EP2669134A1

EP2669134A1 - Gangway side wall for a gangway between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle comprising a side panel

Info

Publication number: EP2669134A1
Application number: EP12006535.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fredrik HEDH
Original assignee: EGO INTERNATIONAL BV
Current assignee: EGO INTERNATIONAL BV
Priority date: 2012-05-29
Filing date: 2012-09-18
Publication date: 2013-12-04

Abstract

The invention pertains to a gangway side wall for a gangway between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle comprising a side panel, whereby the side panel is connected to a first connection at one side and connected to a second connection at a second side that is opposite the first side, whereby the first connection and the second connection are suitable to attach the side panel to other parts of the gangway or to the first car and/or the second car, the side panel at least in a section of its longitudinal extend is flexible to be bent into a concave or convex form, preferably into the form of an arch, said arch having an axis that is not horizontal, the first connection being suitable to hold the side panel such that it takes up a concave or convex form in the region of the first connection, preferably the form of an arch, the first connection has at least one fixing element that can be held stationary and around which said section can be rotated or said section can be moved around said fixing element while taking up said concave or convex form.

Description

The invention pertains to a gangway side wall for a gangway between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle comprising a side panel. The invention also pertains to a gangway to be arranged between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle.
Multi-car vehicles are known in different designs and in different forms of adaptation for uses. Multi-car vehicles are, for example, railway-bound trains (street cars and subway-trains also being considered as such trains) are known and are known for the purpose of transporting passengers as well as transporting goods. Further types of multi-car vehicles can be magnetic railway trains or can be busses (road buses as well as buses traveling on fixed tracks). A car of a multi-car vehicle can be a self-supporting cars, whereby the car has sufficient wheels that are placed at sufficient locations such that the car can stand by itself without being supported by other cars, for example a three-wheeled car, a four wheeled car or a car with even more wheels. A car of a multi-car vehicle can also be of the none-self-supporting type, whereby the car has no wheels or only wheels provided in such number or arranged at such a place that the car can not stand by itself, but is vertically supported by at least one neighboring car.
From one possible field of application of the invention, namely from trains, gangways are known, which are to be arranged between a first car of such a train and a second car of such a train. Often, these trains make use of bellows. Often, a tubular member of the bellow-type is used, the outside of this tube being the outside of the gangway and the inside of the tube being used as room to allow passengers to move from the first car of the train to the second car of the train. It is also known to arrange further elements inside this tubular member. For example, a semi-rigid floor can be arranged inside the tubular member, which is rigid enough to support passengers or equipment moving from the first car to the second car, but that is at the same time flexible enough to allow the first car to pivot relative to the second car about a vertical axis, for example when the multi-car vehicle is moving around a bend. Furthermore it is known to arrange rigid panels as side walls inside the tubular member to enhance the inside appearance of the gangway on the one hand by preventing the passenger moving through the gangway from seeing the inside of the bellows and for safety reasons on the other hand for avoiding injuries that might be caused if a passenger holds onto segments of the bellow. These side panels known from the prior art are however considered inadequate. In some applications, it is difficult to find suitable means to connect the sides of the side panels with the cars, leading to problems that passengers can grip behind the rigid side panels. In other applications, for example where the multi-car vehicle has to be designed to allow to go around sharp bends, the rigid side panels can only be designed with a small widths or have to be moved closer together inside the tubular member and thereby narrowing the room for the passage of the passengers, as otherwise a rigid side panel would disturb the movement of the multi-car vehicle around the bend, for example by hitting the first car or the second car with its side edges.
Based on this background, the object of the invention is to suggest a gangway side wall for a gangway between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle that comprises a side panel, which can be better adopted to different uses or which can be used to create a sufficiently wide gangway for the passage of passengers, but at the same time allows for a use in a multi-car vehicle that needs to be designed in a manner to allow it to go around sharp bends. The object is further to provide a gangway which allows for the same abilities.
This object is solved by the subject matter of main claim 1 and main claim 14. Preferred embodiments are claimed in the subordinate claims and the description following here after.
The invention is based on the basic concept to make the side panel at least in a section of its longitudinal extend flexible to be bend into a concave or convex form, preferably into the form of an arch and to provide means, for example a first connection, that can bring the flexible section of the side panel to take up this concave or convex form. This basic design can be used to actively shorten the longitudinal extend of the side panel, if the present driving conditions require such a shortening of the longitudinal extend of the side panel. The gangway side wall according to the invention can, for example, be designed and arranged to be build into a multi-car vehicle whereby the side panel fully extends along its longitudinal extend in a straight line (in one plane) in normal driving conditions and whereby the side panel is made to take up the concave or convex form, if the respective side of the gangway needs to be shortened, for example in driving conditions where this side of the gangway side wall is the inner side of the multi-car vehicle going around the bend.
The gangway side wall of the invention comprises a side panel. In a preferred embodiment, the side panel takes up the full lengthwise and heightwise extend of the gangway side wall. Designs of the gangway side wall according to the invention are, however, also feasible, where the side panel only takes up a part of the longitudinal extend of the gangway side wall. The side panel can, for example be combined with other side panels to make up the gangway side wall. For example it can be used made up together with rigid side panels in order to make up the gangway side wall.
In a preferred embodiment, the side panel has substantially the same height as the gangway side wall.
In this description, the lengthwise direction is understood to be the direction from the first car to the second car, if the gangway side wall is build into a gangway that is arranged between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle. The heightwise direction is to be understood to be the substantially vertically pointing direction that the gangway will have when it is arranged between the first car of a multi-car vehicle and the second car of said vehicle. Consequently, the widthswise direction will refer to the direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction and perpendicular to the heightwise direction.
In a preferred embodiment, the side panel has a heightwise extend of at least 1,50 m, preferably of at least 1,80 m, preferably of at least 2,0 m and especially preferred of more than 2,20 m. In a preferred embodiment, the side panel for at least a section of its longitudinal extend has a rectangular shape or can - if this section along the longitudinal extend of the side panel is made from flexible material - be held to take up a rectangular shape.
The side panel is connected to a first connection at one side and connected to a second connection at a second side that is opposite the first side. The first connection is suitable to attach the side panel to other parts of the gangway or is suitable to attach the side panel to the first car. The second connection is suitable to attach the side panel to other parts of the gangway or is suitable to attach the side panel to the second car. The gangway side wall can for example be fitted to a frame, for example a rectangular frame, at the one end of the gangway, which is to be connected to the first car and also be connected to a second frame, preferably a rectangular frame, which is provided at the other end of the gangway in order to connect the gangway to the second car of the multi-car vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of such a design, the the second connection can be designed to connect the side panel to such frames. The side panel can, for example have hooks, which can be inserted into appropriate holes on the frame. Or the side panel can be bolted directly to the frame at the respective end or can be glued to the frame at the respective end. If in such an embodiment with frames the frames are part of the gangway and thus detachable from the first car and the second car, the first connection and the second connection provided as described for this preferred embodiment are suitable to attach the side panel to other parts of the gangway. If in the above described preferred embodiment the frames are considered to be part of the first car and the second car, for example if these frames are part of the general frame structure of the first car and the second car, the first connection and the second connection would then be suitable to attach the side panel to the first car and the second car respectively.
The first connection and the second connection do not necessarily need to be connected to frames, however. It is also feasible, for example, that the first connection and/or the second connection are attached to side walls of the cars or are attached to floor parts of the cars. Also, the first connection and the second connection do not need to be of the same type, but preferably are of the same type.
The invention is, however, not limited to side panels that span the whole lengthwise direction of the side wall, as already pointed out above. The first connection and/or the second connection can thereby be provided to connect the side panel to other parts of the gangway side wall or to other parts of the gangway or other parts of the cars. For example, the gangway side wall can be made up of a first end rigid panel and a second end rigid panel with the side panel as described in claim 1 being arranged in the middle of these two rigid side panels.
Or as a different example, a first side panel according to the invention can be provided on one side of a middle rigid panel and a second side panel according to the invention can be arranged on the opposite side of a middle rigid panel. In such an embodiment for example, the respective first connection could be used to connect the respective side panels according to the invention to the first car and the second car respectively, for example to attach them to the floor or the side wall of these cars. In this embodiment, the second connection of the respective side panels can be used to connect the side panels according to the invention to the middle rigid panel.
The side panel at least in a section of its longitudinal extend is flexible to be bend into a concave or convex form. Preferably in this section, the side panel is flexible over its complete heightwise extend. In this section, the side panel is preferably flexible to be bend into the form of an arch. The angle between the lines drawn from the respective end of the arch along the radius of the arch towards the center of the arch preferably enclose an angle of more than 5°, preferably of more than 45°, preferably more than 90° and even more preferred of more than 180°. Especially, the respective section of the side panel is sufficiently flexible to be rolled up into a tube.
In a preferred embodiment, the side panel is arranged in the side wall in such a manner and is flexible in such a direction that the arch forms about an axis that is not horizontal (not in a plane or parallel to a plane that also encompasses the widthwise and the lengthwise direction). In a even more preferred embodiment, the axis of the arch is substantially vertical.
The gangway side wall has a first connection being suitable to hold the side panel such that it takes up a concave or convex form in the region of the first connection, preferably in the form of an arch. In a preferred embodiment the first connection has an element to which a part of the side wall can be attached and which element is pretensioned by tensioning means to move in a predefined manner and thereby move that part of the side panel connected to this element in the same predefined manner, if the amount of tension is sufficient to allow for this movement, which means that the side panel does not resist such a movement with a resistance that is larger than said pretension. In a preferred embodiment this element itself is formed to assist the side wall to take up the concave or convex form, preferably the form of the arch. For example the first connection can have a support element that at least has a surface portion that has the shape of an arch. If the side panel is connected to this support element and the support element is rotated about the axis of the arch, the side panel can be made to contact at least a part of this surface portion and by the shape of the surface portion can be aided to take up the shape of an arch. In a preferred embodiment, the support element can be a cylinder. In a different embodiment, the above discussed element does, however, not need to aid the side panel by taking up the concave or convex form. The side panel can take up this form by itself and can for example have inner elements like appropriately arranged longitudinal bars that ensure that if the side panel is pulled in a specific direction, for example in the widthwise direction, the bar will take up a concave or convex form by itself. Alternatively, in addition to the above mentioned element further assisting elements can be provided that assist the side panel to take up the concave or convex form. For example disk-shaped elements can be provided. If the side panel is pulled by the above element around these assistance elements, the side panel will take up its concave or convex form.
The first connection has at least one fixing element that can be held stationary and around which said section can be rotated or said section can be moved around said fixing element while taking up the concave or convex form. Making use of this fixing element allows the first connection to be suitable to attach the side panel to other parts of the gangway or to the first car, while at the same time allows the side panel to take up different shapes at different driving conditions, depending on how far the section has been rotated around the fixing element.
The advantages of the invention can be achieved, if only one section of the side panel along its longitudinal extend is flexible to be bend into a concave or convex form and if the first connection is suitable to hold the side panel such that it takes up the concave or convex form. For example the side panel can be arranged as part of the gangway side wall in such a manner that an end section of the side panel is flexible and whereby the first connection is arranged at the end of the gangway side wall facing towards one of the cars of the multi-car vehicle. Alternatively, a side panel with only one flexible section can be arranged as part of the gangway side wall in such a manner that an end section of the side panel is made flexible and that the first connection is not arranged at an end of the gangway side wall, but somewhere along the longitudinal extend of the gangway side wall between the opposite ends of the gangway side wall such that the side panel can take up its concave or convex form at this point along the longitudinal extend of the gangway side wall between its ends. In such an embodiment, a further side panel can, for example be arranged to bridge the remaining part of the gangway side wall that is not taken up by the side wall with the flexible part. This bridging side wall could be a rigid side wall. This bridging side wall could, however, be of the same type as the side wall with the flexible section having its respective first connection also been arranged closed to the first connection of the first discussed side wall. One can even think of designs, where the side panel has a flexible section somewhere between its ends in the longitudinal extend, preferably approximately in the middle and where the side panel is made to take up the concave or convex form in this intermediate section along its longitudinal extend. In such a design, this intermediate section of a longitudinal extend could be provided in the middle of the gangway side wall along its longitudinal extend, for example.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side panel not only has one section of its longitudinal extend that is flexible to be bend into a concave or convex form, but is at least in a first section in the region of the first connection and in a second section in the region of the second connection flexible to be bend into a concave or convex form, preferably into the form of a first arch and a second arch and especially preferably in such arches that each have an axis that is not horizontal (not in the plane that includes the lengthwise and widthwise direction). In such an embodiment, the first section can be arranged at the one end of the side panel and the second section can be arranged at the opposite side of the side panel, whereby the side panel is bend into respective arches at its end, preferably wound up into tubes at its respective opposite ends.
In a preferred embodiment, the gangway side wall according to the invention is designed in such a manner that

the side panel at least in a first section in the region of the first connection and in a second section in the region of the second connection is flexible to be bend into a concave or convex form, preferably into the form of a first arch and a second arch, said arches each having an axis that is not horizontal,
the first connection being suitable to hold the side panel such that it takes up a concave or convex form, preferably the form of an arch,
the first connection has at least one fixing element that can be held stationary and around which said section can be rotated or said section can be moved around said fixing element while taking up said concave or concave form,
the second connection is suitable to hold the side panel such that it takes up a concave or convex form in the region of the second connection, preferably the form of an arch,
the second connection has at least one fixing element that can be held stationary and around which said section can be rotated or said section can be moved around said fixing element while taking up said concave or convex form.

In a preferred embodiment, the axis of the first arch of the above described preferred embodiment is parallel to the axis of the second arch. This facilitates arranging the side panel in substantially one plane. In a preferred embodiment, the axis of the first arch and the axis of the second arch are arranged substantially vertical.
In a preferred embodiment, the first connection has a support element that at least has a surface portion that has the shape of an arch, whereby the side panel contacts at least a part of the surface portion and whereby the support element has a bearing and is supported by this bearing to rotate or pivot about an axle. As discussed above, providing such a support element can aid the side panel to take up the concave or convex form. Supporting the support element on a bearing to rotate or pivot about an axle is a simple way of allowing the support element that movement that will aid the side panel to take up the concave or convex form. The bearing can simply be a bush around an axle. Preferably, however the bearing is a roller bearing or a similar type bearing that reduces the friction of rotating the support element about the axle. In a preferred embodiment the axle coincides with the axis of the arch that the side panel in a preferred embodiment is made to take up as concave or convex form.
In a preferred embodiment, the support element is fixedly connected to an axle and whereby the axle is connected via a torsion spring to a fixed point and whereby the torsional spring pretensions the axle into a first rotational direction relative to the fix point. Such a design can be used to create a pretension that can be used to aid the side panel to take up the concave or convex form for the driving conditions, where the resistance of the side panel to take up this form is below the tension provided by the torsional spring. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the axle could be fixedly connected to a fix point and the support element could be connected to this axle via a torsional spring, whereby the torsional spring pretensions the support element into a first rotational direction relative to the axle.
In a preferred embodiment, the connection between the support element and the axle allows the support element to pivot about a pivot-axis that is not in line with the axis of the axle and not parallel to this axis. Such a design allows to take up torsional movements of the multi-car vehicle or pivoting movements of the multi-car vehicle or of the gangway relative to one or both of the first and the second car of the multi-car vehicle. For example, a design can be made, where the axle is fixedly connected to the first car, but whereby the driving conditions require the side wall or the side panel of the side wall of the gangway to take up a tilted position relative to the first car. This tilting of the side panel can be allowed for, if the support element is allowed to pivot about a pivot-axis that is not in line with the axis of the axle and not parallel to this axis.
Above a preferred embodiment has been described, whereby the first connection has an element and whereby the side panel is connected to this element and aided to take up the concave or convex form, if the element is moved. As an alternative to this preferred embodiment, in an equally preferred embodiment, the side panel is arranged such that it can glide over at least a part of the surface portion of the support element that has the shape of an arch. A design is possible, where the support element is held stationary and where the flexible section of the side panel is pulled over the support element to take up the convex or concave shape. Thereby, the support element aids the side panel to take up the concave or convex form, but in itself is not moved. For example, the support element could be a stationary cylinder and the side panel can be pulled around a part of the surface of the support element to take up the arch shape.
In a preferred embodiment, the support element is a cylinder or a pipe or a ring or a disk. These elements have surfaces that can be used to aid the side panel to take up and arch-shaped form. In a preferred embodiment, at least that surface portion of the support element that comes into contact with the side panel is made of an elastic material and/or has mechanical means that dampens movement of the side panel in the direction perpendicular to the surface of this surface portion. These measures can help to dampen the movement of the side panel and can also be helpful in reducing noises.
In a preferred embodiment the support element has a guiding surface that limits the movement of the side panel in the direction of the axis of the arch. Especially, the support element has a top guiding surface and a bottom guiding surface, the top guiding surface limiting the movement of the side panel towards the top and the bottom guiding surface limiting the movement of the side panel towards the bottom. This can preferably be used to prevent the side panel to leave the support element, if the support element and the side panel are adapted to each other in such a manner that the side panel fully covers the support element.
In a preferred embodiment, the side panel has a first end, which is arranged such that it can move relative to the first connection. For example, the first connection could have a support element that is designed as a cylinder and the first end of the side panel could be wrapped around a part of the circumference of this cylinder. As the end of the side panel is pulled away from the cylinder, some new sections of the side panel will bend into the form of an arch, while other sections that previously were bend into the shape of an arch will straighten out. In a preferred embodiment of this embodiment, the gangway side wall is designed such that the first connection and the second connection can change their position relative to one another and can be arranged closer to one another or further apart from one another and whereby the first end moves further away from the first connection in driving conditions, where the distance between the first connection and the second connection is to be shortened. In the specific embodiment described, where the support element is chosen to be a cylinder, pulling away the end from the cylinder brings the opposite end of the side wall closer to this cylinder and would therefore bring the second connection, if it is arranged in the area of the second end of the side wall, closer to the first connection.
Additionally or as an alternative embodiment, the side panel can have a second end, which is arranged such that it can move relative to the second connection. Thus, it can also be the second end of the side panel that can alternatively be moved in an embodiment of the invention in the manner described in the section immediately above this section with regard to the first end. Or even the first end and the second end can be made to move relative to their respective connections in a preferred embodiment. Especially, this embodiment is used in an embodiment whereby the gangway side wall is designed such that the first connection and the second connection can change their position relative to one another and can be arranged closer to one another or further apart from one another and whereby the second end moves further away from the second connection in driving conditions, where the distance between the first connection and the second connection is shortened.
In a preferred embodiment the side panel can be arranged to have a first end, which is arranged such that it can move around an axis in order to wrap a section of the side panel into a tubular wrap around the axis. While the one embodiment, where the end of the side panel is pulled around an element, but also pulled away from this element provides for a simple design and reduces the requirements for the flexibility of the section of the side panel to be bend around the respective element, wrapping a section of the side panel into a tubular wrap around an axis provides for more of the side panel to be taken up within a small space. This allows for the side panel of the side wall to be shortened in its longitudinal extend without taking up a lot of space. This embodiment is preferably used in a design, whereby the gangway side wall is designed such that the first connection and the second connection can change their position relative to one another and can be arranged closer to one another or further apart from one another and whereby the first end moves further around the axis and wraps more of the side panel into the tubular wrap in driving conditions, where the distance between the first connection and the second connection is shortened.
Additionally, in an even more preferred embodiment, the side panel also has a second end, which is arranged such that it can move around an axis in order to wrap a section of the side panel into a tubular wrap around the axis, especially whereby the gangway side wall is designed such that the first connection and the second connection can change their position relative to one another and can be arranged closer to one another or further apart from one another and whereby the second end moves further around the axis and wraps more of the side panel into the tubular wrap in driving conditions, where the distance between the first connection and the second connection is shortened.
In a preferred embodiment the side panel has a first end, whereby elastic and/or mechanical means act upon this first end to pretension this first end into a first position, preferably into a first rotational position about an axis or a first lateral position. As described for some of the embodiments further above, the first connection can have, for example, an element, for example a support element, to which an end of the side panel can be attached and which element is pretensioned into a certain position. If the end is to be wrapped into a tubular wrap, elastic and/or mechanical means can be provided to pretension the end into a first rotational position for example being wrapped up into the tubular wrap for a predetermined portion of its longitudinal extend. If the end of the side panel is pulled around an element in a manner, where it can also be moved away from the element to pull other sections of the side panel around the element, elastic and/or mechanical means can be provided to pretension the first end into a first lateral position, for example into a first lateral position relative to an element around which the side panel is pulled.
In a preferred embodiment, the gangway side wall according to the invention has a deflector element that is arranged proximate to that section of the side panel that is bend into a concave or convex form preferably bend into the shape of an arch. The deflector plate preferably is arranged to stop elements to move together with parts of the side panel around the arch. For example the deflector element could prevent fingers that are pressed against the side panel to move around the arch and thereby come behind the side panel. Also the deflector element can stop other things attached to the side panel, for example debris, for example rubbish, for example papers to be pulled around the arch and thereby being pulled behind the side panel. This allows for the area behind the side panel to be kept tidy.
In a preferred embodiment, the side panel in a section along its longitudinal extend is rigid and can not be bend into a concave or convex form preferably can not be bend into the form of an arch. Making sections of the side panel rigid can aid to improve the appearance of the side panel. For example, the side panel can be arranged such that the main part of the side panel is rigid, while at its ends the side panel is flexible to be brought into the convex or concave shape. Depending of the design on the gangway and depending on the design of the multi-car vehicle in which the gangway is to be used, it might be that it is desired that the longitudinal extend of the side panel is only shortened a little bit during certain driving conditions of the multi-car vehicle, for example the multi-car vehicle is designed not to go around bends with small bending radius, for example in high speed trains. In such embodiments, the side panel can be made primarily of a rigid section, whereby the flexible sections are designed sufficiently long to allow for the desired shortening of the longitudinal lengths of the side panel for the driving conditions of going around a bend. Providing rigid sections of the side panel can also allow the side panel to be suitable for the attachment of notice-boards, advertising panels, monitor-screens or the like.
In an alternative embodiment, the side panel is not only in a section of its longitudinal extend, but for its complete longitudinal extend flexible to be bend into a concave or convex form.
In a preferred embodiment, the section of the side panel along its longitudinal extend that is flexible to be bend into a concave or convex form, preferably into a form of an arch, comprises rigid longitudinal sub panels, preferably arranged to extend along the heightwise direction, that are connected to one another by means of joints or elastic connectors. A design similar to roller blinds can for example be used in this section of the side panel. Such a design allows the side panel even in its flexible section to have a stability of its heightwise direction and to prevent slagging of this flexible section of the sight panel due to the weight of the sight panel in this section itself. Still, such a design allows the section of the sight panel to be flexible to be bend into a concave or convex form.
In a preferred embodiment, the section of the sight panel along its longitudinal extend that is flexible to be bend into a convex or concave form, preferably into the form of an arch, is made from rubber, preferably reinforced rubber such as rubber reinforced by metal objects and/or reinforced by textile fabric or is made from a different elastic material and/or rubber that has been plated with sectional rigid elements. The material can for example, be the or can be similar to the material used as flexible canvas on lorries. In a preferred embodiment, the material is protected against being cut up by knives by use of a wire mesh inside the material. In a preferred embodiment, the material is non-inflammable or hard to inflame.
The invention is also directed to a gangway to be arranged between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle. Such a gangway has a gangway side wall according to the invention and preferably further has a gangway floor and a gangway ceiling.
The gangway can have the gangway side wall according to the invention arranged as an inner side wall and additionally having the tubular element of the bellows type encompassing the gangway side wall. Thus, the gangway side wall according to the invention would be the inside gangway side wall, whereby the outside side wall is provided by the bellows. The gangway according to the invention can, however, do away with the bellows and simply have the gangway side wall according to the invention to make up its side wall.
In a preferred embodiment, the gangway is designed in such a manner that it can take up the shape of a box in driving conditions in which the longitudinal axis of the first car and the longitudinal axis of the second car are aligned, whereby the box is delimited by the gangway floor, a gangway ceiling and two gangway side walls of which at least one +side wall is designed according to the invention and whereby the gangway has openings at two opposite sites.
In a preferred embodiment, the gangway floor of the gangway contains at least a first rectangular panel and a second rectangular panel, whereby the second panel can move relative to the first panel, especially whereby the second panel can move under the first panel and further especially whereby the first panel and the second panel can take a first relative position to one another, in which the longitudinal axis of the first and second panel are parallel to one another and whereby in a second relative position the longitudinal axis of the first panel is at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the second panel that is not equal to 0° or 180° or multiples of 180°.
According to a further aspect of the invention the invention uses the advantages obtained by the invention in combination with providing a gangway floor of the gangway between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle with a first floor panel that has the shape a sector of a circle or the shape of a segment of a circle and a second floor panel with a shape of a sector of a circle or the shape of a segment of a circle. Providing the gangway floor panel with such shapes the respective ends allows the cars of the multi-vehicle to take up a multitude of relative positions to each other, which facilitates the movement of the multi-car vehicle along parts that are different from the straight line, be it for moving around bends or be it for moving over an even surfaces and for example over the top of a hill.
In a preferred embodiment, the radius of the circle to which the shape of the first floor panel is a sector or a shape of is the same radius of the circle to which the shape of the second floor panel is a sector or a segment of.
In a preferred embodiment, the center of the circle of which the shape of the first floor panel is a sector or a segment off differs from the center of the circle of which the shape of the second floor panel is a sector or a segment of. This allows for the gangway floor of the gangway to be designed and built into a multi-car vehicle in such a manner that if the connection device that connects the first car with the second car has two joints placed along the longitudinal extend of the connection device, which allow pivot movements of parts of the connecting device about two pivot axis, the pivot axis of the connection device can be made to coincide with the respective center of the circles. It has been seen that such an alignment of the center of the circle for the design of the first and second floor panel with the pivot axis of the connecting device allows to harmonize the movement of the connection device with the movement of the gangway floor. In a preferred embodiment, the first floor panel is arranged to rotate about a first axis which coinciedes with the center of the circle to which the shape of the first floor panel a sector or a segment of. The rotation of the first panel takes place relative to other parts of the gangway floor, other parts of the gangway or the car proximate the first floor panel. In a preferred embodiment the second floor panel is also arranged to rotate about a second axis, which perfectly coincides with the center of the circle to which the shape of the second floor panel is a sector or a segment of.
In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the first floor panel and the shape of the second floor panel is the same. This allows for the gangway floor to be easily arranged in a symmetric manner along the gangway.
The first floor panel and the second floor panel can be parts of a unitary floor panel, can for example be the end sections of a unitary floor panel. In a preferred embodiment, however, the first floor panel and the second floor panel form part of a multi-part group of elements. For example the first floor panel can be the end part at one end and the second floor panel can be the end part at the opposite end of a group of elements, both floor panels being joined by intermediate elements, arranged between the first floor panel and the second floor panel joining the first floor panel to the second floor panel.
In a preferred embodiment the first floor panel is provided to have the shape of a sector of a circle or the shape of a segment of a circle and the second floor panel is provided to have the shape of a sector of a circle or the segment of a circle and at least one rectangular floor panel is arranged between the first floor panel and the second floor panel, joining the first floor panel to the second floor panel. While it is possible that the rectangular floor panel arranged between the first floor panel and the second floor panel is not attached to both the first floor panel and the second floor panel, but for further elements to be arranged between the rectangular floor panel and the respective first or second floor panel, in a preferred embodiment at least one rectangular floor panel is provided that is attached to the first floor panel at one end and to the second floor panel at the other end. This can lead to a rigid design of the gangway floor. In an even preferred embodiment, in multitude of rectangular floor panels is provided, the rectangular floor panels being arranged in parallel to another and each rectangular floor panel being attached to at one end to the first floor panel and the other end to the second floor panel.
In a preferred embodiment, the one (or in a preferred embodiment: the multitude of) rectangular floor panel(s) is/are attached to the first floor panel by means of a hinged connection, the hinged connection either allowing the rectangular floor panel to swivel relative to the first floor panel about the line of connection between the rectangular floor panel and the first and second floor panel respectively or allowing the rectangular floor panel to both swivel relative to the first floor panel about the line of connection and to swivel about an axis perpendicular to the line of connection. In an even preferred embodiment, the rectangular floor panel(s) is/are attached to the second floor panel in a similar hinged connection. Attaching the rectangular floor panel(s) to the first floor panel in a hinged manner allows for the first floor panel to be arranged such that it essentially stays in the same plane as a floor of the car of the multi-car vehicle, while the relative position of the rectangular floor panel relative to the first floor panel can allow for misalignment between the first car and the second car, for example if the floor of the first car is in certain driving conditions in a higher plane than the floor of the second car or if the floors of the cars are not in parallel planes, for example if the multi-car vehicle is driving over the tip of a hill. These movements are allowed for, if the rectangular floor panel is allowed to swivel about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gangway floor. There are also driving conditions, where the first car and the second car swivel about the longitudinal axis of the gangway floor, for example situations where the top of the first car is leaning towards the right and the top of the second car is leaning towards the left. Such a twisting of the cars can be allowed for, if the rectangular floor panel is allowed to swivel relative to the first floor panel about the longitudinal axis of the gangway floor.
In a preferred embodiment, the hinged connection is provided by means of a separate axle and a bearing arrangement being provided.
In a different embodiment, the hinged connection can be provided by a protrusion on the one penal that interacts with a recess on the other panel.
In the embodiment, where the first floor panel is arranged to rotate about a first axis and the second floor panel is arranged to rotate about the second axis, it is preferred, if the distance between the first axis and the second axis is larger than 1,1 times the radius of the circle, preferably larger than 1,4 times the radius of the circle to which the shape of the floor panel is a sector or a segment of.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the first floor panel or second panel is set into a cut-out of a connector plate, whereby the cut-out has the shape of a sector of a circle, the shape of a segment of a circle or is a circle and is either horizontally supported by the connector plate or horizontally supports the connector plate. The connector plate can be used to connect the first floor panel or second floor panel respectively to a car of the multi-car vehicle. Placing the first floor panel or the second floor panel in such a cut-out allows for the first floor panel or second floor panel respectively to be in a position to swivel relative to the cut-out, the cut-out being suitable to be attached to the car in a rigid manner and remaining in the same position relative to the car in all driving conditions. That said, designs can be thought off, where the connector plate substantially stays in the same position relative to the car, but whereby the connection of the connector plate to the car includes damping elements that allow for a little movement between the connector plate and the car, for example to take up the rattle that takes place during the normal driving conditions of a train, for example.
In a preferred embodiment, roller elements, like balls, cylinders, especially needles, drums, bevels, cones or truncated cones cylinders, balls or wear pads, that may be raisin impregnated with friction reducing adjuvents, are provided between the connector plate and the first floor panel or second floor panel to facilitate the movement of the floor panel relative to the connector plate.
In a preferred embodiment, a holding plate is provided that holds the first floor panel or second floor panel inside the cut-out of the connector plate. This holding plate preferably is arranged on the other side of the first floor panel or second floor panel relative to the connector plate and preferably prevents that the first floor panel or second floor panel jumps out of the cut-out of the connector plate.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the panels that make up the gangway floor is made from rubber or rubber reinforced by metal objects and/or reinforced by textile fabric or is made from a different elastic material.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one floor panel is heated.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one floor panel has a sandwich design and/or has a honey-chrome cross section or is in other ways designed to absorb energy during a crash.
In a preferred embodiment a vulcanized top panel is provided that is arranged to cover substantially the complete gangway floor or at least the group of elements that has the first floor panel arranged at the one end and the second floor panel arranged at the other end.
In a preferred embodiment, the gangway floor has floor panels that are moveable, preferably slideable or can swivel relative to other floor parts and whereby all floor parts have their top surfaces arranged substantially in the same plane. This allows for a smooth surface of the gangway floor and facilitates the passenger crossing of the gangway floor.
In a preferred embodiment, the first floor panel has the shape of a sector of a circle, the shape of a segment of a circle or is a circle, whereby the radius of the respective circle is larger than 25% of the width of the first and/or second car or the width of the gangway, preferably larger than 50% of the width of the first and/or second car or the width of the gangway, preferably larger than 75% of the width of the first and/or second car or the width of the gangway.
When set into a multi-vehicle car, this aspect of the invention can be implemented by a multi-vehicle car with a gangway floor for a gangway between a first car of the multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle, whereby the first car is connected to the second car by means of a semi-permanent coupler or a detachable coupler, the coupler having at least one essential horizontal bar and whereby the gangway floor is partially supported in the vertical direction by a support element arranged between the horizontal bar and the gangway floor. Especially in those designs, where at least one of the floor panels, for example a rectangular floor panel provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention is arranged in such a manner that it can move in unison with the horizontal bar of the semi-permanent coupler or the detachable coupler, this unison of movement of parts of the gangway floor and the horizontal bar of the coupler can be advantageously used to support the floor.
When set into a multi-vehicle car, this aspect of the invention can be implemented by a multi-vehicle car with a gangway floor for a gangway between a first car of the multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle, whereby the first car is connected to the second car by means of a connection device that has a bar that can swivel relative to other elements of the connection device about two parallel, vertical swivel axis or that has two bars (for example joined together by a coupler), each of which can swivel relative to other elements of the connection device about on respective vertical swivel axis, the swivel axis being set in parallel, whereby the first floor panel is arranged to also rotate about one of these swivel axis and the the second floor panel is arranged to rotate about the other swivel axis.
Preferred uses of the gangway according to the invention are to connect cars of a railway-bound train (street cars and subway trains also being considered as such trains) or to connect cars of a magnetic railway train or to connect car of buses (road buses as well as buses traveling on fixed tracks).
In the following, the invention will be disclosed by means of embodiments. In the drawings the figures show the following:

Fig. 1:: shows a perspective view onto parts of a gangway according to the invention according to a first embodiment;
Fig. 2:: shows a top view onto the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3:: shows a way of pulling the flexible section of the side panel around a cylinder for one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4:: shows further elements of the embodiment to which Fig. 3 shows a detail;
Fig. 5:: shows a way to attach a support element in one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 6:: shows ways of pulling the flexible section of the side panel around the support elements in a further embodiment;
Fig. 7:: shows an embodiment where the flexible section of the side panel is wrapped around a support element;
Fig. 8:: shows a front perspective view onto a further embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 9:: shows a back perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10:: shows a top view onto the embodiment as shown in the Fig. 8 and 9,
Fig. 11:: shows yet a further embodiment of the invention in a front perspective view;
Fig. 12:: shows a top view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 11;
Fig. 13:: shows a further way to connect a support element;
Fig. 14:: shows a possible embodiment of providing a support for the support element from the floor;
Fig. 15:: a top perspective view of a further embodiment in a first driving condition, when the multi-car vehicle is traveling in a straight line;
Fig. 16:: the embodiment of Fig. 15 in the driving condition, where the first car and the second car are offset parallel to one another and
Fig. 17:: the embodiment of Fig. 15 in the driving condition, when the multi-car vehicle is driving around a bend.

Fig. 1 shows the basic components that a gangway according to the invention can have in one embodiment, not showing further elements, like for example bellows that can be arranged around the gangway. The gangway 1 has two facing gangway side walls 2, a gangway ceiling 3 and a gangway floor 4. The gangway side wall 2 has a side panel 5. Also a first connection 6 is provided. The first connection 6 connects the side panel 5 to a frame structure 7 that is provided to connect the gangway to the respective car (not shown) on that side. Also a second connection 8 is provided. The second connection 8 connects the side panel 5 to a further frame structure 9 that is provided to connect the gangway to the car of the multi-car vehicle on the respective opposite end to the frame structure 7.
Deflector elements 10 are provided that prevent objects to move together with the side panel in the area of the deflector elements 10.
The gangway floor 4 has first rectangular panels 11 and second rectangular panels 12, whereby the second panel 12 can move relative to the first panel 11. The second panel 12 can move under the first panel 11. As shown in the driving condition of Fig. 1, which is a driving condition, whereby the multi-car vehicle would be driving around a bend, making it necessary for the right hand side panel 5 to be shortened relative to the left hand side panel 5, it can be seen that the first panel 11 and the second panel 12 can take up a relative position to one another, in which the longitudinal axis of the first panel 11 and the second panel 12 are at an angle relative to one another. In a different driving condition, where the multi-car vehicle would be going in a straight line, for example, the longitudinal axis of the first panel 11 and the longitudinal axis of the second panel 12 could be parallel.
Fig. 2 shows that in this embodiment the side panel 5 is connected to the first connection 6 at one side and connected to the second connection 8 at the second side that is opposite the first side. The first connection 6 is suitable to attach the side panel 5 to other parts of the gangway 1, namely to the frame structure 7. This is provided for by a fixing element 13 that is held stationary by its connection to the frame structure 7. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the side panel 5 at least in the section of its longitudinal extend in the region of the first connection 6 is flexible to be bend into the form of an arch, namely is flexible to be wrapped into a tube about the axis A of the arch, which is a vertical axis in the embodiment shown in the Fig. 1 and 2.
In the embodiments shown in Fig. 1 and 2 the first connection and the second connection are of similar design. In this embodiment, the side panel is arranged between the first connection and the second connection in a way that the side panel will be wrapped up at its respective ends along its longitudinal extend by the first connection and the second connection respectively. As will be described below the different embodiment of the Fig. 8, 9 and 10 as well as the different embodiment of the Fig. 11 and 12 provide other ways of holding the side panel by means of the first connection and the second connection and also other ways of connecting the first connection and the second connection to other parts of the gangway or to the first car and/or the second car.
In the embodiments shown in Fig. 1 and 2, the side panel can be designed in such a manner that only the end sections along its longitudinal extend are flexible in order to allow these sections of the side panel to be wrapped up to form a tube at the first connection and the second connection. The middle section 14 can be made to be rigid. This allows for advertisement or monitors to be attached to this middle section of the side panel 5.
As can be best seen from the top view as shown in Fig. 2, wrapping the end sections of the side panel 5 into tubes allows for the side panel to be shortened along its longitudinal extend. In the Fig. 2, for example, the right hand side panel has been wrapped up more and therefore has a shorter longitudinal extend relative to the left hand side panel 5. This allows the gangway to remain firmly attached to the cars by means of the frame structures 7 and 9 while at the same time allowing the cars to take up a position, where the longitudinal axis of the cars are not in line anymore, but angled to one another, for example when the multi-car vehicle is driving around a bend.
Fig. 3 shows and embodiment, whereby the flexible section of the side panel is not wrapped up into a tube, but is pulled around a support element 15. By letting the free end 16 of the side panel 5 move closer to the support element 15 or further away from the support element 15, it can be influenced, which section along its longitudinal extend of the side panel is wrapped around the support element 15 while forming an arch. The closer the free end 16 is moved towards the support element, the more of the side panel 5 is arranged on the other side of the support element, when viewing from the free end 16, which leads to the side panel between the frame structures 7 and 9 having a longer extend along its longitudinal extend. The further the free end 16 is moved away from the support element 15, the more the side panel 5 along its longitudinal extend between the frame structures 7 and 9 is shortened.
Fig. 3 also shows that the side panel 5 can be of rubber material 17, which can be reinforced, for example by metal beams 18. Such a design allows the side panel to have sections along its longitudinal extend that are flexible to be bend into the form of an arch, while at the same time providing the side panel with rigidity so that it does not slack, for example.
Fig. 4 shows how the detail as shown in Fig. 3 can be used when arranging the side panel between a first connection 6 and a second connection 8. As shown, the side panel is at least in the sections wrapped around the support elements 15, 19 flexible to be bend into the form of an arch, said arch having an axle A-A and B-B respectively that is not horizontal. This design again allows for the middle section 14 to be of rigid material, for example to attach notice boards or screens to this section.
If the free ends 16 and 20 of the side panel are moved away from each other, the middle section of the side panel arranged between the first connection 6 and the second connection 8 will lengthen. If the free ends 16 and 20 are moved closer together, the middle section between the first connection 6 and the second connection 8 will be shortened.
Fig. 5 shows the design of a first connection as could for example be used in the design shown in the Fig. 1 and 2, where the flexible section of the side panel is made to wrap up into a tube. The design shown in Fig. 5 has a fixed axle 23 that is connected to a fixing element 13 that connects the fixed axle 23 to the frame structure 7. A support element 15 in the form of a cylinder is provided. The flexible section of the side panel 5 (not shown) can be made to wrap up around the cylinder to be bend into the form of an arch, namely to be wrapped up into the form of a tube.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, a torsional spring 24 is provided that is connected to the support element 15 at one end and the fixed axle 23 at the other end, thereby pretensioning the support element 15 into one rotational direction. A bearing 25 is provided that supports the support element 15 on the fixed axle and allows the support element 15 to rotate about the axis of the first arch, but also allows the support element 15 to pivot in the direction of the arrow C-C. Allowing for this rotation in direction of the arrow C-C, namely about a vertical axis allows for driving conditions, where the gangway ceiling is, for example spread further apart then the gangway floor, for example when the train is running over the tip of a hill.
Fig. 5 also shows that the support element 15 can have guiding surfaces 26 that limit the movement of the side panel (not shown) in the direction of the axis of the arch. Fig. 6 shows a way of pretensioning the free ends 20 and 16 towards each other for the embodiment shown in Fig. 4. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, springs 21 and 22 are provided that pretension the free ends 16 and 20 away from the support elements 15 and 19.
Fig. 7 in a schematic view shows, how the side panel 5 is wrapped around the support element 15 as would be the case for the embodiments shown in Fig. 1, 2 and 5.
Fig. 8 shows a different embodiment of the gangway according to the invention. In this embodiment, the gangway side wall has two side panels 105 and 105'. Of each of these side panels 105 and 105' one free end is used to attach the side panel immediately to the respective car. In order to do so, the respective free end of the side panel has a cover 127 and 127' and a spring element 128, 128'. The respective other end of the respective side panel 105, 105' is wrapped around a support element in the form of a support cylinder 115. This support element 115 forms part of a first connection, which functions as a first connection for the first side panel 105, but also as a first connection for the second side panel 105'. The first connection attaches the respective side panel 105, 105' to other parts of the gangway, namely a holding structure 130. In order to do so, the support element 115 has a fixing element 113 that is held stationary in the holding structure 130 and around which the sections of the side panels 105, 105' are bend into the form of an arch, namely wrapped up around the support element (cylinder) 115.
In this embodiment, the respective second connection is provided by the free ends and the cover 127, 127' and spring element 128, 128' that attach the respective side panel 105, 105' to the first car (not shown) or the second car (not shown).
As can best be seen from Fig. 10, the holding structure 130 comprises a rigid panel 131 that can form a middle section of the gangway side wall and to which notice boards or screens can be attached. This rigid panel 131 is held by beams 132 in the holding structure 130.
To aid the movement of the flexible sections of the side panel 105, 105', support rollers 133, 133' are provided. These can also ensure that the gap between the side panel 105, 105' and the rigid panel 131 is kept to a minimum and thereby to avoid elements to be moved behind the rigid panel 131 together with a movement of the flexible section of the side panel 105, 105'.
If the multi-car vehicle goes around a bend and the longitudinal extend of the gangway side wall as shown in Fig. 8, 9, 10 needs to be shortened, the flexible sections of the side panels 105, 105' will be wrapped further around the support element 115. In doing so, the parts of the side panel 105, 105' that stick out from behind the rigid panel 131 will be shortened and thereby the gangway sidewall will be shortened along its longitudinal extend. If the gangway side wall is to be extended further along its longitudinal extend, the flexible sections of the side panels 105, 105' are unwrapped from the support element (cylinder) 115, thereby lengthening the parts of the side panel 105, 105' that stick out sideways from the rigid panel 131.
The embodiment shown in Fig. 11 and 12 is an embodiment, where two side panels 205, 205' are provided. Similar to the embodiment shown in the Fig. 8, 9, 10, one free end of the respective side panel 205, 205' is attached directly to the respective first car or second car, thereby providing a second connection of the gangway side wall. Both side panels 205, 205' of the gangway sidewall have first connections 206, 206' that connect the side panel to other parts of the gangway, namely a support frame (not shown). The first connections 206, 206' have support elements 215, 215' in form of cylinders, around which the respective other end of the side panel can be wrapped up to be bend into the form of an arch, namely to be wrapped up into the form of a tube. To do so, the first connection 206, 206' has a fixing element (not shown) that is held stationary by the support structure of the gangway and around which the respective flexible sections of the side panel 205, 205' can be rotated while forming said arch.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11 and 12 covers 234, 234' that also function as deflection elements are provided. These covers are connected to a rigid middle section 231 of the gangway side wall.
If the gangway sidewall of the embodiment shown in the Fig. 11 and 12 is to be shortened, the flexible sections of the side panels 205, 205' will be wrapped up more about the support element 215, 215', thereby reducing the length of the side panel. If the length of the gangway side wall is to be extended, the side panel 205, 205' is unwrapped from the support element 215, 215'.
Fig. 13 shows that for the design shown in Fig. 5 it is possible to extend the length of the torsional spring 24' and to reduce the length of the fixed axle 23'. The design of Fig. 13 shows, that it can be advantageous to provide the rotational support of the support element 15' by means of roller bearings 35 at the top end and bottom end of the cylinder that forms the support element 15'. In the middle of the torsional spring 24', a connection to the support element is provided.
Fig. 14 shows that in the design of the Fig. 8, 9 and 10, the support element 115 can be rotationally supported by bearings 135 on a fixed axle 123 and pretensioned by a torsional spring 124 that is connected to the fixed axle 123 at one end and connected to the support element 115 in the middle (not shown). The fixed axle 123 rests on a panel support 136 and thereby supports the support element 115 and the first connection on parts that form the gangway floor.
The embodiment shown in Fig. 15 to 17 make use of a middle, rigid side panel 200 arranged on either side of the rigid middle side panel 200 is a side panel 201 and 202 according to the invention. The two side panels according to the invention (201, 202) and the middle rigid side panel 200 make up together the side wall of the gangway. The side panels 201, 202 are provided with second connections 203. This second connection connects the side panels 201, 202 respectively to the rigid middle side panel 200. This second connection 203 can be made to allow the rigid panel 200 to tilt relative to the side panels 201, 202. For example the second connection 203 can allow the top parts of the side panels 201, 202 to spread in the direction of the arrows A further apart from each other then the bottom of the side panels as indicated by the arrows B.
The side panels 201, 202 have first connections 204. These first connections have support elements in form of a cylinder and are designed similar to the design shown in the Fig. 1, 2, 5, 7, which allow the flexible section of the side panel to be wrapped around this cylinder. The first connection 204 is connected to the floor of the respective car. A deflecting element 205 is provided sideways to each first connection to prevent objects to be pulled along the side panel when it is being wrapped up around the cylinder.
A gangway floor 210 for the gangway comprises a first panel 211 that has the shape of a segment of a circle. The gangway floor 210 also includes a second panel 212 that has the shape of a segment of a circle. The circle of which the panel 211, 212 form segments of has a radius R. As can be seen, the gangway floor is arranged between the floor 213 of the first car and the floor 214 of the second car. The radius R of the circle of which the floor panel 211 forms a segment of as well as the radius R of the circle of which the floor panel 212 forms a segment of is larger than 25% of the width W of the first car and the second car. The radius R is larger than 45% of W and approximately about 48% of W. Arranged between the floor panel 211 and the floor panel 212 are rectangular floor panels 215. The connection of the rectangular floor panels 215 to the panel 211 and the panel 212 is provided by means of a hinged connection. The hinged connection is obtained by the rectangular floor panels 215 having a tubular channel. An axle is arranged between projecting parts of the panel 211, 212. This axle will be arranged inside the tubular channel in the rectangular plate 215 and will thereby allow the rectangular floor panel 215 to swivel relative to the first panel 211 and the second panel 212 about the axis of this axle. If a rubber tubular member is introduced into the tubular channel and the axle is then introduced into the tubular rubber element, the rectangular floor panels will also be able to swivel about an axis perpendicular to the line of connection between the rectangular panels and the panels 211, 212.
The rectangular floor panels 215 are made from rubber reinforced by metal objects.
As can be seen from Fig. 16, the first floor panel 211 is arranged to rotate about a first axis F and the second floor panel 212 is arranged to rotate about a second axis G. The distance between the first axis and the second axis is 1.5 times the radius R of the circle of which the floor panel 211 and the floor panel 212 form a segment of.

Claims

Gangway side wall for a gangway between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle comprising a side panel, whereby
- the side panel is connected to a first connection at one side and connected to a second connection at a second side that is opposite the first side, whereby the first connection and the second connection are suitable to attach the side panel to other parts of the gangway or to the first car and/or the second car,

- the side panel at least in a section of its longitudinal extend is flexible to be bent into a concave or convex form, preferably into the form of an arch, said arch having an axis that is not horizontal,

- the first connection being suitable to hold the side panel such that it takes up a concave or convex form in the region of the first connection, preferably the form of an arch,

- the first connection has at least one fixing element that can be held stationary and around which said section can be rotated or said section can be moved around said fixing element while taking up said concave or convex form.
Gangway side wall according to claim 1, whereby
- the side panel at least in a first section in the region of the first connection and in a second section in the region of the second connection is flexible to be bent into a concave or convex form, preferably into the form of a first arch and a second arch, said arches each having an axis that is not horizontal,

- the first connection being suitable to hold the side panel such that it takes up a concave or convex form, preferably the form of an arch,

- the first connection has at least one fixing element that can be held stationary and around which said section can be rotated or said section can be moved around said fixing element while taking up said concave or concave form,

- the second connection is suitable to hold the side panel such that it takes up a concave or convex form in the region of the second connection, preferably the form of an arch,

- the second connection has at least one fixing element that can be held stationary and around which said section can be rotated or said section can be moved around said fixing element while taking up said concave or convex form.
Gangway side wall according to claim 2, whereby the axis of the first arch is parallel to the axis of the second arch.
Gangway side wall according to any one of claims 1 to 3, whereby the first connection has a support element that at least has a surface portion that has the shape of an arch, whereby the side panel contacts at least a part of this surface portion.
Gangway side wall according to claim 4, whereby the support element has a bearing and is supported by this bearing to rotate or pivot about an axle.
Gangway side wall according to claim 4, whereby the side panel can glide over at least a part of this surface portion of the support element.
Gangway side wall according to any one of claims 4 to 6, whereby the support element is a cylinder or a pipe or a ring or a disc.
Gangway side wall according to any one of claims 1 to 7, whereby the side panel has a first end, which is arranged such that it can move relative to the first connection, especially whereby the gangway side wall is designed such that the first connection and the second connection can change their position relative to one another and can be arranged closer to one another or further apart from one another and whereby the first end moves further away from the first connection in driving conditions, where the distance between the first connection and the second connection is shortened.
Gangway side wall according claim 8, whereby the side panel has a second end, which is arranged such that it can move relative to the second connection, especially whereby the gangway side wall is designed such that the first connection and the second connection can change their position relative to one another and can be arranged closer to one another or further apart from one another and whereby the second end moves further away from the second connection in driving conditions, where the distance between the first connection and the second connection is shortened.
Gangway side wall according to any one of claims 1 to 9, whereby the side panel has a first end, which is arranged such that it can move around an axis in order to wrap a section of the side panel into tubular wrap around the axis, especially whereby the gangway side wall is designed such that the first connection and the second connection can change their position relative to one another and can be arranged closer to one another or further apart from one another and whereby the first end moves further around the axis and wraps more of the side panel into the tubular wrap in driving conditions, where the distance between the first connection and the second connection is shortened.
Gangway side wall according to claim 10, whereby the side panel has a second end, which is arranged such that it can move around an axis in order to wrap a section of the side panel into tubular wrap around the axis, especially whereby the gangway side wall is designed such that the first connection and the second connection can change their position relative to one another and can be arranged closer to one another or further apart from one another and whereby the second end moves further around the axis and wraps more of the side panel into the tubular wrap in driving conditions, where the distance between the first connection and the second connection is shortened.
Gangway side wall according to any one of claims 1 to 11, whereby the side panel in a section of its horizontal extend is rigid and can not be bend into the form of an arch, whereby this rigid section preferably is a panel suitable for the attachment of notice-boards, advertising panels, monitor-screens or the like.
Gangway side wall according to any one of claims 1 to 12, whereby the section of the side panel along its horizontal extend that is flexible to be bent into the form of an arch, is made from rubber, preferably reinforced rubber such as rubber reinforced by metal objects and/or reinforced by textile fabric or is made from a different elastic material and/or rubber that has been plated with sectional rigid elements.
Gangway to be arranged between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle, the gangway having a gangway side wall according to any one of the claims 1 to 13 and further having a gangway floor and a gangway ceiling.
Gangway according to one of claim 14, whereby the gangway floor contains at least a first rectangular panel and a second rectangular panel, whereby the second panel can move relative to the first panel, especially whereby the second panel can move under the first panel and further especially whereby the first panel and the second panel can take a first relative position to one another, in which the longitudinal axis of the first and second panel are parallel to one another and whereby in a second relative position the longitudinal axis of the first panel is at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the second panel.
Gangway according to any one of claims 14 or 15 whereby the gangway floor has a first floor panel that has the shape of a sector of a circle or the shape of a segment of a circle and a second floor panel that has the shape of a sector of a circle or the shape of a segment of a circle and at least one rectangular floor panel is arranged between the first floor panel and the second floor panel.