RAIL VEHICLE WITH IMPROVED AIR CONDITIONING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a railway vehicle, comprising an air conditioning distribution system.

[0002] We already know, in the state of the art, of a railway vehicle comprising: a floor comprising a platform; at least one toilet cubicle; an air conditioning distribution system, comprising an air conditioning unit and an air conditioning distribution network connected to the air conditioning unit, the air conditioning distribution system comprising outside air inlets and outside air outlets; and a railway vehicle insulation system, comprising shutters for the air inlet and outlet openings, each shutter being movable between a position of clearing the corresponding opening and a position of closing the corresponding opening.

[0003] The insulation system is generally used to isolate the interior of the vehicle from the exterior as it enters a tunnel, in order to limit the discomfort experienced by passengers due to pressure waves. For this purpose, the openings are sealed before the train enters the tunnel.

[0004] It should be noted that at least one air outlet is usually arranged in the toilet cubicle, the distribution network having an outlet opening into this toilet cubicle.

[0005] It should be noted that the air handling unit continues to blow air into the toilet cubicle even when the air outlet is blocked, for example, when the train is passing through a tunnel. As a result, air flows back from the toilet cubicle into the distribution network, which can lead to the spread of unpleasant odors from the toilet cubicle to other outlets in the distribution network, particularly to the platforms.

[0006] Vehicles including at least one toilet cabin and an air conditioning system are known from documents GB 8622473 and JP2011 146164, among others.

[0007] The invention aims in particular to remedy this drawback, by proposing to prevent the diffusion of unpleasant odors from the toilet cabin when the railway vehicle passes through a tunnel.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates in particular to a railway vehicle, comprising: a floor comprising a platform; at least one toilet cubicle; an air conditioning distribution system, comprising an air conditioning unit and an air conditioning distribution network connected to the air conditioning unit, the air conditioning distribution system comprising outside air inlets and outside air outlets; and a railway vehicle insulation system, comprising shutters for the air inlets and outlets, each shutter being movable between a position of clearance of the corresponding opening and a position of closure of the corresponding opening, characterized in that the air distribution network comprises at least one first air distribution duct, connected to the air conditioning device, and comprising a plurality of outlets, at least one of which opens into the toilet cabin, and at least one other opens onto the platform, the air distribution duct comprising at least one valve configured to close the supply of conditioned air to the toilet cabin when the shutters are in the closed position.

[0009] A railway vehicle according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically feasible combinations. The insulation system is configured to move the shutters to the closed position when the vehicle enters a tunnel. The rail vehicle has a lower level comprising a lower platform and an upper level comprising an upper platform, with at least one of the exits opening onto either the lower or upper platform. The vehicle has a lower toilet compartment on the lower level and an upper toilet compartment on the upper level, the air conditioning supply to each toilet compartment being closed when the shutters are in the closed position. The distribution network includes the first distribution duct to the platforms and to the toilet compartment(s), a second distribution duct to the platforms, a third distribution duct to a lower passenger compartment, and fourth distribution ducts to an upper passenger compartment.The first duct is connected to the air conditioning system, and has a plurality of outlets, namely at least one first outlet opening towards the upper platform, at least one second outlet opening towards the lower platform, at least one third outlet, and at least one fourth outlet, at least one of the third and fourth outlets opening towards the toilet cabin(s).The first duct comprises a main branch extending from the air conditioning unit to a first junction; an optional second branch extending downwards from this first junction to one of the second outlet vents; a third branch extending to the toilet stall(s); a fourth branch extending from the third branch to the toilet stall outlet; the third branch is extended, downstream of the junction with the fourth branch, by a fifth branch; an optional sixth branch extending from the fifth branch to the outlet of another toilet stall; and the fifth branch is extended by a seventh branch comprising the first outlet vent(s). The duct comprises an eighth branch extending between the third and seventh branches, parallel to the fifth branch.The vehicle includes a damper positioned upstream of each outlet in the first duct, for example, in the main branch. For each toilet cubicle, the vehicle includes a damper positioned upstream of the outlet to the corresponding toilet cubicle; for example, one damper is positioned in the fourth branch and another in the sixth branch. Each damper is controlled by the insulation system.

[0010] Various aspects and advantages of the invention will be highlighted in the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying figures, among which

[0011] [ Fig 1 ] There figure 1 schematically represents a railway vehicle according to an example of an embodiment of the invention, including in particular a duct of an air conditioning distribution network;

[0012] [ Fig 2 ] There figure 2 represents the air conditioning distribution network equipping the vehicle of the figure 1 .

[0013] We have represented, on the figure 1 , a railway vehicle 10, more particularly, in the example described, a two-story railway vehicle 10, referred to as lower story and upper story.

[0014] Vehicle 10 includes, in particular, an upper platform 12 located on the upper level and a lower platform 14 located on the lower level. In the example described, platforms 12 and 14 are areas of the vehicle connected by a staircase allowing passage from one platform to the other.

[0015] The vehicle 10 also includes at least one toilet cubicle 16 arranged on one of the floors, for example on the lower floor. Alternatively, the vehicle 10 includes a lower toilet cubicle 16 on the lower floor and an upper toilet cubicle 18 on the upper floor.

[0016] Vehicle 10 includes an air conditioning distribution system 20, shown on the figure 2 .

[0017] The distribution system 20 includes, in a conventional manner, an air conditioning device 22 and an air conditioning distribution network 24 connected to the air conditioning device 22.

[0018] The distribution system 20 includes openings 26 for outside air intake and openings 28 for outside air outlet, allowing air renewal.

[0019] The conditioning device 22 is designed to circulate conditioned air in the distribution network 24. The conditioned air then circulates from the conditioning device to the outlet openings 28.

[0020] The vehicle 10 preferably includes a railway vehicle isolation system 30, comprising shutters 32 for the air inlet openings 26, and shutters 34 for the air outlet openings 28. Each shutter 32, 34 is movable between a position of clearance of the corresponding opening 26, 28 and a position of closure of the corresponding opening 26, 28.

[0021] The insulation system 30 is configured to move the shutters 32, 34 into the shuttered position when the vehicle 10 enters a tunnel.

[0022] The 24 distribution network comprises a plurality of air distribution ducts. This is notably shown on the figure 2 : a first duct 36 for distribution to platforms 12, 14 and to toilet cabin(s) 16, 18, a second duct 38 for distribution to platforms 12, 14, a third duct 40 for distribution to a lower passenger room, and fourth ducts 42 for distribution to an upper passenger room.

[0023] The second 38, third 40, and fourth 42 ducts are standard and will not be described further. All extend from the conditioning unit 22 and terminate in desired areas of the vehicle.

[0024] The first sheath 36, however, will be described in more detail.

[0025] The first duct 36 is connected to the air conditioning device 22, and has a plurality of outlets, namely at least one first outlet 43a opening towards the upper platform 12, at least one second outlet 43b opening towards the lower platform 14, at least one third outlet 43c opening towards the upper toilet cabin 18, and at least one fourth outlet 43d opening towards the lower toilet cabin 16.

[0026] The first duct 36 has a first main branch 36a extending from the air conditioning device 22 to a first branch.

[0027] Preferably, a second branch 36b extends downwards from this first branch towards one of the second outlets 43b, arranged near the ground.

[0028] Preferably, a third branch 36c extends upwards, and includes one of the second outlet mouths 43b, arranged vertically.

[0029] The third branch 36c then extends towards toilet cabins 16, 18.

[0030] A fourth branch 36d extends from the third branch 36c to the outlet 43d, in the lower toilet cabin 16.

[0031] The third branch 36c is extended, downstream of the junction with the fourth branch 36d, by a fifth branch 36e.

[0032] A sixth branch 36f extends from the fifth branch 36e to the exit mouth 43c, in the upper toilet cabin 18.

[0033] The fifth branch 36e is extended by a seventh branch 36g, downstream of the junction with the sixth branch 36f. This seventh branch 36g includes the outlet(s) 43a.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, an eighth branch 36h extends between the third branch 36c and the seventh branch 36g, in parallel with the fifth branch 36e.

[0035] The eighth branch, 36h, provides the air conditioning with a second path to the outlet vents on the upper floor. The air naturally distributes itself between the two parallel branches, which helps to limit pressure losses and balance pressures and flow rates to the different outlet vents.

[0036] The first duct 36 includes at least one damper 44a; 44b capable of blocking the air conditioning supply to the toilet cubicles 16, 18 when the shutters 32, 34 are in the closed position. Thus, each damper 44a; 44b is controlled by the insulation system, in the same way as the shutters 32, 34.

[0037] The valve 44a is arranged for example upstream of each outlet of the first duct 36, for example in the main branch 36a.

[0038] Alternatively, for each toilet cubicle, the valve 44b is arranged only upstream of the outlet to the corresponding toilet cubicle. One valve 44b is arranged, for example, in the fourth branch 36d, and another in the sixth branch 36f.

[0039] In the figure, valves 44a and 44b are both shown, but the first duct 36 usually only includes valve 44a or valves 44b.

[0040] The purpose of the valves 44a, 44b is to prevent air from being blown towards the toilet cabins 16, 18 when the air outlet openings 28 are closed.

[0041] It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but could have various variations, provided that these are covered by the claims. In particular, the railway vehicle could have only one level.

Claims

1. A railway vehicle (10) including: - at least one stage comprising a platform (12, 14); - at least one toilet cabin (16, 18); - a conditioned air distribution system (20), comprising an air conditioning unit (22) and a conditioned air distribution network (24) connected to the air conditioning unit, the conditioned air distribution system (20) including external air inflow openings (26) and air outflow openings (28); and - a system (30) for insulating the railway vehicle, comprising shutters (32, 34) for the air inflow (26) and air outflow (28) openings, each shutter (32, 34) being movable between a position of clearing the corresponding opening and a position of shuttering the corresponding opening, characterised in that the air distribution network (24) includes at least one first air distribution sheath (36), connected to the air conditioning unit (22), and includes a plurality of outflow ports (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d), of which at least one (43d) leads into the toilet cabin (16), and at least one other (43a) leads to the platform (12, 14), the air distribution sheath (36) including at least one flap (44a, 44b) configured to shutter conditioned air inflow to the toilet cabin (16) when the shutters (32, 34) are in the shuttering position.

2. The vehicle (10) according to claim 1, wherein the isolation system (30) is configured to move the shutters (32, 34) into the shuttering position when the vehicle (10) enters a tunnel.

3. The railway vehicle (10) according to claim 1 or 2, including a lower stage comprising a lower platform (14) and an upper stage comprising an upper platform (12), with at least one of the outflow ports (43a) leading to either the lower (14) or upper (12) platform.

4. The vehicle (10) according to claim 3, including a lower toilet cabin (16) on the lower stage and an upper toilet cabin (18) on the upper stage, the conditioned air inflow to each toilet cabin (16, 18) being shuttered when the shutters are in the shuttering position.

5. The vehicle (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the distribution network (24) includes: - said first distribution sheath (36) to the platforms (12, 14) and to the toilet cabin(s) (16, 18), - a second distribution sheath (38) to the platforms (12, 14), - a third distribution sheath (40) to a lower passenger room, and - fourth distribution sheaths (42) to an upper passenger room.

6. The vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first sheath (36) is connected to the air conditioning unit (22) and includes a plurality of outflow ports, namely at least one first outflow port (43a) leading to the upper platform (12), at least one second outflow port (43b) leading to the lower platform (14), at least one third outflow port (43c), and at least one fourth outflow port (43d), with at least one of the third (43c) and fourth (43d) outflow ports leading to the toilet cabin(s) (16, 18).

7. The vehicle (10) according to claim 6, wherein: - the first sheath (36) includes a first main branch (36a) extending from the air conditioning device (22), up to a first branching, - an optional second branch (36b) extends from this first branching downwardly, towards one of the second outflow ports (43b), - a third branch (36c) extends towards the toilet cabin(s) (16, 18), - a fourth branch (36d) extends from the third branch (36c) to the outflow port (43d) of the toilet cabin (16), - the third branch (36c) extends, downstream of the branching with the fourth branch (36d), to a fifth branch (36e), - an optional sixth branch (36f) extends from the fifth branch (36e) to the outflow port (43c) of another toilet cabin (18), - the fifth branch (36e) extends to a seventh branch (36g) including the first outflow port port(s) (43a).

8. The vehicle (10) according to claim 7, wherein the sheath (36) includes an eighth branch (36h) extending between the third branch (36c) and the seventh branch (36g), in parallel to the fifth branch (36e).

9. The vehicle (10) according to claim 7 or 8, comprising a flap (44a) arranged upstream of each outflow port of the first sheath (36), for example in the main branch (36a).

10. The vehicle (10) according to claim 7, 8, or 9, including, for each toilet cabin (16, 18), a flap (44b) arranged upstream of the outflow port to the corresponding toilet cabin (16, 18), with one flap (44b) being for example arranged in the fourth branch (36d), and another in the sixth branch (36f).

11. The vehicle according to claim 9 or 10, wherein each flap is controlled by the isolation system (30).