Roof box and vehicle equipped with such a box

Abstract

Roof box and vehicle equipped with such a box The invention relates to a roof box (20) for a public transport vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, the box (20) delimiting an internal volume (34) and comprising: - a body (30) comprising a set of side walls (40, 41) each extending along a respective extension plane, and - a cover (32) at least partially closing the body (30). The cover (32) comprises at least one peripheral skirt (56) located outside the body (30) and defining with at least one said side wall (40, 41) a chute, the box (20) further comprising a mastic arranged in the chute. Figure for the abstract: 2

Description

Title of the invention: Roof box and vehicle equipped with such a box

[0001] The present invention relates to a roof box for a public transport vehicle. The present invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with such a box.

[0002] Roof boxes are used in many applications to protect equipment placed on the roofs of vehicles such as buses, trains, or even trams. The equipment thus protected includes, for example, electrical regulation or transformation equipment designed in particular to receive an electrical current supplied by a catenary from a pantograph, or even fuel cell assemblies or thermal regulation devices such as air conditioners.

[0003] These chests generally comprise a box, delimiting a reception space, closed by a cover formed from the sheets riveted to the box which serves as a support for each of the sheets. This cover separates the interior of the chest from the exterior and thus plays a role in protecting the equipment contained in the chest. In order to ensure good insulation against water, the different sheets of the cover are generally sealed together.

[0004] However, such boxes are not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, it often happens that infiltrations appear through the mastic, these infiltrations being able to lead to corrosion of the sheets and / or the body, or even in certain cases to damage to the equipment received in the box.

[0005] There is therefore a need for a roof box for a public transport vehicle which has increased durability.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a roof box for a public transport vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, the box delimiting an internal volume and comprising a body comprising a set of side walls each extending along a respective extension plane, and a cover at least partially closing the body, the cover comprising at least one peripheral skirt located outside the body and defining with at least one said side wall a chute, the box further comprising a mastic arranged in the chute.

[0007] The trunk lid according to the invention thus protects the sealant by preventing it from being directly exposed to rain, detergents when cleaning the trunk and / or solar radiation. The risks of deterioration of the sealant, and therefore of water infiltration inside the trunk, are therefore reduced.

[0008] According to particular embodiments, the trunk has one or more of the following characteristics taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

[0009] - the skirt comprises a distal portion forming a dropped edge, the chute being delimited between said fallen edge and the side wall opposite which said distal portion is located;

[0010] - the chute defines an angle between 0° and 75°, preferably between 40° and 50°, advantageously substantially equal to 45°, said angle being measured between an internal face of the distal portion of the skirt and an external face of the side wall opposite which said distal portion is located;

[0011] - the skirt further comprises a proximal portion extending between the distal portion and a central portion of the cover, said central portion having an internal face facing the internal volume of the box, the proximal portion extending in continuity with the central portion, the proximal portion preferably having a width of between 5 mm and 10 mm;

[0012] - the cover is fixed to the body by means of a weld bead and / or rivets;

[0013] - the trunk further comprises a support extending between a lower face intended to be in contact with the vehicle and an upper face in contact with the body, at least one of the side walls of the body preferably extending partly below the upper face of the support;

[0014] - the cover comprises a plurality of metal sheets assembled together, by example welded together, so as to form a single-piece assembly of sheets;

[0015] - the skirt is made in one piece with at least one of the sheets, the skirt preferably being obtained by folding said sheet metal.

[0016] A public transport vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising at least one roof box as previously defined is also proposed.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the vehicle is an electric vehicle comprising a motor and a pantograph, the motor being configured to propel the vehicle, the pantograph being configured to receive a first electric current from a catenary and to transmit the first current to at least one device housed in the internal volume of the trunk, the device being for example configured to convert the first current into a second electric current different from the first electric current and to supply the motor with the second current.

[0018] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0019] - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] represents a schematic view of an example of a vehicle comprising a trunk according to the invention,

[0020] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the trunk of [Fig.l], and

[0021] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a sectional view of a detail of the trunk of [Fig.2].

[0022] An example of a public transport vehicle 10 is shown in [Fig.l].

[0023] The vehicle 10 is, for example, a train, a tram or even a bus. However, other types of vehicles 10 are also conceivable.

[0024] The vehicle 10 is, for example, an electric vehicle, that is to say a vehicle designed to be propelled by an electric motor 12. However, other propulsion modes are likely to be envisaged.

[0025] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig.l], the vehicle 10 comprises a body 14, a pantograph 16, at least one piece of electrical equipment 18 and a roof box 20 accommodating said equipment 18. The vehicle 10 travels on a track, for example a railway track, by means of wheels 22.

[0026] The electric motor 12 is configured to drive the wheels 22 of the vehicle 10 when the motor 12 is supplied with an electric current.

[0027] The bodywork 14 delimits at least one compartment 24 of the vehicle 10. The bodywork 14 is configured to separate each compartment 24 from the exterior of the vehicle 10. The bodywork 14 comprises, in particular, a roof 26 which delimits each compartment 24 in an elevation direction Z which is substantially vertical when the vehicle 10 is traveling on a horizontal track. The compartment 24 is intended to receive passengers, goods and / or equipment of the vehicle 10.

[0028] The pantograph 16 is configured to come into contact with at least one catenary 28 when the vehicle 10 is in motion, and to receive a first electric current from the catenary(s) 28. The pantograph 20 is further configured to transmit the first electric current to the equipment 18.

[0029] The equipment 18 is for example configured to convert the first current into a second current, and to transmit the second current to the electric motor 12.

[0030] An example of a trunk 20 according to the invention is shown in more detail in [Fig.2]

[0031] The box 20 is fixed to the roof 26, for example by screwing.

[0032] The trunk 20 extends in an elevation direction Z' substantially parallel to the elevation direction Z of the vehicle 10 when the trunk 20 is installed on the roof 26 of the vehicle 10. In the remainder of the description, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “upwards”, “downwards”, “above” and “below” will refer to said elevation direction Z' of the trunk 20.

[0033] The trunk 20 comprises a box 30 and a cover 32 closing the box 30. The box 30 and the cover 32 are configured to delimit an internal volume 34 of the trunk 30, and to separate said internal volume 34 from the exterior of the trunk 20. The trunk 20 further comprises a mastic 36 disposed between the box 30 and the cover 32.

[0034] Preferably, as shown in [Fig. 2], the trunk 20 further comprises a support 38 arranged between the roof 26 of the vehicle 10 and the body 30. The support 38 thus has a lower face intended to be in contact with the vehicle 10, and a upper face, on which the body 30 rests. The support 38 comprises, for example, a set of feet 39 on which the body 30 rests, each foot 39 being configured to be fixed to the roof 26, for example in a removable manner, and to then be secured to the body 30. Each foot 39 is, for example, configured to be screwed to the roof 26.

[0035] The body 30 is configured to support the cover 32. In particular, the body 30 is configured to maintain the cover 32 in a raised position relative to the body 14 of the vehicle 10 when the trunk 20 is mounted on the vehicle 10.

[0036] The box 30 is preferably made of a metallic material. For example, the box 30 is made of metal, for example aluminum, galvanized steel or carbon steel.

[0037] The body 30 comprises a set of side walls 40, 41 each extending along a respective extension plane.

[0038] As an optional addition, the body 30 further comprises at least one intermediate wall 44 extending inside the internal volume 34 of the trunk 30 according to a respective extension plane. The intermediate wall(s) 44 divide(s) the internal volume 34 into at least two compartments. For example, each compartment is intended to receive a respective item of equipment 18.

[0039] As an optional addition, the box 30 comprises a bottom wall 45 intended to support the equipment(s) 18 received in the trunk 20. Each side wall 40, 41 rises from the bottom wall 45, according to its extension plane.

[0040] It should be noted that the structure of the body 30, in particular the number, shape and arrangement of the side walls 40, 41 and of the intermediate wall(s) 44 is likely to vary.

[0041] In the example shown in Figures 2 and 3, the body 30 comprises four side walls 40, 41 whose respective extension planes extend substantially along the direction of extension Z' of the trunk 20.

[0042] Each side wall 40, 41 has an internal face 46A oriented towards the internal volume 34 of the trunk 20 and an external face 46B opposite the internal face 46A, the internal and external faces 46A, 46B extending along the respective extension plane of the side wall 40, 4L. Each side wall 40, 41 also has a peripheral edge 47 connecting the internal face 46A and the external face 46B of said side wall 40, 4L.

[0043] According to one embodiment, each side and / or intermediate wall 40, 41, 44 has a polygonal perimeter. In other words, each wall 40, 41, 44 is delimited in its respective extension plane by a closed polygonal contour. According to the example of trunk 20 shown in [Fig. 2], the box 30 comprises two walls lateral walls 40 in the shape of a non-regular hexagon and two lateral walls 41 of rectangular shape.

[0044] Alternatively, each wall 40, 41, 44 is rectangular, square, or even triangular.

[0045] Alternatively, at least one side and / or intermediate wall 40, 41, 44 has a circumference having at least one non-straight part, in particular an arc-shaped part.

[0046] Each side and / or intermediate wall 40, 41, 44 extends in the elevation direction Z' of the trunk 20 between a lower edge 48 and an upper edge 49.

[0047] When the bottom wall 45 is present, at least one side and / or intermediate wall 40, 41, 44 is fixed at its lower edge 48 to said bottom wall 45, for example by riveting, screwing, or even welding.

[0048] The bottom wall 45 has an internal face 50 oriented towards the internal volume 34 of the trunk 20 and an external face (not visible) opposite the internal face 50, the external face being intended to be opposite the roof 26 when the trunk 20 is installed on the vehicle 10. The bottom wall 45 also has a peripheral edge (not visible) connecting the internal face 50 and the external face of the bottom wall 45.

[0049] When the trunk 20 comprises a support 38, the bottom wall 45 is fixed to said support, for example by means of rivets.

[0050] Preferably, at least one side wall 40, 41 extends on either side of the bottom wall 45, forming a so-called “water drop” profile. This means that said side wall 40, 41 bears on the edge of the bottom wall 45, a marginal portion of the side wall 40, 41 extending on the side of the external face of the bottom wall 45 in the elevation direction Z'. Preferably, said marginal portion goes below the external face of the bottom wall 45 in the elevation direction Z' over a height greater than 8 mm, for example between 8 mm and 10 mm, to constitute a water droplet making it possible to vertically evacuate the residual water on the side walls 40, 4L.

[0051] When the support 38 is present, said side wall 40, 41 also preferably extends below the level of the upper face of the support 38 in the elevation direction Z'.

[0052] This overhang allows the water to run off along said side wall 40, 41 before falling towards the roof 26 and / or the ground, preventing the water from flowing along the base of the box 20, and in particular preventing water from stagnating at the level of the bottom wall 45 when the latter is present.

[0053] The cover 32 is configured to close the box 30 and to delimit the internal volume 34 of the trunk 20 in the elevation direction Z'.

[0054] The cover 32 is supported by the box 30, for example at the level of at least one side wall 40, 41 and / or an intermediate wall 44. In the example shown in the [Fig.2], the cover 32 rests on the four side walls 40, 41 of the box 30.

[0055] The cover 32 is for example welded onto the body 30. Alternatively, the cover 32 is fixed onto the body 30 by means of rivets.

[0056] The cover 32 has an internal face 52A oriented at least in part towards the internal volume 34 of the box 20, and an external face 52B opposite the internal face 52A and oriented towards the outside of the box 20.

[0057] The cover 32 has a central part 54 of the cover 32, the internal face 52A of which is opposite the internal volume 34 of the trunk 20. The cover 32 further comprises a peripheral skirt 56 located outside the body 30 and forming a rim of the cover 32.

[0058] Preferably, the cover 32 has at least one opening 58 passing through the central part 54. Each opening 58 allows access to the internal volume 34 of the trunk 20, and in particular to the equipment 18 located inside it, for example to carry out maintenance operations. Each opening 58 also allows access to the internal volume 34 of the trunk 20 during the manufacture of the latter, for example to fix the cover 32 to the body 30 by welding, a weld bead 59 (visible in [Fig. 3]) then extending inside the trunk 20. When the vehicle 10 is traveling, each opening 58 is at least partially closed by a panel (not shown).

[0059] According to the example shown in [Fig.2], the cover 32 is formed from a set of sheets 62. Each sheet 62 has an internal face, forming a portion of the internal face 52A of the cover 32, and an external face, forming a portion of the external face 52B of the cover 32.

[0060] Each sheet 62 is made of a metallic material, preferably aluminum. However, other materials are also conceivable.

[0061] The sheets 62 are assembled together to form a set of single-piece sheets 62. Preferably, the sheets 62 are welded to each other so as to form a set of single-piece sheets 62.

[0062] Alternatively, the cover 32 is formed from a single sheet 62.

[0063] The peripheral skirt 56 is preferably made in one piece with the sheet(s) 62. The peripheral skirt 56 is for example obtained by folding the sheet(s) 62.

[0064] As visible in [Fig. 3], the peripheral skirt 56 extends outside the body 30, forming a fallen edge around at least a portion of the upper edge 49 of the body 30. When the trunk 20 is mounted on the roof 26 of the vehicle 10, the peripheral skirt 56 extends downwards towards the roof 26 of the vehicle 10 and / or the ground.

[0065] In the example shown in [Fig.2], the peripheral skirt 56 extends over the entire circumference of the upper edge 49 of the body 30. The peripheral skirt 56 is here continuous. The peripheral skirt 56 surrounds the upper edge 49 of each side wall 40, 41 of the body 30.

[0066] The peripheral skirt 56 covers the upper edge 49 by projecting towards the outside of the body 39 beyond the upper edge 49 and extending downwards. The free edge of the peripheral skirt 56 is located lower than the upper edge 49.

[0067] According to the example shown in Figures 2 and 3, the peripheral skirt 56 has a proximal portion 66, a distal portion 67 forming the dropped edge and a junction 68 connecting the proximal portion 66 and the distal portion 67. The junction 68 is for example an edge or a rounding.

[0068] The proximal portion 66 extends in the continuity of the central part 54 of the cover 32 beyond the edge 47 of the side wall 40, 41, preferably over a length of between 5 mm and 10 mm, this length corresponding to the width of the proximal portion 66.

[0069] The distal portion 67 is the portion of the peripheral skirt 56 which projects outwardly from the body 30 beyond the upper edge 49, extending downwardly. The free edge of the distal portion 67 (which defines the free edge of the peripheral skirt 56) is located lower than the upper edge 49.

[0070] The peripheral skirt 56 defines with at least one side wall 40, 41 of the body 30 a chute 70 for receiving the mastic 36. In other words, at the level of the peripheral skirt 56, the internal face 52A of the cover 32 is located opposite the external face 46B of the body 30.

[0071] The chute 70 is delimited on the one hand by the cover 32, more precisely by the peripheral skirt 56, and on the other hand by the box 30, more precisely by one or more side wall(s) 40, 4L

[0072] The chute 70 has a bottom 72 formed by the internal face 52A of the proximal portion 66 of the skirt 56. The bottom 72 has a width substantially equal to the length of the proximal portion 66.

[0073] The chute 70 thus has, according to a section plane normal to the associated side wall 40, 41, a U-shaped or inverted V-shaped profile.

[0074] This design prevents the penetration of water or cleaning products by promoting the flow of liquid by gravity.

[0075] The chute 70 has a height H of between 15 mm and 20 mm, the height H being measured along the elevation direction Z' between the bottom 72 of the chute 70 and the free edge of the peripheral skirt 56.

[0076] If there were to be a partial decohesion of the mastic 36 inside the chute 70, a rise of the liquid by capillarity would be stopped very quickly given the distance to be covered in the chute 70 between the free edge of the peripheral skirt 56 and the bottom 72 of the chute 70.

[0077] The chute 70 defines an angle a between 0° and 75°, preferably between 40° and 50°, advantageously substantially equal to 45°, the angle a being measured between the internal face 52A of the distal portion 67 of the skirt 56 and the external face 46B of the side wall 40, 41 opposite which said distal portion 67 is located.

[0078] Such an angle facilitates the application of the mastic 36 in the chute 70 and guarantees a good seal between the box 30 and the cover 32.

[0079] The mastic 36 bears on the internal face 52A of the peripheral skirt 56, preferably on the internal face 52A of the proximal and distal portions 66, 67 of the skirt 56, and on the external face 46B of the wall 40, 41 which faces said internal face 52A.

[0080] The presence of the mastic 36 on said faces 52A, 46B prevents any rise of liquid by capillarity to the interior of the box 20.

[0081] The sealant 36 is for example made of polymeric material, in particular polyurethane or silicone.

[0082] Thanks to the peripheral skirt 56, the mastic 36 is not directly exposed to the solar radiation, particularly ultraviolet rays. This prevents deterioration of the mechanical properties of the mastic 36 and increases its lifespan.

[0083] A method of manufacturing the trunk 20 according to the invention will now be described.

[0084] The manufacturing method comprises a step of providing the box 30, a step of providing the cover 32, a step of assembling the cover 32 on the body 30 and a step of applying the mastic 36 between the cover 32 and the body 30 to ensure the sealing of the trunk 20.

[0085] During the step of supplying the box 30, the side walls 40, 41 and, optionally, the intermediate wall(s) 44 and the bottom wall 45 are assembled together by welding or riveting.

[0086] During the step of providing the cover 32, the sheets 62 are assembled together, preferably welded to each other, so as to form a set of single-piece sheets 62.

[0087] Preferably, prior to the step of providing the cover 32, at least a portion of the sheets 62 has undergone a folding step so as to form the peripheral skirt 56 of the cover 32.

[0088] Then, the cover 32 is placed on the box 30 so as to close said box 30. The cover 32 then rests on the box 30, for example at the level of at least one side wall 40, 41 and / or an intermediate wall 44.

[0089] The cover 32 is then fixed to the body 30. The cover 32 is for example welded onto the body 30 or is fixed onto the body 30 by means of rivets. The presence of an opening 58 in the cover 32 allows an operator to have access to the interior volume 34 of the trunk 20 to carry out these fixings.

[0090] The cover 32 and the box 30 define between them a chute 70 as described previously.

[0091] Then, the mastic 36 is applied, for example by means of a suitable gun, inside the chute 70.

[0092] According to a particular embodiment, the box 30 is then fixed to a support 38.

[0093] One or more electronic devices 18 are then arranged inside the trunk 20 and shutters are installed to close the openings 58. The trunk 20 is then fixed, for example screwed, to the roof 26 of the vehicle 10.

[0094] When the vehicle 10 is traveling outdoors, the presence of the peripheral skirt 56 protects the mastic 36 from solar radiation, as well as from rain. The mastic 36 is also protected at least in part from the detergent products used when cleaning the vehicle 10. The mastic 36 thus retains its mechanical properties for longer, which prevents degradation or partial or total decohesion of the mastic 36.

[0095] The risks of deterioration of the mastic 36, and therefore of infiltration of water or detergent products inside the box 20 which could damage the equipment received in the box 20, or generate corrosion by stagnation of water inside the box 30, are therefore reduced.

[0096] Furthermore, even in the event of partial decohesion of the mastic 36, the U-shaped or inverted V-shaped profile of the chute 70 promotes the flow of the liquid by gravity and prevents a rise by capillarity to the interior of the box 20, due to the length to be traveled in the chute 70.

[0097] Water stagnation is also avoided at the bottom wall 45, when the latter is present, the “water drop” profile and the overhang of the marginal portion of the side wall(s) 40, 41 preventing water from running under the body 30.

[0098] The roof box 20 according to the invention thus presents a very limited risk of water infiltration, and thus has increased durability.

[0099] In a variant not shown, the peripheral skirt 56 does not extend over the entire circumference of the upper edge 49 of the body 30, but only over a portion of the circumference. For example, the peripheral skirt 56 comprises a plurality of skirt portions spaced apart from one another, the peripheral skirt 56 then being discontinuous. For example, each skirt portion extends opposite a respective side wall 40, 41.

[0100] Alternatively, the peripheral skirt 56 is devoid of a proximal portion 66. The junction 68 then directly connects the central part 54 of the cover 32 to the distal portion 67 of the skirt 56.

Claims

Claims

1. Roof box (20) for a public transport vehicle (10), in particular a railway vehicle, the box (20) delimiting an internal volume (34) and comprising: • a body (30) comprising a set of side walls (40, 41) each extending along a respective extension plane, and • a cover (32) at least partially closing the body (30), the cover (32) comprising at least one peripheral skirt (56) located outside the body (30) and defining with at least one said side wall (40, 41) a chute (70), the box (20) further comprising a mastic (36) arranged in the chute (70).

2. Chest (20) according to claim 1, in which the skirt (56) comprises a distal portion (67) forming a fallen edge, the chute (70) being delimited between said fallen edge and the side wall (40, 41) opposite which said distal portion (67) is located.

3. Chest (20) according to claim 2, in which the chute (70) defines an angle (a) between 0° and 75°, preferably between 40° and 50°, advantageously substantially equal to 45°, said angle (a) being measured between an internal face (52A) of the distal portion (67) of the skirt (56) and an external face (46B) of the side wall (40, 41) opposite which said distal portion (67) is located.

4. Chest (20) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the skirt (56) further comprises a proximal portion (66) extending between the distal portion (67) and a central portion (54) of the cover (32), said central portion (54) having an internal face (52A) facing the internal volume (34) of the chest (20), the proximal portion (66) extending in the continuity of the central portion (54), the proximal portion (66) preferably having a width of between 5 mm and 10 mm.

5. A chest (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid (32) is secured to the body (30) by means of a weld bead (59) and / or rivets.

6. A trunk according to any preceding claim, wherein the trunk (20) further comprises a support (38) extending between a lower face intended to be in contact with the vehicle (10) and a upper face in contact with the body (30), at least one of the side walls (40, 41) of the body (30) preferably extending partly below the upper face of the support (38).

7. Chest according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cover (32) comprises a plurality of metal sheets (62) assembled together, for example welded together, so as to form a single-piece assembly of sheets (62).

8. Chest according to claim 7, in which the skirt (56) is made of a single material with at least one of the sheets (62), the skirt (56) preferably being obtained by folding said sheet (62).

9. Public transport vehicle (10), in particular a railway vehicle, comprising at least one roof box (20) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Vehicle (10) according to claim 9, the vehicle (10) being an electric vehicle comprising a motor (12) and a pantograph (16), the motor (12) being configured to propel the vehicle (10), the pantograph (16) being configured to receive a first electric current from a catenary (28) and to transmit the first current to at least one device (18) housed in the internal volume (34) of the trunk (20), the device (18) being for example configured to convert the first current into a second electric current different from the first electric current and to supply the motor (12) with the second current.

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