Rail Vehicle Segments With Articulated Couplings for Rapid Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for continuously walkable multi-unit rail vehicles, particularly low-floor railways, face challenges in providing comfortable and quick separation of vehicle segments, often requiring additional support elements and being cumbersome to disconnect and reconnect.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle segment design with rotatable connections allowing one degree of freedom, featuring mechanical and electrical coupling elements that enable rapid connection and separation, and a bellows for hermetic sealing, eliminating the need for additional support elements and ensuring passenger comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vehicle segments are designed with multiple degrees of freedom for articulation, then passenger comfort and adaptability to track geometry are improved, but separation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into separable segments that can be quickly disconnected. Each segment has standardized coupling elements that simplify the separation process while maintaining articulation capabilities through the joint design.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint provides dynamic articulation with one degree of freedom during operation to accommodate track geometry and maintain passenger comfort, but locks into a fixed configuration during separation to simplify the disconnecting process.
2Productivity
If vehicle segments are designed with one degree of freedom joints, then separation speed and simplicity are improved, but adaptability to track curvature and passenger comfort may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The joint transitions between a dynamic state during operation, allowing one degree of freedom rotation to accommodate track curvature, and a static locked state during separation that simplifies the disconnecting process and increases separation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint's degrees of freedom are dynamically changed: one degree of freedom is active during operation for track adaptation, and locked to zero degrees of freedom during separation to simplify the process.
3Length of moving object
If vehicle segments are made longer to increase transport capacity, then passenger capacity improves, but maintenance depot requirements and separation needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is designed as a series of standardized segments that can be connected in different configurations. This allows long vehicles to be created for high capacity needs while maintaining the ability to separate into smaller units for maintenance in existing depots.
Solution Approach 2:
Standardized coupling elements and joint designs are used across all segments, allowing the same maintenance procedures and depot facilities to handle vehicles of different lengths and configurations, reducing maintenance requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid and comfortable separation and connection of rail vehicle segments without additional support, enhancing passenger comfort and usability, and allowing maintenance without specialized depots.
Implementation Method 1
a bellows for a second pedestrian transition area to the further vehicle segment
Implementation Method 2
The mechanical coupling elements are connected to the second car body segment via a respective joint which has only one degree of freedom and which enables a rotational movement about a transverse axis
Implementation Method 3
the first car body segment is connected to the second car body segment via a rotary joint with only one degree of freedom
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
One embodiment of the invention relates to a vehicle segment (50, 50', 60, 60', 70, 70') for a multiple-unit rail vehicle (500, 600, 700) comprising a first car body segment (7, 7') and a second car body segment (6, 6'), which is connected to the first car body segment (7, 7') for rotation about a vertical axis (10, 10', z) of the vehicle segment (50, 50', 60, 60', 70, 70'). A first crossing region for people (P1, P1') is formed between the first car body segment (7, 7') and the second car body segment (6, 6'). The second car body segment (6, 6') has, at an end facing away from the first car body segment (7, 7'), two mechanical coupling elements (11, 11') for coupling an additional vehicle segment (50', 50, 60', 60, 70', 70), an electrical coupling element (2, 2') for electrically connecting to the additional vehicle segment (50', 50, 60', 60, 70', 70), and a bellows (4, 4') for a second crossing region for people (P2) to the additional vehicle segment (50', 50, 60', 60, 70', 70) or a connection point for the bellows (4, 4'). The mechanical coupling elements (11, 11') are connected to the second car body segment (6, 6') by means of respective joints (1, 1'), which enable rotational motion about a transverse axis (y), which is perpendicular to the vertical axis (z) and to a longitudinal axis (x) of the second car body segment (6, 6'), which longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the vertical axis (z).