Side wall of a railway vehicle body, railway vehicle body comprising such a wall, and railway vehicle comprising such a body

Abstract

The invention relates to a side wall (5.1) of a railway vehicle body comprising at least one reinforcing element (13) connecting a first and a second upright (11) along a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element (13). The reinforcing element (13) comprises a flat sheet defining a sheet metal plane (P2), having an outer edge, which is intended to face outwards from the railway vehicle body and is straight along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element (13), and having an inner edge, which is opposite the outer edge. The outer and inner edges are, in the sheet metal plane (P2), separated from each other, along a direction perpendicular to the main plane (P1), by a distance that varies along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element (13), this distance being greatest approximately at the middle of the reinforcing element (13).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a side wall of a railway vehicle body. It also relates to a railway vehicle body comprising such a wall. It also relates to a railway vehicle comprising such a body.

[0002] Depending on a train's speed and its surroundings, movements of the ambient air can occur, leading to an increase in pressure applied to one or both of the side walls of each of the train's car bodies. In particular, when a high-speed train enters a tunnel, some of the air mass previously at rest in the tunnel is displaced and compressed in the residual space between the tunnel wall and one or both of the aforementioned side walls, generating a pressure wave along the train that can damage the side walls and, consequently, the internal contents of the car body in question. To make the walls more resistant, it is known from WO2012076244 to integrate horizontal reinforcing elements into the wall structure.

[0003] However, such reinforcement elements increase the vehicle's mass and, consequently, its energy consumption.

[0004] The aim of the invention is therefore to propose a new reinforcement solution, aimed at optimizing the compromise between the rigidity of the wall, which we seek to maximize, and the mass, which we seek to minimize.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a side wall of a railway vehicle body, comprising: at least two uprights, extending lengthwise in a substantially parallel manner to each other and defining a principal plane in which the uprights extend lengthwise, and at least one reinforcing element, connecting a first and a second of the uprights along a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element, and comprising a flat sheet: o defining a sheet plane, in which the flat sheet extends and which is substantially perpendicular to the principal plane and to the first and second uprights, ∘ having an outer edge, which is intended to face outwards from the body and which is straight along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element, being parallel to the principal plane, and ∘ having an inner edge, which is opposite the outer edge along a direction perpendicular to the principal plane, and in which the outer and inner edges are, in the sheet metal plane, separated from each other, in a direction perpendicular to the main plane, by a distance which varies according to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element, this distance being maximum substantially in the middle of the reinforcing element along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, the rigidity function is ensured while minimizing the added mass. Indeed, on the one hand, a section of the side wall is less resistant, particularly to pressure waves, the further it is from the uprights between which this section extends, these uprights already providing a certain degree of reinforcement to the side wall. On the other hand, for a given position on the wall, the stiffness provided by the reinforcing element is greater the wider the element is. Thanks to a variable width, which is greatest at the center of the reinforcing element where the need for increased rigidity is greatest, the amount of material, and therefore the mass of the reinforcing element, is optimized to achieve a better distribution of stiffness on the wall. Furthermore, the use of a flat sheet simplifies manufacturing and assembly operations, especially compared to solutions that would involve folded sheet metal.

[0007] The invention also relates to a railway vehicle body, comprising two side walls conforming to the above.

[0008] The invention also relates to a railway vehicle comprising a body as defined above.

[0009] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the side wall of a railway vehicle body, according to the invention, comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations: The inner edge consists of two straight parts, symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane of symmetry, which is perpendicular to the principal plane and to the sheet metal plane and which passes through the middle of the reinforcing element along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element; which the flat sheet comprises at least one through hole; said at least one through hole is located substantially in the middle of the reinforcing element along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element; said at least one through hole is oblong, having a principal direction extending along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element; said at least one through hole is adapted to fix at least one accessory, in particular a wiring accessory; several through holes are provided, aligned substantially regularly along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element;Several reinforcing elements are planned between the first and second uprights, these reinforcing elements being distributed in the longitudinal direction of the uprights.

[0010] The invention will become clearer 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 perspective view of a railway vehicle body according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is a perspective view of the boxed area II of the figure 1 ; Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 is an elevation view along arrow III of the figure 2 .

[0011] We consider a railway vehicle, for example a locomotive or a wagon, belonging to a train, used to transport goods and / or people. This railway vehicle includes a body 1, partially represented on the figure 1 In the assembled state of use of the aforementioned railway vehicle, the body 1 rests on a chassis, not shown, equipped with running elements adapted to a railway track.

[0012] The rest of the description is oriented by considering, on the one hand, that the front and the rear are respectively directed in the direction that the train moves forward and in the direction that the train moves backward and, on the other hand, that the train rests on a flat and horizontal ground.

[0013] The container 1 comprises two side walls 5.1 and 5.2, left and right respectively, which together define an internal volume V of the container 1, intended to accommodate goods and / or persons to be transported. Each of the side walls 5.1 and 5.2 separates the aforementioned internal volume from the exterior of the container 1.

[0014] Vertically, the side walls 5.1 and 5.2 extend upwards, here from a floor 3 of the body 1, which rests on the aforementioned chassis and closes the internal volume V downwards, to a roof of the body 1, which is not shown in the figures for reasons of visibility and which closes the volume V upwards.

[0015] Following an anteroposterior horizontal direction, the side walls 5.1 and 5.2 extend over all or part of the body 1 between its front and rear ends. Here, the body 1 has, at its front end, a driver's cab 7, which closes the internal volume V towards the rear, and at its rear end, a rear wall 9, which also closes the internal volume V towards the front: each of the side walls 5.1 and 5.2 extends from the rear of the driver's cab 7 to the rear wall 9. In an alternative configuration not shown, instead of the driver's cab 7, the body 1 has, at its front end, a front wall that is similar to the rear wall 9.

[0016] The side walls 5.1 and 5.2 are provided here to be identical, being symmetrical to each other with respect to a median vertical plane of the body 1. Therefore, we will describe in more detail below only the side wall 5.1, the description of the side wall 5.2 can be deduced by symmetry.

[0017] As clearly visible on the figures 1 And 2 The side wall 5.1 comprises studs 11 that extend lengthwise parallel to each other. The studs 11 thus define a principal plane P1 in which they extend lengthwise. In practice, the studs 11 extend vertically, here from floor 3 to the aforementioned roof. Along the horizontal anteroposterior direction, the studs 11 are distributed, here in a more or less regular manner, as can be clearly seen on the figure 1 .

[0018] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the side wall 5.1 also includes a skin 12 which extends parallel to the main plane P1, covering the uprights 11, more precisely an outer face of the latter, that is to say a face turned towards the outside of the body 1, in other words turned away from the internal volume V. Here, the skin 12 extends from one to the other of the front and rear ends of the side wall 5.1, as well as from the floor 3 to the aforementioned roof, although being locally interrupted to provide access through the side wall 5.1, between the internal volume V and the outside of the body 1.

[0019] Skin 12 includes, for example, one or more flat sheets.

[0020] In all cases, as clearly visible on the figures 1 And 2 , the side wall 5.1 also includes reinforcing elements 13, one of which is shown alone on the figure 3 Each reinforcing element 13 extends lengthwise along a longitudinal direction that is parallel to the aforementioned anteroposterior longitudinal direction. Each reinforcing element 13 is designed to provide the lateral wall 5.1 with good resistance to the pressure waves mentioned in the introductory section of this document.

[0021] To this end, each reinforcing element 13 connects, along its longitudinal direction, two of the uprights 11, which follow one another directly in the horizontal anteroposterior direction. In practice, each reinforcing element 13 is fixedly attached, at each of its two opposite ends along its longitudinal direction, to one of the uprights 11, for example by welding. Here, the two uprights of each pair of two uprights 11, which follow one another directly in the horizontal anteroposterior direction, are thus connected to each other by several of the reinforcing elements 13, which are distributed, where necessary regularly, in the longitudinal direction of the uprights 11, in other words, here along the vertical.

[0022] Furthermore, each reinforcing element 13 comprises, or even, as here, is made of, a flat sheet 15. The flat sheet 15 defines a sheet plane P2, in which the flat sheet 15 extends and which corresponds to the observation plane of the figure 3 The sheet metal plane P2 is perpendicular to both the main plane P1 and the uprights 11, as clearly visible on the figure 2 Thus, the sheet metal plane P2 is horizontal.

[0023] As clearly visible on the figure 3 , the flat sheet 15 is delimited by an outer edge 13A, an inner edge 13B and two lateral edges, respectively right 14A and left 14B.

[0024] The two lateral edges 14A and 14B are respectively butted against the two uprights 11 connected by the reinforcing element 13. It is specifically via the lateral edges 14A and 14B that the reinforcing element 13 is fixed to the uprights 11. To this end, the lateral edges 14A and 14B are shaped to complement the lateral uprights 11; in the illustrated case, the lateral edges are thus straight along a transverse direction of the reinforcing element 13.

[0025] The outer edge 13A is turned outwards from the casing 1, that is to say, away from the internal volume V. The outer edge 13 is straight along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element 13, being parallel to the main plane P1. Here, the outer edge 13A advantageously extends into contact with the skin 12.

[0026] The inner edge 13B is turned towards the interior of the casing 1, therefore towards the internal volume V. The inner edge 13B is shaped to maximize the rigidity of the side wall 5.1, particularly at a distance from the uprights 11 connected by the reinforcing element 13 under consideration. To this end, in the example considered here, as visible on the figures 2 And 3 , the outer edge 13B consists of two straight parts 13B.1 and 13B.2, symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane of symmetry P3, which is perpendicular to the main plane P1 and to the sheet plane P2 and which passes through the middle of the reinforcement element 13 along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement element 13. In other words, the inner edge 13B is here shaped into a V.

[0027] This V-shape, although preferential, is not limiting for the outer edge 13B: more generally, the inner edge 13B and the outer edge 13A are, in the sheet metal plane P2, separated from each other, along a direction perpendicular to the main plane P1, by a distance D which varies according to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element 13, being maximum at the middle of the reinforcing element 13 along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element 13. In other words, the inner edge 13B is shaped so that the reinforcing element 13 is the widest at the same distance from the uprights 11, where the wall is, before the addition of reinforcements, the least resistant.

[0028] In the embodiment illustrated in figures 2 And 3, each reinforcing element 13 advantageously has through holes 17. Each of these holes passes through the flat sheet 15 perpendicularly to the plane of sheet P2, thus connecting the faces of the flat sheet, separated from each other by the thickness of the latter.

[0029] In practice, the through holes 17 allow for the fixing of cabling accessories, such as cable trays or cable trays, or more generally any other useful accessory in the internal volume V. In this way, the reinforcing elements 13 ensure a dual function: in addition to ensuring the rigidity of the wall against pressure waves, they act as a support for fixing one or more accessories, in particular cabling, in the internal volume V.

[0030] As clearly visible on the figure 3The through holes 17 are preferentially oblong and extend lengthwise along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element 13; that is, the principal direction of the oblong shape of the through holes 17 is parallel to the aforementioned anteroposterior direction. This allows for optimal distribution of the material removal, and therefore the influence on the rigidity of the wall 5.1, along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element 13.

[0031] In all cases, the through holes are advantageously aligned regularly along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element 13. Such a substantially regular distribution of the through holes 17 makes it possible to ensure a better distribution of the stiffness of the side wall 5.1 along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element, especially compared to other possible distributions of the through holes 17.

[0032] Furthermore, one of the through holes 17 is advantageously located in the middle of the reinforcing element 13 along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element 13. In this way, the fact that the reinforcing element 13 is wider in the middle is exploited for drilling, and therefore for fixing accessories, while minimizing the fragility of the reinforcing element 13.

[0033] In an alternative not illustrated, the through holes 17 may be of any number, including one, and may have any combination of the features previously described, as far as technically possible, to form new embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. Side wall (5.1) of a railway vehicle body (1), comprising: - at least two uprights (11), which extend lengthwise substantially parallel to each other and which define a principal plane (P1) in which the uprights (11) extend lengthwise, and - at least one reinforcing element (13), which connects a first and a second of the uprights (11) along a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element (13), and which comprises a flat plate (15): • defining a plate plane (P2), in which the flat plate (15) extends and which is substantially perpendicular to the principal plane (P1) and to the first and second uprights (11), • having an outer edge (13A), which is intended to face outwards from the body (1) and which is straight along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element (13), being parallel to the principal plane (P1), and • having an inner edge (13B),which is opposite the outer edge (13A) along a direction perpendicular to the principal plane (P1), , characterized in that the outer (13A) and inner (13B) edges are, in the sheet metal plane (P2), separated from each other, along a direction perpendicular to the main plane (P1), by a distance (D) which varies according to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement element (13), this distance (D) being maximum substantially in the middle of the reinforcement element (13) along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement element (13).

2. Side wall (5.1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner edge (13B) consists of two straight parts (13B.1, 13B.2), symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane of symmetry (P3), which is perpendicular to the main plane (P1) and to the sheet metal plane (P2) and which passes through the middle of the reinforcing element (13) along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element (13).

3. Side wall (5.1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the flat sheet (15) includes at least one through hole (17).

4. Side wall (5.1) according to claim 3, wherein said at least one through hole (17) is located substantially in the middle of the reinforcing element (13) along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element (13).

5. Side wall (5.1) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein said at least one through hole (17) is oblong in having a principal direction which extends along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element (13).

6. Side wall (5.1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said at least one through hole (17) is adapted to fix at least one accessory, in particular a wiring accessory.

7. Side wall (5.1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, in which several through holes (17) are provided which are aligned substantially regularly along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing element (13).

8. Side wall (5.1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which several reinforcing elements (13) are provided between the first and second uprights (11), these reinforcing elements (13) being distributed in the longitudinal direction of the uprights (11).

9. Railway vehicle body (1), comprising two side walls (5.1 and 5.2), respectively left and right, which conform to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Railway vehicle, comprising a railway vehicle body (1) according to claim 9.

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