Carrier structure comprising venting channel

Abstract

A carrier structure for a roof of a rail vehicle comprises a first carrier having a first cavity, located in the interior, for conveying a gas, thereby allowing a power compartment accommodating a battery to be vented in a space-efficient way.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Support structure with degassing channel

[0003] The invention relates to a support structure for a roof of a rail vehicle.

[0004] Alternative drive systems, especially battery-powered systems, are increasingly being used for rail vehicles. This technology is associated with special technical requirements in many areas, including space requirements and safety requirements. The high power levels required for rail vehicles necessitate correspondingly large batteries or battery modules.

[0005] For example, depending on the design of the battery modules, they may need to be degassed over a sufficiently large cross-section. Firstly, many batteries pose the risk of gassing, which can produce explosive gases. These gases must be vented to the outside via lines with a large cross-section. As this gas, which usually contains hydrogen, is lighter than air, the line to the outside must be laid so that it rises, although horizontal sections in the line are tolerable. Secondly, in exceptional cases, individual battery cells in high-performance batteries may explode. Such an event must not lead to a chain reaction with further explosions and thus to a vehicle fire. This also necessitates the degassing of battery modules. This situation in particular requires a degassing design with a large cross-section that must be able to withstand high temperatures for short periods.

[0006] The design of suitable venting piping is difficult due to limited space, particularly in terms of height. An engine room containing the batteries, like the entire vehicle, must not exceed a specified height, and roof components must also be taken into account.

[0007] The design of suitable degassing lines is further complicated when a conventionally powered rail vehicle is to be converted. Instead of components from a combustion engine, battery modules, including the battery-specific additional components, must be integrated.

[0008] Figures 1 and 2 show a prior art design of a degassing line. In the engine room (with side wall 40) there is a battery box 20 which contains a battery or a battery module. Other battery boxes are not shown for the sake of clarity. A degassing line 10 connects to the highest point of the battery box 20 and is laid between the battery box and the roof 12. The laying is carried out in such a way that the degassing line 10 breaks through the roof 12 at a suitable position and opens into a degassing hood 11. Roof components 42 are arranged on the roof.

[0009] As can be seen, this arrangement results in a large vertical distance between the battery box 20 and the underside of the roof. Furthermore, the degassing hood 11 means that no roof components 42 can be integrated at this location, or that the design options for roof components 42 are restricted by the hood. The horizontal distance 14 between roof components and the roof edge is increased by the hood 11. Particularly in the case of conversion structures, these degassing lines can severely restrict the technical options and / or require a completely new design of roof components.

[0010] The object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for a degassing line for a rail vehicle. This object is achieved by an arrangement having the features of patent claim 1.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0012] The invention provides for a first support, which can be connected to a roof of a rail vehicle or is part of such a roof, to be designed such that it has a first cavity in its interior for the passage of a gas. The first cavity has a first inlet opening, via which it can be connected to a machine room or a battery box located therein, and a first outlet opening. Therefore, a gas can reach the interior of the first support from the machine room and be discharged. The first support is further designed to be placed on the machine room.

[0013] The first support is designed to be placed on a wall, in particular a side wall of the machine room.

[0014] If the first support is designed as part of the roof, it preferably represents its edge area.

[0015] Preferably, the first support is designed to be provided with a connecting piece for connecting the first cavity to the engine room. In particular, the connecting piece can be a pipe that is attached to the first inlet opening and projects into the engine room. This can improve the discharge of gases from the engine room, since the connecting piece can be suitably dimensioned and positioned; in particular, it can end close to the point of origin of the gas or at the battery box.

[0016] It is advantageous if the first support is designed such that, in the installed state, the first outlet opening is higher than the first inlet opening. This improves the discharge of gases. In one embodiment, the support structure comprises a second support which has a second cavity on the inside, the second cavity having a second inlet opening connected to the first outlet opening, as well as a second outlet opening. The gas then flows first through the first cavity and subsequently through the second cavity, thus reaching the outside through the interior of the first support and the interior of the second support. In particular, the first support can be a longitudinal support and the second support a transverse support, which are preferably arranged approximately at right angles to one another.The features and embodiments described in connection with the first carrier can be implemented in the same way for the second carrier and vice versa, even if they are not specifically mentioned. Such a design can have advantages in terms of space requirements, particularly if a conventional degassing hood can be dispensed with, as described in more detail below.

[0017] The second cavity is preferably arranged higher than the first cavity.

[0018] The gas can be released to the outside via the first or, if necessary, the second outlet opening at a suitable location on the roof by means of a scoop.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the first and / or the second carrier has a cover (first or second cover) via which the respective cavity can be opened. This makes the interior of the respective carrier, namely the surface of the cavity, accessible and makes it possible to paint the cavity surface or carry out another suitable surface treatment. This makes it possible to create a corrosion-resistant layer on the surface. With the cover removed, it is also possible to introduce heat protection materials such as mats, foams, stainless steel sheets, etc. This makes it possible to achieve the advantageous stability and heat resistance even with regard to explosions. The cover is designed in such a way that it withstands the heat and the pressure wave in the event of a battery cell explosion.Preferably, the first cover also serves to connect the connecting piece for connecting the first cavity to the machine room.

[0020] Furthermore, it is possible to insert a gas line, particularly an insulated stainless steel pipe, into the support(s), thereby achieving the desired corrosion and heat resistance. In this case, the gas is discharged through the gas line, which is arranged inside the support, i.e., in the first and / or second cavity.

[0021] The lid can be designed to allow the gas to vent to the outside, but prevent rain or other substances from penetrating; this is known as a lid scoop. For this purpose, it has holes in the upper area through which gas can escape. The cross-sections of the holes are preferably dimensioned with a view to a possible battery cell explosion. In such an event, the resulting pressure wave should be able to escape through the holes without causing material overload in the roof structure.

[0022] In order to prevent the entry of water or other substances, a labyrinth plate can be placed in front of the holes to protect against entry.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments.

[0024] Fig. l a degassing device for a machine room according to the prior art

[0025] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a roof of a rail vehicle with a degassing device according to the prior art

[0026] Fig. 3 shows a section of a machine room with a degassing device and support structure according to the invention (view transverse to the longitudinal axis of a rail vehicle)

[0027] Fig.4 a section of a machine room with a degassing device and support structure according to the invention (perspective view)

[0028] Fig.5 a section of a roof structure according to the invention (perspective view from below, partly in section)

[0029] Fig.6 the roof structure in perspective view from above (partially in section)

[0030] Fig.7, 8 the roof structure in further perspective views (partially in section)

[0031] Fig.9 a side view of the roof structure.

[0032] 3 and 4 show a battery box 20 arranged in the engine room; the upper part of the side wall of the engine room is designated by 40. On the engine room there is a roof 30 with roof components 42. At the lower lateral edge of the roof 30 there is a first support 31 in the form of a longitudinal support; in this exemplary embodiment it is formed in one piece, in particular firmly welded to the rest of the roof, and is an edge structure of the roof. The first support 31 can, however, also be connected to the roof structure as a separate part. The longitudinal support 31 has a cavity 31a inside which extends from a first inlet opening 31b (see Fig. 2) to a first outlet opening 31c (see Fig. 7).

[0033] From the highest point of the battery box, a tubular connecting piece 37 leads from the battery 20 to the first inlet opening 31b of the longitudinal member. The cavity 31a in the longitudinal member 31 conducts the gas on to the first outlet opening 31c. In this exemplary embodiment, the first cavity 31a is formed by providing the longitudinal member 31 with a first cover 32. The gas is passed on in the first cavity. The longitudinal member 31 with the first cover 32 is designed such that when the first cover 32 is removed, the roof structure in the area of ​​the longitudinal member 31, in particular the surface of the first cavity, can be painted or otherwise surface-treated. Since, in the event of a battery cell explosion, hot gas can also be present in this first cavity 31a for a short time, it is also possible to introduce heat protection materials such as mats, foams, stainless steel sheets, etc. when the first cover 32 is removed.The integration of insulated stainless steel pipes into the longitudinal member 31 is also possible. Furthermore, the first cover 32 is designed to accommodate and support the connecting piece(s) 37 and to withstand the heat and pressure wave in the event of a battery cell explosion.

[0034] It can be seen that the vertical distance 13 between the battery box 20 and the roof 30 can be significantly reduced compared to the prior art.

[0035] Fig. 5 shows a detailed section in the area of ​​the longitudinal support 31. Several connecting pieces 37 are provided, which can connect various batteries to the first support 31. The first cover 32 has corresponding first inlet openings 31b for this purpose.

[0036] Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment in the region of the cross member forming a second support 33. The cross member 33 spans a cross bow 41. The cross bow 41 is a permanently mounted vehicle structure at which adjacent roofs meet and are sealed. The cross bow 41 prevents water or other substances from penetrating the vehicle through the assembly gap between two adjacent roofs. The cross bow can be straight or cranked as shown here. In this embodiment, the cross member 33 (second support) is also designed as a hollow body with an associated second cover 34. The cavity of the longitudinal member 31 (removed in the figure) is connected to the cavity 33a of the cross member 33 by an opening, namely the first exit opening 31c, since the cross member has a second entrance opening 33b at the connection point (see Fig.8 ) , namely at a location corresponding to the first exit opening. The gas generated in the battery box 20 can therefore flow from the hollow body 31a of the longitudinal member 31 into the hollow body 33a of the cross member.

[0037] Since the cross member 33 is higher than the longitudinal member 31, the gas, which is lighter than air, flows independently into the cavity 33a of the cross member. In Figure 6, the longitudinal member in the foreground has been removed except for a small distance for better visibility.

[0038] The second support comprises a second cover 34, which is designed such that, when opened, the surface of the second cavity in the cross member 33 is accessible and can be completely painted or surface-treated. Since, in the event of a battery cell explosion, hot gas may briefly be present in this cross member 33, it is also possible, with the second cover 34 removed, to insert heat protection materials such as mats, foams, stainless steel sheets, etc. The integration of insulated stainless steel structures into the cross member 33 is also possible.

[0039] Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the transfer of gas from the longitudinal beam to the cross beam. For this purpose, the first outlet opening 31c and the second inlet opening 33b are arranged one above the other; in other words, the two beams 31, 33 have corresponding openings.

[0040] To vent the gas generated in the battery box 20 to the outside, a conventional hood can be provided on the roof, which has a connection to the first or second support. This hood can be arranged at a suitable location on the roof that restricts the space for the other roof components as little as possible.

[0041] Instead of the known scoop, the cover of the first or second support can be designed as a cover scoop. Fig. 7 shows the second cover 34 with vent holes 35 arranged in the upper area through which the gas can escape. The dimensioning of the cross-sections of the vent holes 35 is dependent on the case of a battery cell explosion. The resulting pressure wave must be able to escape through these vent holes 35 without causing material overload in the roof structure. In order to prevent the ingress of water or other substances, a labyrinth plate 36 is arranged in front of the vent holes 35 to protect against such ingress.

[0042] Fig. 9 illustrates the improved utilization of the space available on the roof for roof components 42. The horizontal distance 14 of the roof component from the edge of the roof is significantly smaller than in the prior art, since a cover hood can be used for degassing, which requires no additional space on the roof. Due to the space-saving degassing, more space is available, for example, for additional battery-specific components.

[0043] The invention enables a degassing duct to be integrated into the roof structure, which requires considerably less space than a conventional degassing duct. Since existing parts of the roof are advantageously modified, they can take on the function of the degassing duct in addition to ensuring roof stability. This integration of functions also results in a more cost-effective solution. The features and aspects of the invention described in the exemplary embodiments can of course be combined with one another in different ways. In particular, the features can be used not only in the combinations described, but also in other combinations or on their own.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Support structure for a roof of a rail vehicle - with a first support (31) which is designed to be placed on a machine room of a rail vehicle and which is connectable to the roof (30) or forms part of the roof, - wherein the first support (31) has a first cavity (31a) inside for the passage of a gas, and the first cavity (31a) has a first inlet opening (31b) for connecting the first cavity to the engine room and a first outlet opening (31c).

2. Support structure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first support (31) is designed to connect a connecting piece (37) for connecting the first cavity (31a) to the machine room.

3. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure comprises a second support (33) having a second cavity (33a) in the interior, the second cavity having a second inlet opening (33b) connected to the first outlet opening (31c) and a second outlet opening (33c).

4. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second cavity (33a) is higher than the first cavity.

5. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gas line for passing the gas is arranged in the first and / or second cavity (31a, 33a).

6. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or second support (31, 33) comprises a first (32) or second cover (34) via which the first or second cavity (31a, 33a) can be opened.

7. Support structure according to claim 5 and 6, characterized in that the connecting piece is arranged on the first cover (32).

8. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a surface of the first and / or second cavity (31a, 33a) is provided with a heat protection material and / or a corrosion-resistant layer.

9. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or the second cover (32, 34) is formed with ventilation holes and in particular a labyrinth plate.

10. A method for degassing an engine room of a rail vehicle, in which the gas is passed through a support structure according to one of claims 1 - 9.

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