Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
INTERIOR STRUCTURE OF A MASS TRANSIT VEHICLE
This invention relates to an interior structure for a passenger area of a
mass transit vehicle.
This application is related to a series of four further applications all filed
simultaneously with this application and assigned to the same assignee as
follows:
Application serial no. 2,297,875 entitled Passenger Lighting System for
Mass Transit Vehicle;
Application serial no. 2,297,625 entitled Side Impact Structure for Mass
Transit Vehicle;
Application serial no. 2,297,618 entitled Body Structure of Mass Transit
Vehicle;
Application serial no. 2,297,719 entitled Window Structure for Mass
Transit Vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mass transit vehicles and particularly buses generally provide a central
aisle and two rows of seats each on a respective side of the aisle and
adjacent the
side windows. For the safety of standing and moving passengers it is necessary
to
provide a series of stanchions along the aisle on respective sides of the
aisle and
extending either from the floor or from a seat to the ceiling so that the
stanchion can
be readily grasped by the hand of the passenger when standing or moving. The
top
of the stanchion must therefore be attached at the roof or ceiling of the
vehicle and
for this purpose longitudinal rails are commercially available attached to the
interior
of the roof to receive the top end of the stanchion. The base of the stanchion
can be
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
2
attached to the floor or to the seat, thus accommodating different locations
of the
stanchions as required by a particular bus construction. The above rails are
common in Europe but are not widely used in North America.
In addition, it is necessary at the interior of the roof to provide air
transportation ducts so that heated air when necessary for heating the bus or
cooled
air when necessary for cooling the bus or simply ventilation air when neither
heating
nor cooling is required is transmitted longitudinally of the bus from a supply
fan to
reach the individual passengers.
Examples of such ceiling mounted ducts are shown in U.S. Patent
4,574,336 and 5,857,758 both issued to Transmatic Inc. In both cases, the air
transportation duct is associated with and located behind a lighting and
advertisement card mounting structure positioned at the cornice between the
horizontal roof portion and the vertical side wall. This leaves the central
area
between the inner most edge of the lighting free from structural elements
along the
aisle so that the maximum headroom is provided on the underside of the roof
and
the stanchions can be attached to the roof at spaced positions which is along
the
length of the roof.
In recent years, low floor buses have been introduced where the height
of a front section of the floor is reduced to the minimum height necessary to
clear the
axles and suspension so as to eliminate steps at the entrance to the bus. In
order to
maintain the total overall stiffness of the side wall of the bus, the total
overall height
has been maintained equal to that of conventional bus structures. Thus the
length of
the side wall from the bottom of the window to the bottom edge of the side
wall is
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
3
reduced but this is compensated by an increase in the height of the side wall
above
the top edge of the window. In this way the spacing from the ceiling to the
floor is
increased. This also acts to maximize the volume within the bus and provide
the
maximum head room and the maximum feeling of spaciousness within the bus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an
improved interior structure for a public transit vehicle, particularly in
regard to the air
supply to the passengers and in regard to the arrangement of ceiling panels
and
stanchions. Such an arrangement also can provide space for the storage of air
tanks, fluid lines, electrical harnesses and other equipment such that these
elements
can be mounted above the ceiling rather than under the floor.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a public
transit bus comprising:
a bus body having:
a roof,
two side walls each extending longitudinally of the bus including an
upper side wall portion connecting to the roof and a row of windows underneath
the
upper portion,
a bus floor connected to the side walls and spanning therebetween;
two rows of seats for seated passengers each along a respective one
of the side walls at the windows and defining a central aisle therebetween for
standing and moving passengers;
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
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and an air supply system for supplying air to the passengers
comprising:
an air supply assembly including a main drive fan mounted at the roof;
an air transfer ducting arrangement connected to the air supply
assembly and receiving air therefrom, the ducting arrangement being located
underneath the roof at the roof, centrally of the roof and longitudinally of
the bus
body;
a first plurality of individual feeder ducts each extending from the
ducting arrangement across the roof to one side wall, the feeder ducts being
spaced
longitudinally along the bus body so as to communicate with respective ones of
a
plurality of different sections of said one side wall;
a second plurality of feeder ducts extending from the ducting
arrangement across the roof to the other side wall, the feeder ducts being
spaced
longitudinally along the bus body so as to communicate with respective ones of
a
plurality of different sections of said other side wall;
each section of each of the side walls including air distribution
elements mounted in the side wall for distributing the air to passengers at
the
section.
Preferably the bus body includes a ceiling panel above the heads of
the standing passengers and below the roof and wherein the ducting arrangement
is
provided above the ceiling panel.
Preferably the ducting arrangement is defined at the top by the roof
and at the bottom by the ceiling panel.
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
Preferably the ceiling panel has openings along side edges thereof for
discharging cooled air.
Preferably the air distribution elements include a duct along the top of
the windows and vents in the duct for discharging cooled air.
5 Preferably the feeder ducts and the air distribution elements in each
section can be arranged in one alternative to direct cooled air to the top of
the
windows and can be arranged in a second alternative to direct heated air to
the
bottom of the windows and to a position adjacent the floor.
Preferably the air distribution elements include a framing post of the
bus which defines a duct for communicating heated air downwardly from the top
of
the side wall to a position below the windows adjacent the floor.
Preferably the air distribution elements include a chamber defined in
the side wall below the windows by an internal panel of the side wall, the
chamber
being arranged to be filled by heated air and including top and bottom
discharge
openings to allow heated air to discharge upwardly from a top of the chamber
onto
the window and from a position adjacent the bottom of the chamber.
Preferably the air distribution elements include a framing post of the
bus which defines a duct for communicating heated air downwardly from the top
of
the side wall to the chamber.
Preferably there is provided a fighting housing arranged along each
side of the ducting arrangement and wherein the feeder ducts are separate from
the
lighting housing and pass over the lighting housing.
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Preferably there is provided two stanchion support rails each extending
longitudinally of the roof on a respective side of the ducting arrangement,
wherein
there is provided a plurality of passenger stanchions at spaced positions
along the
aisle on respective sides of the aisle and attached to a respective one of the
support
rails and wherein the feeder ducts comprise individual duct elements passing
over
the stanchion support rails.
Preferably the bus body includes a ceiling panel above the heads of
the standing passengers and below the roof and wherein the ceiling panel
extends
between and is supported by the support rails.
Preferably the ceiling panel extends across the aisle at a height lower
than the support rails.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
public transit bus comprising:
a bus body having:
a roof having a plurality of transverse roof bows spaced longitudinally
of the roof,
two side walls each extending longitudinally of the bus including an
upper side wall portion connecting to the roof and a row of windows underneath
the
upper portion,
a bus floor connected to the side walls and spanning therebetween;
two rows of seats for seated passengers each along a respective one
of the side walls at the windows and defining a central aisle therebetween for
standing and moving passengers;
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two stanchion support rails each extending longitudinally of the roof
each on a respective side of the central aisle so as to define a horizontal
space
between the rails, each rail having a plurality of passenger stanchions
attached
thereto and extending downwardly therefrom at spaced positions along the rail;
each stanchion support rail being spaced downwardly from an
underside of the roof bows so to as leave a vertical space between the
underside of
the roof bows and the rail;
and a ceiling panel above the heads of the standing passengers, the
ceiling panel being connected at each side edge thereof to a respective one of
the
support rails and supported thereby so as to extend across a horizontal space
therebetween;
the ceiling panel being arranged below the roof leaving a vertical space
between the underside of the roof bows and the ceiling panel;
at least one side edge of the ceiling panel being releasable from the
respective support rail such that the ceiling panel can be opened to expose
said
vertical space.
Preferably wherein the ceiling panel extends across the aisle at a
height lower than the support rails.
Preferably the ceiling panel is wider than the width of the aisle at the
top of the seats and wherein the stanchions are inclined upwardly and
outwardly
from a position on the stanchions at the top of the seats to the rails.
Preferably the stanchions are curved so as to have a convex curvature
facing inwardly of the aisle.
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Preferably some of the stanchions have an intermediate portion
arranged at a height above the floor, a bottom portion extending downwardly
from
the intermediate portion to the floor and a bottom end connected to the floor
and
wherein the bottom portion is inclined outwardly away from the central aisle
and
downwardly such that the bottom end attached to the floor is spaced outwardly
of
the intermediate portion.
Preferably the intermediate portion is arranged at approximately the
same height as a seat bottom and wherein the stanchion is inclined upwardly
and
outwardly from the intermediate portion to the support rail.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a public
transit bus comprising:
a bus body having:
a roof,
two side walls each extending longitudinally of the bus including an
upper side wall portion connecting to the roof and a row of windows underneath
the
upper portion,
a bus floor connected to the side walls and spanning therebetween;
two rows of seats for seated passengers each along a respective one
of the side walls at the windows and defining a central aisle therebetween for
standing and moving passengers;
and a plurality of passenger stanchions;
some of the stanchions being seat stanchions which have a bottom
end connected to the top of one of the seats;
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
9
and some of the stanchions being floor stanchions which have a
bottom end connected to the floor, a bottom portion connected to the bottom
end
and extending upwardly therefrom and an intermediate portion connected to the
bottom portion at a height above the floor and extending upwardly;
wherein the bottom portion of the floor stanchions is inclined outwardly
away from the central aisle and downwardly such that the bottom end is
attached to
the floor at a position spaced outwardly of the intermediate portion;
and wherein each of the floor stanchions includes an upper portion
above the intermediate portion which is inclined upwardly and outwardly of the
aisle
from the intermediate portion to a support adjacent the roof.
Preferably the intermediate portion is arranged at approximately the
same height as a seat bottom.
Preferably the upper portions of the stanchions are curved so as to
have a convex curvature facing inwardly of the aisle.
Preferably there are provided two stanchion support rails each
extending longitudinally of the roof on a respective side of the ducting
arrangement,
wherein there is provided a plurality of passenger stanchions at spaced
positions
along the aisle a respective side of the aisle and attached to a respective
one of the
support rails, wherein there is provided a lighting housing arranged along
each side
of the ducting arrangement and each stanchion support rail carries an inner
edge of
the respective lighting housing.
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
Preferably there is provided on each side of the aisle a lighting housing
arranged along a respective side of the ceiling panel and each stanchion
support rail
carries an inner edge of the respective lighting housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
5 One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view through a public
transit vehicle according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse cross sectional view through the
10 vehicle of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view similar to that of Figure 2 and
showing an upper part only of the vehicle on a larger scale.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view similar to that of Figure 2 and
showing a lower part only of the vehicle on a larger scale.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of a portion only of Figure 4 on a
further enlarged scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In Figures 1 and 2 is shown the general construction of a transit bus
according to the present invention. It will be appreciated that the present
invention is
primarily directed to city buses for mass transit of the public where the low
floor
structure is particularly advantageous but the same invention can be applied
in other
vehicles for transportation of passengers.
The bus as illustrated comprises a vehicle body 10 having a floor
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
11
structure 11, a roof structure 12 and two side walls 13 and 14 thus defining
an
interior volume 15 for receiving passengers. The interior of the bus defines a
central
aisle 16 with a first row 17 of seats on one side of the aisle and a second
row of
seats 18 on the other side of the aisle.
The seats are shown as two passenger seats side by side but other
arrangements of seats can be accommodated including rearwardly facing seats
and
inwardly facing seats as required. In addition some areas of the bus may have
the
seats omitted so as to further maximize the number of passengers which can be
accommodated since standing passengers require less floor area than seated
passengers.
The forward part of the bus as shown in Figure 1 includes a pair of
ground wheels 19 received within a wheel housing 20 which projects into the
interior
of the bus due to the relatively low floor which is located at a height just
above the
suspension system (not shown). The forward part of the bus further includes a
driver's compartment but this is not shown since it is well known to one
skilled in the
art. The cross section shown in Figure 1 shows the side of the bus opposite to
the
drivers compartment thus illustrating a forward entry and departure door 21
located
in front of the wheel housing 20. The bus further includes a front wall 22 in
front of
the door 21 and extending from the floor 11 to the roof structure 12.
Each side wall 13, 14 includes a plurality of vertical posts 23 extending
from a side rail 24 at the floor 11 to a cornice structure 25 at the roof
structure 12.
The posts 23 are interconnected by longitudinally extending rails 26 which
divide the
side wall into an upper window section 27 and a lower closed panel section 28.
Thus
CA 02297623 2002-07-18
12
each window opening is defined between two of the posts 23, above the
respective
portion of the rail 26 and below the respective portion of the cornice 25.
On the exterior of the side wall is provided an exterior side wall
cladding which is not described herein in detail but is the subject of one of
the above
mentioned applications and the disclosure of that application may be
considered for
further information.
Within the window opening is located a window structure and again the
window structure forms the subject of a second of the above applications. Full
details of the window structure are not necessary for this application and
therefore
are not included herein however the details are available from the above
mentioned
application and the disclosure of that application may be considered for
further
information.
The roof structure 12 in a main section 12A of the roof is defined by a
plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse roof bows 29 on which is applied
a roof
panel 30. The detail of the roof structure is again described in one of the
above
applications the disclosure which may be considered for further information.
At the forward part of the roof structure is provided a raised section 12B
in which the roof panel 30 is raised to a greater height to form a raised roof
section
31.
Two stanchion mounting rails 32 and 33 are provided along the roof
with each rail being attached to the roof bows 29 by a plurality of U-shaped
brackets
34. Thus the rails are fixed at a height spaced downwardly from the roof bows
and
extend substantially along the full length of the bus section to support the
stanchions
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
13
within that section. Each stanchion support rail therefore provides a top
support for a
plurality of stanchions 35 and 36 arranged at spaced positions along the bus
section
on each respective side of the aisle 16. Some of the stanchions 35 extend from
the
rail 32 to a bracket 37 at the floor. Some of the stanchions 36 extend from
the rail 33
to a seat rail structure 38 on a respective one of the seats. The seat rail
structure
defines hand rails across the top of the seat back which can be used by a
passenger
seated in the seat behind to pull themselves up to a standing position to
allow
grasping of the generally upright stanchion 36 to enter the aisle and move to
the door
21. The seat rail 38 thus includes an upwardly extending stub mounting portion
39
clamped at the end of the seat rail at the aisle so that the bottom end of the
stanchion 36 engages into the mounting portion and is fixed thereto.
Thus there are two types of stanchions including the floor mounted
stanchion and the seat mounted stanchion but each follows a common path
extending from the respective rail to a position at the side of the aisle
aligned with the
edges 40 of the seats 17 and 18. Thus in effect the width of the aisle at the
seats is
defined by the width of the seats as indicated at W. The spacing between the
rails
32 and 33 is substantially increased up to a width W1 greater than the width
W. Also
the stanchions are slightly curved so that a convex side of the curvature
faces into
the aisle thus providing a smooth attractive flow of the stanchion downwardly
and
inwardly from the respective rail from the width W1 at the respective rail to
the
narrowest section of the stanchions at the bottom of the seat and adjacent the
knees
or thighs of the standing passenger.
The stanchions 36 terminate at the mounting portion 39 and do not
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
14
extend into the area of the seat back or the seat bottom. The stanchion 35
however
extend to the floor and thus include a portion alongside the line of the seat
edge 40
although there may be no seats at the actual stanchion but will be appreciated
that
the line of the seat edge 40 forms a common plane along the bus interior
defined by
other seats in front and rearwardly of the area where the stanchion 35 is
located. At
the height of the seat bottom indicated at 41, the stanchion 35 reaches its
innermost
and lowermost point at the aisle and at that point is bent at an innermost
bottom
portion 42 so as to extend downwardly and outwardly of the aisle in a portion
43
connected to a vertical section 44 attached to the bracket 37.
The shape and arrangement of the stanchions therefore provides the
portion 43 which is inclined outwardly and downwardly and thus moves the
bracket
37 away from the aisle so as to prevent a tripping hazard. Thus the standing
passenger has an area underneath the innermost bottom portion 42 to receive
the
feet of the standing passenger without butting the bracket 37.
The shape and arrangement of the stanchions by which they curve
gradually and are inclined upwardly and outwardly provides an effective
arrangement
which allows a smaller standing passenger such as a child to grasp the
stanchion at
a location or to be close to the body of that person. Also the increased width
to the
upper area of the stanchion allows an increased dimension of the effective
width of
the aisle in the area above the seated passengers so that the width of the
aisle is
maximixed in the head area of a larger standing passenger. This allows a
greater
density of passengers in the aisle since the perception of density is
determined by
the passenger at his or her head area. In addition a passenger standing at the
CA 02297623 2002-07-18
center of the aisle stands more comfortably in view of the increased width of
the aisle
at the upper part since that larger passenger has longer arms and therefore
requires
a slightly greater spacing from the center line of the aisle than does the
smaller
passenger.
5 Between the rails 32 and 33 is provided a ceiling panel 45 which is
attached at each side to a flange portion of the respective rail so as to be
carried by
the rail and spans the space therebetween.
Between the outside of the rail and the respective side wall is provided
a lighting assembly 46 and an advertising panel 47. These elements are more
10 clearly described in one of the above applications the disclosure of which
may be
considered for further information.
The area between the roof panel 30 and the ceiling panel 45 defines an
air distribution ducting arrangement in the form of a primary duct 48 or the
transmission of ventilation air, which can be heated or cooled as required,
for supply
15 to the passengers as described in more detail hereinafter. The primary duct
48
communicates with an air supply assembly 49 mounted within the raised section
12B
of the roof. The air supply assembly includes a heating coil 50 which receives
heat
from a suitable heating source, a cooling coil 51 which receives cool from
condenser
51A and a fan 52 which draws air through the heating and cooling system as
required from a return air inlet opening 53 for injection into the duct 48. An
exterior
air inlet can also be provided (not shown). The air supply assembly is shown
only
schematically since this is well known to one skilled in the art and since the
details
can be varied in accordance with requirements which depend upon the
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
16
environmental conditions within which the bus is operated. The air supply
assembly
is located under the raised roof section 31 and above the ceiling panel 45 so
that the
area available for the air supply system projects into the interior of the bus
to a
position just below the panel 45, but not below the minimum allowable roof
height
according to regulation, thus allowing the height of the raised section
relative to the
remainder of the roof to be minimized.
Turning now to Figure 3, the lighting assembly 46 includes a structural
flange 55 extending along the length of the lamp housing. The flange 55 is
received
within a sealing member 56 extending along the length of the bus and butting
against
strips of insulation between each pair of the roof bows and extending from the
member 56 to the roof panel so that the flange 55, the insulation strip and
the sealing
member 56 define side wall of the duct 48 on one side of the duct with the
other side
being symmetrical.
The mounting rail 32 includes two side flange portions 57 and 58 each
of which includes a portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the rail
followed by a U-shaped section which forms an upwardly and inwardly extending
flange 59. The edge of the duct 48 includes a lip 60 which engages over the
flange
59 to hold the ceiling panel 45 in place but removable from the respective
rail. The
ceiling panel can thus be pivoted downwardly to allow access to the duct and
additional elements mounted within the ducts such as electrical components and
the
like.
The ceiling panel 45 has on its upper surface a layer of foam 61 which
extends over the majority of the width of the panel leaving areas on each side
of the
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
17
foam which are free from the foam between the lip 60 and an edge of the foam
61.
Each of these areas along the respective sides of the panel adjacent the rails
32 and
33 includes a series of holes 62 through which air can escape from the duct 48
for
supplying ventilation air, either heated or cooled as required, to the
passengers at a
position above the passengers and adjacent the faces of the standing
passengers.
The panel 45 has at its side edges the portions 45A which extend
upwardly and outwardly to the lip 60. Thus a generally horizontal bottom
surface
45B of the panel is arranged at a height below the top of the stanchion. This
panel is
therefore located at a height above the height of the tallest passenger but
provides a
ceiling which is brought down to a position closely adjacent to the passenger
to
provide an attractive appearance and to allow the areas outside of that
ceiling area
to be recessed again to increase the attractiveness of the structure and to
provide
space in which to recess the lighting assembly. The duct area above the panel
can
also receive tanks, fluid lines, electrical harnesses and other equipment thus
conveniently stored above the ceiling.
The flange 55 has a series of longitudinally spaced holes therethrough
(not shown) each for communicating with a respective one of a plurality of
feeder
ducts 63 for supplying the air from the primary duct 48 to a plurality of air
distribution
elements generally indicated at 64 at the side wall.
Each air distribution element 64 includes a fan assembly 65, preferably
including two fans driven by a common motor, which share an inlet 66 connected
to
an outer end of the duct 63. The duct 63 is independent of the lighting
assembly 46
and the advertising panel 47 and simply forms a separate duct bridging across
the
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
' 18
area between the hole in the flange 55 and the end of the fan. At the edge of
the fan
is provided a flap valve schematically indicated at 67 which can be moved from
a first
position used in cooling air to a second position used in heating air. In the
cooling air
position, the air from the fan is communicated to a further duct 68 which
extends
from the outlet of the fan to a longitudinally extending cooling air supply
duct 69. The
duct 69 is formed by a first wall 70 bridging the space between the bottom
edge of
the panel 47 and a mounting 71 at the side wall. A backing wall 72 is attached
to the
first wall 70 and defines the duct 69 in the shape of a channel therebetween.
The
duct 69 extends longitudinally along the full length of the structure and is
supplied by
a plurality of the duct 68 each associated with a respective one of the fan
assemblies
65. Thus in the cooling condition cooled air is supplied through the opening
62 and
through discharge vents 74 at the bottom of the duct 69. Thus the cooling air
is
supplied from above to the faces of the standing passengers and downwardly
from
the hole 62 and vent 74 to the seated passengers and across the windows so as
to
absorb the energy radiating therefrom and cooling the seated passengers.
Each air distribution system serves one of the window bays and a part
of the next adjacent bay on each side so that the air distribution systems are
arranged in alternate window bays.
In the event that the system is set for heated air, the valve 67 is moved
to a second position at which the air from the fan is supplied to two ducts 75
each
transporting that air into an opening in a side wall of a respective one of
the main
posts 23. Thus the heated air is supplied through the hollow interior of the
post 23
downwardly along the post between each window bay and the next. The number of
CA 02297623 2002-07-18
19
fan assemblies is thus equal to one half of the number of posts so that two
posts are
supplied by each fan assembly to provide sufficient air flow to communicate
air
through the post and to discharge that air into a lower part of the air
distribution
system 64 as best shown in Figure 4.
The lower panel section 28 of the side wall is separated from the
window section by the horizontal rail 26. The lower panel section is closed on
its
outside surface by an insulated cladding 76. The lower panel section 28 is
divided
into an upper part 28A and a lower part 28B by transverse walls 28C of a
bottom
skirt section.
The details of the exterior cladding and the skirt are shown in one of
the above applications and may be considered for further information.
On the inside of the side wall is provided a first mounting bracket 77
and a second mounting bracket 78 for cantilever support of the seat. Between a
bottom of the bracket 77 and the top of the bracket 78 is provided a first
sheeting
panel 79 which closes the area 28B and faces inwardly toward the legs of the
seated
passenger. At the top of the bracket 77 is provided a further sheeting panel
80 which
extends from the top of the bracket 77 upwardly to an outwardly turned top
edge 81
which engages over the rail 26 and projects inwardly to a position closely
adjacent to
a frame rail 27A of the upper window section 27.
The posts 23 have in each side wall a pair of discharge openings 82
and 83. The openings 82 allow the discharge of heated air into a chamber
defined
by the upper part 28A of the panel section 28. The discharge openings 83 allow
discharge of heated air into a chamber defined by the lower part 28B of the
panel
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
section 28. The dimensions of the ducts and the openings are selected to
supply
required amounts of air to the various portions in accordance with well known
air flow
calculations.
The air flow into the upper part 28A acts to heat the panel 80 to provide
5 radiant heat to the seated passenger. Behind the panel 80 and in front of
the outer
cladding is provided a block of rigid foam insulation indicated 80A which has
two
curved upper surfaces 80B and 80C each arranged adjacent a respective one of
the
openings 82 in the respective post so that the upper surface 80B, 80C acts to
direct
the air from the opening 82 upwardly toward the window. The air passes
upwardly
10 between a series of vertical horizontally spaced fins 84 which space the
outside
surface of the panel 80 from the rail 26 and from the window frame and at the
same
time act to stiffen the panel 80 in those areas thus forming a series of ducts
through
which the air can pass to escape at the top edge 81 adjacent the rail 27A onto
the
window pane at its lower edge to effect heating of the vehicle in that area
and to
15 effect defrosting of the window. The construction of the window is shown
and
described in more detail in a copending application identified hereinbefore.
The air in the lower part 28B passes through an opening 85 in the
bracket 78 so as to emerge from the bottom edge of the panel 79 and pass
downwardly toward the floor to act to heat the area of the floor and to allow
the heat
20 to rise up into the seating area to heat the seated passengers. Radiant
heat is also
emitted by the panel 79.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
CA 02297623 2002-02-27
21
within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit
and
scope, it is intended that al! matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall
be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
