Abstract
A gangway for a multi-car vehicle, the gangway comprising a bellows and an endframe, the bellows being attached to the endframe, wherein a crimping element is attached to the endframe, the crimping element having a crimping mouth, wherein a part of the bellows is inserted into the crimping mouth and held inside the crimping mouth, wherein the crimping mouth is defined by two sidewalls arranged next to each other and joined together at one of their ends by a bottom wall, wherein respective opposite ends of the two sidewalls are not joined together to provide an opening of the crimping mouth, and wherein the crimping mouth is designed to cause the part of the bellows that is held inside the crimping mouth to be pinched together by means of a pinching effect, the crimping element formed of a material having spring properties such that one of the two side walls can be moved away from the other one of the two side walls only by means of tensioning the two side walls against a restoring force provided by the spring properties of the crimping element.
Claims
1. A gangway for a multi-car vehicle, the gangway comprising a bellows and an endframe, the bellows being attached to the endframe, wherein a crimping element is attached to the endframe, the crimping element having a crimping mouth, wherein a part of the bellows is inserted into the crimping mouth and held inside the crimping mouth, wherein the crimping mouth is defined by two sidewalls arranged next to each other and joined together at one of their ends by a bottom wall, wherein respective opposite ends of the two sidewalls are not joined together to provide an opening of the crimping mouth, and wherein the crimping mouth is designed to cause the part of the bellows that is held inside the crimping mouth to be pinched together by means of a pinching effect, the crimping element formed of a material having spring properties such that one of the two side walls can be moved away from the other one of the two side walls only by means of tensioning the two side walls against a restoring force provided by the spring properties of the crimping element.
2. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the crimping element is attached to the endframe by means of a screw.
3. The gangway according to claim 2, wherein the endframe has a threaded hole and the screw is screwed into the threaded hole.
4. The gangway according to claim 2, wherein the endframe has an unthreaded through-hole and the screw passes through the through-hole from one side of the through-hole and engages with a nut arranged on another side of the through-hole.
5. The gangway according to claim 4, wherein the crimping element is arranged on the one side of the through-hole and the nut is arranged on the other side of the through-hole.
6. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the crimping element is glued or welded or riveted or nailed to the endframe.
7. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the crimping element is attached to the endframe by means of weave bands extending through holes in the crimping element and in the endframe.
8. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the crimping mouth has a C-shape.
9. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein surfaces of the two sidewalls that face each other and delimit the crimping mouth are arranged relative each other such that a distance between the two sidewalls in the area of the opening of the crimping mouth is smaller than a distance between the two sidewalls in the area of the bottom wall of the crimping mouth.
10. The gangway according to claim 9, wherein the surface of one of the two side walls is arranged relative to the facing surface of the other one of the two sidewalls at an angle of less than 60°.
11. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two sidewalls has pinching structures in the form of teeth for engaging the surface of the part of the bellows being held inside the crimping mouth.
12. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the crimping element is made of metal.
13. The gangway according to claim 12, wherein the crimping element is made of aluminum.
14. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the crimping element is made of plastic.
15. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the endframe has a surface and a bead arranged on the surface, and wherein the crimping element has a recess that cooperates with the bead.
16. The gangway according to claim 15, wherein the bead has a shape of half of a ball.
17. The gangway according to claim 15, wherein the bead forms a longitudinal ledge on the surface of the endframe, and wherein the recess of the crimping element has the shape of a groove cooperating with the ledge.
18. The gangway according to claim 15, wherein the bead is arranged on a beam of the endframe and extends along at least 50% of a length of the beam.
19. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the crimping element is an angled part, wherein one end of the angled part being an attachment part by means of which the crimping element is attached to the endframe, and the other end of the angled part being a crimping part having the crimping mouth.
20. The gangway according to claim 1, wherein the endframe comprises a ring shape that encircles a passage through which passengers can enter or leave the gangway.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0066] Below, the invention will be described by reference to figures that only show exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:
[0067] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view onto a part of a gangway with an endframe and a bellows that is attached to the endframe.
[0068] FIG. 2 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0069] FIG. 3 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0070] FIG. 4 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0071] FIG. 5 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0072] FIG. 6 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0073] FIG. 7 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0074] FIG. 8 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0075] FIG. 9 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0076] FIG. 10 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0077] FIG. 11 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0078] FIG. 12 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0079] FIG. 13 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0080] FIG. 14 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0081] FIG. 15 shows a partially cut-away, perspective view onto a top part of a gangway according to the invention that is made up of two individual gangways joined together.
[0082] FIG. 16 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
[0083] FIG. 17 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention; and
[0084] FIG. 18 shows a section across a beam of an endframe of a gangway with an end part of a bellows attached to it according to a further embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0085] FIG. 1 shows a gangway 160 according to the invention. The gangway 160 has one endframe 101 at one of its ends and a further endframe 102 at its opposite end. The gangway 160 has an outwardly facing bellows 159. Either endframe 101, 102 can be used to connect the gangway 160 to a car of a multi-car vehicle (not shown) or to a further gangway (not shown). In FIG. 1 the beams 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 of the endframe 102 have been identified with the reference signs 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, which are also used to identify the beams of the endframe 101 in order to highlight the design-symmetry among the endframe 101 and endframe 102.
[0086] FIG. 1 shows that the gangway 160 can have interior elements in the passage space 103. Interior beams 157 can be arranged inside the passage space 103 and attached to their neighbouring endframe 101. The interior beams 157 can carry interior elements, like for example a part of the side panel (not shown). The gangway 160 an outwardly facing bellows 159, which is understood to be a bellows, whereby the individual convolutes of the bellows open towards the inside of the gangway 160 while the rounded bottoms of the individual convolutes are arranged further outward.
[0087] Endframe 101 and endframe 102 are of same design, but arranged in mirrored shape, the plane of symmetry being the vertical plane between the two endframes 101, 102. To facilitate the description, the description below will be focused on describing endframe 101. Endframe 101 and 102 being of same, but mirrored design, the description of endframe 101 of course also reads onto the design of endframe 102.
[0088] As can be seen from FIG. 1, endframe 101 has the shape of a ring that surrounds a passage space 103. The passage space 103 is the space, through which the passengers can pass.
[0089] The ring-shape of the endframe 101 is obtained by eight beams that make up the endframe 101 being connected to each other. The beams are a top beam 104 and a bottom beam 105. Furthermore, side beams 106, 107 are provided. Corner beams 108, 109, 110, 111 are arranged to connect the side beams 106, 107 to the top beam 104 or to connect the side beams 106, 107 to the bottom beam 105 respectively. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the endframe 1 has the shape of a polygonal ring. Top beam 104 and bottom beam 105 are arranged in parallel to each other. Side beam 106 and side beam 107 are arranged at a slight angle to each other. Looking at FIG. 1 it becomes readily apparent that the specific design of the endframe can easily be changed by changing the shape, design or presence of the beams. The endframe can be adapted to the specific surroundings, in which it will be used, especially the type of multi-car vehicle, it is used with. The endframe 101 could be adapted to be a u-shaped endframe, if for example the bottom beam 105 was removed or even if the bottom beam 105 and the corner beams 109, 110 would be removed.
[0090] As can be seen from FIG. 1, top beam 104, bottom beam 105, side beams 106, 107 and corner beams 108, 109, 110, 111 are longitudinal beams. The extent of the beams 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 in a first direction of a three-dimensional cartesian system of coordinates is substantially larger than the extent of the beam in the second direction and is substantially larger than the extent of the beam in the third direction.
[0091] The gangway can have lifting hooks 137 arranged on the beam 104 for lifting the gangway. Below the beam 105 a section can be provided that gives the gangway enough clearness from the frame to the bellows so that the gangway can rest on the coupler. The beams 106 and 107 have handles of attaching mechanism that is used to lock and unlock the gangways together.
[0092] The beams 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 are welded together, but could also be glued together or bonded together.
[0093] FIG. 2 shows the beam 3 of an endframe 2 of a gangway 1. FIG. 2 also shows the end convolute 5 of a bellows 4 of the gangway 1. The convolute 5 has end edge 6 and an inner edge 7. The inner edge 7 is attached to a neighbouring convolute (not shown in FIG. 2).
[0094] FIG. 2 shows a holding element 10 that is attached to the beam 3 of the endframe 2. The holding element 10 has a holding surface 11. The holding surface 11 faces a countersurface 12 on the beam 3 of the endframe 2. The end edge 6 of the bellows 4 is arranged between the holding surface 11 and the countersurface 12 and is pressed against the countersurface 12 by the holding element 10. The countersurface 12 has a bead 14 and the holding surface 11 has a bulge 15. One part of the end edge 6 of the convolute 5 of the bellows 4 is pressed by the bulge 15 against the bead 14.
[0095] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the beam 3 of the endframe 2 has several beads 14, 16, 17.
[0096] The FIGS. 2 to 5 show, that the three beads 14, 16, 17 can be used to provide different ways of attaching the end edge 6 of the convolute 5 of the bellows 4 to the beam 3 of the endframe 2 of the gangway 1.
[0097] FIG. 6 shows a crimping element 20 that is attached to the beam 3 of the endframe 2 of the gangway 1. The crimping element has a crimping mouth 21. The end edge 6 of the convolute 5 of the bellows 4 is inserted into the crimping mouth 21 and is held inside the crimping mouth 21. The crimping mouth 21 is delimited by two sidewalls 22, 23. In a preferred embodiment, the crimping mouth has a U-shape or a C-shape in cross- section. The crimping mouth is defined by the two sidewalls 22,23 that are arranged next to each other, whereby the sidewalls 22,23 are joined together at one side by a bottom wall 24 and whereby the other side is left open to provide an opening 25, through which the part of the bellows 4 that is to be held inside the crimping mouth 21 can be introduced into the space between the two sidewalls 22,23. Both sidewalls 22,23 have pinching structures, namely teeth 26 that can dig into the surface of the part of the bellows 4 that is to be held inside the crimping mouth 21.
[0098] The crimping element 20 is attached to the beam 3 of the endframe 2 by way of a screw 27. The crimping element 20 has a recess 28 that cooperates with the bead 17. The crimping element 20 is an angled part. One end of the angled part is the attachment part 29 of the crimping element 20. The attachment part 29 being the part that is attached to the beam 3 of the endframe 2. The other end of the angled part is the crimping part 30 that has the crimping mouth 21.
[0099] The FIGS. 7 to 14 show different embodiments of the gangway according to the invention with different combinations of crimping elements and holding elements and different attachment positions for these elements. In FIGS. 11, 13 and 14, a special type of bellows 4ʹ is shown, which has an end convolute 5ʹ, which end convolute 5ʹ has an end edge 6ʹ that is bent backwards.
[0100] FIG. 12 shows an embodiment, where the holding element 10 has a second holding surface 11ʺ that faces a second countersurface 12ʺ on the endframe, whereby a part of the further bellows 4 is arranged between the second holding surface 11ʺ and the second countersurface 12ʺ and is pressed against the second countersurface 12ʺ by the holding element 10. The countersurface 12ʺ has a bulge 15ʺ.
[0101] FIG. 15 shows a partially cut-away, perspective view onto a top part of a gangway according to the invention that is made up of two individual gangways 160 joined together at their endframes 101, 102. FIG. 15 shows that the holding element 10 attached to beam 104 and the holding element 10 attached to beam 108 and the holding element 10 attached to beam 107 each are designed in the shape of a lath.
[0102] FIGS. 16 to 18 show that the bellows can be double corrugated bellows and that wherever a single corrugated bellows is shown in the FIGS. 2 to 14 above, also a double corrugated bellows can be used. To exemplify these alternatives, FIG. 16 shows an embodiment that is based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. The convolute 5 of the bellows has a second, inner layer 5ʹ. FIG. 17 shows an embodiment that is based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 10. The two convolutes 5 shown have a second, inner layer 5ʹ each. FIG. 18 shows an embodiment that is based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. The convolute 5 held by the holding element 10 has a second, inner layer 5ʹ, while the convolute 5 held by the crimping element 20 only has one convolute. FIG. 18 hence additionally exemplifies that within the embodiments that have two bellows, the arrangement can be varied, whereby in some embodiments only one of the two bellows is a double corrugated bellows, while in some embodiments both of the bellows are double corrugated bellows.
