EP3795445B1 - Device for covering a gangway of a vehicle and vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, including such a covering device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for covering a footbridge of a vehicle. The present invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising such a covering device.

In a vehicle made up of several cars, in particular in a railway vehicle such as, for example, a tram or a train, the cars are connected in pairs by footbridges. Each of these walkways comprises a flat floor, often formed of several plates, as well as walls made of flexible material, for example rubber, configured in an accordion shape and which constitute bellows. The walls of the gangway are generally visible from the outside of the vehicle, which is not aesthetic.

DE29716956U1 provides a canvas to camouflage such a gateway. A first side of the canvas is attached to a first of the two cars connected by the gangway. This fixing is covered by a sheet. A second side of the canvas is attached to a spring roller. The spring roller is attached to the second car and covered with a sheet. Thus, thanks to the canvas, the gangway is no longer visible from outside the vehicle. In addition, the presence of the spring roller allows the canvas to follow the movement of the vehicle when it turns. In fact, in a bend, one side of the gangway becomes smaller and the other grows. The spring-loaded roller allows the canvas to be unwound or rolled up as needed, so that it is permanently stretched and covers the entire gangway. This canvas surface can be used for advertising or providing information to travelers.

However, the camouflage of the gangway being made by a canvas, this creates a break in the aesthetics of the vehicle. Indeed, the walls of cars are rigid, unlike the canvas, and the difference in materials can be harmful to the aesthetics of the vehicle. In addition, a canvas is relatively fragile and can be easily vandalized.

It is these drawbacks that the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a device that is more aesthetic and more robust than current solutions.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for covering a footbridge of a vehicle comprising a first car and a second car, connected to the first car by the footbridge. The covering device comprises a mobile screen provided with a front face visible from outside the vehicle and a rear face facing the gangway in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle. This wrapping device also comprises means for mounting the screen on the first car and on the second car in the mounted configuration of the wrapping device on the vehicle and masking means. According to the invention, the screen is rigid and the masking means comprise a first rail intended to be fixed to the first car in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle and a second rail intended to be fixed to the second. car in the mounted configuration of the wrapping device on the vehicle, each rail extending along the rear face of the screen. In addition, the mounting means comprise at least one first member for supporting the screen relative to the first car in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle and at least one second member for supporting the screen relative to the first car. to the second car in the mounted configuration of the wrapping device on the vehicle.

Thanks to the invention, the screen, present on at least one of the sides of the gangway, makes it possible to camouflage the majority of the gangway, so that it is not visible from outside the vehicle. In addition, the mounting means allow the screen to move when the vehicle turns to prevent it from being stressed in compression or in traction. The rigidity of the screen gives it good strength and ensures aesthetic continuity between the cars and the screen.

• chaque organe de support est muni d'un ressort de rappel ;
• en configuration montée du dispositif d'habillage sur le véhicule, le ressort de rappel tend à ramener l'écran dans une position d'origine où sa face avant est, approximativement au moins, alignée avec un côté d'une des voitures ;
• chaque organe de support est un polygone déformable fixé, en configuration montée du dispositif d'habillage sur le véhicule, à la fois sur la voiture concernée et sur l'écran, de préférence, le polygone déformable est un losange dont les sommets sont des liaisons pivot, l'un des sommets étant relié à la voiture concernée et le sommet opposé étant relié à l'écran en configuration montée du dispositif d'habillage sur le véhicule ;
• chaque écran est muni d'au moins un galet adapté pour être en appui sur l'un des rails en configuration montée du dispositif d'habillage sur le véhicule ;
• chaque rail présente une première partie rectiligne de fixation à la voiture concernée en configuration montée du dispositif d'habillage sur le véhicule, une deuxième partie rectiligne située entre l'écran et la passerelle en configuration montée du dispositif d'habillage sur le véhicule et une troisième partie de liaison de la première partie à la deuxième partie, la troisième partie formant, en vue de dessus, une zone d'inflexion ;
• en configuration montée du dispositif d'habillage sur le véhicule, la première partie rectiligne du rail est parallèle au côté de la voiture concernée et la deuxième partie rectiligne du rail est parallèle à la première partie du rail ;
• en configuration montée du dispositif d'habillage sur le véhicule, la deuxième partie rectiligne du rail est, en position d'origine, parallèle à l'écran et, après mouvement de l'écran par rapport aux première et deuxième voitures, la deuxième partie rectiligne du rail forme un angle non nul et inférieur à 90° avec la face arrière de l'écran ; et
• la face avant de l'écran supporte des moyens d'affichage.

According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a covering device can incorporate one or more of the following characteristics, taken in any technically admissible combination:

• each support member is provided with a return spring;
• in the mounted configuration of the wrapping device on the vehicle, the return spring tends to return the screen to an original position where its front face is, approximately at least, aligned with one side of one of the cars;
• each support member is a deformable polygon fixed, in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle, both on the car concerned and on the screen, preferably, the deformable polygon is a rhombus whose vertices are links pivot, one of the vertices being connected to the car in question and the opposite vertex being connected to the screen in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle;
• each screen is provided with at least one roller suitable for resting on one of the rails in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle;
• each rail has a first rectilinear part for fixing to the car in question in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle, a second rectilinear part located between the screen and the gateway in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle and a third connecting part of the first part to the second part, the third part forming, in top view, a zone of 'inflection;
• in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle, the first rectilinear part of the rail is parallel to the side of the car concerned and the second rectilinear part of the rail is parallel to the first part of the rail;
• in the mounted configuration of the covering device on the vehicle, the second rectilinear part of the rail is, in its original position, parallel to the screen and, after movement of the screen relative to the first and second cars, the second part rectilinear rail forms a non-zero angle less than 90 ° with the rear face of the screen; and
• the front face of the screen supports display means.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising a first car, a second car and a gangway connecting the first car to the second car. The vehicle also includes at least one covering device as described above, mounted on one side of the gangway.

This vehicle has the same advantages as those mentioned above with regard to the trim device.

• [Fig 1] la figure 1 est une vue schématique partielle de côté d'un véhicule équipé d'un dispositif d'habillage d'une passerelle, le dispositif d'habillage étant selon l'invention ;
• [Fig 2] la figure 2 est une vue schématique de dessus d'une partie du véhicule de la figure 1, lorsqu'il progresse en ligne droite; et
• [Fig 3] la figure 3 est une vue de dessus analogue à la figure 2, lorsque le véhicule effectue un virage.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will emerge more clearly in the light of the following description of an embodiment of a vehicle, given solely by way of example and made by reference. to the drawings, in which:

• [ Fig 1 ] the figure 1 is a partial schematic side view of a vehicle fitted with a covering device for a gangway, the covering device being according to the invention;
• [ Fig 2 ] the figure 2 is a schematic top view of part of the vehicle of the figure 1 , when progressing in a straight line; and
• [ Fig 3 ] the figure 3 is a top view similar to the figure 2 , when the vehicle is making a turn.

The figure 1 shows a vehicle 2, of the tram type, comprising a first car 4 and a second car 6. The second car 6 is connected to the first car 4 by a walkway 8 camouflaged by a covering device 9.

Subsequently, the description of the covering device 9 is given in the case where the covering device 9 is mounted on the vehicle 2.

In the configuration shown in figures 1 and 2 , the vehicle 2 is moving in a straight line. This movement is represented in the figures by the arrow S which represents the direction of movement of the vehicle 2. The description of the components of the vehicle 2 is made in this configuration of movement in a straight line.

Gateway 8 is used to connect the two cars 4 and 6 to allow passengers to pass. It includes right 82 and left 84 side walls and a roof 86, which are rubber and accordion-like. These parts 82, 84 and 86 of the gangway protect the passengers from external conditions, such as wind or rain, when they pass from the first car 4 to the second car 6 or vice versa. The walls 82 and 84 and the roof 86 form a bellows structure which can deform depending on the relative position of the cars 4 and 6.

Each of the walls 82 and 84 of the gateway 8 is partially camouflaged by a movable screen 10 belonging to the covering device 9.

Each screen 10 is rigid, in order to be able to ensure aesthetic continuity between the cars 4 and 6 and the screen 10. This also allows the screen 10 to accommodate various display means, such as supports for posters. or liquid crystal displays.

In a straight line, the cars 4 and 6 are aligned and the screens 10 are parallel to the direction of travel S. In this configuration, defining an original position, the screens 10 are parallel to the lateral sides 42, 44, 62 and 64 cars 4 and 6. The lateral sides 42, 44, 62 and 64 are, in their original position, mutually parallel and parallel to the direction of travel S.

As visible at the figure 2 , each screen 10 defines a front face 12, visible from outside the vehicle 2, and a rear face 14, facing the gateway 8. In the original position, the front face 12 of the screen 10 on the right is , approximately at least, aligned with the side 42 of the first car 4 and with the side 62 of the second car 6. Likewise, the front face 12 of the left screen 10 is, approximately at least, aligned with side 44 of the first car 4 and with side 64 of the second car 6.

As visible at the figure 1 , each screen 10 also defines a first edge 11 and a second edge 13 which are generally vertical in the mounted configuration of the screen and which extend respectively facing the car 4 and the car 6. Each screen 10 defines also an upper edge 15 and a lower edge 17.

Each screen 10 is rectangular and flat. Thus, the faces 12 and 14 are plane, the edges 11 to 17 are rectilinear, the edges 11 and 13 are mutually parallel, as are the edges 15 and 17, and two adjacent edges are perpendicular.

In the following, only the screen 10 located on the left of the gateway 8 with respect to the direction of movement S is described. The screen 10 located to the right of the gateway 8 in relation to the direction of movement S is identical to the screen 10 on the left and is positioned so that, in its original position, it is symmetrical with the screen on the left with respect to the direction of travel S.

The screen 10 on the left is attached to cars 4 and 6 by means of mounting means, belonging to the trim device 9, placed on the first car 4 and on the second car 6. These mounting means comprise, for the connection between the screen 10 and the first car 4, two support members 16 fixed both on the screen 10 and on the first car 4 and, for the connection between the screen 10 and the second car 6, two support members support 16, fixed both on the second car 6 and on the screen 10.

Each support member 16 has, in top view, that is to say in the plane of the figure 2 , the shape of a diamond whose vertices are pivot links 24 and 26. A first pivot link 24 is fixed to the first car 4 or to the second car 6 and a second pivot link 26, opposite to the first pivot link 24 , is fixed to the screen 10. A first leg 25, rigid and rectilinear, connects the first pivot connection 24 of a support member 16 to the car 4 or 6 on which this support member 16 is mounted. A second leg 27, rigid and curved in the plane of the figure 2 , connects the second pivot link 26 of a support member 16 to the rear face 14 of the screen 10.

The pivot connection 24 of each support member 16 is at a fixed distance d1 from the car on which this support member 16 is fixed. The distance d1 is measured orthogonally to the screen 10, therefore to the direction of movement S in the original configuration. In the example, the distance d1 is equal to the length of the first leg 25.

The legs 27 of two of the four support members 16 are fixed to the rear face 14 of the screen 10 at a distance d2, measured parallel to the direction of movement S, from the edge 11. The legs 27 of the other two support members 16 are fixed on the rear face 14 at a distance d2 'from the edge 13. The distances d2 and d2' are much less than the length of the edges 15 and 17, each preferably less than 20% of the length of an edge 15 or 17. Thus, the screen 10 is equipped with two support members 16 located in the vicinity of each edge 11 and 13. The distances d2 and d2 'are preferably equal.

Two of the support members 16 are fixed, respectively, on the cars 4 and 6 and on the screen 10 at a distance d3, measured parallel to the front face 12 and perpendicular to the direction of travel S, that is to say vertically, from the upper edge 15. The two other support members 16 are fixed on the cars 4 and 6 and on the screen 10 at a distance d3 'from the lower edge 17, measured parallel to the distance d3. The distances d3 and d3 'are much less than the length of the edges 11 and 13, each preferably less than 10% of the length of an edge 15 or 13. The distances d3 and d3' are preferably equal.

Thus, in projection on the rear face 14 of the screen 10, the support members 16 form the vertices of a rectangle.

Thus, the screen 10 is suspended between the cars 4 and 6, thanks to the support members 16.

Each support member 16 comprises a return spring 18.

Each car 4 and 6 is provided with masking means belonging to the covering device 9.

The masking means comprise a first rail 22 fixed on the first car 4 and a second rail 22 fixed on the second car 6, on each of the left and right sides of these cars. There are therefore four rails 22 in all.

In the following, only the means of masking the car 4 will be described.

Each rail 22 comprises a first rectilinear part 222, parallel to the side 42 or 44 of the first car 4 and fixed on this side of the first car 4, and a second rectilinear part 224, parallel to the first rectilinear part 222 of the rail 22, placed between the rear face 14 and the gateway 8, which extends the rail 22 along the rear face 14 of the screen 10. In addition, in top view, as in figure 2 , the rail 22 comprises an inflection zone 223 which connects the first rectilinear part 222 to the second rectilinear part 224.

The screen 10 is provided with at least one roller 20, which may for example be a ball joint, configured to rest and, if necessary, roll on the rail 22. In the example of the figures, the screen 10 is provided with four rollers 20 arranged in groups of two in the vicinity of the edges 11 and 13 and intended to bear against two rails 22 respectively attached to the cars 4 and 6. In practice, two rollers arranged in the vicinity of the same edge 11 or 13 are located one above the other on the rear face 14 of a screen 10.

Thus, the rail 22 hides the part of the gangway 8 which was not camouflaged by the screen 10 and participates in guiding the movements of the screen 10 relative to the cars 4 and 6.

The covering device 9 comprises the screen 10, the support members 16 of the screen 10 to the cars 4 and 6, the rail 22 fixed to the first car 4, the rail 22 fixed to the second car 6 and the rollers 20 resting on the rails 22.

The figure 3 shows vehicle 2 during a left turn along a curve C. Cars 4 and 6 are, in this configuration, no longer aligned with each other, even if they remain generally aligned with the direction of travel represented by the arrow S.

Inside curve C, i.e. on the left side of vehicle 2, cars 4 and 6 tend to approach each other. On the contrary, on the outside of curve C, i.e. on the right side of vehicle 2, cars 4 and 6 tend to pull away. Thus, the gangway surface 8 to be camouflaged is greater on the right side of the vehicle 2 than on the left side.

In order to adapt the position of the screens 10 to the position of the cars 4 and 6, the support members 16 are deformed in order to be able to let the rollers 20 slide or roll along the rails 22. A screen 10 is therefore not stressed in compression or traction when the distance between the first car 4 and the second car 6 varies, on one side of the vehicle 2.

Preferably, the screens 10 move relative to the cars 4 and 6 so as to be always parallel to each other.

In the curved configuration of the figure 3 , each screen 10 is no longer parallel to the sides 42, 44, 62 and 64 of the coaches 4 and 6. The second rectilinear parts 224 of the rails 22 then each form an angle a, not zero and less than 90 °, with the face rear 14 of the adjacent screen 10.

When the vehicle 2 returns in a straight line, and therefore the first car 4 and the second car 6 are again aligned in the direction of travel S, the return springs 18 tend to return the support members 16 to a neutral position , therefore the screens 10 to their original position of the figure 2 , in a position of equilibrium.

Each screen 10 can support, on its front face 12, display means, such as liquid crystal screens or supports for advertising posters, to allow the screen 10 to be personalized.

Thus, the invention makes it possible to aesthetically camouflage the gangway 8, while providing a display area to enable users of the vehicle 2 or people located outside the vehicle 2 to be informed.

In the example of the figures, each screen 10 completely conceals the height of the wall 82 or 84 in front of which it is mounted. Alternatively, at least one screen 10 only partially camouflages the height of the wall 82 or 84 in front of which it is mounted, because its height is less than that of the walkway 8. In all cases, a screen 10 does not camouflage an entire wall 82 or 84 since 'it extends at a distance from the cars 4 and 6, being suspended between them thanks to the support members 16. The rails 22 make it possible to fill the gap between a screen 10 and the cars 4 and 6 and contribute to the total camouflage of the gateway 8.

As a variant, the number of support members 16 is greater or less than four. In any case, the number of support members 16 is at least two, one being fixed to the first car 4 and the other being fixed to the second car 6.

As a variant, the support members 16 have the shape of a deformable polygon other than a rhombus, for example a crossed pentagon.

As a variant, a screen 10 can be provided on only one side, left or right, of the gateway 8.

As a variant, the screen or screens 10 can have a shape other than rectangular, or even be non-planar.

As a variant, the rollers 20 are replaced by rollers or other elements bearing against the rails 22.

Alternatively, the vehicle can include more than two cars. In this case, the cars are connected two by two by gateways 8 and screens 10 are arranged on either side of each gateway 8.

The invention is described above in the case of an application to a railway vehicle, of the tram type. It is however applicable to other railway vehicles, of the train type, and to articulated non-railway vehicles, of the trolley type.

The embodiments and the variants mentioned above can be combined with one another to generate new embodiments forming part of the protection perimeter defined by the set of claims.

Claims (10)

1. A trim device (9) for a gangway (8) of a vehicle (2) comprising:

   • a first car (4);

   • a second car (6) connected to the first car by the gangway;

   the trim device comprising:

   • a movable screen (10) provided with a front face (12) visible from the outside of the vehicle and a rear face (14) facing toward the gangway in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle;

   • means (16) for mounting the screen on the first car and on the second car in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle; and

   • concealing means (22),

   characterized in that the screen is rigid, in that the concealing means comprise a first rail (22) provided to be fastened to the first car (4) in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle and a second rail (22) provided to be fastened to the second car (6) in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle, each rail extending along the rear face (14) of the screen, and in that the mounting means comprise at least a first support member (16) of the screen relative to the first car in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle and at least a second support member (16) of the screen relative to the second car in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle.
2. The trim device (9) according to claim 1, characterized in that each support member (16) is provided with a return spring (18).
3. The trim device (9) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle, the return spring (18) tends to return the screen (10) to an original position where its front face (12) is at least approximately aligned with one side (42, 44, 62, 64) of one of the cars (4, 6).
4. The trim device (9) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each support member (16) is a deformable polygon fastened, in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle, simultaneously on the concerned car (4, 6) and on the screen (10), and in that preferably, the deformable polygon (16) is a diamond whereof the apices are pivot links, one (24) of the apices being connected to the concerned car (4, 6) and the opposite apex (26) being connected to the screen (10) in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle.
5. The trim device (9) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each screen (10) is provided with at least one roller (20) suitable for bearing on one of the rails (22) in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle.
6. The trim device (9) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each rail (22) has a first rectilinear part (222) for fastening to the concerned car (4, 6) in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle, a second rectilinear part (224) located between the screen (10) and the gangway (8) in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle and a third part (223) for connecting the first part to the second part, the third part forming an inflection zone when seen from above.
7. The trim device (9) according to claim 6, characterized in that, in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle, the first rectilinear part (222) of the rail (22) is parallel to the side of the concerned car (4, 6) and the second rectilinear part (224) of the rail is parallel to the first part of the rail.
8. The trim device (9) according to claims 3 and 6, characterized in that, in the configuration of the trim device mounted on the vehicle, the second rectilinear part (224) of the rail (22) is, in the original position, parallel to the screen (10) and, after movement of the screen relative to the first and second cars (4, 6), the second rectilinear part of the rail forms a non-zero angle (α) of less than 90° with the rear face (14) of the screen.
9. The trim device (9) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front face (12) of the screen (10) bears display means.
10. A vehicle (2), in particular a rail vehicle, comprising a first car (4), a second car (6) and a gangway (8) connecting the first car to the second car, characterized in that it comprises at least one trim device (9) according to any one of the preceding claims mounted on one side of the gangway (8).

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