Multi - layer carriage with misaligned floors

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi - storey carriage with a staggered floor. The carriage (10) includes a lower layer (16) and an upper layer (18) separated by an intermediate floor (20), and the intermediate floor includes a lower part (28), a higher part (30) and a transition part (32). The lower layer (16) includes a lower aisle (24) for passenger passage, which extends at the higher part (30) of the floor (20), and the upper layer (18) includes an upper aisle (26) for passenger passage, which extends on the lower part (28) of the floor (20). Each of the lower layer (16) and the upper layer (18) includes seats (22) located at the lower part (28) of the floor (20) and seats (22) located at the higher part (30) of the floor (20).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-layer carriage comprising a lower floor and an upper floor separated by an intermediate floor, wherein the intermediate floor comprises a lower portion, an upper portion and a transition portion.

[0002] The lower portion and the upper portion each extend between the transition portion and a respective side wall of the vehicle compartment and have respective heights different from each other in an elevation direction. [Background Technology]

[0003] It is known to employ double-deck carriages, particularly for rail or road vehicles intended to transport passengers, in order to increase the number of places available for the same floor space.

[0004] Dividing the interior space of the carriage into two stacked levels results in height constraints under the ceiling in each of the two levels. This limited height may not necessarily make passengers sitting in seats uncomfortable, but it may be difficult for people walking in the aisle, especially tall people.

[0005] Furthermore, increasing noise and thermal insulation constraints impose ever-greater material thicknesses, which leads to a further reduction in interior space in the vehicle cabin.

[0006] However, it is usually not possible to change the overall height of the car to increase the height below the roof. In fact, most tunnels, platforms and facilities are specifically measured for the current outer dimensions (gabarit) of the vehicle and are difficult to adapt, especially in terms of height.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a specific arrangement of double-decker cars that enables easier passage in the aisles while maintaining the same number of seating positions and without changing the overall dimensions of the vehicle. [Summary of the invention]

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multi-story vehicle compartment in which the height available for passenger passage is increased without changing the outer dimensions of the compartment.

[0009] The subject of the invention is therefore a carriage of the aforementioned type, in which the lower deck comprises a lower aisle for the passage of passengers, which extends in the elevation direction at the upper part of the floor, and the upper deck comprises an upper aisle for the passage of passengers, which extends at the lower part of the floor,

[0010] Each of the lower and upper floors includes seats located at a lower portion of the floor in the elevation direction and seats located at a higher portion of the floor in the elevation direction.

[0011] According to a specific embodiment, the carriage according to the present invention includes one or more of the following features considered individually or in any technically achievable combination:

[0012] - The transition part is deployed approximately in the middle of the side wall in the transverse direction;

[0013] - The seats are arranged in rows on both sides of the lower aisle and the upper aisle, and each row extends parallel to the transverse direction from one side wall to the other side wall;

[0014] - Each seat in each row has a seat (assise) that is located at substantially the same height as the other seats in the row in the elevation direction;

[0015] - Each row on the lower level includes a smaller number of seats located at a higher part of the floor in the elevation direction than the number of seats at a lower part of the floor, and each row on the upper level includes a smaller number of seats located at a lower part of the floor in the elevation direction than the number of seats at a higher part of the floor;

[0016] - Each row on the lower level includes at most one seat located at a higher part of the floor in the elevation direction, and each row on the upper level includes at most one seat located at a lower part of the floor in the elevation direction;

[0017] - At least one seat on the lower level and at least one seat on the upper level are located at the transition part in the elevation direction;

[0018] - One seat in each row is located at the transition part; and

[0019] - The lower level and the upper level each include a luggage rack extending along each of the side walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention will be better understood by reading the following description, which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a carriage according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a carriage according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] Figure 3 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a carriage according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In Figure 1 ​​​​​The carriage 10 according to the present invention is shown in cross-section. The carriage 10 includes a body 12 that defines an interior space 14. The carriage 10 is in particular a double-deck rail vehicle, such as a high-speed train or a tram.

[0025] As a variant (not shown), the carriage 10 is a carriage of a double-deck road vehicle, such as an articulated vehicle.

[0026] The carriage 10 is described with respect to the following directions: a longitudinal direction X-X extending along the normal driving direction of the carriage 10, a transverse direction Y-Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X-X and horizontal under the normal driving conditions of the carriage 10, and an elevation direction Z-Z vertical under the normal driving conditions of the carriage 10.

[0027] The body 12 includes side walls 15a, 15b and upper and lower walls, which define the interior space 14 therebetween.

[0028] The middle plane P of the carriage 10 is shown, which extends perpendicular to the transverse direction Y-Y and is equidistant from the side walls 15a, 15b.

[0029] The interior space 14 is separated by a middle floor 20 into a lower deck 16 and an upper deck 18 of the carriage 10. The carriage 10 advantageously includes at least one staircase (not shown), which enables passengers to go from the lower deck 16 to the upper deck 18 and vice versa.

[0030] The lower deck 16 extends in the elevation direction Z-Z below the upper deck 18 and the floor 20. The upper deck 18 extends in the elevation direction Z-Z above the lower deck 16 and the floor 20.

[0031] The interior space 14 is in particular intended to accommodate passengers simultaneously in the lower deck 16 and the upper deck 18. To this end, the lower deck 16 and the upper deck 18 each include a plurality of seats 22, and also include a lower aisle 24 and an upper aisle 26 respectively.

[0032] The seats 22 are deployed in rows extending parallel to each other and parallel to the transverse direction Y-Y. The rows of seats 22 extend from one side wall 15a, 15b to the other side wall on both sides of the lower aisle 24 and the upper aisle 26.

[0033] The term "row" means in particular a plurality of seats 22 arranged in a line along the transverse direction Y-Y. The seats 22 on the same row on both sides of one of the aisles 24, 26 constitute the same row.

[0034] Advantageously, the seats 22 in the same row are all oriented in the same direction, in particular along the longitudinal direction X-X.

[0035] For example, as Figure 1 shown, each row of seats 22 includes four seats 22, which are deployed on both sides of the lower aisle 24 and the upper aisle 26.

[0036] As a variant, at least one seat 22 is oriented along the transverse direction Y-Y.

[0037] The lower aisle 24 and the upper aisle 26 extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X on the lower layer 16 and the upper layer 18 respectively, so that passengers can move through the carriage 10.

[0038] According to the invention, the floor 20 comprises a lower part 28, a higher part 30 and a transition part 32, which are arranged adjacent to each other along the transverse direction Y-Y.

[0039] Each of the lower part 28 and the higher part 30 extends substantially perpendicular to the elevation direction Z-Z. They are arranged at different respective heights, the heights being measured from the bottom wall along the elevation direction Z-Z to the respective top surfaces of the lower part 28 or the higher part 30. The height of the lower part 28 is less than the height of the higher part 30. The height difference between the lower part 28 and the higher part 30 is denoted as d.

[0040] The floor 20 has a thickness e1 at the lower part 28 and a thickness e2 at the higher part 30.

[0041] Advantageously, the thicknesses e1 and e2 are equal to each other.

[0042] The transition part 32 extends obliquely with respect to the elevation direction Z-Z and forms an angle, for example, between 45° and 75° with the intermediate plane P.

[0043] As a variant (not shown), the transition part 32 forms a substantially vertical step oriented parallel to the intermediate plane P.

[0044] The higher part 28 extends between the transition part 32 and one side wall 15a, and the lower part 30 extends between the transition part 32 and the other side wall 15b.

[0045] Advantageously, the transition part 32 extends substantially in the middle of the side walls 15a, 15b along the transverse direction Y-Y and is traversed by the intermediate plane P. This enables the carriage 10 to have a center of gravity closer to the intermediate plane P and improves the balance of the carriage 10.

[0046] According to the invention, both the lower layer 16 and the upper layer 18 comprise seats 22 located at the lower part 28 of the floor 20 and at the higher part 30 of the floor 20.

[0047] The lower aisle 24 extends along the elevation direction Z-Z at the higher part 30 of the floor 20, and the upper aisle 26 extends on the lower part 28 of the floor 20. The upper aisle 26 is separated from the top wall of the vehicle body 12 by a height h1 below the ceiling, which is measured along the elevation direction Z-Z, and the lower aisle 24 is separated from the floor 20 by a height h2 below the ceiling.

[0048] The deployment of the aisles 24, 26 enables the heights h1, h2 below the ceiling to be increased, such that the sum of the height below the ceiling and the thickness of the floor 20, h1 + h2 + e1 and h1 + h2 + e2, are both greater than the spacing E between the upper and lower walls of the vehicle body 12 measured in the elevation direction Z-Z. This particularly enables the comfort of passengers passing through the aisles 24, 26 in the passenger compartment 10 to be improved.

[0049] In Figure 1 In the example shown, the height difference d between the lower part 28 and the higher part 30 is greater than the thicknesses e1, e2 of the floor 20 in the lower part 28 and the higher part 30. Therefore, the sum of the heights h1 + h2 below the ceiling is directly greater than the spacing E.

[0050] Advantageously, each row of seats 22 in the lower layer 16 includes a single seat 22 located at the higher part 30 of the floor 20 in the elevation direction Z-Z and three seats 22 located at the lower part 28 of the floor 20.

[0051] In this case, each row in the upper layer includes a single seat 22 located at the lower part 28 of the floor 20 in the elevation direction Z-Z and three seats 22 located at the higher part 30 of the floor 20.

[0052] As a variant, each row of seats 22 in the lower layer 16 includes two seats 22 located at the higher part 30 of the floor 20 in the elevation direction Z-Z and three seats 22 located at the lower part 28 of the floor 20.

[0053] In this case, each row in the upper layer 18 includes two seats 22 located at the lower part 28 of the floor 20 in the elevation direction Z-Z and three seats 22 located at the higher part 30 of the floor 20.

[0054] More generally, each row in the lower layer 16 includes a smaller number of seats 22 at the higher part 30 than the number of seats 22 at the lower part 28, and each row in the upper layer 18 includes a smaller number of seats 22 at the lower part 28 than the number of seats 22 at the higher part 30. This distribution of seats 22 enables the space for the lower aisle 24 and the upper aisle 26 to be set up more easily.

[0055] In particular, each row of seats 22 in the lower layer 16 and the upper layer 18 includes a seat 22 that is at least partially located at the transition portion 32. This makes it possible to increase the number of seats 22 in each row without encroaching on the space for the aisles 24, 26.

[0056] Advantageously, each seat 22 in each row has a seat 34 that is substantially at the same height as the seats 34 of the other seats 22 in that row in the elevation direction Z-Z, such that the seats 22 located at the lower portion 28 are like those at the higher portion 30 of the floor 20.

[0057] This deployment of the seats 22 makes it possible to improve the aesthetic appearance of the interior space 14 and the comfort of the passengers.

[0058] Advantageously, the luggage racks 36 extend along the side walls 15a, 15b in the lower layer 16 and the upper layer 18 above the rows of seats 22.

[0059] In Figure 2 is shown and described below a carriage 10' according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] The carriage 10' differs from the carriage 10 in that each row of seats 22 includes only three seats 22.

[0061] For each row in the lower layer, two seats 22 are located at the lower portion 28 of the floor 20, and a single seat 22 is located at the higher portion 30 of the floor 20. Conversely, for each row in the upper layer 18, a single seat 22 is located at the lower portion 28, and two seats 22 are located at the higher portion 30.

[0062] The seats 22 of the carriage 10' have an increased width in the lateral direction Y-Y, which improves the comfort of the passengers occupying them. The carriage 10' is, for example, a carriage of a railway or road vehicle of the first-class type, which brings improved comfort to the passengers.

[0063] As a variant, the rows of seats 22 in the lower layer 16 and the rows of seats 22 in the upper layer 18 have different numbers of seats. For example, for each row in the upper layer 18, a single seat 22 is located at the lower portion 28, and two seats 22 are located at the higher portion 30, while for each row in the lower layer 16, three seats 22 are located at the lower portion 28 of the floor 20, and a single seat 22 is located at the higher portion 30 of the floor 20.

[0064] In Figure 3 is shown and described below a carriage 10'' according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] The "compartment 10" is the same as compartment 10, except that the height difference d between the lower part and the upper part of the floor 20 is less than the thicknesses e1, e2 of the floor 20.

[0066] Thus, the sum of the heights h1 + h2 below the ceiling is less than the spacing E, but the sum of the height and the thickness h1 + h2 + e1 below the ceiling is still greater than the spacing E.

[0067] Such a construction enables a simpler and more robust floor 20 to be made, but provides slightly less passage space compared to the other embodiments described.

Claims

1. A multi - level passenger compartment (10, 10', 10”) comprising a lower level (16) and an upper level (18) separated by an intermediate floor (20), said intermediate floor (20) including a lower portion (28), a higher portion (30) and a transition portion (32), wherein said lower portion (28) and said higher portion (30) each extend between said transition portion (32) and respective side walls (15a, 15b) of the passenger compartment (10, 10', 10”) and have respective different heights along the elevation direction (Z - Z). The lower level (16) includes a lower aisle (24) for passenger passage, said lower aisle (24) extending along the elevation direction (Z - Z) at the higher portion (30) of the intermediate floor (20), and the upper level (18) includes an upper aisle (26) for passenger passage, said upper aisle (26) extending on the lower portion (28) of the intermediate floor (20). Each of the lower level (16) and the upper level (18) includes seats (22) located along the elevation direction (Z - Z) at the lower portion (28) of the intermediate floor (20) and seats (22) located along the elevation direction (Z - Z) at the higher portion (30) of the intermediate floor (20). It is characterized in that At least one seat (22) of the lower level (16) and at least one seat (22) of the upper level (18) are located along the elevation direction (Z - Z) at the transition portion (32), and said transition portion (32) extends obliquely with respect to the elevation direction (Z - Z).

2. The carriage (10, 10', 10") according to claim 1, wherein, The transition portion (32) is disposed substantially in the middle in the lateral direction (Y - Y) between the side walls (15a, 15b).

3. The carriage (10, 10', 10") according to claim 1, wherein, The seats (22) are arranged in rows on both sides of the lower aisle (24) and the upper aisle (26), and each row extends parallel to the lateral direction (Y - Y) from one side wall (15a, 15b) to the other.

4. The carriage (10, 10', 10") according to claim 3, wherein, Each seat (22) in each row has a seat cushion (34) which is located at substantially the same height along the elevation direction (Z - Z) as the other seats (22) in the row.

5. The carriage (10, 10', 10") according to claim 3, wherein, The number of seats (22) in each row of the lower level (16) located along the elevation direction (Z - Z) at the higher portion (30) of the intermediate floor (20) is less than the number of seats (22) at the lower portion (28) of the intermediate floor (20), and the number of seats (22) in each row of the upper level (18) located along the elevation direction (Z - Z) at the lower portion (28) of the intermediate floor (20) is less than the number of seats (22) at the higher portion (30) of the intermediate floor (20).

6. The carriage (10, 10', 10") according to claim 5, wherein, Each row of the lower level (16) includes at most one seat (22) located along the elevation direction (Z - Z) at the higher portion (30) of the intermediate floor (20), and each row of the upper level (18) includes at most one seat (22) located along the elevation direction (Z - Z) at the lower portion (28) of the intermediate floor (20).

7. The carriage (10, 10', 10") according to claim 1, wherein, One seat (22) of each row is located at the transition portion (32).

8. The carriage (10, 10', 10") according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The lower layer (16) and the upper layer (18) each include a luggage rack (36) extending along each of the side walls (15a, 15b).

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