Intervention platform in an inter-car area between two train cars

Abstract

The invention relates to a platform (1) for accessing the inter-car area between two train cars, each car comprising a car body with an upper side. The platform (1) comprises a rectangular floor (2) dimensioned so that its two lateral portions (82, 83), extending along the length of said floor, are able to rest respectively on two end portions of the upper sides of the two cars, thus covering the inter-car area. The floor (2) comprises, at its four corners (12, 13, 24), cutouts (14, 15, 26, 27) configured to receive protruding elements located laterally on the upper sides of the two cars, so as to secure the floor (2) on the two end portions of the upper sides of the two cars when it is positioned in the inter-car area. Abstract figure: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Intervention platform on an inter-car zone between two carriages of a train Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the railway field and more particularly concerns an accessory for carrying out maintenance operations on an inter-body zone between two cars (or wagons) of a train, with a view to facilitating intervention in this inter-body zone in complete safety. In this respect, the invention implements an intervention platform on an inter-body zone between two cars of a train. State of the art

[0002] Most current trains include bellows between their cars (or wagons). A bellows makes it possible to create an articulated junction between the two juxtaposed cars and to move from one car to the other in complete safety, while remaining within the confines of the train. This bellows constitutes the inter-car body between two cars. The train cars are equipped with various equipment, including air conditioning devices for regulating the temperature in each car and electrical devices, which are arranged above the car bodies near their ends, juxtaposed with the inter-car body areas between the cars.

[0003] During the maintenance of a train, the latter is placed on rails of a lifting device allowing the elevation of the train to man height so that operators can intervene on the lower part and the underside of the body of each car receiving in particular the bogies, the axles and the braking devices. Simultaneously, operators intervene above the bodies of the cars and access them by means of a walkway or scaffolding. During an intervention on the equipment placed above the body, the operator must position himself on the inter-body zone between the two cars, this inter-body zone revealing two empty spaces between the two cars, on each side of the bellows.Currently, an inter-body cushion is used which rests on the bellows and on the two bodies in the inter-body area so as to plug the empty space, on one side of the bellows, a second cushion to plug the empty space, on the other side of the bellows. Due to its lightness, the cushion can be easily handled by the operator to be placed at the desired location, above an empty space in the inter-body area. Such cushions, which plug the empty spaces in the inter-body area, however cause instability during the intervention, the operator positioning himself on the bellows and sometimes leaning on the cushions which can move or deform. This therefore does not allow the operator to work with complete confidence and safety, at approximately six meters. height. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and, for this purpose, implements an intervention platform on an inter-body zone between two cars of a train which can be easily put in place on the inter-body zone and which offers very good stability during the intervention of the operator.

[0005] In this respect, the invention relates to an intervention platform on an inter-body zone between two cars of a train, the cars each comprising a body having an upper side. The platform comprises a rectangular floor dimensioned so that its two lateral parts, extending over the length of said floor, are capable of bearing respectively on two end parts of the upper sides of the two car bodies by covering the inter-body zone, when it is positioned above the inter-body zone. In addition, the floor comprises at its four corners cutouts configured to respectively receive first protruding elements present laterally on the upper sides of the two bodies, so as to wedge the floor on the two end parts of the upper sides of the two car bodies, between these first protruding elements, when it is placed on the inter-body zone.The presence of the cutouts in the corners of the floor makes it possible to dispense with the first protruding elements present laterally on the upper sides of the bodies and, thus, to properly place the lateral parts of the floor on the end parts of the upper sides of the two car bodies. These cutouts also make it possible to immobilize the floor placed on the upper sides of the two bodies, which avoids any risk of the floor coming loose during the intervention of the operator. The rigidity of the floor avoids stressing the bellows of the inter-body zone, above which said floor is placed, and offers very good stability when an operator climbs onto the floor.Non-exhaustively, the first protruding elements present laterally on the upper sides of the two bodies are understood to mean, in particular, the presence of the lateral sides of the body which include upper edges protruding above the upper side of the body and, possibly, the additional presence of fluid circuits positioned above the upper side of the body, close to the upper edges of the lateral sides of said body.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment of the platform, the floor comprises two rectangular plates which each comprise a first edge, the first edges being capable of being engaged one into the other to form said floor, thanks to a fitting system arranged at said first edges. The plates each comprise two corners arranged on a side opposite the first edge, two cutouts being formed respectively in the two corners on each of the plates. This design of the two-plate floor facilitates handling when placing and mounting the platform above the inter-body area and, conversely, when dismantling and removing it.

[0007] Other embodiments could be envisaged within the scope of the invention, for example a floor comprising a single rectangular plate or, on the contrary, more than two rectangular plates. For example, the floor could comprise three rectangular plates including two side plates and a central plate, interlocking systems being arranged between the juxtaposed edges of the plates, the two side plates each comprising two corners at a free edge which each comprise a cutout.

[0008] According to this preferred embodiment of the platform, with two plates, the interlocking system is preferably made up of at least one tenon on the first edge of one of the two plates and at least one mortise on the first edge of the other of the two plates, the at least one tenon and the at least one mortise being complementary. Preferably, a single tenon and a single mortise will be implemented on the first edges.

[0009] According to this preferred embodiment of the platform, with two plates, a locking system is arranged at the first edges of the two plates so as to prevent the disengagement of said first edges. This makes it possible to properly keep the two plates engaged with each other. In a variant with more than two plates forming the floor, a locking system will be provided between each pair of adjoining plates.

[0010] According to this preferred embodiment of the platform, with two plates, one of the plates comprises a tenon which extends over the length of its first edge and the other plate comprises a mortise, complementary to the tenon, which extends over the length of its first edge. In addition, the tenon comprises at its two lateral ends two first holes passing through the thickness of the tenon. The other plate comprises two second holes passing through the thickness of said plate and arranged at the two lateral ends of the mortise, in correspondence with the two first holes on the tenon, when it is engaged in the mortise. Furthermore, the locking system comprises two pinning members capable of taking place in the first and second holes when they correspond.This design advantageously allows both pinning members to be installed or, if necessary due to misalignments between the two bodies, only one of the two pinning members. Preferably, the two pinning members are each connected to one of the two plates by means of a link, which allows them to be kept permanently on one or other of the plates.

[0011] According to this preferred embodiment of the platform, the two plates each comprise a second edge opposite the first edge, an opening being arranged at the second edge in the thickness of the plate so as to constitute a handle for handling said plate. This design makes it possible to easily handle the plates during assembly and disassembly of the floor. This also makes it possible to have a handling handle which does not protrude from the upper surface of the platform, on which the operator is positioned during the intervention, thus avoiding any risk of catching the handling handle during the intervention.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the platform, at least one of the two lateral parts of the floor comprises at least one notch configured to receive at least one second protruding element present on at least one of the two end parts of the upper sides of the two car bodies, when the floor is placed on the inter-body zone. The number of notches will depend on the number of second protruding elements present on the end parts of the upper sides of the two bodies.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the platform, the floor comprises a core material coated with a laminate, which ensures perfect rigidity of the floor, while considerably reducing its mass. When the floor is composed of two plates, or even more than two plates, each plate comprises a core material coated with a laminate. Preferably, the core material consists of a honeycomb structure and / or a simple or complex foam and the laminate consists of flax fibers and / or glass fibers embedded in a thermosetting resin. Other fibers could be used for the laminate, in addition to or as a substitute for the flax fibers and / or glass fibers, for example carbon fibers and / or Kevlar fibers.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the platform, the floor comprises an upper face which includes non-slip means. When the floor is composed of two plates, or even more than two plates, each plate includes these non-slip means. This prevents the operator from slipping on the floor during an intervention. Preferably, these non-slip means are implemented by crystals impregnated in thermosetting resin on the surface of the upper face of the floor.

[0015] Preferably, the upper face comprises means for demarcating the useful surface of the floor, thus avoiding a risk of the operator falling during an intervention. Preferably, these demarcation means are implemented by differentiating the color of the useful surface on the upper face of the floor. Brief description of the figures

[0016] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description based on figures, among which: [Fig.l] illustrates a top view of the platform according to a preferred embodiment, with a floor made up of two plates; [Fig.2] illustrates a sectional side view of [Fig.l], along section plane AA; [Fig.3] illustrates a top view of a first of the two plates illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; [Fig.4] illustrates a sectional side view of [Fig.3], along a section plane DD; [Fig.5] illustrates a top view of a second of the two plates illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; [Fig.6] illustrates a side sectional view of [Fig.5], according to a sectional plane FF; [Fig.7] illustrates a top view of the platform according to an alternative embodiment, with a floor consisting of a single plate, [Fig.7] schematizing two end parts of car bodies, juxtaposed and connected by an inter-body zone; [Fig.8] illustrates a top view of the platform according to another alternative embodiment, with a floor consisting of three plates. Detailed description

[0017] In the remainder of the description, the same references will be used to designate the same characteristics, on the various embodiment variants presented. Furthermore, the intervention platform on an inter-car zone between two cars of a train, object of the invention, is called platform 1.

[0018] Figures 1 to 6 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the platform 1. The platform 1 comprises a floor 2 which is rectangular in shape and which consists of a first plate 3, illustrated separately in Figures 3 and 4, and a second plate 4, illustrated separately in [Fig.5] and 6. The two plates 3, 4 are rectangular in shape.

[0019] The first plate 3 comprises a first edge 5 which comprises a tenon 6. The tenon 6 extends over almost the entire width of the first plate 3, as shown in [Fig. 3]. At the two ends 6a, 6b of the tenon 6 are arranged two holes 7, 8 passing through said tenon 6 over its thickness, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The first plate 3 comprises a second edge 9, opposite the first edge 5, and two lateral sides 10, 11 which form with said second edge 9 two corners 12, 13 in which cutouts 14, 15 are made, as illustrated in [Fig. 3]. An opening 16, preferably oblong in shape, is arranged near the second edge 9, more or less equidistant from the two lateral sides 10, 11. This opening 16 passes through the first plate 3 and constitutes a handling handle allowing the first plate 3 to be grasped with one hand.

[0020] The second plate 4 comprises a first edge 17 which comprises a mortise 18. The mortise 18 extends over almost the entire width of the second plate 4, as shown in [Fig. 5]. At the two ends 18a, 18b of the mortise 18 are arranged two holes 19, 20 passing through the second plate 4 over its thickness, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The second plate 4 comprises a second edge 21, opposite the first edge 17, and two lateral sides 22, 23 which form with said second edge 21 two corners 24, 25 in which cutouts 26, 27 are made, as illustrated in [Fig. 5]. An opening 28, preferably oblong in shape, is arranged near the second edge 21, more or less equidistant from the two lateral sides 22, 23. Another opening 29, preferably oblong in shape, is arranged near the first edge 17, beyond the mortise 18, more or less equidistant from the two lateral sides 22, 23.These openings 28, 29 pass through the second plate 4 and constitute handling handles allowing, one or the other, to grasp the second plate 4 with one hand.

[0021] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the first edge 5 of the first plate 3 and the first edge 17 of the second plate 4 are juxtaposed during the formation of the floor 2, the tenon 7 being complementary to the mortise 18 and engaging therein, which allows a fitting between the two plates 3, 4. During this fitting, the holes 7, 8 on the tenon 6 correspond respectively with the holes 19, 20 on the first edge 17 of the second plate 4, which allows the introduction of two pinning members 30, 31 into these corresponding holes, for locking the two plates 3, 4 engaged one in the other. These two pinning members 30, 31 are connected to the second plate 4 by means of two links 32, 33, for example rope or an elastic band.

[0022] The two plates 3, 4 have an identical composition, each comprising a core material 34 and a laminate 35. The core material 34 makes it possible to reinforce the plates 3, 4 and is made of a honeycomb structure, for example made of aluminum or other lightweight materials, and / or a simple or complex foam. The laminate 35 is preferably made of flax fibers and / or glass fibers embedded in a thermosetting resin, other fibers remaining possible in addition or as a substitute, for example carbon fibers and / or Kevlar fibers. The cutouts 14, 15 on the first plate 3 and the cutouts 26, 27 on the second plate 4 are implemented on the laminate 35, outside the reinforced zones 36, 37 by said core material 34. In [Fig. 3], the first plate 3 also comprises on its lateral side 11 a notch 38, implemented on the laminate 35, outside the reinforced zone 36.Crystals, for example salt crystals, are embedded in the thermosetting resin on the surface of the upper faces 39, 40 of the two plates 3, 4, on a first part 41, 42 of said plates 3, 4 constituting the useful surface 43 of the floor 2 on which an operator is positioned. during an intervention. These crystals make the upper faces 39, 40 of the plates 3, 4 rough, thus avoiding a risk of slipping on the useful surface 43 of the floor 2. These first parts 41, 42 of the plates 3, 4 are distinguished from second parts 44, 45 on the upper faces 39, 40, by a difference in color, allowing the operator to properly distinguish the position of the useful surface 43 during an intervention, thus avoiding getting too close to an edge of the floor 2.

[0023] [Fig. 7] shows a platform 1 for which the floor 2 is formed from a single plate 46 instead of a grouping of the first plate 3 and the second plate 4 engaged one inside the other, as previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The characteristics and dimensions of the floor 2 correspond to those of the floor 2 of Figures 1 and 2. Thus, the plate 46 comprises in these four corners 47, 48, 49, 50 cutouts 51, 52, 53, 54 identical to the cutouts 14, 15, 26, 27 in the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 6. The plate 46 also comprises a notch 80 identical to the notch 38 in the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 6.

[0024] [Fig. 8] shows a platform 1 for which the floor 2 is formed of three plates 55, 56, 57. The first side plate 55 has a design similar to the first plate 3 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and described previously, with the presence of two corners 58, 59 provided with cutouts 60, 61, a tenon (not shown, but identical to the tenon 6) on a first edge 62 and an opening 63 near a second edge 64. The second side plate 56 has a design similar to the second plate 4 illustrated [Fig. 5] and 6 and described previously, with the presence of two corners 65, 66 provided with cutouts 67, 68, a mortise (not shown, but identical to the mortise 18) on a first edge 69, an opening 70 near the first edge 69 and another opening 71 near a second edge 72.The central plate 57 comprises a first edge 73 provided with a tenon (not shown, but identical to tenon 6), a second edge 74 provided with a mortise (not shown, but identical to mortise 18) and an opening 75 arranged near the second edge 74. The tenon on the first edge 62 of the first side plate 55 engages in the mortise on the second edge 74 of the central plate 57 and the tenon on the first edge 73 of the central plate 57 engages in the mortise on the first edge 69 of the second side plate 56. The tenons and mortises of these three plates 55, 56, 57 have holes (not shown) similar to the holes 7, 8, 19, 20 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6. Pinning members 76, 77, 78, 79 ensure the locking between the three plates 55, 56, 57 for holding the floor 2 together. The central plate 57 also includes a notch 81 identical to the notch 38 in the first embodiment of figures 1 to 6.

[0025] [Fig.7] shows schematically two bodies 101, 102 of two cars of a train 100 between which is arranged a bellows 103 constituting an inter-body zone 104 between the two boxes 101, 102. In this [Fig.7], the floor 2 consists of a single plate 46, but the description also applies to a floor 2 consisting of the two plates 3, 4 illustrated in figures 1 to 6 or of the three plates 55, 56, 57 illustrated [Fig.8]. The first body 101 comprises on its upper side 117, in its end portion 105, near its two lateral sides 106, 107, two fluid circuits 108, 109 which extend above the upper side 117, near the upper edges 119, 120 of the lateral sides 106, 107 which protrude from the upper side 117. These upper edges 119, 120 and the fluid circuits 108, 109 constitute protruding elements which the cutouts 51, 53 bypass to allow the lateral portion 82 of the floor 2 to bear on the end portion 105 of the upper side 117 of the body 101.The second body 102 comprises on its upper side 118, in its end portion 110, near its two lateral sides 111, 112, two protruding elements consisting of the upper edges 113, 114 of the two lateral sides 111, 112 which protrude from the upper side 118, the cutouts 52, 54 going around these upper edges 113, 114 to allow the lateral part 83 of the floor 2 to bear on the end portion 110 of the upper side 118 of the body 102. Another protruding element, consisting of an electrical connector 115, is present above the upper side 118 near the end 116 of the second body 102, the presence of the notch 80 making it possible to go around this electrical connector 15 so that the lateral part 83 of the floor 2 can bear on the end portion 110 of the upper side 118 of the body 102. end 110 of the upper side 118 of the box 102.When the platform 1 is placed above the inter-body zone 104, the two lateral parts 82, 83 of the floor 2 bear respectively on the end parts 105, 110 of the upper sides 117, 118 of the two bodies 101, 102, while the cutouts 51, 53 receive the upper edges 119, 120 of the lateral sides 106, 107 of the body 101 and the fluid circuits 108, 109, the cutouts 52, 54 receive the upper edges 113, 114 of the lateral sides 111, 112 of the body 102 and the notch 80 receives the electrical connector 115. Once the platform 1 is placed above the inter-body zone 104, the bellows 103 and the two empty spaces 121, 122 present on each lateral side of the bellows 103, in the inter-body zone 104, are covered by the floor 2, the operator being able to move around the entire useful surface 43 of the floor 2 which is non-slip, without getting too close to the edges thanks to the visual demarcations, as explained previously.

[0026] In this [Fig.7], the lateral parts 82, 83 of the floor 2 correspond to the lateral sides 84, 85 of the plate 46. When the platform 1 corresponds to the embodiment of figures 1 to 6, the lateral parts 82, 83 of the floor 2 are implemented by the lateral sides 10, 11, 22, 23 of the two plates 3, 4 during their assembly. When the platform 1 corresponds to the embodiment of [Fig.8], the lateral parts 82, 83 of the floor 2 are implemented by the lateral sides 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91 of the three plates 55, 56, 57 during their assembly. Of course, the anti-slip means and the demarcation means described for the embodiment of figures 1 to 6 are also present in the embodiment of figures 7 and in the embodiment of [Fig.8].

[0027] The composition of the floor 2 as mentioned above advantageously makes it possible to considerably limit the mass of the floor 2, this being of the order of ten to twelve kilograms according to a preferred implementation, in consideration of the dimensions of the inter-body zone 104 on the train 100 which is covered by the floor 2, its two lateral parts 82, 83 bearing respectively on the end parts 105, 110 of the upper sides 117, 118 of the two bodies 101, 102. The preferential implementation of the floor 2 in two plates 3, 4 and the presence of the openings 16, 28, 29 on these plates 3, 4, as mentioned above with regard to FIGS. 1 to 6, associated with the mass of the floor 2, greatly facilitate handling during assembly and disassembly of the platform 1, the operator being able to grasp a plate 3, 4 in each hand during transport and handle one plate 3, 4 at a time during assembly and disassembly.

[0028] Alternative embodiments of the platform 1 are possible within the scope of the invention. The interlocking system consisting of a tenon 6 and a mortise 18 in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 could consist of several complementary tenons and mortises distributed along the first edges 5, 17 of the plates 3, 4. The same applies to the third embodiment of [Fig. 8]. The locking system providing holes 7, 8 on the tenon 6 and holes 19, 20 on the first edge 17 of the second plate 4 and pinning members 30, 31 could also consist of a locking system with a lever and locking hook, for example. The anti-slip means implemented on the upper faces 39, 40 of the plates 3, 4, or even on the plate 46 for the embodiment of [Fig. 7] or on the plates 55, 56, 57 for the embodiment of [Fig.8], could consist of light linear, zigzag, herringbone or cross-shaped ribs, distributed uniformly over the entire useful surface 43 of the floor 2. .

[0029] Other variants or additional characteristics remain conceivable, while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Platform (1) for intervention on an inter-body zone (104) between two cars of a train (100), the cars each comprising a body (101, 102) having an upper side (117, 118), characterized in that the platform (1) comprises a rectangular floor (2) dimensioned so that its two lateral parts (82, 83), extending over the length of said floor, are capable of bearing respectively on two end parts (105, 110) of the upper sides (117, 118) of the two cars (101, 102) while covering the inter-body zone (104), the floor (2) comprising at its four corners (12, 13, 24, 25, 47, 48, 49, 50, 58, 59, 65, 66) cutouts (14, 15, 26, 27, 51, 52, 53, 54, 60, 61, 67, 68) configured to respectively receive protruding elements present laterally on the upper sides (117, 118) of the two boxes (101, 102), so as to wedge the floor (2) on the two end parts (105,110) of the upper sides (117, 118) of the two boxes (101, 102), when it is placed on the inter-box area (104).,

2. Platform (1) according to claim 1, wherein the floor (2) comprises two rectangular plates (3, 4) which each comprise a first edge (5, 17), the first edges (5, 17) being capable of being engaged one into the other to form said floor (2), thanks to an interlocking system arranged at said first edges (5, 17), the plates (3, 4) each comprising two corners (12, 13, 24, 25) arranged on a side opposite the first edge (5, 17), two cutouts (14, 15, 26, 27) being formed respectively in the two corners (12, 13, 24, 25) on each of the plates (3, 4).

3. Platform (1) according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking system consists of at least one tenon (6) on the first edge (5) of one of the two plates (3) and at least one mortise (18) on the first edge (17) of the other of the two plates (4), the at least one tenon (6) and the at least one mortise (18) being complementary.

4. Platform (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein a locking system is arranged at the first edges (5, 17) of the two plates (3, 4) so ​​as to prevent disengagement of said first edges (5, 17).

5. A platform (1) according to claim 4 as dependent on claim 3, wherein one of the plates (3) comprises a tenon (6) which extends along the length of its first edge (5) and the other plate (4) comprises a mortise (18), complementary to the tenon (6), which extends along the length of its first edge (17), the tenon (6) comprising at its two lateral ends (6a, 6b) two first holes (7, 8) passing through the thickness of the tenon (6), the other plate (4) comprising two second holes (19, 20) passing through the thickness of said plate (4) and arranged at the two lateral ends (18a, 18b) of the mortise (18), in correspondence with the two first holes (7, 8) on the tenon (6) when it is engaged in the mortise (18), the locking system comprising two pinning members (30, 31) capable of taking place in the first and second holes (7, 8, 19, 20) when they correspond.

6. Platform (1) according to claim 5, in which the two pinning members (30, 31) are each connected to one of the two plates (3, 4) by means of a link (32, 33).

7. Platform (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, in which the two plates (3, 4) each comprise a second edge (9, 21) opposite the first edge (5, 17), an opening (16, 28) being arranged at the second edge (9, 21) in the thickness of the plate (3, 4) so ​​as to constitute a handle for handling said plate (3, 4).

8. Platform (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, at least one of the two lateral parts (82, 83) of the floor (2) comprises at least one second notch (38, 80, 81) configured to receive at least one protruding element present on at least one of the two end parts (105, 110) of the upper sides (117, 118) of the two boxes (101, 102), when placing the floor (2) on the inter-box zone (104).

9. A platform (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the floor (2) comprises a core material (34) coated with a laminate (35).

10. Platform (1) according to claim 9, wherein the core material (34) consists of a honeycomb structure and / or a simple or complex foam and the laminate (35) consists of flax fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers and / or kevlar fibers embedded in a thermosetting resin.

11. Platform (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the floor (2) comprises an upper face which includes non-slip means.

12. Platform (1) according to claim 11, in which the upper face comprises means for demarcating the useful surface (43) of the floor (2).

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