Patent ID: 8261672
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: B61C,B61D,B61G

Abstract:
1. A vehicle front-end module having a vehicle front-end structure for mounting to the front end of a rail-borne vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, wherein the vehicle front-end structure is wholly composed of structural elements made from fiber composite or fiber composite sandwich material, wherein the structural elements forming the vehicle front-end structure comprise first structural elements 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, and wherein the structural elements forming the vehicle front-end structure comprise second structural elements connected to the first structural elements and designed such that at least a portion of an impact energy occurring due to a transmitting of impact force and introduced into the structure upon a collision of the rail-borne vehicle is dissipated by at least partly irreversible deformation or at least partial destruction of the second structural elements, wherein to form the substantially deformation-resistant, self-supporting frame structure, the first structural elements comprise A pillars arranged on each side of the front-end module structure as well as a roof structure fixedly connected thereto at respective upper areas of the two A pillars, wherein the A pillars and the roof structure fixedly connected thereto are designed to transmit a portion of an impact energy introduced into the vehicle front-end module not already absorbed by the second structural elements to a car body structure of the rail vehicle connected to the vehicle front-end module upon a crash, and wherein the side struts and/or the A pillars are comprised of a fiber-reinforced plastic hollow profile in which a supporting material is accommodated in order to increase the rigidity of the side struts and the A pillars respectively.