Abstract:
A bellows assembly for an articulated vehicle connects a first vehicle module and a second vehicle module. The bellows assembly forms a tube between the first vehicle module and the second vehicle module with a top region and a bottom region, the top region corresponding to a roof region of the vehicle above an aisle of the vehicle. The bellows assembly includes a section configured to receive a lighting installation, the section being arranged in the top region of the bellows assembly. Further, an articulated vehicle with such a bellows assembly and a system for installing such a bellows assembly is described.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/948,949, filed Mar. 6, 2014, the entire contents and substance of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to an overhead light in an articulation area of a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Articulations are used to connect all kinds of rail vehicle modules, i.e. streetcar modules, Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) modules, coaches, etc. Modern rail vehicles use bellows all around, i.e. ceiling sides and bottom. The bottom is covered by some kind of plate order to be able to walk through. The bellows are nowadays usually made out of a kind of rubber or fabric reinforced rubber material and creates a tunnel type area without any natural light. Thus, the area is somehow less preferred by passengers. Until now, designers try to place windows as close as possible to the articulation. However, this approach is limited because car shell structure is needed close to the articulation to be able to handle all applicable loads. Additionally artificial light is positioned to at least fulfill the specified minimum illumination on floor level. 
     An improved overhead light in an articulation area of a vehicle is desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     Briefly described, aspects of the present invention relate to an overhead light in an articulation area of a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle. Such vehicles can be for example railcars like streetcars, light rail vehicles, automatic (airport) shuttles, metros, commuter trains, EMUs (Electric Multiple Units), DMUs (Diesel Multiple Unit), coaches, and high speed trains. Furthermore, such vehicles can also be for example coaches or busses or many other vehicles for passenger transportation. 
     Aspects of the present invention include implementing overhead light integrated in an articulation area of a vehicle in order to enhance this passenger area tremendously. Overhead light, especially natural overhead light creates a feel of comfort. 
     A first aspect of the invention provides a bellows assembly for an articulated vehicle, the bellows assembly connecting a first vehicle module and a second vehicle module. The bellows assembly forms a tube between the first vehicle module and the second vehicle module with a top region and a bottom region, the top region corresponding to a roof region of the vehicle above an aisle of the vehicle. The bellows assembly comprises a section configured to receive a lighting installation, the section being arranged in the top region of the bellows assembly. 
     A second aspect of the invention provides an articulated vehicle comprising a bellows assembly connecting a first vehicle module and a second vehicle module. The bellows assembly forms a tube between the first vehicle module and the second vehicle module with a top region and a bottom region, the top region corresponding to a roof region of the vehicle above an aisle of the vehicle, and a section configured to receive a lighting installation, the section being arranged in the top region of the bellows assembly. 
     A third aspect of the invention provides a system for installing a bellows assembly between two vehicle modules of a vehicle. The system comprises fastening elements provided in at least two vehicle modules for fastening a bellows assembly between the at least two vehicle modules, the bellows assembly comprising a bellows and a lighting installation, wherein the lighting installation is incorporated into a top region of the bellows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a schematic representation of a side view of an articulated vehicle in accordance with the prior art. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a schematic representation of a top view of an articulation area of vehicle in accordance with the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic representation of a top view of an articulation area with a section for an integrated overhead light of a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic representation of a top view of an articulation area with two sections for integrated overhead lights of a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic representation of a view inside a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle, from the bottom up to the ceiling within an articulation area with a section for an overhead light, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic representation of a view inside a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle, from the bottom up to the ceiling within an articulation area with two sections for overhead lights, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The components and materials described hereinafter as making up the various embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components and materials that would perform the same or a similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a schematic representation of a side view of an articulated vehicle  1  in accordance with the prior art. The articulated vehicle  1  comprises two vehicle modules, designated as car shells  30 , which are connected by a bellows  20 . The bellows  20 , also called gangway bellows, is arranged between mutually opposed faces of two consecutive vehicle sections, for example the car shells  30 , of a sectional vehicle, for example an articulated bus, and are attached at their ends to these faces. The bellows  20  forms a tube, which is dosed around its entire periphery and is open at the both ends, and surrounds a crossover platform. 
       FIG. 1B  shows a schematic representation of a top view of an articulation area  10  of a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle. The articulation area  10  comprises a bellows  20  arranged between two vehicle modules, i. e. car shells  30 . The two car shells  30  are connected via the bellows  20 . The bellows  20  comprises flexible material, for example rubber material or fabric reinforced rubber material. A tunnel type area without any natural light is created. 
     Within the articulation area  10  on ground level, there are usually running plates arranged, either formed as a turning table or as sliding plate(s). Underneath the plates is a coupler or a type of strong coupler connection to connect the two vehicle modules. The bellows is normally fully closed underneath of the coupler, i.e. the bellows itself from a tube. But some other types of vehicles, like certain articulated busses, airport shuttles, or streetcars do not have a bellows underneath the coupler. In this case, the bellows including the running plates form a tube. 
     A full length of the flexible material of the bellows  20  is only needed on the side areas  40  to allow for example a consist run through a horizontal curve. The side areas  40  as indicated in  FIG. 1B  define a large movement area. In the center area  50  of the bellows  20 , in particular of the roof area, above the aisle, the flexible material of the bellows is only needed for example to allow a consist run through vertical curves, i.e. crest and sag. Vertical curves have much larger radii than horizontal curves. Thus, the full length of flexible material of the bellows  20  is not needed in the center area  50  of the roof area. The center area  50  defines a small movement area compared to the large movement areas of the side areas  40  of the bellows. 
       FIG. 2  shows a schematic representation of a top view of an articulation area  100  with a section  400  for an integrated overhead light of a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The articulation area  100  comprises a bellows  200  with an added fixed section  400 . The fixed section  400  is arranged essentially in the center area  500  of the bellows  200 . As described before, the full length of the flexible material of the bellows  200  in the center area  500  of the roof area, above the aisle of the vehicle, is usually not fully needed and may therefore be used for overhead lights. 
     The fixed, non-flexible, section  400  can include for example a window which allows natural light to enter the articulation area  100 . The window can comprise glass, acrylic glass or many other materials allowing natural light to enter the section  400 . To improve the amount of light, a prism may be used. In a further embodiment, the non-flexible section  400  in the bellow ceiling can also be used for artificial lights or a combination of window or prism and artificial light. 
     The fixed section  400  can comprise the shape of a rhombus, also called diamond. As shown in this example, the rhombus has two diagonals  410  and  420  connecting pairs of opposite vertices. The two diagonals  410  and  420  are perpendicular, wherein the rhombus is shaped such that the diagonal  420 , which is parallel to a longitudinal direction  550  of the articulated vehicle, comprises a length which is shorter than the length of the diagonal  410 . This means that the rhombus (diamond) is arranged such that its longer diagonal  410  extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction  550  of the vehicle. 
     The fixed section  400  can comprise many other shapes for example a parallelogram, rectangle, oval or ellipse. For the section  400 , shapes are selected which comprise a longitudinal direction which is greater than a lateral direction of the shape, wherein the longitudinal direction of the section  400  is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction  550  of the vehicle. In this way, the center area  500  of the bellows  200  is used in an optimal way, i.e. most of the center area  50 , but least of the side areas  40  (see  FIG. 1B ) is used for the fixed section  400 . 
     The section  400  can comprise a cut-out or opening in the bellows  200 . The integrated overhead lights, for example a window, can be arranged in the cut-out or opening and fastened to the bellows  200 . For example, a frame, having the form of the opening, can be arranged in the opening and a window can be arranged in the frame. Many other types of fastening the overhead lights within the cut-out or opening to the bellows can be used, for example adhesives technologies or many other fastening methods and structures known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The section  400  can have sloped and easy-to-clean or self-cleaning upper surfaces, for example with a so called lotus-effect, to prevent an accumulation of duct or dirt which would hinder natural light to enter the vehicle. 
     The non-flexible section  400  in the bellows  200  can also be used for artificial lights. In case of artificial lights, the section  400  may not comprise a cut-out or opening, but a designated ceiling area configured to arrange lighting installations (see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ). 
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic representation of top view of an articulation area  100  with two sections  400  for integrated overhead lights of a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle.  FIG. 3  shows an option with two split sections  400  to implement overhead or sky lights in the articulation area  100 . The bellows  200  can comprise a plurality of sections  400  in a plurality of shapes. 
     The sections  400  can each comprise the shape of a triangle, in particular an isosceles triangle. Furthermore, the triangle can be an obtuse triangle which has one angle greater than 90°. The angle greater than 90° as shown in  FIG. 3  lies opposite a face  310  of the car shell  300 . The embodiment according to  FIG. 3  provides that an overhead light in the form of the triangle can be mounted directly to the car shell  300 . The lighting installations are mounted within the roof region of the vehicle  100  to the car shells  300 . The bellows  200  is connected to opposite faces of the car shells  300 , wherein the lighting installations can be mounted to the faces of the car shells. 
     The fixed sections  400  can comprise many other shapes, wherein shapes are selected which comprise a longitudinal direction which is greater than a lateral direction of the shape, wherein the longitudinal direction of the section  400  is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction  550  of the vehicle. In this way, the center area  500  of the bellows  200  is used in an optimal way, i.e. most of the center area  500 , but least of the side areas  40  (see  FIG. 1B ) is used for the fixed section  400 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic representation of a view inside a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle, from the bottom up to the ceiling within an articulation area with a section for an overhead light, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As mentioned before, the non-flexible section  400  in the bellows  200  can also be used for artificial lights. In case of artificial lights, the section  400  may not comprise a cut-out or opening, but a designated ceiling area configured to arrange lighting installations.  FIG. 4  shows that the artificial light installation can use the same area  400  as shown for example in  FIG. 2 . The artificial light installation  600  is in oval form, but can comprise many other shapes and forms as described before. The light installation  600  can be mounted in the interior of the bellows  200  mounted to the bellows  200  within a ceiling region of the bellows  200 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a schematic representation of a view inside a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle, from the bottom up to the ceiling within an articulation area with two sections for overhead lights, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  shows, similar to the arrangement of  FIG. 4 , that the bellows  200  does not comprise a cut-out or opening, but two artificial lighting installations  600  which are mounted to the end of one or both vehicle modules  300 . But the bellows  200  can comprise a plurality of artificial lighting installations  600  mounted to the bellows  200  from inside within a ceiling area of the bellows  200 . The lighting installations  600  can comprise many other shapes suitable for the bellows  200  which can be mounted to the car modules  300 , in particular to opposite ends of the car modules  300  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     While embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in exemplary forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents, as set forth in the following claims.