Vehicle Line Modules on Coupling Rod

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing arrangement of energy, control, and supply lines outside or below the corrugated bellows in vehicle transition systems is suboptimal due to limited space, affecting aerodynamics and exposure to environmental influences.

Innovation Solution

The arrangement of line modules along the coupling rod within the corrugated bellows, where energy, communication, and fluid lines are combined into modules and secured by brackets, allowing for efficient routing and modular configuration to meet specific vehicle requirements, with interfaces outside the short coupling for easy access and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If lines are arranged outside or below the corrugated bellows, then installation space is available, but aerodynamics deteriorate and exposure to environmental influences increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidaerodynamics and environmental exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The line modules are nested within the corrugated bellows structure, with brackets mounted on the coupling rod inside the bellows and lines routed through the bellows interior. This nesting approach allows all supply lines to be housed within the aerodynamic envelope of the bellows, eliminating external cable ducts while maintaining organized routing and accessibility through interfaces positioned outside the short coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If all lines are arranged within the corrugated bellows, then aerodynamics improve and environmental exposure is reduced, but space availability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerodynamics and environmental protectionVSAvoidspace availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The line arrangement is segmented into modular line modules, with different types of supply lines (energy, control, communication, fluids) grouped into separate modules along the coupling rod. This segmentation allows efficient packing within the bellows volume while maintaining organized routing and facilitating maintenance through modular interfaces positioned outside the short coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Lines are arranged in multiple dimensions within the bellows space, with line modules positioned at different longitudinal locations along the coupling rod and routed in three-dimensional space within the bellows interior. This multi-dimensional arrangement maximizes space utilization while maintaining accessibility through externally positioned interfaces.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If lines are routed in separate cable ducts below the bellows, then routing is simple, but device complexity increases and maintenance accessibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting simplicityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The line modules for different types of supply are merged into a unified arrangement within the bellows, all mounted on the coupling rod and routed through the same aerodynamic envelope. This merging reduces the number of separate external cable ducts and structural elements, simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining organized routing through modular interfaces for easy maintenance access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3523173B1Arrangement for passing lines between carriages of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH
  • EP3523173B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3523173B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3523173B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an arrangement for passing lines (L) of multiple supply types between carriages (EW, MW) of a vehicle (TZ), in which lines of one supply type are combined to form at least one line module (LM), and the line modules are each arranged along a specific longitudinal side of a coupling rod (KS) which can be used to mechanically couple adjacent carriages, and are secured to said coupling rod by means of at least one retainer (H).