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Patent 2341364 Summary

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2341364
(54) English Title: A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT ARRANGED TO FORM AT LEAST A PART OF A SHELL OF A CAR BODY OF A RAILWAY VEHICLE
(54) French Title: ELEMENT STRUCTUREL CONCU POUR FORMER AU MOINS UNE PARTIE DE LA CAISSE D'UNE VOITURE DE CHEMIN DE FER
Status: Deemed Abandoned and Beyond the Period of Reinstatement - Pending Response to Notice of Disregarded Communication
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • B61D 17/04 (2006.01)
  • B61D 17/08 (2006.01)
  • B61D 17/18 (2006.01)
  • B62D 29/00 (2006.01)
  • B62D 31/02 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • SVENDING, BJORN (Sweden)
  • VON WERNE, DIRK (Belgium)
  • FORSBERG, PER (Sweden)
  • SJOBACK, CONNY (Sweden)
  • KARLSSON, STEFAN (Sweden)
(73) Owners :
  • BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH
(71) Applicants :
  • BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH (Germany)
(74) Agent: ROBIC AGENCE PI S.E.C./ROBIC IP AGENCY LP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(86) PCT Filing Date: 1999-08-18
(87) Open to Public Inspection: 2000-03-02
Availability of licence: N/A
Dedicated to the Public: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Yes
(86) PCT Filing Number: PCT/SE1999/001399
(87) International Publication Number: WO 2000010859
(85) National Entry: 2001-02-20

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
9802798-0 (Sweden) 1998-08-21

Abstracts

English Abstract


The present invention relates to a structural element (2) arranged to form at
least a part of a shell of a car body of a railway vehicle. The structural
element (2) comprises an external layer (5) comprising a metal material, an
intermediate layer (6) arranged to form a thermal insulating layer and
internal layer (7). The intermediate layer (6) is fixedly connected to the
external layer (5) and internal layer (7) so that a structural element (2) in
one piece is formed. The structural element (2) is arranged to constitute a
supporting element of said car body.


French Abstract

L'invention porte sur un élément structurel (2) conçu pour former au moins une partie de la caisse d'une voiture de chemin de fer. Ledit élément (2) se compose d'une couche extérieure (5) de matériau métallique, d'une couche intermédiaire (6) d'isolation thermique, et d'une couche intérieure (7). La couche intermédiaire (6) étant fermement liée à la couche extérieure (5) et à la couche intérieure (7) l'élément structurel (2) est monolithique. Ledit élément (2) peut servir d'élément porteur de ladite caisse.

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


8
Claims
1. A structural element (2) arranged to form at least one part of
a shell of a car body of a railway vehicle, wherein the structural
element (2) comprises an external layer (5), an intermediate
layer (6) arranged to form a thermal insulating layer and an
internal layer (7), characterised in that the external layer (5)
comprises a metal material and in that the intermediate layer (6)
is fixedly connected to the external layer (5) and internal layer
(7) by means of a binder means arranged to work so that said
layers are connected to each other along essentially their entire
surface to form a structural element in one piece, wherein the
structural element (2) is arranged to constitute a supporting
element of said car body.
2. A structural element according to claim 1, characterised in
that the internal layer (7) comprises a metal material.
3. A structural element according to claim 1 or 2, characterised
in that said intermediate layer (6) is essentially thicker than said
external (5) and internal (7) layers.
4. A structural element according to any one of the preceding
claims, characterised in that the intermediate layer (6)
comprises such a stiff material that it supplies stiffness to said
structural element (2).
5. A structural element according to any one of the preceding
claims, characterised in that said binder means is an adhesive.
6. A structural element according to any one of the preceding
claims, characterised in that the external (5) and internal (7)
layers of said structural element (2) comprise at least one
curved portion.

9
7. A structural element according to any one of the preceding
claims, characterised in that the structural element (2)
comprises fastening devices for equipment in the vehicle.
8. A structural element according to any one of the preceding
claims, characterised in that the structural element (2) is
arranged to comprise at least a portion of a side wall of the car
body.
9. A structural element according to any one of the preceding
claims, characterised in that the structural element (2) is
arranged to comprise at least a portion of a roof of the car body.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


CA 02341364 2001-02-20
WO 00/10859 PCT/SE99/01399
A structural element arranged to form at least a part of a
shell of a car body of a railway vehicle
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
The present invention relates to a structural element arranged to
form at least a part of a shell of a car body of a railway vehicle,
wherein the structural element comprises an external layer
comprising a metal material, an intermediate layer arranged to
form a thermal insulating layer and an internal layer.
In conventional manufacturing of a side wall of a car body of a
railway vehicle, an external metal sheet which is provided on
internal beams in order to increase the stiffness of the metal
sheet is used. In order to prevent buckles to occur in the sheet,
supporting elements are provided which are connected to the
sheet by means of welding. Furthermore, a ventilation layer is
provided in connection with the sheet and a thermal insulating
layer and finally an internal panel. Such a side wall for a car
body is expensive and complicated to manufacture and it has a
large thickness, which encroaches on the internal volume of the
car body. Furthermore, irregularities easily occur in the sheet as
a consequence of internal treatment by, for example, welding
during the mounting of said supporting elements to the sheet.
From DE 38 38 686, EP 544 473 and DE 195 33 532 structural
elements are known, which are intended to be used for forming
shells of a car body of a railway vehicle. The structural elements
in these documents comprise, in addition to the initially
mentioned three layers, also reinforcement elements in form of
through beams or surrounding beams. Such reinforcement

CA 02341364 2001-02-20
WO 00/10859 PCT/SE99/01399
2
elements have the effect that the structural elements obtain a
relatively complicated construction, which increases their
manufacturing cost. Such reinforcement beams also increase
the weight of the structural elements, which makes its handling
more difficult.
DE 296 08 643 U 1 shows a structural element which comprises
a portion of a side wall, a roof and a floor of a railway vehicle.
The structural element comprises external and internal layers
formed by a fibre reinforced plastic material. Said external and
internal layers are connected to each other along the edges of
the structural element, wherein they enclose an intermediate
layer. This structural element comprises longitudinal
reinforcement beams at the roof and floor portion of the
structural element. Such reinforcement beams lead also in this
case to a relatively complicated construction of the structural
element. Furthermore, it may be difficult to obtain a completely
even and smooth external surface in a fibre reinforced plastic
material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a structural
element of the initially mentioned kind, which is inexpensive to
manufacture and which has external and internal surfaces of
high quality at the same time as it enables a rapid and
uncomplicated mounting in the vehicle.
This object in achieved by the initially mentioned structural
element, which is characterised in that the intermediate layer is
fixedly connected to the external layer and the internal layer so
that a structural element in one piece is formed, wherein the
structural element is arranged to constitute a supporting element
of said vehicle body. By such a design, the structural element
does not require through beams or surrounding reinforcement
beams, wherein the manufacturing of the structural element is

CA 02341364 2001-02-20
WO 00/10859 PCT/SE99/01399
3
considerably simplified. Such a structural element may also be
manufactured to a low cost at the same time as it may be made
essentially lighter with respect to weight than by prior art
technique. Very advantageous is the fact that, the structural
element comprises an intermediate layer of a thermal insulating
material. Thereby is obtained that no further thermal insulation
need to be provided internally in the vehicle. A wall construction
may thereby be manufactured essentially thinner than by a
conventional construction and encroaches thereby less on the
internal volume of the vehicle.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, also the
internal layer comprises a metal material. Such a metal material
may be steel or aluminium. Preferably, both the external and
internal layer comprise sheets of metal which in co-operation
with the intermediate layer forms a structural element with such
a stiffness that it may constitute a supporting component of a
vehicle body. Alternatively only the external layer may comprise
a metal material. Thereby, the external layer will be
dimensioned so that it will carry the main load of the structural
element but it will at the same time be propped and guyed by
the remaining layers so that the structural element without
problem may be used as a supporting component.
According to preferred embodiment of the invention, said
intermediate layer is essentially thicker than said internal and
external layers. In order to provide stability to the external and
internal layers, the intermediate layer comprises such a stiff
material that it supplies stiffness to said structural element.
Such a stiff intermediate layer prevents also in an effective way
that buckles and deformations occur in the relatively thin
external and internal layers. Consequently, such an intermediate
layer has two functions, namely to stiffen the external and
internal layers as well as to provide thermal insulation.

CA 02341364 2001-02-20
WO 00/10859 PCT/SE99/01399
4
According to preferred embodiment of the invention, said
intermediate layer is fixedly connected to the internal and
external layers by means of a binder means arranged to work so
that said layers are connected along essentially its entire
surface. ,By connecting said layers to each other along
essentially the entire surface, it is prevented that a local
displacement between the layers occurs under load. Thereby,
the structural element will constitute a very stable, stiff unit
which distributes applied loads essentially along its whole
construction. Said binder means may consist of an adhesive
having good adhesive properties. Hereby, the external and
internal layers will obtain a very even and fine surface, which
has good strength against buckles and deformations.
According to preferred embodiment of the invention, the external
and internal layers of said structural element comprise at least a
curved portion. Usually, it is desired that a shell of a vehicle is
manufactured with curved portions in order to, for example,
decrease the air resistance of the vehicle and to use available
loading profile to obtain an aesthetically attractive visual
sensation. A structural element according to the present
invention, which does not comprise stiffening beams, may in a
rather uncomplicated way be manufactured with curved surface
portions but may also be performed with a plane surface. Said
relatively thin external and internal layers may without problem
each be bent to a desired shape individually or during the
joining process with the intermediate layer. The intermediate
layer may with a suitable choice of material also without problem
be manufactured in a desired shape, wherein such a material
may be a plastic material. Thereafter, said layers are connected
with a suitable adhesive in order to form a structural element,
which has desired curved surfaces.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
structural element comprises fastening devices for equipment in
the vehicle. Since the internal layer of the structural element has

CA 02341364 2001-02-20
WO 00/10859 PCT/SE99/01399
a flat surface, which also may carry loads, the possibility arises
to fasten in the vehicle provided internal equipment in the
structural element. For example, fasting channels for seats may
be provided in the structural element, such channels may be
5 fastened in the internal layer or provided so that they also
extend into the intermediate layer. Further material savings are
thereby obtained since there is no need for supporting elements,
for such equipment.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
said structural element forms at least a portion of a side wall or
a portion of a roof of a car body of a railway vehicle. The
present structural element is very favourable to use in railway
vehicles such as in underground railway cars and in railway cars
for transportation of people. It is in the first place the side walls
of the car body, 'which are suitable to be comprised by said
structural element. By making the walls thinner a greater
internal volume for the accommodation of passengers may be
obtained. The vehicle car will also be essentially lighter, which
fact, i.a., influences the energy consumption in a favourable
way. It also favorable to use the present structural element in
the roof of the car body, which by this measure obtains a light
and uncomplicated construction. To use the structural element
in a floor construction of a railway vehicle is also an alternative,
which may not be excluded.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are
described as examples with reference to the attached drawings,
in which:
Fig 1 shows a plane view of a car body of a railway vehicle
comprising a structural element according to the
present invention,

CA 02341364 2001-02-20
WO 00/10859 PCT/SE99/01399
6
Fig 2 shows schematically a cross sectional view of a
structural element according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF
THE INVENTION
Fig 1 shows a car body 1 of a railway vehicle, comprising a
structural element 2 according to the present invention. The
structural element 2 forms at least a part of a side wall of the
car body 1 and has openings for windows 3. The structural
element 2 may, for example, extend between two door openings
4, of which one door opening 4 is shown in Fig 1. The structural
element 2 comprises an external layer 5 of a first piece of
material comprising a metal material, an intermediate layer 6 of
another second piece of material comprising a thermal insulating
material, and an internal layer 7 of a third piece of material. The
intermediate layer 6 is arranged to be joined together with the
external 5 and the internal 7 layers by means of an adhesive so
that the three pieces of material form a structural element 2 in
one piece. This structural element 2 is intended to be mounted
on the vehicle by means of fastening means, which may be
applied to suitable portions of the structural element 2. The
fastening means, which may, for example, be rivet joint
connections or joint bolt connections, may thereby connect the
structural element 2 at the top to the roof of the railway vehicle
and at the bottom to a lower frame 9. Possibly, also fastening
means may be applied for connecting the structural element 2 to
adjacent side walls.
Before the mounting of the structural element 2 in the vehicle,
fastening devices for internal equipment may be attached to the
structural element 2. Such a mounting of, for example, interior
details is considerably simpler to perform before the structural
element is mounted to the vehicle since a mounting inside the
vehicle always leads to a limited mounting space. Equipment,
which may be fixed to the structural element 2 internally, is, for

CA 02341364 2001-02-20
WO 00/10859 PC'f/SE99/01399
7
example, fastening channels for seats and sound absorbing
panels.
Fig 2 shows schematically a cross sectional view of a structural
element 2 according to the present invention. The structural
element 2 thus comprises an external layer 5, an intermediate
layer 6 and an internal layer 7. Preferably, the external 5 and
internal 7 layers consist of metal sheets of, for example, steel or
aluminium, which layers essentially supply the supporting
properties to the structural element 2. However, it is possible to
manufacture the internal 7 layer in other materials such as, for
example, fibre reinforced plastic materials. The internal 7 layer
may also be performed in a more pliant material, such as
plywood, under the condition that the external 5 layer is
manufactured in an essentially stiffer material, such as, for
example, steel. Preferably, the intermediate layer 6 consists of a
stiff, thermal insulating material. Such a material may comprise
a foam plastic material of PVC, PMI, PEI or PUR. Alternative
materials for the intermediate layer 6 are balsa wood and other
materials having good thermal insulating properties. Preferably,
such thermal insulating materials may be formed in a honey
comb structure. The intermediate layer 6, which is essentially
thicker than the external 5 and internal 7 layers, is arranged to
provide both stiffness and thermal and sound insulating
properties to the structural element 2.
At the edges of the structural element 2, the material of
intermediate layer 6 may be in full view or covered by, for
example, a plastic material 10, in order to protect the material of
the intermediate layer 6 against, for example, damp.
The present invention is not in any way restricted to the
described embodiments but may be varied and modified within
the scopes of the claims.

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

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Event History

Description Date
Inactive: IPC from MCD 2006-03-12
Inactive: IPC from MCD 2006-03-12
Time Limit for Reversal Expired 2005-08-18
Application Not Reinstated by Deadline 2005-08-18
Inactive: Abandon-RFE+Late fee unpaid-Correspondence sent 2004-08-18
Deemed Abandoned - Failure to Respond to Maintenance Fee Notice 2004-08-18
Letter Sent 2001-11-02
Letter Sent 2001-07-05
Change of Address Requirements Determined Compliant 2001-07-03
Change of Address or Method of Correspondence Request Received 2001-05-31
Inactive: Single transfer 2001-05-31
Inactive: Cover page published 2001-05-19
Inactive: Courtesy letter - Evidence 2001-05-01
Inactive: Notice - National entry - No RFE 2001-04-27
Inactive: First IPC assigned 2001-04-26
Inactive: IPC assigned 2001-04-26
Inactive: IPC assigned 2001-04-26
Application Received - PCT 2001-04-23
Application Published (Open to Public Inspection) 2000-03-02

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2004-08-18

Maintenance Fee

The last payment was received on 2003-07-29

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  • the late payment fee; or
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Fee History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Paid Date
Basic national fee - standard 2001-02-20
Registration of a document 2001-05-31
MF (application, 2nd anniv.) - standard 02 2001-08-20 2001-07-23
Registration of a document 2001-09-20
MF (application, 3rd anniv.) - standard 03 2002-08-19 2002-07-25
MF (application, 4th anniv.) - standard 04 2003-08-18 2003-07-29
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH
Past Owners on Record
BJORN SVENDING
CONNY SJOBACK
DIRK VON WERNE
PER FORSBERG
STEFAN KARLSSON
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
Documents

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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Representative drawing 2001-05-17 1 38
Description 2001-02-20 7 368
Abstract 2001-02-20 1 79
Drawings 2001-02-20 2 67
Claims 2001-02-20 2 64
Cover Page 2001-05-17 1 67
Abstract 2002-01-14 1 79
Claims 2002-01-14 2 64
Reminder of maintenance fee due 2001-04-26 1 111
Notice of National Entry 2001-04-27 1 193
Courtesy - Certificate of registration (related document(s)) 2001-07-05 1 112
Reminder - Request for Examination 2004-04-20 1 116
Courtesy - Abandonment Letter (Maintenance Fee) 2004-10-13 1 178
Courtesy - Abandonment Letter (Request for Examination) 2004-10-27 1 167
Correspondence 2001-04-27 1 15
PCT 2001-02-20 11 470
Correspondence 2001-05-31 1 45