Shock Absorbing Patents (Class 105/392.5)
  • Patent number: 11292495
    Abstract: A sole bar arrangement for a body of a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle includes at least one sole bar that has a hole pattern and at least one suspension device, perforated in an interface-identical manner to the hole pattern and has a U-shaped cross-section, wherein the at least one suspension device is interlockingly and frictionally connected to the at least one sole bar, where the interface-identical configuration of the sole beam and the suspension device results in great flexibility with respect to the type and number of devices to be coupled to the body via the suspension device so as to create advantageous design conditions such that the production process of the body is simplified and accelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS MOBILITY AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventors: Ewald Brückler, Rupert Eckhart, Roman Groszschädl, Johannes Windhager
  • Patent number: 11125295
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a damping device includes a base member including a first base and a second base, a weight member, a pair of first base-side coil springs provided between the first base and the weight member, and a pair of second base-side coil springs provided between the second base and the weight member. Each of the first base-side coil springs includes a first effective turn portion, a first fixed pin portion supported in the first base, and a first movable pin portion supported in the weight member. Each of the second base-side coil springs includes a second effective turn portion, a second fixed pin portion supported in the second base, and a second movable pin portion supported in the weight member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: NHK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishizawa, Vinay Ravi, Norifumi Momoi
  • Patent number: 11034315
    Abstract: A crash can for a vehicle includes a multi-cell structure that includes at least four hollow cuboids, each defined by four walls that meet at 90 degree angles and at least two of the cuboids share a wall. In another example, a crash can includes a multi-cell structure that includes a hollow cuboid having four walls, and four hollow isosceles trapezoidal prisms having a long base, a short base, and two legs. The multi-cell structures provided herein may increase energy absorption by the crash can if involved in a collision, reducing energy transfer to a vehicle frame and occupants therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Guang Dong, Sekhar Reddy Biddala Reddy
  • Patent number: 10960905
    Abstract: An airbag module and a rail vehicle with an airbag module are described herein. The airbag module includes a support flap with a front end and a rear end. The rear end of the support flap is thereby pivotably mounted by means of a first pivot bearing, wherein the airbag module is convertible from a closed state into an open state by pivoting the support flap and the front end of the support flap thereby moves toward the track. The airbag module includes an airbag fixed on the airbag module. The airbag is folded in the closed state of the airbag module, and is unfolded in the open state of the airbag module. In its unfolded state, the airbag projects beyond the front end of the support flap, so that the unfolded airbag and the support flap together form an impact protection for a person on the track. Furthermore, a rail vehicle with one or a plurality of airbag modules is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Landri Fel
  • Patent number: 10906569
    Abstract: A rail vehicle includes a coupling disposed centrally in a front region of the rail vehicle. The coupling is mounted in a transversely extended crossmember, so that forces acting on the coupling are introduced through the crossmember into abutments which are supported on a front side of a car body of the rail vehicle. The crossmember is connected through at least one elastic energy absorption configuration to one of the abutments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10882542
    Abstract: An energy dissipating device includes a guide defining a guide surface having a curved cross-section. A deformer is slideably supported by the guide surface of the guide in a compression stroke direction of the device. A stopper is fixedly attached to the device and arranged at a distance from the deformer in the compression stroke direction. An energy dissipating member is arranged between the stopper and the deformer in the compression stroke direction, and includes a first end configured to engage with the stopper and a second end configured to engage with the deformer in response to a force thereon in the compression stroke direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Dellner Couplers AB
    Inventors: Arvid Grahn, Anders Westman
  • Patent number: 10773737
    Abstract: A traction-impact device including two force transmission elements which extend along a longitudinal axis and which are connected to each other in a force-transmitting manner and an irreversible energy absorption device that includes at least one energy absorption element which at least partially or in regions, preferably completely, includes a fiber composite material. The irreversible energy absorption device is at least partially received by a first of the two force transmission elements. This first force transmission element includes a nozzle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Radewagen, Kay Uwe Kolshorn, Mathias Romund
  • Patent number: 10583847
    Abstract: A raisable carrying device for loading cargo onto a rail vehicle using a hoisting unit. The carrying device includes at least one supporting unit for the cargo, holding pockets for the hoisting unit, and support surfaces for placing the carrying device directly on the floor of a terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignees: KAESSBOHRER TRANSPORT TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Blum, Horst Foessl
  • Patent number: 10563976
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for detecting a gauge of a metro vehicle. The method includes obtaining a plurality of partial three-dimensional contour images and a first identification information of the vehicle during a course of the vehicle passing through a transition track; processing the plurality of partial three-dimensional contour images of the vehicle to get a complete three-dimensional contour image of the vehicle; determining a gauge judgment result of the vehicle according to the first identification information, a preset gauge standard image library and a complete three-dimensional contour image of the vehicle; and sending the gauge judgment result of the vehicle to an Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) module. With the method and system for detecting the gauge of the metro vehicle, the efficiency of the vehicle gauge detection is improved and the automatic vehicle gauge detection is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Traffic Control Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Chunhai Gao
  • Patent number: 10124816
    Abstract: A collision energy absorbing device configured to realize stable and highly-efficient energy absorption by adequate destruction of reinforced fibers at the time of collision. A collision energy absorbing device of a railcar includes: an absorber made of fiber-reinforced resin and provided so as to extend in a rail direction; a base member supporting a rear end portion of the absorber in the rail direction; a front plate member not fixed to a front end portion of the absorber and provided so as to face the front end portion of the absorber from a front side; and a holding device configured to position the front plate member such that the front plate member aces the front end portion of the absorber from the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nagahara, Toshiyuki Hirashima, Shirou Honma
  • Patent number: 10017192
    Abstract: A railcar collision energy absorbing device includes: an energy absorbing element crushed in collision; and a casing extending in a car longitudinal direction so as to accommodate the energy absorbing element. One end of the casing is supported by a main structure of a railcar. The casing is constituted by a plurality of tubular bodies whose overlapping portions are coupled to each other. The casing telescopically contracts in the collision by breaking of a coupling portion between the tubular bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Sano, Naoaki Kawakami, Naohiro Yoshida, Shinichiro Hata, Seiichiro Yagi, Masayuki Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 9896812
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a mounting device for mounting debris deflector to transportation vehicles such as light rail which helps to position the deflector at the front or rear end of vehicles are disclosed. The mounting device is located between the deflector and transportation vehicle and includes a longitudinal member having a proximal end and a distal end, a first base plate rigidly connected to the proximal end of the longitudinal member, and a second base plate rigidly connected to the distal end of the longitudinal member. Further, the first base plate may be connected to understructure of the transportation vehicle, and the second base plate may be connected to the debris deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Robert Doerr
  • Patent number: 9889864
    Abstract: A railway vehicle and a head car cowcatcher thereof are provided. The head car cowcatcher includes a flow guiding plate; a front-end frame mounted at a front end of an inner side surface of the flow guiding plate; and longitudinal sills mounted at two sides of the inner side surface of the flow guiding plate. Two ends of the front-end frame are respectively connected to the longitudinal sills located at the two sides. The rigidity of a connecting part of the longitudinal sills and the front-end frame is smaller than the rigidities of any parts of the longitudinal sills and the front-end frame. When obstructions are cleared or a train collision occurs, the connecting part of the front-end frame and each of the longitudinal sills would be largely deformed if the impact force the cowcatcher bears is beyond the maximum load the cowcatcher can bear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yangyang Yu, Guanglei Ma, Aiqin Tian, Shizhong Zhao, Sansan Ding, Wenbin Chen, Quanwei Che
  • Patent number: 9802628
    Abstract: An anti-climbing protection apparatus for a rail vehicle includes at least one buffer supported by an energy absorption element connected to a rail vehicle frame. In order to permit such a protection apparatus to be produced economically, to reliably prevent overriding and to be comparatively easy to retrofit, a bearing element is fastened to an end of the energy absorption element facing away from the vehicle frame. The bearing element supports an anti-climbing protection device at an end thereof protruding in a vertical direction from the buffer. In the event of a crash, a horizontally oriented stop, in cooperation with the front of the rail vehicle, permits an anti-climbing protection element of the anti-climbing protection device to be brought from the stop into an anti-climbing protection position extending outward over the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marcus Koerner, Alexander Trachtenherz
  • Patent number: 9709121
    Abstract: A mechanism for decreasing kinetic energy includes a carriage to connect to an object, a first wire passing through a top portion of the carriage, a second wire coterminous with the first wire at a top end and a bottom end, a spreading wheel axially fixed in a center position of the carriage between the first and second wires to plastically deform the first and second wires from a substantially parallel configuration to conform to a circumferential surface on two opposing sides of the spreading wheel as the carriage moves from the top to the bottom end, and a pair of despreading wheels axially parallel to and oriented proximal to the spreading wheel such that the first and second wires are deformed by a circumferential surface of each of the despreading wheels such that they are deformed again as the carriage moves from the top to the bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: AMI INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Srijith Purushothaman, Mohinder Saini, Satya Swaroop Panda
  • Patent number: 9421986
    Abstract: A railroad car constant contact side bearing assembly plastic cap having a longitudinal axis and including a generally flat top surface with wall structure formed integral with and depending from the generally flat top surface, and a metallic insert maintained in operable association with the generally flat surface on the cap to slidably contact with an underside of a railcar whereby permitting the cap to establish a coefficient of friction ranging between about 0.4 and about 0.9 with the railcar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: MINER ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul B. Aspengren, Steve R. White
  • Patent number: 9421989
    Abstract: A rolling stock includes: a pair of left and right post members provided upright on inner sides of left and right end portions of an end beam of an underframe, the end beam joined to a lower portion of a cab end structure; a recess portion open frontward, the recess portion formed in a front portion of the end beam between the pair of post members; and an impact absorbing member disposed between a bottom face of the recess portion and an inner face of the outside plate. The recess portion has such a size that the impact absorbing member is accommodated within the recess portion after being compressively deformed. Since the impact absorbing member is disposed on an inner side of the outside plate, the impact absorbing member is not exposed to the outside of the car body, and thus does not impair the design of the car body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Nippon Sharyo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Oohashi, Kentaro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9409580
    Abstract: An obstacle removing and energy absorbing device provided with an obstacle removing beam (6) and a bumper cross-beam (15) which are oppositely arranged, an energy-absorbing tube assembly with an energy-absorbing tube (9) is fixedly connected between the obstacle removing beam (6) and the bumper cross-beam (15), a mounting base (8) is fixedly connected with one end of the energy-absorbing tube (9), a crushing support (13) is threaded onto the other end of the energy-absorbing tube (9), the crushing support (13) is provided with a variable-diameter through-hole, a crushing-convex portion (20) is provided in the variable-diameter through-hole, a concave portion (21) matched with the crushing-convex portion (20) is arranged at an end portion where the energy-absorbing tube (9) is penetrated into the crushing support (13), the mounting base (8) is fixedly connected with the obstacle removing beam (6), the crushing support (13) is fixedly connected with the bumper cross-beam (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TANGSHAN RAILWAY VEHICLE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Letian Fan, Guoping Zhang, Jiangong Wang, Jijun Ma, Quanmei Guan, Qinggang Zhang, Peng Li
  • Patent number: 9283909
    Abstract: A device for absorbing energy in the event of a vehicle collision includes a body component of a motor vehicle, a thrust body for transmitting force, and a metal band for absorbing energy. The body component has a guide for the thrust body, and the body component has a deviating point for the deviating of the metal band. The thrust body has a fastening point for the fastening of the metal band. The metal band is coupled to the deviating point of the body component and to the fastening point of the thrust body such that the metal band is subjected to a tensile load when the thrust body is pushed into the guide of the body component. A distance between the deviating point and the fastening point is selectively adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Rolf Peter Röttger, Martin Kibben, Markus Zörnack
  • Patent number: 9027484
    Abstract: A front arrangement for a rail vehicle comprising a crash element with a forward facing crash surface, and a windshield washer device which, in turn, comprises a drive device and a front window wiper device drivable by said drive device. The crash element includes at least one impact absorbing element. The windshield washer device is fastened to the crash element for the vehicle, and is movable relative to a support of the front arrangement and thus, movable relative to the load-bearing construction of the vehicle so as to move backward during the occurrence of the impact forces and to enable absorption of the acting impact energy by the impact absorbing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Petto
  • Patent number: 9027485
    Abstract: An obstacle deflector provided at a front portion of an underframe of a carbody of a railcar includes an obstacle deflecting plate configured to protect the carbody from an obstacle on a railway track when the railcar is traveling. The obstacle deflecting plate includes a main plate portion provided to receive the obstacle by a surface thereof and having a curved shape that is convex toward a front side in a traveling direction in plan view and a sub plate portion projecting toward a rear side from the main plate portion and is continuously provided along the main plate portion so as to extend from a convex, curved front end portion of the main plate portion toward a pair of left and right side portions of the main plate portion, the left and right side portions being located at the rear side in the traveling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Taguchi, Atsushi Sano, Toshiyuki Yamada, Hideki Kumamoto, Seiichiro Yagi, Masayuki Tomizawa
  • Publication number: 20150059612
    Abstract: A stone impact protection configuration for protecting at least one vehicle component, in particular a wheelset shaft, disposed in the region of the underbody of a rail vehicle, includes a plurality of resilient shielding elements in the form of flexurally resilient strips being supported and held at both end regions thereof by at least one retention device. A corresponding rail vehicle with a stone impact protection configuration for operating on track systems with a ballast bed superstructure, is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Mihail Calomfirescu
  • Publication number: 20140360402
    Abstract: A railcar includes a chassis, a front end frame, a control cab for a train operator and an energy absorbing crash structure. The chassis has a cab end and a rear end. The front end frame is connected to the cab end of the chassis. The front end frame has a pair of corner posts and a collision post structure. Each one of the pair of corner posts is located at a different corner of the chassis at the cab end. The collision post structure is located between the pair of corner posts. The control cab has a control cab floor and is located proximate the cab end. A crash energy management module, located ahead of the front end frame, includes a plurality of energy absorbers and a crash shield. The plurality of energy absorbers is attached to the front end frame. There is a left energy absorber located on a left portion of the chassis and a right energy absorber located on a right portion of the chassis. The crash shield is attached substantially vertically and laterally to the plurality of energy absorbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel Koudolo, Virgilio Hilario, Gilles Hérard, André Gagnon
  • Publication number: 20140290528
    Abstract: An obstacle removing and energy absorbing device provided with an obstacle removing beam (6) and a bumper cross-beam (15) which are oppositely arranged, an energy-absorbing tube assembly with an energy-absorbing tube (9) is fixedly connected between the obstacle removing beam (6) and the bumper cross-beam (15), a mounting base (8) is fixedly connected with one end of the energy-absorbing tube (9), a crushing support (13) is threaded onto the other end of the energy-absorbing tube (9), the crushing support (13) is provided with a variable-diameter through-hole, a crushing-convex portion (20) is provided in the variable-diameter through-hole, a concave portion (21) matched with the crushing-convex portion (20) is arranged at an end portion where the energy-absorbing tube (9) is penetrated into the crushing support (13), the mounting base (8) is fixedly connected with the obstacle removing beam (6), the crushing support (13) is fixedly connected with the bumper cross-beam (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: LETIAN FAN, GUOPING ZHANG, JIANGONG WANG, JIJUN MA, QUANMEI GUAN, QINGGANG ZHANG, PENG LI
  • Patent number: 8839722
    Abstract: An integrated self-supporting and deformation-resistant modular driver's cabin structure for mounting to the front end of a rail vehicle body and for providing a driver space and a windshield opening, is composed of a composite sandwich structure with a single, common, continuous outer skin layer, a single, common, continuous inner skin layer and an internal structure wholly covered with and bonded to the inner and outer skin layers, the internal structure comprising a plurality of core elements. The driver's cabin structure comprises at least: side pillars each having a lower end and an upper end, and an undercarriage structure at the lower end of each of the side pillars. The fiber-reinforced sandwich located in the side pillars is provided with several layers of fibers oriented to provide a high bending stiffness. The fiber-reinforced sandwich of the undercarriage structure is such to transfer static and crash loads without flexural buckling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Prockat, Conor O'Neill, Joseph Carruthers, Mark Robinson
  • Publication number: 20140261073
    Abstract: A locomotive underframe CNG fuel storage system including: a crashworthy enclosure including a removable side panel and a permanent side panel welded into place; and at least one CNG cylinder module, wherein each CNG cylinder module includes a plurality of CNG cylinders stacked vertically, secured to a vertical wall, and separated by a horizontal plate, wherein the horizontal plate extends towards but does not contact the vertical wall when the vertical wall is planar and, further wherein, the horizontal plate supports the vertical wall from moving further out of plane when vertical axial weight causes the vertical wall for move out of plane towards the horizontal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: David Cook
  • Publication number: 20140245922
    Abstract: A collision energy absorption column is provided on an end side of a railroad vehicle structure and extends from an end beam toward a roof structure. The collision energy absorption column includes a metal outer member having a transverse cross section of a channel shape, and an inner member made of reinforced plastic provided along an inner circumference of the outer member and extending in parallel with the outer member. The outer member is configured by joining two column halves extending along a column axis after arranging the two column halves are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the column axis of the outer member. The joined part of the column halves extends along the column axis. The outer member is coupled to the end beam and roof by a fastener. The inner member extends between the end beam and a part of the roof structure, excluding the fastening parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hirashima, Seiichi Hayashi, Hitoshi Nagahara
  • Patent number: 8757066
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for pivoting one or more front flaps (1a, 1b) of a track-guided vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle. To achieve that the front flap can be opened and closed without friction and that it does not have any visible joints, the invention provides that the device comprises at least one carrier element (2) which, on the one hand, is connected with the front flap (1a, 1b) and, on the other hand, with the vehicle undercarriage, wherein the carrier element (2) can be pivoted in the horizontal plane relative to the vehicle undercarriage, and which is designed to change, during the pivoting, the front flap (1a, 1b) from a closed position into an opened position and vice versa. Furthermore, the device comprises an activation element (3) which, on the one hand, is connected with the at least one carrier element (2) and, on the other hand, with the vehicle undercarriage for pivoting the at least one carrier element (2) relative to the vehicle undercarriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Heinisch, Reiner Krause
  • Patent number: 8707872
    Abstract: Provided is a railway vehicle having a configuration which can sufficiently protect the cabin even when large external force is applied to the end structures thereof. The vehicle body of the railway vehicle is formed by joining an underframe 20, side structures 30, end structures 50, and a roof structure 60 together. An upper reinforcement beam 56 in the railroad tie direction is disposed at the upper portion of the end structure. A plurality of post reinforcement members are disposed in the vertical direction so as to stand on an end beam 26 of the underframe. The post reinforcement members and the upper reinforcement beam are respectively connected by an end post in the vertical direction disposed at an intermediate portion in the end structure width direction and corner posts 54 in the vertical direction disposed at both end portions in the end structure width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Sharyo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Kuroda, Koji Nakao, Kentaro Hayashi, Takashi Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8701566
    Abstract: A railcar that includes an underframe, a front surface frame located at a front surface portion of a carbody and having a lower end portion coupled to the underframe, and a buffer member coupled to the front surface frame and extending toward a vehicle interior side. Then, the buffer member is provided at a position higher than the underframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: West Japan Railway Company, Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayasu Matsuoka, Hiroyuki Kido, Taro Hayashi, Makoto Taguchi, Yasufumi Minamimoto, Akira Ukita
  • Patent number: 8646392
    Abstract: A crash module for a rail vehicle includes at least one crash element, which is arranged in front of the vehicle structure. At least one transverse profiled element is provided, which is connected to the at least one crash element and which has a substantially lower compressive strength in the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle than in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens AG Osterreich
    Inventors: Richard Graf, Thomas Meissl, Andreas Rittenschober, Markus Seitzberger
  • Publication number: 20140033949
    Abstract: An integrated self-supporting and deformation-resistant modular driver's cabin structure for mounting to the front end of a rail vehicle body and for providing a driver space and a windshield opening, is composed of a composite sandwich structure with a single, common, continuous outer skin layer, a single, common, continuous inner skin layer and an internal structure wholly covered with and bonded to the inner and outer skin layers, the internal structure comprising a plurality of core elements. The driver's cabin structure comprises at least: side pillars each having a lower end and an upper end, and an undercarriage structure at the lower end of each of the side pillars. The fibre-reinforced sandwich located in the side pillars is provided with several layers of fibres oriented to provide a high bending stiffness. The fibre-reinforced sandwich of the undercarriage structure is such to transfer static and crash loads without flexural buckling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Prockat, Conor O'neill, Joseph Carruthers, Mark Robinson
  • Publication number: 20140020596
    Abstract: A rail vehicle having an attached deformation zone is presented. The rail vehicle has at least one end transverse beam provided in an end face region and corner pillars arranged substantially vertically and extend from the end transverse beam. The deformation zone is provided at the end face having a front transverse beam arranged parallel to the end transverse beam and spaced therefrom in an end-face direction and at least one force transmission element arranged between the end transverse beam and the front transverse beam. The element transmits longitudinal compressive forces between the end transverse beam and the front transverse beam without plastic deformation up to a defined value and failing when the defined value is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Graf, Philipp Heinzl, Markus Seitzberger
  • Publication number: 20140007790
    Abstract: A safety device for railway vehicles is provided, more specifically a safety device that reduces the negative consequences resulting from collisions or pedestrian accidents involving railway vehicles. As such, the railway vehicle safety device consists of a main impact dampening area and at least one secondary support and resistance area, with the safety device being installed on the railway vehicle's front end, so that the main impact dampening area dampens the force of the impact caused by a collision between the vehicle and a pedestrian.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Caue Stocchi SOMENSI
  • Patent number: 8622003
    Abstract: A device for the on-demand sealing of an opening provided in the frontal region of a track-guided vehicle has sealing member of variable size and a frame for supporting the sealing member. The frame together with the sealing member affixed thereto enclose an area through which the coupling shaft of a central buffer coupling of a track-guided vehicle can be guided. The sealing member is controllable such that the size of the area covered by sealing member can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Radewagen
  • Patent number: 8607713
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for pivoting one or more nose flaps of a track-guided vehicle, a railway vehicle in particular. It is hereby provided for the device to comprise at least one supporting frame (10) connected or connectable to the vehicle undercarriage and at least one actuating device connected on one side to the at least one supporting frame (10) and on the other to the pivotable nose flap (1a; 1b) for pivoting the nose flap (1a; 1b) relative to the supporting frame (10) from a closed state into an opened state and vice versa, wherein the actuating device comprises at least one lifting spindle drive (30a, 32a; 30b, 32b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Denny Scholz
  • Publication number: 20130284047
    Abstract: A front arrangement for a rail vehicle comprising a crash element with a forward facing crash surface, and a windshield washer device which, in turn, comprises a drive device and a front window wiper device drivable by said drive device. The crash element includes at least one impact absorbing element. The windshield washer device is fastened to the crash element for the vehicle, and is movable relative to a support of the front arrangement and thus, movable relative to the load-bearing construction of the vehicle so as to move backward during the occurrence of the impact forces and to enable absorption of the acting impact energy by the impact absorbing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH
    Inventor: Bombardier Transportaion GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130239847
    Abstract: An obstacle deflector provided at a front portion of an underframe of a carbody of a railcar includes an obstacle deflecting plate configured to protect the carbody from an obstacle on a railway track when the railcar is traveling. The obstacle deflecting plate includes a main plate portion provided to receive the obstacle by a surface thereof and having a curved shape that is convex toward a front side in a traveling direction in plan view and a sub plate portion projecting toward a rear side from the main plate portion and is continuously provided along the main plate portion so as to extend from a convex, curved front end portion of the main plate portion toward a pair of left and right side portions of the main plate portion, the left and right side portions being located at the rear side in the traveling direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Taguchi, Atsushi Sano, Toshiyuki Yamada, Hideki Kumamoto, Seiichiro Yagi, Masayuki Tomizawa
  • Publication number: 20130233200
    Abstract: A crash energy absorber is provided at a front portion of a carbody of a railcar and configured to crush by a load from a front side to absorb crash energy. The crash energy absorber includes: a main absorbing portion extending in a front-rear direction; and a pair of sub absorbing portions respectively provided at upper and lower sides of the main absorbing portion. Each of the pair of sub absorbing portions is formed integrally with the main absorbing portion via breakable portions each extending in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Taguchi, Atsushi Sano, Toshiyuki Yamada, Hideki Kumamoto, Seiichiro Yagi, Masayuki Tomizawa
  • Publication number: 20130125782
    Abstract: Provided is a railway vehicle having a configuration which can sufficiently protect the cabin even when large external force is applied to the side structures and the end structures thereof. The vehicle body of the railway vehicle is formed by joining an underframe 20, side structures 30, end structures 50, and a roof structure 60 together. The lower inner face of the side post 31 of the side structure is joined to the outer face portion of a side beam 21 of the underframe. The lower inner faces of the post reinforcement members (an end post reinforcement member 57 and a corner post reinforcement member 58) for reinforcing the post members (an end post 53 and a corner post 54) of the end structure are joined to the outer face portion of an end beam 26 of the underframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON SHARYO, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Ishizuka, Masaru Kuroda, Koji Nakao, Takamitsu Sassa
  • Publication number: 20130104770
    Abstract: Provided is a railway vehicle having a configuration which can sufficiently protect the cabin even when large external force is applied to the end structures thereof. An end structure 50 is disposed at an end portion of the vehicle body 11 through a crushable zone 40. The end structure is provided with an end post, corner posts, and an upper reinforcement beam 56. The lower end portions of the end post and the corner posts are joined to an end beam 26 of an underframe, and the upper end portions of the end post and the corner posts are joined to the upper reinforcement beam, respectively. In the crushable zone, there are provided a lower slide portion and an upper slide portion. The lower slide portion is configured by connecting a slide center beam projecting from a center portion of an end beam of the underframe in a direction of a cap beam with a guide center beam projecting from the cap beam in a vehicle end direction by a lower fuse member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON SHARYO, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Nakao, Kentaro Hayashi, Takashi Ishizuka, Masaru Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20130098264
    Abstract: Provided is a railway vehicle having a configuration which can sufficiently protect the cabin even when large external force is applied to the end structures thereof. The vehicle body of the railway vehicle is formed by joining an underframe 20, side structures 30, end structures 50, and a roof structure 60 together. An upper reinforcement beam 56 in the railroad tie direction is disposed at the upper portion of the end structure. A plurality of post reinforcement members are disposed in the vertical direction so as to stand on an end beam 26 of the underframe. The post reinforcement members and the upper reinforcement beam are respectively connected by an end post in the vertical direction disposed at an intermediate portion in the end structure width direction and corner posts 54 in the vertical direction disposed at both end portions in the end structure width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Nippon Sharyo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Kuroda, Koji Nakao, Kentaro Hayashi, Takashi Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8375869
    Abstract: A crash-resistant front apron for a rail vehicle is provided. The front apron includes an apron cover, a first support part supporting the apron cover, a second support part attached to a frame of the rail vehicle and a friction coupling release mechanism which connects the first support part to the second support part by a friction connection. In the event of a crash of the rail vehicle, in which a collision force acts on the front apron cover causing a torsion of the first support part relative to the second support part, the friction coupling release mechanism releases the friction connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens AG Österreich
    Inventor: Wilhelm Mayer
  • Publication number: 20120325108
    Abstract: A crash module for a rail vehicle includes at least one crash element, which is arranged in front of the vehicle structure. At least one transverse profiled element is provided, which is connected to the at least one crash element and which has a substantially lower compressive strength in the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle than in the transverse direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Richard Graf, Thomas Meissl, Andreas Rittenschober, Markus Seitzberger
  • Patent number: 8327773
    Abstract: A slide structure 21 of a railway vehicle includes a slide end beam 22 disposed in front of an end beam 16 that constitutes a portion of a body, and a slide center beam 23 projecting rearward of the slide end beam. An underframe 12 is provided with a guide portion 24 that guides the slide center beam in the longitudinal direction of the body. The underframe 12 is also provided with a holding member 28 that holds the slide center beam at a front position of the body with respect to the guide portion. The holding member has such a tensile strength that the holding member couples the underframe and the slide structure to each other in the longitudinal direction of the body and the holding member is broken when a tensile load in a rearward direction of the body applied from the slide structure to the holding member exceeds a preset tensile load, thereby permitting the slide structure to move in the rearward direction of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Sharyo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8261672
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle front-end module having a vehicle front-end structure (100) for mounting to the front end of a rail-borne vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, wherein the vehicle front-end structure (100) is wholly composed of structural elements made from fiber composite or fiber composite sandwich material. The structural elements forming the vehicle front-end structure (100) comprise first structural elements (10, 10?, 11, 12, 12?, 14, 15, 16) which are configured and directly connected to one another so as to form a substantially deformation-resistant, self-supporting front-end structure designed to accommodate a vehicle driver's cab (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Heinisch, Reiner Krause, Sascha Ende, Uwe Beika
  • Publication number: 20120199043
    Abstract: A bodyshell of a railcar includes side outside plates, end bodyshells, and guiding plates. The side outside plate are located at both end portions of a carbody in a vehicle width direction. The end bodyshell includes an end outside plate and a corner post. The end outside plates are located at both end portions of the carbody in the longitudinal direction. The corner posts are located at four corners of the carbody. The corner post is joined to the adjacent end outside plate and the adjacent side outside plate. The guiding plate is provided at the side outside plate so as to cover the corner post from a vehicle exterior. The guiding plate includes an inclined portion and a joining portion. The inclined portion is provided in front of the corner post and inclined to the rear side toward the side outside plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicants: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY
    Inventors: Masayasu Matsuoka, Hiroyuki Kido, Taro Hayashi, Makoto Taguchi, Toshiyuki Yamada, Naoaki Kawakami, Yasufumi Minamimoto, Akira Ukita, Masami Hayashida
  • Patent number: 8225722
    Abstract: A crash module for a rail vehicle is provided. The crash module includes a crash element, a frontal impact plate and a rear connecting plate, wherein a guide element is provided between the frontal impact plate and the rear connecting plate. The guide element has the form of a plate and is oriented essentially in a longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens AG Österreich
    Inventors: Richard Graf, Robert Nedelik, Markus Seitzberger
  • Publication number: 20120097066
    Abstract: A railcar that includes an underframe, a front surface frame located at a front surface portion of a carbody and having a lower end portion coupled to the underframe, and a buffer member coupled to the front surface frame and extending toward a vehicle interior side. Then, the buffer member is provided at a position higher than the underframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicants: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY
    Inventors: Masayasu Matsuoka, Hiroyuki Kido, Taro Hayashi, Makoto Taguchi, Yasufumi Minamimoto, Akira Ukita
  • Patent number: 8141497
    Abstract: A sliding-type apparatus for absorbing front shock energy is disclosed. The sliding-type apparatus of the present invention includes a driver panel (130), which is provided on the front surface of a driver's cab defined by a front part protective shell (110) of a railway vehicle so as to be movable backwards, and a bottom shock absorber (150), which is provided under the lower surface of the driver panel (130). The sliding-type apparatus further includes a front shock absorber (170), which is provided on the front surface of the driver panel (130), and a driver panel shock absorber (190), which is provided at a position towards which the driver panel is moved backwards. Thus, when a railway vehicle is involved in a collision, the several shock absorbers are consecutively collapsed to efficiently absorb shock energy. Furthermore, the driver panel is moved backwards without being deformed by the shock energy. Therefore, the safety of the driver is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Railroad Research Institute
    Inventors: Tae-Soo Kwon, Hyun-Seung Jung