Vehicle, In Particular Rail Vehicle, With A Passenger Region And A Luggage Region

Abstract

A vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, includes a passenger region and a luggage region. The passenger region and the luggage region are separate and at least one luggage input device for transferring luggage from the passenger region into the luggage region, and at least one luggage output device for transferring luggage from the luggage region into the passenger region are provided. The luggage region is equipped with a luggage transport device which, when an item of luggage is delivering to the luggage input device, transports the respective piece of luggage to a storage point of the luggage region and, when there is a return request at the luggage output device, transports the respective item of luggage to the luggage output device. A luggage storage device for a vehicle and a method for storing luggage in a vehicle are also provided.

Description

The invention relates to vehicles, in particular rail vehicles, which are provided with passenger regions and luggage regions.

In current conventional rail vehicles, items of luggage belonging to the passengers are stowed in luggage racks above the seats or in luggage shelf racks.

Luggage racks which are arranged above the seats in the region of the side wall or the ceiling of the rail vehicles are described for example in the German laid-open application DE 10 2007 052 493 A1 and in the German utility model DE 20 2010 013 488 U1. A disadvantage of luggage racks above the seats is that these cannot always be used in the case of particularly heavy or particularly large items of luggage. This means that seat regions are often used to store luggage, whereby the usable seating capacity is reduced.

Luggage racks which enable luggage to be stored close to the ground and which are thus also suitable for heavy items of luggage reduce the passenger capacity of the rail vehicles to a significant extent.

The object of the invention is to specify a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, in which the problem of luggage storage is solved more effectively than with previous vehicles.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a vehicle having the features according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the vehicle according to the invention are specified in dependent claims.

In accordance with the invention, provision is therefore made for the passenger region and the luggage region to be separate and for there to be at least one luggage input device for transferring luggage from the passenger region into the luggage region, and at least one luggage output device for transferring luggage from the luggage region into the passenger region, and for the luggage region to be equipped with a luggage transport device which, when an item of luggage is delivered to the luggage input device, transports the respective item of luggage to a storage point of the luggage region and, when there is a return request at the luggage output device, transports the respective item of luggage to the luggage output device.

A key advantage of the invention lies in the automated luggage storage by means of the luggage transport device provided in accordance with the invention, which enables even heavy items of luggage to be delivered and stored. A placement of luggage on seats can thus be avoided.

A further key advantage of the invention is considered the fact that access by unauthorized individuals to items of luggage is prevented or at least hindered due to the separation of the luggage region and the passenger region; this is because access pre-supposes an authorized return request at the luggage output device. Passengers can thus leave their seat without having to worry about the luggage left behind.

The separation between luggage region and passenger region is preferably technically secured, for example via cameras and/or alarm devices, in order to prevent or hinder unauthorized access to luggage.

The luggage input device and the luggage output device can be separate devices which are arranged at a distance from one another at different points of the passenger region. However, it is considered to be particularly advantageous when the luggage input device and the luggage output device are formed by an input and output station which performs the function of the luggage input device and the function of the luggage output device and enables a luggage input, an input of a return request, and the luggage output.

In order to enable particularly heavy items of luggage to be delivered and returned in a simple manner, it is considered to be advantageous when the luggage input device and the luggage output device are arranged in the floor region of the passenger region at floor level or close to the floor (i.e. at a height of at most 20 cm) and when luggage can be input and output at floor level or at a level close to the floor.

With a view to an optimal utilization of the internal volume of the vehicle, it is considered to be advantageous when the passenger region and the luggage region are arranged on different levels of the vehicle and the luggage transport device has a lifting device, which transports the items of luggage between the two levels. The luggage region can be arranged for example above the passenger region or alternatively below the passenger region.

In order to enable a simple and reliable assignment of items of luggage to the respective passengers, it is considered to be advantageous when the vehicle has a passenger identification device, which, before, during, or after the luggage delivery, detects passenger identification data, in particular in the form of a ticket number or identity number, and assigns this to the respective item of luggage.

For luggage identification in the case of a passenger return request, the vehicle preferably has a luggage identification device, which, before, during, or after input of a return request, detects luggage and/or passenger identification data, in particular in the form of a ticket number or identity number, and identifies the item(s) of luggage to be output on the basis of the luggage and/or passenger identification data.

The luggage output device is preferably designed in such a way that, in the event that a number of items of luggage have been determined for the respective passenger identification data, it offers the passenger a choice as to which of the items of luggage is/are to be output.

In order to store a large number of items of luggage, it is considered to be advantageous when the luggage region has a large number of storage points. In order to manage the storage points, the vehicle preferably has a storage management device, which chooses the respective storage point when an item of luggage is input.

The luggage can be deposited in the storage points in a seat-based manner, for example in such a way that each of the seats in the passenger region is assigned a certain storage point in the luggage region. In other words, in the case of such an embodiment, the respective seat or reserved seat would decide the storage point of the luggage.

However, it is considered to be better when luggage is stored without seating reference (“chaotically”); the storage management device preferably determines the storage point on the basis of the destination of the passenger inputting the respective item of luggage.

With a view to minimal return times in the case of a return request for items of luggage, it is considered to be advantageous when the storage management device is designed in such a way that it selects a nearby storage point requiring a short transport path within the luggage region in the case of a close destination of the passenger, and a far storage point requiring a longer transport path within the luggage region compared to a nearby storage point in the case of a distant destination.

In order to ensure an optimal storage of the items of luggage in the storage points of the luggage region during the journey, it is considered to be advantageous when the storage management device is designed in such a way that it can allow a rearrangement of the items of luggage within the luggage region such that items of luggage of which the destination will be reached first and which are expected to be returned earlier accordingly are relocated to storage points which are close to the luggage output device, and items of luggage of which the destination will be reached later and which are expected to be returned later accordingly are relocated to storage points which are further away from the luggage output device.

The invention additionally relates to a luggage storage device for a vehicle, in particular a vehicle as has been described above. A luggage storage device of this type preferably comprises:

• • at least one luggage input device,
  • at least one luggage output device,
  • a luggage transport device which, when an item of luggage is delivered to the luggage input device, transports the respective item of luggage to a storage point of a luggage region and, when there is a return request at the luggage output device, transports the respective item of luggage to the luggage output device for the purpose of outputting said item of luggage, and
  • a storage management device, which selects the respective storage point of the luggage when an item of luggage is input.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous when the luggage storage device additionally comprises:

• • a passenger identification device, which, before, during, or after the luggage delivery, detects passenger identification data, in particular in the form of a ticket number or identity number, and assigns this to the delivered item of luggage, and/or
  • a luggage identification device, which, before, during, or after input of a return request, detects luggage and/or passenger identification data, in particular in the form of a ticket number or identity number, and determines the item(s) of luggage delivered for the respective data on the basis of the luggage and/or passenger identification data.

The invention additionally relates to an input and output station for a luggage storage device as has been described above. An input and output station of this type is preferably designed in such a way that it can perform the function of a luggage input device and the function of a luggage output device and enables a luggage input, an input of a return request, and a luggage output.

The invention additionally relates to a method for storing luggage in a vehicle, in particular rail vehicle, which is provided with a passenger region and a luggage region.

With regard to a method of this type, provision is made in accordance with the invention for the passenger region and the luggage region to be separate and for there to be at least one luggage input device for transferring luggage from the passenger region into the luggage region, and at least one luggage output device for transferring luggage from the luggage region into the passenger region, and, when an item of luggage is delivered to the luggage input device, for the respective item of luggage to be transported to a storage point of the luggage region and, when there is a return request at the luggage output device, for the respective item of luggage to be transported to the luggage output device.

With regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference should be made to the above comments provided in conjunction with the vehicle according to the invention, since the advantages of the method according to the invention correspond to those of the vehicle according to the invention.

The luggage is preferably input and output in the floor region of the passenger region, preferably at floor level or close to the floor.

With a view to an optimal utilization of space, it is considered to be advantageous when the passenger region and the luggage region are arranged on different levels of the vehicle and the luggage is transported with use of a lifting device, by means of which the items of luggage are transported between the two levels.

Passenger identification data, in particular in the form of a ticket number or identity number, are preferably detected before, during, or after the luggage delivery and are assigned to the respective item of luggage.

Luggage and/or passenger identification data, in particular in the form of a ticket number or identity number, are preferably detected before, during, or after input of a return request, and the item(s) of luggage to be output is/are determined on the basis of said data.

In the case that a number of items of luggage have been determined for the respective passenger identification data, it is preferably asked which of the items of luggage is/are to be output.

The storage point in the luggage region is preferably selected at least also on the basis of the destination of the passenger delivering the respective item of luggage.

In the case of a close destination of the passenger, a nearby storage point requiring a short transport path within the luggage region is preferably selected; in the case of a distant destination, a far storage point requiring a longer transport path within the luggage region compared with a nearby storage point is preferably selected.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous when the items of luggage are rearranged within the luggage region—preferably while the vehicle is travelling—such that the items of luggage of which the destination will be reached first and which are expected to be returned earlier accordingly are relocated to storage points close to the luggage output device, and items of luggage of which the destination will be reached later and which are expected to be returned later accordingly are relocated to storage points further away from the luggage output device.

The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter on the basis of exemplary embodiments; here, by way of example:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a rail vehicle according to the invention in a view from the side,

FIG. 2 shows a luggage region of the rail vehicle according to FIG. 1 in a plan view, and

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a control device which can be used in the rail vehicle according to FIGS. 1 and 2 to control an automatic luggage storage system.

In the figures, for the sake of clarity, the same reference signs are always used for identical or comparable components.

FIG. 1 shows an interior 10 of a rail vehicle 20 illustrated only in part. The rail vehicle 20 has a luggage region 30 and a passenger region 40, which is physically separate from the luggage region 30. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the luggage region 30 and the passenger region 40 are disposed on different levels; in FIG. 1 it can thus be seen that the luggage region 30 is arranged above the passenger region 40.

The passenger region 40 is provided with seats 41, which are mounted on or secured to the floor 42 of the passenger region 40. In order to deliver items of luggage 50, an input and output station 60 is provided in the passenger region 40 and is preferably installed directly on the floor 42 of the passenger region 40, or at least close to the floor. An arrangement of the input and output station 60 at floor level or close to the floor is advantageous in order to enable items of luggage 50 to be input into the input and output station 60 and also to enable items of luggage 50 to be removed from the input and output station 60 without any lifting effort or with only little lifting effort.

The input and output station 60 is connected via a luggage transport device 70 to the luggage region 30 arranged above the passenger region 40. Since the luggage region 30 and the passenger region 40 are disposed on different levels, the luggage transport device 70 is provided with a lifting device 71, which enables the items of luggage 50 input into the input and output station 60 in the passenger region 40 to be lifted to the level of the luggage region 30.

The input and output station 60 is operated by passengers by means of an operating device 61, which is mounted externally on the input and output station 60. The operating device 61 is connected to a control device 80, which can be arranged in the region of the input and output station 60—as illustrated in FIG. 1—or at another point in the rail vehicle 20. The control device 80 controls the operation of the input and output station 60 and also the operation of the luggage transport device 70, and manages the storage points 90 provided for the luggage 50 in the luggage region 30.

FIG. 2 shows the luggage region 30 of the rail vehicle 20 according to FIG. 1 in a plan view. A conveyor belt 72 of the luggage transport device 70, which is connected to the lifting device 71 and enables items of luggage 50 to be transported from the lifting device 71 to the storage points 90, can be seen. In order to enable the items of luggage 50 to be transported in automated form within the storage points 90 as well, the luggage transport device 70 is preferably provided in the region of the storage points 90 with driven or drivable rollers 73.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the control device 80 according to FIG. 1 in greater detail. A computing device 81, which is connected to a memory 82, can be seen. Three control program modules or software modules are stored in the memory 82, specifically a passenger identification module SM1, a luggage identification module SM2, and also a storage management module SM3.

If the computing device 81 runs the passenger identification module SM1, it functions as a passenger identification device, which, before, during, or after the delivery of an item of luggage 50 to the input and output station 60 according to FIG. 1, detects passenger identification data input by the passengers at the operating device 61 according to FIG. 1, and which for example can be ticket numbers or identity numbers, and assigns these data to the delivered item of luggage 50. The passenger identification data are preferably stored in a memory portion 82a of the memory 82, for example jointly with the specification of the respective storage point 90 at which the delivered item of luggage 50 is stored.

If the computing device 81 runs the luggage identification module SM2, it functions as a luggage identification device, which, before, during, or after input of a return request, retrieves or detects luggage and/or passenger identification data, in particular in the form of a ticket number or identity number, via the operating device 61 of the input and output station 60 and determines the item(s) of luggage matching the respective data on the basis of the luggage and/or passenger identification data.

If the computing device 81 runs the storage management module SM3, it functions as a storage management device, which selects the respective storage point 90 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) when an item of luggage 50 is input and—if advantageous—redistributes the items of luggage in the luggage region 30 or in the storage points 90 at a later moment in time.

The memory portion 82a of the memory 82 allows the computing device 81 to store the data collected within the scope of the luggage acceptance, luggage output, and storage management: the computing device 81 for example thus stores, in the memory portion 82a, the passenger identification data detected with delivery of items of luggage. The computing device 81 also uses the memory portion 82a to store the respective storage points 90 for the delivered items of luggage 50 in order to find the corresponding items of luggage when there is a return request for luggage and in order to transport these to the input and output station 60 via the luggage transport device 70.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the input and output stations 60, the luggage transport device 70, the control device 80, and the storage points 90 form a luggage storage device for the rail vehicle 20. This luggage storage device can be operated for example as follows:

If a passenger wishes to deliver an item of luggage 50 to the input and output station 60 according to FIG. 1, said passenger will input passenger identification data via the operating device 61, for example in the form of a ticket number or an identity number, at the operating device 61. The passenger identification data are detected by the control device 80 and stored in the memory portion 82a of the memory 82. The control device 80 additionally determines a suitable storage point 90 in the luggage region 30 of the rail vehicle 20. The control device 80 will preferably select the respective storage point 90 on the basis of the respective destination of the passenger inputting the respective item of luggage. The control device 80 will preferably select a nearby storage point requiring a short transport path within the luggage region in the case of a close destination of the passenger, and will preferably select a far storage point requiring a longer transport path within the luggage region compared with a nearby storage point in the case of a distant destination.

Once the control device 80 has found or determined a suitable storage point 90, it controls the luggage transport device 70, i.e. the lifting device 71, the conveyor belt 72 and also the drivable rollers 73, in such a way that the delivered item of luggage reaches the respective storage point 90 and is stored there. The respective storage point is stored in the memory portion 82a together with the associated passenger identification data, so that a passenger-specific return of luggage is possible in the event of a return request for luggage.

If a return request is input at the operating device 61 by a passenger, the control device 80 will retrieve or detect the respective passenger identification data, in particular in the form of a ticket number or identity number, via the operating device 61 and, on the basis of the passenger identification data and the entries in the memory portion 82a of the memory 82, will determine the items of luggage delivered for the respective passenger identification data. In the event that a number of items of luggage are determined or have been stored in the luggage region 30 for the respective passenger identification data, the control device 80 will provide the respective passenger with a choice via the operating device 61 as to which of the items of luggage is/are to be output.

As already mentioned, the storage points 90 are preferably selected depending on the respective destination of the passenger, wherein it is assumed when selecting the storage points 90 that passengers will request a return of their luggage shortly before reaching their respective destination. In order to always ensure minimal luggage return times, the control device 80 will preferably rearrange items of luggage within the luggage region 30 during the journey and will transport items of luggage for which an output is imminent or is shortly anticipated to storage points 90 which are as close as possible to the input and output station 60. Items of luggage of which the destination will be reached later and which are expected to be returned later accordingly are preferably relocated to storage points arranged further from the luggage output device.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, merely a single input and output station 60 is provided for the luggage region 30; alternatively, a number of input and output stations 60 can also be provided.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail by preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived herefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A vehicle or a rail vehicle, comprising: a passenger region and a luggage region being separate from one another, said luggage region being equipped with a luggage transport device and storage points;at least one luggage input device for transferring luggage from said passenger region into said luggage region;at least one luggage output device for transferring luggage from said luggage region into said passenger region;said luggage transport device transporting a respective item of luggage to one of said storage points of said luggage region upon said item of luggage being delivered to said at least one luggage input device; andsaid luggage transport device transporting a respective item of luggage to said at least one luggage output device upon a return request at said at least one luggage output device.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, which further comprises an input and output station forming said at least one luggage input device and said at least one luggage output device, said an input and output station performing functions of said at least one luggage input device and said at least one luggage output device and enabling a luggage input, an input of a return request, and a luggage output.

18. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said passenger region has a floor defining a floor region and a floor level, and said at least one luggage input device and said at least one luggage output device are disposed in said floor region at said floor level or in a vicinity of said floor permitting luggage to be input and output at said floor level or in said vicinity of said floor.

19. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle has two different levels, said passenger region and said luggage region are each disposed on a respective one of said two different levels, and said luggage transport device has a lifting device transporting the items of luggage between said two different levels.

20. The vehicle according to claim 16, which further comprises a passenger identification device detecting passenger identification data before, during or after a luggage delivery and assigning the passenger identification data to a respective item of luggage.

21. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the passenger identification data are in the form of a ticket number or an identity number.

22. The vehicle according to claim 16, which further comprises a luggage identification device detecting at least one of luggage or passenger identification data before, during, or after input of a return request and identifying at least one item of luggage to be output based on the data.

23. The vehicle according to claim 22, wherein said at least one of luggage or passenger identification data are in the form of a ticket number or identity number.

24. The vehicle according to claim 22, wherein said at least one luggage output device is configured to offer a respective passenger a choice as to which items of luggage are to be output upon determining a plurality of items of luggage for respective passenger identification data.

25. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein: said luggage region has a multiplicity of said storage points; anda storage management device selects a respective one of said storage points when an item of luggage is input.

26. The vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said storage management device selects said storage point based on a destination of the passenger inputting a respective item of luggage.

27. The vehicle according to claim 26, wherein said storage management device is configured to select: a relatively nearby storage point requiring a short transport path within said luggage region if the passenger is traveling to a relatively close destination, anda relatively far storage point requiring a longer transport path within said luggage region than said relatively nearby storage point if the passenger is traveling to a relatively distant destination.

28. The vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said storage management device is configured to allow a rearrangement of the items of luggage within said luggage region to cause: items of luggage having a destination which will be reached first and are expected to be returned earlier to be relocated to storage points being relatively closer to said at least one luggage output device, anditems of luggage having a destination which will be reached later and are expected to be returned later to be relocated to storage points being relatively further away from said at least one luggage output device.

29. A luggage storage device for a vehicle or a rail vehicle, the luggage storage device comprising: at least one luggage input device;at least one luggage output device;a luggage transport device: transporting an item of luggage delivered to said at least one luggage input device to one of said storage points of said luggage region according to claim 16, andtransporting the respective item of luggage to said at least one luggage output device upon a return request at said at least one luggage output device; anda storage management device selecting a respective one of said storage points upon an item of luggage being input.

30. The luggage storage device according to claim 29, which further comprises: a passenger identification device detecting passenger identification data before, during, or after a luggage delivery and assigning said passenger identification data to a delivered item of luggage; anda luggage identification device detecting at least one of luggage or passenger identification data before, during, or after an input of a return request and determining at least one item of luggage to be output based on the at least one of luggage or passenger identification data.

31. The luggage storage device according to claim 30, wherein said passenger identification data are in the form of a ticket number or identity number, and said at least one of luggage or passenger identification data are in the form of a ticket number or identity number.

32. An input and output station for a luggage storage device, the input and output station comprising: means for performing a function of said at least one luggage input device and a function of said at least one luggage output device according to claim 16 and for enabling a luggage input, an input of a return request, and a luggage output.

33. An input and output station for a luggage storage device, the input and output station comprising: means for performing a function of said at least one luggage input device and a function of said at least one luggage output device according to claim 29 and for enabling a luggage input, an input of a return request, and a luggage output.

34. A method for storing luggage in a vehicle or a rail vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: providing a passenger region;providing a luggage region being separate from the passenger region and having storage points;using at least one luggage input device disposed between the passenger region and the luggage region for transferring luggage from the passenger region into the luggage region;using at least one luggage output device disposed between the passenger region and the luggage region for transferring luggage from the luggage region into the passenger region;transporting a respective item of luggage delivered to the luggage input device to one of the storage points of the luggage region; andtransporting a respective item of luggage to the luggage output device upon a return request at the luggage output device.