EP4520615A1

EP4520615A1 - Sleeping berth structure for a vehicle sleeping compartment

Info

Publication number: EP4520615A1
Application number: EP24198092.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Abhishek Anand; Rahul Arora; Sayan Rakshit; Shantanu JOSHI
Original assignee: Alstom Holdings SA
Current assignee: Alstom Holdings SA
Priority date: 2023-09-06
Filing date: 2024-09-03
Publication date: 2025-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2044-09-03
Also published as: US20250074481A1; EP4520615B1; ES3057796T3

Abstract

The sleeping berth structure (10) for a vehicle sleeping compartment comprises a vertical post (12), a partition wall, extending from the vertical post, a first berth (18A), located on a first side (16A) of the partition wall, the first berth comprising a frame (26) and a cushion (24), and a first horizontal beam (34A), located on the first side of the partition wall and extending from the vertical post perpendicular to the partition wall to support an extremity of the first berth. To reduce the bulk of the berth structure, improve its aesthetics and reduce the risk of injury of a user the sleeping berth structure, the frame of the first berth comprises a hollow extruded beam (30), and the first horizontal beam is received inside the hollow extruded beam of the frame of the first berth.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a sleeping berth structure for a vehicle sleeping compartment, such as a railway vehicle sleeping compartment.

BACKGROUND ART

Long-distance vehicles, such as railway vehicles, running at night usually have sleeping compartments equipped with sleeping berth structures.
Such sleeping berth structures usually comprise a vertical post and a partition wall extending from the vertical post to a wall of the vehicle, to separate two areas of the sleeping compartment. In known sleeping berth structures, a berth is generally attached to the vertical post by means of a bracket, which comprises a vertical base, screwed or welded to the vertical post and a horizontal support, welded to the base.
The horizontal support generally consists of an L-shaped profile, the berth being supported and screwed to the horizontal section of the L-shaped profile. The strength of such L-shaped profile is generally not sufficient to support the weight of the berth. Thus, the bracket usually comprises a reinforcement arm welded to the base and to the L-shaped profile to reinforce the mechanical strength of the bracket.
This type of bracket is not aesthetically pleasing, as the reinforcement arm and a large number of screws and welds are visible. In addition, a large number of screws protrudes from the bracket, posing a risk of injury.
Therefore, there is a need for a more aesthetic and secure way to attach a berth to a vertical post.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the invention relates to a sleeping berth structure for a vehicle sleeping compartment comprising:

a vertical post,
a partition wall, extending from the vertical post,
a first berth, located on a first side of the partition wall, the first berth comprising a frame and a cushion, and
a first horizontal beam, located on the first side of the partition wall and extending from the vertical post perpendicular to the partition wall to support an extremity of the first berth.

According to the invention, the frame of the first berth comprises a hollow extruded beam, and the first horizontal beam is received inside the hollow extruded beam of the frame of the first berth.
An advantage of the invention is that the first horizontal beam is not visible to users of the berth because the first horizontal beam is received within the hollow extruded beam. In addition, the first horizontal beam provides sufficient strength to support the weight of the berth. The sleeping berth structure is thus more aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, the bulk of the sleeping berth structure is reduced. In addition, risks of injury of users of the sleeping berth structure is reduced, as the berth structure presents less protruding parts.
According to advantageous aspects of the invention, the sleeping berth structure comprises one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any possible combination:

The first horizontal beam is fastened to the hollow extruded beam of the frame of the first berth with fasteners and the fasteners are concealed by the cushion of the first berth.
The first horizontal beam has a rectangular cross-section.
The sleeping berth structure further comprises a second berth, located on a second side of the partition wall opposite to the first side, the second berth comprising a frame and a cushion, and a second horizontal beam, located on the second side of the partition wall and extending from the vertical post perpendicular to the partition wall to support an extremity of the second berth. Furthermore, the frame of the second berth comprises a hollow extruded beam, the second horizontal beam is received inside the hollow extruded beam of the frame of the second berth, the first horizontal beam is fixed to a first mounting plate extending perpendicular to the first horizontal beam, the first mounting plate having an interior face, facing the vertical post, and an exterior face, opposite to the vertical post, the second horizontal beam is fixed to a second mounting plate extending perpendicular to the second horizontal beam, the second mounting plate having an interior face, facing the vertical post, and an exterior face, opposite to the vertical post, and the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are fixed together, clamping the vertical post between them.
The first horizontal beam is fixed to the first mounting plate with at least one first fastening device, a head of the at least one first fastening device being tightened against the interior face of the first mounting plate, and the second horizontal beam is fixed to the second mounting plate with at least one second fastening device, a head of the at least one second fastening device being tightened against the interior face of the second mounting plate.
The first horizontal beam is fixed to the first mounting plate with two first fastening device, a head of each of the two first fastening device being tightened against the interior face of the first mounting plate, and the second horizontal beam is fixed to the second mounting plate with two second fastening device, a head of each of the two second fastening device being tightened against the interior face of the second mounting plate.
The vertical post comprises a first recess, the first mounting plate being received in the first recess so as not to protrude from the vertical post, and the vertical post comprises a second recess, the second mounting plate being received in the second recess so as not to protrude from the vertical post.
The first mounting plate comprises at least two blind threaded holes, opening on the interior face of the first mounting plate, the second mounting plate comprises at least two countersunk through-holes, with the countersink located on the exterior face of the second mounting plate, and the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are fixed together with screws, each screw having a threaded rod extending through one of the countersunk through-holes and through the vertical post and screwed into one of the at least two threaded hole of the first mounting plate, and a countersunk head sitting in the countersink of one of the at least two countersunk through-holes of the second mounting plate.
The first mounting plate and the second mounting plate each have a height, measured along the vertical post, comprised between 100 mm and 700 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly upon reading the following description of an exemplary sleeping berth structure, provided solely as an example and made in reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of a sleeping compartment according to the invention, comprising a vertical post, a partition wall and six berths.
[Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the sleeping compartment of Figure 1 from another angle, showing the fixation of two berth on the vertical post.
[Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a cut view along plane III of Figure 2.
[Fig. 4] Figure 4 is a cut view along plane IV of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary sleeping berth structure 10. The sleeping berth structure 10 is intended for a vehicle sleeping compartment, such as for a railway vehicle sleeping compartment.
The sleeping berth structure 10 comprises a vertical post 12, extending along a vertical axis Z. An X axis and a Y axis are also defined as two axes perpendicular to each other and to the vertical axis Z.
The sleeping berth structure 10 comprises a partition wall 14, extending from the vertical post 12 along the X axis. Hence, the partition wall 14 extends parallel to the Z axis and to the X axis. The partition wall 14 extends to a side wall of the vehicle sleeping compartment, not shown, and is fixed to the side wall via a bracket 15. The partition wall 14 separates two areas of the sleeping compartment: a first area is located on a first side 16A of the partition wall 14, along the Y axis, and a second area is located on a second side 16B of the partition wall 14, along the Y axis.
In the example, along the vertical axis Z, the vertical post 12 and the partition wall 14 extend to a rail 17. The rail 17 extends along the X axis and is fixed, for example, to a ceiling (not shown) of the vehicle sleeping compartment.
In the exemplary embodiment, the sleeping berth structure 10 comprises four berths: three berths 18A, 20A and 22A are located on the first side 16A and one berth 18B is located on the second side 16B. The berths 18A and 18B are aligned along the vertical axis Z. The berth structure 10 is intended to comprise two more berth on the second side 16B, which are not represented for the simplicity of the figures. Among these two non-represented berths, one is aligned with the berth 20A and is one aligned with the berth 22A along the vertical axis Z. The berths 18A and 18B are top berth, the berth 20A and the non-represented berth aligned with the berth 20A are middle berths and the berth 22A and the non-represented berth aligned with the berth 22A are bottom berths.
Each berth 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B comprises a cushion 24 and a frame 26. The cushion 24 of each berth rests on the frame 26 of the berth and is preferably fixed to the frame using clips or other means of attachment.
As shown in figure 4, the frame 26 of each berth 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B comprises a base 28, extending in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis Z, and an outer hollow extruded beam 30. The base 28 is surrounded by the hollow extruded beam 30 and by the partition wall 14. In the example, the base 28 of a berth is fixed to the outer hollow extruded beam 30 of said berth with screws 31.
The hollow extruded beam 30 has an internal opening 32 with, in the example, a rectangular cross-section.
Each berth 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B is fixed to the vertical post 12 at one of its extremities along the X axis. Preferably, each berth is also fixed to the side wall at the other of its extremity along the X axis. In the example, only the berth 18A is shown fixed to the side wall, with a bracket 33.
The fixation of the berths 18A and 18B to the vertical post 12 is described with more details in reference to Figures 2 to 4. The fixation of the two middle berths, including the berth 20A, on the one hand, and the fixation of the two bottom berths, including the berth 22A, on the other hand, to the vertical post 12 is similar to the fixation of the berths 18A and 18B to the vertical post.
At the extremity of the berths 18A and 18B fixed to the vertical post 12, the hollow extruded beam 30 of the frame 26 of the berths extends from the vertical post 12 along the Y axis.
To fix the berths 18A and 18B to the vertical post 12, the sleeping berth structure 10 comprises a first horizontal beam 34A and a second horizontal beam 34B.
The first horizontal beam 34A is located in the first area, that is on the first side 16A of the partition wall 14, and extends from the vertical post 12 perpendicular to the partition wall 14, that is along the Y axis. The second horizontal beam 34B is located in the second area, that is on the second side 16B of the partition wall 14, and extends from the vertical post 12 perpendicular to the partition wall 14, that is along the Y axis.
To support the extremity of the berth 18A, the first horizontal beam 34A is received inside the hollow extruded beam 30 of the frame 26 of the berth 18A, more precisely inside the internal opening 32 of the hollow extruded beam. To support the extremity of the berth 18B, the second horizontal beam 34B is received inside the hollow extruded beam 30 of the frame 26 of the berth 18B, more precisely inside the internal opening 32 of the hollow extruded beam. In the example, the first horizontal beam 34A and the second horizontal beam 34B have a rectangular cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the internal opening 32 of the hollow extruded beams 30 of the berths 18A, 18B.
Preferably and as visible on Figure 4, the first horizontal beam 34A is fastened to the hollow extruded beam 30 of the frame 26 of the berth 18A and the second horizontal beam 34B is fastened to the hollow extruded beam 30 of the frame 26 of the berth 18B with fasteners 36, which are, in the example, screws. Hence, the first horizontal beam 34A and the second horizontal beam 34B are securely fixed respectively to the berth 18A and to the berth 18B. These fixations are easy to dismount, allowing the berth 18A and the berth 18B to be separated from the vertical post 12, for example for maintenance purposes. Advantageously, the screws 36 are positioned so that they are hidden, or concealed, by the cushion 24 of the berth 18A, 18B when the cushion is placed on the frame 26.
Preferably, the sleeping berth structure 10 comprises a first mounting plate 40A, located on the first side 16A, and a second mounting plate 40B, located on the second side 16B. Both mounting plates have an elongated shape extending parallel to the partition wall 14, along the vertical post 12. Each of the first and second mounting plates 40A, 40B has a height H40, measured along the vertical axis Z, comprised between 100 mm and 700 mm.
The first mounting plate 40A has an interior face 42A facing the vertical post 12 and an exterior face 44A, opposite to the vertical post and facing the first berth 18A. Similarly, the second mounting plate 40B has an interior face 42B facing the vertical post 12 and an exterior face 44B, opposite to the vertical post and facing the second berth 18B.
The first horizontal beam 34A is fixed to the first mounting plate 40A and the second horizontal beam 34B is fixed to the second mounting plate 40B. To this end, the sleeping berth structure 10 comprises two first fastening devices 46A, each having a head 48A, and two second fastening devices 46B, each having a head 48B. In the example, the fastening devices 46A, 46B are screws.
Furthermore, the first mounting plate 40A comprises two through-holes 50A, the second mounting plate 40B comprises two through-holes 50B, the first horizontal beam 34A comprises two holes 51A and the second horizontal beam 34B comprises two holes 51B, which all extend along the Y axis.
The two first fastening devices 46A are each screwed into one of the two holes 51A of the first horizontal beam 34A, passing through one of the two through-holes 50A of the first mounting plate 40A, with their heads 48A tightened against the interior face 42A of the first mounting plate. Similarly, the two second fastening devices 46B are each screwed into one of the two holes 51B of the second horizontal beam 34B, passing through one of the two through-holes 50B of the second mounting plate 40B, with their heads 48B tightened against the interior face 42B of the second mounting plate.
Preferably, the first and second horizontal beams 34A, 34B, comprises threaded inserts, not shown, located in the holes 51A, 51B, the screws 46A, 46B being screwed in the threaded inserts.
The first mounting plate 40A and the second mounting plate 40B are fixed together, clamping the vertical post 12 between them.
To this end, the first mounting plate 40A comprises at least two threaded holes 52, in the example four threaded holes 52, which are blind holes, i.e. non-through holes. The threaded holes 52 are opened on the interior face 42A of the first mounting plate 40A and extend along the Y axis. The second mounting plate 40B comprises at least two countersunk through-holes 54, with the countersinks located on the exterior face 44B of the second mounting plate 40B. The countersunk through-holes 54 extend along the Y axis.
The first mounting plate 40A and the second mounting plate 40B are fixed together with at least two screws 56, in the example with four screws 56. Each screw 56 comprises a threaded rod 58 and a countersunk head 60. The threaded rod 58 of each screw 56 extends through the vertical post 12 and is inserted in a countersunk through-hole 54, then through the vertical post, then screwed into one of the four threaded hole 52 of the first mounting plate 40A. The countersunk head 60 of each screw 56 is sitting in the countersink of one of the four through-holes 54 of the second mounting plate 40B. Hence, by screwing the screws 56 into the first mounting plate 40A, the vertical post 12 is clamped between the first and second mounting plates 40A, 40B and the first and second mounting plates are fixed together.
Thanks to this clamping of the mounting plates 40A, 40B around the vertical post 12 and the elongated shape of the mounting plates along the vertical axis Z, the first and second horizontal beams 34A, 34B are securely fastened to the vertical post enabling them to effectively support the weight of the berths 18A, 18B.
The use of screws 56 with countersunk heads 60 located in countersinks of the second mounting plate 40B is particularly advantageous because the heads of the screws do not protrude from the second mounting plate 40B, i.e. they are flush with the exterior face 44B of the second mounting plate, which is more aesthetically pleasing and avoids risks of injury. Furthermore, no screws or holes are visible on the exterior face 44A of the first mounting plate 40A, which is aesthetically pleasing.
Preferably, the vertical post 12 comprises a first recess 70A and a second recess 70B, each recess having an elongated shape extending along the vertical axis Z. The first mounting plate 40A is received in the first recess 70A so as not to protrude from the vertical post and the second mounting plate 40B is received in the second recess 70B so as not to protrude from the vertical post. Hence, the exterior faces 44A, 44B of the first and second mounting plates 40A, 40B are flush with the post 12, which is more aesthetically pleasing and avoids risks of injury. Preferably, a height of the first recess 70A, 70B is equal to the height H40 of the first and second mounting plates 40A, 40B, apart from one assembly gap.
Preferably, the sleeping berth structure 10 comprises two straps 72, extending from the frame 26 of the berth 18A to the frame 26 of the berth 20A, to prevent a user located on the berth 20A from falling.
Preferably, the sleeping berth structure 10 comprises a rail 74, having a U-shape, extending upwards from the frame 26 of the berth 18A, to prevent a user located on the top berth 18A from falling.
Preferably, the sleeping berth structure 10 comprises a reinforcement arm 76, extending diagonally from the vertical post to the frame 26 of the berth 22A. The reinforcement arm 76 allows the bottom berth 22A to support more weight than the top berth 18A and the middle berth 20A, which is particularly useful as the bottom berth 22A can accommodate several users simultaneously, seated on the bottom berth.
Thanks to the conception of the sleeping berth structure 10, the heads 48A, 48B of the screws 46A, 46B are hidden in the post and are therefore not visible by users of the berths 18A, 18B, 20A, 22A. Similarly, the first and second horizontal beams 34A, 34B are hidden in the internal opening 32 of the hollow extruded beams 30 of the berths 18A, 18B.
As the first and second horizontal beams 34A, 34B are hidden in the internal opening 32 of the hollow extruded beams 30 of the berths 18A, 18B, the bulk of the sleeping berth structure 10 is reduced, allowing the space within the vehicle sleeping compartment to be used more efficiently. For example, the positioning of ladders allowing access to the middle berth 20A and to the top berths 18A, 18B is more flexible and therefore facilitated.
The sleeping berth structure 10 is particularly advantageous to allow easy installation and easy maintenance of the berths 18A, 18B, 20A, 22A, due to the fact that the mounting plates 40A, 40B and the horizontal beams 34A, 34B are easy to assemble and disassemble. In addition, as the sleeping berth structure 10 is assembled solely by removable means such as screws, without welding, replacing a damaged part without replacing non-damaged parts is easy.
Furthermore, the perceived quality of the sleeping berth structure 10 is increased, in comparison with known sleeping berth structure, due to the fact that a small number of screws are visible, i.e. only the heads 60 of the screws 56, which, moreover, are flush with the exterior face 44B of the second mounting plate 40B, and due to the fact that the horizontal beams 34A, 34B are not visible.
In addition, as the sleeping berth structure 10 comprises no protruding parts - such as screws -, risks of injury of users of the sleeping berth structure is reduced, particularly in the event of crash.
According to a non-represented aspect of the invention, the first horizontal beam 34A and/or the second horizontal beams 34B each comprises two parts hinged together: a first part is fixed to the mounting plate 40A, 40B with the screws 46A, 46B and a second part is received in the hollow extruded beam 30 of the berth 18A, 18B, 20A, 22A. As a result, the berth can be pivoted about an axis parallel to the X axis, so that it can be folded back against the partition 14.
According to a non-represented aspect of the invention, the first horizontal beam 34A and the second horizontal beams 34B are fixed respectively to the first mounting plate 40A and to the second mounting plate 40B with a number of fastening devices 46A, 46B different from two, for example with one or three fastening devices.
According to a non-represented aspect of the invention, the first horizontal beam 34A and the second horizontal beams 34B are welded respectively to the first mounting plate 40A and to the second mounting plate 40B.
According to a non-represented aspect of the invention, the first horizontal beam 34A and the second horizontal beams 34B are welded to the post 12. Hence, in such a variant, the sleeping berth structure 10 does not comprises mounting plates.
The features of the embodiment and variants considered in this description can be combined to generate new embodiments of the invention, in the framework of the appended set of claims.

Claims

A sleeping berth structure (10) for a vehicle sleeping compartment comprising:
- a vertical post (12),

- a partition wall (14), extending from the vertical post,

- a first berth (18A), located on a first side (16A) of the partition wall (14), the first berth comprising a frame (26) and a cushion (24), and

- a first horizontal beam (34A), located on the first side (16A) of the partition wall (14) and extending from the vertical post (12) perpendicular to the partition wall (14) to support an extremity of the first berth (18A),
characterized in that:
- the frame (26) of the first berth (18A) comprises a hollow extruded beam (30), and

- the first horizontal beam (34A) is received inside the hollow extruded beam (30) of the frame (26) of the first berth (18A).
The sleeping berth structure (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first horizontal beam (34A) is fastened to the hollow extruded beam (30) of the frame (26) of the first berth (18A) with fasteners (36) and wherein the fasteners are concealed by the cushion (24) of the first berth.
The sleeping berth structure (10) as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the first horizontal beam (34A) has a rectangular cross-section.
The sleeping berth structure (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sleeping berth structure (10) further comprises:
- a second berth (18B), located on a second side (16B) of the partition wall (14) opposite to the first side (16A), the second berth comprising a frame (26) and a cushion (24), and

- a second horizontal beam (34B), located on the second side (16B) of the partition wall (14) and extending from the vertical post (12) perpendicular to the partition wall (14) to support an extremity of the second berth (18B),
and wherein:
- the frame (26) of the second berth (18B) comprises a hollow extruded beam (30),

- the second horizontal beam (34B) is received inside the hollow extruded beam (30) of the frame (26) of the second berth (18B),

- the first horizontal beam (34A) is fixed to a first mounting plate (40A) extending perpendicular to the first horizontal beam, the first mounting plate having an interior face (42A), facing the vertical post (12), and an exterior face (44A), opposite to the vertical post,

- the second horizontal beam (34B) is fixed to a second mounting plate (40B) extending perpendicular to the second horizontal beam, the second mounting plate having an interior face (42A), facing the vertical post (12), and an exterior face (44B), opposite to the vertical post, and

- the first mounting plate (40A) and the second mounting plate (40B) are fixed together, clamping the vertical post (12) between them.
The sleeping berth structure (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
- the first horizontal beam (34A) is fixed to the first mounting plate (40A) with at least one first fastening device (46A), a head (48A) of the at least one first fastening device (46A) being tightened against the interior face (42A) of the first mounting plate, and

- the second horizontal beam (34B) is fixed to the second mounting plate (40B) with at least one second fastening device (46B), a head (48B) of the at least one second fastening device (46B) being tightened against the interior face (42B) of the second mounting plate.
The sleeping berth structure (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
- the first horizontal beam (34A) is fixed to the first mounting plate (40A) with two first fastening device (46A), a head (48A) of each of the two first fastening device (46A) being tightened against the interior face (42A) of the first mounting plate, and

- the second horizontal beam (34B) is fixed to the second mounting plate (40B) with two second fastening device (46B), a head (48B) of each of the two second fastening device being tightened against the interior face (42B) of the second mounting plate.
The sleeping berth structure (10) as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the vertical post (12) comprises a first recess (70A), the first mounting plate (40A) being received in the first recess so as not to protrude from the vertical post, and the vertical post (12) comprises a second recess (70B), the second mounting plate (40B) being received in the second recess so as not to protrude from the vertical post.
The sleeping berth structure (10) as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein:
- the first mounting plate (40A) comprises at least two blind threaded holes (52), opening on the interior face (42A) of the first mounting plate,

- the second mounting plate (40B) comprises at least two countersunk through-holes (54), with the countersink located on the exterior face (44B) of the second mounting plate, and

- the first mounting plate (40A) and the second mounting plate (40B) are fixed together with screws (56), each screw having:
∘ a threaded rod (58) extending through one of the countersunk through-holes (54) and through the vertical post (12) and screwed into one of the at least two threaded hole (52) of the first mounting plate (40A), and

∘ a countersunk head (60) sitting in the countersink of one of the at least two countersunk through-holes (54) of the second mounting plate (40B).
The sleeping berth structure (10) as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the first mounting plate (40A) and the second mounting plate (40B) each have a height (H40), measured along the vertical post (12), comprised between 100 mm and 700 mm.