transit vehicle according to this invention when manual release has been attempted and the door lock has been released.

(5) FIG. 4 is a plan view of a typical slide-guide door on a transit vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Referring now to the drawings, an emergency manual door lock release mechanism for releasing a door lock comprises: a base plate 12 for being secured to the transit vehicle, and a sliding plate 16 abutting and moveable relative to the base plate 12. The sliding plate 16 has at least one elongate slot 20. At least one pin 22, 24 fixed to the base plate extends into the at least one elongate slot constraining the relative movement between the base plate and sliding plate in a lateral direction indicated by the double head arrow.

(7) A first end bracket 26 is secured to the base plate at or near one lateral end of the base plate. An electromagnet 28 is secured thereto. The first end bracket has an aperture therein for receiving a manual release Bowden cable 30. A second end bracket 32 is secured to the base plate at or near the lateral end opposite from the first end bracket 26.

(8) A bracket 34 fixed to the sliding plate supports a magnetizable steel plate 36 in a position to be captured by the electromagnet 28. A coil spring 40 that stores energy when compressed upon closing of the door is biased to move the sliding plate 16 away from the electromagnet 28. The coil spring is anchored directly or indirectly at one end to the second end bracket 32 and is connected at the other end directly or indirectly to the magnetizable plate bracket 34.

(9) A detent mechanism 38 fixed to the base plate 12 normally captures the sliding plate 16 and releases the sliding plate when the manual release cable 30 is pulled. The sliding plate 16 is directly or indirectly connectable to the door lock such that when the sliding plate moves away from the electromagnet 28 the door lock will be released. The door lock will only be released when the manual release cable 30 is pulled to release the detent mechanism 38 and the electromagnet 28 is de-energized to release the magnetizable steel plate 34.

(10) Referring to FIG. 1 sliding plate 16 is retracted. The coil spring 40 is stretched to store energy to bias the sliding plate 16 away from the electromagnet 28, the electromagnet 28 is energized capturing the magnetizable steel plate 36, and the detent mechanism 38 has captured the sliding plate 16. This is the condition when the transit vehicle is moving between stations.

(11) Referring to FIG. 2, the emergency manual door lock release mechanism is shown when manual release has been attempted but the door lock is not released. The manual release cable 30 has been pulled and the detent mechanism 38 has been disengaged from the sliding plate 16. The coil spring 40 remains energized and the electromagnet 28 remains energized to hold the magnetizable steel plate 36 and, therefore, the sliding plate 16 in the retracted position. This is the condition when a passenger has attempted manual release and, for example, the transit vehicle is still moving.

(12) Referring to FIG. 3, manual release has been attempted and the door lock has been released. The electromagnet 28 is no longer energized and the magnetizable steel plate 36 has been freed. The coil spring 40 has use stored energy to move the sliding plate 16 to its fully extended position such that the door release mechanism has unlocked the door lock so that passengers can escape the transit vehicle.

(13) Having thus defined our invention with the detail and particularity required by the Patent Laws, what is desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.