U.S. patent application number 09/791811 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-29 for car body.
Invention is credited to Ina, Yoshihiko, Todori, Seijiro, Yono, Masaki.
Application Number | 20020117078 09/791811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26489761 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020117078 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ina, Yoshihiko ; et
al. |
August 29, 2002 |
CAR BODY
Abstract
The present invention aims to manufacture a car body with ease.
A hollow material 10 comprises the lower portion of a side
structure 201 of the car body. A face plate 11 of the hollow
material 10 at the external side of the car has a lower end which
projects further downward than a face plate 12 at the internal side
of the car. The lower ends of the face plates 11, 12 are connected
by a rib 13. The hollow portion thus formed is triangular in shape.
A rib 14 above the rib 13 is formed horizontally. The face plates
11, 12 and a rib 15 positioned above the rib 14 are eliminated from
the region of one or more doorways 220. The lower end of the
doorway 220 of the side structure 201 is equipped with the hollow
portion, so that it stays strong against transfer of the side
structure. A hollow-shaped material 110, which comprises the end
portion of an underframe 203, has an end portion in the width
direction which forms a slope (rib 114) facing towards the upper
side of the external side of the car. Therefore, welding W1, W2 are
made simple.
Inventors: |
Ina, Yoshihiko; (Kudamatsu,
JP) ; Todori, Seijiro; (Kudamatsu, JP) ; Yono,
Masaki; (Kudamatsu, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONELLI TERRY STOUT AND KRAUS
SUITE 1800
1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
ARLINGTON
VA
22209
|
Family ID: |
26489761 |
Appl. No.: |
09/791811 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
105/413 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 29/008 20130101;
B61D 17/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
105/413 |
International
Class: |
B61D 017/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A car body comprising two side structures, a roof structure and
an underframe, wherein: a lower end portion of a first
hollow-shaped material constituting a lower end portion of said
side structure is formed so that a face plate at the external side
of said car has a lower end portion which projects further downward
than a lower end portion of a face plate at the internal side of
said car; said lower end portions of said two face plates are
connected with a first rib; said lower end portion of said face
plate at the internal side of said car is connected to said face
plate at the external side of said car with a second rib; members
of said first hollow-shaped material positioned above said second
rib are removed from said material at one or more doorways; and
said lower end portions of said two face plates are respectively
bonded to a second hollow-shaped material.
2. A car body according to claim 1, wherein said second rib is
substantially horizontal.
3. A car body according to claim 1, wherein said second
hollow-shaped material includes a third rib substantially parallel
to said first rib.
4. A car body according to claim 1, wherein: said car body includes
a fourth rib projecting toward the internal side of said car at the
vicinity of an upper end of said first rib; said fourth rib
overlaps said second hollow-shaped material; and a leading end of
said fourth rib is bonded to said second hollow-shaped
material.
5. A side structure, wherein: a second hollow-shaped material is
bonded to lower ends of a plurality of first hollow-shaped
materials; a lower end portion of said second hollow-shaped
material is formed so that a face plate at the external side of a
car has a lower end portion which projects further downward than a
lower end portion of a face plate at the internal side of the car;
said lower end portions of said two face plates are connected with
a first rib; said lower end portion of said face plate at the
internal side of a car and said face plate at the external side of
a car are connected with a second rib; and members of said second
hollow-shaped material positioned above said second rib are removed
from said material at one or more doorways.
6. A hollow-shaped material, wherein: said hollow-shaped material
is comprised of two face plates, a first rib, a second rib, and a
third rib for connecting said two face plates, and a fourth rib
projecting outwardly from one of said face plate; the other said
face plate has an end portion which projects further than an end
portion of said one of said face plate, said end portions are
connected by said first rib; and said first rib, said second rib
adjacent to said first rib, and said end portion of said other face
plate constitutes a hollow in a triangular shape.
7. A hollow-shaped material according to claim 6, wherein said
hollow-shaped material is used as a lower end of a side structure
of a car body.
8. A hollow-shaped material comprising a first hollow portion, a
second hollow portion positioned below said first hollow portion,
and a third hollow portion positioned next to said first hollow
portion, wherein: said first hollow portion is in a triangular
shape, and a surface opposite to the side with said second hollow
portion is a slope facing upward.
9. A hollow-shaped material according to claim 8, wherein the
vicinity of an apex of a triangular shape of said first hollow
portion is concaved downward.
10. A hollow-shaped material according to claim 8, wherein: said
slope of said first hollow portion at a connecting region between
said slope and said second hollow portion is concaved more than an
external surface of said second hollow portion; and a rib dividing
said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion is
provided to the vicinity of said connecting region.
11. A hollow-shaped material according to claim 8, wherein said
hollow-shaped material is used at an end portion in the width
direction of an underframe of a car body.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a structure of a car body
which runs on a track.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] A car body is comprised of side structures, a roof, an
underframe constituting the floor, and ends constituting the end
portions in the longitudinal direction. The side structures, the
roof, and the underframe are constituted by bonding plural extruded
materials together. The longitudinal directions of the extruded
materials are positioned toward the longitudinal direction of the
car body. A large proportion of the extruded materials are
hollow-shaped materials. Especially, the underframe is made from
hollow-shaped materials. This technique is disclosed in Japanese
Patent Laid-Open No. 09-309164 (EP 0797043A2).
[0003] The process starts with producing the side structures, the
roof, the underframe and the ends first, and then assembling the
components to obtain a car body. The side structures are formed
with one or more doorways and windows. Therefore, extruded
materials provided with notches for the doorways and the windows
are juxtaposed and bonded to obtain the side structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The doorways are formed on the side structure. The doorway
is large both in height and width. Particularly, the width of the
doorway in a commuter train is large.
[0005] Therefore, in a case where the produced side structure
provided with the doorways is transferred to an assembling process,
the side structure tends to deform at the region with the doorways.
Also, when the side structure is produced using hollow-shaped
materials, the upper surfaces are bonded first, and further bonding
is performed by turning the side structure upside down. In such
case, the side structure tends to deform at the region with the
doorways.
[0006] Therefore, the car body must be produced with extra care,
causing troublesomeness.
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a car body
that could be produced with ease.
[0008] The above-mentioned objects could be achieved by
manufacturing a side structure, wherein:
[0009] a second hollow-shaped material is bonded to lower ends of a
plurality of first hollow-shaped materials;
[0010] the lower end portion of the second hollow-shaped material
is formed so that a face plate at the external side of a car has a
lower end portion which projects further downward than a lower end
portion of a face plate at the internal side of the car;
[0011] the lower end portions of the two face plates are connected
with a first rib;
[0012] the lower end portion of the face plate at the internal side
of a car and the face plate at the external side of a car are
connected with a second rib; and
[0013] members of the second hollow-shaped material positioned
above the second rib are removed from said material at one or more
doorways.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bonding
region between the side structure and the underframe according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bonding
region between the side structure and the underframe at the doorway
region, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of the car body according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
explained referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3. A car body of a
railway car is comprised of side structures 201, a roof 202, an
underframe 203 constituting the floor, and ends constituting the
end portions in the longitudinal direction. The side structures
2Q1, the roof 202 and the underframe 203 are constituted by bonding
plural extruded materials made of aluminum alloy together. The
longitudinal directions of the extruded materials are positioned
toward the longitudinal direction of the car body. The extruded
materials are hollow-shaped materials.
[0018] The side structure 201 is constituted by bonding
hollow-shaped materials 10, 20, 30, 40 together by welding and the
like. Generally, the side structure 201 is constituted from many
more hollow-shaped materials. The hollow-shaped materials 10, 20,
30, 40 have its longitudinal directions positioned toward the
longitudinal direction of the car body. The side structure is
provided with one or more windows 210 and one or more doorways 220.
The hollow-shaped materials 10, 40 at the region of the doorway 220
are notched out. The hollow-shaped materials 20, 30 at the same
region are cut away at part of the way. The hollow-shaped materials
10, 20, 30, 40 are bonded together in one body. The hollow-shaped
material 10 is the member to be bonded with the underframe 203.
[0019] The underframe 203 is constituted by bonding hollow-shaped
materials 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 together by welding and the
like. The hollow-shaped materials 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 have
its longitudinal direction positioned toward the longitudinal
direction of the car body. The hollow-shaped materials 110, 160
constituting the end portions are the members to be bonded with the
hollow-shaped material 10 of the side structure 201. The
hollow-shaped materials 110, 160 are called side sills, being thick
in plate thickness and tall in height. The upper surfaces of the
hollow-shaped materials 110, 160 are in the same level with the
other hollow-shaped materials 120, 130, 140, 150. The lower
surfaces of the end portions in the width direction of the
hollow-shaped materials 110, 160 projects further downward than the
lower surfaces of the other hollow-shaped materials.
[0020] The hollow-shaped materials 10 through 40, and 110 through
160 have their two face plates bonded together by truss-like ribs.
The bonding regions between the hollow-shaped materials constitute
joints in order to facilitate bonding.
[0021] The bonding region between the hollow-shaped material 10 and
the hollow-shaped material 110 (the same applies to the
hollow-shaped material 160) will be explained. The end portion side
of the hollow-shaped material 110 in the width direction is
thickened so as to constitute a side sill 111. The side sill 111 is
comprised of two hollow portions 111b, 111c provided one on top of
the other. The side adjacent to the other hollow-shaped material is
constituted from two face plates 113b, 113c, and a plurality of
ribs 114, 115, 116 connecting the two. The ribs 114, 115 are
provided substantially in a truss. The face plates 113b, 113c are
connected to the upper hollow portion 111b. The end portion of the
hollow-shaped material 110 on the hollow-shaped material 120 side
constitutes a joint for connecting with the hollow-shaped material
120.
[0022] The upper hollow portion 111b of the side sill 111 is
comprised of ribs 114, 115, and a rib dividing the upper and lower
hollow portions. The hollow portion 111b is substantially in
triangular shape. The rib 114 is an inclined plane facing the upper
surface towards the external side of the car. The rib 114 is
substantially parallel to the rib 13. The ribs 114, 13 are concaved
in the middle.
[0023] The vicinity of the apex of the triangle 111b is provided at
substantially the same position as the face plate 113b. The
vicinity of the apex at the side near the external side of the car
is more concaved than the upper surface of the face plate 113b.
Therefore, when combined with the lower end portion of the
hollow-shaped material 10, the side surfaces of the two are bonded
smoothly.
[0024] The upper hollow portion 113b side of the connecting region
between the upper hollow portion 111b and the lower hollow portion
113c of the side sill 111 is concaved. Therefore, when combined
with the face plate 11 of the hollow-shaped material 10, the
external surface of the face plate 11 and the lower hollow portion
111c are bonded smoothly.
[0025] The reference number 119 denotes a seat for fixing the
interior materials for the wall of the side structure 201.
[0026] The hollow-shaped material 10 at the lower end of the side
structure 201 is comprised of two face plates 11, 12, and a
plurality of ribs 13, 14, 15 for connecting the two. At the lower
end portion of the hollow-shaped material 10, the lower end of the
face plate 11 at the external side of the car projects further
downward than the face plate 12 at the internal side of the car.
The lower end portion of the face plate 11 and the lower end
portion of the face plate 12 are connected by the rib 13.
Therefore, the rib is inclined towards the upper direction of the
internal side of the car. The rib 14 adjacent above the rib 13 is
arranged substantially horizontally. The plurality of ribs 15 is
arranged substantially in a truss. The upper end portion of the
hollow-shaped material 10 constitutes a connecting region with the
hollow-shaped material 20.
[0027] The horizontal rib 14 is positioned slightly lower than the
height of the floor of the car. At the region for the doorway 220,
the face plates 11, 12 and the ribs 15 positioned above the rib 14
are cut and removed therefrom. The rib 119 at the region for the
doorway 220 is cut and removed therefrom.
[0028] The notched hollow-shaped material 10 thus constituted is
bonded so as to manufacture the side structure 201. Because the
doorway 220 is opened widely, the side structure 201 tends to
deform when turning the structure upside down after completing
bonding of the upper surface, or when transferring the same for
bonding with the under frame 203. However, there is provided a
hollow portion comprised of ribs 13, 14 and the face plate 11 to
the lower end of the doorway 220. There are no members of the
hollow-shaped material 10 above the hollow portion. The
hollow-shaped material 10 at both side of the doorway is connected
by the hollow portion. Therefore, deformation could be inhibited,
compared to the cases where no hollow portion exists or where the
members are connected by a flat plate.
[0029] Next, the side structure 201 is bonded to the underframe
203. On the extension of the horizontal rib 14, there exists a rib
16 projecting from the face plate 12 towards the internal side of
the car. The rib 16 overlaps the upper concave portion of the
hollow portion 111b. The lower end of the face plate 11 of the
hollow-shaped material 10 overlaps the concave portion of the side
surface of the hollow-shaped material 110. Each overlap is bonded
by ark welding, respectively. The welding W1 of the overlap at the
side surface is performed from external side of the car. The
welding W2 of the overlap at the upper side is performed from
internal side of the car. Because the hollow portion at the lower
end of the hollow-shaped material is in triangular shape, the
welding of the bonding region with the hollow-shaped material 110
could be performed with ease, compared to the case where the hollow
portion is in square shape.
[0030] The horizontal rib 16 projects toward the internal side of
the car. Therefore, the rib 16 becomes the supporting seat during
assembling of the side structure 201 and the underframe 203,
enabling accurate assembly and simplified welding.
[0031] Moreover, the hollow-shaped materials 10, 110 are
constituted so as to overlap at slopes (ribs 13, 114), so that the
hollow-shaped materials 10, 110 could be formed in a truss by
setting the base on the bonding region W1, W2 between the two.
[0032] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the rib 114 at the end
portion of the hollow-shaped material 110 may be eliminated.
[0033] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited
to the terms used in the claims or in the summary of the present
invention, but is extended to the range in which a person skilled
in the art could easily substitute based on the present
disclosure.
[0034] The present invention formed the lower end of the side
structure in a hollow triangle, thereby obtaining strong external
structure, so that deformation at the doorway region during
turnover of the side structure or during transfer could be
prevented. Moreover, bonding is made simple even in the case where
the side structure is assembled with the underframe and bonded
accordingly.
* * * * *