US3922971A

US3922971A - Articulated railway vehicle connecting passage

Info

Publication number: US3922971A
Application number: US447718*[A
Authority: US
Inventors: Max Maroshick
Original assignee: Boeing Co
Current assignee: Boeing Co
Priority date: 1974-05-09
Filing date: 1974-05-09
Publication date: 1975-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-02

Abstract

A joint connecting the cars of an articulated rail vehicle to provide a wide smooth-walled passage therebetween regardless of the relative attitudes of the cars. The joint and ends of each car are journaled on the bolster of a common truck. A rigidwalled tunnel assembly mounted on the bolster includes inner and outer telescoping tunnel shell members which are pivoted for relative pitch movement at the bolster. The tunnel shell members each include vertical arcuate surfaces cooperating with similar surfaces on the car ends to seal the ends of the tunnel passage. Side panels vertically hinged to the joint frame assembly are slidable within slots in the car bodies to externally seal the joint and provide a flush external appearance of the vehicle.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,922,971

Maroshick 1 Dec. 2, 1975 [541 ARTICULATED RAILWAY VEHICLE 2,225,951 12/1940 Christianson 105 15 CONNECTING PASSAGE 2,268,318 12/1941 Urbinati 105/4 R [75] Inventor: Max Maroshick, Glen Mills, Pa.

[73] Assignee: The Boeing Company, Seattle,

Wash.

[22] Filed: May 9, 1974 [211 App]. No.: 447,718

[52] US. Cl 105/4 R; 105/1 A; 105/3; 105/8;105/17;105/21O [51] Int. Cl. B61D 17/14; B61D 17/20; B61F 3/12; B61F 5/16 [58] Field of Search 105/1 A,3,4R, 15,8, 105/17, 164, 210

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 566,712 8/1896 Cooper 105/4 R 1,706,364 3/1929 Pehrson 1 105/4 R 1,726,872 9/1929 Viberg 105/4 R 2,056,227 10/1936 Mussey et al. 105/4 R 2,158,062 5/1939 Blomberg 1 105/4 R 2,184,298 12/1939 Groff 105/17 X Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant ExaminerHoward Beltran Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph M. Corr, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A joint connecting the cars of an articulated rail vehicle to provide a wide smooth-walled passage therebetween regardless of the relative attitudes of the cars. The joint and ends of each car are journaled on the bolster of a common truck. A rigid-walled tunnel assembly mounted on the bolster includes inner and outer telescoping tunnel shell members which are pivoted for relative pitch movement at the bolster. The tunnel shell members each include vertical arcuate surfaces cooperating with similar surfaces on the car ends to seal the ends of the tunnel passage. Side panels vertically hinged to the joint frame assembly are slidable within slots in the car bodies to externally seal the joint and provide a flush external appearance of the vehicle.

20 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec.2,1975 Sheet1of3 3,922,971

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 3 of 3 ARTICULATED RAILWAY VEHICLE CONNECTING PASSAGE The present invention relates generally to articulated railway vehicles for passenger service, and relates more particularly to a novel joint for connecting the adjacent ends of the vehicle car sections.

Multi-car rail vehicles for use in passenger service are conventionally made up of cars having a truck at each end and which are separable from the adjacent cars. An advantage of this type of car is the permitted variation in length of the vehicle depending upon the traffic demand and the ready separability of individual cars for service. 1

A major shortcoming of the conventional rail vehicle is the arrangement at the car ends which permits passenger movement between the cars. The typical car terminates in a vestibule, from which a narrow portal leads to the portal and vestibule of the adjoining car. In intercity trains, the passage between the car vestibules typically consists of an accordian-pleated fabric covering to protect the traversing passenger from wind,'rain, and the danger of falling between the cars. In the case of intracity commuter trains, the passage protection may consist only of a few chains limply extending between the car ends. With either arrangement, the passage from one car to the next while the train is moving, and particularly on a curve, can be an unsettling experience due to the substantial and unpredictable relative movements between the adjoining car ends. The principle cause of the relative movement is the fact that the car frames are connected to the trucks at a point spaced from the car ends which accordingly do not follow the path of the track. There is thus a considerable amount of lateral relative movement at the car connection and also a certain amount of vertical relative movement, particularly over a rough roadbed. To cope with these relative motions, the conventional car connection includes an array 'of sliding, pivoting, and squeeking floorplates subject to abrupt rnovement, ne'- gotiation of which is at best unpleasant and at worst hazardous. l I l I The above-described disadvantages of conventional car connections are particularly evident with rail systems characterized by relatively sharp curves such as those found in street railways and subway systems. On many lines, passage between the cars is considered to be sufficiently hazardous that such passage is prohibited except to crew members or for emergency use. As a result, on multi-car street rail vehicles, it becomes necessary to provide a separate crew member for each car to receive fares and generally assist and supervise the conduct of the passengers.

To avoid the relative transverse and vertical movements of the adjoining car ends, the present invention utilizes a single truck to support both car ends. This concept is not broadly new, being shown for example in the early U.S. Pat. No. 566,712 which issued on Aug. 25, 1896. This patent featured a common vestibule between the cars which was generally cylindrical in shape having a vertical axis alignedwith the pivot point of the cars on the truck. Curved doorson each side of the vestibule accommodated the transverse relative angular movement of the cars. Sliding doors in the bulkheads at each end of the car separated the vestibule from the car proper. v ,V

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,225,951 issued Dec. 24, I940, a common truck is also illustrated supporting the adjoining ends'of rail vehicle cars. The passage, between the cars comprises spaced flexible diaphragms and the fairing strip between the car-sides and roofs is similarly an elastic flexible member.

In the present invention, a rail vehicle joint comprises a common truck on the bolster of which the ends of adjoining c ars are journaled for relative horizontal and vertical angular movement. A rigid smooth-walled tunnel assembly is disposed on the truck bolster and provided with arcuate surfaces for engagement with coopcrating surfaceson the end of each car to accommodate lateral angular movement ofthe cars with respect to the truck. An arch-shaped frame assembly mounted on the truck supports a dome which cooperates with overhanging portions of the car roofs to shield the tunnel assembly from the elements and present a substantially smooth appearance of the roof of the vehicle. Side sealing panels hinged to the frame assembly slide withinslots interiorly adjacent the car sides and are' the relative pitch movement between the connected cars. This latter means includes a stabilizing linkage connecting the upper ends of the cars with the frame assembly on the truck bolster.

It is accordingly a first object of the present invention to provide a novel joint for articulated rail vehicles for passenger service.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail vehicle joint having a novel tunnel assembly providing an uninterrupted rigid smooth-walled passage between the vehicle sections regardless of the orientation of the sections. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a rail vehicle joint as described which will present a flush, attractive external surface connecting the vehicle sections.-

A still further object of the invention is to provide a .railcar joint as described which is economical to manufacture and install.

Still another object is to provide a joint as described which is exceptionally durable, practically maintenance free, and which is difficult to vandalize.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of an articulated rail vehicle embodying the present joint, a portion of the vehicle being broken away and in section to show construction details;

"FIGi 2 is a-side elevational view of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 1, a portion thereof being broken away and in section to show construction details;

FIG.""3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view on a reduced scale of the vehicle joint components;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle joint illustrating the relative movement of the major vehicle components during a transverse angular displacement of the connected vehicle cars; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of the vehicle joint illustrating the relative movement of the major vehicle components during a vertical angular displacement of the connected vehicle cars.

Referring to the drawings and specifically FIGS. 1-4 thereof, a rail vehicle generally designated 10 is illustrated which includes a pair of adjoining

cars

12 and 14 which are connected by a joint generally designated 16 in accordance with the present invention. The ends of both of the

cars

12 and 14 as well as the joint 16 are supported on a common truck 18 which is of a conventional four wheel design. As shown schematically in FIG. 2, the truck includes a truck frame 20 supported by the axles 22 and wheels 24. The truck bolster 26 as most readily illustrated in FIG. 3 is supported on pnuematic suspension members 28 mounted on the transverse truck member 30.

The underframes of the

cars

12 and 14 are supported on the bolster 26 by means of a universal bearing arrangement which permits free rotational movement of each car with respect to the truck in both a horizontal and vertical direction. This universal connection comprises inner and outer circular

bearing ring assemblies

32 and 34 concentrically mounted with respect to the vertical center line of the bolster. Each of the bearing assemblies includes a diametrically opposed pair of upwardly directed ears 32a and 34a which are connected to the car frames to journal the cars on the truck. As shown in FIG. 4, the

cars

12 and 14 respectively include bifurcated frame members 12a and 14a which terminate at their outer ends in jaws 12b and 14b. As shown in FIG. 5, the jaws 12b are connected to the ears 32a by pins 36 while the jaws 14b are similarly connected to the ears 34a by pins 38. The pin connection of the jaws with the ears permits the cars to pivot vertically with respect to the bolster, while the

bearing ring assemblies

32 and 34 permit transverse rotation of the cars with respect to the bolster.

The joint 16 includes an arch-shaped frame assembly generally designated 40 which includes a pair of transversely spaced vertical frame elements 42, the lower ends of which are secured to the bolster 26. The frame elements 42 are joined at their upper ends by a transverse frame member 44 on which is mounted a dome 46.

The bolster 26 is transversely stabilized by the spaced disposition of the pneumatic suspension elements 28. However, in view of the universal connection of the car frames to the bolster, the bolster would in the absence of stabilizing means, be free to pivot about its transverse horizontal axis. A stabilizing assembly generally designated 48 is accordingly provided at the top of the frame assembly 40 to control the pitch movement of the bolster. The stabilizing assembly 48 as most readily viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a transverse shaft 50 carried by the shaft support assembly 52 on the frame element 44. A rocker arm 54 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 50 and as shown in FIG. 2 is normally in a vertical position. Stabilizing

bars

56 and 58 are pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the rocker arm 54 and are respectfully pivotally connected at their opposite ends 'to the

cars

12 and 14 by the pin and

clevis connectors

60 and 62. Since the stabilizing arm s5 6 and 58 are of equal length, the stabilizing assembly insures a longitudinal centered relationship of the upper end of the frame assembly 40 with respect to the cars 12 and H 14 and accordingly stabilizes the bolster pitching move- Q; 2"

ment with respect to the truck frame.

The joint 16 further includes a tunnel assembly 64,

Additional central ears 66b and 68b of the tunnel shell,

members extend downwardly between the spaced ears 66a and 68a and are pivotally connected to thetransversely disposed pin of the clevis 74 which iscentrally mounted on the bolster 26..

The inner and outer shell assemblies are identical in structure except that the inner shell members is slightly smaller in certain dimensions to permit pivoting telescoping movement within the outer shell member. Considering in detail the inner shell member 66, this member includes a floor panel 76 which as shown in FIG. 2 is aligned in flush relationship with the floor "78 of the adjoining car.14. The edge 76a of the floor panel 76 has an arcuate configuration, the radius of which is centered on the vertical center line'ofthe truck bolster 26.,

An arcuate groove 78a of the car'floor 78 is of a similar arcuate curvature and as shown in FIG. 2

is adapted to receive the edge 76a of the floor panel.

Upon transverse rotation of the car 14 with respect to the truck 20, the edge 76 will slide in the groove 78a to accommodate the relative movement between the adjacent flooring sections.

The sidewalls 80 of the tunnel shell member 66 are of a smooth rigid material, preferably sheet metal, as is the top panel 82 thereof, which as shown most clearly in FIG. 2, follows an arcuate longitudinal curve centered on the axis of the pivot pins 70. Extending vertically along each side of the tunnel shell member adjacent the adjoining car end are the arcuate shield plates 84 which continue the curvature of the floor edge 76a. A lip portion 86 adjacent the top 82 of the tunnel'shell member also continues this curvature from one shield plate 84 around the opposite shield plate.

Attached to bulkheads 88 of the car 14 and flanking an aperture 90 therein, which is aligned with and of a size equal to the passage through the tunnel shell members, are vertical closure shields 92 which have concave surfaces 92a extending the full height of the contiguous tunnel shell member 66 and which are adapted to engage the shield plates 84 to prevent any gap from appearing between the tunnel and car endvlt will be apparent that any lateral pivotal movement of the 'car.l"4 I with respect to the truck will result in a sliding movement of the shield plates 84 along the-surfac' s 92a. -'As shown in FIG. 2, the inner edges 80a and 80a of the tunnel shell member side panels 80 are inclined to pro- 6 I vide a substantial overlap of the tunnel shell members.

The components of the outer tunnel shell member 68 are identical in shape to those described with respect to the inner tunnel shell member 66. However, the

outer tunnel shell member is slightly wider and higher as may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5 to permit a telescoping of the inner into the outer tunnel shell member. The corresponding parts of the outer tunnel shell member 68 have thus been accorded the same designating numbers with a prime suffix. The

cars

12 and 14 are identical except for the frame members 12a and 14a being of a different width. The corresponding parts thereof are accordingly identified by the same numerals,

In view of the fact that the adjoining cars of an articulated vehicle employing the present joint are not designed for uncoupling, the ends of the cars adjoining the joint as shown in FIG. 4 are relatively open and do not, of course, employ the usual vestibule. The roof 94 and sides 96 of the cars extend beyond the bulkheads 88 to substantially overlap the joint components. With respect to the roof, as shown in FIG. 2, a portion 94a of the roof extends in substantially overlapping relation with respect to the dome 46 of the joint. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dome is convex on its upper surface to conform with the curvature of the car roofs and, in the longitudinal direction, to permit the relative rotation of the cars in a longitudinal plane. The edges of both the dome and the car roofs are irregularly shaped to accommodate the relative movement of the adjacent parts without contact.

To enclose the sides of the joint in flush relationship with the car sides 96, side sealing panels 97 extending the full height of the car sides are hingedly mounted at 98 along the vertical center of the framing elements 42. The sealing panels 97 extend in interiorly overlapping relation to the car side panels 96 within slots 100 formed by the inner wall of the side panels and an interior wall 102 of the car. Torsion bar spring assemblies 104 mounted on the bulkhead 88 include rollers 106 bearing against the side panels 97 to hold the side panels resiliently against the car sides 96, thereby preventing rattling of the panels and insuring a flush appearance.

The operation of the joint is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 which respectively show the manner in which the joint accommodates transverse and vertical angular displacement of the cars as would occur during passage of the vehicle around a curve and on encountering a grade. Considering first the joint disposition on a curve, it will be noted that in FIG. 5 the cars are displaced at an angle A, although the angle between the car 12 and the joint 16 is a considerably smaller angle B. On a large curve of uniform radius, the truck and joint will assume an angular position with respect to each car which is equal to one-half of the angle between the two cars. Even on relatively abrupt curves of the type found in street railways, the truck and joint will throughout substantially the entire curve be disposed at an angle to each car less than the total angular displacement between the cars. As a result, the tunnel shell members will due to their mounting on the truck assume an intermediate angular position between that of either car, thereby minimizing the turning effect experienced by a passenger passing through the joint.

Considering in further detail the mechanics of the transverse articulated movement shown in FIG. 5, as indicated above, the car frames are free to pivot on the

bearing ring assemblies

32 and 34 about the vertical centerline passing through the truck. The common truck will, of course, be disposed tangentially to the curve being traversed and once the truck has entered the curve, the

adjacent cars

12 and 14 will subtend chords of the curve. The transverse displacement as shown in FIG. 5 will cause a relative rotation of the shell members with respect to the adjoining car ends. However, since the arcuate shell member edges 76a and surfaces 84.and 84' are centered about the vertical center line of the truck, these surfaces will remain in engagement with the cooperating surfaces of the car ends, namely the slot 78a and the surfaces 92a of the closure shields 92. The passage through the tunnel shell members may be slightly restricted by one of the closure shields 92 during the negotiation of a curve although the diminution of the passage size will be minimal. There will not be any gaps between the tunnel shell members and the closure shields which could create a hazard to passengers.

The side sealing panels 97 by virtue of their hinged connection at 98 to the framing elements 42 will swing to accommodate the angular displacement of the cars. The torsion bar spring assemblies 104 will through the rollers 106 maintain a constant resilient force on the panels 97, urging them into engagement with the extending car side panels 96. The sealing panels 97 in addition to pivotal movement about the hinge line 98 will also slide longitudinally along the inner walls of the car side panels 96 as the angular relationship of the cars with respect to the truck and joint changes. The rollers 106 and the extra depth of the pockets are provided to accommodate this relative sliding movement.

Considering the vertical angular displacement of the cars in FIG. 6, the truck and joint are disposed at an angle C to each of the cars which is half of the angular displacement D between the cars proper. In nearly all circumstances, the angular displacement between the truck and each car will be substantially smaller than that between the cars, and will usually be about onehalf of that angle.

Considering the specific details of the vertical angular displacement of the cars, the cars may pivot vertically with respect to the truck about the pivot pins 36 and 38 connecting the frames to the

fairing ring assemblies

32 and 34. The tunnel shell members similarly are rotatable about the same horizontal transverse axis. Since each shell member is supported at one end on the pivot pins and at the other end on the adjoining car floor, the tunnel shell members will pivot so as to maintain the alignment of the

floor panels

76 and 76 with the car floors 78. The described telescoping construction of the tunnel shell members permits the relative movement of the shell members to accommodate changes in the vertical angular relationship of the cars. The overlap of the tunnel side walls insures a sealed tunnel passage regardless of the relative disposition of the tunnel shell members. A slight spacing of the tunnel shell member floor panels 76 and 76' is required to allow relative movement of the shell members. This spacing is covered by a cover plate 110 which may be fixed to one of the floor panels and slidable over the other.

Although the pivoting action of the cars with respect to the truck and joint has been described with respect to its horizontal and vertical components, it will be apparent that the joint will accommodate a combination of these components, in effect serving as a universal joint. The present joint will serve effectively to connect and seal the cars for horizontal curves up to 40 and vertical curves up to 10 (measured between the two cars), which angles exceed the operating conditions to which rail vehicles are normally subjected.

In view of the universal bearing connection of the cars to the bolster, a stabilizing linkage is required to restrain pitching movement of the bolster. The stabilizing assembly 48, by maintaining the upper end of frame assembly 40 equidistant from the car ends, insures a stable pitch attitude of the bolster, normally level with the truck.

The overlapping relation of the car roof extensions over the dome will obviously not prevent rain water from reaching the inner edges of the dome. Suitable seals and drains (not shown) of a conventional type are accordingly provided to prevent water from reaching the tunnel assemblies.

Manifestly, changes in details of construction can be effected by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An articulated rail vehicle comprising a pair of cars, a common truck supporting the juxtaposed ends of said cars, a joint on said truck connecting said cars, said joint comprising a tunnel assembly defining an enclosed passage between said car ends, said tunnel assembly including telescoping inner and outer hollow tunnel shell members, connecting means for connecting said tunnel shell members to said truck and including means to enable said tunnel shell members to pivot with respect to said truck about a horizontal transverse axis, and arcuate sealing surfaces on said tunnel shell members engaging arcuate sealing surfaces on said car ends in sliding relation to accommodate transverse angular movement of said cars with respect to said truck and joint.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said juxtaposed car ends are pivotally mounted on said truck for relative transverse rotation about the vertical center line of said truck, said arcuate sealing surfaces on said tunnel shell members and said car ends comprising surfaces of revolution having an axis coinciding with the vertical center line of said truck when said cars are longitudinally aligned.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein said arcuate sealing surfaces on each of said tunnel shell members are disposed at each side of the tunnel passage.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said tunnel shell member comprises a rigid, smoothwalled structure.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cars are supported on said common truck for relative vertical angular rotation about a transverse horizontal axis, said latter horizontal axis coinciding with the horizontal transverse axis about which said inner and outer tunnel shell members are pivotally rotatable when said cars are longitudinally aligned.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 1 including means disposed externally of said tunnel assembly for sealing said joint and providing substantially flush outer surfaces connecting said car ends.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means disposed externally of said tunnel assembly for sealing said joint and providing substantially flush outer surfaces connecting said car ends comprises extending end portions of the car roofs and car sides, an archshaped frame assembly on said truck disposed in spaced relation around said tunnel assembly, a dome on said frame assembly cooperating with the extending ends of said car roofs to seal the top of said joint, and side sealing panels hinged along vertical pivot axes to said frame assembly in cooperative sealing relationship with the extending sides of said cars.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein said car ends include slots adjacent the side walls thereof to accommodate said side sealing panels, and means for resiliently urging said side sealing panels into engagement with the inner faces of said extending car sides.

9. An articulated rail vehicle for passenger service comprising a pair of cars, a common truck supporting the juxtaposed ends of said cars, said truck including a bolster supported thereon by resilient suspension means, bearing means on said bolster connecting each of said car ends independently to said bolster, said bearing means providing pivotal horizontal movement of each said car ends about the vertical center line of said truck, said bearing means providing vertical pivotal movement of each of said cars with respect to said truck along a common horizontal axis transversely centered on said truck when said cars are longitudinally aligned, a joint on said truck connecting said cars, said joint comprising a tunnel assembly defining an enclosed passage between said car ends, said tunnel as sembly including telescoping inner and outer tunnel shell members, said tunnel shell members each including floor panels aligned with and forming a continuation of the floors of the adjacent car ends, means for connecting said tunnel shell members to said bolster including means to enable said tunnel shell members to pivot with respect to said bolster about a transverse horizontal axis coinciding with the transverse axis of vertical movement of said cars with respect to said truck, arcuate sealing surfaces on said tunnel shell members engaging arcuate sealing surfaces on said car ends in sliding relation to accommodate transverse angular movement of said cars with respect to said truck end joint, said arcuate sealing surfaces on said tunnel shell members and said car ends comprising surfaces of revolution having an axis coinciding with the vertical center line of said truck when said cars are longitudinally aligned, an arch-shaped frame assembly mounted on said bolster externally of said tunnel assembly, stabilizing means connecting the upper end of said frame assembly with the end of each of said cars for maintaining a centered disposition of said frame assembly between said car ends and controlling the pitch attitude of said bolster.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 9 including means disposed externally of said tunnel assembly for sealing said joint and providing substantially flush outer surfaces connecting said car ends.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for sealing said joint and providing substantially flush outer surfaces connecting said car ends comprises extending end portions of the car roofs and car sides, a dome on said frame assembly cooperating with the extending ends of said car roofs to seal the top of said joint, and side sealing panels hinged along vertical pivot axes to said frame assembly in cooperative sealing relationship with the extending sides of said cars.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 11 wherein said car ends include slots adjacent each side wall thereof to accommodate said side sealing panels, and means for resiliently urging said side sealing panels into engagement with the inner faces of said extending car sides.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 12 wherein said means for resiliently urging said side sealing panels into engagement with the car sides comprises a torsion bar spring assembly mounted on each side of each car adjacent one of said side sealing panels, said torsion bar spring assembly including a roller engaging said side sealing panel and urging said panel into engagement with the inner face of the car side.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 12 wherein said side sealing panels comprise a pair of substantially rectangular panels hingedly mounted to said frame assembly along their vertical adjoining edges.

15. The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said stabilizing means comprises a transverse shaft centrally mounted on said frame assembly above said tunnel as: sembly, a rocker arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, and a pair of stabilizing bars, each bar connecting one end of said rocker arm to one of the car ends.

16. The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of said tunnel shell members comprises a rigid, smoothwalled structure.

17. The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein the roof of each of said tunnel shell member comprises a surface of revolution having an axis coinciding with the pivotal mounting axis of-said tunnel shell members.

18. The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said arcuate sealing surfaces on each of said tunnel shell members are disposed at each side of the tunnel passage.

19. The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein the pivotal axis of each said tunnel shell member lies beneath and closely adjacent the juncture of the tunnel floor panels.

20. The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said car ends each include a bulkhead extending transversely thereacross, an aperture in each said bulkhead aligned with the passage of said tunnel assembly, vertical closure shields extending the full height of said bulkhead aperture adjacent said aperture on the outer side of said bulkhead, said vertical closure shields including said arcuate sealing surfaces engaging said tunnel shell member sealing surfaces.

Claims

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said tunnel shell member comprises a rigid, smooth-walled structure.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means disposed externally of said tunnel assembly for sealing said joint and providing substantially flush outer surfaces connecting said car ends comprises extending end portions of the car roofs and car sides, an arch-shaped frame assembly on said truck disposed in spaced relation around said tunnel assembly, a dome on said frame assembly cooperating with the extending ends of said car roofs to seal the top of said joint, and side sealing panels hinged along vertical pivot axes to said frame assembly in cooperative sealing relationship with the extending sides of said cars.

9. An articulated rail vehicle for passenger service comprising a pair of cars, a common truck supporting the juxtaposed ends of said cars, said truck including a bolster supported thereon by resilient suspension means, bearing means on said bolster connecting each of said car ends independently to said bolster, said bearing means providing pivotal horizontal movement of each said car ends about the vertical center line of said truck, said bearing means providing vertical pivotal movement of each of said cars with respect to said truck along a common horizontal axis transversely centered on said truck when said cars are longitudinally aligned, a joint on said truck connecting said cars, said joint comprising a tunnel assembly defining an enclosed passage between said car ends, said tunnel assembly including telescoping inner and outer tunnel shell members, said tunnel shell members each including floor panels aligned with and forming a continuation of the floors of the adjacent car ends, means for connecting said tunnel shell members to said bolster including means to enable said tunnel shell members to pivot with respect to said bolster about a transverse horizontal axis coinciding with the transverse axis of vertical movement of said cars with respect to said truck, arcuate sealing surfaces on said tunnel shell members engaging arcuate sealing surfaces on said car ends in sliding relation to accommodate transverse angular movement of said cars with respect to said truck end joint, said arcuate sealing surfaces on said tunnel shell members and said car ends comprising surfaces of revolution having an axis coinciding with the vertical center line of said truck when said cars are longitudinally aligned, an arch-shaped frame assembly mounted on said bolster externally of said tunnel assembly, stabilizing means connecting the upper end of said frame assembly with the end of each of said cars for maintaining a centered disposition of said frame assembly between said car ends and controlling the pitch attitude of said bolster.

15. The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said stabilizing means comprises a transverse shaft centrally mounted on said frame assembly above said tunnel assembly, a rocker arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, and a pair of stabilizing bars, each bar connecting one end of said rocker arm to one of the car ends.

16. The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of said tunnel shell members comprises a rigid, smooth-walled structure.

17. The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein the roof of each of said tunnel shell member comprises a surface of revolution having an axis coinciding with the pivotal mounting axis of said tunnel shell members.