Device for fixing a curved glass pane of a self-supporting balustrade, self-supporting balustrade comprising such a fixing device, associated railway vehicle and mounting method

Abstract

Device for fixing a curved pane of a self-supporting balustrade, self-supporting balustrade comprising such a fixing device, associated railway vehicle and mounting method This device (100) for fixing a curved pane (34) of a self-supporting balustrade comprises: a flange (102), comprising holes (106) for fixing the flange to a floor (22), in particular of a railway vehicle, and two holding walls (104), which extend orthogonally to the flange opposite one another and which delimit between them a receiving volume (V104) for a curved edge (44) of the curved pane. According to the invention: the two retaining walls (104) extend parallel to a median plane (P104), the fixing holes (106) are oblong and each extend in a direction orthogonal to the median plane (P104), the oblong fixing holes (106) being configured to take up dimensional clearances when the curved window (34) is received in the receiving volume (V104).Figure for abstract: Figure 3.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for fixing a curved window of a self-supporting balustrade, self-supporting balustrade comprising such a fixing device, associated railway vehicle and mounting method

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for fixing a curved glass pane of a self-supporting balustrade. It also relates to a self-supporting balustrade comprising such a fixing device, as well as a railway vehicle comprising such a self-supporting balustrade. The invention also relates to a method for mounting such a self-supporting balustrade.

[0002] Some passenger railway vehicles comprise two floors, with a lower floor and an upper floor, with at least one staircase connecting the two floors. The staircase opens from the upper floor through an opening in the upper floor, and a protective device is provided around this opening, to prevent passengers from falling.

[0003] Among the various types of existing protection devices, we are interested here in glazed balustrades, in particular self-supporting balustrades, in which the panes are not received in frames but are load-bearing elements of the balustrade, the panes being fixed to the floor by means of fixing devices. Depending on the configurations, a glazed balustrade comprises one or more flat portions, with flat panes, and / or one or more curved portions, with curved panes. We are particularly interested here in the curved portions of self-supporting balustrades.

[0004] A curved window generally has the shape of a portion of a cylinder with a circular section, a radius of this circular section defining a radius of curvature of the curved window. A curved window is generally manufactured by hot deformation of a flat window, possibly with tempering to increase the strength of the window. Despite the care taken during their manufacture, it is difficult to manufacture curved windows with a radius of curvature with a reduced tolerance. Schematically, if one seeks to manufacture several curved windows with a nominal radius of curvature of 600 mm, the actual curvatures observed at the end of production have a dispersion of ±5 mm.

[0005] DE-20 2017 106 157-U1 describes, for example, a device for fixing a curved window by means of a curved fixing rail. To take into account the dispersion of the radii of curvature of the curved windows, each fixing rail is generally made to measure, with the curved window intended to be fixed by means of this rail curve, which is expensive. Furthermore, it is generally not possible to manufacture fixing rails for bending radii smaller than 600 mm.

[0006] It is these problems that the invention more particularly intends to remedy, by proposing a fixing device for curved glass, which is inexpensive and suitable for reduced radii of curvature, in particular less than 600 mm.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a device for fixing a curved pane of self-supporting balustrade, the fixing device comprising:

[0008] - a flange, comprising holes for fixing the flange to a floor, in particular of a railway vehicle, and - two retaining walls, which extend orthogonally to the flange opposite each other and which delimit between them a volume for receiving a curved edge of the curved window.

[0009] According to the invention, the two retaining walls extend parallel to a median plane, while the fixing holes are oblong and each extend in a direction orthogonal to the median plane, the oblong fixing holes being configured to take up dimensional clearances when the curved window is received in the receiving volume.

[0010] Thanks to the invention, the dispersion of the radii of curvature of the curved windows is compensated, when fixing the flange to the floor, by the oblong holes provided in the flange. Each fixing device is thus standardized and inexpensive to manufacture. In addition, the walls holding the window are flat and are therefore easy and economical to manufacture.

[0011] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a fixing device may incorporate one or more of the following characteristics taken in isolation or in any technically admissible combination:

[0012] - A width of the retaining walls, measured parallel to the flange and to the median plane, is between 40 mm and 80 mm, preferably between 50 mm and 60 mm. - The fixing holes are arranged astride the median plane. - The fixing device further comprises locking pads received in the receiving housing and configured to secure the curved glass to the rest of the fixing device when this curved glass is received in the receiving housing. - The locking pads are made of an elastomeric material, preferably acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. - The flange and the retaining walls are made of metal.

[0013] The invention also relates to a self-supporting balustrade, comprising a curved window and at least one fixing device as defined previously, in which a curved edge of the curved glass is received in the receiving volume.

[0014] Advantageously, which the curved window has a radius of curvature between 400 mm and 1200 mm, preferably between 400 mm and 600 mm.

[0015] The invention also relates to a railway vehicle comprising a floor and a self-supporting balustrade as defined above, in which the self-supporting balustrade is fixed to the floor by the fixing device(s).

[0016] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method of mounting a self-supporting balustrade as defined above, this mounting method comprising the steps of:

[0017] a. placing the or each fixing device in an adjustment configuration on a floor along a projection of a theoretical profile of the curved glass, by means of a fixing member received in each of the fixing holes; b. position the curved glass in the receiving volume of each fixing device and adjust the position of the or each fixing device; and c. secure the fixing elements.

[0018] This method induces the same advantages as those mentioned above regarding the fixing device of the invention.

[0019] 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 device for fixing a curved window of a self-supporting balustrade, of a self-supporting balustrade comprising such a fixing device, as well as of a railway vehicle and an associated mounting method, in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0020] - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a section of a railway vehicle according to the invention, comprising a self-supporting balustrade in accordance with the invention,

[0021] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view, along arrow II in [Fig.l], of the ba self-supporting chandelier of [Fig.l], and

[0022] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view, along arrow III in [Fig.2], of a self-supporting balustrade fixing device of [Fig.2].

[0023] A vehicle 10 is shown in [Fig.l], in top view. The vehicle 10 is here a railway vehicle, which runs on rails 12. The rails 12 are here parallel and assumed to be horizontal, defining a horizontal plane P12, in the plane of [Fig.l]. The vehicle 10 comprises a body 20, partially shown to reveal its interior. The vehicle 10 here comprises two floors, each floor being associated with an internal floor where passengers circulate. The body 20 thus comprises an upper floor 22 and a lower floor 24, closer to the rails than the upper floor 22. The upper 22 and lower 24 floors, which are each generally planes and parallels between them, are here assumed to be horizontal.

[0024] Alternatively, the vehicle is a non-rail vehicle, such as a road vehicle, a marine vehicle or an air vehicle.

[0025] An opening 26 is provided in the upper floor 22, and the body 20 also includes a staircase 28, which opens from the opening 26 and is configured so that passengers can move between the upper floor 22 and the lower floor 24. To prevent passengers from falling, the opening 26 is partly bordered by a balustrade 30, or guardrail, which is fixed to the floor 22.

[0026] The balustrade 30, which is also shown in perspective in [Fig.2], is a self-supporting glazed balustrade, that is to say that the balustrade 30 comprises at least one pane of glass, each pane of glass being fixed to the floor 22 and constituting a supporting structure of the balustrade 30. The balustrade 30 here comprises a curved portion 32, with a curved pane of glass 34, as well as several straight portions 36, each with a respective flat pane of glass 38. We are particularly interested in the curved portion 32 of the balustrade 30.

[0027] The curved window 34 has a shape of a portion of a cylinder and a circular section, centered on an axis of curvature A34. The curved window 34 here has a quarter-circle profile, with a radius of curvature Rc assumed to be constant. In the example illustrated, the radius of curvature Rc of the curved window 34 is equal to 600 mm.

[0028] The curved window 34 has two opposite straight edges 40 and 42, which extend orthogonally to the floor 22, and two opposite curved edges, with a lower curved edge 44 and an upper curved edge 46, the lower edge 44 being closer to the floor 22 than the upper curved edge 46. Each of the straight edges 40 and 42 here measures 966 mm.

[0029] The curved window 34 is fixed, by the lower curved edge 44, to the floor 22 by means of fixing devices 100, here three in number. The fixing devices 100 operate in the same way and are preferably identical to each other.

[0030] The balustrade 30 advantageously comprises a handrail 48, which covers the upper curved edge 46 and which connects the upper curved edge 46 to upper edges of the adjacent flat panes 38.

[0031] The fixing device 100 shown in [Fig. 3] is described here, knowing that what is valid for one of the fixing devices 100 is transposable to the other fixing devices. An outline of the curved window 34 is schematically represented in dotted lines.

[0032] The fixing device 100 comprises a flange 102 and two holding walls 104. The flange 102 has a planar shape and is configured to bear on the floor 22.

[0033] The flange 102 here comprises two fixing holes 106, which pass through the flange 102 and which are each provided to receive a member for fixing the flange 102 to the floor. 22, for example a screw. The fixing elements are not shown.

[0034] The two holding walls 104 extend orthogonally to the flange 102, facing one another, and delimit between them a receiving volume V104 of the lower curved edge 44 of the curved window 34.

[0035] The two holding walls 104 are here straight walls, which are parallel to each other and which extend parallel to a median plane P104. The holding walls 104 are arranged between the two fixing holes 106, which are arranged astride the median plane P104.

[0036] The fixing device 100 also comprises locking pads 108, which are received in the receiving housing V104 and which are configured to secure the curved window 34 to the rest of the fixing device 100 when this curved window 34 is received in the receiving housing V104. The locking pads 108 are here made of an elastomer material, preferably acrylonitrile butadiene styrene - also called ABS -, while the flange 102 and the holding walls 104 are made of metal.

[0037] Each retaining wall 104 has a width L104, measured parallel to the flange 102 and to the median plane P104, which is between 40 mm and 80 mm, preferably between 50 mm and 60 mm.

[0038] The retaining walls 104 are preferably manufactured continuously by extrusion, and then cut to the desired width L104. Such a manufacturing method is particularly economical. Once cut, the retaining walls 104 are secured to the flange 102, for example by welding.

[0039] The retaining walls 104 are rigid and considered to be non-deformable, while the locking pads 108 deform elastically to accommodate the curvature of the curved window 34. The fixing device 100 is thus suitable for curved windows, while being easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0040] The fixing holes 106 are oblong holes, which extend in their length in a direction orthogonal to the median plane P104. Each oblong fixing hole 106 thus makes it possible to adjust a position of the flange 102 relative to the floor 22, according to an adjustment movement F106, represented by a double arrow. In other words, the fixing holes 106 are configured to take up dimensional clearances when the curved window 34 is received in the receiving volume V104.

[0041] A method of mounting the curved portion 32 of the self-supporting glass balustrade 30 is now described.

[0042] First, each fixing device 100 is placed on the floor 22, along a projection of a theoretical profile of the curved window 34 on the floor 22, by means of a fixing member, for example a screw, received in each of the oblong holes 106. The floor 22 is drilled to receive the screws, which are however not tightened, that is to say that each fixing device 100 is still movable, by relative to the floor 22, according to the adjustment movements F106. Each fixing device 100 is then in a so-called “adjustment” configuration.

[0043] Then, the curved window 34 is positioned in the receiving volume V104 of each fixing device 100. The lower curved edge 44 is inserted into the receiving volume V104, until it rests against a bottom of the receiving volume V104. Each fixing device 100 is moved, according to the adjustment movement F106, so as to accommodate the differences between the theoretical profile and an actual profile of the curved window 34.

[0044] Finally, the fixing members received in each of the fixing holes 106 are secured, for example by fully screwing the screws into the floor 22, so as to lock the position of each fixing device 100 relative to the floor 22.

[0045] The fixing holes 106 being arranged astride the median plane P104, the fixing members cannot be removed from the fixing holes 106 as long as the curved window 34 is received in the reception volume V104.

[0046] The fixing device 100 according to the invention thus makes it possible to fix to the floor 22 a curved window 34 whose actual profile differs from the nominal profile. The fixing device 100 is also well suited to fixing curved windows 34 having a reduced radius of curvature Rc, between 400 mm and 1200 mm, in particular between 400 mm and 600 mm.

[0047] The embodiments and variants mentioned above can be combined with each other to generate new embodiments of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Fixing device (100) for a curved glass pane (34) of a self-supporting balustrade (30), the fixing device comprising: • a flange (102), comprising holes (106) for fixing the flange to a floor (22), in particular of a railway vehicle (10), and • two retaining walls (104), which extend orthogonally to the flange opposite one another and which delimit between them a receiving volume (V104) for a curved edge (44) of the curved glass pane, characterized in that: • the two retaining walls (104) extend parallel to a median plane (P 104), • the fixing holes (106) are oblong and each extend in a direction orthogonal to the median plane (P 104), the oblong fixing holes (106) being configured to take up dimensional clearances when the curved glass pane (34) is received in the reception volume (V104).

2. Fastening device (100) according to claim 1, wherein a width (L104) of the holding walls (104), measured parallel to the flange (102) and to the median plane (P104), is between 40 mm and 80 mm, preferably between 50 mm and 60 mm.

3. A fixing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the fixing holes (106) are arranged astride the median plane (P 104).

4. Fixing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising locking pads (108) received in the receiving volume (V104) and configured to secure the curved window (34) to the rest of the fixing device (100) when this curved window (34) is received in the receiving volume (V104)

5. A fixing device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the locking pads (108) are made of an elastomeric material, preferably acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

6. A fastening device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flange (102) and the retaining walls (104) are made of metal.

7. Self-supporting balustrade (30), comprising a curved glass pane (34) and at least one fixing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a curved edge (44) of the curved glass pane is received in the receiving volume (V104).

8. Self-supporting balustrade (30) according to claim 7, wherein the curved glass (34) has a radius of curvature (Rc) of between 400 mm and 1200 mm, preferably of between 400 mm and 600 mm.

9. A railway vehicle (10), comprising a floor (22) and a self-supporting railing (30) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the self-supporting railing is fixed to the floor (22) by the fixing device(s) (100).

10. A method of mounting a self-supporting balustrade (30) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, comprising the steps of: a. placing the or each fixing device (100) in an adjustment configuration on a floor (22) along a projection of a theoretical profile of the curved glass (34), by means of a fixing member received in each of the fixing holes (106); b. positioning the curved glass in the receiving volume (V104) of each fixing device and adjusting the position (F106) of the or each fixing device; and c. securing the fixing members.

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