Removable Railway Table Mount With Sliding Lock Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing systems for rearranging seats and tables in railway vehicles are tedious due to the need to dismantle, move, and reassemble tables, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A comfort device with a table and fastening means that include a lateral fixed support with a sliding rail and a complementary housing, along with retractable locking mechanisms, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly by sliding and locking the fixing member on the lateral support, facilitating rapid reconfiguration without requiring extensive manual effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional fastening systems are used for tables in railway vehicles, then the tables can be securely fixed to the structure, but the assembly and disassembly operations are tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assembly and disassemblyVSAvoidtime required for assembly and disassembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is divided into separate modular components: a fixed support attached to the vehicle structure, a fixing member attached to the table, and retractable locking means. This segmentation allows the table to be quickly assembled and disassembled by simply engaging and disengaging the locking mechanisms, transforming a tedious manual process into a simple operational task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking means are designed to be retractable, transitioning between engaged and disengaged states. This dynamic capability allows the fastening system to adapt between a locked secure state during operation and an unlocked removable state for reconfiguration, enabling rapid assembly and disassembly without complex tools or procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional fastening systems are used for tables in railway vehicles, then the tables can be securely fixed, but the reorganization of seating layouts requires extensive manual effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereconfigurability of seating layoutVSAvoideffort required for reassembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the fastening system into independent fixed support and fixing member components with simple locking mechanisms, the table can be easily detached and repositioned. This enables flexible reorganization of seating layouts in railway vehicles without requiring extensive manual effort, as each table can be independently and quickly reconfigured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed support and fixing member design allows the same fastening system to be used across multiple table positions and configurations within the railway vehicle. This universal application enables versatile layout reorganization, where tables can be moved to different locations and arranged in various configurations using the same standardized fastening components.

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

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 quick, ergonomic, and easy assembly and disassembly of the table, reducing the time and effort required for reconfiguring seating layouts in railway vehicles, enhancing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a rail, extending in a vertical direction, having a trapezoidal section in a horizontal plane, and the other of the first and second parts of the connection is formed by an elongated housing complementary to said rail, in which the rail is able to slide in the vertical direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

at least one first elastic return member of the male element towards its deployed position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3144199B1A comfort device, in particular for a railway vehicle, comprising a removable table
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECH SAS
  • EP3144199B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3144199B1 patent drawingFigure 4~8
  • EP3144199B1 patent drawingFigure 9~10

AI summary

The comfort device (10) comprises a table (12) comprising a top (22) and fixing means (14, 16) comprising: a lateral fixed support (46), fixed to a vertical wall (20), comprising a first connecting part by sliding, a fixing member (52) secured to the plate (22), comprising a second connecting part by sliding, complementary to the first, and retractable means for locking the fixing member on the support fixed side, active at the end of a predefined stroke of the first connecting part on the second connecting part. These blocking means are movable between a blocking position in which the first and second connecting parts are secured together, and a release position in which the first and second connecting parts are free to move relative to each other. the other.