Vehicle body, particularly railway body, and assembly method

Abstract

Body of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, and assembly method. Body (4) of a vehicle (2), in particular a railway vehicle, comprising side walls (6), characterized in that the side walls (6) have fin-shaped support structures (8) integrated into the side walls and projecting inwards towards the body of the vehicle, and in that the body (4) further comprises bases (10), each configured to be threaded onto a support structure, each base (10) having a U-shaped cross-section and having cables (12) fixed to opposite faces of the base. Figure for the abstract: 2

Description

Title of the invention: Body of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, and assembly method

[0001] The present invention relates to a body of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, as well as an assembly method.

[0002] Railway vehicles, such as passenger trains, high-speed trains or urban transport vehicles, generally comprise one or more bodies mounted on bogies and intended to receive passengers.

[0003] Inside the boxes are arranged a certain number of technical equipment, such as electrical cable bundles, which are for example fixed to the interior walls of the boxes.

[0004] To do this, typically, when the vehicle is being built, pre-assembled metal slabs are laid and then fixed to the walls of the body structure by screwing and bolting. The cables are then unrolled and fixed to the slabs. After assembly, the slabs are generally covered by decorative elements, such as panels, so that they are no longer visible or accessible to passengers in the car.

[0005] This situation has many disadvantages, as it requires manually laying tiles in each body and then fixing the cables to the tiles, which is relatively time-consuming to implement. Furthermore, in practice, many tiles must be used in each car to allow cables to be fixed along the entire length of the body, which makes the entire vehicle heavier and increases its manufacturing cost.

[0006] There is therefore a need for a railway vehicle in which the fixing of the cables is simplified.

[0007] To this end, one aspect of the invention relates to a body of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising side walls, in which the side walls comprise fin-shaped support structures integrated into the side walls and projecting towards the inside of the body of the body. The body of the body further comprises bases each configured to be threaded onto a support structure, each base having a U-shaped section and comprising cables fixed on opposite faces of the base.

[0008] Thanks to the invention, cables can be fixed inside the vehicle body without the need to lay pre-assembled slabs. Suitable support structures are directly integrated into the side walls of the body structure. Thus, when constructing the body, it is not necessary to add mounting plates. This avoids an assembly step and reduces the amount of parts and material used to build the vehicle.

[0009] According to advantageous but not obligatory aspects, such a body shell may incorporate one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically admissible combination:

[0010] - the side walls are profiled metal panels.

[0011] - the cables are fixed to the base by means of a fixing element in the form of band.

[0012] - the fixing element is an elastic band.

[0013] - the support structures protrude perpendicular to the side walls.

[0014] - the bases are fixed to the support structures by clamping.

[0015] - the bases are made of plastic or metal.

[0016] - the side walls are vertical.

[0017] - each base has a shape complementary to the shape of the ends distal to the support structures.

[0018] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method of assembling a body of a box comprising steps consisting of:

[0019] constructing a body comprising side walls having fin-shaped support structures integrated into the side walls and projecting inwardly of the body,

[0020] acquiring bases each configured to be threaded onto a support structure, each base having a U-shaped section and comprising cables fixed to opposite faces of the base,

[0021] fix the bases on the ends of the support structures.

[0022] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of an embodiment of a railway vehicle given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] schematically represents, according to a cross-sectional view, a vehicle comprising a body shell according to embodiments of the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] schematically represents cable support structures according to embodiments of the invention for mounting in the railway vehicle of [Fig.l].

[0025] [Fig.l] schematically represents, in a cross-sectional view, a vehicle 2 comprising at least one body 4.

[0026] For example, the vehicle 2 is a railway vehicle, for example a passenger train, or a high-speed train or an urban transport vehicle, such as a metro or a tram. In this case, the railway vehicle 2 comprises one or more cars, each comprising a body 4.

[0027] Alternatively, the vehicle 2 is a road transport vehicle, such as a bus for example.

[0028] Each body of boxes 4 comprises side walls 6.

[0029] For example, the side walls 6 are vertical.

[0030] The side walls 6 can take the form of flat, rectilinear plates or panels.

[0031] The side walls 6 each comprise support structures 8 in the form of fins or plates.

[0032] The support structures 8 are integrated into the side walls 6. In other words, in each side wall 6, the support structures 8 are formed in one piece with the side wall 6.

[0033] For example, the side walls 6 are profiled metal panels, such as aluminum panels.

[0034] In practice, several side panels may be used to assemble the body of the box 4. For example, to form each lateral side of the body of the box 4, several profiled panels are aligned side by side along a longitudinal direction of the body of the box 4.

[0035] The support structures 8 of each side wall 6 can be arranged identically on each side wall 6 so as to be aligned at the same height over the entire length of the body of the box 4.

[0036] Preferably, the support structures 8 are identical.

[0037] Preferably, the support structures 8 extend perpendicular to the side walls 6.

[0038] For example, when the body of the box 4 is in the assembled configuration, the support structures 8 protrude towards the inside of the body of the box 4 perpendicular to the side walls 6.

[0039] Preferably, each support structure 8 has a flat and rectilinear shape.

[0040] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the railway vehicle 2 further comprises bases 10, each being configured to be threaded onto a support structure 8.

[0041] Each base 10 has a shape complementary to the shape of the distal ends of the support structures 8. For example, when a base 10 is mounted on a support structure 8, it surrounds the distal end of the support structure 8 while being in direct contact with the distal end of the support structure 8.

[0042] Preferably, each base 10 has a U-shaped section. In the example illustrated, each base 10 has an upper face and a lower face, preferably flat, connected to each other by a joining part.

[0043] According to possible embodiments, the distance between the upper face and the lower face may be equal to the thickness of the support structure 8.

[0044] Alternatively, said distance may be slightly less than the thickness of the support structure 8, in order to allow maintenance by negative play. In this case, the upper and lower faces of the base 10 may be deformable in order to facilitate the insertion of the base 10 on the support structure 8.

[0045] In the assembled configuration of the railway vehicle 2, each base 10 is mounted on one of the support structures 8 by being threaded onto the distal end of said support structure 8.

[0046] Preferably each base 10 is mounted by clamping.

[0047] According to examples of implementation, the bases 10 are made of plastic material or metal.

[0048] Cables 12 are fixed to each base 10.

[0049] For example, the cables 12 are electrical cables. The cables 12 may comprise a conductive core surrounded by an insulating sheath. These may be individual cables, or even cable bundles or cable bundles.

[0050] Preferably, the cables 12 are fixed on opposite faces of each base 10. For example, one or more cables 12 are fixed on an upper face of the base 10 and one or more other cables 12 are fixed on a lower face of the base.

[0051] Advantageously, the cables 12 are attached to the bases 10 before the bases 10 are mounted on the support structures 8.

[0052] According to an exemplary implementation, when the bases 10 are mounted on the support structures 8, the cables 12 extend longitudinally along the body of the box 4.

[0053] In many embodiments, the cables 12 are secured to each base 10 by means of a band-shaped fastening element.

[0054] For example, the fastening element is an elastic band, although alternatively other fastening techniques may be used.

[0055] An example of a method of assembling the railway vehicle 2 is now described with reference to [Fig.2].

[0056] First, the body of the box 4 is constructed by assembling several side walls 6 together, or even with other body elements such as a roof or a floor.

[0057] Then, the cables 12 are fixed on the bases 10, as illustrated by the insert (A) of [Fig.2].

[0058] The bases 10, once equipped with their cables 12, are each threaded onto a corresponding support structure 8, for example by moving them as illustrated by the arrow FL

[0059] Once the bases 10 are installed on the support structures, as illustrated by the insert (B) of [Fig.2], the bases 10 are permanently fixed on the ends of the support structures 8 by means of the fixing elements.

[0060] Thanks to the invention, the cables 12 can be easily fixed inside the body shell 4 without the need to install pre-assembled slabs. On the contrary, the support structures 8 are directly integrated into the side walls of the body shell structure. Thus, during the construction of the body shell, it is not necessary to add fixing slabs. This avoids an assembly step and reduces the quantity of parts and material used to construct the vehicle. To install the cables 12 in the body shell 4, the cables 12 are pre-assembled on the bases 10 and the latter are simply threaded onto the support structures 8.

[0061] Any feature of one of the embodiments or variants described above may be implemented in the other embodiments and variants described.

Claims

Claims

1. Body (4) of a vehicle (2), in particular a railway vehicle, comprising side walls (6), characterized in that the side walls (6) comprise support structures (8) in the form of fins integrated into the side walls and projecting towards the inside of the body, and in that the body (4) further comprises bases (10) each configured to be threaded onto a support structure, each base (10) having a U-shaped section and comprising cables (12) fixed on opposite faces of the base.

2. A body (4) according to claim 1, wherein the side walls (6) are profiled metal panels.

3. A body (4) according to any preceding claim, wherein the cables (12) are secured to the base (10) by means of a band-shaped fastening element.

4. A body (4) according to claim 3, wherein the fastening element is an elastic band.

5. A body (4) according to any preceding claim, wherein the support structures (8) project perpendicular to the side walls (6).

6. A body (4) according to any preceding claim, wherein the bases (10) are fixed to the support structures (8) by clamping.

7. A body (4) according to any preceding claim, wherein the bases (10) are made of plastic or metal.

8. A box body (4) according to any preceding claim, wherein the side walls (6) are vertical.

9. A body (4) according to any preceding claim, wherein each base (10) has a shape complementary to the shape of the distal ends of the support structures (8).

10. Method for assembling a body of a box (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that this method comprises steps consisting of: • constructing a body of a box (4) comprising side walls (6) comprising support structures (8) in the form of fins integrated into the side walls and projecting towards the inside of the body of a box, acquiring bases (10) each configured to be threaded onto a support structure, each base (10) having a U-shaped section and comprising cables (12) fixed on opposite faces of the base, fixing the bases (10) on the ends of the support structures.

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