Safety device for securing two vehicle components

Abstract

Safety device for securing two vehicle components. The fastening device (10) includes a mounting bracket (18) intended to be attached to a first component (12) by means of fastening elements (28). The mounting bracket (18) has at least one projecting portion (32), integral with the mounting bracket (18), intended to cooperate with a supplementary opening (34) provided in the first component (12). Figure for abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Safety device for fixing two vehicle elements

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for fixing two vehicle elements, in particular two railway vehicle elements. For example, the fixing device allows the fixing of a structural body of a railway vehicle car and a bogie.

[0002] Already known in the state of the art is a device for fixing a first railway vehicle element with a second railway vehicle element, comprising a fixing support intended to be fixed to the first element by means of fixing members.

[0003] For example, the fixing members are bolts.

[0004] In certain cases, particularly in the case of the connection between a structural body and a bogie, the security of this fixing is essential, because the breakage of this fixing would cause substantial damage.

[0005] In order to avoid such an accident, rigorous checks are carried out regularly, which results in significant maintenance costs.

[0006] The invention aims in particular to improve the safety of such a fixing device, in particular in the event of failure.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates in particular to a device for fixing a first element of a railway vehicle with a second element of a railway vehicle, comprising a fixing support intended to be fixed to the first element by means of fixing members, characterized in that the fixing support comprises at least one projecting part, integral with the fixing support, intended to cooperate with a complementary opening provided in the first element.

[0008] The invention provides for fixing redundancy, by fixing means of a different nature from that of the fixing members. Thus, in the event of failure of the fixing members, the fixing redundancy makes it possible to avoid a major accident.

[0009] The invention also optionally makes it possible to reduce the frequency of maintenance checks.

[0010] The invention also makes it possible to reduce or even eliminate the safety nature of the bolted fixings and optionally to reduce or even eliminate the precautions specific to the implementation of safety fixings.

[0011] A fixing device according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically conceivable combination.

[0012] - The fixing device comprises at least one locking member, intended to cooperate with the protruding portion to lock it in the complementary opening when it is inserted into this complementary opening.

[0013] - The locking member is a pin inserted into a complementary orifice arranged in the protruding part.

[0014] - The pin has a straight edge intended to come into contact with a wall of the first element, and an opposite beveled edge intended to come into contact with a complementary surface of the orifice.

[0015] - The fixing members are chosen from bolts or rivets.

[0016] - The fixing support comprises a plate intended to be applied against the first element, the plate comprising passage holes for the fixing members, and comprising the projecting part.

[0017] The invention also relates to a vehicle car, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising a structural body and at least one bogie, characterized in that it comprises a fixing device as defined above, the structural body forming the first element and the bogie forming the second element.

[0018] Various aspects and advantages of the invention will be highlighted in the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended figures, among which:

[0019] - [fig.l] [fig.l] is a schematic side view of a fixing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0020] - [fig.2] [fig.2] is a schematic side view of a railway vehicle car roviary comprising the fixing device of the [fig.l].

[0021] [fig.l] shows a fixing device 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0022] The fixing device 10 is intended for fixing a first element 12 with a second element 14. The first 12 and second 14 elements are elements of a rail vehicle car 15. Alternatively, the vehicle 15 is a non-rail vehicle, for example a road vehicle, such as a bus.

[0023] More particularly, the first 12 and second 14 elements are elements whose fixing is essential.

[0024] For example, as shown in [fig.2], the first element 12 is a structural body of the car, and the second element 14 is a bogie. The fixing device 10 is thus part of a hinge support 16 of the car, connecting the structural body 12 to the bogie 14.

[0025] The fixing device 10 comprises a fixing support 18. This fixing support 18 is fixed directly or indirectly to the second element 14. For example, the fixing support 18 is fixed to the articulation support 16, or is made of the same material with part of the joint support 16.

[0026] The fixing support 18 comprises a fixing plate 20, intended to be pressed against the first element 12, and more particularly against a wall 22 of this first element 12.

[0027] In the example described, the wall 22 has a shoulder 24 against which the fixing plate 20 abuts. This shoulder 24 allows precise positioning of the fixing plate 20 during assembly, and in certain cases can participate in maintaining the fixing plate 20 on the wall 22.

[0028] The fixing plate 20 comprises first passage orifices 26 for the passage of fixing members 28.

[0029] The wall 22 also comprises second passage orifices 30 for the passage of the same fixing members 28. Each first passage orifice 26 is therefore arranged opposite a corresponding second passage orifice 30, to allow the passage of a corresponding fixing member 28 through these fixing orifices.

[0030] Preferably, the first and second passage orifices 26, 30 extend in directions parallel to each other.

[0031] The fixing members 28 are for example chosen from bolts (screw 28a and nut 28b) or rivets.

[0032] These fixing members 28 form primary fixing means. The fixing device 10 according to the invention also comprises secondary fixing means ensuring fixing redundancy. Thus, in the event of failure of the primary fixing means, the fixing remains ensured by the secondary fixing means. Furthermore, the fixing is more generally reliable when it is reinforced by the fixing redundancy.

[0033] The secondary fixing means are of a different nature from that of the primary fixing means.

[0034] More particularly, the fixing support 18 comprises at least one projecting part 32, integral with the fixing support 18, and intended to cooperate with a complementary opening 34 formed in the first element 12.

[0035] Preferably, the projecting portion 32 extends from the fixing plate 20, for example parallel to the fixing members 28.

[0036] The projecting part 32 can have any conceivable shape.

[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, the projecting part 32 has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, for example elongated in a transverse direction of the car.

[0038] In another embodiment, the projecting portion 32 has a cylindrical shape. In this case, the fixing support 18 preferably comprises a plurality of projecting portions 32, for example aligned in a transverse direction of the car.

[0039] Any other suitable forms are possible.

[0040] According to a variant, a support can be provided between the projecting part 32 and the orifice 34. In this case, the shoulder 24 can be eliminated and thus the production of the wall 24 can be simplified.

[0041] Advantageously, the fixing device 10 comprises at least one locking member 36, intended to cooperate with the projecting part 32 to lock it in the complementary opening 34 when it is inserted into this complementary opening 34. In other words, the wall 22 is interposed between the locking member 36 and the plate 20.

[0042] Thus, the projecting part 32 cannot be removed from the complementary opening 34 while the locking member 36 is in place.

[0043] According to the embodiment described, the locking member 36 is a pin inserted into a complementary orifice 38 formed in the projecting part 32. This pin 36 extends parallel to the wall 22 (and transversely to the projecting part 32).

[0044] Preferably, the pin 36 has a straight edge intended to come into contact with the wall 22, and an opposite beveled edge intended to come into contact with a complementary surface (not parallel to the wall 22) of the orifice 38. This force allows for easier insertion, and improved holding in place between the surface of the orifice 38 and the wall 22 under the effect of gravity.

[0045] The fixing redundancy thus makes it possible to improve the safety of the fixing device according to the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (10) for fixing a first vehicle element (12) with a second vehicle element (14), comprising a fixing support (18) intended to be fixed to the first element (12) by means of fixing members (28), characterized in that the fixing support (18) comprises at least one projecting part (32), integral with the fixing support (18), intended to cooperate with a complementary opening (34) formed in the first element (12).

2. Fastening device (10) according to claim 1, comprising at least one locking member (36), intended to cooperate with the projecting part (32) to lock it in the complementary opening (34) when it is inserted into this complementary opening (34).

3. A fixing device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the locking member (36) is a pin inserted into a complementary orifice (38) provided in the projecting portion (32).

4. A fastener (10) according to claim 3, wherein the pin (36) has a straight edge for contacting a wall (22) of the first member (12), and an opposite beveled edge for contacting a complementary surface of the orifice (38).

5. A fastening device (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the fastening members (28) are selected from bolts or rivets.

6. Fixing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fixing support (18) comprises a plate (20) intended to be applied against the first element (12), the plate (20) comprising orifices (26) for passage of the fixing members (28), and comprising the projecting part (32).

7. Fastening device (10) according to claim 6, in which the first element (12) has a wall (22) comprising a shoulder (24), the fixing plate (20) being intended to come into abutment against said shoulder (24).

8. Carriage (15) of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising a fixing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. A car (15) according to claim 8, the car (15) being a railway vehicle car and comprising a structural body and at least one bogie, the structural body forming the first element (12) and the bogie forming the second element (14).

10. A car (15) according to claim 9, further comprising a hinge support (16) connecting the structural body (12) to the bogie (14), the hinge support comprising the fixing device (10).

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