Railway vehicle having partially standardized carriages

The railway vehicle comprises at least one end car, each arranged at a respective end of the railway vehicle, and, for each end car, a first car adjacent to this end car, and at least one second car, one of which is adjacent to the first car. Each second car comprises a second structural body. Each first car comprises a first structural body substantially identical to the second structural body of each second car, and a structural extension part attached on the first structural body and intended to be connected to the adjacent end car.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from French Patent Application No. 1752623 filed Mar. 29, 2017. The entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a railway vehicle, also called railway train, comprising partially standardized cars. More particularly, the invention relates to a railroad vehicle with at least one end car, each arranged at a respective end of the vehicle, for each end car, a first car adjacent to this end car, and at least one second car.

BACKGROUND

In the field of railway vehicles, it is known that a railway vehicle generally comprises two end cars, two first cars, and a plurality of second cars extending between the first cars.

Each second car comprises a structural body, such that the structural bodies of all of the second cars are substantially identical.

Conversely, each first car comprises a specific structural body, and a specific structural extension part attached on the specific structural body by welding. This specific form is necessary for the connection of the first car to the corresponding end car.

This first car is next equipped with different components (brackets, cables, pipes, miscellaneous equipment, etc.) in the finishing chain of the railway vehicle.

The production of such a railway vehicle is particularly time-consuming, inasmuch as it is necessary to produce two types of structural bodies to manufacture the first and second cars.

SUMMARY

The invention in particular aims to resolve this drawback by proposing a railway vehicle in which the first and second cars are partially standardized.

To that end, the invention in particular relates to a railway vehicle, comprising:at least one end car, each arranged at a respective end of the vehicle,for each end car, a first car adjacent to this end car,at least one second car, one of which is adjacent to the first car, characterized in that:each second car comprises a second structural body, andeach first car comprises a first structural body substantially identical to the second structural body of each second car, and a structural extension part attached on the first structural body and intended to be connected to the adjacent end car.

The first and second structural bodies are substantially identical, and preferably identical, such that it is only necessary to produce one type of structural body to manufacture the first and second cars. Only the structural extension part is added to a second car to form a first car.

The structural extension part is assembled later on the structural body shared by the first and second cars to form a first car, therefore without disrupting the assembly chain of the structural bodies.

As a result, the production of a railway vehicle according to the invention is simpler, therefore faster than in the state of the art.

A railway vehicle according to the invention may further include one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to all technically possible combinations.The structural extension part of each first car is fastened by bolting to the first corresponding structural body.The structural extension part of at least one of the first cars is made from a different material from the corresponding first structural body.Each of the first cars and second cars shares a shared bogie with at least one other of the first cars and second cars.Each first car comprises its own bogie, on which the first structural body and the corresponding structural extension part rest.Each first car comprises its own bogie, on which the first structural body rests, the structural extension part being supported by the first structural body.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a railway vehicle as previously defined, characterized in that it comprises producing a plurality of substantially identical structural bodies, then mounting each first car and each second car with one of the substantially identical structural bodies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a railway vehicle10according to one example embodiment of the invention. For example, the railway vehicle10is a high-speed train.

The railway vehicle10comprises at least one end car, preferably two end cars12, each arranged at a respective end of the railway vehicle10. Each end car12traditionally comprises a driving cabin14, and each end car12is traditionally supported by two bogies16, at least one of which is motorized.

The railway vehicle10further comprises, for each end car12, a first car18adjacent to this end car12. For example, the railway vehicle10comprises two first cars18, each adjacent to a respective one of the two end cars12.

The railway vehicle10for example comprises at least one second car20, for example three second cars20aligned between the two first cars18.

The railway vehicle10is of the articulated type, i.e., each of the first cars18and second cars20shares a shared bogie22with at least one other of the first cars18and second cars20.

More particularly, each second car20is supported, at each of its ends, by a bogie22shared with a second car20or a first car18that is adjacent.

Furthermore, each first car18is supported, at one of its ends, by a bogie22shared with the adjacent second car20, and at the other of its ends, by a bogie24that is specific to it. The end supported by the specific bogie24is that which is adjacent to the corresponding end car12.

It should be noted that each specific bogie24is structurally identical to each shared bogie22.

As shown inFIG. 2, each second car20comprises a structural body26(hereinafter called second structural body26). The second structural bodies26of all of the second cars20are all identical. The second structural bodies26are therefore standardized.

Each second structural body26comprises openings for windows, and at least one opening for a passage door for passengers to embark and disembark.

Each second structural body26in particular comprises, at each end, a half-spot28intended to accommodate part of the corresponding shared bogie22. This half-spot28is intended to be arranged across from another half-spot28of an adjacent car, such that the corresponding shared bogie22is housed in the spot formed by these two half-spots28.

In the illustrated example, the second car20has two floors, i.e., it comprises two passenger rooms arranged one above the other. However, alternatively, the second car20could comprise only one floor.

As shown inFIG. 3, each first car18also comprises a structural body30(hereinafter called first structural body30). This first structural body30is identical to the second structural body26of each second car20. Thus, each first structural body30comprises openings for windows, and at least one opening for a passage door for passengers to embark and disembark.

Each first structural body30therefore also comprises, at each end, a half-spot28intended to accommodate part of the corresponding bogie22,24. Each first structural body30therefore rests partially on the bogies22,24situated at these ends.

One of these half-spots28is intended to be arranged across from another half-spot28of a second adjacent car20, such that the corresponding shared bogie22is housed in the spot formed by these two half-spots28.

Conversely, the other half-spot28is arranged at the end of the first car18that is adjacent to the corresponding end car12. Yet this end car12is supported by two bogies16, such that there is no shared bogie between this first car18and the end car12.

Thus, in order to connect the first car18to the end car12, the first car18comprises a structural extension part32attached on the first structural body30, and intended to be connected to the adjacent end car. The structural extension part32is configured to have a shape complementary to that of the end of the first structural body30where this structural extension part32is assembled. The structural extension part32has, in a longitudinal direction, a length shorter than the length of the structural body30.

The structural extension part32has (at least partially) an extension half-spot34, forming, with the corresponding half-spot28, a spot for accommodating the specific bogie24. The first structural body30and the corresponding structural extension part32rest on the specific bogie24.

Alternatively, the structural extension part32is supported by the first structural body30and the first structural body30is supported by the bogie24.

Advantageously, the structural extension part32of each first car18is fastened by bolting to the first corresponding structural body30. Thus, the structural extension part32is advantageously already equipped with various components (such as brackets, cables, pipes, miscellaneous equipment, etc.) before being assembled with the first structural body30, which makes the first car18easier to manufacture. Indeed, while in the state of the art, a welding operation could damage these components, a bolting operation does not have this risk.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the structural extension part32of at least one of the first cars18is for example made from a different material from the corresponding first structural body30. In particular, when the structural extension part32is attached by bolting, there are no material constraints to be respected related to a welding operation. It is therefore possible to choose the most advantageous material, functionally or economically, for the structural extension part32, independently of the material of the corresponding first structural body30.

In the illustrated example, the first car18has two floors, i.e., it comprises two passenger rooms arranged one above the other. However, alternatively, the first car18could comprise only one floor.

A railway vehicle according to the invention is manufactured during a manufacturing method that will now be described.

The manufacturing method comprises producing a plurality of substantially identical structural bodies26,30. Identical means able to be built in the same production chain with an identical method, and in particular with globally the same dimensions.

Each structural body26,30is next used to mount a corresponding car18,20, whether a first car18or a second car20.

In the case of a first car18, a structural extension part32, intended to allow the connection with an end car12, is attached on the first structural body30, for example by bolting.

The structural extension part32of each first car is advantageously equipped with components prior to its assembly with the corresponding first structural body30.

It should be noted that the structural extension part32on the first structural body30is preferably made outside the production chain for structural bodies and outside the main production chain, which will make it possible to limit disruptions to manufacturing and therefore to limit the manufacturing cycle time.

It will be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment previously described, but could have various alternatives without going beyond the scope of the claims.