Patent ID: 8839722

Claim:
An integrated self-supporting and deformation-resistant modular driver's cabin structure for mounting to the front end of a rail vehicle body, the driver's cabin structure having a front end and a longitudinal direction, the driver's cabin structure providing a driver space and a windshield opening, the driver's cabin structure consisting of a composite sandwich structure with a single, common, continuous outer skin layer, a single, common, continuous inner skin layer and an internal structure wholly covered with and bonded to the inner and outer skin layers, the internal structure comprising a plurality of core elements, the composite sandwich structure comprising a unitary matrix for bonding the internal structure, the inner skin layer and outer skin layer, parts of the outer skin layer being directly exposed to the outside, parts of the inner skin layer being directly used as inner wall for the driver's cabin, the driver's cabin structure comprising at least: side pillars each having a lower end and an upper end, comprising a fibre-reinforced sandwich, and a reactor structure located towards, and integrated with, the lower end of each of the side pillars, the reactor structure being reinforced such as to transfer static and crash loads to the main body structure of the rail vehicle and including a central cavity open towards the front end of the driver's cabin to accommodate a coupling element for the rail vehicle.