Ceiling module for a vehicle

Abstract

A ceiling module for a vehicle has a pivotally mounted ceiling flap for covering a ceiling opening, and a carrier device for holding one or more electrical components. In order to save space in the vehicle, the carrier device includes a lateral wall with a hinge opening on which the ceiling flap is pivotally mounted.

Claims

1. A ceiling module for a vehicle, the ceiling module comprising: a pivotally supported ceiling flap for covering a ceiling opening in a ceiling of the vehicle, said ceiling flap including a main outer wall; a carrier device including a base wall retaining one or more electrical components, said carrier device having a side wall formed with a hinge opening, said ceiling flap being pivotally supported at said hinge opening, said ceiling flap including a retention element having a hook portion with a shape bent in a hook, and said retention element being hooked with said hook portion on an edge of said hinge opening; said carrier device having a further side wall disposed opposite said side wall; said base wall longitudinally extending from said side wall of said carrier device to said further side wall of said carrier device; said ceiling flap having a closed state in which all of said main outer wall of said ceiling flap extends away from said side wall in a direction and in which all of said main outer wall of said ceiling flap extends away from said further side wall in said direction.

2. The ceiling module according to claim 1, wherein said carrier device is an illumination means carrier having at least one illumination means secured thereto.

3. The ceiling module according to claim 1, wherein said hinge opening has an edge with an, at least partially, rounded cross-sectional shape, wherein a portion of said edge forms a rotation axis for a rotation of said ceiling flap.

4. The ceiling module according to claim 3, wherein said edge of said hinge opening is a thickened portion of said side wall.

5. The ceiling module according to claim 1, wherein said retention element comprises a securing portion and an intermediate portion perpendicular to said securing portion, and wherein said intermediate portion merging at one end into said securing portion and at another end into said hook portion.

6. The ceiling module according to claim 5, wherein said ceiling flap has a wall unit that is secured to said securing portion of said retention element.

7. The ceiling module according to claim 1, wherein said one or more electrical components include at least one illumination means and/or at least one passenger information system device secured to said base wall of said carrier device, and wherein said side wall formed with said hinge opening extends perpendicularly to said base wall.

8. The ceiling module according to claim 1, wherein said hinge opening has a shape of a rounded rectangle.

9. The ceiling module according to claim 1, wherein said carrier device is an extruded profile.

10. The ceiling module according to claim 1, comprising a covering unit for covering said carrier device, said covering unit including an opaque covering plate and at least one securing element, wherein said covering unit is secured to said carrier device by way of said at least one securing element.

11. A combination, comprising: a vehicle, and a ceiling module according to claim 1, wherein said ceiling module is disposed in said vehicle.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein said vehicle is a rail vehicle.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein said vehicle includes a railcar body roof, and wherein said carrier device of said ceiling module is secured to said railcar body roof.

14. The combination according to claim 11, wherein said vehicle includes a passenger space ceiling, and wherein said ceiling flap of said ceiling module forms a portion of said passenger space ceiling.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a sectioned illustration of a portion of a rail vehicle having a ceiling module, which has a carrier device and two ceiling flaps;

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the ceiling module from FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is a sectioned illustration of a portion of an additional rail vehicle having another ceiling module which has a carrier device and two ceiling flaps;

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the carrier device from FIG. 3;

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of a covering unit of the ceiling module from FIG. 3; and

(6) FIG. 6 is another side view of a portion of the covering unit from FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) FIG. 1 is a sectioned illustration of a portion of a rail vehicle 2. The illustrated cross-section is a section perpendicular to the longitudinal vehicle direction.

(8) An upper region of the rail vehicle 2 is illustrated. In FIG. 1, a railcar body roof 4 of the rail vehicle 2 and a portion of two railcar body side walls 6 which are adjacent to the railcar body roof 4 can be seen.

(9) The rail vehicle 2 has a ceiling module 8 which comprises a carrier device 10 which is constructed as an extruded profile and two ceiling flaps 12. The carrier device 10 is secured to the railcar body roof 4 of the rail vehicle 2 using two securing profiles 14 which are screwed to the carrier device 10. The securing profiles 14 may be welded, screwed to the railcar body roof 4 or connected to the railcar body roof 4 in another manner.

(10) Both ceiling flaps 12 are ceiling flaps which open downward. The left ceiling flap 12 in the drawing is illustrated in the open state, whereas the right ceiling flap 12 in the drawing is illustrated in the closed state.

(11) Furthermore, the rail vehicle 2 has a passenger space ceiling 16 which is formed from a plurality of elements and which delimits a passenger space 18 of the rail vehicle 2 in an upward direction. Furthermore, the passenger space ceiling 16 defines together with the railcar body roof 4 an intermediate ceiling space 20 which is delimited by the railcar body roof 4 in an upward direction and by the passenger space ceiling 16 in a downward direction.

(12) Furthermore, the passenger space ceiling 16 has two ceiling openings 22. Each of the two ceiling flaps 12 is configured to close one of the ceiling openings 22 and to release it again.

(13) Furthermore, the ceiling flaps 12 each comprise a retention element 24 which is constructed as an extruded profile and which has a securing portion 26, a hook portion 28 which is bent in the form of a hook and an intermediate portion 30 which is arranged perpendicularly to the securing portion and which merges at one end into the securing portion 26 and at the other end into the hook portion 28.

(14) Furthermore, the ceiling flaps 12 each comprise a wall unit 32 with an inner wall 34 and an outer wall 36 which is arranged parallel with the inner wall 34. The wall unit 32 of the respective ceiling flap 12 is secured to the retention element 24 of the respective ceiling flap 12, in particular to the securing portion 28 thereof. In addition, the inner wall 34 and

(15) the outer wall 36 of the respective wall unit 32 are connected to each other by means of a plurality of struts 38.

(16) Furthermore, the carrier device 10 has a base wall 40 which in the assembled state of the ceiling module 8—that is to say, in the state illustrated in FIG. 1—is orientated horizontally. Furthermore, the carrier device 10 has two side walls 42 which are orientated perpendicularly to the base wall 40.

(17) The carrier device 10 is an illumination means carrier, wherein a plurality of illumination means 44 are secured to the base wall 40. In the present embodiment, on the base wall 40 four rows of LEDs which are orientated perpendicularly to the drawing plane are fitted as illumination means 44.

(18) Furthermore, a passenger information system device 46, in the present embodiment a loudspeaker for announcements of the vehicle operators, is secured to the base wall 40. Furthermore, power supply lines and where applicable an electronic control unit for the illumination means 44 and/or for the passenger information system device 46 can be fitted to the base wall 40, but they are not illustrated in the Figures for greater clarity.

(19) In each of the two side walls 42 thereof, the carrier device 10 has a milled hinge opening 48 (cf. FIG. 2). Furthermore, the side walls 42 each have a thickened portion 50 which forms an edge 52 of the respective hinge opening 48, wherein the edge 52 of the respective hinge opening 48 at least in the lower region thereof has a rounded cross-sectional shape.

(20) The left ceiling flap 12 in the drawing is pivotably supported on the left hinge opening 48 according to the drawing. Accordingly, the right ceiling flap 12 in the drawing is pivotably supported on the right hinge opening 48 in the drawing. Both ceiling flaps 12 are hooked with their respective hook portion 28 on the lower rim of the respective hinge opening 48.

(21) As a result of the fact that the ceiling flaps 12 are pivotably supported on the hinge openings 48, a space-saving pivotable support of the ceiling flaps 12 is produced.

(22) The lower rim of the respective hinge opening 48 forms for the ceiling flap 12 which is supported thereon a rotation axis about which the ceiling flap 12 can be rotated. In this instance, the rotation axes of the two ceiling flaps 12 are orientated perpendicularly to the drawing plane.

(23) Furthermore, the carrier device 10 has a projection 54 on each of the two hinge openings 48, in particular directly above the respective hinge opening 48.

(24) Furthermore, the ceiling module 8 has a covering unit 56 which conceals the carrier device 10. The covering unit 56 comprises an opaque covering plate 58 and two securing elements 60 which protrude from the covering plate 58 and which are constructed integrally with the covering plate 58. In the present embodiment, the covering unit 56 is produced from polycarbonate. Where applicable, the covering unit 56 may be painted.

(25) Furthermore, the securing elements 60 each have at the end thereof remote from the covering plate 58 a portion 62 which is curved in an undulating manner. With the portions 62 thereof which are curved in an undulating manner, the covering unit 56 produces an engagement connection on the above-mentioned projections 54 of the carrier device 10.

(26) In the closed state of the respective ceiling flap 12, the outer wall 36 thereof forms an element of the passenger space ceiling 16. In this instance, the corresponding outer wall 36 is arranged flush with the ceiling plate 58 and the remaining elements of the passenger space ceiling 16.

(27) Other technical devices which are generally arranged in the intermediate ceiling space 20 are not illustrated in the Figures for greater clarity. These are, for example, elements of a cooling system of the rail vehicle 2 and securing elements with which portions of the passenger space ceiling 16 other than those formed by the ceiling module 8 are secured to the railcar body of the rail vehicle 2.

(28) Any luggage stores of the rail vehicle 2 are also not illustrated in the Figures for the sake of greater clarity.

(29) FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the ceiling module 8 from FIG. 1.

(30) There is illustrated a portion of the side wall 42 of the ceiling module 8 which is arranged on the left in FIG. 1 according to the drawing. Furthermore, there is illustrated a portion of the retention element 24 which is supported on the hinge opening 48 of this side wall 42 and which as in FIG. 1 hangs in a downward direction.

(31) Furthermore, it can be seen in FIG. 2 that the hinge opening 48 has the shape of a rounded rectangle.

(32) The other side wall 42 of the ceiling module 8 is constructed identically to the side wall illustrated.

(33) The description of the following embodiment is limited primarily to the differences with respect to the previous embodiment, to which reference may be made with respect to consistent features and functions. Features which are not mentioned are taken up in the following embodiment without being described again.

(34) If the same reference numerals are used in different Figures, these refer to elements which are substantially identical or which mutually correspond. However, elements which are substantially identical or which mutually correspond may for practical reasons also be indicated with different reference numerals.

(35) FIG. 3 is a sectioned illustration of a portion of another rail vehicle 64, wherein an upper region of the rail vehicle 64 is illustrated.

(36) This rail vehicle 64 also has a ceiling module 66. This ceiling module 66 differs from the ceiling module 8 from FIG. 1 inter alia in terms of the configuration of the covering unit 56 thereof.

(37) In the covering unit 56 of the present embodiment, the covering plate 58 comprises opaque glass. Furthermore, the securing elements 60 of the covering unit 56 are not constructed integrally with the covering plate 58.

(38) In the present embodiment, the securing elements 60 are shaped, painted metal sheets which are partially adhesively bonded to the covering plate 58.

(39) Furthermore, the covering unit 56 is secured with the securing elements 60 thereof to the carrier device 10 of the ceiling module 66 not via engagement connections, but instead by means of screw connections 68, in particular by means of blind rivet nuts and screws.

(40) For these screw connections 68, the carrier device 10 has in each of the side walls 42 thereof a slot-like securing opening 70 (cf. FIG. 4), wherein the securing openings 70 are arranged offset from each other in a direction perpendicular to the drawing plane so that, in FIG. 3, only one of the screw connections 68 can be seen.

(41) Also in the present embodiment, each of the two side walls 42 of the carrier device 10 has a hinge opening 48, on which one of the two ceiling flaps 12 of the ceiling module 66 is pivotably supported in each case. In FIG. 3, however, only one of the hinge openings 48 can be seen since the hinge openings 48 are also arranged offset with respect to each other in a direction perpendicular to the drawing plane.

(42) FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of one of the two side walls 42 of the carrier device 10 from FIG. 3.

(43) In FIG. 4, the previously mentioned slot-like securing opening 70 of the illustrated side wall 42 can be seen, wherein the side wall 42 is illustrated without a screw inserted into the opening 70.

(44) FIG. 5 is a side view of the covering unit 56 of the ceiling module 66 from FIG. 3, wherein in addition to the covering plate 58 the securing elements 60 of the covering unit 56 can also be seen.

(45) FIG. 5 shows that the securing elements 60 each have a U-shaped surrounding portion 72 which surrounds the covering plate 58 at the edge thereof. The securing elements 60 are adhesively bonded to the covering plate 58 at the surrounding portions 72 thereof.

(46) Furthermore, the securing elements 60 each comprise a connection portion 74 with a curved region which has a shoulder 76. The connection portion 74 of the left securing element 60 in the drawing is arranged so as to be offset in a perpendicular direction relative to the drawing plane with respect to the connection portion 74 of the right securing element 60 in the drawing.

(47) In the assembled state of the covering unit 56, the respective shoulder 76 rests on a thickened portion 50 of one of the two side walls 42 of the carrier device 10 (cf. FIG. 3). In addition, the securing elements 66 are screwed at the connection portions 74 thereof to the carrier device 10.

(48) Furthermore, the securing elements 60 comprise a plurality of planar protective portions 78 which are arranged beside the respective connection portion 74. The protective portions 78 are constructed integrally with the U-shaped surrounding portion 72 and with the connection portion 74 of the respective securing element 60.

(49) FIG. 6 is another side view of a portion of the covering unit 56 from FIG. 5, wherein one of the securing elements 60 of the covering unit 56 is illustrated by way of example.

(50) In addition to the U-shaped surrounding portion 72 and the protective portions 78, in FIG. 6 the connection portion 74 of the illustrated securing element 60 can also be seen.

(51) FIG. 6 shows that the connection portion 74 has a circular securing opening 80 through which a screw can be guided.

(52) Although the invention has been illustrated and described more specifically in detail by the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived from it without departing from the protective scope of the invention.