Railway Vehicle Table Mount With Controlled Impact Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing table designs for railway vehicles, especially those with ground support feet, face challenges in effectively absorbing impact forces during accidents while being simple to manufacture, install, and maintain.

Innovation Solution

A table design for railway vehicles featuring a deformable attachment module with an omega, U, or C-shaped section that can absorb impact forces by deforming plastically under predetermined force, combined with a frame for guiding and limiting deformations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a table with ground support foot is used to support heavy loads, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the ability to absorb impact forces during accidents deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidimpact absorption capability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment module is divided into a rigid part (for load-bearing) and a deformable part (for impact absorption). The rigid part includes the central portion and end plates that maintain structural integrity, while the deformable part includes the intermediate legs that can bend and deform plastically under impact forces. This segmentation allows the table to simultaneously support heavy loads and absorb impact energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the attachment module have different mechanical properties. The central part and end plates are designed to be rigid for load support, while the intermediate legs are designed to be deformable for impact absorption. The intermediate legs have a specific geometry (omega, U, or C section) that enables controlled plastic deformation at predetermined locations, creating localized deformation zones that absorb energy without compromising the overall structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a complex hooking module with sliding fingers is used to absorb impact forces, then the impact absorption capability is improved, but the manufacturing and installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact absorption capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing and installation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential impact absorption function from the complex sliding finger mechanism and implements it through a simpler deformable part with omega, U, or C section intermediate legs. Instead of using multiple sliding components and fingers, the solution uses a single deformable structure that achieves impact absorption through controlled plastic deformation, significantly reducing manufacturing and installation complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the approach from mechanical sliding (complex mechanism) to plastic deformation (material property utilization). By designing the intermediate legs with specific geometries and predetermined deformation zones, the system utilizes material plasticity to absorb impact energy, replacing the need for complex sliding mechanisms and reducing the number of moving parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a deformable attachment module is used to absorb impact forces, then the impact absorption capability is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact absorption capabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the load-bearing function and impact absorption function into a single integrated attachment module. The rigid part handles normal load-bearing operations, while the deformable part with intermediate legs handles impact absorption. Both functions are combined in one structure that is fixed to both the table top and the vehicle wall, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms and reducing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment module transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure that can adapt its properties. Under normal conditions, the module maintains its rigid form for load support. Under impact conditions, the intermediate legs deform plastically, allowing the structure to dynamically absorb energy. The deformable part is housed in a guide frame that constrains the deformation to controlled directions, maintaining structural integrity while enabling impact absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The table effectively absorbs impact forces from passengers during accidents by predictable deformation of the omega, U, or C-shaped section, ensuring safety and ease of manufacturing and installation.

Implementation Method 1

a module for attaching the table to a wall of the vehicle, this module being plastically deformable under a predetermined force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4227187B1Table for a vehicle and vehicle, in particular railway vehicle, comprising such a table
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 ALSTOM HOLDINGS SA
  • EP4227187B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4227187B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4227187B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This table for vehicles, particularly railway vehicles, comprises a platform (82), a support leg, and a mounting module (86) for attaching the table to a wall (44) of the vehicle. This mounting module is plastically deformable under a predetermined force. The mounting module (86) includes a deformable part (86) that deforms under the predetermined force and in the direction of that force. The deformable part has an omega, U, or C cross-section, with a central portion and two intermediate tabs. The deformable part is fixed, by its central portion, to a first structure (82; 44) between the platform and the wall. The deformable part is fixed, by end plates connected to the central portion by the intermediate tabs, or by free edges of its intermediate tabs, to a second structure (44; 82) between the wall and the platform.