Train Sanitary Layout for Drive Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The even distribution of sanitary facilities across multiple cars in high-speed trains leads to weight imbalance and limited flexibility in integrating additional drive units due to maximum axle load constraints, restricting the use of heavy drive units and space allocation within cars.

Innovation Solution

A train arrangement where sanitary facilities are concentrated in every second car, with a common fresh water and waste water system, and drive units are integrated only in cars without sanitary facilities, allowing for a more favorable wheel set load utilization and increased flexibility in component arrangement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If sanitary facilities are evenly distributed across all cars, then passenger service quality is improved, but wheel set load becomes unbalanced and flexibility for integrating drive units is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger service qualityVSAvoidflexibility for integrating drive units
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The train is divided into two types of cars: cars with sanitary facilities and cars without sanitary facilities. This segmentation allows drive units to be integrated only in the cars without sanitary facilities, resolving the conflict between maintaining passenger service quality and enabling drive unit integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different cars are assigned different functions: some cars have sanitary facilities while others have drive units. This local differentiation optimizes the use of space and weight distribution across the train, allowing each car to be specialized for its intended purpose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If sanitary facilities are distributed across all cars, then passenger accessibility is improved, but weight of sanitary facilities limits drive unit integration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger accessibilityVSAvoidweight of sanitary facilities
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The train is segmented into cars with and without sanitary facilities, concentrating the weight of sanitary facilities in specific cars rather than distributing it across all cars. This enables drive units to be integrated in the cars where sanitary facilities are absent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The distribution pattern changes from horizontal (all cars having sanitary facilities) to alternating pattern (every second car having sanitary facilities), creating space and weight capacity for drive units in the intervening cars.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Extent of automation

If drive units are integrated in cars with sanitary facilities, then distributed drive concept is achieved, but space availability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistributed drive conceptVSAvoidspace availability in cars
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The train is divided into specialized cars: some dedicated to passenger amenities (sanitary facilities) and others to mechanical functions (drive units). This segmentation ensures adequate space for both purposes without compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cars without sanitary facilities are merged with drive units, creating functional cars that accommodate both the drive unit and associated equipment without the additional weight and space requirements of sanitary facilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3292034B1Plumbing appliances in trains
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH
  • EP3292034B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3292034B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3292034B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a train assembly comprising at least two cars (12.1, ... 12.7) that are coupled to form a common train unit (10), and a plurality of plumbing appliances (20.1, ... 20.7) in at least one of the cars (12.1, ... 12.7); at least one fresh water system (18.1, ... 18.7) and a sewage system (16.1, ... 16.7) can be associated with all of the plumbing appliances (20.1, ... 20.7). The train assembly is characterized in that only some cars of the train unit (10) include plumbing appliances (20.1, ... 20.7).