ROAD VEHICLE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPRISING AN IMPROVED JOINT

Abstract

Vehicle (1) for the public transport of passengers, comprising a roof (2b), a floor (2c) and a plurality of side walls (2a) defining with the roof (2b) an internal volume (3) configured to accommodate passengers, this vehicle (1) comprising a voussoir (7) carried exclusively by the roof (2b) in an intermediate position between the right and left side walls (2a) of the vehicle (1). Abstract figure: Fig. 1B

Description

Title of the invention: ROAD VEHICLE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPRISING AN IMPROVED JOINT Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a road vehicle for the public transport of passengers, particularly a road vehicle for the public transport of passengers comprising an improved voussoir. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Road transport vehicles for transport in

[0003] common passenger areas, such as a bus, comprise walls, generally curved, arranged above glazed walls of the vehicle and connecting the latter to the roof of the vehicle. These elements are generally called "voussoirs".

[0004] An example of this element is illustrated using [Fig.lA] illustrating a vehicle 1' for the public transport of passengers of known type comprising a plurality of walls 2' defining an internal volume 3' in which several passengers can be accommodated and provided with elements such as seats 4' or support columns 5'.

[0005] Furthermore, the vehicle 1' comprises a plurality of windows 6' formed at least on the side walls 2' and voussoirs 7', respectively a left voussoir 7' and a right voussoir 7' defining, between said side walls and the roof 2', a respective volume 8' designed to house functional elements of the vehicle as described below.

[0006] Indeed, the voussoirs 7' allow several pipes or wires to be housed, such as electric cables for lighting the internal volume 3' of the vehicle 1' or pipes of an air conditioning system of the vehicle 1'; again, the voussoirs 7' allow several functional elements of the latter to be supported such as loudspeakers, screens, advertising graphics. In addition, the voussoirs 7 act as an anchor for the columns 5' on which the users lean.

[0007] However, these voussoirs 7', which must perform the functions described above, are particularly bulky and they therefore limit the space visible through the glazed walls 6' and the habitable space inside the internal volume 3'.

[0008] It is therefore necessary to improve the existing voussoirs in order to reduce their size inside the vehicle to increase the habitability of the internal space for passengers.

[0009] The invention aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks in an optimized and economical manner. Summary of the invention

[0010] The above-mentioned objectives are achieved by a vehicle 1 for public passenger transport, said vehicle 1 comprising a roof 2b, a floor 2c and a plurality of side walls 2a, said walls 2a, 2b, 2c defining an internal volume 3 configured to accommodate passengers of said vehicle 1, said vehicle 1 comprising a segment 7 carried exclusively by said roof 2b in an intermediate position between the right and left side walls 2a of said vehicle 1, wherein said segment 7 comprises a connection element 12 configured to be connected to said roof 2b and a covering element 13 configured to define a volume 8 between at least one of said connection elements 12 and said roof 2b, said volume 8 being adapted to accommodate a plurality of pipes and / or cables of functional elements of said vehicle 1,wherein said connecting element 12 has a cross-section having a shape comprising a pair of end portions 12a and a central portion 12b, said end portions and central portion 12a, 12b defining with said roof 2b said sliding guides 9, said connecting element 12 comprising a functional portion 12c interposed between said ends and central portions 12a, 12b, extending throughout the interior of said volume 8 and configured to provide support to said plurality of pipes and / or cables.

[0011] Preferably, said voussoir 7 is positioned at an equal distance between said right and left side walls 2a of said vehicle 1, and even more preferably it is positioned along a longitudinal axis A of said vehicle 1 and it has a symmetrical shape relative to an axis B perpendicular to said axis A.

[0012] Advantageously, said voussoir 7 is carried by said roof 2b by means of a plurality of sliding guides 9 produced between said roof 2b and said voussoir 7 and said covering element 13 comprises a cover 19 configured to couple with said connection element 12 and defining with it said volume 8.

[0013] Preferably, said cover 19 has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section, said oblique sides 19b of said hood 19 defining a surface 20 facing said interior volume 3; furthermore, said cover 19 defines a plurality of openings 26 passing through said oblique sides 19b and configured to house functional elements of said vehicle 1.

[0014] Advantageously, said voussoir 7 also comprises a support element 29 carried by at least one of said connection element 12 and said covering element 13 and configured to support the weight acting on said covering element 13. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0016] [Fig. 1 A][Fig. 1 A] is a schematic sectional view illustrating the interior of a road vehicle for the public transport of passengers comprising a voussoir of known type;

[0017] [Fig.lB][Fig.lB] is a schematic sectional view illustrating the interior of a road vehicle for the public transport of passengers comprising a segment according to the invention;

[0018] [Fig.2][Fig.2] is a schematic perspective view illustrating the interior of a vehicle road for the public transport of passengers comprising a segment according to the invention;

[0019] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an enlarged schematic perspective view of the voussoir of [Fig.2]; And

[0020] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic sectional view illustrating a voussoir according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] [Fig.lB] illustrates a vehicle 1 for the public transport of passengers comprising a plurality of walls 2, i.e. a pair of side walls 2a, a roof 2b and a floor 2c, connected to each other to define an internal volume 3 inside which passengers of the vehicle 1 can be accommodated. This internal volume 3 is provided with several supports for the passengers such as seats 4 and support columns 5.

[0022] At least the side walls 2a comprise a plurality of windows 6 comprising, in known manner, a transparent and preferably thermally and / or acoustically insulating material.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the vehicle 1 comprises a voussoir 7 carried exclusively by the roof 2b of the vehicle 1. Preferably, this voussoir 7 is carried by the roof 2b in an intermediate position relative to a left side wall 2a and a right side wall 2a of the vehicle 1. Preferably, the voussoir 7 is central relative to the right and left side walls 2a of the vehicle, that is to say that the voussoir 7 extends along a longitudinal axis A of the vehicle 1. Preferably, the voussoir 7 has a symmetrical shape relative to a vertical axis B perpendicular to the aforementioned axis A.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the voussoir 7 is produced in a modular manner, that is to say that it can be composed, along the axis A, of several modular portions having the same length between them. These portions can be connected to each other to form a voussoir of a desired length along the axis A.

[0025] In more detail, the voussoir 7 is connected to the roof 2b so as to define with it an internal volume 8 configured to house a plurality of functional elements. as described below.

[0026] In particular, the voussoir 7 is connected to the roof 2b by means of at least one pair of sliding guides 9 configured to allow the sliding of the voussoir 7 relative to the roof 2b along the axis A. Once inserted in the predefined position, it is possible to fix the voussoir 7 to the roof 2b through a mechanical connection 11 of the reversible type, for example by means of threaded means.

[0027] In more detail, according to the embodiment described, the voussoir 7 comprises a connection element 12 configured to cooperate with the sliding guides 9 in order to allow the coupling of the voussoir 7 on the roof 2b and a covering element 13 connected to the connection element 12 and configured to define the volume 8 therefore delimited between the covering element 13 and the roof 2b and / or the connection element 12.

[0028] The connecting element 12 is a profiled element having a cross-section having a shape which develops along an axis C perpendicular to the axes A and B and which comprises a pair of end portions 12a each configured to cooperate with the aforementioned sliding guides 9.

[0029] Advantageously, the connection element 12 is symmetrical with respect to the axis B, as illustrated in [Fig.4]. In particular, as illustrated, each end portion 12a comprises a first and a second coupling surface 14', 14” configured to cooperate with respective sliding surfaces 9', 9” defined by the sliding guides 9.

[0030] Even more preferably, the sliding surfaces 9', 9” may be part of a support element 15 configured to provide support for lighting means (not shown), for example LED strips, for illuminating the internal volume 3 of the vehicle 1. In the case described, the support element is carried by the roof 2b, however it may also be carried by the end portions 12a.

[0031] The connecting element 12 further comprises a central portion 12b connecting the end portions 12a to each other and comprising other sliding surfaces 14” configured to cooperate in contact with respective surfaces 9” of other sliding guides 9 made between the central portion and roof 2b. According to the embodiment described, the central portion 12b comprises two sliding surfaces 14” respectively one to the right and one to the left of the axis B of symmetry, equidistant from each other. In addition, the central portion 12b may also define a central hole 16 thus comprising a channel along the axis A.

[0032] The connection element 12 further comprises, for each side relative to the axis B, a functional portion 12c interposed between the central portion 12b and the respective end portions 12a and extending inside the volume 8.

[0033] Advantageously, the functional portion 12c is configured to provide support mechanical at least to the support columns 5 of the vehicle, to the electrical cables for the various functional devices of the vehicle, such as for example loudspeakers, screens, lights or the pipes of a vehicle conditioning system which can be housed in the volume 8 of the voussoir 7.

[0034] According to the embodiment described, each functional portion 12c comprises a circular portion 12c' and a plurality of flanges 12c' extending outwardly from the circular portion inside the volume 8 and an anchoring portion 12c” configured to allow the anchoring of an upper portion of a support column 5 of the vehicle, for example by threaded means of known type.

[0035] Advantageously, the circular portion 12c' defines a volume 18 configured to house pipes or cables for the various functional elements mentioned above, while the flanges 12c” are configured to support the passage of further cables of said functional elements. In particular, the circular portion 12c' can house the pipes of the conditioning circuit of the vehicle 1 while the flanges 12c” can support the electrical cables.

[0036] The different portions of the functional portion 12c are preferably made in one piece with each other, as are the different portions of the connection element 12.

[0037] The cover element 13 essentially comprises a lid 19 configured to define the aforementioned volume 8. According to the embodiment described, said lid 19 has a transverse section having a substantially trapezoidal shape, open at the major base of the trapezium. Even more preferably, this trapezium is an isosceles trapezium symmetrical with respect to the axis B provided with a minor base 19a and a pair of oblique sides 19b. The oblique sides 19b each define an external surface 21 facing the internal volume 3 and visible from the passengers accommodated therein.

[0038] The cover 19 is carried by the connection element 12 preferably by means of shaped couplings 22. In the embodiment described herein, these shaped couplings are made between end portions of the oblique sides 19b with the functional portion 12c of the connection portion 12. In particular, each shaped coupling 22 may comprise a flange 23 carried by the cover 14 which may be snapped into a respective seat 24 formed in a flange 25 carried by the circular portion 12c' of the functional portion 12c.

[0039] Preferably, the cover 19 may also comprise orifices 26 made in the oblique sides 19b and configured to allow the housing of functional elements of the vehicle such as loudspeakers 27 or screens (not shown).

[0040] The voussoir 7 may also comprise a support portion 29 configured to further connect the covering element 13 to a between the roof 2b and / or the element of connection 12 in order to support the weight acting on the cover element 13.

[0041] In the example described, the support portion 29 essentially comprises a profiled element 31 of substantially triangular shape and symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis B and configured to further connect the minor base of the cover 19 with the central part 12b of the connection element 12.

[0042] Still as described, the profiled element 31 comprises a lower connection 32 configured to connect the base of the profiled element 31 to the connection portion 12 and an upper connection 33 configured to connect the base of the profiled element 31 to the cover 19.

[0043] The lower and upper connections 32, 33 preferably comprise threaded connection means. Preferably the lower connection 32 comprises two threaded connections at the two lower points of the triangle defined by the profiled element 31 while the upper connection 33 comprises a threaded connection at the upper point of the triangle defined by the profiled element 31.

[0044] Advantageously, the support portion 29 is carried by one between the connection element 12 and the cover 19 and, in the case described, is made in one piece with the connection element 12.

[0045] From the above, the advantages of a road vehicle 1 for the public transport of passengers comprising a segment 7 according to the present invention are quite obvious.

[0046] As is clearly illustrated in [Fig.lB] compared to [Fig.lA], the voussoir 7 according to the invention makes it possible to increase the size of the windows 6, thus allowing more light to penetrate into the interior of the vehicle 1.

[0047] In addition, the volume 8 makes it possible to contain, in a reduced space compared to the 8' volumes of the separate 7' volumes of known type, the same functional elements. In addition, the arrangement of these elements inside the vehicle is simplified: in fact it is no longer necessary to share the pipes and cables on the right and left side of the vehicle 1.

[0048] By reducing the size of the voussoir 7, it is possible to free up other space inside the vehicle 3, thus improving its habitability.

[0049] Furthermore, it is possible to simplify the assembly of the segment 7 compared to known segments 7'. Indeed, it is sufficient to insert, along the direction A relative to the roof 2b of the vehicle, a segment module 7 of predefined length and, having reached the fixing position relative to the roof 2b, it is sufficient to fix it relative to the latter. In this way, the assembly time can be considerably reduced and consequently the assembly costs of the vehicle.

[0050] This aspect is further enhanced by the fact that there is no need to share pipes and cables for the functional elements of the vehicle between the two sides of the vehicle.

[0051] Finally, it is clear that the road vehicle 1 for the public transport of passengers comprising a segment 7 according to the present invention can be subject to modifications and variants which, however, do not depart from the scope of protection defined by the claims.

[0052] For example, the shape of the described portions of elements 12 and 13 can be modified while maintaining their functions.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle (1) for public passenger transport, said vehicle (1) comprising: - a roof (2b), - a floor (2c), - a plurality of side walls defining an internal volume (3) configured to accommodate passengers of said vehicle (1), - a segment (7) carried exclusively by said roof (2b) in an intermediate position between the right and left side walls (2a) of said vehicle (1), said segment (7) comprising: * a connecting element (12) configured to be connected to said roof (2b), said connecting element (12) having a cross-section having a shape comprising a pair of end portions (12a) and a central portion (12b), said connecting element (12) comprising a functional portion (12c) interposed between said ends and central portions (12a, 12b) and configured to provide support to a plurality of pipes and / or cables of functional elements of said vehicle (1),and * a covering element (13) configured to define a volume (8) between at least one of said connecting elements (12) and said roof (2b), said volume (8) being adapted to house said plurality of pipes and / or cables, said functional portion (12c) extending over the entire interior of said volume (8), and - a plurality of sliding guides (9) made between said roof (2b) and said voussoir (7), said end portions and said central portion (12a, 12b) defining with said roof (2b) said sliding guides (9), said voussoir (7) being carried by said roof (2b) by means of said sliding guides (9).,

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said voussoir (7) is positioned at an equal distance between said right and left side walls (2a) of said vehicle (1).

3. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said voussoir (7) is positioned along a longitudinal axis (A) of said vehicle (1).

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said voussoir (7) has a symmetrical shape with respect to an axis (B) perpendicular to said axis (A).

5. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said covering element (13) comprises a lid (19) configured to couple with said connecting element (12) and defining therewith said volume (8).

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said cover (19) has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section, said oblique sides (19b) of said cover (19) defining a surface (20) facing said interior volume (3).

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said cover (19) defines a plurality of openings (26) passing through said oblique sides (19b) and configured to house functional elements of said vehicle (1).

8. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a support element (29) carried by at least one of said connecting element (12) and said covering element (13) and configured to support the weight acting on said covering element (13).

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