VENTILATING EQUIPMENT FOR ROLLING STOCK

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ventilating equipment for high speed rolling stock An object of the present invention is to regulate a change in pressure within the vehicle resulting from a change in pressure outside to avoid passengers to feel uncomfortable. The present invention is characterized in that with the change of the outside vehicle pressure some areas of the air flow passages of the air supply equipment and exhaust air equipment are adjusted. Thus the present invention proposes means for adjusting the airflow passage areas of the air supply equipment and exhaust air equipment when the pressure outside vehicle changes. The propagation of the pressure from outside into the vehicle can be regulated.

Description: The present invention relates to ventilating equipment for rolling stock , comprising an air supply means for drawing air from the outside of a vehicle into the inside of the vehicle and an exhaust means for exhausting air from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle. The ventilating equipment for rolling stock is particularly suitable for rolling stock vehicles which run through a tunnel at high speed. When rolling stock pass through the tunnel at high speed, the pressure around the vehicles rapidly changes. Particularly, when the vehicles pass each other within the tunnel, the change in pressure around the vehicles becomes maximum. When the pressure around the vehicles changes in a manner as described, a change in pressure is transmitted to the interior of the vehicles. Such a change in pressure brings forth an uncomfortable feeling to passengers and the like. To clear such a problem, the US-A-3 563 155 and the like have been known. That is, a ventilating equipment disclosed in said patent comprises an air supply means for supplying outside air into the air-tight vehicle and an exhaust means for discharging the contaminated air from the interior of the vehicle to the exterior. A blower constituting the aforesaid air supply means and exhaust means has the performance in which the flow quantity is less changed with respect to the change in pressure outside vehicles. Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 9022/1983 has been known to disclose an arrangement how a change in interior pressure of the rolling stock vehicles is regulated. A ventilating equipment disclosed in said patent comprises an air supply means for supplying the outside air into the air-tight vehicle and an exhaust means for discharging contaminated air from the interior of the air-tight vehicle, wherein the amount of air from the air supply means and exhaust means, respectively, is controlled by a temperature difference between the interior and exterior of the vehicle. In the ventilating equipment according to the US-A-3 563 155 since each of blowers for the air supply means and exhaust means, respectively, is driven under the high output condition, noises or power consumption increases. In addition, the blower itself becomes large in size, causing a problem in that a large installation space is required. On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9022/1983, no consideration is taken into a variation in pressure around the vehicles when the rolling stock run the tunnel. It is the problem of the present invention to provide a ventilating equipment for rolling stock which can regulate a change in pressure within the vehicle resulting from a sudden change in pressure outside the vehicle and simplify the construction of the ventilating equipment itself. Starting out from the ventilating equipment of the generic kind this problem is solved in that there are disposed in both air flowpassage on the air intake side of said air supply means and air flowpassage on the air exhaust side of said exhaust means, plate-like flexing means for respectively narrowing said air flowpassages in accordance with changes in the outside air pressure. Preferably each of that plate-like flexing means comprises a pair of flexible plates arranged in the associated one of the air flowpassages of said air supply means and said exhaust means, and a stopper provided corresponding to said pair of flexible plates, respectively, each of said flexible plates being arranged so as to respond to changes in the outside air pressure and having one end fixed to a wall of the associated air flowpassage and the other end set free, and said flexible plates are arranged being spaced from each other so that the free end of one of the flexible plates comes into contact with the other flexible plate when the flexible plates flex. Advantageously flaps adapted to make contact with wall surfaces which define the air flowpassage, are provided at widthwise ends of the flexible plate. Other objects of the present invention and the mode of embodiments thereof will be apparent from the ensuring description of the embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 schematically shows a ventilating equipment for rolling stock. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are respectively perspective views showing the operating state of an air flowpassage adjustable means of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front view showing another embodiment of a flexible plate. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a part taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a graph showing an uncomfortable region A with respect to the gradient dP/dt in change of pressure outside vehicle and the amount of change in pressure Px. Fig. 8 is a graph showing the change of the pressure outside vehicle Pout and the pressure inside vehicle Pin. The ventilating equipment for rolling stock according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. In these Figures, reference numeral 1 designates an air supply equipment provided on the roof of the vehicle to drawn air outside the vehicle into the interior of the vehicle. Reference numeral 2 designates an outside-air in take grille formed on the roof of the vehicle, the air outside the vehicle is taken by the air supply equipment from the outside-air in take grille 2. Reference numeral 3 designates a blower which is an essential part constituting the air supply equipment 1. Reference numeral 4 designates an air flowpassage adjustable means on the air-supply side inscalled upstream from the blower 3 in the air flowpassage into which air outside the vehicle is taken. The detail construction of the air flowpassage adjustable means 4 will be described later. Reference numeral 5 designates a duct for introducing the air outside the vehicle taken into the interior of the vehicle by the air supply equipment 1 into the vehicle. The duct 5 is provided with a number of diffusers 6 for distributing air. The duct is mainly installed lengthwise of a ceiling portion of a passanger compartment 7. Reference numeral 10 designates an exhaust air equipment for discharging contaminated air within the passanger compartment 7 outside the vehicle. Reference numeral 9 designates an exhaust air duct for dischanging the contaminated air within the passenger compartment 7 to the exhaust air equipment 10. Reference numeral 8 designates an exhaust air grille mounted on an open portion within the passenger compartment 7 of the exhaust duct 9. Reference numeral 11 designates a blower which is an essential part which constitutes the exhaust air equipment 10. Reference numeral 12 designates an air flowpassage adjustable means on the exhaust side installed downstream from the blower 11 on the air flowpassage for discharging the contaminated air within the vehicle outside the vehicle. This air flowpassage adjustable means will be described in detail later. The aforementioned air flow passage adjustable means 4 and 12 will be described in their construction. Reference numerals 20a and 20b designate flexible plates each having one end secured to the wall surface of an air flowpassage and the other being a free end which can freely swing. The flexible plates 20a and 20b are arranged at the right angle with respect to the air flowing direction. The shape of the flexible plates 20a and 20b coincides with the sectional shape of the air flowpassage and a swingable clearance is provided in the outer periphery to form a shape which blocks the air flowpassage. The flexible plates 20a and 20b are arranged alternately so that respective fixed ends are positioned on the opposite ends. Between the flexible plates 20a and 20b is provided a air flow path so that when the flexible plate 20a or 20b is deflected to the greatest extent, the free end thereof contact with the other flexible plate 20b or 20a. A stopper 21a is provided upstream of the air flowpassage of the flexible plate 20a, and a stopper 21b is provided downstream of the air flowpassage of the flexible plate 20b. The stopper 21a supports the flexible plate 20a so that the flexible plate 20a will not deflect toward the upstream of the air flowpassage from the position at the right angle to the air flowing direction. The stopper 21b supports the flexible plate 20b so that the flexible plate 20b will not deflect toward the downstream of the air flowing passage from the position at the right angle to the air flowing direction. Incidentally, the flexible plate 20a has a rigidity by which the plate is not deflected when the normal air flow, as indicated by the dotted lines arrow in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and has a rigidity by which when the air flow increases more than that of the normal state and the air flow indicated by the solid line arrow in Fig. 3 impinges upon the plate, the plate is deflected. On the other hand, the flexible plate 20b is lower in the rigidity than the flexible plate 20a, and has the rigidity to the extend that the flexible plate 20b is deflected a reverse flow of air as indicated by the solid line arrow in Fig. 4 occurs. Reference numeral 22a designates a guide plate provided upstream of the air flowpassage of the flexible plate 20a. The guide plate 22a has the size corresponding to the whole surface of the flexible plate 20a to prevent the air flow from directly applying the flexible plate 20a. The guide plate 22a has a curved shape for smoothly guiding the air flow. Reference numeral 22b designates a guide plate provided downstream of the air flowpassage of the flexible plate 20b. The guide plate 22b has the size corresponding to the whole surface of the flexible plate 20b to prevent the air flow from directly applying the flexible plate 20b in case of reverse air flow. The function of the air flowpassage adjustable means 4 and 12 will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Fig. 2 shows the normal ventilating state of the air flowpassage adjustable means. Both the flexible plates 20a and 20b stay still at the right angle to the air flow direction under the normal ventilating state. When two vehicles pass each other during the running of the vehicles in the tunnel, pressure outside the vehicles suddenly changes as indicated by C and D in Fig. 8. The state shown at C in fig. 8 shows the state that the pressure outside the vehicles suddenly increases. When the vehicles run at a speed of 200 km/hr, for example, and pass each other in the tunnel, the pressure outside the vehicle changes as shown by the curve P out in Fig. 8. That is, in the stage before the vehicles pass each other, the pressure outside the vehicles increases up to 198 mm Aq at the maximum. On the other hand, after the vehicles pass each other, the pressure outside the vehicles suddenly lowers down to -491 mm Aq. In Fig. 8, the axis of abscissa represents time passage t (min), and the axis of ordinate represents pressure P (mm Aq). Fig. 7 shows the uncomfortableness region A in which passengers within the vehicle feed the uncomfortableness with respect to the absolute value Px of the change in pressure outside the vehicles and the variation gradient dP/dt in change of the pressure outside the vehicles. In Fig. 7, the axis of abscissa represents the absolute value Px of the change in pressure outside the vehicles and the axis of ordinate represents the gradient dP/dt in change of the pressure outside the vehicles. The hatched portion in Fig. is the uncomfortable region A. This uncomfortable region A is experimentally known. The cause wherein passengers in the vehicle running at high speeds feel uncomfortable is the absolute value Px of the change in pressure outside the vehicles and the gradient dP/dt in change of the pressure outside the vehicles. The function of the air flowpassage adjustable means 4 under this state will be described with reference to Fig. 3. When the pressure outside the vehicles suddenly increases an described above as indicated by the solid line arrow, a pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the air flowpassage of the flexible plate 20a exceeds the rigidity of the flexible plate 20a due to the change in pressure, and therefore the flexible plate 20a deflects toward the flexible plate 20b. The area of the air flowpassage is narrowed by of the flexible plate 20a to regulate the function of the pressure outside vehicle into the vehicle. If the change in pressure outside vehicle is large, the flexible plate 20a is greatly deflected toward the flexible plate 20b to shut off air flowpassage. At that time, the change of the pressure outside vehicle will not be transmitted into the vehicle, and air outside vehicle will not be supplied into the vehicle. The air flowpassage is shut off by the flexible plate 20a, thus the ventilation of the vehicle is not dore. However, the time when the vehicles pass each other within the tunnel and the duration of the change of pressure outside vehicles is only a few seconds. Accordingly, even if the air outside vehicles is not supplied into the vehicle, there occurs no problem. The function of the air flowpassage adjustable 4 when the pressure outside vehicles suddenly drops as indicated as D in Fig. 8 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. When the change in pressure on the negative pressure side is transmitted between the flexible plate 20a and the flexible plate 20b as indicated by the solid line arrow in Fig. 4, the air in the air flowpassage is reversed by the large change in pressure. The flexible plate 20b is deflected toward the flexible plate 20a as the result that the pressure on the side of the flexible plate 20a is lower. The area of the air flowpassage can be narrowed as the result that the flexible plate 20b deflects. Accordingly, the transmission of the pressure outside vehicle into the vehicle can be regulated. If the change in pressure outside vehicle is large, the flexible plate 20b shuts off the air flowpassage. At this time, a supply of air outside vehicle stops, which brings no problem because such duration of such a phenomenon is in a short period of time. The operating condition when the pressure outside vehicle of the air flowpassage adjustable means increases, corresponds to that shown in Fig. 3. The operating condition, when the pressure outside vehicle of the air flowpassage adjustable means 12 decreases, corresponds to that shown in Fig. 4. When the change in pressure outside vehicle suddenly occurs whereby said pressure change is directly transmitted to the flexible plate 20a or 20b, the flexible plate 20a or 20b suddenly deflects. At this time, the amount of deflection of the flexible plate 20a or 20b possibly exceeds a specified value. When the amount of deflection exceeds a specified value, self-excitation oscillations may occur on the flexible plate 20a or 20b. Guide plates 22a and 22b are provided to prevent the self-excitation oscillations of the flexible plates 20a and 20b. By the provision of the guide plates 22a and 22b, the change in pressure outside vehicle will not directly apply on the flexible plates 20a and 20b. Accordingly, the self-excitation oscillations can be prevented because the flexible plates 20a and 20b can not deflect more than a specified value. According to the arrangement as described above, when the sudden change in pressure outside vehicle occurs, the flexible plates 20a and 20b of the air flowpassage adjustable means 4 or 12 are deflected to narrow the area of the air flowpassage. If the pressure change is large, the air flowpassage is shut off. The air flowpassage is narrowed or shut off in this manner whereby the transmission of the change in pressure outside vehicle into the vehicle or the passanger compartment 7 can be prevented. Thus, the uncomfortableness to the passengers resulting from the change in pressure outside vehicle can be prevented. Next, the flexible plate 20b has lower rigidity than the flexible plate 20a. That is, the flexible plate 20b is not deflected in the normal operating state since it is supported by the stopper 21b. However, when a reverse flow occurs in the air flowpassage as shown by the solid line arrow in Fig. 4, it is necessary to quickly narrow the area of the air flowpassage. Thus, the flexible plate 20b is formed to have a low rigidity so that incase a reverse flow occurs in the air flowpassage, the area of the air flowpassage can be rapidly narrowed. The reverse flow of air in the air flowpassage of the air supply equipment 3 and exhaust air equipment 10 causes the pressure in the vehicle to change rapidly. It is therefore particularly effective that when the reverse flow occurs, the area of the air flowpassage is rapidly narrowed. Next, the guide plates 22a and 22b can prevent a deflection in excess of a specified value of the flexible plates 20a and 20b. Accordingly, by installation of the guide plates 22a and 22b corresponding to the flexible plates 20a and 20b as previously mentioned, the self-excitation oscillations of the flexible plates 20a and 20b can be prevented. Another embodiment of the flexible plates 20a and 20b will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. Reference numeral 20c designates a flexible plate in which flaps 23 are mounted on both ends. The flaps 23 are mounted on the flexible plate 20c by supports 24 such as rivets, screws or the like. The flaps are in contact with the inner wall of the air flowpassage. Accordingly, by the deflection of the flexible Plate 20c, the resistance due to the friction occurs between the flap 23 and the inner wall of the air flowpassage. The self-excitation oscillations of the flexible plate 20c can be prevented by the resistance. If the flaps 23 are provided on the flexible plate, said guide plates 22a and 22b need not be provided. The contact force of the flaps 23 on the inner wall of the air flowpassage or the rigidity and width of the flaps themselves can be freely adjusted by the rigidity of the flexible plate 20c or the maximum value of the change in pressure outside vehicle.

Claims: A ventilating equipment for rolling stock comprising an air supply means (1, 31) for drawing air from the outside of a vehicle into the inside of the vehicle and an exhaust means (10, 40) for exhausting air from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, characterized in that there are disposed in both air flowpassage on the air intake side of said air supply means (1) and air flowpassage on the air exhaust side of said exhaust means (10), plate-like flexing means (20a, 20b, 20c, 21a, 21b) for respectively narrowing said air flowpassages in accordance with changes in the outside air pressure. A ventilating equipment for rolling stock according to claim 1, wherein each of said plate-like flexing means (20a, 20b, 21a, 21b) comprises a pair of flexible plates (20a, 20b) arranged in the associated one of the air flowpassages of said air supply means (1) and said exhaust means (10), and a stopper (21a, 21b) provided corresponding to said pair of flexible plates (20a, 20b), respectively, each of said flexible plates (20a, 20b) being arranged so as to respond to changes in the outside air pressure and having one end fixed to a wall of the associated air flowpassage and the other end set free, and said flexible plates (20a, 20b) are arranged being spaced from each other so that the free end of one of the flexible plates (20a, 20b) comes into contact with the other flexible plate when the flexible plates (20a, 20b) flex. A ventilating equipment for rolling stock according to claim 2, wherein said pair of flexible plates (20a, 20b) are arranged so that the flexible plate positioned upstream of the air flowpassage has a rigidity higher than that of the flexible plate positioned downstream of the air flowpassage. A ventilating equipment for rolling stock according to claim 1, wherein flaps (23) adapted to make contact with wall surfaces which define the air flowpassage, are provided at widthwise ends of the flexible plate (20c).

Inventors: ISHIKAWA, SHINICHIRO, KIMURA, KENJI, MATSUDA, TOSHIHARU
Applicants: HITACHI, LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B61D27
IPC codes: B61D27