Abstract
A gangway floor for a gangway between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle comprises a first floor panel and a second floor panel, wherein the first floor panel is arranged to rotate about a first axis that does not lie in the plane that the first floor panel lies in, and the second floor panel is arranged to rotate about a second axis that does not lie in the plane that the second floor panel lies in, wherein the first axis is different from the second axis.
Claims
1. A gangway to be arranged between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle, the gangway comprising: a gangway floor having a first floor panel and a second floor panel, wherein the first floor panel is arranged to rotate about a first axis that does not lie in the plane that the first floor panel lies in, and the second floor panel is arranged to rotate about a second axis that does not lie in the plane that the second floor panel lies in, wherein the first axis is different from the second axis; and a panel that is connected to the gangway floor by means of a joint that allows swivel movements about two axes that are perpendicularly arranged to one another.
2. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the first floor panel is arranged inside a cut-out provided in a neighbouring floor panel next the first floor panel and arranged to rotate about the first axis inside the cut-out relative to the neighbouring floor panel, wherein the first floor panel and/or the cut-out has the shape of a sector of a circle or the shape of a segment of a circle or the shape of the segment of a ring.
3. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the first floor panel is connected to the second floor panel by at least a third panel.
4. The gangway according to claim 3, wherein the third panel is flexibly connected to the first panel to allow linear and/or rotational movements of the third panel relative to the first panel.
5. The gangway according claim 3, wherein the third panel has a rectangular shape.
6. The gangway according to claim 5, wherein a multitude of rectangular floor panels are provided in parallel to one another each rectangular floor panel being attached both to the first floor panel and the second floor panel.
7. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the panels of the gangway floor is made from rubber, or rubber reinforced by metal objects and/or reinforced by textile fabric.
8. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the panels of the gangway floor is made from an elastic material other than rubber, or is made from metal.
9. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the panel has a central section with an arch-shaped cross section in the horizontal plane and the panel has end sections that in the same cross section are arch-shaped with a curvature opposite to the arch-shape of the central section.
10. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the first car has a side-wall and wherein the side-wall bends inwards at the end of the first car, wherein an end section of the panel of the gangway contacts the side-wall in a region inward of the inwardly bent end of the side-wall inward towards a middle of the car in the longitudinal direction of the car when the first and the second car are aligned in a straight line, and wherein the end section of the panel contacts the inwardly bent end of the side-wall in at least one operational mode of the multi-car vehicle in which the first car and the second car are not aligned in a straight line, but arranged at an angle to one another.
11. A multi-car vehicle comprising: a first car and a second car; a gangway arranged between the first car and the second car and having a gangway floor having a first floor panel and a second floor panel, wherein the first floor panel is arranged to rotate about a first axis that does not lie in the plane that the first floor panel lies in, and the second floor panel is arranged to rotate about a second axis that does not lie in the plane that the second floor panel lies in, wherein the first axis is different from the second axis; and a panel that is connected to the gangway floor by means of a joint that allows swivel movements about at least one axis, wherein the first car is connected to the second car by a connection device and wherein the gangway floor is at least partially supported in the vertical direction by a support device arranged between a part of the connection device and a part of the gangway floor, wherein the first car has a side-wall and wherein the side-wall bends inwards at the end of the first car, wherein an end section of the panel of the gangway contacts the side-wall in a region inward of the inwardly bent end of the side-wall inward towards a middle of the car in the longitudinal direction of the car when the first and the second car are aligned in a straight line, and wherein the end section of the panel contacts the inwardly bent end of the side-wall in at least one operational mode of the multi-car vehicle in which the first car and the second car are not aligned in a straight line, but arranged at an angle to one another.
12. The multi car vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the panel that is connected to the gangway floor by means of a joint allows swivel movements about two axes that are perpendicularly arranged to one another.
13. The multi-car vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the connection device has at least three parts, a first part of the at least three parts configured to rotate relative to a second part of the three parts about the first axis, and wherein the second part of the three parts is configured to rotate relative to a third part of the three parts about the second axis.
14. The multi-car vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a radius of the inwardly bent end of the first car equals half the width of the first car.
15. The multi-car vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a surface of the side-wall that is contacted by the end section of the panel is adapted to allow sliding between the end section and the panel with reduced friction.
16. The multi-car vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the first floor panel is arranged inside a cut-out provided in a neighbouring floor panel next to the first floor panel and arranged to rotate about the first axis inside the cut-out relative to the neighbouring floor panel, wherein the first floor panel and/or the cut-out has the shape of a sector of a circle or the shape of a segment of a circle or the shape of the segment of a ring.
17. The multi-car vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the first floor panel is connected to the second floor panel by at least a third panel.
18. The multi-car vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the third panel is flexibly connected to the first panel to allow linear and/or rotational movements of the third panel relative to the first panel.
19. The multi-car vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the third panel has a rectangular shape.
20. The multi-car vehicle according to claim 19, wherein a multitude of rectangular floor panels are provided in parallel to one another, each rectangular floor panel being attached both to the first floor panel and the second floor panel.
Description
(1) Below embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the figures. The figures represent the following:
(2) FIG. 1 a top perspective view onto the ends of a first car and a second car of a multi-car vehicle connected by a connecting device, the roof of the cars having been cut away for illustration purposes;
(3) FIG. 2 a side view of the ends of a first car and a second car that are shown in FIG. 1;
(4) FIG. 3 a further perspective view onto the ends of a first car and a second car that are shown in FIG. 1;
(5) FIG. 4 a perspective view from below onto the ends of a first car and a second car that are shown in FIG. 1;
(6) FIG. 5 a further perspective view from below onto the connecting device being connected to the first and the second car;
(7) FIG. 6 a schematic perspective view of the gangway floor for a gangway between a first car of a multi-car vehicle and a second car of said vehicle;
(8) FIG. 7 a schematic perspective view of the gangway floor arranged between the floor of the first car and the floor of the second car;
(9) FIG. 8 a top view onto the gangway floor being arranged between the first car and the second car;
(10) FIG. 9 a schematic perspective view of panels of the gangway floor before they are being connected to each other;
(11) FIG. 10 a schematic top view onto a second embodiment of a gangway floor between the floor of the first car and the floor of the second car;
(12) FIG. 11 a top perspective view onto the gangway floor being arranged between the first car and the second car in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9;
(13) FIG. 12 a side view onto the gangway floor being arranged between the first car and the second car in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9;
(14) FIG. 13 a perspective view from below onto the gangway floor being arranged between the first car and the second car in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 to 9;
(15) FIG. 14 parts of a gangway to be arranged between the first car and the second car in a perspective view,
(16) FIG. 15 the parts of FIG. 13 and further parts of a gangway to be arranged between the first car and the second car in a perspective view,
(17) FIG. 16 a side view onto a side panel of the gangway,
(18) FIG. 17 a perspective view of a part of the panel shown in FIG. 15,
(19) FIG. 18 a further side view onto the panel according to FIG. 15,
(20) FIG. 19 a further perspective view of the panel shown in FIG. 15,
(21) FIG. 20 a top view onto the panel shown in FIG. 15,
(22) FIG. 21 a top view onto the end of the first car;
(23) FIG. 22 a perspective view of a side wall element of the side wall of the first car;
(24) FIG. 23 a top view onto the side wall element of FIG. 21
(25) FIG. 24 a top view onto parts of the ends of the first car and the second car as the are being connected by means of parts of the gangway.
(26) FIG. 25 a top perspective view of the first car and the second car in an operational state, where the multi-car vehicle drives around a bend.
(27) FIG. 26 a perspective view from the top onto a gangway floor
(28) FIG. 27 a perspective view from below onto the gangway floor of FIG. 26
(29) FIG. 28 a side view onto the gangway floor of FIG. 26
(30) FIG. 29 a perspective view from the top onto the gangway floor of FIG. 26 with the floor cover removed
(31) FIG. 30 a perspective close up onto the side of the gangway floor according to FIG. 29
(32) FIG. 31 a view from below onto the gangway floor of FIG. 29
(33) FIG. 32 a perspective view from the top onto a support structure for floor panels of a gangway floor
(34) FIG. 33 a perspective view from below onto the support structure as shown in FIG. 32
(35) FIG. 34, 35, 36 top perspective views onto the ends of a first car and a second car with a gangway arranged between them in different driving conditions
(36) FIG. 37 shows a perspective view onto parts of a gangway according to the invention according to a first embodiment
(37) FIG. 38 shows a top view onto the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1
(38) FIG. 39 shows a way to attach a support element in one embodiment of the invention
(39) FIG. 40 shows an embodiment where the flexible section of the side panel is wrapped around a support element
(40) In the FIGS. 1-4 the view onto the end of a first car 1 and the end of a second car 2 of a multi-car vehicle are shown, the ends being connected by a connecting device 3. A gangway 4 is arranged between the first car 1 and the second car 2 of said vehicle. The gangway 4 has a gangway floor 5 and a first panel 6 and a second panel 7, both panels being arranged substantially vertical. Furthermore, the gangway 6 has bellows 8 and 9.
(41) As can be best seen from FIG. 4, the first car 1 has an underframe (supporting frame) 10 that can also and in a preferred embodiment does support the floor of the first car 1. Likewise, the second car 2 has an underframe (supporting frame) 11 that can also and in a preferred embodiment does supports the floor of the second car 2. The supporting frame 10, 11 is made up from beams. Of these beams, two centrally arranged, parallel beams 12, 13 are shown in FIG. 4. The respective supporting frame of the respective car will typically have more beams than the two beams 12, 13, the further beams not being shown here. The connecting device 3 is arranged between the beams 12, 13 of the first car 1 and the beams 12, 13 of the second car 2. The connecting device 3 has a first bar 14 that is suitable for transmitting a pulling force required to pull the first car 1 after the second car 2 and a pushing force required to push the first car 1 in front of the second car 2, when the second car 2 is moving. The connecting device 3 has a second bar 15 that is likewise suitable for transmitting a pulling force required to pull the first car 1 after the second car 2 and a pushing force required to push the first car 1 in front of the second car 2, when the second car 2 is moving. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the facing ends of bar 14 and bar 15 are connected to each other by means of screws and a connecting plate.
(42) The embodiment of the invention will be described for a multi-car vehicle as it would be used with the second car 2 being driven or the engine for driving the multi-car vehicle being arranged on the side of the second car 2. The embodiment will thus be explained for the situation that the second car 2 is moved by an engine and whereby the connecting device 3 is used to pull the first car 1 behind the second car (for the cases, that the second car 2 is moved towards the right in the FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4) or whereby the connection device 3 is used for pushing the first car 1 in front of the second car 2 (for the cases, where the second car 2 is moved towards the left in the FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4). This choice of operational state does, however, not limit the scope of the invention. The invention is also applicable to multi-car vehicles, where the first car 1 is driven or where the engine is arranged on the side of the first car 1 or even for situations, where both, the first car 1 and the second car 2 are driven or where engines are arranged on both sides.
(43) As can best be seen from FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the bars 14 and 15 are arranged approximately at the same horizontal level as the beams 12, 13. The bars 14, 15 being connected to the beams 12, 13 are arranged approximately in the line of force of a horizontal force being transmitted along the beams 12, 13. This allows for horizontal forces being transmitted by the beams 12, 13 to be introduced into the beams 14, 15 directly horizontally. This provides the opportunity to leave out intermediate parts that would guide the horizontal forces transmitted by the bars 12, 13 into a different direction (vertical or slanted direction) first before introducing these forces into the connecting device and again diverting the forces from the vertical/slanted direction back into the horizontal direction by doing so.
(44) FIG. 6 shows a gangway floor 100 for the gangway 4 between the first car 1 and the second car 2. The gangway floor comprises a first panel 101 that has the shape of a segment of a circle. The gangway floor 100 also includes a second panel 102 that has the shape of a segment of a circle. The circle of which the panel 101, 102 form segments of has a radius R. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the gangway floor is arranged between the floor 103 of the first car 1 and the floor 104 of the second car 2. As can also be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, the radius R of the circle of which the floor panel 101 forms a segment of as well as the radius R of the circle of which the floor panel 102 forms a segment of is larger than 25% of the width W of the first car 1 and the second car 2. The radius R is larger than 45% of W and approximately about 48% of W. Arranged between the floor panel 101 and the floor panel 102 are four rectangular floor panels 105. The connection of the rectangular floor panels 105 to the panel 101 and the panel 102 is provided by means of a hinged connection 106. The hinged connection is obtained by the rectangular floor panels 105 having a tubular channel 107 (see FIG. 9). An axle is arranged between projecting parts 108 of the panel 101, 102. This axle will be arranged inside the tubular channel 107 in the rectangular plate 105 and will thereby allow the rectangular floor panel 105 to swivel relative to the first panel 101 and the second panel 102 about the axis of this axle. If a rubber tubular member is introduced into the tubular channel 107 and the axle is then introduced into the tubular rubber element, the rectangular floor panels will also be able to swivel about an axis perpendicular to the line of connection between the rectangular panels and the panels 101, 102.
(45) As can be seen from FIG. 6, damping elements 109 can further be provided that allow for some relative movement between the panels 102, 101 and the rectangular panels 105. As can be seen in FIG. 6, these damping elements 109 can be arranged on the same side, while in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 the damping elements 109 are intermittently arranged on one side or the other side of the rectangular panels 105.
(46) The rectangular floor panels 105 are made from rubber reinforced by metal objects.
(47) As can be seen from FIG. 6, the first floor panel 101 is arranged to rotate about a first axis F and the second floor panel 102 is arranged to rotate about a second axis G. The distance between the first axis and the second axis is 1.5 times the radius R of the circle of which the floor panel 101 and the floor panel 102 form a segment of.
(48) The first panel 101 is set into a cut-out in a connector plate 110. The first plate 101 is horizontally supported by the connector plate 110. Likewise, the second panel 102 is set into the cut-out of a further connector plate 111 and is horizontally supported by this connector plate 111.
(49) As can be seen from FIG. 7, the connector plates 110 and 111 are set into the floors 104 and 103 of the first car 1 and the second car 2. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the arrangement of the connector plates 110, 111 into the floors 103, 104 can be further enhanced by introducing spring-elements or damping elements 112 between the connector plates 110, 111 and the floors 103, 104.
(50) FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of the gangway floor. As can be seen, the first panel 113 and the second panel 114 are not designed as segments of a circle as has been shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9. The first panel and the second panel is made up of two sectors of a circle, which are connected with a semi-circular element in the middle.
(51) FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show the assembly of parts for the connecting device for connecting the first car 1 with the second car 2 being arranged under the gangway floor 100.
(52) The gangway floor is such arranged in relation to the assembly of parts that make up part of the connecting device that the respective vertical swivel axle D of the first group of elements 18 as shown in FIG. 5 is in line the axis G. Likewise, the axis F is in line with the vertical swivel axis D of the assembly of parts that form part of the right-hand connecting device.
(53) The FIGS. 14-20 show parts of the gangway arranged between the first car 1 and the second car 2. The gangway has two panels 120, arranged facing each other (only one panel is shown in the FIGS. 14-20). Shown in FIG. 14 is furthermore a frame 121 to hold the panel 120. The frame 121 can be connected to the first car 1 and the second car 2 respectively and is arranged to introduce the weight of the panel 120 into the floor of the first car 1 and the second car 2. Between the frames 121 are arranged dampers 122 that allow for the frames 121 to take anti-parallel positions, for example when the multi-car vehicle is driving through a bend. By means of a joint 123 the panel 120 rests on the damper 122. This joint 123 acts as a pivot and allows the panel 120 to swivel about the axis H. The joint 123 is arranged in such a manner that the panel 120 can also swivel about the axis I-I. Thus, the panel 120 can swivel about two axis that are perpendicular arranged to one another and are also perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the beam 14. As can be seen from the FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, the joint is housed in a box 124. This box protects the joint 123, for example from passengers in the inside of the gangway. The joint 123 can be made as a spherolastic joint.
(54) As can best be seen from FIG. 20, the panel has a central section 125 with an arch-shaped cross section in the horizontal plane. The plane 120 furthermore has two end sections 126 that in the same cross section are arch-shaped with a curvature opposite to the arch-shape of the central section. The curvature of the end section is smaller in radius than the curvature of the arch of the central section 125.
(55) As can be seen from the FIGS. 21-24, the first car 1 has a sidewall 130 that bends inwards at the end of the first car 1. The radius R1 of the bend of the inwardly bent part equals half the width W of the first car 1.
(56) As can be seen from FIG. 24, the end section of the panel 120 contacts the sidewall in a region inward of the inwardly bent end 130 of the sidewall of the first car 1 (inward towards the middle of the car 1 in the longitudinal direction of the car), when the first and the second car are aligned in a straight line. FIG. 24 also shows that the panel 120 can be covered with a further, rigid panel 131. This more rigid and square panel 131 canfor exampleused for advertisement attached thereto.
(57) FIG. 25 shows the multi-car vehicle in an operational state, when it drives around a bend. As can be seen in FIG. 25, the end section 126 of the panel 120 on the outside of the bend contacts the inwardly bent end 130 of the sidewall. For the panel 120 arranged on the inner side of the bend, the end sections still contact the sidewall itself. However, if the multi-car vehicle drives around an oppositely bend, the end sections 126 of this panel 120 will come into contact with the inwardly bent end 130 of the sidewalls of the cars.
(58) The FIGS. 26 to 31 show a further embodiment of a gangway floor 300 for the gangway 4 between the first car 1 and the second car 2. The gangway floor comprises a first panel 301 that has the shape of the segment of a circle. The gangway floor 300 also includes a second panel 302 that has the shape of a segment of a circle. The circle of which the panel 301, 302 form segments of has a radius R. Arranged between the floor panel 301 and the floor panel 302 are six rectangular floor panels 305. A connection between the rectangular panels 305 and the first panel 301 and the second panel 302 allows the first panel 301 to swivel about a vertical axis relative to the second panel 302 and at the same time allows for the second panel 302 and the rectangular floor panels 305 to be tilted relative to the first floor panel 301 (to be positioned at an angle relative to the plane in which the first panel 301 lies. Or for the first panel 301 to be positioned in a plane that is offset parallel to the plane in which the second panel 302 lies is provided. This connection is provided by holding elements 306 that are provided with freely rotatable cylinders 307. The cylinders 307 support bars 308. Arranged on the support bars and orientated perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the support bars 308 are panel supporting bars 309. A rectangular panel 305 is connected to one panel supporting bar 309 by means of screws 310. The support bar 308 has end limitation. parts 311 that are arranged such as to allow the supporting bar to travel a predetermined distance in its longitudinal direction, but for this distance to be limited by the end limitation parts 311 between the panel supporting bars 309 rubber elements 312. These rubber elements 312 pre-tension the panel supporting bars 309 into a predetermined position as shown in FIG. 27 for example. The rubber elements 312 allow, however, the panel supporting bars 309 to be pushed closer together. Furthermore, the rubber elements 312 dampen the movement of the panel supporting bars 309 and therefore act against rattle.
(59) The rectangular panels 305 are supported in the vertical direction by the panel supporting bars 309 to which they are attached by screws. However, it is to be noted, that only one rectangular floor panel 305 is connected to a respective panel supporting bar 309. This allows the panel supporting bars 309 to move closer together to one another and thereby effecting one panel 305 to slide over a further panel 305 as indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 30. The movement of the panel supporting bars 309 relative to each other can be a parallel movement, with the panel supporting bars 309 keeping up their parallel arrangement as shown in the FIG. Such a movement will take place, if the panel 301 moves closer towards the panel 302 in a parallel manner. This allows for small rattle movements to be taken up. When driving around a bend, the one corner of the first panel 301 will move closer towards the opposite corner of the panel 302, while the other corner of the first panel 301 will move further away from its opposite corner of the second panel 302. In such a situation, the panel supporting bars will move closer to each other on the one side of the gangway floor 300, namely that side where the two corners of the first panel 301 and the second panel 302 are moving closer to each other, while the ends of the panel supporting bars 309 on the opposite side will be moving away from each other similar to the corners of the first panel 301 and second panel 302 arranged on that side of the gangway floor 300 moving away from each other. These movements are allowed for, because the panel supporting bars 309 are arranged to freely move on the support bars 308. The support bars 308 also vertically support the panel supporting bars 309, the support bars 308 themselves being vertically supported by the cylinders 307 and the holding elements 306 attached to the first panel 301 and the second panel 302.
(60) If in a certain driving condition the first panel 301 is to tilt relative to the second panel 302 or if the second panel 302 is to take up a position in a plane that is offset in parallel to the plane in which the first panel 301 is arranged, the respective ends of the support bars 308 will be made to follow this movement due to these ends being held by the holding elements 306 to the respective panel. The support bar 308 will then, for example, be arranged at an angle to the horizontal plane. The rectangular floor panels 305 are made to follow this movement for the reason of the panel supporting bars 309 resting of the support bars 308 being made to follow the movement of the support bars 308.
(61) FIG. 26 shows that the gangway floor 300 is covered by a cover 313. This cover 313 is preferably made from rubber. Being made from rubber, the cover 313 allows for the movements of the rectangular floor panels relative to each other and for example allows the rectangular floor panels to take up the angled position as described above for the case that the multi-car vehicle is driving around a bend. In such a driving condition, the cover 313 will be squeezed together in the region of the inner side of the curve, while it is made to spread on the outer side of the curve. Preferably, the cover 313 is selected to be made of such a rubber that it allows for spreading and squeezing for the amounts typical when driving around a bend that take place without the cover 313 to wrinkle. The cover 313 is made to lie on the rectangular floor panels 305 and to pretension the floor panels 305 into the predetermined position, namely the position shown in FIG. 27 with the rectangular floor panels 305 being arranged in parallel and being arranged with a predetermined space between the panel supporting bars 309. In doing so, the cover 313 can assist the gangway floor 300 to take up the predetermined position as shown in FIG. 26 whenever the multi-car vehicle returns to the straight line driving condition. The Fig. also show a side cover 314. This side cover can for example be used to attach side panels, for example like a side panel shown in the FIG. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, to the gangway floor 300 as shown in the FIGS. 26 to 31.
(62) The FIG. 32, 33 show a different support structure for the rectangular floor panels of a gangway floor. The FIG. 32, 33 also show, that within the first panel 320 elements that form the shape of a segment of a circle can be provided. For example supporting parts 321 can be provided with the shape of a segment of a circle that support the first panel 320 oras shown in FIG. 33support the rubber cover 322 placed on top of the first panel 320.
(63) The support structure for the rectangular floor panels (not shown) also contains support bars 323, similar to the support bars 308 as shown in the FIGS. 27 to 31. These support bars have a first type of connection or a second type of connection. The first type of connection consists of a rubber element 324 that is used to connect the first end of the support bar 323 to a holding element 325 that is attached to the first panel 320. The second type of connection consists of a pin 326 that is T-shaped at both ends. The pin is attached at its one end to the one end of the support bar 323. At its other end, the pin 326 is attached to a different holding element 327 that is attached to the first panel 320. As can be seen from FIG. 32, this second type of connection, similar to the first type of connection allows the supporting bar 323 to move relative to the first panel 320 within a limited way.
(64) The embodiment shown in FIGS. 34 to 36 make use of a middle, rigid side panel 400 arranged on either side of the rigid middle side panel 400 is a side panel 401 and 402 according to the invention. The two side panels according to the invention (401, 402) and the middle rigid side panel 400 make up together the side wall of the gangway. The side panels 401, 402 are provided with second connections 403. This second connection connects the side panels 401, 402 respectively to the rigid middle side panel 400. This second connection 403 can be made to allow the rigid panel 400 to tilt relative to the side panels 401, 402. For example the second connection 403 can allow the top parts of the side panels 401, 402 to spread in the direction of the arrows A further apart from each other then the bottom of the side panels as indicated by the arrows B.
(65) The side panels 401, 402 have first connections 404. These first connections have support elements in form of a cylinder and are designed similar to the design shown in the FIG. 37, 38, 39, 40, which allow the flexible section of the side panel to be wrapped around this cylinder. The first connection 404 is connected to the floor of the respective car. A deflecting element 405 is provided sideways to each first connection to prevent objects to be pulled along the side panel when it is being wrapped up around the cylinder.
(66) A gangway floor 410 for the gangway comprises a first panel 411 that has the shape of a segment of a circle. The gangway floor 410 also includes a second panel 412 that has the shape of a segment of a circle. The circle of which the panel 411, 412 form segments of has a radius R. As can be seen, the gangway floor is arranged between the floor 413 of the first car and the floor 414 of the second car. The radius R of the circle of which the floor panel 411 forms a segment of as well as the radius R of the circle of which the floor panel 412 forms a segment of is larger than 25% of the width W of the first car and the second car. The radius R is larger than 45% of W and approximately about 48% of W. Arranged between the floor panel 411 and the floor panel 412 are rectangular floor panels 415. The connection of the rectangular floor panels 415 to the panel 411 and the panel 412 is provided by means of a hinged connection. The hinged connection is obtained by the rectangular floor panels 415 having a tubular channel. An axle is arranged between projecting parts of the panel 411, 412. This axle will be arranged inside the tubular channel in the rectangular plate 215 and will thereby allow the rectangular floor panel 415 to swivel relative to the first panel 411 and the second panel 412 about the axis of this axle. If a rubber tubular member is introduced into the tubular channel and the axle is then introduced into the tubular rubber element, the rectangular floor panels will also be able to swivel about an axis perpendicular to the line of connection between the rectangular panels and the panels 411, 412.
(67) The rectangular floor panels 415 are made from rubber reinforced by metal objects.
(68) As can be seen from FIG. 35, the first floor panel 411 is arranged to rotate about a first axis F and the second floor panel 412 is arranged to rotate about a second axis G. The distance between the first axis and the second axis is 1.5 times the radius R of the circle of which the floor panel 411 and the floor panel 412 form a segment of.
(69) FIG. 37 shows the basic components that a gangway according to the invention can have in one embodiment, not showing further elements, like for example bellows that can be arranged around the gangway. The gangway 421 has two facing gangway side walls 422, a gangway ceiling 423 and a gangway floor 424. The gangway side wall 422 has a side panel 425. Also a first connection 426 is provided. The first connection 426 connects the side panel 425 to a frame structure 427 that is provided to connect the gangway to the respective car (not shown) on that side. Also a second connection 428 is provided. The second connection 428 connects the side panel 425 to a further frame structure 429 that is provided to connect the gangway to the car of the multi-car vehicle on the respective opposite end to the frame structure 427.
(70) Deflector elements 430 are provided that prevent objects to move together with the side panel in the area of the deflector elements 430.
(71) The gangway floor 424 has first rectangular panels 431 and second rectangular panels 432, whereby the second panel 432 can move relative to the first panel 431. The second panel 432 can move under the first panel 431. As shown in the driving condition of FIG. 37, which is a driving condition, whereby the multi-car vehicle would be driving around a bend, making it necessary for the right hand side panel 425 to be shortened relative to the left hand side panel 425, it can be seen that the first panel 431 and the second panel 432 can take up a relative position to one another, in which the longitudinal axis of the first panel 431 and the second panel 432 are at an angle relative to one another. In a different driving condition, where the multi-car vehicle would be going in a straight line, for example, the longitudinal axis of the first panel 431 and the longitudinal axis of the second panel 432 could be parallel.
(72) FIG. 38 shows that in this embodiment the side panel 425 is connected to the first connection 426 at one side and connected to the second connection 428 at the second side that is opposite the first side. The first connection 6 is suitable to attach the side panel 425 to other parts of the gangway 421, namely to the frame structure 427. This is provided for by a fixing element 433 that is held stationary by its connection to the frame structure 427. As can be seen in FIG. 38, the side panel 425 at least in the section of its longitudinal extent in the region of the first connection 426 is flexible to be bend into the form of an arch, namely is flexible to be wrapped into a tube about the axis A of the arch, which is a vertical axis in the embodiment shown in the FIGS. 37 and 38.
(73) In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 37 and 38 the first connection and the second connection are of similar design. In this embodiment, the side panel is arranged between the first connection and the second connection in a way that the side panel will be wrapped up at its respective ends along its longitudinal extent by the first connection and the second connection respectively.
(74) In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the side panel can be designed in such a manner that only the end sections along its longitudinal extent are flexible in order to allow these sections of the side panel to be wrapped up to form a tube at the first connection and the second connection. The middle section 434 can be made to be rigid. This allows for advertisement or monitors to be attached to this middle section of the side panel 425.
(75) As can be best seen from the top view as shown in FIG. 38, wrapping the end sections of the side panel 425 into tubes allows for the side panel to be shortened along its longitudinal extent. In the FIG. 38, for example, the right hand side panel has been wrapped up more and therefore has a shorter longitudinal extent relative to the left hand side panel 425. This allows the gangway to remain firmly attached to the cars by means of the frame structures 427 and 429 while at the same time allowing the cars to take up a position, where the longitudinal axis of the cars are not in line anymore, but angled to one another, for example when the multi-car vehicle is driving around a bend.
(76) FIG. 39 shows the design of a first connection as could for example be used in the design shown in the FIGS. 37 and 38, where the flexible section of the side panel is made to wrap up into a tube. The design shown in FIG. 39 has a fixed axle 443 that is connected to a fixing element 433 that connects the fixed axle 443 to the frame structure 427. A support element 435 in the form of a cylinder is provided. The flexible section of the side panel 425 (not shown) can be made to wrap up around the cylinder to be bend into the form of an arch, namely to be wrapped up into the form of a tube.
(77) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 39, a torsional spring 444 is provided that is connected to the support element 435 at one end and the fixed axle 443 at the other end, thereby pre-tensioning the support element 435 into one rotational direction. A bearing 445 is provided that supports the support element 435 on the fixed axle and allows the support element 435 to rotate about the axis of the first arch, but also allows the support element 435 to pivot in the direction of the arrow C-C. Allowing for this rotation in direction of the arrow C-C, namely about a vertical axis allows for driving conditions, where the gangway ceiling is, for example spread further apart then the gangway floor, for example when the train is running over the top of a hill.
