Rail Vehicle Device Carrier Fastening Bracket

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening methods for equipment carriers on steel-framed rail vehicles lack flexibility and safety, requiring extensive modifications for changes in container dimensions or positions, and do not prevent falling during vibrations or thermal expansion.

Innovation Solution

A fastening arrangement with a device carrier that includes equidistantly spaced vertical bores on longitudinal beams, using detachable fasteners and brackets with projections to secure the carrier, allowing easy repositioning and preventing detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If brackets are welded to steel sheet beams during vehicle development, then the container position is fixed, but any subsequent changes require extensive modifications including removing existing brackets, welding new brackets, rust protection and painting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in container arrangementVSAvoidextensive modifications required
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system is segmented into separate components: the steel sheet beam with pre-drilled holes, removable brackets, and containers. This allows the beam structure to remain fixed while enabling flexible reconfiguration by simply moving the brackets and containers between different hole positions, eliminating the need for extensive welding modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holes are pre-drilled into the steel sheet beams during the vehicle manufacturing process, preparing the structure in advance for flexible mounting. This preliminary action enables later reconfiguration of container positions without requiring structural modifications, as the mounting points are already in place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If traditional fastening methods are used, then the device carrier can be attached, but they do not prevent the carrier from falling off during vibrations, thermal expansion, or shunting impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against detachmentVSAvoidfastening system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket design merges multiple functions into a single component: it provides the primary fastening connection through bolts, incorporates a retaining flange that overlaps with the fastener head to prevent detachment, and includes mounting holes for attachment to the beam. This integrated design enhances reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining flange on the bracket acts as a preventive measure against detachment. By designing the bracket with this overlapping flange structure that extends beyond the fastener head, the system provides built-in protection against vibrations, thermal expansion, and shunting impacts before they can cause failure, ensuring the container remains secured under various stress conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If C-rails with integrated sliding nuts are used in lightweight metal vehicles, then the exact mounting position can be determined late in development and modified on service vehicles, but this method is not applicable to steel-framed vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelate-stage mounting position determinationVSAvoidincompatibility with steel frame structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket design serves multiple functions and can be universally applied to steel-framed vehicles: it attaches to pre-drilled holes in the beam, provides secure fastening with bolt connections, includes a retaining flange for vibration resistance, and enables flexible repositioning by moving between different hole locations. This universal design adapts the flexibility concept to steel-frame construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4497648B1Fastening arrangement with a device carrier
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 SIEMENS MOBILITY AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP4497648B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4497648B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Fastening arrangement for a device carrier (1) on a rail vehicle, wherein the rail vehicle comprises at least one longitudinal beam (2) with a plurality of vertical bores arranged linearly and equidistantly on a horizontal projection (3) of the longitudinal beam, wherein a device carrier (1) is directly attached to at least one of the bores with releasable fasteners (4) and a bracket (5) is releasably attached to two further bores, wherein the bracket (5) encompasses a section of the device carrier (1) so that in the event of failure of the releasable fasteners (4) the device carrier (1) is held by the bracket (5), and wherein the bracket (5) has a projection (7) which prevents the releasable fasteners (4) of the device carrier (1) from falling off.