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EP-4230497-B1 - A RAIL VEHICLE AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A RAIL VEHICLE

EP4230497B1EP 4230497 B1EP4230497 B1EP 4230497B1EP-4230497-B1

Inventors

  • EDWARDS, JONATHAN

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20201215

Claims (11)

  1. A rail vehicle car (1), wherein the rail vehicle car (1) comprises a vehicle wall (14) enclosing a usable space (7), characterized in that a sidewall section (2, 3, 8) of the vehicle wall (14) provides an equipment channel (10) for receiving at least one vehicle utility component, wherein the equipment channel (10) is arranged outside the usable space (7), wherein the equipment channel (10) is provided by a recess or a groove in the sidewall section (2, 3, 8) which is opened towards the exterior space, wherein the equipment channel (10) extends in a sidewall section (2, 3, 8) from a floor to a roof of the rail vehicle car (1).
  2. The rail vehicle car according to claim 1, characterized in that the equipment channel (10) is arranged in an end face section (8) of the vehicle wall (14).
  3. The rail vehicle car according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail vehicle car (1) comprises a removable cover element (13) for covering the equipment channel (10).
  4. The rail vehicle car according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one support element for supporting the vehicle utility component is arranged in the equipment channel (10).
  5. The rail vehicle car according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle wall (14) comprises at least one hollow profile element (15), wherein the equipment channel (10) is provided by the hollow profile element (15).
  6. The rail vehicle car according to claim 5, characterized in that the hollow profile element (15) provides more than one hollow space (16), wherein the equipment channel (10) is provided by one or more of said hollow space(s) (16).
  7. The rail vehicle car according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle wall (14) provides at least one groove (26) for arranging an edge section of a removable cover element (13) for covering the equipment channel (10).
  8. The rail vehicle car according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail vehicle car (1) comprises or provides at least one roof-sided outlet of the equipment channel (10), at least one floor-sided outlet of the equipment channel (10) and/or a connecting terminal (25) for connecting the utility component to an external system.
  9. The rail vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting terminal (25) is provided on a cover element (13) or on a lower end of the equipment channel (10).
  10. The rail vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the utility component is an electric cable (11, 21) or fluid supply pipe (24).
  11. A method of manufacturing a rail vehicle car (1), comprising the steps of - providing a vehicle wall (14) of the rail vehicle car (1), wherein a sidewall section (2, 3, 8) of the vehicle wall (14) provides at least one equipment channel (10) outside an usable space (7) enclosed by the vehicle wall (14), wherein the equipment channel (10) is provided by a recess or a groove in the sidewall section (2, 3, 8) which is opened towards the exterior space, wherein the equipment channel (10) extends in a sidewall section (2, 3, 8) from a floor to a roof of the rail vehicle car (1).

Description

The invention relates to a rail vehicle and a method of manufacturing a rail vehicle. Rail vehicles are used for the transport of goods and/or passengers. Such vehicles usually comprise cars which have a usable space which is used for a said transport. To provide the desired functionality of the rail vehicle or a car of a rail vehicle, it is required to arrange utility components such as electric cables or fluid pipes in or on the rail vehicle. It is known to arrange utility components in cupboards which are located inside the vehicle, in particular in the usable space. This, however, reduces the space for arranging goods and/or passengers. EP 3 409 560 A1 discloses a railway vehicle which includes a first car having a first end and a second car having a second end, the first and second ends being arranged in facing one another and separated by a gangway space comprising a gangway device. The first and second cars are equipped with high voltage electrical cables and low voltage electrical cables. Each car has a housing carried at its end, the electric cables all passing through this housing. The housing is not part of a vehicle sidewall. WO 2018/001890 A1 discloses a cable tray assembly for installing one or more cable harnesses in a rail vehicle body. The cable tray assembly is attached to the vehicle wall. EP 2 401 186 B1 discloses an assembly of a wall of a railway vehicle and at least one piece of electrical equipment. EP 3 575 176 A1 discloses a rail vehicle with a car body with an outer shell and with a cable receptacle for guiding a high-voltage cable. DE 10 2014 118 242 A1 discloses a rail vehicle carriage with at least one cable duct, in particular a cable duct with a clamping area and a fastening area. DE 10 2014 118 241 A1,discloses a rail vehicle carriage with at least one laterally accessible cable duct. EP 0 990 574 A2 discloses a car body with two roof rails and a roof end plate attached to it in an airtight and watertight manner, as well as with transverse bows which are firmly connected at the ends to the roof rails. CN 208 393 369 U discloses a wing plate structure and the locomotive vehicle roof structure of band wire groove function. EP 0 787 636 A2 discloses a spacious vehicle for passenger transportation, in particular a low-floor light rail vehicle, the vehicle body of which has a floor, side walls and passenger seats. DE 195 21 192 A1 discloses a passenger transport vehicle, in particular rail vehicle, such as a streetcar car or the like, having a car body in which a roof structure is fixed on longitudinal side walls. It is desired to provide a rail vehicle car with one or more utility component(s) in which the available space for goods and/or passengers is not affected, in particular not reduced, by the utility component(s). There is therefore the technical problem of providing a rail vehicle car and a method for manufacturing such a rail vehicle car with at least one vehicle utility component in which the available space for goods and/or passengers is not affected, in particular reduced, by the utility component(s). The solution to said technical problem is provided by the subject-matter with the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are provided by the sub claims. A rail vehicle car is proposed. The rail vehicle car can provide one car of a rail vehicle comprising multiple cars, wherein the rail vehicle comprises one or multiple rail vehicle cars. The rail vehicle can be a rail vehicle used for the carrying of cargo and/or passengers. The rail vehicle car can be a freight wagon, a passenger car but also a locomotive or a drive wagon. The rail vehicle car comprises a vehicle wall wherein the vehicle wall encloses a usable space. The vehicle wall can also be referred to as car body. The vehicle wall can be made of metal, in particular of aluminum. In particular, the vehicle wall denotes an element which separates an interior space, in particular a freight space or passenger space, of the rail vehicle car from an exterior space, in particular an external environment. The vehicle wall, in particular a sidewall section, can provide openings, in particular windows and door openings. Further, the rail vehicle further can comprise at least one vehicle utility component. As an example, the vehicle utility component can be an electric line or a fluid pipe. It is, however, also possible that the vehicle utility component is provided by other means for supporting or enabling a desired functionality of the rail vehicle car. According to the invention, a sidewall section of the vehicle wall provides an equipment channel for arranging at least one vehicle utility component, wherein the equipment channel is arranged outside the usable space. A sidewall section can be a section providing a long side of the rail vehicle car. Alternatively, the sidewall section can be a section providing an end face section of the rail vehicle car, e.g. a section of the sidewall at the