Method for producing at least one locomotive and arrangement of at least two corresponding locomotives

Abstract

A method for manufacturing at least one locomotive (10), wherein the locomotive comprises a first set of elements (12) including a high-voltage cabinet (20); a second set of elements (14) including a pantograph (16); and a third set of elements (15) including high-voltage electrical equipment. The locomotive is capable of having a first manufacturing configuration or a second manufacturing configuration. In the first configuration, the third set of elements (15) is arranged on the roof (36) of the locomotive. In the second configuration, the third set of elements (15) is arranged in the high-voltage cabinet (20). The first set of elements (12) is identical in the first and second configurations. The overall height of the locomotive according to the first configuration is greater than that of the locomotive according to the second configuration.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing at least one locomotive, in particular a shunting locomotive, in which the locomotive comprises a first set of elements including a high-voltage cabinet located below the level of a roof of the locomotive, a second configurable set of elements linked to the first set of elements and including a pantograph and a third set of elements linked to the first set of elements and including high-voltage electrical equipment, including a circuit breaker and a probing transformer.

[0002] The infrastructure mechanical clearance defines the cross-section of a rail vehicle. Each rail network defines its own infrastructure mechanical clearance. The dimensions, particularly the height, of a rail vehicle are constrained by the dimensions of the infrastructure mechanical clearance of the rail network on which it operates.

[0003] It is known for designing and manufacturing locomotives specific to a single mechanical infrastructure gauge.

[0004] However, this has the disadvantage that the locomotive cannot operate on railway networks with a more constrained mechanical infrastructure gauge.

[0005] For example, a locomotive designed and manufactured for a first mechanical infrastructure gauge will not be able to operate on a network with a second mechanical infrastructure gauge having a lower height.

[0006] A locomotive adapted to only one mechanical gauge of infrastructure can therefore only operate on a limited number of railway networks, which is not very profitable.

[0007] The design and manufacturing process of the railway vehicle is also specific to a single infrastructure gauge. The various components of the locomotive were designed taking into account the constraints of a single infrastructure gauge. It is therefore difficult and expensive to modify a locomotive designed for one infrastructure gauge to adapt it to a second infrastructure gauge.

[0008] One aim of the invention is to make the manufacture of locomotives more economical.

[0009] In particular, one goal is to manufacture a locomotive compatible with a first mechanical infrastructure gauge that can be easily and quickly modified to be compatible with a second mechanical infrastructure gauge, especially one with more height restrictions.

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to the aforementioned method of manufacturing at least one locomotive, characterized in that the locomotive is capable of having a first manufacturing configuration or a second manufacturing configuration, in that in the first manufacturing configuration, the third set of elements is arranged on the roof of the locomotive, in that in the second manufacturing configuration, the third set of elements is arranged in the high-voltage cabinet, in that the method includes a configuration selection step from the first and second manufacturing configurations, in that the first set of elements is identical in the first manufacturing configuration and in the second manufacturing configuration, and in that the total height of the locomotive according to the first manufacturing configuration is greater than that of the locomotive according to the second manufacturing configuration.

[0011] The method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically feasible combination: The first set of elements comprises one or more elements selected from the group comprising: a bogie, a chassis, a set of electrical and mechanical modules and a driver's cab defining the roof of the locomotive; the pantograph height of the first manufacturing configuration is greater than the pantograph height of the second manufacturing configuration; in the first manufacturing configuration, the high-voltage cabinet includes electrical wiring but does not include the third set of elements and in the second manufacturing configuration, the high-voltage cabinet includes electrical wiring and the third set of elements; the locomotive includes a configuration space adapted to receive the high-voltage cabinet; the configuration space is mounted on the chassis adjacent to the driver's cab.The configuration space contains the high-voltage cabinet; the locomotive manufactured according to the first configuration is compatible with a first mechanical infrastructure gauge, the locomotive manufactured according to the second configuration is compatible with a second mechanical infrastructure gauge, the second mechanical infrastructure gauge having a lower height than the first mechanical infrastructure gauge; the manufacturing process includes the following additional steps: supplying a locomotive manufactured according to the first configuration; replacing the installed pantograph with a pantograph having a lower height than the installed pantograph and moving the third set of elements installed on the roof into the high-voltage cabinet inside the configuration space, thus obtaining a locomotive according to the second manufacturing configuration.

[0012] The invention also relates to a set of at least two locomotives, in particular shunting locomotives, especially dual-mode diesel-electric, characterized in that the locomotives are manufactured according to the aforementioned manufacturing process.

[0013] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the attached drawings, in which: there figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a locomotive according to the invention in a first configuration adapted to a first mechanical infrastructure gauge; the figure 2 is a front view of the locomotive of the figure 1 and the first mechanical infrastructure template; the figure 3 is a front view of the two mechanical infrastructure templates; the figure 4 is a front view of the locomotive of the figure 1 in a second configuration adapted to a second mechanical infrastructure template; the figure 5 is a side view of part of the locomotive of the figure 1 ; and the figure 6 is a side view of part of the locomotive of the figure 4 .

[0014] In what follows, the directions are the usual directions of a railway vehicle. Thus, the terms "front", "rear", "left", "right" are generally understood in relation to the normal direction of travel of a railway vehicle.

[0015] There figure 1 illustrates a locomotive 10 according to an embodiment of the invention, in particular a dual-mode diesel-electric shunting locomotive.

[0016] Locomotive 10 comprises a first set of 12 elements, a second set of 14 elements and a third set of 15 elements.

[0017] The second set of 14 elements and the third set of 15 elements are linked to the first set of 12 elements.

[0018] The second set of 14 elements includes a pantograph 16, 18.

[0019] The third set of 15 elements includes high-voltage electrical equipment, including a circuit breaker 56 and / or a probing transformer 58.

[0020] Locomotive 10 may have an initial manufacturing configuration, shown on the figures 1 , 2 And 5 , or a second manufacturing configuration, represented on the figures 4 And 6 .

[0021] The first set of 12 elements is identical in the first manufacturing configuration and in the second manufacturing configuration.

[0022] The first set of 12 elements comprises, in this case, a bogie 22, a chassis 24, a set of electrical and mechanical modules 26, 28, 30, 32, and a driver's cab 34 defining the roof 36 of the locomotive. Alternatively, the first set of elements comprises one or more of these elements in any technically feasible combination.

[0023] The chassis 24 includes an upper platform structure 38, a coupling and two buffers 40 installed at a front end 42 of the chassis 24, and an additional coupling and two buffers 40 installed at a rear end 44 of the chassis 24.

[0024] The driver's cab 34 is mounted on the platform 38. Part of the electrical and mechanical modules 26, 28, 30 is installed on the platform 38 between the driver's cab 34 and the rear end 44 of the chassis 24. The other electrical and mechanical module 32 is installed on the platform 38 between the driver's cab 34 and the front end 42 of the chassis 24.

[0025] As depicted on the figure 1 , the electrical and mechanical modules 26, 28, 30, 32 are installed so as to leave an evacuation corridor 46 from the driver's cab 34 to the front end 42 and an evacuation corridor 48 from the driver's cab 34 to the rear end 44.

[0026] Advantageously, the evacuation corridors 46, 48 are secured by safety barriers 50.

[0027] The driver's cab 34 includes side partitions 54 and defines a roof 36 of the locomotive 10.

[0028] The first set of elements 12 includes a high-voltage cabinet 20 located below the roof level 36 of the locomotive

[0029] The high-voltage cabinet 20 includes high-voltage electrical connections by wiring to supply high-voltage electrical power to the equipment of the locomotive 10, including the electric traction motors.

[0030] For example, in a railway network with a nominal voltage electrification system of 25 kV alternating current, the highest continuous voltage delivered is 27.5 kV and the highest non-continuous voltage delivered is 29 kV.

[0031] Locomotive 10 also includes a configuration space 52, specifically adapted to accommodate the high-voltage cabinet 20.

[0032] This configuration space 52 is located on the chassis 24 adjacent to the driver's cab 34, and more specifically between the driver's cab 34 and the electrical and mechanical module 32 located at the front end 42 of the chassis 24.

[0033] In the first manufacturing configuration of locomotive 10 shown on the figures 1 , 2 And 5 , the third set of 15 elements is arranged on the roof 36 of the locomotive 10.

[0034] The second set of 14 elements includes a pantograph 16 of the first manufacturing configuration fitted on the roof 36 of the locomotive.

[0035] The height Hp1 of the pantograph 16 of the first manufacturing configuration is defined as the height between the roof 36 and a horizontal line passing through the highest point of the pantograph 16.

[0036] In the first manufacturing configuration of the locomotive, the high-voltage electrical equipment, such as the circuit breaker 56 and the probing transformer 58, is arranged on the roof 36 of the locomotive.

[0037] In the first manufacturing configuration of the locomotive, the high-voltage cabinet 20 includes the electrical wiring but does not include the third set 15 of elements.

[0038] Advantageously, the high-voltage cabinet 20 then includes only the electrical wiring.

[0039] A second manufacturing configuration for locomotive 10 will be described next, which is shown on the figures 4 And 6 . Similar elements bear the same references.

[0040] In this second configuration, the second set 14 of elements includes a pantograph 18 installed on the roof 36.

[0041] The height Hp2 of the pantograph 18 of the second manufacturing configuration is defined as the height between the roof 36 and a horizontal line passing through the highest point of the pantograph 18.

[0042] The height Hp2 of the pantograph 18 of the second manufacturing configuration is less than the height Hp1 of the pantograph 16 of the first manufacturing configuration.

[0043] In the second manufacturing configuration of locomotive 10, the third set 15 of elements is not arranged on the roof 36 as in the first manufacturing configuration, but is arranged below the level of the roof 36 of locomotive 10, and more specifically in the high-voltage cabinet 20.

[0044] In the second locomotive manufacturing configuration, the high-voltage cabinet 20 includes the electrical wiring and the third set of 15 elements.

[0045] As depicted on the figure 6 , the high-voltage cabinet 20 is installed in configuration space 52, located in front of the driver's cab 34.

[0046] The configuration space 52 therefore contains the high-voltage electrical equipment, including the circuit breaker 56 and the probing transformer 58, in the high-voltage cabinet 20 in the second manufacturing configuration of locomotive 10, but does not contain the high-voltage electrical equipment in the first manufacturing configuration of locomotive 10.

[0047] There figure 3 illustrates a first mechanical gauge 60 of infrastructure and a second mechanical gauge 62 of infrastructure.

[0048] The first mechanical gauge 60 of infrastructure defines a maximum height Hmax1 of railway vehicle and the second mechanical gauge 62 of infrastructure defines a maximum height Hmax2 of railway vehicle.

[0049] As illustrated on the figure 3 , the maximum height Hmax1 allowed by the first mechanical template 60 is greater than the maximum height Hmax2 allowed by the second mechanical template 62.

[0050] For example, the EC difference between the maximum height Hmax1 allowed by the first mechanical template 60 and the maximum height Hmax2 allowed by the second mechanical template 62 is approximately 375 millimeters.

[0051] As depicted on the figure 2 , locomotive 10 manufactured according to the first configuration is compatible with the first mechanical gauge 60.

[0052] As depicted on the figure 4 , locomotive 10 manufactured according to the second configuration is compatible with the second mechanical gauge 62.

[0053] The overall height of the locomotive according to the first manufacturing configuration is therefore greater than that of the locomotive according to the second manufacturing configuration.

[0054] A manufacturing process for a locomotive 10 will now be described.

[0055] First, the process includes a configuration selection step from the first and second manufacturing configurations. The first manufacturing configuration is selected, for example.

[0056] A locomotive 10 comprising the first set 12 of elements, the second set 14 of elements and the third set 15 of elements is therefore manufactured according to the first configuration.

[0057] The second set 14 of elements comprising the pantograph 16 of height Hp1 and the third set 15 of elements comprising the high-voltage electrical equipment, including the circuit breaker 56 and the probing transformer 58, are arranged on the roof 36 of the locomotive 10.

[0058] Locomotive 10 according to the first configuration thus obtained is compatible with the first mechanical gauge 60 of infrastructure.

[0059] The process then includes another configuration selection step from the first and second manufacturing configurations. The second manufacturing configuration is selected this time.

[0060] Instead of manufacturing a new locomotive 10 according to the second configuration, the locomotive 10 manufactured according to the first configuration is supplied to then be modified to be compatible with the second mechanical gauge 62.

[0061] First, the installed pantograph 16 with a height of Hp1 is replaced by a pantograph 18 with a height of Hp2 less than Hp1.

[0062] The third set of 15 elements, comprising the high-voltage electrical equipment, including the circuit breaker 56 and the probing transformer 58, arranged on the roof 36, is then moved and wired inside the high-voltage cabinet 20 arranged in the configuration space 52.

[0063] A locomotive according to the second manufacturing configuration is thus obtained and is compatible with the second mechanical gauge 62.

[0064] A manufacturing process with an initial selection of the second configuration followed by a modification to the first configuration can also be carried out by following the same principle in reverse.

[0065] The manufacturing process according to the invention therefore makes it possible to manufacture a locomotive compatible with a first mechanical infrastructure gauge which is capable of being modified to be compatible with a second mechanical infrastructure gauge which is more constrained in height.

[0066] Modifying the locomotive is quick and easy, as only a limited number of components need to be moved or replaced to switch from one configuration to another.

[0067] Furthermore, such a locomotive also has the advantage of being able to operate on several railway networks during its period of use with the most economical and just-necessary configuration.

[0068] The invention also provides a set of at least two locomotives, including shunting locomotives, specifically dual-mode diesel-electric locomotives. These locomotives are manufactured according to a process as described above, and each locomotive has the characteristics of the locomotive previously described.

[0069] According to another embodiment not shown, the third set 15 of elements comprising the high-voltage electrical equipment, notably the circuit breaker 56 and the probing transformer 58, is arranged inside the high-voltage cabinet 20 in the configuration space 52 in both the first and second configurations. A locomotive according to the first manufacturing configuration and a locomotive according to the second manufacturing configuration differ from each other only by the installed pantograph, which is either of height Hp1 in the first manufacturing configuration or of height Hp2 in the second manufacturing configuration.

Claims

1. Locomotive (10) comprising: - a first set of elements (12) including a high-voltage cabinet (20) located below the level of a roof (36) of the locomotive (10); - a second configurable set of elements (14) linked to the first set of elements (12) and including a pantograph (16; 18); and - a third set of elements (15) linked to the first set of elements (12) and including high-voltage electrical equipment, including a circuit breaker (56) and a probing transformer (58); characterized in that The locomotive (10) is capable of having a first manufacturing configuration or a second manufacturing configuration, - in that In the first manufacturing configuration, the third set of elements (15) is arranged on the roof (36) of the locomotive (10), - in that In the second manufacturing configuration, the third set of elements (15) is arranged in the high-voltage cabinet (20), - in thatthe first set of elements (12) is identical in the first manufacturing configuration and in the second manufacturing configuration, and - in that the total height of the locomotive (10) according to the first manufacturing configuration is greater than that of the locomotive (10) according to the second manufacturing configuration.

2. Locomotive (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first set of elements (12) comprises one or more elements selected from the group comprising: a bogie (22), a chassis (24), a set of electrical and mechanical modules (26, 28, 30, 32) and a driver's cab (34) defining the roof (36) of the locomotive (10).

3. Locomotive (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the height (Hp1) of the pantograph (16) of the first manufacturing configuration is greater than the height (Hp2) of the pantograph (18) of the second manufacturing configuration.

4. Locomotive (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - in the first manufacturing configuration, the high-voltage cabinet (20) includes electrical wiring but does not include the third set of elements (15); - in the second manufacturing configuration, the high-voltage cabinet (20) includes electrical wiring and the third set of elements (15).

5. Locomotive (10) according to claim 2 alone or taken in combination with claim 3 or 4, wherein the configuration space (52) is mounted on the chassis (24) adjacent to the driver's cab (34).

6. Locomotive (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locomotive (10) manufactured according to the first configuration is compatible with a first mechanical infrastructure gauge (60), the locomotive (10) manufactured according to the second configuration is compatible with a second mechanical infrastructure gauge (62), the second mechanical infrastructure gauge (62) having a lower height (Hmax2) than the first mechanical infrastructure gauge (60).

7. Method of manufacturing at least one locomotive (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the method comprising a configuration selection step from the first and second manufacturing configuration.

8. Manufacturing method according to claim 7 comprising the following additional steps: - supplying a locomotive (10) manufactured according to the second configuration; - replacing the installed pantograph (18) with a pantograph (16) having a height (Hp1) greater than the height (Hp2) of the installed pantograph (18); and - moving, on the roof (36) of the third set of elements (15) installed in the high-voltage cabinet (20) inside the configuration space (52), thus obtaining a locomotive (10) according to the first manufacturing configuration.

9. A set of at least two locomotives (10), including shunting locomotives, in particular dual-mode diesel-electric locomotives, characterized in that the locomotives (10) conform to one of claims 1 to 6.

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