GB2614022A

GB2614022A - Vehicle head of a rail-bound vehicle provided with a windscreen opening interfaced with an interior trim

Info

Publication number: GB2614022A
Application number: GB2108965.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Garden Andrew; Foster Leo; Bonsall Matthew
Original assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
Current assignee: Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2021-06-22
Filing date: 2021-06-22
Publication date: 2023-06-28
Also published as: PL243535B1; PL441511A1; GB202108965D0

Abstract

A vehicle head 12 for a rail-bound vehicle, comprises a support structure 20, an external skin 10, a windscreen pane 29 and an interior trim 38, which covers an inner side of the support structure around a windscreen opening. The windscreen pane is fixed to a windscreen frame 30 which bears against an outward facing shoulder 24 of a windscreen region 22 of the external skin around the windscreen opening. A foremost edge 40 of the interior trim is farther away from a reference plane P in which an internal side 42 of the windscreen pane lies than the shoulder, and the windscreen region has an extension 44 which protrudes inwards away from the shoulder towards the interior trim and is interfaced with the foremost edge of the interior trim. The vehicle head may comprise a gasket 46 which interfaces the extension of the windscreen region with the foremost edge of the interior trim. The vehicle head ay comprise a peripheric windscreen pane obstruction (50 fig 5).

Description

VEHICLE HEAD OF A RAIL-BOUND VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH A WINDSCREEN OPENING INTERFACED WITH AN INTERIOR TRIM

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle head of a rail-bound vehicle, and more specifically to the region around a windscreen opening, where the windscreen opening is interfaced with an interior trim of the vehicle head. It relates, albeit not exclusively, to a vehicle head provided with a windscreen opening situated sideways of a central gangway.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Whenever a vehicle head is provided with a central gangway between coaches or a front escape route, only limited space can be allocated to the driver's cabin and the windscreen opening sideways of the gangway. As a result, the view through the windscreen opening is limited, or even partially impaired by the protruding gangway itself. In order to increase the field of vision on the gangway side, it has been suggested in W02013/182221A1 to provide the vehicle head with an extendable gangway, which, when not in use, can be retracted. But the mechanism needed to extend and retract the gangway is in itself bulky, expensive and a source of potential unreliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention aims to provide a rail-bound vehicle configuration in which a view angle from a driver's cabin through a windscreen pane is maximised.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle head for a rail-bound vehicle, the vehicle head comprising: -a support structure, an external skin, which is fixed to the support structure to cover an external side of the support structure, the external skin being provided with a windscreen region, which defines and extends around a windscreen opening, and a windscreen assembly, comprising a windscreen frame which bears against an outward-facing shoulder of the windscreen region of the external skin and a windscreen pane fixed to the windscreen frame to close the windscreen opening, the windscreen pane having an internal side, which lies in a reference plane, and an interior trim, which is fixed to the support structure and covers an inner side of the support structure around the windscreen opening.

[0005] According to the invention a foremost edge of the interior trim is farther away from the reference plane than the shoulder, and the windscreen region has an extension which protrudes inwards away from the shoulder towards the interior trim and is interfaced with the foremost edge of the interior trim. Because there is no direct interface between the interior trim and the windscreen pane, the interior trim is at a distance from the windscreen pane and does not limit the view angle through the window opening.

[0006] Preferably, the extension extends towards the foremost edge of the interior trim at an angle between 70° and 110° with the reference plane.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, a gasket interfaces the extension of the windscreen region with the foremost edge of the interior trim. The gasket may be fixed to either one of the interior trim and extension, and provided with a sealing lip which bears against the other one of the interior trim and extension. The gasket compensates for manufacturing and assembling tolerances between the trim and the extension and for potential differential motion due e.g. to temperature variations or vibration.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the shoulder is parallel to and spaced apart from the reference plane. The frame structure increases the distance between the windscreen pane and the interior trim in the direction perpendicular to the shoulder, which in turns increases the view angle through the window opening.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the shoulder is recessed relative to a surrounding region of the external skin. The windscreen region has a transition wall between the shoulder and the surrounding region of the external skin, and this transition wall is preferably perpendicular to the shoulder. The frame preferably bears laterally against this transition wall. Preferably the windscreen pane is recessed relative to or flush with the surrounding region of the external skin.

[0010] The structure of the interface between the windscreen opening and the interior trim is particularly useful where a driver's cabin is located behind the windscreen pane.

[0011] In one embodiment, the external skin is provided with a central gangway opening, then at least one windscreen opening being located sideways of the central gangway opening. The vehicle head may further comprise a central gangway, which 10 may protrude outwards from the central gangway opening, even in a non-operational position.

[0012] In one embodiment, the external skin is made of fibre-reinforced plastics, preferably glass fibre-reinforced plastics.

[0013] In one embodiment, a peripheric windscreen pane obscuration at least partially covers the shoulder of the windscreen region and extends from an edge of the windscreen pane towards a centre of the windscreen pane up to an obscuration edge. The peripheric obscuration is provided for aesthetic reasons and for protecting the gasket or bonded interface between the windscreen pane and the shoulder from UV radiation. Seen in orthogonal projection in the reference plane, the obscuration edge is preferably farther away from the centre of the windscreen pane than the extension of the windscreen region of the external skin. The peripheric obscuration does not impair the view from inside the vehicle through the window opening.

[0014] In one embodiment, the windscreen pane obscuration comprises an outer obscuration layer and an inner obscuration layer spaced apart from the outer obscuration layer in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane, wherein the outer obscuration layer extends from the edge of the windscreen pane towards a centre of the windscreen pane up to an edge of the outer obscuration layer and partially overlaps the inner obscuration layer, which extends further towards the centre of the windscreen pane up to an edge of the inner obscuration layer, which constitutes the obscuration edge. A resistive demister may be provided with at least one resistive conductor located between the outer obscuration layer and the inner obscuration layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] Other advantages and features of the invention will then become more clearly apparent from the following description of a specific embodiment of the invention given as non-restrictive example only and represented in the accompanying drawings in which: -figure 1 is an isometric view of vehicle head of a rail-bound vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; -figure 2 is a side view of the vehicle head of figure 1; -figure 3 is a front view of the vehicle head of figure 1; -figure 4 is a horizontal cross-section of a region of the vehicle head of figure 1 including a windscreen; -figure 5 is a detail of figure 4.

[0016] Corresponding reference numerals refer to the same or corresponding parts in each of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, an external skin 10 of a vehicle head 12 of a rail-bound vehicle is provided with a central gangway opening for a protruding central gangway 14, and with two windscreen openings symmetrically located on both lateral sides of the gangway opening and closed by windscreen assemblies 16, 18. The vehicle head 12 is provided with a driver's cabin 19 behind one of the windscreen panes.

[0018] The external skin 10 is preferably made of a light material such as fibre-reinforced plastics and covers an external side of a primary support structure 20 shown in figure 4, which is part of the structural frame of the vehicle head and made e.g. of steel or a light metal alloy. The external skin 10 may be locally reinforced with reinforcement members 21, in particular in an interface region with the primary support structure 20.

[0019] As illustrated in figures 4 and 5, a windscreen region 22 of the external skin 10, which defines and directly surrounds the windscreen opening, is shaped with a shoulder 24 that faces outwards and a transition wall 26 between the shoulder 24 and a surrounding region 28 of the external skin 10, such that the shoulder 24 is recessed relative to the surrounding region 28 of the external skin 10.

[0020] The windscreen assembly 16 comprises a windscreen pane 29 and a windscreen frame 30 glued or otherwise bonded to the windscreen pane 29. The windscreen frame 30 bears against the shoulder 24 where it is fixed through holes in the shoulder 24 to a reinforcement member 21 of the external skin 10. Alternatively, the windscreen frame 30 can be fixed to the shoulder 24 or through holes in the shoulder 24 directly to the support structure 20. The windscreen frame 30 may directly or indirectly bear laterally against the transition wall 26. An external face 36 of the windscreen pane 29 is preferably recessed relative the surrounding region 28 of the external skin 10.

[0021] The driver's cabin 19 is provided with an interior trim 38, which is fixed to the support structure 20 and covers an inner side of the support structure 20 around the windscreen opening. A foremost edge 40 of the interior trim 38 is spaced apart from a reference plane P in which an internal side 42 of the windscreen pane 29 lies.

[0022] The windscreen region 22 has an extension 44, which protrudes inwards away from the shoulder 24 towards the interior trim 38 at an angle A of about 70° to the reference plane P. The extension 44 is interfaced with a foremost edge 40 of the interior trim 38 by means of a gasket 46. The gasket 46, in this embodiment, is fixed to the interior trim 38 and provided with a sealing lip 48, which bears against the extension 44.

[0023] The windscreen pane 29 is preferably provided with a peripheric obscuration 50. The windscreen pane obscuration 50 comprises an outer obscuration layer 52 and an inner obscuration layer 54 spaced apart from the outer obscuration layer 52 in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane P. One or more resistive conductors 56 of a demister 58 can be embedded in the windscreen pane 29 between the inner obscuration layer 54 and the outer obscuration layer 52 to remain invisible from inside or outside the vehicle. The outer obscuration layer 52 extends from the edge of the windscreen pane 29 towards a centre of the windscreen pane up to an edge 60 of the outer obscuration layer 52 and partially overlaps the inner obscuration layer 54, which extends further towards the centre of the windscreen pane up to an edge 62 of the inner obscuration layer 54.

[0024] The outer obscuration layer 52 obscures the view of the shoulder 24 and of the resistive conductor(s) 56 from outside while the inner obscuration layer 54 obscures the view of the resistive conductor(s) 56 from inside the vehicle. Since the interior trim 38 is interfaced with the extension 44 of the windscreen region 22 of the external skin 10 and not directly with the windscreen pane 16, the peripheric obscuration 50 does not have to obscure the view of the interior trim 38. Seen in orthogonal projection in the reference plane P, the edge 60 of the outer obscuration layer 52 is farther away from the centre of the windscreen than the edge 62 of the inner obscuration layer 54, which is itself farther away from the centre of the windscreen pane 16 than the extension 44 of the windscreen region 22 of the external skin 10. As the outer obscuration layer 52 is farther away from the reference plane P than the inner obscuration layer 54, a field of vision V from inside the vehicle through the windscreen is increased.

[0025] The inner obscuration layer 54 can be dispensed with, in particular if no demister 58 is provided.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicle head (12) for a rail-bound vehicle, the vehicle head (12) comprising: -a support structure (20), -an external skin (10), which is fixed to the support structure (20) to cover an external side of the support structure (20), the external skin (10) being provided with a windscreen region (22), which defines a windscreen opening, and a windscreen assembly (16) comprising a windscreen frame (30) which bears against an outward-facing shoulder (24) of the windscreen region (22) of the external skin (10) and a windscreen pane (29), which is fixed to windscreen frame (30) to close the windscreen opening, the windscreen pane (29) having an internal side (42), which lies in a reference plane (P), and an interior trim (38), which is fixed to the support structure (20) and covers an inner side of the support structure (20) around the windscreen opening, characterised in that a foremost edge (40) of the interior trim (38) is farther away from the reference plane (P) than the shoulder (24), and the windscreen region (22) has an extension (44) which protrudes inwards away from the shoulder (24) towards the interior trim (38) and is interfaced with the foremost edge (40) of the interior trim (38).
2. The vehicle head (12) of claim 1, wherein the extension (44) extends towards the foremost edge (40) of the interior trim (38) at an angle (A) between 70° and 110° with the reference plane (P).
3. The vehicle head (12) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a gasket (46) which interfaces the extension (44) of the windscreen region (22) with the foremost edge (40) of the interior trim (38).
4. The vehicle head (12) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shoulder (24) is parallel to and spaced apart from the reference plane (P).
5. The vehicle head (12) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shoulder (24) is recessed relative to a surrounding region (28) of the external skin (10).
6. The vehicle head (12) of claim 5, wherein the windscreen pane (29) is recessed relative to the surrounding region (28) of the external skin (10).
7. The vehicle head (12) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a driver's cabin (19) behind the windscreen pane (29).
8. The vehicle head (12) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external skin (10) is provided with a central gangway opening, the at least one windscreen opening being located sideways of the central gangway opening.
9. The vehicle head (12) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external skin (10) is made of fibre-reinforced plastics, preferably glass fibre-reinforced plastics.
10. The vehicle head (12) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a peripheric windscreen pane obscuration (50) which at least partially covers the shoulder (24) of the windscreen region and extends from an edge of the windscreen pane (29) towards a centre of the windscreen pane (29) up to an obscuration edge (62).
11. The vehicle head (12) of claim 10, wherein seen in orthogonal projection in the reference plane (P), the obscuration edge (62) is farther away from the centre of the windscreen pane (29) than the extension (44) of the windscreen region (22) of the external skin (10).
12. The vehicle head (12) of any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein the windscreen pane obscuration (50) comprises an outer obscuration layer (52) and an inner obscuration layer (50) spaced apart from the outer obscuration layer (52) in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane (P), wherein the outer obscuration layer (52) extends from the edge of the windscreen pane (29) towards a centre of the windscreen pane (29) up to an edge of the outer obscuration layer (60) and partially overlaps the inner obscuration layer (64), which extends further towards the centre of the windscreen pane (29) up to an edge (62) of the inner obscuration layer (54), which constitutes the obscuration edge.
13. The vehicle head (12) of claim 12, comprising a resistive demister (58) provided with at least one resistive conductor (56) located between the outer obscuration layer (52) and the inner obscuration layer (54).