EP1958845B1 - Railway carriage for passengers, and corresponding passenger transport train - Google Patents

Abstract

The carriage (2) has a case (4) supported by two mono-axles (8, 10) with a pair of wheels (22), and a driving engine coupled only to one of the two wheels or both the wheels of the mono-axles. One of the two mono-axles is oriented with respect to the case, and a lateral accessing door (20) accesses the door inside the case which is arranged between the two mono-axles. A frame is intermediary interposed between the case and the mono-axles, where the case is supported on the frame that is supported on the mono-axles.

Description

The present invention relates to a railway car passenger transport, according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a car is described in US 1,360,319 .

To facilitate the ascent and descent of passengers in railway cars, and in particular tram-trains and peri-urban "tram-train" type vehicles which may move on urban, suburban and / or In general, since these railways are likely to be connected to one another, it is desirable to provide cars with low floors.

A floor will be considered "low" if the access height to the entry of the car is less than or equal to 400mm, preferably less than 360mm, and if the floor has no steps, and possibly has ramps connecting different areas of the floor, slopes being less than 10%.

There are low floor cars with two single axles, having a single motor driving a wheel of each single axle, the engine being arranged in longitudinal position between the two mono-axles, in a box disposed between the single axles, so that the floor does not extend above this box.

This architecture limits the interior design possibilities of the car and its accessibility, in particular because it is not possible to have a door between the mono-axles because of the box receiving the engine.

An object of the invention is to provide a rail passenger car with improved accessibility.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a passenger rail car according to claim 1.

• elle comprend au moins un moteur disposé à l'intérieur d'un passage de roue de la caisse recevant une roue d'un des mono-essieux ;
• le plancher de la caisse est muni de seuils de porte situés à une hauteur inférieure ou égale à 400 mm, notamment à une hauteur inférieure ou égale à 360 mm, par rapport aux sommets des rails.
• le plancher possède des rampes, chaque rampe présentant une inclinaison inférieure ou égale à 10%, de préférence inférieure ou égale à 8% ;
• le plancher s'étend entre les mono-essieux, en regard de la porte, sur toute la largeur de la caisse ;
• la voiture possède une deuxième porte latérale disposée en vis-à-vis de la première porte latérale ;
• la distance entre les mono-essieux est supérieure à 2500mm ;
• la distance entre les mono-essieux est comprise entre 3000mm et 4000mm ;

According to other embodiments, the car comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

• it comprises at least one motor arranged inside a wheel well of the body receiving a wheel of one of the mono-axles;
• the floor of the body is equipped with door sills located at a height of less than or equal to 400 mm, in particular at a height less than or equal to 360 mm, with respect to the tops of the rails.
• the floor has ramps, each ramp having an inclination less than or equal to 10%, preferably less than or equal to 8%;
• the floor extends between the mono-axles, opposite the door, over the entire width of the box;
• the car has a second side door disposed vis-à-vis the first side door;
• the distance between the mono-axles is greater than 2500mm;
• the distance between the mono-axles is between 3000mm and 4000mm;

The invention also relates to a passenger transport train comprising at least one car as defined above, according to claims 9 to 15.

• la figure 1 est une vue de côté en élévation d'une voiture conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus d'un ensemble d'essieux de la voiture de la figure 1, selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de face d'un essieu de l'ensemble d'essieux de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus d'un plancher de la voiture de la figure 1 recouvrant l'ensemble d'essieux de la figure 2 ;
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues analogues à celles des figures 2 et 3 illustrant un ensemble d'essieux selon un deuxième mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de côté en élévation d'une rame de tramway incluant plusieurs voitures conformes à l'invention ; et
• les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues analogues à celles de la figure 7 illsutrant des rames selon des variantes de l'invention.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a side elevational view of a car according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a top view of a set of axles from the car of the figure 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 3 is a front view of an axle of the axle set of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a top view of a floor of the car from the figure 1 covering the axle assembly of the figure 2 ;
• the figures 5 and 6 are views similar to those of figures 2 and 3 illustrating a set of axles according to a second embodiment;
• the figure 7 is a side elevational view of a tram train including several cars according to the invention; and
• the figures 8 and 9 are views similar to those of the figure 7 illsutrant reams according to variants of the invention.

As represented on the figure 1 , a car 2 according to the invention comprises a body 4 extending in a longitudinal direction L, and two mono-axles 8, 10 for supporting and guiding the body 4 along a railway line 12.

The body 4 comprises a floor 14, a roof 16, and two side faces 18 (only one being visible on the floor). figure 1 ).

The mono-axles 8, 10 are spaced longitudinally, and are located under the body 4 at a distance from the longitudinal ends thereof.

Each side face 18 comprises, between the two mono-axles 8, 10, a side door 20 allowing travelers to access the interior of the passenger compartment of the car.

Each door 20 has in known manner two leaves 21 movable between a closed position ( figure 1 ), and an open position.

The mono-axles 8 and 10 have similar structures.

Each mono-axle 8, 10 has a pair of coaxial wheels 22 of axis R. The wheels 22 of each mono-axle 8, 10 are independent of each other in rotation. A transverse bar 24 maintains the transverse spacing between the wheels 22.

The car 2 has an individual motor 26 associated with each wheel 22, and coupled to the associated wheel 22 by a gearbox 28.

Each gearbox 28 is for example in the form of a gear train connecting the wheel 22 to the output shaft of the motor 26 associated.

Each mono-axle 8 and 10 is orientable with respect to the body 4. This means that each single axle 8, 10 is pivotally mounted about an axis C ( figure 1 and 2 ) parallel to the direction A ( figure 1 ) vertical, ie the direction perpendicular to the plane of the track, to guide the box 4 along the railway track 12 and facilitate the curved passages of the car 2.

The mono-axles 8 and 10 being separated by design, it is possible to choose their longitudinal spacing.

The mono-axles 8 and 10 must be sufficiently spaced to clear enough space to place the doors 20, while allowing a sufficient angular movement of the mono-axles 8, 10 around their axes C during passages in curves.

Thus, the distance between the mono-axles is greater than 2500mm, and is preferably between 3000mm and 4000mm. The distance is measured between the axes R of the wheels 22 of the mono-axles 8, 10.

The use of an individual motor 26 for each wheel 22 makes it possible to arrange each motor 26 close to the associated wheel, and thus to free the space between the mono-axles 8 and 10 to place the doors 20.

In particular, it is possible to place a door 20 on each side face 18. This allows access to the car 2 on one side or the other of the car 2, which improves accessibility.

The motors 26 may for example be arranged transversely to limit their longitudinal dimensions.

The mono-axles 8 and 10 away from the ends of the car 2 ensure a reduced grip of the car 2, especially in curve, which is advantageous especially in the case of a city traffic.

As shown on the figure 4 , the floor 14 defines a corridor for moving travelers inside the car 2. The floor 14 extends between the wheel wells 38 of the body 4, each receiving one of the wheels 22.

Each motor assembly 26 / gearbox 28 is housed compactly under the wheel well 38 of the associated wheel 22 to release the space located longitudinally between the wheel wells 38 and allow the floor 14 to extend in this space, and to have a door 20 on each side of the car 2.

Wheel arches 38 are advantageously used to secure seats 39 shown schematically in phantom.

Between the two mono-axles 8, 10, the floor 14 extends transversely over the entire width of the body 4, which allows to provide a door 20 on each side of the car 2.

In the remainder of the description of the example, the height of a region of the floor 14 is considered as the plane distance along the direction A between the tops of rail tracks of a railway line 12 on which the car 2 is in support, and this region.

The floor 14 is a so-called "low" floor, that is to say provided at the doors 20 door thresholds located at a height equal to or less than 400 mm, preferably less than 360 mm, without a step, and possibly equipped with longitudinal and / or transverse ramps having slopes less than 10%, preferably less than 8%, and in particular less than 6%.

In the example shown, the floor 14 is substantially flat and has a substantially equal height over the floor 14, this height being and less than or equal to 400mm, preferably less than 360mm.

This is possible because of the prediction of mono-axles 8, 10 with lowered shafts, limiting the height of the mono-axles 8, 10 between the wheels 22.

Indeed, as is visible on the figure 3 , each mono-axle 8, 10 has a bar 24 offset downwards relative to the axis R of the wheels 22, which releases the space between the wheels 22, and allows the passage of the floor 14 without having to raise to the right of the mono-axles 8, 10.

Alternatively, the floor 14 advantageously has a central flat area of constant height, and transverse ramps down from the central area to the door thresholds.

Alternatively, the bars 24 are not offset relative to the R axes of the wheels 22, and the floor 14 has above the mono-axles 8, 10 ramps or raised areas connected to the rest of the floor 14 by ramps.

The body 4 can bear directly on each mono-axle 8, 10. According to the invention, the car 2 comprises an intermediate frame (shown in dashed line on the figure 2 ) resting on the mono-axles 8 and 10 between them, and the body 4 rests on the frame 25. Each mono-axle 8, 10 is then adjustable with respect to the frame 25.

In variants, the number, distribution and arrangement of the motors 26 vary.

The embodiment illustrated on the figures 5 and 6 differs from the embodiment of figures 2 and 3 in that the car 2 comprises, for each single-axle 8, 10, a motor 26 and a gearbox 28 coupled to the two wheels 22 of this single-axle 8, 10.

To do this, the motor 26 and the gearbox 28 are arranged near one of the wheels of the single-axle 8, 10, and the wheels 22 are rotatably connected by a shaft 46.

To preserve the compactness of the mono-axles 8, 10 and keep a low floor 14 between the wheel wells 38, the shaft 46 advantageously extends inside the bar 24, and is connected to the wheels by gears 47.

The motor 26 and the gearbox 28 of each single-axle 8, 10 are housed under the wheel well 38 of the adjacent wheel 22 of this single-axle 8, 10. The wheel arch 38 of the other wheel 22 is less wide, which increases the width of the floor 14 between the wheel wells 38.

The motors 26 are arranged on opposite sides of the car 2, and are therefore positioned diagonally. In a variant, the motors 26 are arranged on the same side.

The embodiment of the figures 5 and 6 allows to limit the number of engines.

In a variant, a single-axle has at least one motor, for example a permanent magnet motor, in direct engagement with a single-axle wheel, the motor having an outside diameter substantially equal to that of the wheel.

In a variant, a car may comprise a single motor, coupled only to a wheel of an axle or only to two wheels of the same axle.

As shown on the figure 7 , a tramway 50 is formed by a set of cars arranged in line, comprising cars 2 according to the invention and cars 52 alternating.

Cars 2, form carrier cars. Each car 52 is devoid of axle, and is suspended between the two cars 2 adjacent. Pilot cabs 54 are attached to the ends of the tramway 50, on the cars 2 end.

Each of the cars 2, 52 is connected to the adjacent car via a hinge and gangway device 56 making an articulated connection, for example of the ball joint type, between the cars that it connects, and allowing the travelers, in a manner known per se, to pass from one car to another.

Each car 52 is provided on each of its lateral faces, a side door 20 to access the interior of the tramway 50 and / or windows. The doors 20 can therefore be distributed on each side of the train, along the entire length of the tramway 50, which increases the accessibility thereof.

In the embodiment of the figure 8 , a tram 58 consists of a single car 2 according to the invention and provided with 2 cabins 54 fixed at its ends. It is possible to adapt the length of the car 2.

The embodiment of the figure 9 differs from that of the figure 7 in that the central car is replaced by a carrier car 62 having a bogie with two axles. This makes it possible to limit the cost of the tram as a whole, compared to that of the figure 7 , while maintaining improved accessibility due to the presence of many doors, spread along the tramway, and located on each side thereof.

Claims (15)

1. Railway carriage for transporting passengers, of the type comprising a body (4) supported by two single axles (8, 10) each possessing a pair of wheels (22), and at least one driving motor (26), said motor or each motor (26) being coupled only to only one of the two wheels (22) or to the two wheels (22) of the same single axle (8, 10), at least one of the single axles being steerable in relation to the body (4), and the carriage possessing at least one side door (20) for access to the interior of the body (4), which door is disposed between the two single axles (8, 10), characterised in that said carriage possesses an intermediate frame (25) which is interposed between the body (4)and the single axles (8, 10), said body resting on the frame (25) and said frame (25) resting on the two single axles (8, 10).
2. Carriage according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one motor (26) disposed inside a wheel housing (38) on the body (4) that receives a wheel (22) belonging to one of the single axles (8, 10).
3. Carriage according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the floor (14) of the body (4) is provided with door-sills which are situated at a height lower than, or equal to, 400 mm, especially at a height lower than, or equal to, 360 mm, in relation to the tops of the rails.
4. Carriage according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the floor (14) possesses ramps, each ramp having an inclination lower than, or equal to, 10%, preferably lower than, or equal to, 8%.
5. Carriage according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the floor (14) extends between the single axles (8, 10), opposite the door (20), over the entire width of the body (4).
6. Carriage according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it possesses a second side door (20) which is disposed facing the first side door (20).
7. Carriage according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the single axles (8, 10) is greater than 2500 mm.
8. Carriage according to claim 7, characterised in that the distance between the single axles (8, 10) is between 3000 mm and 4000 mm.
9. Train for transporting passengers which is made up of a plurality of carriages, characterised in that said train comprises at least one carriage according to any of the preceding claims.
10. Train according to claim 9, comprising carrier carriages (2, 54) alternating with carriages (52) which are suspended between the two adjacent carrier carriages (2).
11. Train according to claim 10, in which each carrier carriage is a carriage (2) according to any of claims 1 to 9.
12. Train according to claim 10, comprising a carrier carriage (62) provided with a bogie.
13. Train according to claim 12, in which the carrier carriage (62) provided with a bogie is a central carriage of the train.
14. Train according to any of claims 9 to 13, comprising driver's cabs (54) which are fixed onto the end carrier carriages (2).
15. Train according to any of claims 9 to 14, in which each suspended.carriage (52) is provided, on each of its side faces, with a side door (20) for access to the interior of the train.

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