AU2016202611B2

AU2016202611B2 - An air conditioning device for an homogeneous air conditioning of a carriage of a railway vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU2016202611B2
Application number: AU2016202611A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Huu-Thi Do; Etienne Varin
Original assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies SAS
Current assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies SAS
Priority date: 2015-04-28
Filing date: 2016-04-26
Publication date: 2020-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2036-04-26
Also published as: FR3035634A1; EP3088273A1; AU2016202611A1; EP3088273B1; FR3035634B1

Abstract

An air conditioning device for an homogeneous air conditioning of a carriage of a railway vehicle The air conditioning device (10) comprises conditioned air emission means and a first air circulation circuit (16) comprising: a guide module (22), comprising an air intake opening (24) coming from the emission means, at least one first air circulation duct (26), extending in the longitudinal direction (X) downstream from the guide module (22), and lateral elements (28) for distributing air toward a room of the carriage (12), extending parallel to the first air circulation duct (26), and communicating with this first air circulation duct (26). The guide module (22) includes distribution means (32) able to separate a flow of air from the air intake opening (24), on the one hand toward the first air circulation duct (26), and on the other hand toward each lateral distribution element (28). Figure 1

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

Invention Title An air conditioning device for an homogeneous air conditioning of a carriage of a railway vehicle

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

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1a

The present invention relates to an air conditioning device for at least one carriage of a railway vehicle. The prior art includes an air-conditioning device comprising means for emitting a flow of conditioned air and a circulation network for the conditioned air. The circulation network includes a first air circulation circuit equipping a first railway vehicle carriage. This first air circulation circuit comprises a conditioned air guide module, including an air intake opening coming from the emission means, and at least one first air circulation duct, extending in a longitudinal direction downstream from the guide module. Thus, the guide module guides the flow of air from the air intake opening toward the first circulation circuit. The first circulation circuit further includes lateral air distribution elements for distributing air toward a room of the carriage, these lateral elements extending parallel to the first air circulation duct, on either side of the first air circulation duct in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and they communicate with this first air circulation duct. Each of these lateral elements includes a first part, extending in the longitudinal direction along the first air circulation duct, this first part communicating with this first air circulation duct, and a second part extending in the longitudinal direction along the guide module. This second part of the lateral element is intended to discharge air from the room, so that it may be recovered by the emission means to perform air-conditioning in a closed circuit, passing through a discharge duct arranged in the guide module. Due to this discharge of the air through the lateral elements, at the guide module, it appears that the air-conditioning device does not distribute conditioned air at this guide module. Thus, the diffusion of conditioned air in the room is not homogenous. Embodiments of the invention may provide an air-conditioning device capable of performing a homogenous distribution of conditioned air in a carriage of a railway vehicle. The invention according to a first aspect relates to an air-conditioning device for at least one carriage of a railway vehicle, said carriage extending in a longitudinal direction, the air-conditioning device comprising means for emitting a flow of conditioned air and a circulation network for the conditioned air, said circulation network including a first air circulation circuit, comprising: - a guide module for conditioned air, comprising an air intake opening coming from the emission means,

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2 - at least a first air circulation duct, extending in the longitudinal direction downstream from the guide module, - lateral elements for distributing air toward a room of the carriage, extending parallel to the first air circulation duct, arranged on either side of the first air circulation duct in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and communicating with this first air circulation duct, wherein the guide module includes distribution means able to separate a flow of air from the air intake opening, on the one hand toward the first air circulation duct, and on the other hand toward each lateral distribution element. Embodiments of the invention may include distributing means orienting part of the flow of air from the air intake opening toward the lateral distribution elements, and more particularly toward the part of each lateral element that is situated along the guide module. As a result, the air diffusion is no longer necessarily done only on the parts of the lateral distribution elements positioned along the first air circulation duct, but also on the parts of these lateral distribution elements extending along the guide module. In other words, the diffusion of conditioned air is homogenous over the entire length of the carriage. An air conditioning device according to the invention can further comprise one or more of the following features, considered alone or in any technically possible combinations: - Each lateral distribution element includes: a first part extending in the longitudinal direction along the first air circulation duct, this first part communicating with this first air circulation duct, and a second part extending in the longitudinal direction along the guide module, this second part communicating with the distribution means. - The circulation network includes a second air circulation duct, extending in the longitudinal direction toward a second air circulation circuit equipping an adjacent carriage of the railway vehicle, the first and second circulation ducts extending on either side of the guide module in the longitudinal direction, and the distribution means are able to separate a flow of air from the air intake opening on the one hand toward the first and second air circulation ducts, and on the other hand toward the second part of each lateral distribution element. - The air-conditioning device includes at least one air discharge duct, extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions, and emerging in said room of the carriage, said discharge duct preferably extending across the guide module.

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3 - The air-conditioning device includes at least two air discharge ducts, each emerging in a shared air recovery duct, said air recovery duct overhanging a lower surface of the guide module, to leave an air passage below that recovery duct. - The distribution means include a first deflector element, comprising two curved surfaces converging toward one another up to a leading edge, said leading edge being arranged across from the air intake opening. - The distribution means include second deflector elements substantially symmetrical relative to a vertical median plane parallel to the longitudinal direction, each second deflector element comprising: a first wall, comprising a leading edge arranged across from the air intake opening, and two second walls, diverging relative to one another from the first wall toward the corresponding distribution duct. - The first walls of the second deflector elements are inclined, converging toward one another toward the air intake opening. - Each of the second deflector elements is formed by a sheet bent to form the first and second walls, for example a metal sheet. The invention, according to a second aspect, relates to a railway vehicle, in particular a tramway, including an air-conditioning device according to the first aspect of the invention. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of non limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:: - figure 1 is a perspective view of a railway vehicle carriage, comprising an air conditioning device according to one example of the invention; - figure 2 is a perspective view of a guide module of the air-conditioning device of figure 1. Figure 1 shows an air conditioning device 10 for at least one first carriage 12 of a railway vehicle, in particular for a tramway. Said first carriage 12 extends along a longitudinal direction X. The first carriage 12 includes an inner room, and has a ceiling defining the height of this inner room. Furthermore, the first carriage 12 includes a roof overhanging said ceiling. The air-conditioning device 10 comprises means (not shown) for emitting a flow of conditioned air, arranged on the roof of the first carriage 12. Such emission means are traditional, and will therefore not be described in detail. The air-conditioning device 10 further includes a circulation network 14 for conditioned air, the circulation network comprising a first air circulation circuit 16 equipping the first carriage 12, and advantageously, a second air circulation circuit 18 equipping a second carriage 20 adjacent to the first carriage 12.

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4 The first air circulation circuit 16 comprises a conditioned air guide module 22, arranged between the ceiling and a roof of the carriage 12. The guide module 22 comprises an air intake opening 24 for air coming from the emission means. Figure 1 shows a flow of air F coming from the emission means, and entering the air guide module 22 through the air intake opening 24. The first air circulation circuit 16 further includes a first air circulation duct 26, extending in the longitudinal direction X downstream from the guide module 22, and communicating with this guide module 22. For example, the height of the first air circulation duct 26 is delimited between the ceiling and the roof of the first carriage 12. The first air circulation duct 16 further includes lateral elements 28 for distributing air toward the room of the first carriage 12, extending parallel to the first air circulation duct 26, these lateral elements 28 being arranged on either side of the first air circulation duct 26 in a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. Each lateral distribution element 28 includes a first part 28A extending, in the longitudinal direction X, along the first air circulation duct 26, the first part 28A communicating with this first air circulation duct 26, and a second part 28B extending, in the longitudinal direction X, along the guide module 22, the second part 28B communicating with the guide module 22. Thus, the lateral distribution element 28 extends in the longitudinal direction X along the room of the first carriage 12. Each lateral distribution element 28 includes a conditioned air outlet, comprising at least one air outlet orifice. This conditioned air outlet extends along this lateral distribution element 28 in the longitudinal direction X. For example, the conditioned air outlet is formed by a slit extending over the entire length of the corresponding lateral distribution element 28 and emerging in the room of the first carriage 12. This slit in particular extends both the first part 28A and the second part 28B of this lateral distribution element 28. It will be noted that the first 28A and second 28B parts can be separated by an inner partition arranged in the corresponding lateral distribution element 28, or alternatively can communicate with one another. The air-conditioning device 10 further includes a second air circulation duct 30, extending, in the longitudinal direction X, downstream from the guide module 22 in an air circulation direction, to the second air circulation duct 18 equipping the second adjacent carriage 20. The first 26 and second 30 air circulation ducts then extend on either side of the guide module 22 in the longitudinal direction X. The guide module 22 includes distribution means 32, able to separate the flow of air F from the air intake opening 24, on the one hand toward the first air circulation

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5 duct 26 and toward the second air circulation duct 30, and on the other hand toward each lateral distribution element 28, and more particularly toward the second part 28B of each lateral distribution element 28. In other words, each second part 28B communicates with the distribution means 32. The distribution means 32, which are shown in more detail in figure 2, include a first deflector element 34 of the traditional type, intended to separate part of the flow of air toward the first 26 and second 30 air circulation ducts. This first deflector element 34 comprises two curved surfaces converging toward one another up to the leading edge, said leading edge being arranged across from the air intake opening 24. Such a first deflector element 34 is generally called "gullwing deflector". The distribution means 32 further include two second deflector elements 36, positioned substantially symmetrically relative to a vertical median plane parallel to the longitudinal direction. Each of these second deflector elements 36 includes a first wall 38, comprising a leading edge arranged across from the air intake opening 24, and two second walls 40, diverging relative to one another from the corresponding first wall 38 toward the second part 28B of the corresponding distribution duct 28. Advantageously, the first walls 38 of the second deflector elements 36 are inclined relative to the vertical median plane, converging toward one another toward the air intake opening 24. Each of the second deflector elements 36 is for example formed by a bent sheet, in particular a metal sheet. Since the leading edges of the first wall 38 are arranged across from the air intake opening 24, part of the incoming flow of air F is deflected by each of these second deflector elements 36. Thus, the incoming flow of air F is separated into four parts, i.e., two main parts, one directed toward the first circulation duct 26 and the other toward the second circulation duct 30, and two secondary parts, each directed toward a respective one of the second parts 28B of the lateral distribution elements 28. The conditioned air circulating in the first circulation duct 26 is next diffused by the first parts 28A of the lateral diffusing elements. The conditioned air deflected by the second deflector elements 36 is next diffused by the second parts 28B of the lateral diffusing elements.

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6 Thus, the lateral diffusion elements 28 diffuse the conditioned air over their entire length, and even at the guide module 22. In other words, the conditioned air is diffused homogenously in the room of the first carriage 12. It should be noted that the conditioned air circulating in the second circulation duct 30 is next diffused in a room of the second carriage 20, traditionally. An air-conditioning device operates optimally when it is in a closed circuit. It is therefore necessary to recover the air from the room intended for the emission means. To that end, the air-conditioning device 10 includes at least one air discharge duct 42, preferably two air discharge ducts 42, each extending in a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions, and emerging in said room of the first carriage 12. More particularly, each air discharge duct 42 emerges in the ceiling of the room of the first carriage 12, and includes, at its lower end, a grate allowing the passage of air, said grate being flush with the ceiling. Each discharge duct 42 preferably extends through the guide module 22. For example, the two air discharge ducts 42 each emerge in a shared air recovery duct 44, as shown in figure 2. This air recovery duct 44 overhangs a lower surface of the guide module 22, to leave an air passage below this recovery duct 44 allowing the passage of air from the intake opening 24 toward the second circulation duct 30. This recovery duct 44 is connected to other ducts conveying the discharged air to the emission means. Thus, the air-conditioning device 10 can operate in a closed circuit. These discharge ducts 42 allow a discharge of the air without passing through lateral elements 28, in particular the second parts 28B of these lateral elements 28, as was the case in the state of the art. Thus, as previously indicated, the second parts 28B of the lateral elements 28 are used exclusively to diffuse conditioned air in the room. It therefore appears that the structure of the air-conditioning device 10 may allow a homogenous diffusion of the conditioned air in the room of the carriage 12. It will be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment previously described, but could assume various alternatives. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited the above described exemplary embodiment. In particular, it would be possible to provide a different form for the first 34 or second 36 deflector elements. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an

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7 acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. 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 orstep orgroup of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS

1. An air-conditioning device for at least one carriage of a railway vehicle, said carriage extending in a longitudinal direction, the air-conditioning device comprising means for emitting a flow of conditioned air and a circulation network for the conditioned air, said circulation network including a first air circulation circuit, comprising: - a guide module for conditioned air, comprising an air intake opening coming from the emission means, - at least a first air circulation duct, extending in the longitudinal direction downstream from the guide module, - lateral elements for distributing air toward a room of the carriage, extending parallel to the first air circulation duct, arranged on either side of the first air circulation duct in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and communicating with this first air circulation duct, wherein the guide module includes distribution means able to separate a flow of air from the air intake opening, on the one hand toward the first air circulation duct, and on the other hand toward each lateral distribution element.

2. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein each lateral distribution element includes: - a first part extending, in the longitudinal direction, along the first air circulation duct, the first part communicating with this first air circulation duct, and - a second part extending in the longitudinal direction along the guide module, this second part communicating with the distributing means.

3. The air conditioning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: - the circulation network includes a second air circulation duct, extending in the longitudinal direction toward a second air circulation circuit equipping an adjacent carriage of the railway vehicle, the first and second circulation ducts extending on either side of the guide module in the longitudinal direction, - the distribution means are able to separate a flow of air from the air intake opening on the one hand toward the first and second air circulation ducts, and on the other hand toward the second part of each lateral distribution element.

4. The air conditioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, including at least one air discharge duct, extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions, and emerging in said room of the carriage, said discharge duct preferably extending across the guide module.

5. The air conditioning device according to claim 4, including at least two air discharge ducts, each emerging in a shared air recovery duct, said air recovery duct overhanging a lower surface of the guide module, to leave an air passage below that recovery duct.

6. The air conditioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distribution means include a first deflector element, comprising two curved surfaces converging toward one another up to a leading edge, said leading edge being arranged across from the air intake opening.

7. The air conditioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distribution means include two second deflector elements that are substantially symmetrical relative to a vertical median plane parallel to the longitudinal direction, each second deflector element including: - a first wall, comprising a leading edge arranged across from the air intake opening, and - two second walls, diverging relative to one another from the first wall toward the corresponding distribution duct.

8. The air conditioning device according to claim 7, wherein the first walls of the second deflector elements are inclined, converging toward one another toward the air intake opening.

9. The air conditioning device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each of the second deflector elements is formed by a sheet bent to form the first and second walls.

10. The air conditioning device according to claim 9, wherein the sheet is a metal sheet.

11. A railway vehicle, in particular a tramway, including an air conditioning device according to any one of the preceding claims.