GB2567545B

GB2567545B - Rail vehicle body structure

Info

Publication number: GB2567545B
Application number: GB1813939.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Morita Yosuke; Kawasaki Takeshi; Nakamura Hideyuki; Kaneyasu Tadamasa
Original assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Priority date: 2012-04-17
Filing date: 2013-04-10
Publication date: 2019-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-10
Also published as: DE112013002072T5; DE112013002072B4; GB2514516B; GB201813939D0; JPWO2013157464A1; GB2514516A; WO2013157464A1; GB2567545A; GB201416685D0

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title of the Invention

RAIL VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE

Technical Field [0001]

The present invention relates to the construction of a rail vehicle body structure (hereinafter referred to as a body structure) equipped with a body bolster and a center sill intersecting therewith under the lower surface of an underframe that forms a floor of the rail vehicle body structure, and having the underframe on which the parts are assembled by mechanical fastening means such as rivets or bolts. Background Art [0002]

Recently, aluminum alloy having superior extrusion performance, corrosion resistance, and weldability for use in railway vehicles has been developed. Along therewith, railway vehicles including a body structure made up of large-sized aluminum alloy shapes are the mainstream from the aspects of reducing weight and rationalizing production. A railway vehicle is composed of a hexahedral body structure, bogies supported in both end portions of this body structure in the longitudinal direction to travel on tracks, electric appliances, interior parts, and the like. The body structure is connected to each bogie through a support device and a traction device. The traction device is composed of a center pin provided under a lower surface of the body bolster that forms the floor (underframe) of the body structure, and a coupling link for coupling the bogie in a front-back direction. The support device is composed of air springs for supporting the load on the car body in an up-down direction, and the like.

[0003]

The body structure that forms the railway vehicle is generally composed of an underframe as a floor, side structures vertically arranged in both end portions of the underframe in a width direction thereof, end structures vertically arranged in both end portions of the underframe in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a roof structure provided on the top edges of the side structures and the end structures. In this construction, center sills having couplers for coupling cars together and body bolsters each having the traction device, the support device, and the like mentioned above are provided under the lower surface of the underframe in both end portions of the body structure in the longitudinal direction. The center sills provided along the longitudinal direction of the body structure are provided under the underframe to intersect with the body bolsters provided along the width direction of the body structure, and the underframe has strength enough to bear a heavy load acting on the body structure through the couplers and the bogies. Patent Document 1 discloses a railway vehicle body structure having the above-mentioned construction. Citation List

Patent Document [0004]

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-255641

Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention [0005]

An assembly structure and method for assembling a hexahedral body structure and an underframe that forms the floor of the body structure using mechanical fastening means such as bolts and rivets have been studied to eliminate the need for edge preparaton of joint (welding) portions and reduce the number of finishing steps such as to relieve strain resulting from welding heat input.

[0006]

When the underframe is assembled by the mechanical fastening means, if side sills provided in both end portions of the underframe in the width direction thereof to extend in the longitudinal direction of the car body and a body bolster provided along the width direction of the underframe are connected by bolts or rivets, the heads of these rivets or bolts can, for example, interfere with air springs that form support devices abutting on end portions in the longitudinal direction of the body bolster. When counterbores that accommodate the heads of the bolts are provided in the body bolster to avoid the interfere between the heads of the bolts and the air springs, the thickness of the body bolster must be set to a thickness nearly equal to the sum of the depth of the counterbores and a thickness enough to bear a load generated on each bolt seating face. As the thickness of the body bolster increases, inconvenience such as an increase in weight of the underframe (body structure) as well as an increase in material costs can occur.

[0007]

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rail vehicle body structure having an underframe with body bolsters, center sills, floor materials, and the like constructed by mechanical fastening means, which can prevent interference between air springs abutting on the lower surface of the underframe (body bolsters) and the mechanical fastening means mentioned above, and further reduce the material costs and an increase in weight.

Means for solving the Problems [0008]

In order to attain the above object, a rail vehicle body structure according to claim 1 is provided.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention [0009]

There can be provided a rail vehicle construction in which a rail vehicle body structure has an underframe constructed by mechanical fastening means, which can prevent interference between air springs abutting on the lower surface of the underframe (body bolsters) and the mechanical fastening means mentioned above, and further reduce the material costs and an increase in weight.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a railway vehicle. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a railway vehicle body structure of Embodiment 1 as viewed from below. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an A section shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a B-B cross-section view of an underframe shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a railway vehicle body structure of Embodiment 2 as viewed from below. FIG. 6 is a C-C cross-section view of the underframe shown in FIG. 5. Modes for carrying out the Invention [0011]

The rail vehicle is a general term for vehicles operated along installed tracks, meaning a railway vehicle, a monorail vehicle, a new transportation system vehicle, a tram, and the like. In embodiments shown below, a railway vehicle will be taken as a typical example of the rail vehicle to make a description. A railway vehicle body structure according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a railway vehicle. The railway vehicle is composed of a railway vehicle body structure 1 (hereinafter referred to as the body structure 1), bogies 2, electric appliances, interior parts, and the like. The body structure 1 is a hexahedron composed of an underframe 10 (see FIG. 2) that forms a floor, side structures 20 vertically arranged in both end portions of the underframe 10 in the width direction, end structures 30 vertically arranged in both end portions of the underframe 10 in the longitudinal direction, and a roof structure 40 supported by top edges of the side structures 20 and top edges of the end structures 30. As shown in FIG. 1, a window 22 for daylighting and ventilation, a side sliding door 21 for passengers to get on or off, and the like are provided in the side structures 20.

[0012]

The both end portions of the body structure 1 in the longitudinal direction (in the direction of an arrow 100 in FIG. 3) are supported by the bogies 2 to be movable on tracks. Body bolsters 15 are provided under the lower surface of the underframe that forms the floor of the body structure 1 along the width direction of the underframe in portions where the bogies 2 are provided. Air springs 5 (only one of them is shown) are provided on both sides of a central portion in the longitudinal direction of each bogie frame 3 that forms each of the bogies 2, and the body structure 1 is supported via the air springs 5.

[0013]

The air springs 5 carry the functions of suppressing the propagation of vibration of the bogies 2 and the like, caused by irregular tracks or the like, into the body structure 1, and maintaining a steady floor level of the body structure 1 in accordance with an increase and decrease in the number of passengers. Note that the bogie 2 shown in FIG. 1 is an inner frame-type bogie where the underframe 3 is provided inside the wheels that form a wheel set 4 (on the center side of the tracks). [Embodiment 1] [0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the railway vehicle body structure of Embodiment 1 as viewed from below, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an A section shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a B-B cross-section view of the underframe shown in FIG. 3.

Side sills 11 are provided in both end portions of the underframe 10 in the width direction thereof to extend from the side structures 20, and end sills 12 are provided in both end portions of the underframe 10 in the longitudinal direction thereof. A coupler support 13 having a coupler (not shown) for coupling cars when multiple railway cars are coupled to make up a train set are provided in a central portion of each of the end sills 12 in the width direction thereof. Two center sills 14 are provided behind the end sills 12 (near the center of the underframe 10 in the longitudinal direction) to extend in the longitudinal direction of the underframe 10.

[0015] A body bolster 15 is provided in a position a predetermined distance away from the end sill 12 toward the center of the underframe 10 in the longitudinal direction to extend in the width direction (the direction of an arrow 110 in FIG. 3) of the underframe 10. The body bolster 15 is connected to the side sills 11 with bolts 91 (see FIG. 4) at bolt fastening points 56 (see FIG. 3) in both end portions of the body bolster 15 in the longitudinal direction thereof (the direction of the arrow 110 in FIG. 3), and fastened to the two center sills 14 by mechanical fastening means such as bolts 90 (see FIG. 4) at bolt fastening points 57 (see FIG. 3) near the center of the body bolster 15 in the longitudinal direction thereof.

[0016]

The bolt fastening points 56 where the edges of a plate-like member 51 as the body bolster 15 in the longitudinal direction and the side sills 11 are connected are arranged in two lines or one line along the longitudinal direction of the body structure 1. Similarly, a portion in which a central portion of the plate-like member 51 in the longitudinal direction and each of the center sills 14 are fastened is arranged in two lines of bolt fastening points 58 near the end side of the plate-like member 51 in the longitudinal direction and bolt fastening points 57 near the center of the plate-like member 51 in the longitudinal direction.

[0017] A center pin support 17 is provided in a central portion of the lower surface (on the side where the bogie 2 is provided) in the longitudinal direction of the body bolster 15, and two air spring supports 16 are provided along the longitudinal direction (the direction of the arrow 110 in FIG. 3) of the body bolster 15 to lie adjacent to the center pin support 17.

[0018]

The floor part of the underframe 10, the side structures 20, and the roof structure 40 are constructed by lining up multiple hollow extruded shapes made of aluminum alloy along the longitudinal direction of the car body and joining adjacent joint edges in the width direction of the hollow extruded shapes. The side sills 11 are hollow extruded shapes made of aluminum alloy along the longitudinal direction of the car body, and provided in both end portions of the underframe 10 in the width direction. The end sills 12 are constructed by joining plate-like members and beamlike members made of aluminum alloy, and provided in both end portions of the underframe 10 in the longitudinal direction.

[0019]

The center sills 14 (see FIG. 3) are extruded shapes having an l-shaped cross section and made of aluminum alloy, which are provided along the longitudinal direction of the body structure 1. However, the cross section is not limited to the I-shaped, and it may be any shape such as a U-shaped or an L-shaped. The end sills 12 and the center sills 14 may be made of steel. In this case, the end sills 12 and the center sills 14 are fastened by mechanical fastening means to the floor part of the underframe 10 made of aluminum alloy.

[0020]

The end sill 12, the center sill 14, and the body bolster 15 form not only a section for supporting the coupler for coupling cars but also a connecting portion with the bogie 2 for supporting the body structure 1. These sections are required to have high strength because tensile load and compressive load act thereon through the couplers and a tractive force and a braking force act thereon from the bogies 2 in a process in which a train set composed of multiple cars reaches constant speed running after the train set is started and accelerated, and in a process in which the train set comes to a stop after being decelerated from the constant speed running.

[0021]

Since the end sills 12, the center sills 14, and the body bolsters 15 are made up of steel members having high mechanical strength, they are joined by mechanical fastening means, such as bolts or rivets, rather than welding, at joints between the floor member as part of the underframe 10 made from hollow extruded aluminum alloy shapes, the side sills 11, the center sills 14, and the like.

[0022]

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the structure of the body bolster 15 will be described. The body bolster 15 has the plate-like steel member 51 as a main part, and is provided with plural width-direction steel beams 52 on the side of the plate-like member 51 to face the bogie 2 and plural longitudinal steel beams 54 on the side of the plate-like member 51 to face the body structure 1.

Further, two steel plates 61 having substantially the same width as the center sills 14 along the longitudinal direction of the body structure 1, and substantially the same length as the size of a portion intersecting with the body bolster 15 in the width direction of the body bolster 15 (a direction along the longitudinal direction of the body structure 1) are welded in portions where the platelike member 51 intersects with (abuts on) the two center sills 14 made of aluminum alloy. The width-direction beams 52, the longitudinal beams 54, and the plates 61 are joined by welding onto the plate-like member 51 to form the body bolster 15 as an integrated manner.

[0023]

There is sufficient space between the lower surface of the underframe 10 and the upper surface of plate-like member 51 that forms the body bolster 15, and wire/pipe modules 60 in which multiple wires and pipes are bundled together are provided under the lower surface of the underframe 10 along the longitudinal direction of the car body to penetrate through the body bolster 15 from the end portions toward the center of the body structure 1 in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Particularly, since the longitudinal beams 54 are welded to the plate-like member 51 along the longitudinal direction of the body structure 1, the wire/pipe modules 60 and non-modularized wires/pipes can be easily arranged in the space between the lower surface side of the underframe 1 and the plate-like member 51 without interfering with the longitudinal beams 54.

[0024]

The air spring supports 16 are provided in portions where the air springs 5 (see FIG. 1) of the plate-like member 51 abut thereon, and the center pin support 17 is provided in the central portion of the body bolster 15 in the longitudinal direction as a connecting portion between the bogie 2 and the body structure 1. The surface where the air spring supports 16 of the plate-like member 51 are constructed and the center pin support 17 is provided is finished smoothly to match the shapes of parts provided in the bogie 2 so that the bogie 2 and the body structure can be joined together with high accuracy.

[0025]

In the case of the inner frame bogie shown in FIG. 1, since the bogie frame 3 is provided on the side of the wheels near the center between the tracks, an interval L1 (see FIG. 4) between the air springs 5 provided on the bogie frame 3 tends to be short. Therefore, the bolt fastening points 57, 58 aligned in two lines to fasten the plate-like member 51 and the center sills 14 together may be located within a range of the air spring supports 16 provided in the plate-like member 51 of the body bolster 15.

[0026]

At the bolt fastening points 57, 58 to fasten the center sills 14 and the platelike member 51 together, counterbores having a depth not less than the outer diameter of a tool used to fasten the bolts 90 to the plate-like member 51 and not less than the height of the heads of the bolts 90 to prevent the heads of the bolts 90 from interfering with the air spring supports 16. Even when the depth of the counterbore is about the same as the thickness of the plate-like member 51, since the plates 61 are welded in the portions of the plate-like member 51 to overlap the center sills 14 to increase the total plate thickness, the counterbores can be easily formed in the plate-like member 51 without caring about the depth of the counterbores.

[0027]

Further, since the width of the plates 61 provided in the portions where the center sills 14 and the body bolster 15 intersect each other is approximately the same as the width of the center sills 14, and the length of the plates 61 is approximately the same as the width of the body bolster 15, effects capable of suppressing an increase in weight such as when the total thickness of the plate-like member 51 is increased, and enhancing the rigidity of the plate-like member 51 that forms the body bolster 15 and suppressing a loss of the strength are obtained. In addition, since the plates 61 are provided on the plate-like member 51 as the main part of the body bolster 15, an effect capable of easily forming the counterbores in the plate-like member 51 can be obtained.

[0028]

According to the above construction, since the counterbores that accommodate the heads of the bolts 90 as mechanical fastening means can be provided in the plate-like member 51 that forms the body bolster 15, interference between the air springs 5 provided on the bogie 2 and the heads of the bolts 90 can be suppressed and the strength required for the underframe 10 can be satisfied.

[0029]

Further, according to this construction, since the successive wire/pipe modules 60 can be provided to penetrate through the body bolster 15 from the end portions to the central portion in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 3, the direction of the arrow 100) of the body structure 1 across the body bolster 15, wires and pipes can be provided in the body structure 1 with a smaller number of steps.

[0030]

In Embodiment 1, although the description is made by taking the body structure 1 having inner frame bogies as an example, the present invention is not limited to the structure having inner frame bogies, and the above-mentioned effects can be obtained as long as the bolt fastening points 57, 58 are included within the range of the air spring supports 16. Further, FIG. 4 shows that the bolts 90 is composed of bolts and nuts as an example of mechanical fastening means, but plate-like screw sets may be provided as substitute for the nuts, or parts having thread grooves may be embedded in the center sills 14. The structure with substitutes for the nuts can also be applied to bolts 90, 92 in Embodiment 2 to be described below.

[Embodiment 2] [0031]

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, Embodiment 2 will be described. A description concerning the same structures as those described in Embodiment 1 will be omitted, and structures and functions different from those in Embodiment 1 will be mainly described.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an underframe that forms a rail vehicle body structure in Embodiment 2 as viewed from below, and FIG. 6 is a C-C cross-section view of FIG. 5.

[0033]

Unlike in Embodiment 1, only the bolt fastening points 58 of the bolt fastening points 57, 58 aligned in two lines to fasten the plate-like member 51 and the center sills 14 may be included within the range of the air spring supports 16 provided under the plate-like member 51 of the body bolster 15 due to the design factors of the body structure 1 such as the positional relationship between the center sills 14 and the wire/pipe modules 60, or the design factors of the bogie 2 such as the fact that the interval between the air springs 5 provided on the bogie frame 3 becomes L2.

[0034]

In this case, the thickness of the plate-like member 51 is set to a thickness capable of forming the counterbores that accommodate the heads of the bolts 90 (see FIG. 4) provided at bolt fastening points 58, and the number of bolts 92 provided at bolt fastening points 57 where no counterbores are provided is set larger than the number of bolts 90 in that portion.

Alternatively, the size of the bolts 90 provided at the bolt fastening points 58 is set to M16 and the size of the bolts 92 provided at the bolt fastening points 57 is set to M22. In the case of the bolt size M16, since the head of the bolt is smaller than that of M22, the depth of a counterbore can be reduced, and this can suppress an increase in the thickness (weight) of the plate-like member 51.

[0035]

According to this construction, the strength required for the underframe 10 can be satisfied without applying, to the plate-like member 51 at intersections (in overlapping portions) between the plate-like member 51 and the center sills 14, plates (corresponding to the plates 61 in Embodiment 1) having substantially the same width as the width of the center sills 14.

[0036]

According to the above-mentioned construction, since the body bolster 15 and the center sills 14 can be tightly fastened while suppressing an increase in the weight of the body bolster 15, the strength required for the underframe 10 can be satisfied.

[0037]

Further, interference between the air springs 5 provided on the bogie 2 and the heads of the bolts 90 can be suppressed.

[0038]

In addition, according to this construction, since the successive wire/pipe modules 60 can be provided to penetrate through the body bolster 15 from the end portions to the central portion in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 3, the direction of the arrow 100) of the body structure 1 across the body bolster 15, wires and pipes can be provided in the body structure 1 with a smaller number of steps. Description of Reference Numerals [0039] 1 ... railway vehicle body structure 2 ... bogie 3 ... bogie frame 4 ... wheel 5 ... air spring 10 ... underframe 11 ... side sill 12 ...end sill 13 ... coupler support 14 ... center sill 15 ... body bolster 16 ... air spring support 17 ... center pin support 20 ... side structure 21 ... side sliding door (entrance door) 22 ... window 30 ... end structure 40 ... roof structure 51 ... plate-like member 52 ... width-direction beam 54 ... longitudinal beam 56, 57, 58 ... bolt fastening point 60 ... wire/pipe module 90, 91,92 ... bolt 100 ... arrow indicating longitudinal direction of body structure 110 ... arrow indicating width direction of body structure

Claims

1. A rail vehicle body structure having an underframe extending the length of the structure for support by bogies at ends thereof, the underside of the underframe including: side sills extending in the longitudinal direction of the underframe, the side sills being spaced apart by the width of the underframe; a center sill extending in the longitudinal direction of the underframe, the centre sill being located between the side sills; a body bolster extending in the width direction of the underframe to intersect with the center sill; a plate interposing between the center sill and the body bolster where they intersect; and an air spring support location provided on the underside of the body bolster for abutting with an air spring of a bogie, the underside of the underframe further including: first fastening regions in which end portions of the body bolster and the side sills are fastened together by mechanical fasteners; and a second fastening region in which a central portion of the body bolster and the center sill are fastened together by mechanical fasteners, the second fastening region overlapping with the air spring support location, wherein counterbores that accommodate heads of the mechanical fasteners of the second fastening region are formed in the air spring support location, and wherein the mechanical fasteners of the second fastening region are arranged in first and second aligned lines which both extend across the air spring support location.

2. The rail vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the width of the plate is substantially the same as the width of the center sill.

3. The rail vehicle body structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side sills and the center sill are made of aluminum alloy, and the body bolster and the plate are made of steel.

4. The rail vehicle body structure according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the number of mechanical fasteners in the first line is the same as the number of mechanical fasteners in the second line

5. The rail vehicle body structure according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the plate is welded to the body bolster to increase the total thickness thereof.