Abstract:
A safety device for railway vehicles is provided, more specifically a safety device that reduces the negative consequences resulting from collisions or pedestrian accidents involving railway vehicles. As such, the railway vehicle safety device consists of a main impact dampening area and at least one secondary support and resistance area, with the safety device being installed on the railway vehicle&#39;s front end, so that the main impact dampening area dampens the force of the impact caused by a collision between the vehicle and a pedestrian.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/668,745, filed Jul. 6, 2012. The disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to a safety device for railway vehicles, more specifically to a safety device that reduces the negative consequences resulting from collisions or pedestrian accidents involving railway vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The accidents involving railway vehicles (i.e. locomotives, wagons) often have serious consequences, since material damage to the equipment until serious injury or death of those involved. 
     Generally, the efforts to prevent railway accidents have been focused on their prevention: collision sensors, alarms, planning escape routes, and other types of preventive methods or devices. If the prevention of this kind of accident fails the results are disastrous. 
     Considering the most common railway accidents, running over is particularly worrisome and dangerous. The dimensions and weight of the railroad car cause a fatality as a consequence of this type of impact. Other equally tragic, yet common injuries include serious injuries such as mutilation or generalized fractures. 
     Even if impact is only partial, the shock of collision between railroad cars and people results in consequences as disastrous as those mentioned above. 
     OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the objectives of this present invention, therefore, is to provide a safety device capable of reducing the negative consequences resulting from collision or running over involving railway vehicles. 
     Another objective of this present invention is to provide a safety device capable of reducing the impact from the collision between a railroad car and a pedestrian. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This present invention meets the aforementioned objectives by means of a safety device for railway vehicles consisting of a main impact dampening area and at least one secondary support and resistance area. The safety device is installed on front of the railroad car so that the main impact dampening area dampens the force generated by the collision between the vehicle and a pedestrian. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the main impact dampening area and the secondary support and resistance area consist of inflatable bags, in which the main impact dampening area&#39;s internal pressure is less than that of the secondary support and resistance area. The safety device can work with pressures that vary between 1 Pa-1 MPa. 
     Still in a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a tilting mechanism that tilts the device&#39;s body laterally in relation to the direction in which the vehicle is moving. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises two secondary support and resistance areas, with the first one consisting of an inflatable bag extending in a plane parallel to the front of the vehicle and the second one consisting of a portion of an inflatable bag sticking out from the lower end of the first secondary area. 
     In another embodiment, the safety device comprises three secondary resistance and support areas, with the first one consisting of an inflatable bag extending in a plane parallel to the vehicle&#39;s front end, and the second and third areas consisting of inflatable side bags sticking out the first secondary area. In this embodiment, the inflatable side bags preferably extend at an inclined angle in relation to a plane that runs parallel to the rails. The device further consists of a support area formed by an inflatable bag that sticks out from the lower end of the first secondary area. The device may further comprise a mesh or elastic net that joins the three secondary areas together. 
     In the invention&#39;s preferred embodiment, the device further consists of a casing installed on the vehicle&#39;s front end that is capable of stowing the impact dampening and support and resistance areas when the device is not activated. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the main impact dampening area consists of a mesh or elastic net. The device further comprises two supporting and resistance areas made up of inflatable side bags. In this embodiment, the safety device may further comprise an upper mesh or elastic net that joins the inflatable side bags, and a direction area formed by a crossbar connected to the side bags. Preferably, the inflatable bags are made of polymeric materials, natural or synthetic. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the first preferable embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown after being actuated; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of the front of a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the first preferable embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown while not actuated; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the first preferable embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown after being actuated; 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the first preferable embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown after being actuated; 
         FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are schematic illustrations of the safety device in operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention during impact between the railroad car and a pedestrian; 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown after being actuated; 
         FIG. 7  shows a schematic view of the front a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown as being deactivated; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of the safety device in operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention during impact between the railroad car and a pedestrian; 
         FIG. 9  shows a schematic view of a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown after being actuated; 
         FIG. 10  shows a top view of a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown after being actuated; 
         FIG. 11  shows a front view of a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown after being actuated; 
         FIG. 12  shows a schematic view of the front of a railroad car fitted with the safety device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, with the device shown as being deactivated; and 
         FIG. 13  shows an exploded view of the safety device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention shall be further detailed based on the execution example depicted in the drawings. 
       FIGS. 1-5  show a preferred embodiment of the safety device. 
       FIG. 1  shows a railroad car (locomotive)  1  moving along the tracks  2 . A pedestrian  3  is shown on the tracks at risk of being struck, and the safety device  10  is shown after being actuated/inflated. 
     As shown in the figures, the safety device is intended to be installed on the vehicle&#39;s front end  1 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the device  10  consists of an inflatable body with a main impact dampening area  10   a  and two secondary resistance and support areas  10   b  and  10   c.    
     The main impact dampening area  10   a  consists of an inflatable bag whose pressure is less than that of the secondary resistance and support areas  10   b  and  10   c . Therefore, impact dampening area  10   a  is suitable for dampening the impact with pedestrian  3  at the time of collision, whereas areas  10   b  and  10   c  provide the needed resistance to the device  10  and stability to absorb the impact.  FIG. 2  shows the deactivated device  10 . As can be seen, the device  10  is preferably installed on the locomotive&#39;s head piece, centrally attached below the base of the catwalk. This position is chosen as it does not interfere with the operation or use of locomotive&#39;s equipment or the vehicle&#39;s coupling connections. 
     It should be emphasized, however, that the safety device could be installed on any other suitable position provided it allows the device to be activated and inflated in time to absorb the impending impact. 
     The connection between the components of the safety device is performed through pipes, hoses, valves and nozzles that are part of a filling system (not shown) which allows inflating the said bags with fluids such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium, ozone or compressed air originated from a electrochemical and/or chemical reaction. The gases may be transformed by compression, vaporization and sublimation effects. The velocity of gas flow within the device can vary between 1 L/m-200 m 3 /s. 
     In this present invention&#39;s preferred embodiment, for the safety device to be installed, the inflatable body is wrapped into an enclosure  40  in a box-like format (see  FIG. 2 ), which opens when actuated, thereby allowing the body to burst out when inflated. The said enclosure  40  may be done by metallic or polymeric material. 
     The activation of the safety device may be performed by a manual or automatic system. The device is inflated in two stages: first by means of a chemical reaction and then by compressed air from a cylinder. The inflation process should take no more than 5 seconds. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  respectively show a side view and top view of the device  10  installed on the railroad car  1  (with only its front being shown). 
     As better shown in  FIG. 4 , which is the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device  10  further includes a tilting mechanism that enables it to tilt in the direction of the arrows shown in the figure. The purpose of this mechanism is to direct the pedestrian off the tracks after the device  10  has dampened impact. 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  illustrate how the device  10  initially operates. These figures show a time immediately after impact between the vehicle and a pedestrian  3 . 
     During impact, the pedestrian  3  is flung against the inflatable device&#39;s  10  impact dampening area  10   a . As the pressure in this area is lower, the pedestrian&#39;s body  3  presses against the bag, the collision impact is dampened, and the pedestrian&#39;s body is supported by the dampening area  10   a.    
     Next, the device  10  tilts to one side (see  FIG. 5   b ) and remove the pedestrian  3  from the tracks. As the inflatable bag is resilient, when it returns to its normal condition, the pedestrian  3  is pushed out of the device  10 , and off the tracks. 
     In this present invention&#39;s preferred embodiment, the device  10  is activated by the driver. Upon realizing the risk of colliding with a person, the driver presses a button that opens the casing and inflates the device. 
       FIGS. 6 to 8  show an alternative embodiment of the present invention&#39;s device. 
     In this embodiment, the safety device  20  consists of an impact dampening area  20   a  made up of a mesh or elastic net and two support and resistance areas  20   b  made up of the inflatable side bags. 
     The safety device  20  may also include an upper mesh or elastic net  20   c  that joins the side bags  20   b , a secondary inflatable bag  20   d , and a direction area  20   e.    
     The direction area  20   e  preferably consists of a crossbar  20   e  connected to the side bags. This bar  20   e  is positioned on the lower front of the device  20 , so that, at the time of impact between the vehicle  2  and pedestrian  3 , the bar  20   e  makes contact with the pedestrian&#39;s lower body  3 . 
     After contact has been made between the bar  20   e  and pedestrian  3 , the pedestrian&#39;s body  3  is flung against the impact dampening mesh  20   a  (see  FIG. 8 ). 
     Unlike the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , in the second embodiment, the present invention&#39;s device is not activated only at the time of impact. As such, the device  20  remains activated while the vehicle is moving, unless intentionally deactivated. 
       FIG. 8  shows a deactivated device  20 . As can be seen, when deactivated, the device  20  can be placed in a retracted position, with the inflatable bags not inflated. 
       FIGS. 9-12  show other alternative embodiment of the present invention&#39;s device. 
     In this embodiment, the safety device  30  consists of a main impact dampening area, three secondary resistance and support areas  30   b ,  30   c , and  30   d , and one support area  30   e.    
     The main impact dampening area  30   a  consists of an inflatable bag whose pressure is less than that of the secondary areas  30   b - 30   d  and support area  30   e.    
     The first secondary region  30   b  is an inflatable bag that, when inflated, is parallel to the vehicle&#39;s front end, and the second and third secondary regions  30   c  and  30   d  consist of inflatable side bags  30   c  and  30   d  that stick out from the first secondary region  30   b.    
     The inflatable side bags  30   c  and  30   d  shall preferably be placed at an inclined angle in relation to a plane that runs parallel to the rails. This inclination, which may be about 6° toward the rails&#39; center, causes close to a 90% reduction in the force of the impact with a pedestrian  3  walking along the rail&#39;s outer edge (see  FIG. 10 ). 
     The device  30  may further include an upper mesh or elastic net  31  that joins the three secondary resistance and support areas  30   b ,  30   c , and  30   d.    
       FIG. 12  shows the deactivated device  30 . As can be seen, the device  30  is preferably installed on the locomotive&#39;s head piece, centrally attached below the base of the catwalk  1   e . This position is chosen because it does not interfere with the locomotive&#39;s equipment or the vehicle&#39;s coupling connection. 
     In the  FIG. 13 , the separated portions of the safety device are illustrated in an exploded view. 
     It should be emphasized, however, that the safety device could be installed in any other suitable position, provided this position allows for driving and inflating the device in time to the proper absorption of the impending impact. The activation of the safety device may be performed by a manual or automatic system. 
     Further, the distance between the upper face of the rail head and the lower face of the safety device should be kept to a minimum. It may vary about 0 to 2 meters. 
     Obviously, those skilled in the art shall understand that the impact dampening area of the safety device may be comprised by many inflatable bags or may be integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece construction. 
     Finally, it should be understood that the figures show this invention safety system&#39;s preferred embodiment, with the actual scope of the invention being defined in the attached claims.