Intercommunication passage and associated vehicle

Abstract

This intercirculation passage (20) between a first car (12) and a second car (14) of a vehicle (10) comprises: - at least one pivot joint (60, 62) between the first car (12) and the second car (14), configured to allow rotational movement about an axis of rotation (Z) of the carriages (24) of the cars (12, 14) relative to each other, - a floor (36) configured to rotate about itself about the axis of rotation (Z), and - for each carriage (24) and for each side of the vehicle (10), an outer wall (40, 42, 44, 46) in the form of an arc of a circle configured to move on a circle of rotation (C) centered on the axis of rotation (Z), depending on the rotation of the carriages (24) relative to each other.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates in general to an intercirculation passage between a first car of a vehicle, such as a tram, a train or a bus, and a second car of the vehicle.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to an intercirculation passage between a first car of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, and a second car of said vehicle, the vehicle comprising a left side and a right side.

[0003] Each car includes a crate, each crate having an opening, the openings being positioned opposite each other.

[0004] Intercirculation passages allow passengers to move from one car to another in a multi-car vehicle.

[0005] Typically, these inter-car gangways include bellows that can fold to follow the track's curvature, while still providing a watertight seal between two cars. These bellows are accompanied by walkways for passenger access and are sometimes fitted with interior lining, for example, made up of several hinged panels, to conceal the bellows.

[0006] However, such walkways and bellows require a large number of spare parts, resulting in complex assembly of the intercirculation passage and significant assembly time.

[0007] Furthermore, such bellows present acoustic problems, as they are made of thin fabrics.

[0008] Furthermore, such fabric bellows have the disadvantage of sagging with wear.

[0009] Intercirculation passages between the first car of a vehicle and the second car of the vehicle are described, for example, in documents US 2020 / 94637 A1 and US 4 455 033 A.

[0010] The present invention aims to provide an intercirculation passage that abstracts from such bellows and comprises a reduced number of spare parts.

[0011] For this purpose, the present invention relates to an intercirculation passage according to claim 1.

[0012] According to particular embodiments, the intercirculation passage comprises one or more of the features of claims 2 to 8, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations.

[0013] The invention also relates to a vehicle according to claim 9.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below, by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the attached figures, among which: [ Fig 1 ] there figure 1 is a schematic representation of a horizontal cross-section of a vehicle according to a first embodiment, comprising an intercirculation passage according to the invention, the intercirculation passage comprising in particular central walls, [ Fig 2 ] there figure 2 is a schematic representation, viewed from above, of the vehicle of the figure 1 , including in particular a high pivot joint, [ Fig 3 ] there figure 3 is a schematic representation, viewed from below, of the vehicle of the figure 1 , including in particular a low pivot joint, and [ Fig 4 ] there figure 4 is a schematic representation of a horizontal section of a vehicle according to a second embodiment, including an intercirculation passage according to the invention.

[0015] There figure 1 and the figure 4 each represent a vehicle 10 according to different embodiments, the vehicle 10 comprising a first car 12 and a second car 14, as well as an intercirculation passage 20 between the two cars 12 and 14.

[0016] Vehicle 10 is, for example, a railway vehicle, such as a train or a tram.

[0017] Alternatively, vehicle 10 is a bus.

[0018] Vehicle 10 is defined as having a front direction and a rear direction, a top and a bottom of vehicle 10, as well as a left side and a right side, relative to the normal direction of travel of vehicle 10.

[0019] The first and second cars 12 and 14 each comprise a body 24 positioned on a chassis 26.

[0020] The 24 boxes are for example straight blocks having a front face, a back face, a top face, a bottom face, a left face and a right face.

[0021] The 24 boxes of the first and second cars 12 and 14 each have an opening, the openings being positioned opposite each other.

[0022] According to the example described, the opening of the crate 24 of the first vehicle 12 is located on its rear face, and the opening of the crate 24 of the second vehicle 14 is located on its front face.

[0023] The intercirculation passage 20 includes at least one pivot joint between the first car 12 and the second car 14 configured to permit rotational movement around an axis of rotation Z of the carriages 24 relative to each other, by an angle of rotation α relative to a straight position of the carriages 24, the straight position corresponding to a position in which the included angle between the carriages 24 is equal to 180°.

[0024] The intercirculation passage 20 further includes a floor 36 configured to rotate about itself around the axis of rotation Z relative to each of the carriages 24, a front left outer wall 40 in an arc of a circle and a front right outer wall 42 in an arc of a circle attached to the carriage 24 of the first car 12, as well as a rear left outer wall 44 in an arc of a circle and a rear right outer wall 46 in an arc of a circle attached to the carriage 24 of the second car.

[0025] The intercirculation passage 20 also includes a ceiling 38.

[0026] For example, at least one pivot joint is positioned between the chassis 26 of the first and second cars 12 and 14 and the floor 36 rests on at least one pivot joint.

[0027] Floor 36 is, for example, a disk centered around the axis of rotation Z. The edge of the disk of floor 36 then defines a circle of rotation C centered on the axis of rotation Z.

[0028] According to the example described, each car 12, 14 includes a slot between the lower face of its body 24 and its chassis 26, at the level of the opening of its body 24, intended to receive a segment of the floor disc 36. The floor 36 is then supported by the chassis 26 of each car.

[0029] Ceiling 38, for example, is also a disk centered around the Z axis of rotation.

[0030] The outer front left wall 40 and front right wall 42 are attached to the rear face of the body 24 of the first car 12 at the level of its opening. They are arranged transversely on either side of the opening.

[0031] Similarly, the rear left outer walls 44 and rear right outer walls 46 are attached to the front face of the body 24 of the second car 14 at the level of its opening, and are arranged transversely on either side of the opening.

[0032] The outer walls 40 to 46 are configured to move on the rotation circle C, depending on the rotation of the boxes 24 relative to each other.

[0033] More specifically, the outer walls 40 to 46 are configured to move along the arcs of the circle of rotation C between the rear face of the body 24 of the first car 12 and the front face of the body 24 of the second car 14. The movement of the outer walls 40 to 46 is driven by the rotation of the body 24 to which they are attached.

[0034] In addition, the outer walls 40 to 46 are fixed relative to their respective box 24.

[0035] Alternatively and advantageously, the outer walls 40 to 46 are slightly movable relative to their respective casing 24 and include, for example, a flexible joint between each outer wall and their respective casing 24 allowing a slight rotation of the outer walls 40 to 46 relative to their respective casing 24.

[0036] The outer walls 40 to 46 comprise, for example, a material from among a composite material, a polymer material, a transparent material and a translucent material.

[0037] The outer walls 40 to 46 each have a respective arc length. Preferably, the arc lengths of the outer walls 40 to 46 are identical.

[0038] Depending on the embodiment chosen, the intercirculation passage 20 includes or does not include a central left wall 50 and a central right wall 52 in an arc of a circle, attached to the floor 36 and the ceiling 38, and positioned between the outer front left walls 40 and rear left walls 44, and respectively between the outer front right walls 42 and rear right walls 46.

[0039] According to a first embodiment shown on the figure 1 , the intercirculation passage 20 advantageously includes the central left wall 50 and right wall 52.

[0040] Preferably, the central left wall 50 and the right wall 52 are diametrically opposite on the circle of rotation C.

[0041] According to the first embodiment, at least one pivot joint comprises a high pivot joint 60 positioned between the first and second cars 12 and 14 at the top of the vehicle 10 and a low pivot joint 62 positioned between the first and second cars 12 and 14 at the bottom of the vehicle 10.

[0042] The high pivot joint 60 is shown on the figure 2 which is a top view of vehicle 10.

[0043] The upper pivot joint 60 is positioned between the rear face of the body 24 of the first vehicle 12 above its opening and the front face of the body 24 of the second vehicle 14 above its opening.

[0044] The upper pivot joint 60 is, moreover, fixed to the ceiling 38.

[0045] The upper pivot joint 60 is configured to guide the rotation of the floor 36 around the axis of rotation Z relative to the carriages 24. More precisely, the upper pivot joint 60 is configured to guide the rotation of an assembly consisting of the floor 36, the ceiling 38 and the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52. For example, the upper pivot joint 60 is configured to position the floor 36 in an initial position when the carriages 24 are in the upright position, the initial position corresponding to a position in which the diameter of the circle of rotation C formed by the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52 forms a right angle with the alignment of the carriages 24 of cars 12 and 14 in the upright position.More specifically, during the rotation of the crates relative to each other, the floor 36 guided by the upper joint 60 is able to follow, in a first step, the movement of the crate 24 of one of the first car 12 and of the second car 14, then, in a second step, the movement of the crate of the other of the first car 12 and of the second car 14.

[0046] The lower pivot joint 62 is shown on the figure 3 which is a view from underneath vehicle 10.

[0047] The lower pivot joint 62 is positioned between the chassis 26 of the first and second cars 12 and 14, more precisely between the rear of the chassis 26 of the first car 12 and the front of the chassis 26 of the second car 14.

[0048] The floor 36 is positioned on the lower pivot joint 62 and rests on it.

[0049] According to the first embodiment, the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52 are configured to move on the circle of rotation C with the floor 36. More precisely, the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52 are configured to move on the arcs of the circle of rotation C between the rear face of the body 24 of the first car 12 and the front face of the body 24 of the second car 14.

[0050] The central left wall 50 and the central right wall 52 comprise, for example, a material from among a composite material, a polymer material, a transparent material and a translucent material.

[0051] The central left wall 50 and the central right wall 52 each have a respective arc length. Preferably, the arc lengths of the central left wall 50 and the central right wall 52 are identical. Even more preferably, the arc lengths of the central left wall 50 and the central right wall 52 and of the outer walls 40 to 46 are all identical.

[0052] According to the first embodiment, the arc lengths of the outer walls 40 to 46 and central left 50 and right 52 are chosen to be identical.

[0053] In addition, the arc lengths of the outer walls 40 to 46 and central left 50 and right 52 are chosen such that the arcs of the circle of rotation C between the front face of the body 24 of the first car 12 and the rear face of the body 24 of the second car 14 are covered by at least one of the outer walls 40 to 46 and central left 50 and right 52 regardless of the angle of rotation α.

[0054] The outer walls front left 40 and rear left 44, and respectively front right 42 and rear right 46, are configured to slide relative to the central left wall 50, and respectively relative to the central right wall 52.

[0055] Advantageously, the central left wall 50 and right wall 52 each comprise an internal wall 70 and an external wall 72, and as an optional complement a separating wall 74 positioned between the internal wall 70 and external wall 72.

[0056] At least one of the outer walls front left 40 and rear left 44, respectively of the outer walls front right 42 and rear right 46, preferably each of the outer walls front left 40 and rear left 44, respectively of the outer walls front right 42 and rear right 46, is configured to slide between the inner 70 and outer 72 walls of the center left wall 50, respectively of the center right wall 52.

[0057] When the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52 include a separating wall 74, one of the front left outer walls 40 and rear left outer walls 44, respectively of the front right outer walls 42 and rear right outer walls 46, is configured to slide between the internal walls 70 and separating wall 74 of the left central wall 50, respectively of the right central wall 52, and the other of the front left outer walls 40 and rear left outer walls 44, respectively of the front right outer walls 42 and rear right outer walls 46, is configured to slide between the external walls 72 and separating wall 74 of the left central wall 50, respectively of the right central wall 52.

[0058] According to the example illustrated on the figure 1 The outer front left wall 40, and respectively the front right wall 42, is located furthest outside in relation to the outer front right wall 44, and respectively the rear right wall 46. More specifically, the outer front left walls 40 and front right walls 42 are configured to slide between the outer walls 72 and separating wall 74 of the center left wall 50, and respectively the center right wall 52, and the outer rear left walls 44 and rear right walls 46 are configured to slide between the inner walls 70 and separating wall 74 of the center left wall 50, and respectively the center right wall 52.

[0059] In addition, each central wall 50, 52 includes at least one stop 80 configured so that the displacement of one of the outer walls 40 to 46 on the circle of rotation C causes the displacement of said central wall on the circle of rotation C by bearing on at least one stop 80.

[0060] According to the example illustrated on the figure 1 , each central wall 50, 52 includes a stop 80 between its internal wall 70 and separating wall 74, and a stop 80 between its external wall 72 and separating wall 74. At least one, preferably each, of the external walls 40 to 46 is then configured to cause, in its movement on the circle of rotation C, the movement of one of the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52, and therefore the rotation of the assembly composed of the floor 36, the ceiling 38 and the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52, by bearing said external wall on the corresponding stop 80 of the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52.

[0061] Preferably, each stop 80 between an internal wall 70 or external wall 72, and a separating wall 74 is located as far opposite as possible to the external wall sliding between said internal wall 70 or external wall 72, and said separating wall 74, so that when said external wall presses on the stop 80, said external wall, said internal wall 70 or external wall 72, and said separating wall 74 are completely superimposed.

[0062] According to the first embodiment, the angle of rotation α includes a maximum value α max, the maximum value α max of the angle of rotation α being a function of the lengths of the outer walls 40 to 46, and of the central left walls 50 and right walls 52.

[0063] More specifically, when the body 24 of the first car 12 rotates relative to the body 24 of the second car 14 in the counterclockwise direction, by an angle of rotation α relative to the upright position, the angle of rotation α reaches its maximum value αmax when the front left outer wall 40 abuts the stop 80 between the inner wall 70 and the separating wall 74 of the left central wall 50, and the rear left outer wall 44 abuts the stop 80 between the outer wall 72 and the separating wall 74 of the left central wall 50. The arc of the circle Cg of the circle of rotation C between the front face of the body 24 of the first car 12 and the rear face of the body 24 of the second car 14, on the left side of the vehicle 10, is then entirely covered by the overlap of the front left outer walls 40 and rear left outer walls 44 and the inner walls 70 and outer walls 40. 72 and separation 74 from the left central wall 50.

[0064] This applies similarly to the right side of vehicle 10, when the body 24 of the first car 12 rotates relative to the body 24 of the second car 14 in the counter-trigonometric direction.

[0065] Preferably, the arc length of the outer walls 40 to 46 and of the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52 is chosen such that when the angle of rotation α reaches its maximum value α max, for a rotation of the body 24 of the first car 12 in the trigonometric direction, the arc of the circle C d of the circle of rotation C between the front face of the body 24 of the first car 12 and the rear face of the body 24 of the second car 14, on the right side of the vehicle 10, is entirely covered by the front right outer walls 42 and rear right outer walls 46 and the right central wall 52, without overlap of the walls.

[0066] Similarly, for a rotation of the body 24 of the first car 12 in the anti-trigonometric direction, the arc of the circle C g is then covered by the outer walls front left 40 and rear left 44 and the central left wall 50, without overlap of the walls.

[0067] The rotation of the body 24 of the first car 12 in the trigonometric direction from the right position up to a rotation angle α max comprises different stages, the upper pivot joint 60 guiding the rotation of the assembly consisting of the floor 36, the ceiling 38 and the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52 during these stages.

[0068] In a first step, the crate 24 of the first car 12 performs its rotation up to an angle equal to α max / 2.

[0069] During the first stage, the assembly consisting of the floor 36, the ceiling 38 and the central left 50 and right 52 walls is held immobile by the upper pivot joint 60, relative to the body 24 of the second car 14.

[0070] When the angle of rotation is equal to α max / 2, the front left outer wall 40 butts against the stop 80 between the outer walls 72 and the separation wall 74 of the left central wall 50, and is entirely superimposed with the left central wall 50.

[0071] In a second stage, the crate 24 of the first car 12 performs its rotation between the angles α max / 2 and α max.

[0072] During the second stage, the movement of the left central wall 50, and therefore the rotation of the assembly consisting of the floor 36, the ceiling 38 and the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52, is driven by the movement of the front left outer wall 40, the front left outer wall 40 pressing on the stop 80 between the outer walls 72 and the separating wall 74 of the left central wall 50. The assembly consisting of the floor 36, the ceiling 38 and the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52 then follows the movement of the body 24 of the first car, and is stationary relative to the body 24 of the first car 12.

[0073] When the angle of rotation is equal to α max, the rear left outer wall 44 butts against the stop 80 between the internal walls 70 and the separation wall 74 of the central left wall 50 and is completely superimposed with the central left wall 50 and the front left outer wall 40.

[0074] The rotation of the carriage 24 of the first car 12 in the counter-trigonometric direction from the right position includes analogous steps on the right side of the vehicle.

[0075] Alternatively, during the first stage, the assembly consisting of the floor 36, the ceiling 38 and the central left 50 and right 52 walls follows the movement of the carriage 24 of the first car 12, guided by the upper joint 60, and is then immobile relative to the carriage 24 of the first car 12.

[0076] When the angle of rotation is equal to α max / 2, the rear left outer wall 44 butts against the stop 80 between the internal walls 70 and the separation wall 74 of the left central wall 50, and is entirely superimposed with the left central wall 50.

[0077] According to this variant, during the second stage, the rear left outer wall 44 presses on the stop 80 between the internal walls 70 and the separation wall 74 of the left central wall 50 and the assembly consisting of the floor 36, the ceiling 38 and the left central walls 50 and right central walls 52 is then immobile relative to the body 24 of the second car 14.

[0078] When the angle of rotation is equal to α max, the front left outer wall 40 butts against the stop 80 between the outer walls 72 and separating wall 74 of the left central wall 50, and is entirely superimposed with the left central wall 50 and the front left outer wall 40.

[0079] The person skilled in the art then understands that the angle of rotation of the floor 36 on itself includes a maximum value equal to α max / 2 in each direction of rotation.

[0080] According to a second embodiment shown in the figure 4The intercirculation passage 20 does not include a central wall.

[0081] According to the second embodiment, the arc lengths of the outer walls 40 to 46 are chosen to be identical.

[0082] In addition, the arc lengths of the outer walls 40 to 46 are chosen such that the arcs of the circle of rotation C between the front face of the body 24 of the first car 12 and the rear face of the body 24 of the second car 14 are each covered by at least one of the outer walls 40 to 46 regardless of the angle of rotation α.

[0083] The outer walls front left 40 and rear left 44, and respectively front right 42 and rear right 46, slide relative to each other. According to the example described, the outer walls front left 40 and front right 42 are located furthest outwards relative to the outer walls rear left 44 and rear right 46, respectively.

[0084] According to the second embodiment, the angle of rotation α includes a maximum value α max, the maximum value α max of the angle of rotation α being a function of the arc lengths of the outer walls 40 to 46.

[0085] More specifically, when the body 24 of the first car 12 rotates relative to the body 24 of the second car 14 in the counterclockwise direction by an angle of rotation α relative to the right position, the angle of rotation α reaches its maximum value α max when the front left outer wall 40 butts up against the front face of the body 24 of the second car 14. The arc of the circle C g is then entirely covered by the superposition of the front left outer walls 40 and rear left 44.

[0086] This applies similarly to the right side of vehicle 10, when the body 24 of the first car 12 rotates relative to the body 24 of the second car 14 in the counter-trigonometric direction.

[0087] Preferably, the arc length of the outer walls 40 to 46 is chosen such that when the angle of rotation α reaches the maximum value α max, for a rotation of the body 24 of the first car 12 in the trigonometric direction, the arc of the circle C d is covered by the outer walls front right 42 and rear right 46 without overlap.

[0088] Similarly, for a rotation of the body 24 of the first car 12 in the anti-trigonometric direction, the arc of the circle C g is then covered by the outer walls front left 40 and rear left 44 without overlap.

[0089] It is then understood that the outer walls 40 to 46 and in addition the central left 50 and right 52 allow to have a sealed intercirculation passage 20, without having to use bellows, the sealing being better with the central left 50 and right 52 walls.

[0090] The intercirculation passage 20 then allows a watertight passage between two cars and is composed of a limited number of parts, thus reducing the complexity of assembling such an intercirculation passage and the assembly time.

[0091] Furthermore, the intercirculation passage 20 emits a lower sound volume than a passage with bellows, given that it is made up of wider walls than passages with bellows.

[0092] In addition, the central left wall 50 and right wall 52 allow, on the one hand, that the rotation of the floor 36 is driven by the movement of the outer walls 40 to 46, and therefore by the rotation of the boxes 24 relative to each other, and on the other hand, to mask potential traces due to friction between the walls, inside the central left wall 50 and right wall 52.

[0093] Furthermore, the flexible junctions between the outer walls 40 to 46 and the boxes 24 make it possible to compensate for potential coaxiality defects of the outer walls 40 to 46, and thus avoid wear due to these defects.

[0094] A person skilled in the art will understand that a judicious choice of the arc length of the outer walls allows the maximum value α max of the rotation angle to be maximized.

Claims

1. Intercommunication passage (20) between a first carriage (12) of a vehicle (10), in particular a railway vehicle, and a second carriage (14) of said vehicle (10), the vehicle (10) comprising a left side and a right side, each vehicle comprising a body (24), each body (24) having an opening, the openings being positioned opposite each other, the intercommunication passage (20) comprising: - at least one pivot joint (60, 62) between the first carriage (12) and the second carriage (14), configured to allow a rotational movement of an angle of rotation (α), about an axis of rotation (Z), of the bodies (24) relative to one another, - a floor (36) configured to rotate on itself about the axis of rotation (Z) relative to each of the bodies (24), and - for each body (24) and for each side of the vehicle (10), an outer wall (40, 42, 44, 46) in a circular arc, fixed to said body (24) at its opening, each outer wall (40, 42, 44, 46) being configured to move along a circle of rotation (C) centred on the axis of rotation (Z), depending on the rotation of the bodies (24) relative to one another, characterised in that at least one pivot joint (60, 62) comprises a top pivot joint (60) and a bottom pivot joint (62), with the floor (36) positioned on the bottom pivot joint (62), and the top pivot joint (60) configured to guide the rotation of the floor (36) relative to the bodies (24) about the axis of rotation (Z), when rotating the bodies relative to each other, the floor guided by the upper joint (60) being able to follow, in a first step, the movement of the body (24) of one of the first carriage (12) and of the second carriage (14), then, in a second step, the movement of the body of the other of the first carriage (12) and of the second carriage (14).

2. Intercommunication passage (20) according to Claim 1, wherein the intercommunication passage (20) further comprises, for each side of the vehicle (10), a central wall (50, 52) in the form of an arc, fixed to the floor (36), positioned between the outer walls (40, 42, 44, 46) of said side of the vehicle (10), and configured to move along the circle of rotation (C) with the floor (36).

3. Intercommunication passage (20) according to Claim 2, wherein the central walls (50, 52) are diametrically opposite each other on the circle of rotation (C).

4. Intercommunication passage (20) according to either one of Claims 2 or 3, wherein each central wall (50, 52) comprises at least one, preferably one for each outer wall (40, 42, 44, 46) adjacent to said central wall (50, 52), stop (80) configured such that the movement of one of the outer walls (40, 42, 44, 46) on the circle of rotation (C) causes said central wall (50, 52) to move along the circle of rotation (C) by pressing against the at least one stop (80).

5. Intercommunication passage (20) according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein each central wall (50, 52) comprises an inner wall (70) and an outer wall (72), and wherein at least one, preferably each of the outer walls (40, 42, 44, 46) adjacent to said central wall (50, 52) is configured to slide between the inner (70) and outer (72) walls.

6. Intercommunication passage (20) according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the angle of rotation (α) of the bodies (24) relative to one another comprises a maximum value, the maximum value of the angle of rotation (α) of the bodies (20) relative to one another being dependent on an arc length of the central walls (50, 52).

7. Intercommunication passage (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the angle of rotation (α) of the bodies (24) relative to one another comprises a maximum value, the maximum value of the angle of rotation (α) of the bodies (24) relative to one another being dependent on the arc lengths of the outer walls (40, 42, 44, 46).

8. Intercommunication passage (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer walls (40, 42, 44, 46) comprise a material selected from a composite material, a polymer material, a transparent material, and a translucent material.

9. Vehicle (10), in particular a railway vehicle, comprising a left side and a right side, and having: - at least two carriages (12, 14), the at least two carriages (12, 14) each comprising a body (24), each body (24) having an opening, the openings being positioned opposite each other, and - an intercommunication passage (20) between the at least two carriages (12, 14), characterised in that the intercommunication passage (20) is according to any one of the preceding claims.

Images