Rail vehicle

Abstract

A rail vehicle includes a device compartment for accommodating a device, a protective flap for protecting the device compartment, and a decorative flap at least partially hiding or covering the protective flap. The decorative flap has a lower degree of rigidity or stiffness than the protective flap.

Claims

1. A rail vehicle, comprising: a device compartment for accommodating a device; a protective flap for protecting said device compartment, said protective flap having a hinge or joint arranged in said device compartment for movably mounting said protective flap and opening said device compartment; and a decorative flap at least partially covering said protective flap, said decorative flap having a lower degree of rigidity than said protective flap, said decorative flap having a further hinge or a further joint arranged in a front region of the rail vehicle for movably mounting said decorative flap and selectively covering and uncovering said protective flap.

2. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said protective flap or said decorative flap is detachably disposed.

3. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, which further comprises a rail vehicle exterior being formed at least partially by said decorative flap in a condition at least partially covering said protective flap.

4. The rail vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said rail vehicle exterior forms a front side of the rail vehicle.

5. The rail vehicle according to claim 4, which further comprises an anti-penetration wall, an under frame and a front window formed above said under frame, said device compartment being a front compartment disposed above said under frame, underneath said front window and between said front side and said anti-penetration wall.

6. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rail vehicle is a multiple unit or a locomotive.

7. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said decorative flap completely covers said protective flap.

8. A rail vehicle, comprising: a front side having a device compartment for accommodating a device, said device compartment having an opening for access to said device compartment; a protective flap covering said opening and protecting said device compartment, said protective flap having a forward facing surface, said protective flap having a hinge or joint arranged in said device compartment for movably mounting said protective flap and opening said device compartment; and a decorative flap having a forward facing surface extending substantially coextensively with said protective flap forward facing surface for covering said protective flap in a covering position thereof, said decorative flap having a lower degree of rigidity than said protective flap, said decorative flap having a further hinge or a further joint arranged in a front region of the rail vehicle for movably mounting said decorative flap and selectively covering and uncovering said protective flap.

9. A rail vehicle, comprising: a front side having a device compartment for accommodating a device, said device compartment having an opening for access to said device compartment; a protective flap for covering said opening and protecting said device compartment; and a decorative flap secured directly on said protective flap and being displaceable therewith for providing access to said device compartment, said decorative flap having a lower degree of rigidity than said protective flap, said decorative flap being configured for moving to an extended position with said protective flap in an open position and said protective flap spaced from said decorative flap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention and the manner in which these are achieved will now be described in greater detail more clearly and explicitly in the context of the following description of the exemplary embodiments, and by reference to the drawing, whereby The figure shows a section of a front region of a rail vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(2) The figure shows a rail vehicle 101 in a sectional partial view obliquely from the front. A front region 103 of the rail vehicle 101 can be seen. The front region 103 has a front side 105. A front window 107 is provided in an upper region of the front region 103. A front compartment 109 is formed underneath the front window 107. The rail vehicle 101 further comprises an anti-penetration wall 117 and an underframe 119. The front compartment 109 is arranged above the underframe 119, underneath the front window 107 and between the front side 105 and the anti-penetration wall 117. A device 115, for example an air-conditioning device, can be accommodated in the front compartment 109. In particular a plurality of devices can be accommodated.

(3) A protective flap 111 is provided, which protects the front compartment 109. This is so in particular in the case of a collision or accident. The protective flap 111 at least partially closes an opening in the front compartment 109 which faces the front side 105. The protective flap 111 closes the front compartment 109 at least partially, for example completely, in a first position, which can also be called a protective position.

(4) According to one embodiment (not shown) it is provided that the protective flap 111 is movably mounted on the front region 103. For example, hinges or joints can be arranged in the front compartment, on which the protective flap 111 is mounted. The protective flap 111 can thus advantageously be displaced from the protective position into an open position in which access to an interior of the front compartment 109 is enabled.

(5) Furthermore a decorative flap 113 is provided. FIG. 1 shows the decorative flap 113 in an extended position in which access to the protective flap 111 and also access to the interior of the front compartment 109 is enabled if additionally the protective flap 111 is still in its open position. The decorative flap 113 is movably mounted. For example, hinges or joints can be arranged in the front region, on which the decorative flap 113 is suspended or mounted. The decorative flap 113 can thus be displaced or moved into a position in which the decorative flap 113 hides the protective flap 111 at least partially, in particular completely. This is particularly the case when a user is looking at the front side 105.

(6) The decorative flap 113 has a lower degree of rigidity than the protective flap 111. The decorative flap 113 is thus advantageously optimized as regards design and manufacturing costs, but not as regards a protective function. The protective flap 111 assumes the protective function.

(7) In one embodiment (not shown) the rail vehicle 101 is a multiple unit or a locomotive.

(8) In embodiments (not shown) one or more device compartments can be provided in addition to or instead of the front compartment 109, which similarly to the front compartment 109 are each provided with a protective flap and a decorative flap.

(9) The inventive idea in particular thus comprises separating the functions of design and protection (brought about by an increased rigidity) in terms of elements, wherein the element with the protective or rigidity function is hidden at least partially, in particular completely, by the element with the design function. The element with the rigidity or protective function can be referred to as an impact shield. The element with the design function can be referred to as a design flap. Both elements are arranged or configured or embodied so that in particular they can be pivoted and/or rotated and/or lifted out and/or removed, in order further to enable simple and quick access to the components lying behind these elements, in particular the device or devices which are located in the device compartment, in particular the front compartment.

(10) The inventive idea thus consists in particular in splitting the two functionalities of design and protection (rigidity) between two components, here the two elements, which runs counter to the basic intent in design of combining functionalities. By combining the two functionalities a massive front flap stiffened (for protection of the components lying behind it) at great cost would result, said front flap often being exposed to minor to major damage from wildlife. Each of said incidents of damage from wildlife (except for the smallest wildlife) would then require a likewise once again expensive repair streamlined for visual appearance or a replacement of the front flap.

(11) Thanks to the division between two elements it is advantageously possible to optimize the decorative or design flap, which will be damaged in almost every collision, as regards design and replacement costs, as it were as a disposable part. In contrast, the impact shield or the protective flap need be repaired either simply and crudely (but not in terms of visual appearance) up to a moderate level of damage or (in the case of smaller dents) need not be repaired at all.

(12) In summary, the invention in particular has the advantage that repair times and downtimes are reduced. Corresponding costs are advantageously reduced. Nevertheless, in the case of an accident it is possible to continue a journey as quickly as possible, at least as far as the next depot. Nevertheless, an optimum protective effect against more minor and moderate instances of damage (for example accidents involving wildlife or rockfalls) to devices that are located in the device compartment, in particular the front compartment, is enabled. The device is for example an air-conditioning system or an air-conditioning device.

(13) Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail by the preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived herefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.