Rail Vehicle Motor Support Assembly for Cable Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current rail vehicle motor assembly processes are cumbersome due to disorganized high-voltage wiring and piping configurations, leading to lengthy operations and cluttered assembly lines, particularly in high-speed train motor cars where numerous cables and pipes cross in a disorganized manner, complicating the installation of decking and increasing manufacturing times and costs.

Innovation Solution

A rail vehicle power unit with a central corridor and lateral technical compartments, featuring a support assembly with a channel for electrical harnesses and piping, crosspieces, and removable floor plates that form a single subassembly, allowing for pre-assembly outside the motor car, which simplifies installation and reduces on-site assembly complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If numerous cables and pipes are installed in various locations in a disorganized fashion, then the electrical harness and piping can be routed to multiple destinations, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and assembly lines become congested

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the electrical harness and piping system into modular segments that are organized within structured trays and corridors. Instead of disorganized individual routing, the system is segmented into manageable units (trays, corridors, bundles) that can be systematically installed, reducing assembly time while maintaining routing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical harness and piping are pre-assembled into organized bundles and configured within trays before final installation. This preliminary organization allows for faster on-site assembly compared to installing individual cables and pipes separately, thereby increasing productivity without sacrificing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If multiple assembly steps are performed on the car's assembly line for installing cables, pipes, and platforms, then all components can be installed, but manufacturing time increases and assembly lines become more congested

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation completenessVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the installation of electrical harnesses, piping, and platform structures into integrated assemblies. By merging these separate installation steps into unified modules, the number of discrete assembly operations is reduced, decreasing manufacturing time while ensuring all components are properly installed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple components (cables, pipes, and platform elements) are pre-assembled together into integrated units before reaching the final assembly line. This preliminary combination eliminates the need for multiple sequential installation steps, reducing both time and congestion on the assembly line while maintaining installation completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Volume of moving object

If cable trays are accommodated in spaces beneath a central corridor, then space is utilized, but the structure does not support the assembly of the central corridor's decking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoiddecking assembly support
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure beneath the central corridor is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the cable trays for space utilization and provides assembly support for the corridor decking. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making the same structural element serve both purposes without compromise.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3656631B1Motor car and method for assembling such a motor car
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECH SAS
  • EP3656631B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3656631B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3656631B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This railway vehicle motor (M) includes a central corridor (1) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) of the motor (M), separating two lateral technical compartments (3, 4), and a support assembly (8) for at least one electrical bundle (10) and at least one pipe (12), this support assembly extending along the longitudinal axis (X), fixed under the central corridor (1) and in that this support assembly (8) includes floor plates (14) of the central corridor (1).