PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR RAIL VEHICLES

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective device for a railway vehicle, suitable for being fixed under a front part of a body of said railway vehicle, said protective device comprising a flap suitable for being mounted movable in rotation relative to said body along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

[0002] It is known to equip railway vehicles, particularly trams, with protective devices in case of collision with an obstacle on the track. Specifically, when the obstacle is a pedestrian lying on the ground, the protective device is designed to prevent the bogie wheels from injuring the pedestrian. A railway vehicle equipped with such a protective device is described in documents EP3018023, US559091, and US884683.

[0003] However, known protective devices have drawbacks. In particular, the flap of the device described in document EP3018023 ( figure 2 ) is raised away from the ground, so that a limb of a pedestrian, such as an arm or a leg, can pass under said flap and come into contact with the wheels of the bogie.

[0004] To solve these problems, the invention relates to a protection device according to claim 1.

[0005] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the protective device comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations: The nut assembled to the thread of the second end of the first rod is capable of being moved along the first rod so as to adjust the maximum distance between the front part of the body and the second edge of the flap in the deployed configuration; the protective device includes at least one roller movable for rotation relative to the flap; the protective device includes a plate made of elastomeric material fixed to the flap, at least one roller being mounted for rotation on said plate; the second edge of the flap has a bar suitable for being positioned in front of at least one roller depending on the direction of movement of said vehicle; the protective device further includes a second assembly member, comprising: a second support suitable for being mounted securely to the front part of the body, the flap being mounted for rotation on said second support about the first axis;a second rod substantially perpendicular to the first axis, comprising: a first end articulated to the shutter along the second axis of rotation; and a second end capable of sliding relative to the second support; and a second elastic return element, designed to exert a restoring force opposing the movement of the shutter towards the second support; the second edge of the shutter has a central zone, disposed between the first ends of the first and second rods; the protective device further comprises an enclosure formed of an electrically insulating material, said enclosure being disposed around the central zone of the second edge of the shutter; the protective device comprises two rollers disposed on either side of the central zone, each of said rollers being rotatable relative to the shutter.

[0006] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which: [ Fig 1 ] there figure 1 is a schematic representation of a railway vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a protective device; [ Fig 2 ] there figure 2 is a perspective view of the protection system of the figure 1 in a first configuration; Fig 3 ] there figure 3 is a detailed view of the vehicle of the figure 1 with the protective device in the first configuration; and [ Fig 4 ] there figure 4 is a detailed view of the vehicle of the figure 1 with the protection device in a second configuration.

[0007] There figure 1 shows a railway vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The railway vehicle 10, for example of the tram type, comprises at least one front car 12 and preferably at least one passenger car 14, connected to said front car.

[0008] The lead car 12 comprises a body 16 and at least one bogie 18 arranged under said body.

[0009] In the following description, we consider an orthonormal basis (X, Y, Z), with the Z direction representing the vertical.

[0010] The railway vehicle 10 is intended to move on rails 20, in a direction of movement parallel to the direction X.

[0011] The body 16 has a front part 22, projecting out from the bogie 18 in the direction of travel of the lead car 12. In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" are understood in relation to the direction X.

[0012] The front part 22 of the body 16 has a lower surface 24, forming a lower end of said front part in the direction Z. A lower space 26 is provided between said lower surface 24 and a lower end of the bogie 18, along the vertical Z.

[0013] The lead car 12 also includes a protective device 30, located in the lower space 26. This device 30 is intended to prevent the bogie 18 from rolling over an obstacle located on the rails 20.

[0014] The protective device 30 is shown alone at the figure 2 and also visible to figures 3 And 4 The protection device 30 comprises a flap 32, an insulating envelope 34, a first 36 and a second 38 rotating members and a first 40 and a second 42 assembly members.

[0015] The shutter 32 has a substantially flat shape, delimited by a frame 50 of substantially rectangular shape. Said frame 50 includes, in particular, a first 52 and a second 54 bars, each of said bars extending along the Y direction. The first 52 and second 54 bars form two opposite edges of the frame 50.

[0016] Preferably, frame 50 is made entirely of bars, especially metallic ones. Preferably, at least some of said bars have a circular cross-section.

[0017] The flap 32 further comprises one or more infill panels 56, fixed to the frame 50 and designed to at least partially obstruct an interior space of said frame.

[0018] The panel 32 further comprises a first 57 and a second 58 intermediate bars, located inside the frame and connecting the first 52 and second 54 bars. Said intermediate bars 57, 58 extend perpendicularly to Y.

[0019] The flap 32 thus comprises a central zone 60, arranged between the intermediate bars 57, 58, and a first 62 and a second 64 lateral zones located on either side of said central zone along the Y direction.

[0020] The envelope 34 is formed of an electrically insulating material, for example a rubber membrane, and surrounds the second bar 54 of the frame at the central area 60. The envelope 34 has for example two ends 66 closed on each other and fixed to a filler panel 56.

[0021] The first 36 and second 38 rotating elements are respectively arranged at the level of the first 62 and second 64 lateral zones, inside the frame 50. The first 36 and second 38 rotating elements are substantially identical and will be described simultaneously below.

[0022] The rotating member 36, 38 comprises a plate 70 and a roller 72. The plate 70 is made of a material suitable for absorbing mechanical vibrations, in particular an elastomer-type material. Said plate 70 is disposed inside the frame 50 and fixed to said frame and / or to a filler panel 56.

[0023] The plate 70 has substantially a C shape, including in particular two legs 74 adjacent along Y. The wheel 72 is disposed between the two legs 74 of the plate 70 and mounted for rotation on said plate, along an axis parallel to Y.

[0024] In the plane of the frame 50, the wheel 72 of the rotating organ 36, 38 is thus arranged between the first 52 and second 54 bars.

[0025] As will be detailed below, the first 40 and second 42 assembly members are respectively arranged close to the first 57 and second 58 intermediate bars of the flap 32. The first 40 and second 42 assembly members are substantially identical and will be described simultaneously below, in support of the figures 3 And 4 .

[0026] The assembly member 40, 42 includes a support 80, a rod 82, a nut 83 and an elastic return element, such as a spring 84.

[0027] The support 80 includes a fixing portion 86, a hinge portion 88 and a sliding portion 90.

[0028] The fixing portion 86 is fixed to the lower surface 24 of the front part 22 of the body 16 of the lead car 12.

[0029] The articulation portion 88 includes an internal tube 94 into which the first bar 52 of the frame is inserted. The supports 80 of the first 40 and second 42 assembly members, together with said first bar 52, define a first axis 96 of rotation of the flap 32 relative to the housing 16. Said first axis of rotation 96 is parallel to Y and located under the lower surface 24 of said housing.

[0030] The sliding portion 90, located in front of the axis of rotation 96, has a through opening 99.

[0031] The rod 82 is substantially straight and extends substantially in a plane (X, Z). A first end 97 of said rod is articulated to the flap 32, along a second axis 98 of rotation, parallel to Y and located in front of the first axis of rotation 96.

[0032] More specifically, the first end of the rod 82 of the first 40 and second 42 assembly members is articulated respectively on the first 57 and on the second 58 intermediate bar of the flap 32. The first ends of the two rods 82 are arranged on the same second axis 98 of rotation.

[0033] A second end of the rod 82 is adapted to slide in the through opening 99 provided in the sliding portion 90 of the support 80. Said second end of the rod 82 has a thread 100 to which the nut 83 is assembled. Said nut 83 thus forms an axial stop, so as to lock said rod in the through opening 99.

[0034] The spring 84 is a compression spring, preferably a helical spring. The spring 84 is arranged around the rod 82, between the first end 97 and the sliding portion 90 of the support 80.

[0035] The first 40 and second 42 assembly members allow the flap 32 to pivot relative to the body 16 between a first and a second extreme angular configuration, represented respectively in figures 3 And 4 .

[0036] In each of the first and second configurations, the second bar 54 of the frame 50 is positioned in front of the first bar 52, along the X direction. Furthermore, the rollers 72 are vertically projecting under the frame 50. The second bar 54 is positioned in front of said rollers 72.

[0037] In the first configuration, known as the deployed configuration, visible at the figure 3 , the second bar 54 has a maximum vertical distance 102 relative to the lower surface 24 of the case 16. For each assembly member 40, 42, the spring 84 is in a state of minimum compression and the nut 83 comes to rest against the sliding portion 90 of the support 80, along the axis of the rod 82.

[0038] In the second, so-called retracted configuration, visible at the figure 4 , the second bar 54 has a minimum vertical distance 104 relative to the lower surface 24 of the case 16. For each assembly member 40, 42, the spring 84 is in a state of maximum compression and the nut 83 is away from the sliding portion 90 of the support 80. Preferably, the spring 84 is configured so that the minimum vertical distance 104 is non-zero.

[0039] Adjusting the position of the nut 83 along the rod 82 of each assembly member 40, 42 allows setting an angle α of the flap 32 relative to the horizontal in the deployed configuration. Preferably, the angle α is between 30° and 60° and more preferably close to 45°.

[0040] In particular, according to a first embodiment, the nut 83 is positioned on the rod 82 so that, in the deployed configuration, one lower end of the wheels 72 is arranged lower than the lower end of the bogie 18, along the vertical Z. As shown in the figure 3 , the wheels 72 are thus intended to be in contact with the ground for most of the movement of the railway vehicle 10.

[0041] The use of the 84 compression spring ensures that the rollers remain in contact with the ground and that the shutter remains as close to the ground as possible even in the event of a change in the terrain of the track and the presence of a hollow in the ground / track.

[0042] On the contrary, according to a second embodiment, the nut 83 is adjusted on the rod 82 so that in the deployed configuration, a lower end of the wheels 72 is positioned higher than the lower end of the bogie 18, along the vertical Z. A nominal clearance (not shown) is thus provided vertically between the flap 32 and the rails 20.

[0043] In this second case, however, it is desirable that the nominal clearance be sufficiently small to prevent a limb of a pedestrian located on the rails 20 from passing under the flap 32.

[0044] Optionally, the lead car 12 also includes an electronic device (not shown) for obstacle detection and triggering emergency braking, as described for example in document EP3018023.

[0045] A method of operation of the railway vehicle described above will now be described.

[0046] The lead car 12 of the vehicle 10 travels on the rails 20 in its usual direction of travel. The flap 32 of the protective device 30 is located in the lower space 26 under the front part 22 of the body 16. The second bar 54 of said flap thus forms the front of the lead car 12 at the level of said lower space 26.

[0047] In the event of an obstacle located on or between the rails 20, the second bar 54 is the first element to come into contact with said obstacle. The small vertical distance between said second bar 54 and the ground allows the flap 32 to engage under said obstacle, so as to prevent said obstacle from passing under the bogie 18. In particular, the second bar 54, located in front of the wheels 72, prevents said wheels from rolling over the obstacle.

[0048] The rotation of the flap 32 around the first axis 96 relative to the body 16 allows said flap to adapt to the configuration of the rails 20 on the path of the railway vehicle 10, and in particular to variations in the distance between said rails and the lower surface 24 of the front part 22 of the body.

[0049] According to the first embodiment described above, the rollers 72 are in contact with the rails 20 or the ground for most of the movement of the rail vehicle 10, the flap 32 pivoting between the deployed and retracted configurations. The elastomer plates 70 of the first 36 and second 38 rotating members help to reduce the noise level generated by the rollers.

[0050] In the case of a tramway system with an electrical supply rail from the ground (not shown) arranged between the rails 20, the insulating envelope 34 allows the shutter 32 of said supply rail to be electrically isolated.

[0051] According to the second embodiment described above, the wheels 72 can be vertically positioned away from the rails 20 or the ground during part of the movement of the rail vehicle 10, with the flap 32 in its deployed configuration. When the distance between the ground and the front part 22 of the body decreases, the wheels 72 touch the ground and the flap 32 may pivot to its retracted configuration. This adjustment of the device 30 helps, in particular, to reduce the noise level associated with the rotation of the wheels 72.

Claims

1. Protective device (30) for a railway vehicle (10), suitable for being fastened under a front portion (22) of a body of said railway vehicle, said protective device including: - a flap (32) suitable for being mounted movable in rotation with respect to said body along a first axis (96) substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle; the protective device comprising at least a first assembly member (40), said first assembly member including: - a first support (80) suitable for being mounted integrally with the front portion (22) of the body, the flap being mounted in rotation (52, 94) on said first support along the first axis; - a first rod (82) substantially perpendicular to the first axis, comprising: a first end (97) articulated to the flap along a second axis (98) of rotation, substantially parallel to the first axis; and a second end capable of sliding with respect to the first support (80, 90); and - a first elastic return element (84), suitable for exerting a return force opposing the movement of the flap towards the first support; the flap (32) including a first (52) and second (54) opposite edges, respectively close to and distant from the first axis (96), said flap being capable of pivoting about said first axis between a deployed configuration and a retracted configuration, corresponding respectively to a maximum distance (102) and to a minimum distance (104) between the front portion (22) of the body and the second edge (54) of the flap, the first elastic return element (84) tending to return the flap to the deployed configuration; the first assembly member (40) further including a nut (83) assembled with a thread (100) of the second end of the first rod, said nut abutting against the first support (80, 90) in the deployed configuration and being separated from the first support in the retracted configuration.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the nut (83) is capable of being moved along the first rod (82) so as to adjust the maximum distance (102) between the front portion (22) of the body and the second edge (54) of the flap in the deployed configuration.

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, comprising at least one wheel (72) movable in rotation with respect to said flap.

4. Device according to claim 3, comprising a plate (70) made of elastomer material fastened to the flap, the at least one wheel (72) being mounted in rotation on said plate5. Device according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the second edge of the flap includes a bar (54) suitable for being disposed in front of the at least one wheel (72) in the direction of movement of the vehicle.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second assembly member (42), including: - a second support (80) suitable for being mounted integrally with the front portion (22) of the body, the flap being mounted in rotation (52, 94) on said second support along the first axis; - a second rod (82) substantially perpendicular to the first axis, comprising: a first end (97) articulated to the flap along the second axis (98) of rotation; and a second end capable of sliding with respect to the second support (80, 90); and - a second elastic return element (84), suitable for exerting a return force opposing the movement of the flap towards the second support.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the second edge (54) of the flap includes a central zone (60), disposed between the first ends (97) of the first and second rods.

8. Device according to claim 7, further comprising a shell (34) formed of an electrically insulating material, said shell being disposed around the central zone (60) of the second edge of the flap.

9. Railway vehicle (10, 12) comprising a body (16) and at least one bogie (18) disposed under said body, the body comprising a front portion (22) protruding with respect to the bogie in one direction (X) of movement of the vehicle, the railway vehicle further comprising, fastened under the front portion (22), a protective device (30) according to any one of the preceding claims.