Patent Description:
The air distribution system as well as the HVAC system comprising such air distribution system, according to the present invention, are suitable in particular for being used with railway vehicles and will be described hereinafter by making particular reference to such application, without intending in any way to limit their possible application to other types of suitable vehicles.

The use of air conditioning systems, and in particular of the so-called HVAC systems, are well known in the field of vehicles, and in particular of railway vehicles, in order to provide a suitable thermal comfort and an acceptable quality of air throughout the interior of the various compartments, e.g. of each railway car of a train.

Nowadays, although the various systems used in vehicles properly perform their functionalities in a quite satisfying way, there are still some aspects worth of further improvements.

For example, if there is a failure in the HVAC system associated to a railway car, then the interior of such car might not be properly conditioned, thus creating a discomfort for passengers.

Further, from a construction point of view, it is possible that at least some of the components of existing HVAC systems need to be completely redesigned or replaced in relation to the type and size of vehicles they have to be installed to.

Concerning this issue, a typical example is represented by pantograph-based railway vehicles, where the presence of pantographs over the roof of the vehicles creates substantial constraints in terms of space available for the installation of the HVAC parts, while the same parts can be easily installed over the roof of railway vehicles not equipped with pantographs.

<CIT> discloses a railway vehicle air-conditioning duct that supplies conditioned air generated by an air conditioner into a cabin and that extends in a vehicle length direction at a vehicle ceiling. The air-conditioning duct comprises a main duct, a chamber duct, a branch duct, and a guide part. The guide part is lower in height than the main duct, extends to a branch duct from the main duct or a partition wall in the main duct in a vehicle width direction, and supplies to the branch duct a portion of the conditioned air supplied to the main duct.

<CIT> discloses an air conditioner system which includes two air conditioners arranged on the upper part of the passenger compartment ceiling of a vehicle, and air conditioner ducts arranged on both sides of each air conditioner. The air-conditioning ducts are provided so as to be divided into four sections around the respective air conditioner, and each of them is directly connected to a respective air outlet. Conditioned air is directly blown, via fans, from each air outlet <NUM> the respective air conditioning duct section <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a heating and ventilating system for a railway car having two single-storey end compartments and a two-storey central compartment. The system comprises heating/ventilating units in the top parts of each end compartment, each supplying a transverse distribution duct connected to two longitudinal ducts blowing into the end compartment, and to two other longitudinal ducts blowing into one storey of the central compartment. The four longitudinal ducts blowing into the central compartment are located in two casings forming part of the floor structure of the second storey, both ducts from one of the air units being provided with auxiliary vertical ducts.

The present invention is aimed at mitigating at least partially such issues, and in particular at providing a solution which allows to obtain an adequate comfort inside a vehicle, even when there is a failure in one out of two HVAC units, and which can be used with as many as possible different types of vehicles.

In particular, such aim is achieved by an air distribution system for distributing conditioned air inside a vehicle, notably a railway vehicle, according to claim <NUM>.

The above mentioned aim is also achieved by a Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (hereinafter "HVAC") system for a vehicle, notably a railway vehicle, according to claim <NUM>.

Further, the present invention provides also:.

Further characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive exemplary embodiments of an air distribution system, an HVAC system, and a related vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative examples with the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

It should be noted that in order to clearly and concisely describe the present disclosure, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certain features of the disclosure may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

Further, when the term "adapted" or "arranged" or "configured" or "shaped", is used herein while referring to any component as a whole, or to any part of a component, or to a combination of components, it has to be understood that it means and encompasses correspondingly either the structure, and/or configuration and/or form and/or positioning.

<FIG> illustrates an air distribution system according to the invention, indicated by the overall reference number <NUM>, which is suitable for distributing conditioned air inside an associated vehicle, an example of which is illustrated schematically in <FIG> and therein indicated by the reference number <NUM>; for example, the vehicle <NUM> is a railway vehicle, as illustrated in <FIG>.

In particular, the illustrated railway vehicle <NUM> is of the type comprising one or more pantographs <NUM>, in the example two pantographs <NUM> shown in retracted position, which are mounted on the roof <NUM> of the railway vehicle <NUM> itself.

Clearly, as those skilled in the art would easily appreciate, the air distribution system <NUM> according to the present invention is suitable to be applied to many different types of vehicles, and in particular to many different of railway vehicles.

Hence, the definition of railway vehicle has to be interpreted within the frame of the present invention as encompassing any type of railway cars used with or as railway vehicles, such as tramways, underground, surface trains or metros; alternatively, the vehicle is a road transport vehicle, for example a bus.

As illustrated, the air distribution system <NUM> comprises a first duct <NUM> and a second duct <NUM>.

The first duct <NUM> comprises a first air intake <NUM> for introducing conditioned or treated air inside the first duct <NUM> itself, a first conduit <NUM> and a second conduit <NUM> which extend, along a longitudinal axis X, in a first direction F1 and in a respective opposite second direction R1 with reference to the first air intake <NUM>.

The longitudinal axis X is an axis extending, for example, along the length of the railway vehicle <NUM>, from the rear part <NUM> to the front part <NUM> and parallel to the sides <NUM> thereof.

Advantageously, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first air intake <NUM> comprises a first splitter <NUM> configured to split the incoming conditioned air to be distributed into a first flow 1D conveyed inside the first conduit <NUM>, and a second flow 1R directed opposite to the first flow 1D and conveyed inside said second conduit <NUM>.

In one possible embodiment, the first air intake <NUM> is, at least for part of its extension, inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X, and hence with respect to the first conduit <NUM> and the second conduit <NUM>.

In turn, the second duct <NUM> has a second air intake <NUM> for introducing conditioned air inside the second duct <NUM> itself, a third conduit <NUM> and a fourth conduit <NUM> which extend, along the longitudinal axis X, along the first direction F1 and the respective opposite second direction R1 with reference to the second air intake <NUM>.

Likewise, the second duct <NUM> comprises a corresponding second air intake <NUM>, substantially identical to the first air intake <NUM>, which comprises a second splitter <NUM> configured to split the incoming conditioned air to be distributed inside the vehicle <NUM> into a third flow 2D, directed in the same direction of the first flow 1D and conveyed inside the third conduit <NUM>, and a fourth flow 2R directed opposite to the third flow 2D, e.g. in the same direction of the second flow 1R, and conveyed inside the fourth conduit <NUM>.

In one possible embodiment, the second air intake <NUM> is, at least for part of its extension, inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X, and hence with respect to the third conduit <NUM> and the fourth conduit <NUM>.

Conveniently, in one possible embodiment of the air distribution system <NUM>, as for example illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, one or more of, preferably both the first duct <NUM> and the second duct <NUM> have each a shaped body comprising a plurality of separate modules M1, M2, M3, M4 which are assembled together to form the respective first duct <NUM> and second duct <NUM>.

According to a possible embodiment, and as indicated in more details in <FIG>, the first duct <NUM> has a shaped body comprising a first central portion <NUM> which has, seen from a top view: a first side <NUM> at which there is provided the first air intake <NUM>; an inclined second side <NUM>, converging from one end of the first side <NUM> to a first side of the first conduit <NUM> extending in the first direction F1 along the longitudinal axis X; and a third side <NUM>, opposite to the second side <NUM> with reference to the first air intake <NUM>, which connects the first side <NUM> with a second side of the first conduit <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated, the third side <NUM> comprises two sections, e.g. a first section 19a constituted by an extension of the second side of the first conduit <NUM> towards the first air intake <NUM>, and a second section 19b connecting the first section 19a with another end part of the first air intake <NUM>.

In turn, the second conduit <NUM> extends from the first air intake <NUM> in the second opposite direction R1 along the longitudinal axis X, substantially aligned with the first conduit <NUM>; in particular, in the embodiment illustrated, one side of the second conduit <NUM> extends directly from one end part on the first air intake <NUM>, while on the opposite side of the second conduit <NUM>, there is provided an inclined side <NUM> converging from and joining the first air intake <NUM> to the second conduit <NUM>.

As illustrated, also the second duct <NUM> has a shaped body comprising a second central portion <NUM> which has, seen from a top view: a first side <NUM> at which there is provided the second air intake <NUM>; an inclined second side <NUM>, converging from one end of the first side <NUM> to the fourth conduit <NUM> extending in the second direction R1 along the longitudinal axis X, substantially parallel to the second conduit <NUM>; and a third side <NUM>, opposite to the second side <NUM> with reference to the second air intake <NUM>, which connects the first side <NUM> with the fourth conduit <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated, the third side <NUM> of the second duct <NUM> comprises two sections, e.g. a first section 29a constituted by an extension of the second side of the fourth conduit <NUM> towards the second air intake <NUM>, and a second section 29b connecting the first section 29a with another end part of the second air intake <NUM>.

In turn, the third conduit <NUM> extends from the second air intake <NUM> in the first opposite direction F1 along the longitudinal axis X, substantially aligned with the third conduit <NUM> and parallel to the first conduit <NUM>; in particular, in the embodiment illustrated, one side of the third conduit <NUM> extends directly from one end part on the second air intake <NUM>, while on the opposite side of the third conduit <NUM>, there is provided an inclined side <NUM> converging from and joining the second air intake <NUM> to the third conduit <NUM> itself.

For example, according to this embodiment, the first module M1 can comprise end parts of the respective first and third conduits <NUM> and <NUM>, the modules M2 and M3 can comprise part of the respective air intakes <NUM> and <NUM>, of the central portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and the initial parts of the respective first, second, third and fourth conduits <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, while the fourth module M4 can comprise end parts of the respective second and fourth conduits <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to yet another possible embodiment, the air distribution system <NUM> can comprise an additional module M5, one example of which is schematically illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated, the additional module M5 extends substantially rectilinear along the longitudinal axis X, and it is intended to be positioned at a middle part of the respective central portion <NUM>, <NUM> of the first duct <NUM> and/or of the second duct <NUM> and to be assembled with the adjacent modules M2 and M3 thereof.

In particular, the additional module M5, which can be easily and suitably sized as desired, comprises two channel sections <NUM> and <NUM> which, once the module M5 is assembled, are part of and contribute to form the respective central portions <NUM> and <NUM>, thus allowing for example to properly modify the overall length of the ducts <NUM> and <NUM>, and hence to adapt the air distribution system <NUM> to railway vehicles having different lengths.

According to a possible embodiment, as illustrated in the attached figures, the first duct <NUM> and the second duct <NUM> are substantially identical to each other, apart from unavoidable minor constructive mechanical tolerances or differences.

In the air distribution system <NUM> according to the invention, once installed, the first duct <NUM> and the second duct <NUM>, with or without the additional module M5, can be positioned as illustrated for example in <FIG> shown without the additional module M5, side by side with the inclined second side <NUM> of the first central portion <NUM> adjacent to and in contact with the inclined second side <NUM> of the second central portion <NUM>.

Alternatively, as for example illustrated in <FIG> shown with the additional module M5, once installed, the first duct <NUM> and the second duct <NUM>, with or without the additional module M5, can be positioned side by side with the inclined second side <NUM> of the first central portion <NUM> facing to and spaced apart from the inclined second side <NUM> of the second central portion <NUM>.

In this way, the air distribution system <NUM> according to the present invention can be easily adapted also to vehicles, and in particular railway vehicles, having different widths.

Thus, the air distributing system <NUM> according to the present invention constitutes a kind of universal ducting system for being used in HVAC systems and/or with different types of vehicles.

Hence, as previously mentioned, a further aspect of the present invention relates to an Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, for a vehicle <NUM>, schematically indicated in <FIG> by the reference number <NUM>, characterized in that it comprises:.

Yet further aspects of the present invention relate to:.

Usefully, the solution devised according to the present invention is particularly advantageous in case of pantograph-based railway vehicles, such as the one illustrated in <FIG> with two pantographs <NUM> mounted on the roof <NUM> of the railway vehicle <NUM>.

In this case, a first HVAC unit <NUM> and a second HVAC unit <NUM> for generating the conditioned air to be distributed inside the vehicle <NUM> can be conveniently mounted on the roof <NUM> at a central part thereof between the two pantographs <NUM>, with the air distribution system <NUM> installed for example with the first and second ducts <NUM>, <NUM> below the roof <NUM> of the railway vehicle <NUM>, e.g. in the space between the roof <NUM> and an internal ceiling of the internal compartment of the vehicle <NUM> itself.

In practice, according to the present invention, the whole air distribution system <NUM> is formed by two sub-parts which can function together and both split the respective flow of conditioned air to be distributed in a forward direction and in a rearward direction. If one of the two subparts fails for whatever reason, the other one allows in any case to have a substantially uniform distribution of conditioned air inside the full length of the vehicle thanks to such splitting into the two opposite directions F1 and R1.

Further, each of the two subparts has one channel which ends in correspondence of a cabin booster <NUM> and therefore can always guarantee the supply of treated air also inside the driver cab.

Further, the two ducts <NUM> and <NUM> of the air distribution system <NUM> are positioned symmetrically to each other with respect to a vertical plan <NUM> parallel to the two lateral sides of the vehicle and virtually dividing longitudinally the vehicle in two equal parts, and the same occurs when considering the whole HVAC system <NUM> with the two HVAC units <NUM>, thus contributing in better dynamics of the vehicle.

Hence, it is evident from the foregoing description and appended claims that the air distribution system <NUM>, the HVAC system <NUM>, and the related vehicle <NUM>, according to the present invention, achieve the intended aim and objects, since they allow a proper conditioning of the interior of a vehicle, including the driver cabin, even when there is a failure, and according to a solution which can be utilized with vehicles of different sizes with very minor constructive modifications of even without any modification.

The air distribution system <NUM>, the HVAC system <NUM>, and the related vehicle <NUM> thus conceived are susceptible of modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in particular by the appended claims; for example, one or more components or any part thereof may be differently shaped with respect to what previously described; each module, such as for example the module M5 previously described, can be realized as a unique piece, or by two or more submodules which can be assembled to or disassembled from each other.

Claim 1:
An air distribution system (<NUM>) for distributing conditioned air inside a vehicle (<NUM>), notably a railway vehicle (<NUM>), comprising at least:
- a first duct (<NUM>) having a first air intake (<NUM>) for introducing conditioned air inside the first duct (<NUM>), a first conduit (<NUM>) and a second conduit (<NUM>) which extend, along a longitudinal axis (X), in a first direction and in a respective opposite second direction with reference to the first air intake (<NUM>), wherein said first air intake (<NUM>) comprises a first splitter (<NUM>) configured to split the incoming conditioned air into a first flow (1D) conveyed inside said first conduit (<NUM>), and a second flow (1R) conveyed inside said second conduit (<NUM>); and
- a second duct (<NUM>) having a second air intake (<NUM>) for introducing conditioned air inside the second duct (<NUM>), a third conduit (<NUM>) and a fourth conduit (<NUM>) which extend, along said longitudinal axis (X), along said first direction and said respective opposite second direction with reference to the second air intake (<NUM>), and wherein said second air intake (<NUM>) comprises a second splitter (<NUM>) configured to split the incoming conditioned air into a third flow (2D) conveyed inside said third conduit (<NUM>), and a fourth flow (2R) conveyed inside said fourth conduit (<NUM>), characterized in that said first duct (<NUM>) and said second duct (<NUM>) have each a shaped body comprising a plurality of separate modules (M1, M2, M3, M4) assembled together to form the respective first duct (<NUM>) and second duct (<NUM>) wherein said first duct (<NUM>) comprises a first central portion (<NUM>) having an inclined side (<NUM>) and said second duct (<NUM>) comprises a second central portion (<NUM>) having a respective inclined side (<NUM>), and wherein, once installed, said first duct (<NUM>) and said second duct (<NUM>) are positioned side by side with the inclined side (<NUM>) of the first central portion (<NUM>) adjacent to and in contact with the inclined side (<NUM>) of the second central portion (<NUM>), or with the inclined side (<NUM>) of the first central portion (<NUM>) facing to and spaced apart from the inclined side (<NUM>) of the second central portion (<NUM>).