Rail vehicle with frontal curved sliding door and method for coupling and decoupling rail vehicles

Abstract

A rail vehicle with a device for opening and closing a front end of the vehicle. The device includes a turning device with a laterally displaceable curved sliding door that closes the front of the rail vehicle in a first position and allows frontal access to the rail vehicle in a second position, wherein the turning angle is no more than 90°.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A rail vehicle with a device for opening and closing a front end of the vehicle, comprising:
 a curved sliding door connected to at least one turning device and can be laterally displaced, wherein the curved sliding door closes the front of the rail vehicle in a first position and allows frontal access to the rail vehicle in a second position, and wherein a turning angle of the curved sliding door is no more than 90°.   
     
     
         20 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the turning device and a horizontal inner surface of the rail vehicle substantially form one plane. 
     
     
         21 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the turning device comprises a turntable and a rotary ring on the floor side or the ceiling side that is rotatably supported about an axis of rotation and rigidly connected to the curved sliding door. 
     
     
         22 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 21 , wherein the turning device comprises a first turntable on a floor side that is rotatably supported about the axis of rotation and a second turntable on a ceiling side that is rotatably supported about the axis of rotation, wherein the first and second turntables are rigidly connected to the curved sliding door and axially connected to one another by a connecting element. 
     
     
         23 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 21 , wherein the turning device is supported in a torsionally elastic fashion, wherein individual rollers or roller segments that are designed for absorbing passenger loads are used for supporting the first turntable on the floor side. 
     
     
         24 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the turning device comprises a rail that extends around an axis of rotation along a segment of a circular arc and laterally guides the curved sliding door. 
     
     
         25 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the axis of rotation of the turning device extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the device for opening and closing the front end comprises locking elements for locking the curved sliding door in the first and/or the second position. 
     
     
         27 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the device for opening and closing the front end is configured such that a change between the first position and the second position of the curved sliding door depends on the occupancy status of a vehicle coupling of the rail vehicle, wherein the second position can only be assumed in a completely coupled state. 
     
     
         28 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the device for opening and closing the front end is configured such that a change between the first position and the second position of the curved sliding door depends on the occupancy status of a vehicle coupling of the rail vehicle, wherein the first position is automatically assumed when a decoupling operation is initiated 
     
     
         29 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the device for opening and closing the front end comprises a drive for laterally displacing the curved sliding door, wherein the drive is arranged stationary relative to the rail vehicle and outside the turning device. 
     
     
         30 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 29 , wherein the drive comprises one of a linear drive, a rotary drive or a friction drive. 
     
     
         31 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 29 , wherein the device comprises a control unit for controlling the drive and a sensor that is connected to the control unit and serves for detecting persons and/or objects, wherein the control unit only allows a change between the first position and the second position of the curved sliding door if no persons and/or objects were detected by the sensor at least in the region of the device. 
     
     
         32 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the curved sliding door has an inner side and an outer side, and in that at least one decorative inner surface and/or at least one passenger seat and/or at least one luggage rack and/or at least one bicycle rack and/or a driver's desk is arranged on the inner side and can be displaced together with the curved sliding door. 
     
     
         33 . The rail vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the curved sliding door is realized with such a stability that the front end of the vehicle can be used as leading or trailing end of a train. 
     
     
         34 . A method for coupling rail vehicles that on their facing front ends respectively comprise a device for opening and closing the vehicle ends according to  claim 19  comprising:
 moving the rail vehicles relative toward one another with respectively closed vehicle ends until automatic couplings of the rail vehicles produce electrical and mechanical connections between the two rail vehicles; 
 after the rail vehicles have been coupled to one another, producing a passenger crossing bridge between the coupled rail vehicles; and 
 releasing a passage for passengers between the coupled rail vehicles by laterally displacing the respective curved sliding doors into the second position. 
 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , comprising sensing to verify that no persons and/or objects are situated at least in the region of the turning device before a coupling operation is initiated. 
     
     
         36 . A method for decoupling coupled rail vehicles that on their facing front ends respectively comprise a device for opening and closing the vehicle ends according to  claim 19  comprising:
 initially verifying that no persons or objects are situated in the region of the passage between the two coupled rail vehicles, as well as at least in the region of the respective turning device; 
 closing the front ends of the coupled rail vehicles by laterally displacing the respective curved sliding doors into the first position; and 
 decoupling the rail vehicles.