Protective device for a railway vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective device (30) for a railway vehicle, comprising: a flap (60) adapted to be fixed under the vehicle body and, when fixed to said body, to be rotatable relative to the body about a first axis (92) substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle, between a retracted and a deployed configuration; and an obstacle detection element (32). The protective device further comprises a locking element (36) adapted to hold the flap in the retracted configuration relative to the body, said locking element being configured so that activation of said detection element causes the locking element to release the flap, said flap being configured to pivot towards the deployed configuration relative to the body after release by the locking element.

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, the protective device comprising: a flap suitable for being fixed under the body of the vehicle and, when fixed to said body, for being movable in rotation relative to the front part of the body along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle, between a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration; and an obstacle detection device.

[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 document EP3018023.

[0003] However, known protective devices have drawbacks. In particular, the flap of the device described in document EP3018023 is positioned away from the ground, allowing a pedestrian's limb, such as an arm or leg, to pass under the flap and come into contact with bogie components like the wheels, the ground-level power supply system, and the chassis. Documents US909730A, US559091A, and US1425062A propose various solutions to this problem.

[0004] In order to better solve this problem, the invention relates to a protective device for railway vehicles of the aforementioned type, conforming to the characteristics of 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 detection device comprises: a bar suitable for extending under the front part of the body when the device is fixed under the body; and an arm attached to the bar, said arm being suitable for being mounted articulated to said front part along a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis; the activation of the detection device comprising a force exerted on the bar in the direction of the flap so as to pivot the arm relative to the front part.The locking device comprises: a transmission bar, said bar having a first end articulated on the arm; and a latch articulated at a second end of the transmission bar and adapted to cooperate with the shutter so as to maintain said shutter in a retracted configuration in a locked configuration of the locking device and to release the shutter in an unlocked configuration of the locking device; the protective device further comprises at least one roller rotatably mounted on the shutter.

[0006] The invention further relates to a railway vehicle comprising a body and at least one bogie disposed under said body, the body comprising a front part projecting out from the bogie in a direction of travel of said vehicle, the railway vehicle further comprising a protection device as described above.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the flap extends under the front part of the body, between the detection device and the bogie.

[0008] 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: there figure 1 is a schematic representation of a railway vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a protective device in a first retracted configuration; the figure 2 is a perspective view of the protection system of the figure 1 in a second deployed configuration; and the figure 3 is a detailed view of the protection device of the figure 1 in the first retracted configuration.

[0009] 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 also called the motor car 12 and preferably at least one passenger car 14, connected to said front car.

[0010] The motor car 12 comprises a body 16 and at least one bogie 18 arranged under said body.

[0011] In the following description, we consider an orthonormal basis (X, Y, Z), with the Z direction representing the vertical.

[0012] The railway vehicle 10 is intended to move on rails 20, in a direction of movement parallel to the direction X.

[0013] The body 16 has a front part 22, projecting out from the bogie 18 in the direction of travel of the driving car 12. In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" are understood in relation to the direction X.

[0014] 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.

[0015] The motor 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 hitting and / or rolling over an obstacle located on the rails 20.

[0016] The 30 protection device is shown alone in figures 2 And 3 The protective device 30 includes a detection element 32, a body retrieval device 34 and a body retrieval device 36 for locking / unlocking the body retrieval device.

[0017] The detection unit 32 is located near a front end 38 of the front part 22 of the body 16, i.e. as close as possible to the front of the driving car 12.

[0018] The detection element 32 comprises a bar 40 and at least one articulated arm 42, 44. In the embodiment shown in the figure 2 , the detection unit 32 comprises a first 42 and a second 44 articulated arms.

[0019] The bar 40 extends into the lower space 26 under the front part 22 and has a substantially straight shape, arranged along Y.

[0020] Each of the first 42 and second 44 arms is able to pivot relative to the box 16 along the same first axis 46 of rotation, substantially parallel to Y. In the embodiment shown, the detection member 32 comprises a first 48 and a second 50 bases, fixed to the lower surface 24 of the front part 22. A first end of each of the first 42 and second 44 arms is articulated, respectively to the first 48 and the second 50 bases, materializing the first axis of rotation 46.

[0021] A second end of each of the first 42 and second 44 arms is attached to the bar 40.

[0022] The bar 40 and the arms 42, 44 are angularly movable between an inactive position, shown on the figure 1 , and an active position represented on the figure 2 . In the inactive position, the bar 40 is substantially arranged in the same vertical plane as the first axis 46. In the active position, the bar 40 is behind the first axis 46 in the X direction.

[0023] The bar 40 and the arms 42, 44 of the detection unit 32 are configured so that, in the inactive position, a distance along Z between the bar 40 and the rails 20 is sufficiently small for said bar to come into contact with a human body lying on the rails.

[0024] In the embodiment shown, the detection member 32 includes an elastic return element 52, such as a spring, tending to return the arms 42, 44 to the inactive position.

[0025] The body collector 34 comprises a flap 60, a first 62 and a second 64 support, and a first 66 and a second 68 actuating members. Optionally, the body collector 34 also comprises one or more casters 69 ( figure 3 ).

[0026] The flap 60 has a substantially flat and rectangular shape. More precisely, the flap 60 has a front edge 70 and a rear edge 72, substantially parallel to Y, and two lateral edges 74 substantially perpendicular to Y.

[0027] In the embodiment shown, the flap 60 further comprises a first 76 and a second 78 intermediate bars, connecting the front 70 and rear 72 edges. Said intermediate bars 76, 78 extend perpendicularly to Y and are arranged between the lateral edges 74. The flap 60 thus comprises a central zone 80, arranged between the intermediate bars 76, 78, and a first 82 and a second 84 lateral zones situated on either side of said central zone along the Y direction.

[0028] In the embodiment shown, the flap 60 further includes a locking notch 85 provided at the level of the first lateral zone 82.

[0029] In the embodiment shown, the body collector 34 has two rollers 69, respectively located at the level of the first 82 and second 84 lateral zones of the flap 60. Each roller 69 is mounted for rotation on the flap 60.

[0030] The first 62 and second 64 supports are respectively arranged along the Y-axis at the level of the first 76 and second 78 intermediate bars. Furthermore, along the X-axis, the first 62 and second 64 supports are arranged opposite the first 42 and second 44 arms of the detection element 32, respectively.

[0031] The first 62 and second 64 supports are substantially identical and will be described simultaneously below.

[0032] The support 62, 64 comprises a fixing portion 86, a hinge portion 88 and a sliding portion 90, which are integral with each other.

[0033] The fixing portion 86 is fixed to the lower surface 24 of the front part 22 of the body 16 of the motor car 12.

[0034] The rear edge 72 of the flap 60 is mounted in rotation on the articulation portion 88, according to a second axis 92 of rotation of the flap 60 relative to the body 16. Said second axis 92 is substantially parallel to the first axis 46 and disposed under the lower surface 24 of the body.

[0035] The sliding portion 90, located in front of the second axis 92, has a through opening 94.

[0036] The flap 60 is capable of pivoting relative to the front part 22 of the body 16 along the second axis 92, between a first retracted configuration, visible at figures 1 And 3 and a second deployed configuration, visible at the figure 2 .

[0037] In the retracted configuration, the leading edge 70 of the flap 60 is close along the Z-axis to the lower surface 24 of the front part 22, and away from the rails 20. In the extended configuration, the leading edge 70 of the flap 60 is located lower than in the retracted configuration. The flap 60 thus extends into the lower space 26, so as to prevent an obstacle located on the rails 20 from coming into contact with the bogie 18.

[0038] The first 66 and second 68 actuating members are respectively assembled to the first 62 and second 64 supports. The first 66 and second 68 actuating members are substantially identical and will be described together below.

[0039] The actuation member 66, 68 includes an actuation element, such as a return element, in particular elastic, suitable for applying a force on the flap to move the flap 60 from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration.

[0040] More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the actuation member 66, 68 comprises a rod 96 and a spring 98.

[0041] The rod 96 is substantially straight and extends substantially in a plane (X, Z). A first end of said rod is articulated to the flap 60, along a third axis 102 of rotation parallel to the second axis 92.

[0042] More specifically, the first end of the rod 96 of the first 66 and second 68 actuation members is articulated respectively on the first 76 and on the second 78 intermediate bar of the flap 60. The first ends of the two rods 96 are arranged on the same third axis 102 of rotation.

[0043] The rod 96 of the actuating member 66, 68 is inserted into the through-hole 94 of the sliding portion 90 of the corresponding support 62, 64. This rod is capable of sliding within the through-hole, that is, it is capable of sliding through the opening in a substantially rectilinear motion parallel to a central axis passing through the opening. A second end 104 of the rod 96 is located opposite the first end with respect to the through-hole 94.

[0044] The spring 98 is a helical tension spring. One end of said spring is fixed to the second end 104 of the rod 96. A second end of said spring is fixed to the sliding portion 90 of the corresponding support 62, 64.

[0045] In the retracted configuration of the flap 60, a tension in the spring 98 is greater than a tension in said spring in the deployed position of the flap.

[0046] The locking / unlocking device 36 includes a transmission bar 110 and a latch 112.

[0047] The transmission bar 110 is straight and extends perpendicularly to Y. A first end 114 of said bar is articulated on the first arm 42 of the detection member 32.

[0048] The latch 112 is hinged to the first support 62 along an axis of rotation parallel to Y. The latch 112 comprises a tab 116 and a hook 118, fixed to each other and positioned on either side of said axis of rotation. A second end of the transmission bar 110 is hinged to the tab 116.

[0049] The hook 118 is suitable for being engaged in the notch 85 of the flap 60, as visible on the figure 3 , so as to lock said shutter in the retracted configuration.

[0050] Optionally, the motor car 12 also includes an electronic device (not shown) for obstacle detection and triggering emergency braking, as described for example in document EP3018023.

[0051] An operating method for the railway vehicle 10 described above will now be described.

[0052] The power car 12 of the vehicle 10 travels on the rails 20 in its usual direction of travel. The flap 60 of the protective device 30 is positioned in the lower space 26 under the front part 22 of the body 16. The hook 118 of the latch 112 of the locking / unlocking device 36 is engaged in the notch 85 of the flap 60. The flap is thus held in the retracted position of the figures 1 And 3 .

[0053] In addition, the bar 40 and the arms 42, 44 of the detection organ 32 are in the inactive position.

[0054] If an obstacle is located on the rails 20, the movement of the vehicle 10 causes the obstacle to come into contact with the bar 40 and to move the bar backwards. The arms 42, 44 of the detection device 32 then pivot backwards until the detection device is in its active position.

[0055] The transmission bar 110 of the device 36 is thus driven backwards by the first arm 42, which leads to the pivoting of the latch 112 relative to the first support 62. In the active position of the detection member 32, the hook 118 of the device 36 then disengages from the notch 85, releasing the flap 60.

[0056] The springs 98 of the first 66 and second 68 actuating members retract, causing the second end 104 of each corresponding rod 96 to move towards the through opening 94 of the sliding portion 90 of the corresponding support 62, 64. This movement of the rods 96 causes the flap 60 to pivot around the second axis 92 towards the deployed configuration of the figure 2 .

[0057] In said deployed configuration, the front edge 70 of the flap 60 is close to the rails 20 and the ground, which blocks the obstacle and prevents it from coming into contact with the bogie and in particular from passing under the bogie 18. In particular, when the obstacle is a pedestrian lying on the rails 20, the risks of injury to said pedestrian are reduced.

[0058] Preferably, the shutter 60 is configured so that in deployed configuration, the distance between the front edge 70 and the rails 20 is small enough to prevent a limb of a pedestrian on the rails from passing under the shutter.

[0059] Optionally, in deployed configuration, the wheels 69 of the body retrieval unit 34 come into contact with the ground, which prevents the flap 60 from rubbing against said ground.

[0060] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the body collector 34 does not have actuation members 66, 68. When the locking / unlocking device 36 releases the flap, gravity causes the front edge 70 to pivot into the deployed configuration.

[0061] However, the use of actuation members 66, 68 equipped with an elastic return element 98 makes it possible to accelerate the deployment of the flap 60, thus improving pedestrian safety. In particular, this safety can be ensured with a higher vehicle speed 10.

[0062] Alternatively, the elastic return element of the actuation members 66, 68 is replaced by a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator of the cylinder type.

[0063] According to an embodiment not shown, the vehicle 10 further includes a device for unlocking the latch 112, capable of being controlled by an operator located in the motor car 12 in the event that a pedestrian is spotted on the rails 20 in front of said vehicle.

[0064] According to an embodiment not shown, the body collector 34 further includes a device for detecting the deployed configuration, informing the operator located in the driving car 12 and / or preventing the movement of the railway vehicle 10. Said detection device includes for example a cam (not shown) articulated to a support 62, 64 and attached to the flap 60, as well as an electrical detector (not shown) connected to said cam.

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, the protective device comprising: - a flap (60) capable of being fastened under the vehicle body and, when fastened to said body, of being movable in rotation with respect to the front portion (22) of the body along a first axis (92) substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle, between a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration; and - an obstacle detection member (32); the protective device (30) further comprising: - a locking member (36), capable of holding the flap in the retracted configuration, said locking member being configured such that an activation of said detection member causes the locking member to release the flap, said flap being configured to pivot to the deployed configuration after release by the locking member; - an actuating member (66, 68) exerting on the flap (60) a force aiming to move said flap from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration; the actuating member (66, 68) comprising a rod (96) and a helical tension spring (98), a first end of the rod (96) being articulated on the flap along an axis (102) of rotation parallel to the first axis (92), a stress exerted on the spring being greater in the retracted configuration of the flap (60) than in the deployed configuration; and - a support (62, 64) for fastening the flap (60) to the vehicle body, the flap being mounted movable in rotation relative to said fastening support (62, 64) between the retracted configuration and the deployed configuration; the protective device (30) being characterised in that: - the fastening support (62, 64) comprises an articulation portion (88) and a sliding portion (90), integral with one another, the sliding portion being located forward with respect to the first axis (92) and comprising a through opening (94); - the rod is able to slide into the through opening (94) of the support, a second end (104) of the rod (96) being located opposite the first end with respect to the through opening (94); and - a first end of the helical tension spring (98) is attached to said second end (104) of the rod, a second end of said spring being attached to the sliding portion (90) of the fastening support (62, 64).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the detection member (32) comprises: - a bar (40) capable of extending under the front portion (22) of the body when the device is fastened under the body; and - an arm (42, 44) integral with the bar, said arm being able to be mounted articulated to said front portion along a second axis (46) substantially parallel to the first axis; activation of the detection member comprising a force exerted on the bar in the direction of the flap so as to pivot the arm relative to the front portion (22).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the locking member (36) comprises: a transmission bar (110), said bar comprising a first end (114) articulated on the arm (42); and a latch (112) articulated at a second end of the transmission bar and capable of cooperating with the flap (60) so as to hold said flap in a retracted configuration in a locked configuration of the locking member, and to release the flap in an unlocked configuration of the locking member.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one wheel (69) mounted in rotation on the flap (60).

5. 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 said vehicle, the rail vehicle further comprising a protective device (30) according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. Railway vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the flap extends under the front portion (22) of the body, between the detection member (32) and the bogie (18).

Images