Safety Device for Train Platforms

Abstract

Disclosed is a safety device for train platforms, which is installed on a safety line of a platform of a subway station or a railway station so as to be raised and lowered. When a train has reached to boarding position of the platform, wire ropes ( 200 ) of the device are raised to allow passengers to board. When the train departs from the platform after the passengers have finished boarding, the wire ropes ( 200 ) are lowered to ensure the safety of passengers remaining on the platform. The safety device includes a wire rope raising/lowering means ( 100 ), two or more wire ropes ( 200 ), a wire rope holding means ( 300 ), and a wire rope control means ( 400 ). The wire rope raising/lowering means ( 100 ) has frames ( 110 ) secured upright at predetermined positions between a train entrance and a train exit of a platform which a train approaches, with a movable assembly ( 130 ) provided in each of the frames ( 110 ) so as to be moved upwards and downwards along the frame by a drive means ( 120 ). Each of the two or more wire ropes ( 200 ), extending between the frames ( 110 ), is connected at each end thereof to the movable assembly. The wire rope holding means ( 300 ) has a plurality of support pillars ( 310 ) installed on the platform at regular intervals between the frames ( 110 ), with a guide means ( 320 ) provided in each of the support pillars ( 310 ) to prevent the wire ropes ( 200 ) from sagging and to ensure smooth vertical movement of the wire ropes. The wire rope control means ( 410 ) senses the arrival and departure of a train at and from the platform and operates the drive means so as to raise and lower the wire ropes.

1 . A safety device for train platforms, comprising:
 wire rope raising/lowering means comprising frames secured upright at predetermined positions between a train entrance and a train exit of a platform which a train approaches, with a movable assembly provided in each of the frames so as to be moved upwards and downwards along the frame in a vertical direction by drive means;   two or more wire ropes extending between the frames secured upright at the predetermined positions between the train entrance and the train exit of the platform, each end of each of the wire ropes being connected to the movable assembly which is moved upwards and downwards along the frame in the vertical direction;   wire rope holding means comprising a plurality of support pillars which are installed on the platform at regular intervals between the frames secured upright at the predetermined positions between the train entrance and the train exit of the platform, with guide means provided in each of the support pillars so as to prevent the wire ropes from sagging and to ensure smooth vertical movement of the wire ropes; and   wire rope control means for sensing the arrival and departure of a train at and from the platform and operating the drive means so as to raise and lower the wire ropes.   
   
   
       2 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the frames, secured upright at the predetermined positions between the entrance and the exit of the platform to which a train approaches, comprises columns arranged on the same line such that the columns are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, with a guide rail longitudinally fastened to a side surface of each of the columns. 
   
   
       3 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 2 , wherein the movable assembly to be moved upwards and downwards along each of the frames in the vertical direction comprises: first and second movable plates which are moved upwards and downwards along the respective guide rails of the columns, with the two or more wire ropes being fastened at ends thereof to each of the first and second movable plates such that the ends of the wire ropes are arranged in longitudinal directions of the respective movable plates, wherein the first movable plate is moved by power of the drive means, and the second movable plate is pulled by a traction unit after the first movable plate has been moved a predetermined distance. 
   
   
       4 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 3 , wherein the ends of the two or more wire ropes are fastened to each of the first and second movable plates using wire rope tension control means which controls a tension of the wire ropes. 
   
   
       5 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 3 , wherein the traction unit to pull the second movable plate after the first movable plate has been moved the predetermined distance comprises: a first extension piece extending from a lower end of the first movable plate to the second movable plate; a second extension piece extending from an upper end of the second movable plate to the first movable plate; and a first guide and a second guide which are twice as long or more as the respective first and second movable plates and are respectively and vertically disposed on a rear surface of the first movable plate and the second extension piece and on a rear surface of the second movable plate and the first extension piece. 
   
   
       6 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 3 , wherein the drive means to move the movable assembly upwards or downwards along each of the frames comprises: a motor provided on a central portion of a lower part of the frame to drive a power transmission unit; rotary members provided on a shaft of the motor and a central portion of an upper end of the frame, respectively, so as to be rotated in either direction according to a rotating direction of the motor the power transmission unit wrapped around the rotary members and coupled at a first end thereof to a lower part of the first movable plate and coupled at a second end thereof to an upper part of the first movable plate; and tensioning means coupled to the first and second movable plates using connection wires and applying a force to the first and second movable plates so as to pull the first and second movable plates upwards. 
   
   
       7 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 6 , wherein the rotary members, provided on the shaft of the motor and the central portion of the upper end of the frame, respectively, are selected from the group consisting of rotary drums, pinions and sprockets, and the power transmission unit is selected from the group consisting of a flat belt, a timing belt and a chain. 
   
   
       8 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 6 , wherein the tensioning means to apply the force to the first and second movable plates so as to pull the movable plates upwards is selected from the group consisting of a heavy weight, a shock absorber and a tension spring. 
   
   
       9 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 6 , wherein the shaft of the motor is provided with a clutch and the rotary member, which rotates the power transmission unit coupled to the first movable plate, is mounted to a driven shaft of the clutch, so that, when a power supply for the motor is disconnected, braking force of the clutch is released so that the first and second movable plates fixing the ends of the wire ropes are raised upwards by tensioning force of the tensioning means. 
   
   
       10 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide means, which is provided in each of the support pillars so as to prevent the wire ropes from sagging and to ensure smooth vertical movement of the wire ropes, comprises a guide installed in an upper end of each of the support pillars and functioning to guide movement of a wire while changing a moving direction of the wire, wherein a first end of the wire, which is placed in a first side of the support pillar based on the guide, is connected to tensioning means, and a second end of the wire, which is placed in a second side of the support pillar, is connected to the wire ropes such that the wire ropes are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals. 
   
   
       11 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 10 , wherein the tensioning means, which is connected to the first end of the wire, is selected from the group consisting of a heavy weight, a shock absorber and a tension spring. 
   
   
       12 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 10 , wherein the second end of the wire, which is placed in the second side of the support pillar, is connected to the wire ropes by a rope holding unit, the rope holding unit comprising: a rope holder to hold the wire ropes at regular intervals, the rope holder connected at an upper end thereof to the second end of the wire; and a wheel or a slider provided at a predetermined position in the rope holder to be moved while being in contact with the support pillar. 
   
   
       13 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 1 , wherein the wire rope control means for selectively raising or lowering the wire ropes comprises: a train position sensor to sense a position of a stopped train, a passenger sensor to sense passengers, a position sensor to sense a position of the movable assembly, and a central processing unit to receive signals from the sensors and operate the drive means so as to raise or lower the movable assembly. 
   
   
       14 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 13 , wherein the wire rope control means for selectively raising or lowering the wire ropes and preventing passengers from going beyond a safety line further comprises at least one or two of a warning alarm, a warning light and a flashing light. 
   
   
       15 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 1 , wherein the wire ropes are made of metal, synthetic resin, reinforced rubber, or polyurethane. 
   
   
       16 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 1 , wherein the wire ropes include a luminescent material to emit light in the dark. 
   
   
       17 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 1 , wherein public information or advertisement plates or sheets are attached between the two or more wire ropes. 
   
   
       18 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 1 , wherein warning plates printed with words of warning are attached to the wire ropes. 
   
   
       19 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 cleaning means provided in at least one of the frames and support pillars to draw polluted air from a station having the platform, purify the polluted air and discharge the purified air.   
   
   
       20 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 19 , wherein the cleaning means comprises: an ultraviolet lamp installed at a predetermined position; and a photocatalyst provided at a predetermined position adjacent to the ultraviolet lamp to receive light from the ultraviolet lamp and cause a reaction of air. 
   
   
       21 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 2 , wherein the movable assembly to be moved upwards and downwards along each of the frames in the vertical direction comprises: first and second movable plates attached to and moved upwards and downwards along the guide rails of the columns, with the wire ropes being fastened at ends thereof to each of the first and second movable plates such that the ends of the wire ropes are arranged in longitudinal directions of the respective movable plates, wherein the first and second movable plates are coupled to the drive means so as to receive power from the drive means. 
   
   
       22 . The safety device for train platforms according to  claim 2 , wherein the movable assembly to be moved upwards and downwards along each of the frames in the vertical direction comprises: an integrated movable plate attached to and moved upwards and downwards along the guide rails of the columns and a plurality of guide pulleys rotatably provided along an intermediate portion of the integrated movable plate and guiding end parts of the wire ropes, wherein the integrated movable plate having the guide pulleys is coupled to the drive means so as to receive power from the drive means.