Bellows Fold Patents (Class 105/18)
  • Patent number: 11858324
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle body and elastic seal. The vehicle body is supported on the vehicle frame. The vehicle body has a cabin and a cargo box. The cabin houses one or more vehicle seats of the vehicle. The cabin and the cargo box are separately mounted on the vehicle frame and being separated by a gap. The elastic seal movably connects the cabin and the cargo box and covers the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Keith St. Clair
  • Patent number: 11801876
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, an articulated railcar comprises a first railcar and a second railcar coupled via an articulated railcar truck. The first railcar and the second railcar each comprise a first end, a second end, and a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side disposed between the first end and the second end. The first longitudinal side comprises a center panel and an intermediate panel. The center panel is disposed between a center of the railcar and the intermediate panel. The intermediate panel is disposed between the center panel and the first end or the second end. A width of the railcar at the intermediate panel is greater than a width of the railcar at the center panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TRINITY NORTH AMERICAN FREIGHT CAR, INC.
    Inventors: Shaun Richmond, Brant R. McGhee, Kenneth W. Huck
  • Patent number: 11370464
    Abstract: A folding-canopy main body used for a train through-passage includes an outward folding-canopy body and an inward folding-canopy body. The folding-canopy main body is vertically provided and extends along a front-back direction. The inward folding-canopy body is formed by connecting at least two pieces of internal canopy cloth which arch inwards to form a U shape along the front-back direction, the outward folding-canopy body is formed by connecting at least two pieces of external canopy cloth which arch outwards to form a U shape along the front-back direction, and the end portions of two adjacent pieces of internal canopy cloth and the end, portions of two adjacent pieces of external canopy cloth are all clamped and riveted by U-shaped parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Weiwei Li, Yanhua Chen, Haonan Du
  • Patent number: 11298505
    Abstract: An origami bellows includes a plurality of layers including a support layer having a diameter that remains fixed irrespective of axial expansion or compression of the origami bellows. The origami bellows may be used as an anti-buckling device providing lateral support to a catheter or other elongated medical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Bailey, Jared J. Butler, Larry L. Howell, Brian D. Jensen, Spencer P. Magleby, Brandon Scott Sargent, Kendall Hal Seymour
  • Patent number: 10928227
    Abstract: A mounting system for mounting a sensor assembly to a pair of rotatable members coupled by an articulation joint includes a sensor mounting plate. The sensor mounting plate is coupled to a first rotatable member and supports at least one sensor element thereon such that the at least one sensor element is in alignment with an axis of the articulation joint. The mounting system also includes a target mounting plate that is disposed in a spaced-apart manner from the sensor mounting plate. The target mounting plate has a target mounting portion for supporting the target element thereon, and a support arm extending from the target mounting portion. Further, the mounting system also includes a post having a first end configured to couple with the second rotatable member and a second end that is configured to adjustably support the support arm of the target mounting plate via an adjustment block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A Robinson, Brian Ulrich, Jeffrey Kent Berry, Shaun Randall Melchiori, Beau James Berning, Scott Allen Pozzie, Travis Parker
  • Patent number: 10710427
    Abstract: Recreational vehicles are provided with a tapered duct connector and/or a conditioned air receiving sleeve that is positioned in an infra-ceiling space of the vehicle. The tapered duct connector comprises a connector inlet coupled to a conditioned air passage on a wall of the conditioned air receiving sleeve, and a connector outlet coupled to the supply duct, to fluidly couple the sleeve to the supply duct. The tapered duct connector comprises a transitional duct height that increases from the connector outlet to the connector inlet. The conditioned air passage of the conditioned air receiving sleeve, the tapered duct connector, and the supply duct is contained such that air can pass from the conditioned air opening of the conditioned air receiving sleeve, through the conditioned air receiving sleeve, and into the supply duct without contacting structural components in the infra-ceiling space of the recreational vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Thor Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Bullock, Jon Brock, Bradd Giggy, Jeff Snyder
  • Patent number: 10202129
    Abstract: A bellows of a gangway between two articulately connected vehicles, of a canopy roof of an air passenger stair or a bridge or of a gangway into a building, comprises several successively arranged frames and all the frames are divided, preferably in a plane, on two opposite sides, thus forming several bellows parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andre Goebels, Volker Jünke
  • Patent number: 10093150
    Abstract: A pressurization system for pressurizing a covered bed of a pickup truck features an opening in the truck bed closed by a perforated grill and a duct extending from a vent at a rear of the cabin to the opening in the bed. The vent at the rear of the cabin communicates an inside of the cabin with an outside so that air inside is discharged to the outside. As such, the duct is disposed externally of the cabin and thus conveys to the covered bed the air which is discharged from the cabin through the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Maple Grove Plastics Inc.
    Inventor: Randy Waldner
  • Patent number: 9889863
    Abstract: A gangway between two articulately connected vehicles includes at least one bellows enveloping a gangway system to form a tunnel. The bellows has several tunnel-shaped circumferential bellows frames for forming corrugations or folds. The bellows has spacers, in the floor or roof area. The spacers are disposed between individual bellows frames and between a bellows frame and a fixed point connected to the respective vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Knud Mosaner, Marc Heinrich
  • Bus
    Patent number: 9561828
    Abstract: A bus is provided, including: a frame assembly including a front frame, a rear frame and a hinge turntable therebetween; carriages including a front carriage having a front carriage body and a front carriage floor, and a rear carriage having a rear carriage body and a rear carriage floor; a front axle and a middle axle disposed at a bottom of the front frame; a rear axle disposed at a bottom of the rear frame; a first group of battery packs including a first battery pack disposed within a rear cabin in the rear of the rear carriage body and a second battery pack disposed on the rear frame; a second group of battery packs disposed on upper surfaces of top roof of the front and rear carriage bodies; a third group of battery packs disposed on the front carriage floor and between the front axle and the hinge turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: BYD COMPANY LIMITED, SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuecong Niu, Wang Peng, Yichao Wu, Peng Yu
  • Patent number: 9278593
    Abstract: A bellows for an articulating vehicle has improved performance by using fewer discrete pieces of flexible material, and a multi-piece frame. By using fewer pieces of flexible material, less stitching is required, which results in improved performance and ease of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Dynatect Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Piacsek
  • Patent number: 8869706
    Abstract: A bellows is provided as part of a crossway between two vehicles connected to each other in an articulated manner or as a telescopic gangway, with a material web which is provided with a layer of synthetic material. The material web has a top (upper) side made of a textile and a bottom (under) side made of textile (11, 12). The spacer fibers/pile threads (13) are provided between the top side and the bottom side, such that a space between the top side and bottom side results when the material web is in a non-loaded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH
    Inventor: Claus-Ekkehard Koukal
  • Patent number: 8833787
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a bellows of a passage or the side panel between two vehicles joined in an articulated manner, e.g. a railway vehicle or an articulated bus, wherein the design contains numerous adjacent pleats, wherein at least on one side of the numerous pleats there is a corrugation element disposed in a pleat, in each case, wherein the ends of the respective pleats and the corrugation element are connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Roman Zolotov
  • Patent number: 8833264
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to an intercommunication bellows for compartments of a public transport vehicle or for a removable aircraft-access ramp, formed from a coated textile support, comprising a double-weave fabric both faces of which are coated with an elastomeric material, and to a method of connecting two compartments of a public transport vehicle comprising the attachment of an intercommunication bellows between two compartments of the vehicle that are hitched together. An embodiment also relates to a public transport vehicle comprising compartments connected together by an intercommunication bellows. According to an embodiment, the double-weave fabric coated with an elastomeric material has one or more of the following properties: stiffness; delamination resistance; tear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Pennel et Flipo SPRL
    Inventor: Gerard Maerten
  • Patent number: 8733777
    Abstract: A corrugation bellows for a transfer between two articulated vehicles has a plurality of corrugations which are generally U-shaped in cross-section. Two adjacent corrugations are connected together by a frame. The corrugations may have a web interconnecting two limbs, with the web being substantially planar in a substantially neutral state of the bellows. The limbs extend at right angles to the web in a substantially neutral state of the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Volker Junke, Andre Goebels, Lingzhi Li
  • Patent number: 8669193
    Abstract: The subject of this invention is a sheet of material for the manufacture of a folding wall of a transition between two articulated vehicle units, as well as the folding wall of a passenger boarding bridge or passenger stairs, wherein the sheet material has at least one reinforcement element, with the reinforcement element is coated on both sides with a plastic layer, wherein the at least one reinforcement element has on one side a coating based on a silicone rubber and on the other side a coating based on an organic rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Reinhard Hübner, Volker Jünke, Kirsten Schmaler, Uwe Werner
  • Patent number: 8382144
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a corrugation bellows of a transfer between two vehicles which are articulated together, comprising a plurality of corrugations which are U-shaped in cross-section, wherein two adjacent corrugations are connected together by a frame, wherein the corrugation of U-shaped cross-section has two limbs as well as a web connecting the limbs, wherein the material thickness of the web is greater than the material thickness of the limbs, wherein the material of web and limbs is identical and wherein the web is of substantially planar construction so that the limbs and the web extend at right angles to one another in a substantially neutral setting of the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Jünke, André Goebels
  • Patent number: 8230791
    Abstract: A device is provided for covering the sides of a spacing (4) between two vehicles coupled with each other, in particular rail cars (1, 2). The device has two side walls (10) running parallel to each other that deform at least in the longitudinal direction of travel. The side walls (10) are connected to each other in the upper and lower regions by braces (12). The braces (12) are connected to each other, so that they can move relative to each other, in the longitudinal direction of the travel by at least one accordion-like material strip (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH
    Inventor: Andre Goebels
  • Publication number: 20110290146
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to an intercommunication bellows for compartments of a public transport vehicle or for a removable aircraft-access ramp, formed from a coated textile support, comprising a double weave fabric both faces of which are coated with an elastomeric material, and to a method of connecting two compartments of a public transport vehicle comprising the attachment of an intercommunication bellows between two compartments of the vehicle that are hitched together. An embodiment also relates to a public transport vehicle comprising compartments connected together by an intercommunication bellows. According to an embodiment, the double weave fabric coated with an elastomeric material has one or more of the following properties: stiffness; delamination resistance; tear resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: PENNEL ET FLIPO SPRL
    Inventor: Gerard Maerten
  • Patent number: 7658396
    Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated vehicle consisting of several vehicle parts (1, 2) which are couplable together, each vehicle part (1, 2) comprising at least two axles and one coupling frame (12) that is connected to said vehicle part (1, 2) through a bellows (13), a joint device (20, 31) being provided between said vehicle part (1, 2) and said coupling frame (12), said joint device (20, 31) comprising a coupling carrier (30) that is located approximately in the plane of said coupling frame (12), said coupling carrier (30) comprising at least coupling means (25) for coupling to the joint device (20, 31) of the other vehicle part (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Koch, Lothar Scharf, Jens Karasek
  • Publication number: 20090193999
    Abstract: The invention relates to a communication bellows, of the type comprising: at least one external skin (22) which has a succession of inwardly directed undulations (56); at least one internal skin (24) which has a succession of outwardly directed undulations (58) which are provided facing the inwardly directed undulations (56) of the external skin (22), the two skins (20, 22) together delimiting an acoustic insulation space (25), the internal skin (24) being connected to at least some of the inwardly directed undulations (56) of the external skin (22), wherein the external skin (22) and internal skin (24) are connected to each other only by some mutually facing undulations (56, 58), other undulations (56, 58) of the two skins (22, 24) remaining separate from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventor: Christophe Gomis
  • Patent number: 7568435
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a bellows (1) of a connection between two hinge-linked vehicles (5, 6), said bellows (1), which comprises a bellows bottom (4), a bellows roof (2) and bellows side walls (3), forming a tunnel-like tube, said bellows bottom (4) being a removable constituent part of said bellows (1), said bellows (1) having a plurality of frames (10) disposed one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of said bellows (1), said bellows bottom (4) having a plurality of ledges (20) disposed one behind the other, there being provided, to connect a respective one of a frame (10) with a ledge (20), a spring cramp (30) taking hold of the frame and the ledge, said spring cramp (30) having at least one shoulder (33) for matingly connecting frame (10) and ledge (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH
    Inventor: Knud Mosaner
  • Publication number: 20070175355
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a bellows (1) of a connection between two hinge-linked vehicles (5, 6), said bellows (1), which comprises a bellows bottom (4), a bellows roof (2) and bellows side walls (3), forming a tunnel-like tube, said bellows bottom (4) being a removable constituent part of said bellows (1), said bellows (1) having a plurality of frames (10) disposed one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of said bellows (1), said bellows bottom (4) having a plurality of ledges (20) disposed one behind the other, there being provided, to connect a respective one of a frame (10) with a ledge (20), a spring cramp (30) taking hold of the frame and the ledge, said spring cramp (30) having at least one shoulder (33) for matingly connecting frame (10) and ledge (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Hubner GmbH
    Inventor: Knud Mosaner
  • Patent number: 7131383
    Abstract: An inner wall lining of the bellows of a connection between two hinge-linked vehicles or vehicle parts is provided, the inner wall lining including several wall elements that are disposed within the connection so as to be slidabic relative to each other via a guide device, the guide device including at least one guide arn that is disposed on the one wall element and is oriented parallel to and at a distance of said wall element, the guide arm slidably receiving the other wall element, the distance between the one wall element and the guide arm corresponding approximately to the thickness of the other wall element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Huebner GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Britzke, Andre Goebels, Sven Mohr
  • Patent number: 6926344
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a pleat or corrugation of a bellows of a connection between two hinge-linked vehicles or vehicle sections e.g., of an articulated bus, the corrugation or pleat in the corner zone of the bellows being comprised, for the purpose of increasing the expansion of the bellows in the corner zone, of a pleat or corrugation insert unit having a plurality of pleats or corrugations, with said pleat or corrugation insert unit (20) tapering in the region of the upper end thereof toward the vertex (11) of the pleat (10) or corrugation where it is connected to said pleat or corrugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Huebner GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Koch, Knud Mosaner
  • Patent number: 6840529
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle is made up of a pickup truck, a camper which is releasably mounted on the pickup truck and includes an accessway between the cab of the pickup truck and the camper, and a trailer which communicates with the camper through an articulated passage or walkway to permit movement of occupants between the camper and trailer while the vehicle is in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: David B. Call
  • Patent number: 6401626
    Abstract: Connecting device (1) between two vehicle parts hinged to one another of an articulated vehicle, comprising a lower swivel joint (10) and a connection with a bellows (30) and an intercar gangway (20), whereas the swivel joint (10) is provided with two joint members (11, 12) being rotatably joined to one another by means of a rotary member (15), and whereas the bellows (30) is fastened on the joint members (11, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Hubner GmbH
    Inventors: André Goebels, Michael Herzfeldt
  • Patent number: 6196132
    Abstract: Bellows of a connecting corridor between two hinge-linked vehicles or vehicle parts, whereas the bellows is provided with several bellows elements connected together, whereas each bellows element is showing two opposite legs in the initial state of the bellows, whereas, for additional thermal insulation and silencing, each of the two opposite legs (4, 5) of a bellows element are provided on their inner side with at least one strap-joint (10, 20) provided with a coated tissue, whereas the two strap-joints (10, 20) are overlapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi und Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Hübner
  • Patent number: 6085403
    Abstract: A gangway bellows for rolling stock, where the bellows has corrugated regions forming a deformable volume, and comprises a plurality of assembled-together modules, each module being made of a rubber-base material and including at least two corrugated regions that are assembled together by vulcanization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Le Joint Francais S.N.C.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Petit
  • Patent number: 6076470
    Abstract: The subdivided bellows of a connecting element is provided between two articulated vehicle components. The halves of the bellows are coupled at their ends to a vehicle component, and a middle frame (1) has a device for guiding supply lines (100), e.g. tubes, cables, etc., in a ceiling area of the connecting element which is movable relative to the middle frame (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi-Und Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Koch
  • Patent number: 6054194
    Abstract: An improved mathematically modeled family of bellow fold patterns, useful for making bellows from stiff but foldable materials, which forms a corner of a bellow consisting of a series of several single inversion fold patterns, each having a characteristic design angle which is mathematically computed to provide a desired initial wall angle for the bellow and to minimize wall tilting over a predetermined extension angle range, thereby allowing low cost bellows to be made which can extend long distances while using a minimal amount of stiff but foldable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Nathan R. Kane
  • Patent number: 6009813
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connection between two vehicles hinged to one another, e.g. railway coaches or underground coaches, whereas the connection comprises a bellows and an intercommunicating gangway, whereas the connection may be divided transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle into two connection sections, the one forming the bellows section and the other the gangway section (30, 10), whereas each connection section (1) is held by tension means (40) hinged on the coach body (60) of the vehicle and the intercommunicating gangway section (10) is designed as an articulated gangway section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi - Und Kunststoff
    Inventor: Ingo Britzke
  • Patent number: 5953998
    Abstract: A gangway bellows for rolling stock, where the bellows has corrugated regions forming a deformable volume, and comprises a plurality of assembled-together modules, each module being made of a rubber-base material and including at least two corrugated regions that are assembled together by vulcanization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Le Joint Francais S.N.C.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Petit
  • Patent number: 5855985
    Abstract: Non-planar thermoplastic article having a flexible portion suitable for use in an aggressive chemical environment, with the flexible portion is an irradiated thermoplastic consisting of polyethylene, ethylene methyl acrylate, ethylene ethyl acrylate, or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers. Such articles can be made by forming the article and then irradiating, or alternatively by radiating the thermoplastic and then forming the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: The Proctor & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Hugh Joseph O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 5647282
    Abstract: Flexible sheating for connecting corridors, and, more particularly a cover for the side wall of a connecting corridor between two connected vehicles, whereas the cover (1) is designed in one piece and has a varying flexibility over the expense of the cover (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi-und Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventor: Andre Goebels
  • Patent number: 5562042
    Abstract: The elastic membrane is designed as a flat, three-dimensional object. It has prominences and depressions. This makes possible a deformation which is substantially free of stress, in particular free of tensile stress, simultaneously in all three dimensions. The elastic membranes of this type which are known today suffer from the disadvantage that they are not substantially free of stress, and in particular free of tensile stress, in all three dimensions and therefore cannot meet certain requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Sig Schweizerische Industriegesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerald Luck, Thomas Schlusemann, Hans H. Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 5546866
    Abstract: A crossing apparatus for use with a tunnel-shaped bellows mounted between two vehicles connected to one another in an articulated manner in which an apron bridges a gap between the side wall of the bellows and a turning platform. The apron has folds corresponding to the side walls. It also consists of material strips, two each of which are connected to one another at the longitudinal edges belonging to one another by apparatus of rail-like profiles. The apron-clamping profiles are brought together at their top ends with bellows-clamping profiles of the respective side wall. Each apron-clamping profile has, between its ends, a gap-bridging course located at a corresponding distance from the respective side wall. Each apron is a structural unit comprising a number of apron-clamping profiles and a material web. Each apron-clamping profile forms a frame which is closed in itself from two partial profiles. One partial profile is straight and extends in parallel to the side wall of the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi- und Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Koch
  • Patent number: 5511491
    Abstract: An improved automobile transport railway car that is constructed from noncorroding materials adjacent to load carrying areas and that is enclosed by doors on both ends of the car. In the case of the articulated cars, a bellows assembly encloses and spans the ends of adjacent units. The car may be provided with two or more decks and has walls and a roof preferably constructed from nested, pultruded sections that are light in weight and are non-corrodible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold E. Hesch, Albert A. Beers, Stephen W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5487555
    Abstract: Hinge connection between two vehicles, which are connected to each other in an articulated manner such that the two vehicles can be adjusted in relation to one another around a vertical axis, a transverse axis, and a longitudinal axis. Movements around the vertical axis are made possible within the hinge by one hinge part each being associated with one of the two vehicles and by both hinge parts being adjustable in relation to one another around the vertical axis. Movements around the transverse axis and around the longitudinal axis are made possible by one of the hinge parts being connected to one of the two vehicles adjustably around the transverse axis and the longitudinal axis. The hinge part that is connected to one of the two vehicles adjustably around the transverse axis and around the longitudinal axis is held rigidly at a rigid strap, which in turn is held at the corresponding vehicle (3) via an elastic element (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi - und Kunstoff GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Koch, Knud Mosaner, Roland Schleicher
  • Patent number: 5471934
    Abstract: A bellows has integral connecting members joining the side wall and floor or roof fabricated from a sheet of flexible material with displaced longitudinal folds having adjacent seams to form a tongue and a pocket for receiving the tongue when the sections are pivoted with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi- und Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Koch
  • Patent number: 5456186
    Abstract: A bellows for articulated vehicles has side walls reinforced to have greater rigidity that the top and bottom of the bellows in order to enable relative horizontal motion while preventing bulging or collapsing of the side walls. The side walls may have one or more added layers to impart greater rigidity or may include materials inherently more rigid than those used in the top and bottom of the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi - und Kunstoff GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Hubner
  • Patent number: 5392717
    Abstract: An improved automobile transport railway car that is constructed from noncorroding materials adjacent to load carrying areas and that is enclosed by doors on both ends of the car. In the case of the articulated cars, a bellows assembly encloses and spans the ends of adjacent units. The car may be provided with two or more decks and has walls and a roof preferably constructed from nested, pultruded sections that are light in weight and are non-corrodible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold E. Hesch, Albert A. Beers, Stephen W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5111752
    Abstract: Elastically deformable self-supporting membrane making possible intercommunication between consecutive railway vehicles formed by corrugations of increasing depths and essentially constant thickness. The thickness of each end corrugation is increased and the outer peaks of the corrugations are reinforced by an extra thickness having a higher modulus than the rest of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Caoutchouc Manufacture at Plastiques, S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Carimentrand
  • Patent number: 5060578
    Abstract: Elastically deformable self-supporting membrane making possible intercommunication between consecutive railway vehicles formed by corrugations of increasing depths and essentially constant thickness. The thickness of each end corrugation is increased and the outer peaks of the corrugations are reinforced by an extra thickness having a higher modulus than the rest of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Caoutchouc Manufacture et Plastiques S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Carimentrand
  • Patent number: 5060577
    Abstract: A diaphragm assembly for the ends of railroad passenger cars comprises a head section, a sill section, and a pair of spaced apart upright side sections which connect the ends of the head and sill sections together. Each section is made of a single cast of urethane and is a molded integral section. Each section includes a channel member which has a pair of legs separated at one end and connected together at the bottom of the legs by a base member having a face portion with a hard rubbing surface for rubbing against a similar rubbing surface of an abutting diaphragm assembly. Hard flanges are molded onto the separated ends of the legs for mounting the channel member onto the door frame of the railroad car, and, in the side and head sections, a series of spaced-apart posts extend inwardly from the base member between the legs for insertion into a guide channel on the door frame of the railroad car to prevent lateral movement of the channel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Inventor: Floyd Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 5033395
    Abstract: A preferred membrane system is for connecting railway vehicles or the like. Each of the vehicles has longitudinal walls extending along a direction of movement of the vehicle and ends extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal walls. The system comprises an elastically deformable membrane having a tubular form for substantial alignment with the longitudinal walls between the ends of the vehicles being adjacent to one another. The membrane has opposite ends for being respectively connected to the ends of the vehicles being adjacent to one another. The membrane includes a plurality of corrugations with each of the corrugations extending around the tubular form. Elements for connecting the vehicle provide a predetermined distance between the ends thereof. The membrane and the corrugations thereof are partially compressed when the opposite ends are disposed from each other by the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Caoutchouc Manufacture et Plastiques
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Bechu, Jacques Cathala, Pierre Evanot, Roland Wanneroy
  • Patent number: 4984522
    Abstract: A diaphragm assembly (10) is provided around the doors (11) of adjacent railway cars (12) and together adjacent diaphragm assemblies (10) enclose the passageway between adjacent railway cars (12). Each diaphragm assembly (10) includes a mounting plate (15) having vertical sections (17, 18) at the side of door (11) and an arch portion (19) above door (11) mounted to a car (12). The mounting plate (15) is of a predetermined lateral width and carries side portions (22) of a flexible membrane (21). A bridge portion (23) of flexible membrane (21) extends between side portions (22) and is attached to a face plate (25) which has vertical sections (26, 27) at the side of door (11) and an arch portion (28) above door (11). The face plate (25) has a predetermined lateral width greater than the width of mounting plate (15). Face plates (25) of adjacent cars ( 12) are adjacent to each other and a seal assembly (40) may be provided between the arch portions (28) thereof to prevent liquid from entering the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: SMR Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Parish
  • Patent number: 4942825
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a diaphragm for passsenger railway cars, which consists of a platform (5) and a diaphragm (36, 2, 3) disposed in tunnel fashion over the platform. The system is so constructed that it provides good protection for the interior against external influences even when the differences in pressure between the outside and inside are extreme. The tunnel-like diaphragm consists of an inner end frame (36) for fastening to one of two railroad passenger cars coupled together, an outer end frame (3) for cooperation with the outer end frame of the connecting platform of the second of two coupled railroad passenger cars, and a resilient member, especially a bellows (2) between the two end frames (36) and (3). The outer end frames (3) is suspended by springs (4a) directly on one of the two passenger cars, and the springs exert an outwardly directed force on the outer end frame (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Inventors: Ingo Britzke, Peter Braemert
  • Patent number: 4903612
    Abstract: A corridor apparatus of an articulating section for use in articulated cars comprises: a pair of rectangular outer corridors respectively provided to end surfaces of car bodies to be articulated, in such a manner as to project therefrom and surround corridor entrances of the car bodies; a pair of rectangular inner corridors each adapted to partially fit with each of the outer corridors in a connected manner; and a pair of gate-shaped inner frames each connected to the other end of each of the inner corridors, the inner frames being fitted with each other such as to be swingable in the direction of the articulating section's corridor with lower ends thereof as a supporting point, wherein the rectangular outer corridors, the inner corridors, and the inner frames constitute peripheral walls of the articulating section's corridor, fitting portions of the outer corridors and the inner corridors are arranged to be rotatable around a center point of the articulating section's corridor, coupling portions of each of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignees: Nippon Sharyo, Ltd., Narita Seisakusho Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamitsu Sassa, Minoru Ishikawa, Mikio Hatano
  • Patent number: 4860665
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bellows structure for the connection of two segments of an articulated vehicle. In order to perform their different functions the different parts of the bellows structure are submitted to differing degrees of irradiation in order to modify the cross-linking of polymer therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Hubner Gummi- und Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventor: Helmbrecht Schmidt