AU2015201055A1

AU2015201055A1 - Railroad vehicle, in particular of the tram type, with reduced gauge

Info

Publication number: AU2015201055A1
Application number: AU2015201055A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Eric Combeau; Frederic Le Breton; Gaetan Menanteau; Yann Pinaud
Original assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies SAS
Current assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies SAS
Priority date: 2014-03-12
Filing date: 2015-03-02
Publication date: 2015-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-02
Also published as: EP2918472B1; EP2918472A1; BR102015005438A2; FR3018490B1; AU2015201055B2; IL237550B; FR3018490A1

Abstract

The railroad vehicle (10) according to the invention comprises at least two cars (12, 13), each car (12, 13) comprising a structural body (14) extending longitudinally between two ends (14A, 14B). The structural bodies (14) of the different cars (12, 13) are identical. Each car (12, 13) comprises, at each end (14A, 14B) of its structural body (14), its own single-axle bogie (20). Figure 2 - -- - -------- Lid ----------------- c Lj LV ------------- ic ----------- ------ L-Tc --------------

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title Railroad vehicle, in particular of the tram type, with reduced gauge The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:la The present invention relates to a railroad vehicle, in particular for transporting passengers. More particularly, the invention relates to a railroad vehicle of the tram type. A railroad vehicle of the tram type is designed to travel in an urban setting, which 5 imposes certain constraints, in particular in terms of gauge. Indeed, the space available for travel of the vehicle is sometimes small. It is therefore necessary to procure an optimal reduction in the gauge of the vehicle, in particular in the curves of the tracks where that vehicle travels, and more particularly in curves with a small radius. The invention in particular aims to propose a railroad vehicle having a smaller 10 gauge in the curves, without reducing the capacity of that vehicle. To that end, the invention in particular relates to a railroad vehicle, in particular of the tram type, comprising at least two cars, each car comprising a structural body extending longitudinally between two ends, the structural bodies of the different cars being identical, characterized in that each car is hingedly connected to at least one adjacent car 15 by an intercommunication device, and in that each car comprises, at each end of its structural body, its own single-axle bogie. Positioning the single-axle bogies at the ends of the structural body of each car makes it possible to obtain a particularly reduced gauge in the curves. Furthermore, it should be noted that each car of the vehicle according to the 20 invention rests on two single-axle bogies specific to it, unlike the vehicles known in the state of the art, wherein certain bogies support two adjacent cars. Thus, the vehicle according to the invention does not have a mass transfer between two adjacent cars, and the masses at the axle are distributed evenly over the various bogies equipping the railroad vehicle. 25 A railroad vehicle according to the invention may further include one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to all technically possible combinations. - The single-axle bogies of the different cars are identical. - Among said cars, the railroad vehicle comprises two end cars, at least one of the end cars comprising a driving cab secured to the structural body of that end car. 30 - Each driving cab has no bogie. - Each single-axle bogie comprises at least one part rotatable around a vertical axis relative to the car supporting that single-axle bogie, the moving part carrying the axle. - At least one single-axle bogie is motorized. - Each single-axle bogie comprises wheels whose diameter is larger than 590 mm. 35 - Each car comprises a low floor, preferably with no step.

2 The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, provided solely as an example and done in reference to the appended figures, in which: - figure 1 is a profile view of a railroad vehicle according to one example embodiment of the invention; 5 - figure 2 is a diagrammatic profile view showing various structural elements of the railroad vehicle of figure 1. The figures show a railroad vehicle 10, in particular of the tram type. The railroad vehicle 10 is for example designed to transport passengers, in particular in an urban setting. 10 The railroad vehicle 10 comprises at least two cars. More particularly, in the illustrated example, the railroad vehicle 10 comprises two end cars 12 and an intermediate car 13 inserted longitudinally between said end cars 12. According to a first alternative, the railroad vehicle 10 may comprise only two cars, i.e., only the end cars 12. 15 According to another alternative, the railroad vehicle 10 may comprise at least two intermediate cars 13, aligned longitudinally between the end cars 12. As shown diagrammatically in figure 2, each car 12, 13 comprises a structural body 14 extending longitudinally between two ends 14A, 14B. Advantageously, the structural bodies 14 of the different cars 12, 13 are identical. 20 In particular, the structural body 14 of each end car 12 is identical to the structural body 14 of each intermediate car 13. In other words, the structural bodies 14 are standardized, which makes it possible to facilitate the manufacture of the railroad vehicle 10, in particular by limiting the tools necessary for that manufacture. Furthermore, this standardization makes it possible to 25 reduce the number of part references in the spare part and repair fleet, and also makes it possible to standardize the maintenance infrastructure. Lastly, this standardization makes it possible to reduce the production cost of the vehicle 10. For these same standardization reasons, each car 12, 13 advantageously comprises identical equipment (not shown), in particular passenger seats, arranged 30 identically in each car. Each structural body 14 comprises at least one lateral access opening, designed to receive a traditional sliding door 16. Advantageously, each structural body 14 comprises at least two lateral access openings, arranged on either side of the structural body 14, across from one another.

3 In the illustrated example, each structural body comprises four access openings, two of which are shown in figure 1, closed off by doors 16, and two others located on the other side of the structural body 14, each across from one of those that are illustrated. Because the structural bodies 14 are identical, the doors 16 are distributed evenly 5 along the railroad vehicle 10. Traditionally, each structural body 14 also comprises lateral openings designed to be closed off by respective windows, for example windows that may or may not be partially movable. Lastly, each structural body 14 is open at each of its ends 14A, 14B, in order to 10 allow passengers to move about in the railroad vehicle 10. More particularly, to allow passengers to move between two adjacent cars 12, 13, each car 12, 13 is hingedly connected to at least one adjacent car 12, 13 by an intercommunication device 18 of the traditional type. Each car 12, 13 comprises, at each end 14A, 14B of its structural body 14, its own 15 single-axle bogie 20. Thus, the railroad vehicle 10 according to the invention does not comprise a bogie shared by two adjacent cars, such that each bogie 20 must only bear the weight of the car equipped with that bogie 20. Positioning the bogies 20 at the ends 14A, 14B of the structural body 14 makes it possible to free significant space between the bogies 20 of that structural body 14, and 20 therefore facilitates flexibility in the layout of the passenger space. Furthermore, each bogie 20 is of the "single-axle" type, i.e., it only comprises a single axle, traditionally carrying two wheels 22. All of the wheels 22 of the railroad vehicle 10 have an identical diameter. Advantageously, the wheels 22 are of the "large wheel" type, i.e., their diameter is 25 larger than 590 mm. Each single-axle bogie 20 comprises at least one part rotatable around a vertical axis relative to the car 12, 13 equipped with that single-axle bogie 20, that moving part carrying the axle. It is easily understood that a single-axle bogie 20 thus articulated causes few constraints for the travel of the vehicle 10 over curves, even curves with a 30 small radius, unlike the traditional two-axle bogies. The single-axle bogie thus allows a smaller gauge. It should be noted that the proper maneuverability of the vehicle 10 according to the invention, coupled with the distribution of the masses on the axles, makes it possible to produce a large vehicle, in particular with a length exceeding 40 meters. 35 Advantageously, the single-axle bogies 20 of the different cars 12, 13 are identical, for standardization reasons. As previously mentioned, such standardization of single-axle 4 bogies 20 facilitates the manufacture and maintenance of the railroad vehicle 10, and makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing and maintenance costs. It should be noted that at least one single-axle bogie 20 is motorized. Advantageously, the motorization is evenly distributed along the railroad vehicle 10. Thus, 5 the traction and braking performance of the vehicle 10 are optimal. Furthermore, at least one of the end cars 12 comprises a driving cab 24, secured to the structural body 14 of that end car 12. Thus, the driving cab 24 is an independent element, attached and secured to the structural body 14 of that end car 12. Typically, each of the two end cars 12 comprises one such driving cab 24. Each 10 driving cab 24 is of the traditional type, and comprises equipment necessary to drive the railroad vehicle. Each driving cab 24 is provided without a bogie. In other words, the single-axle bogie 20 of the end car 12 does not extend below that driving cab 24. Advantageously, each car 12, 13 has a low floor, i.e., a floor spaced away from the 15 ground by a distance smaller than 525 mm. The floor of each car 12, 13 comprises two first zones, each located above a respective single-axle bogie 20, and a second zone extending longitudinally between the bogies 20 of that car. Advantageously, each first floor zone is at the same height as the second floor 20 zone. In that case, the second floor zone is raised to be arranged at the same height as the first floor zones. Alternatively, each first floor zone is situated at a height greater than the height of the second floor zone. In that case, the transition between the first and second floor zones is done by longitudinal or transverse ramps. 25 Thus, in order to facilitate the movement of passengers in the vehicle, in particular passengers with reduced mobility, the floor has no step. It will be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment previously described, but could assume various alternatives without going beyond the scope of the claims. 30 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from 35 it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from 5 it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

1. A railroad vehicle comprising at least two cars, each car comprising a structural body extending longitudinally between two ends, the structural bodies of the different cars 5 being identical, wherein each car is hingedly connected to at least one adjacent car by an intercommunication device, and in that each car comprises, at each end of its structural body, its own single-axle bogie.

2. The railroad vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the single-axle bogies of the different cars are identical. 10

3. The railroad vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising, among said cars, two end cars, at least one of the end cars comprising a driving cab secured to the structural body of that end car.

4. The railroad vehicle according to claim 3, wherein each driving cab has no bogie. 15

5. The railroad vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each single-axle bogie comprises at least one moving part rotatable around a vertical axis relative to the car supporting that single-axle bogie, the moving part carrying the axle.

6. The railroad vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one single-axle bogie is motorized. 20

7. The railroad vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each single-axle bogie comprises wheels whose diameter is larger than 590 mm.

8. The railroad vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each car comprises a low floor.

9. The railroad vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the low floor has no step. 25