Rail vehicle car with roof fairing

Abstract

Rail vehicle car with roof fairing The invention relates to a rail vehicle car (10), comprising: a body (12) comprising: a roof (20) having a curved surface (22); and at least one electrical line (32) extending over said roof, said electrical line protruding from said curved surface. The car further comprises an aerodynamic element (14) for stabilizing against side winds, comprising at least one fairing (36) fixed to the roof of the body and covering the electrical line, said fairing having an aerodynamic profile (40), said profile comprising first (44) and second (46) portions, adjacent to each other, each of said first and second portions having a convex shape, a minimum radius of curvature of the first portion being less than a minimum radius of curvature of the second portion. Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Carriage for railway vehicle with roof fairing

[0001] The present invention relates to a car for a railway vehicle, of the type comprising: a body; said body extending in a horizontal longitudinal direction, corresponding to a direction of movement of the vehicle; said body comprising: a roof having a curved surface; and at least a first electrical line extending on said roof in the longitudinal direction, said first electrical line forming a projection relative to said curved surface.

[0002] Rail vehicles, particularly at high speed, are sensitive to side winds. These cause, in particular, an imbalance of pressure on either side of the vehicle, associated with a rolling torque which tends to tip the vehicle to one side.

[0003] It is known, particularly on high-speed trains in push-pull motor configuration, to run electrical lines on the roof of the railway vehicle, so as to ensure an electrical supply throughout the vehicle. However, such electrical lines are detrimental to the aerodynamics of the vehicle, in particular by increasing the rolling torque associated with side winds.

[0004] The present invention aims to solve this problem. To this end, the invention relates to a rail vehicle car of the aforementioned type, further comprising an aerodynamic element for stabilizing against side winds; said aerodynamic stabilizing element comprising at least a first fairing fixed to the roof of the body and covering the first electrical line, said first fairing having a first aerodynamic profile, said first aerodynamic profile comprising first and second portions, adjacent perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, each of said first and second portions having a convex shape, a minimum radius of curvature of the first portion being less than a minimum radius of curvature of the second portion.

[0005] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the rail vehicle carriage comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0006] - the first electrical line is located at a distance from a median plane of the car, parallel to the longitudinal direction; the first and second portions of the first aerodynamic profile of the fairing are located on the same side of said median plane; and said first and second portions are oriented respectively away from the median plane and towards said median plane;

[0007] - the second portion of the aerodynamic profile of the fairing is arranged sen possibly horizontally;

[0008] - the box includes a second electrical line extending over the roof according to the longitudinal direction, said second electrical line forming a projection relative to the curved surface of the roof; and the aerodynamic stabilizing element comprises a second fairing fixed to the roof of the body and covering the second electrical line, said second fairing having a second aerodynamic profile, said second aerodynamic profile comprising a third and a fourth portion, adjacent perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, each of said third and fourth portions having a convex shape, a minimum radius of curvature of the third portion being less than a minimum radius of curvature of the fourth portion;

[0009] - the first and second fairings are arranged substantially symmetrically by relative to the median plane of the car.

[0010] The invention further relates to a railway vehicle comprising a car as described above.

[0011] The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0012] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a partial schematic view, in section, of a car for railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention; and

[0013] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic detail view of the car of [Fig.l].

[0014] [Fig.l] schematically represents a car 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. The car 10 is part of a railway vehicle, said vehicle comprising for example several cars similar to the car 10 connected to each other.

[0015] The car 10 comprises: a body 12; wheels (not shown) connected to said body; and at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element 14.

[0016] We consider an orthonormal base (X, Y, Z) associated with the body 12. The Z direction represents the vertical. The X direction, or longitudinal direction, corresponds to a direction of movement of the car 10. Said direction of movement is considered to be horizontal. The Y direction, or transverse direction, corresponds to a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

[0017] The body 12, partially shown in [Fig.l], comprises in particular: a first 16 and a second 18 side walls; and a roof 20 connecting said side walls to each other.

[0018] Each of the side walls 16, 18 extends substantially in a plane (X, Z). The roof 20 has a substantially convex curved surface 22. More precisely, the curved surface 22 comprises: a central portion 24, substantially flat and ho rhizontal, and a first 26 and a second 28 lateral parts, connecting the central part 24 respectively to the first 16 and to the second 18 lateral walls. Each of the first 26 and second 28 lateral parts has a convex curved shape.

[0019] In the remainder of the description, it is considered that the first 26 and second 28 lateral parts of the curved surface 22 are substantially symmetrical with respect to a plane (X, Z) forming a median plane 30 of the car 10.

[0020] The body 12 further comprises a first 32 and a second 34 electrical lines, extending substantially along X. The first 32 and second 34 electrical lines are in particular intended to supply the car 10 with electricity.

[0021] Each of the first 32 and second 34 electrical lines is arranged on the roof 20, at a distance from the median plane 30. More precisely, each of the first 32 and second 34 electrical lines is arranged at the level of the first 26 and second 28 lateral parts of the curved surface 22, respectively. Preferably, the first 32 and second 34 electrical lines are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the median plane 30.

[0022] The aerodynamic stabilizing element 14 comprises at least one fairing 36, 38 fixed to the roof 20 of the body and covering one of the electrical lines 32, 34. More precisely, the aerodynamic stabilizing element 14 comprises a first 36 and a second 38 fairing, respectively covering the first 32 and the second 34 electrical lines.

[0023] Each fairing 36, 38 is fixed to the roof 20, for example by means of rivets (not shown).

[0024] The first 36 and second 38 fairings are considered to be substantially identical and will be described simultaneously below.

[0025] Each fairing 36, 38 has an aerodynamic profile 40, 42. Each aerodynamic profile 40, 42 comprises a first 44 and a second 46 portions, adjacent in the transverse direction Y. The first 44 and second 46 portions of the same aerodynamic profile 40, 42 are located on the same side of the median plane 30. Each of the first 44 and second 46 portions has a convex shape.

[0026] The first portion 44, oriented opposite the median plane 30, is intended to face the lateral winds 50 ([Fig.l]) experienced by the car 10. The first portion 44 has a substantially aerodynamic leading edge shape and in particular has a relatively small minimum radius of curvature.

[0027] The second portion 46, oriented towards the median plane 30, is arranged substantially parallel to the desired air flow along the roof 20. The second portion 46 has in particular a relatively high minimum radius of curvature, that is to say greater than the minimum radius of curvature of the first portion 44.

[0028] Preferably, the second portion 46 is substantially flat and horizontal. More preferably, the second portion 46 is located in an extension of the central part 24 of the curved surface 22 of the roof 20.

[0029] Preferably, the aerodynamic profiles 40, 42 of the first 36 and second 38 fairings have substantially identical shapes. Alternatively, the shapes of said aerodynamic profiles 40, 42 are different.

[0030] Preferably, the first 36 and second 38 fairings are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the median plane 30.

[0031] A method of operating the car 10 will now be described with reference to [Fig.l]. The railway vehicle to which the car 10 belongs is considered to be moving in the X direction, for example on a railway track. In particular, the railway vehicle is considered to be moving at high speed, for example at a speed greater than 250 km / h.

[0032] Furthermore, it is considered that the car 10 is subjected to a lateral wind 50, blowing in the transverse direction Y towards the first side wall 16.

[0033] The wake of the railway vehicle creates an overpressure 52 on the side of the first side wall 16 and a first depression 54 on the side of the second side wall 18.

[0034] Furthermore, a second depression, in the form of a vortex 56, forms at a certain distance from the car 10, on the side of the second side wall 18.

[0035] This results in an overturning moment 58, which tends to tip the car 10 around an axis parallel to X. The forces exerted at the level of the roof 20 have a maximum impact on said overturning moment, due to a large lever arm.

[0036] In the absence of fairing 36, 38, the presence of the electrical lines 32, 34 generates turbulence in the lateral air flow.

[0037] On the contrary, in the embodiment shown, the presence of the first fairing 36 exposed to the lateral wind 50 makes it possible to avoid aerodynamic stalling of the air flow.

[0038] Furthermore, the vortex 58 is moved away along Y from the car 10. Indeed, since the air flow is prevented from stalling, the wind tangent to the roof of the train is not deflected from its axis and moves away the vortex 58 which is on its path along Y from the car 10.

[0039] These different effects make it possible to reduce the pressure differential between the two lateral sides of the car 10, which reduces the overturning moment 58.

[0040] The geometry of a car 10 according to the invention allows in particular a reduction of the overturning moment 58 of the order of 20%, compared to a similar geometry without fairing 36, 38.

Claims

Claims

1. Car (10) for a railway vehicle, comprising a body (12); said body extending in a horizontal longitudinal direction (X), corresponding to a direction of movement of the vehicle; said body comprising: a roof (20) having a curved surface (22); and at least a first electrical line (32) extending on said roof in the longitudinal direction, said first electrical line forming a projection relative to said curved surface; the curved surface comprising a central portion (24), substantially flat and horizontal, and a first (26) and a second (28) lateral portion; the car further comprising an aerodynamic element (14) for stabilizing against side wind;said aerodynamic stabilizing element comprising at least a first fairing (36) fixed to the roof of the body and covering the first electrical line, said first fairing having a first aerodynamic profile (40), said first aerodynamic profile comprising a first (44) and a second (46) portion, adjacent perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, each of said first and second portions having a convex shape, a minimum radius of curvature of the first portion being less than a minimum radius of curvature of the second portion; the car being characterized in that the second portion (46) of the aerodynamic profile of the fairing is arranged substantially horizontally, said second portion being located in an extension of the central part (24) of the curved surface (22) of the roof (20).;

2. Car according to claim 1, in which: - the first electrical line (32) is located at a distance from a median plane (30) of the car, parallel to the longitudinal direction; - the first and second portions of the first aerodynamic profile (40) of the fairing are located on the same side of said median plane; and - said first and second portions are oriented respectively away from the median plane and towards said median plane.

3. Car according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which: the body comprises a second electrical line (34) extending on the roof in the longitudinal direction, said second electrical line forming a projection relative to the curved surface (22) of the roof; and the aerodynamic stabilizing element comprises a second fairing (38) fixed to the roof of the body and covering the second electrical line, said second fairing having a second aerodynamic profile (42), said second aerodynamic profile comprising a third (44) and a fourth (46) portions, adjacent perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, each of said third and fourth portions having a convex shape, a minimum radius of curvature of the third portion being less than a minimum radius of curvature of the fourth portion.

4. A car according to claim 3 taken in combination with claim 2, wherein the first (36) and second (38) fairings are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the median plane (30) of the car.

5. A railway vehicle (12) comprising a car (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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