Rotating Intercar Passage Structure Without Fabric Bellows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intercirculation passages in vehicles, such as trains and trams, require complex assembly due to numerous spare parts and suffer from acoustic issues and wear-related sagging of fabric bellows, which are not adequately addressed by current designs.
Innovation Solution
An intercirculation passage system utilizing pivot joints and rotating walls made of composite or transparent materials, allowing for a reduced number of parts and eliminating the need for bellows, while maintaining a watertight seal and reducing sound emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fabric bellows are used in intercirculation passages, then flexibility and curvature adaptation are improved, but assembly complexity increases due to numerous spare parts and significant assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional fabric bellows with a rigid or semi-rigid intercirculation passage structure that maintains flexibility through its geometric design and pivot joint mechanism, eliminating the need for complex fabric assemblies while preserving curvature adaptation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The intercirculation passage is divided into modular segments that can be assembled independently and connected through pivot joints, reducing the overall number of spare parts and simplifying assembly procedures while maintaining adaptability to track curvature
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fabric bellows are used in intercirculation passages, then flexibility is improved, but acoustic performance deteriorates due to sound transmission through thin fabrics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the intercirculation passage walls, combining rigid structural elements with acoustic insulation layers that block sound transmission while maintaining the necessary flexibility for curvature adaptation
Solution Approach 2:
The design uses rigid or semi-rigid shell structures instead of thin fabric membranes, providing inherent acoustic isolation while achieving flexibility through the overall mechanical design and pivot joint system
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fabric bellows are used in intercirculation passages, then flexibility is improved, but durability deteriorates due to sagging with wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces degradable fabric bellows with rigid or semi-rigid shell structures that resist sagging and wear, while maintaining flexibility through geometric design and pivot joint mechanisms, significantly improving long-term durability
Solution Approach 2:
The intercirculation passage employs curved geometric designs that distribute mechanical stresses evenly during rotation and movement, preventing localized wear and sagging that plagues traditional fabric bellows, thereby enhancing durability
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fabric bellows are used in intercirculation passages, then curvature adaptation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to the number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The intercirculation passage is designed as modular segments that can be manufactured independently using standard fabrication processes, then assembled through pivot joints, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining curvature adaptation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses rigid or semi-rigid shell structures with integrated pivot joints that can be manufactured as complete assemblies, reducing the total component count and simplifying manufacturing compared to traditional fabric bellows systems
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 system simplifies assembly, reduces part count, minimizes wear, and lowers sound volume, providing a reliable and efficient passage between vehicle cars without the drawbacks of traditional bellows.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pivot joint between the first car and the second car configured to permit rotational movement around an axis of rotation Z of the carriages 24 relative to each other
Implementation Method 2
a floor 36 configured to rotate about itself around the axis of rotation Z relative to each of the carriages 24
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
This intercirculation passage (20) between a first car (12) and a second car (14) of a vehicle (10) comprises: - at least one pivot joint (60, 62) between the first car (12) and the second car (14), configured to allow rotational movement about an axis of rotation (Z) of the carriages (24) of the cars (12, 14) relative to each other, - a floor (36) configured to rotate about itself about the axis of rotation (Z), and - for each carriage (24) and for each side of the vehicle (10), an outer wall (40, 42, 44, 46) in the form of an arc of a circle configured to move on a circle of rotation (C) centered on the axis of rotation (Z), depending on the rotation of the carriages (24) relative to each other.