Patent Publication Number: US-9849891-B2

Title: Railcar and door pocket post

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a railcar and particularly to structures around a side entrance. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, according to a railcar, such as the shinkansen (trademark), which travels at high speed, in order to obtain excellent comfortability in the railcar, a side sliding door that opens or closes a side entrance adopts an airtight structure to suppress pressure variation inside the railcar. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , PTL 1 discloses a railcar  100  configured such that both end portions of a side sliding door  120  are respectively pressed, via rubber seals  150 , against a door pocket post  130  and a door stop post  140  respectively provided at both sides of a side entrance  110 . 
     To secure the airtightness, the door pocket post  130  has to have relatively high stiffness. The door pocket post  130  has a double skin structure that is flat in a car-longitudinal direction. Specifically, the door pocket post  130  is configured such that an outer portion  131  and an inner portion  132  are coupled to each other by coupling portions  133 . According to the railcar  100  disclosed in PTL 1, an edge portion  135 , extending along the side entrance  110 , of the door pocket post  130  is located outwardly of the inner portion  132  in a car-width direction, and a rubber seal  150  is attached to the edge portion  135 . 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         PTL 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2001-58568 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In the case of using the door pocket post  130  having the double skin structure, because of the thickness of the door pocket post  130 , the inner portion  132  gets close to the side sliding door  120  when the side sliding door  120  is pulled into a door pocket space adjacent to the inner portion  132 . To satisfactorily perform the operation of pulling the side sliding door  120  into the door pocket space, a certain clearance needs to be secured between the side sliding door  120  and a bodyshell (the door pocket post  130 ) over the entire surface of the inner portion  132 . Therefore, in a case where the clearance between the side sliding door  120  and the door pocket post  130  is narrow, the clearance needs to be increased. 
     Normally, the side sliding door  120  and the bodyshell including the door pocket post  130  are separately manufactured. Therefore, the above operation of adjusting the clearance is performed in a step of incorporating the side sliding door  120  in the bodyshell after the bodyshell is manufactured. For example, the operation of adjusting the clearance for satisfactorily pulling the side sliding door into the door pocket space is performed in such a manner that the clearance between the door pocket post  130  and the side sliding door  120  is increased to become equal to or larger than a certain value over the entire surface of the inner portion  132  by, for example, heating an area, including the door pocket post  130 , of the bodyshell while pressing the door pocket post  130  by a hydraulic jack or the like. 
     In addition to the above adjusting operation, in order to secure the airtightness, it is also necessary to adjust the clearance between the side sliding door and the bodyshell before the side sliding door  120  is pressed against the edge portion  135  at the time of a door closed state (hereinafter may be referred to as “at the time of a closed state”). To be specific, the side sliding door  120  and the bodyshell require both the operation of adjusting the clearance for satisfactorily pulling the side sliding door  120  into the door pocket space and the operation of adjusting the clearance for securing the airtightness at the time of the door closed state. 
     A problem of the conventional railcar is that it requires a lot of labor and time to adjust the clearance between the side sliding door and the bodyshell as above. 
     Here, an object of the present invention is to provide a railcar capable of reducing an operation of adjusting a clearance between a side sliding door and a bodyshell, and a door pocket post suitable for this railcar. 
     Solution to Problem 
     To solve the above problem, a railcar of the present invention includes: a side entrance peripheral member including a door pocket post and surrounding a side entrance, the door pocket post having a double skin structure in which an outer portion and an inner portion are coupled to each other by a coupling portion, the inner portion being provided inwardly of the outer portion in a car-width direction; and a side sliding door including a peripheral portion that is pressed against an edge portion, extending along the side entrance, of the side entrance peripheral member via a rubber seal at the time of a closed state of the side entrance, the side sliding door being pulled into a door pocket space, adjacent to the inner portion of the door pocket post, at the time of an open state of the side entrance, wherein a projecting portion projecting inwardly in the car-width direction beyond the inner portion and including a tip end that contacts the rubber seal is provided at at least a part of a region constituted by an upper edge and lower edge of the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member and a lateral edge, located at the door pocket post side, of the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member. 
     According to the above configuration, the projecting portion that contacts the rubber seal is provided at the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member. Therefore, the clearance (clearance for satisfactorily pulling the side sliding door into the door pocket space) between the inner portion of the door pocket post and the side sliding door becomes larger than the clearance (clearance for securing the airtightness) between the projecting portion and the side sliding door. On this account, the operation of adjusting the clearance is required only at a narrow range corresponding to the projecting portion. Thus, the operation of adjusting the clearance between the side sliding door and the bodyshell can be reduced. 
     A door pocket post of the present invention is a door pocket post provided at one side of a side entrance of a railcar and includes: an outer portion; an inner portion provided inwardly of the outer portion in a car-width direction; a coupling portion coupling the outer portion and the inner portion; a vertical bar portion where an end portion, located at the side entrance side, of the outer portion and an end portion, located at the side entrance side, of the inner portion converge; and a projecting portion provided at the vertical bar portion and projecting inwardly in the car-width direction beyond the inner portion. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     The present invention can provide a railcar capable of reducing an operation of adjusting a clearance between a side sliding door and a bodyshell, and a door pocket post suitable for this railcar. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of structures around a side entrance of a railcar according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a diagram showing a bodyshell around the side entrance, when viewed from an inner side in a car-width direction.  FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIB-IIB of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of major components of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a door pocket post of Modification Example. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing the structures around the side entrance of the conventional railcar. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows a railcar  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The railcar  1  includes: a side entrance peripheral member  7  surrounding a side entrance  2 ; and a side sliding door  3  configured to open and close the side entrance  2 . In  FIG. 1 , a left-right direction corresponds to a car-longitudinal direction, and an upper-lower direction corresponds to a car-width direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the side entrance  2  has a vertically long, substantially rectangular shape. The side entrance peripheral member  7  includes a frame-shaped edge portion extending along the side entrance  2 . Specifically, the side entrance peripheral member  7  includes: a door stop post  5  and a door pocket post  6  respectively provided at left and right sides of the side entrance  2 ; a lintel member  16  provided at an upper side of the side entrance  2 ; and a doorsill member  17  provided at a lower side of the side entrance  2 . Further, the side entrance peripheral member  7  includes: fixed side corner members  13  respectively provided between the door stop post  5  and the lintel member  16  and between the door stop post  5  and the doorsill member  17 ; and movable side corner members  14  respectively provided between the door pocket post  6  and the lintel member  16  and between the door pocket post  6  and the doorsill member  17 . The corner members  13  and  14  respectively form four quarter-circular corners of the side entrance  2 . 
     However, the configuration of the side entrance peripheral member  7  is not limited to the configuration shown in  FIG. 2A . For example, instead of providing the movable side corner member  14  located at the lower side, the door pocket post  6  may be joined to a side sill constituting an underframe. Or, instead of providing the movable side corner member  14  located at the upper side, the door pocket post  6  may be joined to the lintel member  16  or a cantrail  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , each of the door pocket post  6  and the door stop post  5  extends in the upper-lower direction while slightly curving along the contours of the railcar  1  in the car-width direction. The door pocket post  6  and the door stop post  5  are members formed by extrusion and are provided such that an extrusion direction corresponds to its longitudinal direction. 
     A plurality of shape members  15  each extending in the car-longitudinal direction are lined up in the upper-lower direction so as to be located at a side of the door pocket post  6 , the side being opposite to a side where the side entrance  2  is provided. The shape members  15  and the door pocket post  6  are joined to one another by welding. The door pocket post  6  and the shape members  15  covers, from an outer side in the car-width direction, a door pocket space  10  (see  FIG. 1 ) into which the side sliding door  3  is pulled. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a pair of covers  11  that form a passage extending from a car-inner space to the side entrance  2  are provided inwardly of the side sliding door  3  in the car-width direction. Each of the covers  11  has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the U shapes of the covers  11  are open in directions opposite to each other. The cover  11  located at the door pocket post  6  side separates the door pocket space  10  from the car-inner space and the passage, and a stopper  30  is provided between the cover  11  located at the door stop post  5  side and the door stop post  5  such that the side sliding door  3  contacts the stopper  30  to stop. 
     The door pocket post  6  and the door stop post  5  respectively include vertical bar portions  64  and  51  extending along the side entrance  2 . Each of outer surfaces of the vertical bar portions  64  and  51  inclines inwardly in the car-width direction as it gets close to the side entrance  2 . Each of the vertical bar portions  64  and  51  tapers toward the side entrance  2 . The vertical bar portion  64  of the door pocket post  6  and portions of the movable side corner members  14  constitute one of lateral edges of the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member  7 , each of the portions being located at the door pocket post  6  side of an intermediate point of a circular-arc portion of the movable side corner member  14 . The vertical bar portion  51  of the door stop post  5  and portions of the fixed side corner members  13  constitute the other lateral edge of the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member  7 , each of the portions being located at the door stop post  5  side of the intermediate point of the circular-arc portion of the fixed side corner member  13 . A lower portion of the lintel member  16 , a portion of the corner member  13  located at the upper side, and a portion of the corner member  14  located at the upper side constitute an upper edge of the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member  7 , the portion of the corner member  13  being located at the lintel member  16  side of the intermediate point of the circular-arc portion of the corner member  13 , the portion of the corner member  14  being located at the lintel member  16  side of the intermediate point of the circular-arc portion of the corner member  14 . An upper portion of the doorsill member  17 , a portion of the corner member  13  located at the lower side, and a portion of the corner member  14  located at the lower side constitute a lower edge of the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member  7 , the portion of the corner member  13  being located at the doorsill member  17  side of the intermediate point of the circular-arc portion of the corner member  13 , the portion of the corner member  14  being located at the doorsill member  17  side of the intermediate point of the circular-arc portion of the corner member  14 . 
     The side sliding door  3  has a vertically long, rectangular shape slightly larger than the side entrance  2 . The side sliding door  3  is moved by a driving unit, not shown, along the car-longitudinal direction between a closed position where both width direction end portions of the side sliding door  3  respectively overlap the vertical bar portion  64  of the door pocket post  6  and the edge portion  51  of the door stop post  5  and an open position where the side sliding door  3  is opposed to the door pocket post  6  and the shape members  15 . To be specific, when the side sliding door  3  is moved to the closed position, it closes the side entrance  2 , and when the side sliding door  3  is moved to the open position, it is pulled into the door pocket space  10  to open the side entrance  2 . A contact member  35  configured to contact the stopper  30  when the side sliding door  3  is moved to the closed position is attached to an end surface of the side sliding door  3 , the end surface being located at the door stop post  5  side. 
     In the present embodiment, an annular rubber seal  4  along a peripheral portion of the side sliding door  3  is attached to the peripheral portion. Specifically, a step portion  31  is formed at the peripheral portion of the side sliding door  3 . The step portion  31  is depressed inwardly in the car-width direction from a main surface  3   a , facing outwardly in the car-width direction, of the side sliding door  3 . The rubber seal  4  is fixed to the step portion  31 . 
     Cylinders  12  are respectively provided in spaces respectively surrounded by the covers  11 . At the time of the closed state of the side entrance  2 , the cylinders  12  are used for the purpose of pressing the peripheral portion of the side sliding door  3  via the rubber seal  4  against the edge portion, extending along the side entrance  2 , of the side entrance peripheral member  7 . The cylinders  12  may be provided such that rods thereof extend and contract in the car-width direction to allow the cylinders  12  to directly push both width direction end portions of the side sliding door  3  or such that the rods thereof extend and contract in the upper-lower direction to allow the cylinders  12  to push both end portions of the side sliding door  3  via link mechanisms. 
     It should be noted that the peripheral portion of the side sliding door  3  does not necessarily have to be pressed against the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member  7  via the rubber seal  4  over the entire periphery. For example, the rubber seal  4  may have an inverted U shape that is open downward, and the peripheral portion of the side sliding door  3  may be pressed against the lateral edges and upper edge of the edge portion of the side entrance  7 . 
     Next, the configuration of the door pocket post  6  will be explained in more detail in reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     The door pocket post  6  has a double skin structure that is flat in the car-longitudinal direction. Specifically, the door pocket post  6  includes: an outer portion  61  facing outwardly in the width direction; and an inner portion  62  provided inwardly of the outer portion  61  in the car-width direction. The outer portion  61  and the inner portion  62  are coupled to each other by a plurality of coupling portions  63 . In other words, voids are secured between the outer portion  61  and the inner portion  62  by the coupling portions  63 . 
     The inner portion  62  is linearly connected to the vertical bar portion  64 . In contrast, an end portion, located at the side entrance  2  side, of the outer portion  61  is bent inwardly in the car-width direction so as to form an inclined surface that is continuous with the outer surface of the vertical bar portion  64 . In other words, the vertical bar portion  64  is a portion where an end portion, located at the side entrance  2  side, of the inner portion  62  and the end portion, located at the side entrance  2  side, of the outer portion  61  converge. It should be noted that the inner portion  62  does not necessarily have to be linear over the entire width. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the end portion, located at the side entrance  2  side, of the inner portion  62  may be bent outwardly in the car-width direction. 
     A projecting portion  65  projecting inwardly in the car-width direction beyond the inner portion  62  is provided at a region of the vertical bar portion  64 , the region corresponding to the rubber seal  4  when the side sliding door  3  is moved to the closed position. To be specific, when the side sliding door  3  is pushed by the cylinder  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) as shown by an arrow C in  FIG. 3 , a tip end of the projecting portion  65  contacts the rubber seal  4 . 
     A clearance A between the side sliding door  3  and the projecting portion  65  of the door pocket post  6  before the peripheral portion of the side sliding door  3  is pressed against the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member  7  at the time of the closed state of the side entrance  2  is smaller than a clearance B between the side sliding door  3  and the inner portion  62  of the door pocket post  6  at the time of the open state of the side entrance  2 . In other words, the clearance B for satisfactorily pulling the side sliding door  3  into the door pocket space is larger than the clearance A for securing the airtightness. 
     According to conventional structures, when adjusting the clearance between the side sliding door  3  and the side entrance peripheral member  7 , the value of the clearance A and the value of the clearance B are substantially equal to each other. Therefore, the adjustment of the clearance needs to be performed over a wide range of the inner portion  62  of the door pocket post  6 . On this account, this operation requires a lot of labor and time. However, according to the railcar  1  of the present embodiment, the operation of adjusting the clearance is required only at a narrow range corresponding to the projecting portion  65  (for example, an operation of cutting the projecting portion  65 ). Therefore, the operation of adjusting the clearance between the side sliding door  3  and the bodyshell can be reduced. 
     The rubber seal  4  may be attached to the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member  7 . However, in this case, the large cover  11  shown in  FIG. 1  and the like need to be detached at the time of the replacement of the rubber seal  4 . Therefore, this replacement operation requires a lot of labor. In contrast, in a case where the rubber seal  4  is attached to the peripheral portion of the side sliding door  3  as in the present embodiment, the rubber seal  4  can be replaced only by, for example, detaching the contact member  35  (see  FIG. 1 ) and moving the side sliding door  3 . To be specific, according to the railcar of the present embodiment, the ease of maintenance can be improved. 
     Further, according to the present embodiment, the step portion  31  to which the rubber seal  4  is fixed is formed at the peripheral portion of the side sliding door  3 . Therefore, at the time of the closed state of the side entrance  2 , the rubber seal  4  is not exposed so much from between the vertical bar portion  64  of the door pocket post  6  and the side sliding door  3 . In contrast, in a case where the step portion  31  is not formed, the rubber seal  4  is largely exposed from between the vertical bar portion  64  of the door pocket post  6  and the side sliding door  3 , so that a cover for the rubber seal  4  is required. To be specific, in a case where the step portion  31  is formed as in the present embodiment, the number of parts can be reduced. 
     According to the present embodiment, the projecting portion  65  projecting inwardly in the car-width direction beyond the inner portion  62  is provided at the door pocket post  6 . However, the present invention is not limited to this. The projecting portion  65  may be provided at a component (the lintel member  16 , the doorsill member  17 , or the corner member  13  or  14 ) other than the door pocket post  6  of the side entrance peripheral member  7 . To be specific, the projecting portion  65  is only required to be provided at at least a part of a substantially U-shaped region constituted by an upper edge and lower edge of the edge portion, extending along the side entrance  2 , of the side entrance peripheral member  7  and a lateral edge, located at the door pocket post  6  side, of the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member  7 . It should be noted that in a case where the projecting portion  65  is provided at the vertical bar portion  64  of the door pocket post  6  as in the present embodiment, satisfactory airtightness can be obtained as compared to a case where the projecting portion  65  is provided at the lintel member  16  or the doorsill member  17 . The projecting portion  65  as a separate member may constitute the side entrance peripheral member  7  instead of being integrated with the door pocket post  6  and the like. 
     Outline 
     The above-described railcar includes: a side entrance peripheral member including a door pocket post and surrounding a side entrance, the door pocket post having a double skin structure in which an outer portion and an inner portion are coupled to each other by a coupling portion, the inner portion being provided inwardly of the outer portion in a car-width direction; and a side sliding door including a peripheral portion that is pressed against an edge portion, extending along the side entrance, of the side entrance peripheral member via a rubber seal at the time of a closed state of the side entrance, the side sliding door being pulled into a door pocket space, adjacent to the inner portion of the door pocket post, at the time of an open state of the side entrance, wherein a projecting portion projecting inwardly in the car-width direction beyond the inner portion and including a tip end that contacts the rubber seal is provided at at least a part of a region constituted by an upper edge and lower edge of the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member and a lateral edge, located at the door pocket post side, of the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member. 
     According to this configuration, the projecting portion that contacts the rubber seal is provided at the edge portion of the side entrance peripheral member. Therefore, the clearance (clearance for satisfactorily pulling the side sliding door into the door pocket space) between the inner portion of the door pocket post and the side sliding door becomes larger than the clearance (clearance for securing the airtightness) between the projecting portion and the side sliding door. On this account, the operation of adjusting the clearance is required only at the narrow range corresponding to the projecting portion. Thus, the operation of adjusting the clearance between the side sliding door and the bodyshell can be reduced. 
     According to the above-described railcar, a clearance between the side sliding door and the projecting portion before the peripheral portion of the side sliding door is pressed against the edge portion at the time of the closed state of the side entrance is smaller than a clearance between the side sliding door and the inner portion of the door pocket post at the time of the open state of the side entrance. 
     According to the above-described railcar, the door pocket post includes a vertical bar portion where an end portion, located at the side entrance side, of the outer portion and an end portion, located at the side entrance side, of the inner portion converge, and the projecting portion is provided at the vertical bar portion. Therefore, the satisfactory airtightness can be obtained. 
     According to the above-described railcar, the rubber seal is attached to the peripheral portion of the side sliding door. Therefore, the ease of maintenance can be improved. 
     According to the above-described railcar, a step portion is formed at the peripheral portion of the side sliding door, the step portion being depressed inwardly in the car-width direction from a main surface, facing outwardly in the car-width direction, of the side sliding door, and the rubber seal is fixed to the step portion. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced. 
     The foregoing has explained the embodiment of the present invention in reference to the drawings. However, the specific configurations of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiment. Design changes and the like may be made within the scope of the present invention. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  railcar 
           10  door pocket space 
           2  side entrance 
           3  side sliding door 
           4  rubber seal 
           6  door pocket post 
           61  outer portion 
           62  inner portion 
           63  coupling portion 
           64  vertical bar portion 
           65  projecting portion 
           7  side entrance peripheral member