Protection system for a railway coach

Abstract

The protection system comprises a coach body (12) delimiting a passenger compartment (14) and a passenger platform (16), the passenger compartment (14) being delimited by sidewalls (20) of the coach body (12), the passenger platform (16) having a free opening (24), the protection system comprising a protection cover (32) which is flexible and an attachment system (34) configured for the removable attachment of the protection cover (32) on the exterior of the coach body (12) such as to cover the free opening (24).

Description

[0001] Protection system for a railway coach

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of railway coaches and in particular to a protection system for protecting a railway coach, in particular during washing of the railway coach.

[0003] A railway coach, in particular for a tram, may be provided with an open passenger platform, i.e. a passenger space that is permanently open to the outside of the vehicle in operating configuration and deprived of windows and / or doors for closing the open passenger platform.

[0004] During washing of such a railway coach, for example with using an automatic washing gantry, there is a risk that the open passenger platform will be damaged during such washing operation.

[0005] One of the aims of the invention is to propose a protection system for a railway coach which allows protecting the railway coach temporarily, e.g. during washing operations.

[0006] To this end, the invention proposes a protection system for a railway coach comprising a coach body delimiting a passenger compartment and a passenger platform, the passenger compartment being delimited by sidewalls of the coach body, the passenger platform having a free opening, the protection system comprising a protection cover which is flexible and an attachment system configured for the removable attachment of the protection cover on the exterior of the coach body such as to cover the free opening.

[0007] The protection cover which can be removably attached to the coach body while covering each free opening of the coach body allows temporarily closing said free opening, e.g. for preventing washing liquid and / or rinsing liquid to enter in the coach body via the free opening during washing operation.

[0008] The protection cover which is flexible can be easily handled, attached, detached and stored, e.g. by operators.

[0009] In some examples, the protection system comprises one or several of the following features, taken individually or according to any technically feasible combination:

[0010] - the attachment system comprises one or several guides provided on the coach body and one or several sliding members provided on the protection cover, each sliding member being configured for sliding along a corresponding guide;

[0011] - each guide extends horizontally;

[0012] - the attachment system comprises a first guide and a second guide extending parallel to each, the protection cover being provided with one or several first sliding members for sliding along the first guide and one or several second sliding members for sliding along the second guide;

[0013] - the first guide and the second guide are spaced vertically one from the other;

[0014] - the first guide extends above the opening and the second guide extends below the opening;

[0015] - the first guide extends adjacent a roof of the coach body;

[0016] - each guide is a rail delimiting a groove for accommodating each sliding member sliding along said guide;

[0017] - each sliding member comprises a roller;

[0018] - the protection cover is provided with at least one sealing flap, each sealing flap being attached to the protection cover with protruding from an edge of the protection cover for contacting an external surface of the coach body with sealing a gap between the protection cover and the external surface and / or covering one or several sliding members provided on said edge of the protection cover;

[0019] - the protection cover is configured to cover two sidewalls of the coach body and / or a longitudinal end of the coach body;

[0020] - the longitudinal end of the coach body extends transversely between the sidewalls of the coach body with an arcuate shape, in particular a semi-circular shape;

[0021] - the free opening is provided at the longitudinal end;

[0022] - the passenger platform is located at the longitudinal end of the railway coach.

[0023] The invention also relates to a railway coach equipped with a protection system as defined above.

[0024] The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appendix drawings, in which:

[0025] - Figure 1 is a side view of a railway coach provided with a passenger platform;

[0026] - Figure 2 is a side view of the railway coach of Figure 1 equipped with a protection cover closing the passenger platform;

[0027] - Figure 3 is a section view illustrating an attachment system provided on the railway coach for removable attachment of the protection cover onto the railway coach;

[0028] - Figure 4 is a side view of a tram incorporating the railway coach of Figure 1 .

[0029] As illustrated on Figure 1 , a railway coach 10 is configured for use as a public transport vehicle, i.e. for the transport of passengers.

[0030] The railway coach 10 comprises a coach body 12 delimiting a passenger compartment 14 and an open passenger platform 16. In the following the terms “longitudinal”, “transversal”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “upper”, “lower”, “above” and “below” refer to the usual orthogonal coordinate system of railway coaches comprising a longitudinal axis X extending horizontally in the front-rear moving direction of the railway coach, a transverse axis Y extending horizontally from the right to the left of the railway coach and a vertical axis Z.

[0031] The railway coach 10 is configured to move along a railway R.

[0032] The railway coach 10 comprises for example one bogie 18 supporting the coach body 12 onto the railway R. In a variant, the railway coach 10 comprises two bogies 18 supporting the coach body 12. Each bogie 18 has for example two axles. In a variant, each bogie 18 has one single axle.

[0033] The coach body 12 extends along the longitudinal axis X. The coach body 12 has sidewalls 20 extending longitudinally and vertically.

[0034] The passenger compartment 14 and the passenger platform 16 are preferably two respective longitudinal sections or length portions of the coach body 12.

[0035] The passenger compartment 14 and the passenger platform 16 are furnished to receive passengers. The passenger compartment 14 and the passenger platform 16 are for example furnished with seats and / or grab elements (not shown), such as grab bars or grab handles.

[0036] The passenger compartment 14 is closed. The passenger compartment 14 is delimited by the sidewalls 20 of the coach body 12.

[0037] The sidewalls 20 are preferably provided with windows 22 and optionally provided with doors (not shown) along the passenger compartment 14. Each window 22 allows the passenger to see the outside. Each window 22 is fixed or openable. When provided, each door is openable, e.g. for allowing passenger to step in the passenger compartment 14 or step out of the passenger compartment 14.

[0038] The passenger platform 16 is permanently open to the outside of the railway coach 10, at least in an operating configuration for the transport of passenger. The passenger platform 16 comprises a free opening 24. The free opening 24 is free of any window or door configured for closing the free opening 24. The free opening 24 creates a permanent opening between the outside and in the inside of the coach body 12, at least in an operating configuration for the transport of passenger.

[0039] The passenger platform 16 is for example located at a longitudinal end 26 of the railway coach 10. The free opening 24 opens for example at the longitudinal end 26 of the coach body 12 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X with optionally extending on a portion of length of the sidewalls 20 of the coach body 12. As illustrated on Figures 1 - 4, the railway coach 10 is equipped with a protection system 30 configured for temporarily covering each free opening 24.

[0040] The protection system 30 comprises a protection cover 32 (Figures 2 and 3) and an attachment system 34 (Figure 1 and 3) configured for removable attachment of the protection cover 32 on the coach body 12, on the outside of the coach body 12, such as to cover the free opening 24 of passenger platform 16 and optionally each window 22 and / or each door provided along the passenger compartment 14.

[0041] The protection cover 32 is flexible. The flexible protection cover 32 can flex to accommodate to the shape of the coach body 12 and for easing handling, mounting, dismounting and storage by operators. The protection cover 32 is preferably foldable.

[0042] The protection cover 32 is preferably made of a water resistant or watertight fabric.

[0043] The protection cover 32 is for example a tarpaulin.

[0044] In some examples, the protection cover 32 is configured to cover each sidewall 20 of the coach body 12, preferably one the entire length of each sidewall 20 and to cover one or each longitudinal end 26 of the coach body 12.

[0045] As illustrated on Figure 2, the protection cover 32 covers both sidewalls 20 of the coach body and the free opening 24 of the passenger platform 16 which is located at one longitudinal end 26.

[0046] In the embodiment illustrated on Figure 2, the protection cover 32 does not cover the other longitudinal end 26 of the coach body 12. This other longitudinal end 26 is for example attached to another railway coach, preferably via a passageway, for forming a tram.

[0047] In some examples, the protection cover 32 is made in a single piece extending horizontally continuously along one sidewall 20 of the coach body 12, around the longitudinal end 26 and along the other sidewall 20 of the coach body 12.

[0048] In other examples, the protection cover 32 is made of a plurality of separate cover elements distributed along the sidewalls 20 and the longitudinal end 26 for covering the sidewalls 20 and the longitudinal end 26.

[0049] The protection cover 32 covers the free opening 24. It is not necessary that the protection cover 32 also covers the windows 22 or doors provided on the coach body 12. This can however be beneficial for protecting the glasses of these windows 22 and doors or protecting the interior of the coach body 12 in case an openable window 22 or a door is not properly closed or not properly sealed.

[0050] Advantageously, the longitudinal end 26 of the coach body 12 is rounded. The longitudinal and 26 extends transversely between the sidewalls 20 with an arcuate shape, in particular a semi-circular shape. The coach body 12 is thus deprived of edge at the junctions between the longitudinal end 26 and the sidewalls 20.

[0051] This eases the attachment of the protection cover 32 onto the coach body 12 with the protection cover 32 covering said junctions between the longitudinal end 26 and the sidewalls 20.

[0052] As illustrated on Figure 3, the attachment system 34 comprises one or several guides 40, 42 provided on the coach body 12 and one or several sliding members 44, 46 provided on the protection cover 32 and each configured for sliding along a corresponding guide.

[0053] Each guide 40, 42 is elongated with extending substantially horizontally along the coach body 12.

[0054] The attachment system 34 comprises for example a first guide 40 and a second guide 42 extending parallel to each other, the protection cover 32 being provided with one or several first sliding members 44 for sliding along the first guide 40 and one or several second sliding members 46 for sliding along the second guide 42.

[0055] The first guide 40 and the second guide 42 extend substantially horizontally and are spaced vertically one from the other.

[0056] The first guide 40 extends above the free opening 24 and the second guide 42 extends below the free opening 24. The first guide 40 extends preferably above each window 22 and / or the second guide 42 extends preferably below each window 22.

[0057] The first guide 40 extends adjacent an upper edge 12A the coach body 12, preferably adjacent a roof 48 of the coach body 12.

[0058] The second guide 42 is for example located vertically between an upper edge 12A of the coach body 12 and a lower edge 12B of the coach body 12.

[0059] The first sliding members 44 are distributed along an upper edge of the protection cover 32 and the second sliding members 46 are distributed along a lower edge of the protection cover 32.

[0060] Each guide 40, 42 is advantageously a rail 50 delimiting a groove 52 for accommodating sliding members (first sliding member 44 or second sliding member 46) sliding along said guide, the groove 52 having a side slot 54.

[0061] Each sliding member 44, 46 is preferably larger than the side slot 54, such that the sliding member cannot exit the guide via the side slot 54.

[0062] Each guide 40, 42 is for example embedded in the coach body 12 such as to be flush with an external surface 56 of the coach body 12.

[0063] Each sliding member 44, 46 is for example of a roller configured for rolling in the corresponding guide. Each sliding member 44, 46 provided as a roller is for example mounted on a shaft 58 attached to the protection cover 32 and arranged to roller is able to rotate freely around the shaft 58. This eases the attachment of the protection cover 32.

[0064] For mounting and dismounting the protection cover 32, each guide 40, 42 is provided with an inlet allowing insertion or extraction of each sliding member in or out of the guide.

[0065] Each inlet is for example provided at one extremity of the guide 40, 42 or between the extremities of the guide 40, 42. Each inlet provided between the extremities of a guide 40, 42 is for example provided as an enlarged region of the slot 54 of the guide 40; 42.

[0066] Advantageously, the protection cover 32 is provided with at least one sealing flap 60, each sealing flap 60 being attached to the protection cover 32 cover with protruding from an edge of the protection cover 32 for contacting the external surface 56 of the coach body 12 with sealing a gap 62 between the protection cover 32 cover and the external surface 53 of the coach body 12 and / or covering one or several sliding members provided on said edge.

[0067] In an operation configuration, i.e. a configuration for the transport of passengers, the protection cover 32 is detached from the coach body 12 and for example stored, e.g. at a station.

[0068] Passengers transported in the railway coach 10 can seat or stand in the passenger platform 16 while enjoying free air.

[0069] Passengers transported in the railway coach 10 can also seat or stand in the passenger compartment 14 and see the outside via the windows 22 and / or doors, for example if they prefer heated air or cooled air provided in the passenger compartment 14 by a heating ventilating and cooling system of the railway coach 10.

[0070] In a maintenance configuration, e.g. during washing operations, the protection cover 32 is temporarily attached to the coach body 12.

[0071] In this view, the sliding members 44, 46 are inserted in the guides 40, 42 via the inlets of the guides 40, 42.

[0072] Once inserted in the guides 40, 42, the sliding members 44, 46 are moved along the guides 40, 42 to deploy the protection cover 32 such as to cover the free opening 24 and optionally windows 22.

[0073] The protection cover 32 is installed easily with being pulled as an external curtain covering the free opening 24 and optionally the windows 22.

[0074] Washing operations can then be carried out without washing liquid or rinsing liquid entering the passenger platform 16 and the passenger compartment 14.

[0075] As illustrated on Figure 4, a tramway 64 comprises the railway coach 10 (as described above) forming an end car of the tramway. The tramway 64 includes for example an end coach 66 and one or several intermediate coaches 68, in particular one intermediate coach 68, located between the end coach 66 and the railway coach 10.

[0076] The end coach 66 is for example equipped with one or two bogies 70.

[0077] The end coach 66 is for example provided with a cockpit 72. The intermediate coach 68 if for example suspended between the railway coach 10 and the end coach 66.

[0078] The passenger compartment of the coaches 10, 66, 68 are preferably connected via passageways 74.

[0079] This three-coach tramway 64 is merely provided as an example and other tram configurations may be used, e.g. with no intermediate coach or more than one intermediate coaches, including one or several self-supported intermediate coaches, each provided with one or two bogies, and / or one or several suspended intermediate coaches, each suspended between two other coaches.

Claims

CLAIMS1.- Protection system (30) for a railway coach (10) comprising a coach body (12) delimiting a passenger compartment (14) and a passenger platform (16), the passenger compartment (14) being delimited by sidewalls (20) of the coach body (12), the passenger platform (16) having a free opening (24), the protection system comprising a protection cover (32) which is flexible and an attachment system (34) configured for the removable attachment of the protection cover (32) on the exterior of the coach body (12) such as to cover the free opening (24).2.- Protection system (30) according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment system (34) comprises one or several guides (40, 42) provided on the coach body (12) and one or several sliding members (44, 46) provided on the protection cover (32), each sliding member (44, 46) being configured for sliding along a corresponding guide (40, 42).3.- Protection system (30) according to claim 2, wherein each guide (40, 42) extends horizontally.4.- Protection system (30) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the attachment system (34) comprises a first guide (40) and a second guide (42) extending parallel to each, the protection cover (32) being provided with one or several first sliding members (44) for sliding along the first guide (40) and one or several second sliding members (46) for sliding along the second guide (42).5.- Protection system (30) according to claim 4, wherein the first guide (40) and the second guide (42) are spaced vertically one from the other.6.- Protection system (30) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first guide (40) extends above the opening (24) and the second guide (42) extends below the opening (24).7.- Protection system (30) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the first guide (40) extends adjacent a roof of the coach body (12).8.- Protection system (30) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein each guide (40, 42) is a rail delimiting a groove (52) for accommodating each sliding member (44, 46) sliding along said guide (40, 42).9.- Protection system (30) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein each sliding member (44, 46) comprises a roller.10.- Protection system (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the protection cover (32) is provided with at least one sealing flap (60), each sealing flap (60) being attached to the protection cover (32) with protruding from an edge of the protection cover (32) for contacting an external surface (56) of the coach body (12) with sealing a gap between the protection cover (32) and the external surface (56) and / or covering one or several sliding members (44, 46) provided on said edge of the protection cover (32).11.- Protection system (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the protection cover (32) is configured to cover two sidewalls of the coach body (12) and / or a longitudinal end of the coach body (12).12.- Protection system (30) according to claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal end (26) of the coach body (12) extends transversely between the sidewalls of the coach body (12) with an arcuate shape, in particular a semi-circular shape.13.- Protection system (30) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the free opening (24) is provided at the longitudinal end (26).14.- Protection system (30) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the passenger platform (16) is located at the longitudinal end (26) of the railway coach.15.- Railway coach (10) equipped with a protection system (30) as in any one of claims 1 to 14.

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