Rail Vehicle Antenna Electrant Mounting Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing antenna arrangements for rail vehicles are complex and require numerous additional components for assembly, which complicates the installation process and obstructs signal transmission and reception due to obstacles.

Innovation Solution

An antenna arrangement where an electrant on the rail vehicle's roof supports an antenna, connected via an antenna radiating plate to minimize assembly complexity and ensure unobstructed signal transmission, with a watertight electrical connection using sockets and seals to reduce component count and optimize signal reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If antennas are mounted on separate holders or HVAC systems with protective hoses and screw connections, then the antennas can be installed on the roof, but the assembly becomes complex and requires numerous additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrant housing integrates multiple functions: it serves as both the mounting base for the antenna and as the protective enclosure containing the electrical interface. The antenna is firmly connected directly to the housing, eliminating the need for separate holders, mounting plates, and protective hoses, thereby reducing assembly complexity and component count.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If antennas are mounted above rooftop units, then unobstructed signal transmission is achieved, but roof space is consumed and neighboring units cannot be easily dismantled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmissionVSAvoiddismantling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna system is designed as a modular unit that can be independently installed and removed from the electrant. The antenna is firmly connected to the housing but the entire assembly can be dismantled as a unit, maintaining signal transmission reliability while enabling easy removal and reinstallation without affecting neighboring roof units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If conventional cable routing through roof openings is used, then electrical connection is established, but cable length increases and assembly time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical interface is extracted from the traditional cable routing path and integrated directly into the electrant housing. The socket is permanently installed in the housing, allowing cables to be connected directly at the antenna location rather than routing them through the vehicle interior, which shortens cable length and reduces assembly time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3462538B1Electrants as mounting for an antenna
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH
  • EP3462538B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3462538B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3462538B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An antenna arrangement (10) is described. The antenna arrangement (10) includes an electrical outlet (1) located on the roof (2) of a rail vehicle (3). The antenna arrangement (10) also includes an antenna (4) attached to and rigidly connected to the electrical outlet (1). An electrical connection is established between the antenna (4) and an interior space of the rail vehicle (3) via the electrical outlet (1). A rail vehicle (3) is also described.