VEHICLE COMPREHENSIVE WITH A BELL WITH DRAINAGE CHANNEL

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bellows as transition protection for a transition between two movably connected car bodies of a multi-part vehicle, wherein the bellows has a roof, a first side part and a second side part arranged opposite the first side part, wherein at least the first side part and the second side part each have a plurality of folds or waves made of a bendable material, wherein each of the folds or waves of a side part has a narrow side extending along a transverse direction and a longitudinal side extending along a longitudinal direction, wherein the bellows has a first cover element, wherein the first cover element is arranged on the outside of the first side part, and wherein the first cover element is connected to the first side part or is integrally formed with the first side part.Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such a bellows, and to a method for manufacturing such a bellows or a vehicle comprising such a bellows.

[0002] In public transport such as buses and trains, but also in passenger boarding bridges, it is common practice to protect the transition for passengers between two carriages or a passenger boarding bridge and an aircraft from weather, drafts, and other environmental influences. The bellows required for this purpose enclose the transition at least in the area of ​​the roof and the opposing side panels.

[0003] The individual bellows is typically constructed, at least in the area of ​​the side parts, from a plurality of folds or waves made of a flexible, in particular sheet-shaped, material, so that the bellows is able to compensate for relative movements between the carriage bodies or the passenger boarding bridge and the aircraft.

[0004] In many applications, particularly when connecting train and bus car bodies, the side panels of the bellows do not extend to the height of the adjacent car bodies, resulting in a non-flush connection between the car bodies and the side panel. Since a flush connection is desirable for aesthetic reasons, it is known to connect the side panels with cover elements that extend the side panel longitudinally and typically project beyond the roof of the bellows to create a flush roof-side connection between the car bodies and the bellows.

[0005] From publication CN 110 406 335 A, a bellows, a bellows arrangement and a vehicle with bellows are known.

[0006] Publication CN 213 565 878 U discloses a passageway and a vehicle with such a passageway, wherein the passageway comprises a windbreak, two upper decorative sheds and a support, and the two upper decorative sheds are arranged on two sides of the top of the windbreak.

[0007] EP 4019363 A1 shows cover elements that do not extend above the vehicle roof in height.

[0008] However, the known cover elements often present the problem that rainwater, which falls on the outside of the bellows roof and also on the outside of the roofs of adjacent car bodies, cannot drain away completely or only insufficiently. This can lead to water collecting in depressions between the cover element and the roof. If external forces then act on the bellows, as can happen, for example, when a train brakes as it enters a station, there is a risk that the collected water will surge over the cover element and thus, in the case of a train entering a station, cause damage to property or personal injury to standing or seated passengers. This is a situation that must be avoided. Drainage systems that are provided on or integrated into the car bodies are known from the prior art.Furthermore, especially in light of the increase in heavy rainfall events caused by climate change, there is a general need for improved water drainage.

[0009] Therefore, compared to the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bellows of the type mentioned at the outset which enables a rapid and controlled drainage of water.

[0010] The problem underlying the invention is solved by a vehicle, in particular a bus or a tram, comprising a bellows and two car bodies, wherein the bellows is arranged between the two car bodies and movably connects the two car bodies to each other.

[0011] According to the invention, at least one fold or wave of the first side part on the one hand and at least one part of the first cover element on the other hand enclose a drainage channel extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the drainage channel is designed to drain a stream of water pouring onto the roof of the bellows.

[0012] Thus, the bellows is advantageously used to provide a drainage system for the vehicle or crossing equipped with it. In the case of a tram, rainwater only needs to be channeled from the tram's roof to the bellows' roof. From there, it is drained away via the bellows' drainage channel and, by gravity, towards the ground.

[0013] For the purposes of this application, a fold or a wave is understood to be a section or segment, e.g., of the respective side part of the bellows, which in a cross-section parallel to the narrow side describes a path from the inside of the bellows towards the outside and back again or vice versa.

[0014] The narrow side of the fold or wave, when the bellows is installed, extends essentially parallel to the bridge between the car bodies or bridge sections. In this installed state, the narrow side extends essentially horizontally. In contrast, when the bellows is installed, the long side of the fold or wave, as well as the long side of the reinforcement section, extend essentially vertically and / or perpendicular to the bridge.

[0015] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the drainage channel has an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening being located closer to the roof than the outlet opening, and the drainage channel being designed such that a water flow entering the inlet opening can be directed longitudinally to the outlet opening. This results in an outlet directed directly onto the ground and therefore reduces the risk of water being deflected laterally.

[0016] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the drainage channel has a rhomboid, square, circular, or elliptical cross-sectional area in a section plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. These cross-sectional shapes enable sufficient water drainage and also allow for a material-saving solution for encasing the drainage channel. In particular, these cross-sections also prevent the drainage channel from becoming clogged by foreign objects such as leaves that may be present in the cover element.

[0017] This ensures that trouble-free drainage can be guaranteed at all times.

[0018] According to the invention, the first cover element has a plurality of folds or waves made of a bendable material, each of the folds or waves of the first cover element having a narrow side extending along the transverse direction and a long side extending along the longitudinal direction. Thus, the first cover element has a similar shape to the first side part, which facilitates the connection of these two elements.

[0019] According to the invention, the first side panel and the first cover element are designed such that at least one fold or wave of the first cover element is arranged opposite exactly one fold or wave of the first side panel, or several folds or waves of the first side panel, so that these opposing folds or waves enclose the drainage channel. This represents the most effective way of providing a drainage channel while largely preserving the original appearance of the side panel.

[0020] Characteristic of the invention is that the vehicle has a vehicle roof, wherein the covering element extends in the longitudinal direction to the height of the vehicle roof or beyond.

[0021] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the first side panel and the first cover element are designed such that a single, i.e., exactly one, fold or wave of the first cover element is arranged opposite exactly one fold or wave of the first side panel. Such an embodiment does not reduce the flexibility of the bellows when cornering and enables optimized water drainage.

[0022] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the first side panel and the first cover element are designed such that each individual fold or wave of the first cover element is arranged opposite exactly one individual fold or wave of the first side panel, so that each pair of opposing folds or waves encloses a drainage channel. In this way, uncontrolled water drainage is largely avoided.

[0023] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the at least one fold or wave of the first side panel is curved inwards, and a fold or wave of the first cover element opposite this fold or wave of the first side panel is curved outwards. This creates a drainage channel in a particularly simple way by means of opposing waves or folds.

[0024] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, each fold or wave of the first cover element is curved outwards, and each fold or wave of the first side panel opposite such a fold or wave of the first cover element is curved inwards. This allows the advantages of the aforementioned embodiment to be exploited multiple times.

[0025] For the purposes of this application, an "inside" is understood to be the side of the side panel, roof, or bottom of the bellows that, in the assembled state of the bellows, faces the transition, i.e., the interior space defined by the bellows, while an "outside" refers to the surrounding surface outside the bellows. The terms "inside" and "outside" are to be understood accordingly. An inwardly curved shaft therefore has an inner antinose, and an outwardly curved shaft has an outer antinose.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, at least one fold or wave of the first side panel is curved inwards, and a fold or wave of the first cover element opposite this fold or wave of the first side panel is also curved inwards, wherein these two opposing folds or waves are arranged at least partially spaced apart from each other, so that together they enclose the drainage channel. This enables the formation of a drainage channel when, for optical or other reasons, the folds or waves of the first side panel and the folds or waves of the first cover element must not be curved in opposite directions.

[0027] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the first cover element is designed and arranged such that it projects beyond the roof of the bellows in the longitudinal direction. This can be advantageously used to create a flush upper edge, for example between the car body and the bellows.

[0028] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the first cover element is designed and arranged such that it projects beyond the roof by more than 5% of the longitudinal extent of the side part. This additionally ensures that a stream of water pouring onto the roof of the bellows does not, as far as possible, overflow the cover element, but is instead directed into the inlet opening located below that section of the cover element which extends beyond the roof of the bellows.

[0029] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the first cover element is designed and arranged such that it projects beyond the roof by more than 10% of the longitudinal extent of the side panel. This guarantees even greater protection against water penetrating laterally.

[0030] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the cover element has at least one widened shaft, wherein the widened shaft projects beyond the roof and is divided into an upper section that projects at least partially beyond the roof and a lower section that overlaps at least partially with the side panel, the transverse extent of the widened shaft being smaller in the lower section than in the upper section. Preferably, a widened shaft is a front-facing shaft that closes off the cover element. Such a widened shaft enables a flush end closure of the bellows with the adjacent car body.

[0031] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the cover element extends longitudinally over at least 5% of the longitudinal extent of the first side part, overlapping it. This provides sufficient guidance of the water flow towards the ground.

[0032] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the cover element extends longitudinally over at least 10% of the length of the first side part, overlapping it in the longitudinal direction. This ensures good guidance of the water flow towards the ground, so that water hardly ever escapes laterally from an outlet opening of the drainage channel.

[0033] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the cover element extends longitudinally over at least 15% of the length of the first side part, overlapping it in the longitudinal direction. This ensures very good guidance of the water flow towards the ground, so that water rarely escapes laterally from an outlet opening of the drainage channel.

[0034] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the cover element extends longitudinally over at least 20% of the length of the first side panel, overlapping it in the longitudinal direction. This provides excellent guidance of the water flow towards the ground, so that, at most during heavy rainfall events, water may escape laterally from an outlet opening of the drainage channel.

[0035] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the bellows comprises a second cover element, wherein the second cover element is arranged on the outside of the second side part, wherein the second cover element is connected to the second side part or is integrally formed with the second side part, wherein at least one fold or wave of the second side part on the one hand and at least a partial area of ​​the second cover element on the other hand enclose a drainage channel extending in the longitudinal direction. This allows water to drain away on both sides of the bellows.

[0036] The second cover element and the second side panel may also exhibit the characteristics of the first cover element or the first side panel described above.

[0037] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the bellows is a collapsible bellows, wherein the folds are arranged in a zigzag pattern in a cross-sectional plane parallel to the narrow side. In such a collapsible bellows, each fold has two approximately straight surface sections. In a cross-sectional view parallel to the narrow side of the fold, the folds of a collapsible bellows have an approximately V-shaped profile.

[0038] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, a fold is formed from two interconnected flexible material webs, which preferably form substantially straight surface sections. In one embodiment of the invention, the two material webs are connected to each other at the apex of the fold. Such a connection is formed in one embodiment of the invention by a seam, an adhesive bond, a weld, and / or a clamping profile, for example, made of steel or aluminum. Each fold is also connected to at least one adjacent fold. Such a connection is formed in one embodiment by a seam, an adhesive bond, a weld, and / or a clamping profile, for example, made of steel or aluminum.

[0039] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the bellows is a corrugated bellows, wherein each corrugation runs in an arc-shaped manner in a cross-sectional plane parallel to the narrow side. In a cross-sectional view parallel to the narrow side of the corrugation, the corrugations of a corrugated bellows have an approximately U-shaped profile.

[0040] A wave within the meaning of the present application is formed by a section of material which either extends curved from the inside outwards and then back to the inside, and is therefore curved outwards, or vice versa, and is therefore curved inwards.

[0041] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the shaft is made from a substantially rectangular flexible material web with a long side and a narrow side. The individual shaft can be manufactured in one piece or in multiple pieces, with several web-shaped, flexible material sections being joined together, for example, by welding, bonding, or sewing.

[0042] Two adjacent shafts can be connected to each other along their longitudinal sides. In one embodiment, such a connection is made by a seam, adhesive bonding, welding, and / or a clamping profile, for example, made of steel or aluminum. In another embodiment of the invention, several shafts are manufactured from a single flexible sheet of material.

[0043] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, two abutting folds or waves of a side panel are connected to each other along one of their longitudinal sides, thereby defining a common connecting section of the two abutting folds or waves. Furthermore, two abutting folds or waves of the first cover element are also connected to each other along one of their longitudinal sides, thereby defining a common connecting section of two folds or waves of the first cover element. At least one connecting section of the first side panel is encompassed by a first clamping profile, and a connecting section of the first cover element opposite the first clamping profile is encompassed by a second clamping profile. Such connections via clamping profiles have proven to be particularly resistant, especially to the influence of water currents.

[0044] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the bellows has at least one third profile, wherein the third profile has a first receiving recess and a second receiving recess, the first receiving recess being arranged opposite the second receiving recess, the first clamping profile being arranged and fixed in the first receiving recess, and the second clamping profile being arranged and fixed in the second receiving recess. This provides a simple and cost-effective way to connect a side panel to a cover element.

[0045] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the third profile has an H-shaped cross-section in a section plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0046] In one embodiment of the bellows according to the invention, the third profile is a clamping profile.

[0047] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the first clamping profile is fixed in the first receiving bay and the second clamping profile is fixed in the second receiving bay, each by rivets. Such a connection is particularly durable.

[0048] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the third profile is formed integrally with the first and second clamping profiles. This embodiment requires a small number of individual connections, since, for example, riveting the first and second clamping profiles in the first and second receiving recesses is not necessary.

[0049] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the roof of the bellows is designed such that a stream of water pouring onto the roof can be directed towards the inlet opening by the sole action of gravity. This facilitates the guidance of the water stream towards the filling openings.

[0050] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the roof has a rounded roof surface designed to drain rainwater towards the entrance opening, the roof surface having an inclination of at least 2 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to gravity. Such an inclination has proven advantageous for directing the water towards the inlet openings.

[0051] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the roof surface has an inclination of at least 3 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to gravity. Such an inclination has proven advantageous for directing the water towards the inlet openings when large quantities of water need to be drained away quickly.

[0052] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the roof surface has an inclination of at least 4 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to gravity. Such an inclination has proven particularly advantageous for directing water towards the inlet openings when large quantities of water need to be drained away quickly.

[0053] If the roof of the bellows has waves or folds made of a flexible material, the roof base is formed by the depressions of the waves or folds closest to the inside of the bellows.

[0054] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the bellows defines a normal direction, wherein the normal direction is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the transverse direction, wherein a maximum extent measured along the normal direction of the fold or wave of the first side panel opposite the fold or wave of the first cover element is equal to a maximum extent measured along the normal axis of the fold or wave of the first cover element opposite the fold or wave of the first side panel. In other words, the opposing pair of folds or waves each have the same fold depth or wave depth.

[0055] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, each fold or wave of the first side panel opposite a fold or wave of the first cover element has a maximum extent, measured along the normal axis, which is equal to the maximum extent, measured along the normal axis, of the respective opposite fold or wave of the first cover element. In other words, all opposing pairs of folds or waves have the same fold depth or wave depth in pairs.

[0056] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the fold or wave of the first cover element opposite a fold or wave of the first side part or several folds or waves of the first side part has an extent to be measured in the transverse direction in the unloaded state, which is equal to an extent to be measured in the transverse direction in the unloaded state of the fold or wave of the first side part opposite this fold or wave of the first cover element or to the sum of the extents to be measured in the transverse direction in the unloaded state of all folds or waves of the first side part opposite this fold or wave of the first cover element.

[0057] For the purposes of this application, the undistracted and uncompressed state of the fold or wave is the load-free state in the installed and operational state of the bellows. All absolute and relative dimensional specifications made within the scope of this application refer to this load-free state.

[0058] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the roof of the bellows comprises a plurality of folds or waves made of a flexible material, as previously described for the side parts.

[0059] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the side panels have a straight longitudinal profile, at least in sections. In a transition area between the respective side panel and the roof, the material of the side panel's bellows has a curved profile in one embodiment.

[0060] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the bellows has a base in addition to the roof and the two opposing side sections. When the bellows is installed, this base extends beneath the bridge system for the transition between the car bodies or the bridge sections.

[0061] In one embodiment of the invention, the base also has a plurality of folds or waves made of a flexible material.

[0062] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the bellows has a connecting element on one end face for mounting the bellows to a car body of the multi-part vehicle.

[0063] In one embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the bellows has a coupling frame on one end face, in particular on the end face opposite the end face with the flange, for connecting the bellows to a second bellows mounted on another car body or on another bridge section.

[0064] The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a vehicle according to the invention in accordance with one of the embodiments described above, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (A) providing a first, second, third and fourth flexible web-shaped material web, wherein each material web extends along a transverse direction from a first longitudinally extending material web end to a longitudinally extending second material web end; (B) connecting the first material web end of the first material web to the second material web end of the second material web along a first connecting section; (C) connecting the first material web end of the third material web to the second material web end of the fourth material web along a second connecting section.

[0065] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the following further steps: (D) providing a longitudinally extending profile with a first receiving bay and a second receiving bay opposite the first receiving bay; (E) fixing the first connecting section within the first receiving bay; (F) fixing the second connecting section within the second receiving bay.

[0066] This provides a particularly simple and cost-effective method for joining four layers of material together, resulting in opposing folds or waves, for example between a side panel on one side and a cover element on the other.

[0067] Further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention are evident from the figures described below. They show: Fig. 1 a side view of a bus with a bellows, Fig. 2 a perspective view of an embodiment of the bellows according to the invention, Fig. 3 the embodiment made of Fig. 2 in a sectional view with respect to a section plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the view is reduced to the first side panel and the first cover element, Fig. 4 an enlarged view of the Fig. 3 with a focus on the connection of the first side panel and the first cover element, Fig. 5 a front view of the in the Fig. 2 The section shown in Fig. 6 of the embodiment shown there is an enlarged view of the Fig. 2 with a focus on the connection between the first side panel and the cover element.

[0068] The bellows 1 of the vehicle according to the invention can be used in particular in a bus 100 or a tram to connect two car bodies. Figure 1This schematically illustrates the use of such a bellows in an Omnibus 100. In the Fig. 1 In the side view shown, the top surfaces of the two car bodies 2', 2" are flush with the top surface of the bellows visible from the side.

[0069] A bellows 1 can, in particular, have a roof surface that extends below the upper edge of the bellows visible from the side. Similarly, the bus shown here, or a similarly designed tram, has a roof surface that extends below the upper surface of the car body visible from the side, so that, in other words, a roof edge protrudes beyond the roof surface on both sides of the bus or tram. This overhang prevents, among other things, rainwater falling onto the roof surface from running uncontrollably down the sides of the bus or tram during a downpour. However, if the car bodies themselves do not have a downpipe or an equivalent drainage system, water can flow onto the roof of the bellows at speeds of approximately 3 liters per second during braking or acceleration.

[0070] Based on the in the Figs. 2 to 5 The detailed embodiment of a bellows 1 shows how such water flows can be controlled and directed towards the ground according to the invention. The Fig. 2The visible side part 4 has several material webs, each formed as a wave 5 and curved inwards, i.e., towards the inside. These waves 5 together form a side part 4 of the bellows 1. Each connecting section 8 of two adjacent material webs is fixed by a U-shaped clamping profile 17. Additionally or alternatively, the connecting sections can also be fixed, for example, by an adhesive bond or a seam. A cover element 9 is attached to the outside of the side part 4. The cover element 9 also has material webs formed as waves, with adjacent material webs being connected along their longitudinal sides by a clamping profile 18. The waves 13 of the cover element 9 are curved outwards, i.e., towards the outside, thus curving in the opposite direction to the waves 5 of the side part 4. In other words, in the Fig. 2In the illustrated embodiment, a cover element 9 with positive waves is attached to a side part 4 with negative waves. Each wave 13 of the cover element 9 is opposite exactly one wave of the side part 4, wherein, in the embodiment shown here, all waves 5 of the side part 4 are covered on the outside by exactly one wave 13 of the cover element 9.

[0071] This relative arrangement of cover element 9 and side part 4 to each other creates a drainage channel 10 between each wave 5 of the side part 4 and the opposite wave 13 of the cover element 9, which extends in the longitudinal direction to an outlet opening 12.

[0072] Fig. 3 shows a section of a cross-sectional view of bellows 1 from the Figure 2in a section plane that lies below the roof of the bellows and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The section is limited to the side part 4 and the associated cover element 9. It can be seen that a drainage channel 10 formed by a wave 5 of the side part 4 and a wave 13 of the cover element 9 has a substantially elliptical cross-section.

[0073] Each pair of opposing waves of side part 4 and cover element 9 thus forms a drainage channel 10. In the embodiment shown here, the bellows 1 has a [missing information] at the point in the Fig. 2 The visible side panel 4 has a total of nine separate drainage channels 10. These drainage channels 10 prevent water flowing from the roof of the bellows 1 into the drainage channel 10 from flowing out laterally and thus guarantee that the incoming water flow is directed towards the ground.

[0074] The cover element 9 and the first side part 4 are each connected to each other by an additional H-shaped profile (H-profile) at the points where a connecting section 8 of the side part 4, fixed with a U-shaped first clamping profile 17, meets a connecting section 16 of the cover element 9, fixed with a U-shaped second clamping profile 18. Fig. 4 Such a connection is shown magnified.

[0075] In the Fig. 4The H-profile 19 shown is a longitudinally extending profile, which can be made of aluminum, for example. In the section plane shown here, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, this profile 19 has an H-shape. Due to the H-shape, the H-profile 19 includes a first receiving recess 20 and a second receiving recess 21 opposite the first receiving recess 10. The U-shaped clamping profile 17 is inserted and fixed in the first receiving recess 20, connecting the material webs of two shafts 5 of the side part 4. Such fixation can be achieved, for example, by riveting. Similarly, the U-shaped clamping profile 18 is inserted and fixed in the second receiving recess 21, connecting the material webs of two shafts 5 of the cover element.

[0076] Based on the in Fig. 5The front view of a section of the bellows shown shows that each U-shaped profile 18, which connects two shafts 13 of the cover element 9, is connected along its longitudinal direction via two H-profiles 19 to a respective U-shaped profile 17, which connects two shafts 5 of the side part 4, as shown in Fig. 4 shown is connected.

[0077] Fig. 5 allows conclusions to be drawn about how water that is on the roof 3 of the bellows 1 or in depressions of the waves of the roof first flows into the space between the cover element 9 and the roof 3 and then into the inlet openings 11 of the drainage channels 10 encased by the side part 4 and the cover element 9.

[0078] In order to direct the water as unidirectionally as possible towards the ground, the cover element 9 extends overlapping with the side part 4 at least over a partial area of ​​the side part 4 in longitudinal direction 7, so that the drainage channels 10 guide the outflowing water in such a way that the flow direction in longitudinal direction 7 towards the ground is essentially maintained when exiting the outlet opening 12.

[0079] Fig. 5 This also shows that the cover element 9, in addition to providing drainage channels 10, can serve a second purpose, namely extending the side parts 4 of the bellows 1 longitudinally beyond the roof of the bellows.

[0080] Particularly on trams, the car bodies (2' and 2") have lateral roof edges that, among other things, prevent rainwater that has fallen onto the roof surface from running down the sides of the car bodies. These roof edges extend beyond the actual roof surface of the car bodies. Above the roof surface, trams often also have technical equipment required for connecting the tram to an overhead line. The roof edges extending beyond the roof surface also serve to visually conceal this equipment.

[0081] The cover element 9 of the bellows can therefore be designed for optical reasons in such a way that the bellows resembles a natural extension of the roof edges of a tram car body in the direction of travel (this corresponds to the one shown in the Fig. 1 and 3The cover element 9 acts in the transverse direction 6 of the bellows shown. For this purpose, the cover element 9 is flush with the roof edges of the car bodies 2' and 2" in the longitudinal direction 7. In addition, the cover element can also have an inclination, at least in sections, corresponding to the inclination of the roof edges relative to the longitudinal direction 7 or the vertical. Figure 5 Figure 9 shows such a cover element, which in an upper section extending beyond the roof 3 of the bellows has a slight inclination of approximately 10 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction 7.

[0082] Additionally, the cover element 9 - as in the Fig. 6Shown enlarged – on the end faces of the bellows 1, a wave in the upper section is enlarged in the transverse direction 6 compared to the other waves. For this purpose, a cone-shaped connecting piece 22 is inserted between the front-ending wave of the cover element in the overlap area with the side part on the roof side. The widened wave connects to this connecting piece. This improves the visual connection between bellows 1 and car body 2' and 2"". Reference symbol list

[0083] 1 Bellows 2 Car body 2 Car body 3 Bellows roof 4 First side panel 5 Shaft of first side panel 6 Transverse direction 7 Longitudinal direction 8 Connecting section (side panel) 9 Cover element 10 Drainage channel 11 Inlet opening 12 Outlet opening 13 Shaft of cover element 16 Connecting section (cover element) 17 First clamping profile 18 Second clamping profile 19 Third profile 20 First receiving bay 21 Second receiving bay 22 Connecting piece

Claims

1. Vehicle (100), in particular a bus or a tram, comprising a bellows (1) and two wagon bodies (2, 2'), wherein the bellows (1) is arranged between the two wagon bodies (2, 2') and movably interconnects the two wagon bodies (2, 2'), wherein the vehicle (100) has a vehicle roof, wherein the bellows (1) serves as a gangway protection for a gangway between the two movably interconnected wagon bodies (2', 2"), wherein the bellows (1) has a roof (3), a first side part (4) and a second side part arranged opposite the first side part (4), wherein at least the first side part (4) and the second side part each have a plurality of folds or corrugations (5) made of a flexible material, wherein each of the folds or corrugations (5) of a side part has a narrow side extending in a transverse direction (6) and a longitudinal side extending in a longitudinal direction (7), wherein the bellows (1) has a first cover element (9), wherein the first cover element (9) is arranged on the outside of the first side part (4), wherein the first cover element (9) is connected to the first side part (4) or is formed integrally with the first side part (4), characterized in that at least one fold or corrugation (5) of the first side part (4) and at least one subregion of the first cover element (9) together encase a drainage channel (10) extending in the longitudinal direction (7), wherein the drainage channel (10) is designed to discharge a water flow pouring onto the roof (3) of the bellows (1), wherein the first cover element (9) has a plurality of folds or corrugations (13) made of a flexible material, wherein each of the folds or corrugations (13) of the first cover element has a narrow side extending in the transverse direction (6) and a longitudinal side extending in the longitudinal direction (7), wherein the first side part (4) and the first cover element (9) are designed in such a way that at least one fold or corrugation (13) of the first cover element (9) is arranged opposite one fold or corrugation (5) of the first side part (4) or opposite a plurality of folds or corrugations (5) of the first side part, with the result that these two opposite folds or corrugations encase the drainage channel, wherein the first cover element (9) extends in its longitudinal direction (50) to the height of the vehicle roof or beyond.

2. Vehicle (100) according to claim 1, wherein the drainage channel (10) has an inflow opening (11) and an outflow opening (12), wherein the inflow opening is closer to the roof (3) than the outflow opening (12), wherein the drainage channel (10) is designed in such a way that a water flow pouring into the inflow opening (11) can be directed in the longitudinal direction (7) to the outflow opening (12).

3. Vehicle (100) according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the drainage channel (10) has in a sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (7) a rhomboid, square, circular or elliptical cross-sectional area.

4. Vehicle (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first side part (4) and the first cover element (9) are designed in such a way that an individual fold or corrugation (13) of the first cover element is arranged opposite exactly one fold or corrugation (5) of the first side part, wherein the first side part and the first cover element are preferably designed in such a way that each individual fold or corrugation (13) of the first cover element (9) is arranged opposite exactly one individual fold or corrugation (5) of the first side part (4), with the result that each pair of opposite folds or corrugations encases a drainage channel.

5. Vehicle (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one fold or corrugation (5) of the first side part (4) is curved inward and one fold or corrugation (13), opposite this fold or corrugation (5) of the first side part, of the first cover element (9) is curved outward, wherein preferably each fold or corrugation (13) of the first cover element (9) is curved outward and each fold or corrugation, opposite such a fold or corrugation (13) of the first cover element, of the first side part (4) is curved inward.

6. Vehicle (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first cover element (9) is designed and arranged in such a way that it projects beyond the roof (3) of the bellows in the longitudinal direction (7), wherein the first cover element (9) is preferably designed and arranged in such a way that it projects beyond the roof (3) in the longitudinal direction (7) by more than 10% of the extent of the longitudinal side of the side part.

7. Vehicle (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first cover element (9) extends in the longitudinal direction (50) over at least 5%, preferably at least 10% and particularly preferably at least 20% of the extent of the first side part (4) in the longitudinal direction in a manner overlapping the first side part (4).

8. Vehicle (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bellows (1) comprises a second cover element, wherein the second cover element is arranged on the outside of the second side part, wherein the second cover element is connected to the second side part or is formed integrally with the second side part, wherein at least one fold or corrugation of the second side part and at least one subregion of the second cover element together encase a drainage channel extending in the longitudinal direction.

9. Vehicle (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in each case two abutting folds or corrugations (5) of a side part are interconnected along one of their longitudinal sides and thereby define a common connection portion (8) of the two abutting folds or corrugations, wherein in each case two abutting folds or corrugations (13) of the first cover element are interconnected along one of their longitudinal sides and thereby define a common connection portion (16) of two folds or corrugations of the first cover element, wherein at least one connection portion (8) of the first side part (4) is surrounded by a first clamping profile (17) and one connection portion (16), opposite the first clamping profile (17), of the first cover element is surrounded by a second clamping profile (18).

10. Vehicle (100) according to claim 9, wherein the bellows (1) has at least one third profile (19), wherein the third profile (19) has a first receiving bay (20) and a second receiving bay (21), wherein the first receiving bay (20) is arranged opposite the second receiving bay (21), wherein the first clamping profile (17) is arranged and fastened in the first receiving bay (10) and wherein the second clamping profile (18) is arranged and fastened in the second receiving bay (21), wherein the third profile (19) preferably has an H-shaped cross section in a sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (50).

11. Method for manufacturing a vehicle (100) according to any of claims 1 to 10, comprising the following steps A. providing a first, a second, a third and a fourth flexible web-type material web, wherein each material web extends in a transverse direction from a first material web end, extending in a longitudinal direction, to a second material web end, extending in a longitudinal direction; B. connecting the first material web end of the first material web to the second material web end of the second material web along a first connection portion; C. connecting the first material web end of the third material web to the second material web end of the fourth material web along a second connection portion.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises the following further steps: D. providing a profile, extending in a longitudinal direction, with a first receiving bay and a second receiving bay opposite the first receiving bay; E. fastening the first connection portion within the first receiving bay; F. fastening the second connection portion within the second receiving bay.