Land vehicle with technical hatch

Abstract

The invention relates to a land vehicle (110) comprising a vehicle body (12), a technical compartment (18) opening to an outer wall (16) of the vehicle body, and a device (120) for closing the technical compartment. The closing device comprises a first shutter (140) and a second shutter (142) rotatable with respect to the vehicle body, and a central element (144) connected to the vehicle body between the shutters. In a closed configuration of the closing device, each shutter extends in the longitudinal direction, one end of each shutter being in contact with the central element (144), said shutters thereby closing the technical compartment. In an open configuration of the closing device, both shutters can be folded against the outer wall (16) or against the central element (144) in order to provide access to the technical compartment.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a land vehicle comprising: a body including: a generally vertical outer wall extending in a horizontal longitudinal direction; a technology compartment opening to the outer wall; and at least one closing device capable of reversibly closing the technology compartment, the closing device being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. [Background Technology]

[0002] This invention is particularly applicable to rail vehicles, such as trains or trams, but can also be used in road vehicles, such as buses.

[0003] Rail vehicles are typically equipped with hatches for access to technical compartments. These hatches are formed by openings in the vehicle's walls, which are closed by doors or baffles.

[0004] In a known manner, the barrier is hinged to the vehicle wall along a horizontal axis. If the barrier is accidentally opened while the vehicle is in motion, the space requirement created by the barrier may exceed the limits stipulated in vehicle traffic regulations. Exceeding these limits can lead to accidents, especially when there are people on the station platform. [Summary of the Invention]

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to limit the risk of accidents caused by exceeding the rated limits, while allowing quick and easy access to the vehicle's technical compartment.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to have a land vehicle of the aforementioned type, wherein: the closing device includes: a first baffle and a second baffle aligned longitudinally; each baffle is rotatable relative to the outer wall of the vehicle body along a generally vertical axis; and a central element assembled to the vehicle body, the central element being disposed longitudinally between the first baffle and the second baffle; in the closed configuration of the closing device, both the first baffle and the second baffle extend longitudinally, with a first end and a second end of each baffle contacting the outer wall of the vehicle body and the central element respectively along the longitudinal direction, thereby closing the technical compartment; and in the open configuration of the closing device, both the first baffle and the second baffle are folded back to abut against the outer wall or against the central element to provide an entrance to the technical compartment.

[0007] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the land vehicle includes one or more of the following characteristics, either individually or in any technically feasible combination:

[0008] The central element of the closing device can be removably attached to the outer wall of the vehicle body;

[0009] The central element of the closing device is hinged to the outer wall along a preferably horizontal axis;

[0010] At least one of the first baffle and the second baffle is hinged to the central element;

[0011] At least one baffle hinged to the central element has a removable attachment element to the outer wall of the vehicle body;

[0012] At least one of the first baffle and the second baffle is hinged to the outer wall of the vehicle body;

[0013] At least one baffle hinged to the outer wall has a removable attachment element to the central element;

[0014] The central component is the panel;

[0015] The central element is a beam;

[0016] At least one of the first or second baffles and / or the central element has a vent for the technical compartment. [Attached Image Description]

[0017] This invention will be better understood by reading the following specification, which is given by way of non-limiting example only, and by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a side view of a land vehicle in a first configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and

[0019] Figure 2 This is a side view of a land vehicle in a second configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0020] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Detailed views of a land vehicle 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a land vehicle 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention are shown respectively.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the land vehicles 10, 110 are rail vehicles 11, 111, such as trains or trams. Such rail vehicles 11, 111 may have several similar carriages 10, 110 connected to each other.

[0022] Alternatively, land vehicles 10 and 110 are public bus-type road vehicles.

[0023] In the following description, vehicles 10 and 110 will be described together, wherein common elements are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0024] Land vehicles 10 and 110 include a body 12 and multiple wheels 14 that can rotate relative to the body.

[0025] Consider the orthogonal basis (X, Y, Z) associated with the vehicle body 12, where the Z direction represents vertical. The vehicle body extends along the horizontal direction X, which is called the longitudinal direction and corresponds to the travel direction of the land vehicles 10 and 110.

[0026] The vehicle body 12 specifically includes: a side wall 16; a technical compartment 18; and devices 20 and 120 for closing the technical compartment.

[0027] The sidewall 16 extends along the longitudinal direction X. Preferably, the sidewall is substantially vertical.

[0028] Technical compartment 18 is used, for example, for maintaining at least one hydraulic circuit 24 of vehicles 10, 110. Technical compartment 18 includes, for example, one or more drain valves and / or flush valves 26, 28.

[0029] In the case where land vehicles 10 and 110 are rail vehicle carriages 11 and 111 comprising several similar carriages, the hydraulic circuit 24 preferably extends over several carriages of the rail vehicle 11 and 111.

[0030] The technical compartment 18 is located within the vehicle body 12 and has an opening 30 into the side wall 16. Figure 2 ).

[0031] In this embodiment, the opening has a generally rectangular edge 32 ( Figure 2 The rectangle has a horizontal side of 34 and a vertical side of 36. Figure 1 ).

[0032] Closure devices 20 and 120 are suitable for reversibly closing the technical compartment 18. More specifically, closure devices 20 and 120 can... Figure 1 Visible closed configuration and Figure 2 Move between the visible open configurations.

[0033] In the closed configuration, closing devices 20 and 120 block the opening 30 of the technical compartment 18. In the open configuration, closing devices 20 and 120 provide access to the interior of the technical compartment 18, including valves 26 and 28.

[0034] The closing device includes: first baffles 40 and 140 and second baffles 42 and 142; and central elements 44 and 144.

[0035] Preferably, the height of each of the first baffles 40, 140, the second baffles 42, 142 and the center elements 44, 144 along Z is approximately equal to the height of the vertical edge 36 of the edge 32.

[0036] The first baffles 40, 140 and the second baffles 42, 142 are aligned along the longitudinal direction X. As will be described in detail below, the first baffles 40, 140 are rotatable relative to the vehicle body 12 along a first generally vertical axis 46, 146. Similarly, as will be described in detail below, the second baffles 42, 142 are rotatable relative to the vehicle body 12 along a second generally vertical axis 48, 148.

[0037] The central elements 44 and 144 are arranged along the longitudinal direction X between the first baffles 40 and 140 and the second baffles 42 and 142.

[0038] The central element engages with the edge 32 of the opening 30 of the technical compartment 18. Specifically, the central elements 44 and 144 engage with the horizontal edge 34 of the edge 32.

[0039] In the first embodiment, as Figure 1 As shown, the central element 44 is a rectangular panel. According to the second embodiment, as... Figure 2 As shown, the central element 144 is a beam arranged in a generally vertical position.

[0040] According to the first embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the central element 44 is attached to each of the horizontal edges 34 of the edge 32 with removable screw fasteners.

[0041] According to the second embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first end of the central element 144 is hinged to the side wall 16 of the vehicle body 12 along a third rotation axis 150 parallel to X. The second end of the central element 144 is attached to the side wall 16 with a removable screw-type fastener. Preferably, the third rotation axis 150 is located below the opening 30.

[0042] According to the first embodiment, at least one of the first baffle 40 and the second baffle 42 is hinged to the central element 44. Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first baffle 40 and the second baffle 42 is hinged to the central element 44, for example by means of hinges embodying the first axis of rotation 46 and the second axis of rotation 48. Additionally, each baffle 40, 42 is provided with a member 52 for releasably fastening to the edge 32 of the opening 30. The fastening member 52 is, for example, a latch.

[0043] According to the second embodiment, at least one of the first baffle 140 and the second baffle 142 is hinged to the edge 32 of the opening 30. Figure 2In the illustrated embodiment, both the first baffle 140 and the second baffle 142 are hinged to the central element 32, for example by means of a hinge embodying a first axis of rotation 146 and a second axis of rotation 148. Each of the first axis 146 and the second axis 148 is substantially aligned with the vertical edge 36 of the edge 32.

[0044] Additionally, each baffle 140, 142 is provided with a member 152 for removably fastening to the central element 144. The fastening member 152 is, for example, a latch.

[0045] Alternatively, and not shown, one of the first and second baffles is hinged to the central element; and the other of the first and second baffles is hinged to the side wall of the vehicle body.

[0046] Preferably, at least one of the first baffles 40, 140 and the second baffles 42, 142 is movable about its axis of rotation 46, 146, 48, 148 with an amplitude of approximately 180°.

[0047] Specifically, in Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, in the open configuration of the closing device 120, each of the baffles 140, 142 can be folded back to contact the sidewall 16.

[0048] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, in the open configuration of the closing device 20, at least one baffle 40, 42 can fold back against the central element 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the width along the X-axis of the central element 44 allows only one baffle 40, 42 to fold down onto the central element at a time. Alternatively, and not shown, both baffles 40, 42 can fold down onto the central element simultaneously using a wider central element.

[0049] Optionally, the closing devices 20, 120 include vents 54, 154 for venting the technical compartment 18 in the closed configuration of the devices. The vents 54, 154 are formed, for example, by a grid or louvers.

[0050] Vent holes 54, 154 are supported by at least one of the first baffles 40, 140 or the second baffles 42, 142 and / or the central element 44, 144. Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the central element has a louvered vent 54. Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, each baffle 140, 142 has a grid-type vent 154.

[0051] The method of operating the land vehicles 10, 110 and the closing devices 20, 120 will now be described. During the movement of the vehicles 10, 110, the closing devices 20, 120 are in a closed configuration, and the fasteners 52, 152 keep the baffles 40, 140, 42, 142 in contact with the edge of the opening 30 or with the center element 44, 144.

[0052] If latches 52 and 152 fail, the accidentally opened baffles 40, 140, 42, and 142 will fold back against the sidewall 16 or the central element 44 and 144. Therefore, the shape factors surrounding the land vehicles 10 and 110 along the transverse Y direction are contained within the constraints provided by the traffic rules governing the vehicles.

[0053] In order to access valves 26, 28 to service hydraulic system 24, the operator unlocks latches 52, 152 to open first baffles 40, 140 and / or second baffles 42, 142.

[0054] To access valve 26, which may be blocked by central elements 44, 144, the operator can also remove the removable fasteners connecting the central elements to the sidewall 16. Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the operator removes the screws securing the second end of beam 144 to the edge 32 of opening 30. The operator then rotates beam 144 about a third axis of rotation 150 to approach valve 26.

[0055] Once the maintenance is complete, the operator screws the center elements 44, 144 back into the edge 32 of the opening 30. Then, the operator locks the latches 52, 152 again to return the closing devices 20, 120 to the closed configuration.

[0056] As described above, the land vehicles 10 and 110 allow easy access to the technical compartment while avoiding exceeding the rated limits, particularly in cases where the baffles are unintentionally opened while the vehicle is moving. The louvers are simply hinged without opening the cylinders.

Claims

1. A land vehicle (10, 110) comprising a body (12), said body comprising: A vertical outer wall (16) extending along a horizontal longitudinal direction (X); A technical compartment (18) leading to the outer wall; and at least one closing device (20, 120) capable of reversibly closing the technical compartment, the closing device being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; The closing device includes: A first baffle (40, 140) and a second baffle (42, 142) aligned along the longitudinal direction; both baffles are rotatable relative to the outer wall of the vehicle body along a vertical axis (46, 146, 48, 148); and A central element (44, 144) is connected to the vehicle body, the central element being disposed longitudinally between the first baffle and the second baffle; In the closing configuration of the closing device, when both the first baffle and the second baffle extend along the longitudinal direction, the first and second ends of the two baffles along the longitudinal direction respectively contact the outer wall (16) of the vehicle body and the central element (44, 144), thereby blocking the technical compartment; In the open configuration of the closing device, both the first and second baffles can be folded to abut against the outer wall (16) or against the central element to provide an entrance to the technical compartment; The central element is removably attached to the outer wall (16) of the vehicle body; The vehicle is characterized in that the central element (144) of the closing device is hinged to the outer wall (16) along a horizontal axis (150).

2. The land vehicle (10) according to claim 1, wherein, At least one of the first baffle (40) and the second baffle (42) is hinged to the central element (44).

3. The land vehicle (10) according to claim 2, wherein, The at least one baffle (40, 42) hinged to the central element (44) has a member (52) for releasably fastening to the outer wall (16) of the vehicle body.

4. The land vehicle (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the first baffle (140) and the second baffle (142) is hinged to the outer wall (16) of the vehicle body.

5. The land vehicle (110) according to claim 4, wherein, The at least one baffle (140, 142) hinged to the outer wall (16) has a member (152) for releasably fastening to the central element (144).

6. The land vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The central element (44) is a panel.

7. The land vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The central element (144) is a beam.

8. The land vehicle (10, 110) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, At least one of the first baffle or the second baffle (140, 142) and / or the central element (44) includes a vent (54, 154) for the technical compartment (18).

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