BELLOWS FOR A PASSAGE BETWEEN TWO ARTICULATED VEHICLES OR OF AN AIR PASSENGER STAIRS OR BRIDGE

Abstract

A bellows for a passage between two articulated vehicles or for an air passenger stair or bridge has a plurality of folds or waves arranged behind one another. A floor region has at least one inner jacket and at least one outer jacket spaced from the inner jacket. An intermediate layer is disposed between and spaced apart from the inner and outer and is fire-retardant.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A bellows for a passage between two articulated vehicles or for an air passenger stair or bridge, the bellows of the type having a plurality of folds or waves arranged behind one another, the bellows comprising: a floor region having at least one inner jacket and at least one outer jacket spaced from the at least one inner jacket; and an intermediate layer between and spaced apart from the inner and outer jackets, the intermediate layer being fire-retardant.

14. A bellows according to claim 13, wherein the fire-retardant intermediate layer is a fire-protection woven fabric, machine-knitted fabric or knitted fabric.

15. A bellows according to claim 13, wherein the fire-retardant intermediate layer is a wire mesh.

16. A bellows according to claim 14, wherein the fire-retardant intermediate layer comprises aramid fibers, silicate fibers, glass fibers and/or polybenzimidazole fibers.

17. A bellows according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate layer has a fire-protection overlay or a fire-protection insert.

18. A bellows according to claim 17, wherein the fire-protection overlay or fire protection insert is a swelling material.

19. A bellows according to claim 18, wherein the swelling material is swelling on a buildup of pressure.

20. A bellows according to claim 17, wherein the fire-protection overlay or fire-protection insert is moisture-resistant and/or cleaning agent-resistant.

21. A bellows according to claim 18, wherein the fire-protection overlay or the fire-protection insert is adapted for swelling while forming an ash skeleton.

22. A bellows according to claim 17, wherein the fire-protection overlay or the fire-protection insert is connected to the intermediate layer.

23. A bellows according to claim 17, wherein the fire-protection overlay or the fire-protection insert is disposed on a side of the intermediate layer directed toward the at least one inner jacket.

24. A bellows according to claim 13, wherein the floor region of the bellows is configured as a positive-wave bellows.

25. A bellows according to claim 24, wherein the at least one inner jacket, the at least one outer jacket, and the intermediate layer are each configured as arched in the direction toward the outside of the passage to form individual positive waves.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention will be described in more detail below by way of example with reference to the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an articulated vehicle;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example of two waves of a wave bellows with a fire-protection insert lying on the intermediate layer; and

[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, wherein the outer jacket of the wave is destroyed and the fire-protection insert is swollen up.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIG. 1 shows an articulated vehicle 1 having the two vehicle parts 2, 3 that are connected to one another by a passage 5 having a bellows 6. The bellows surrounds the floor 7 and the articulated connection 8 in the manner of a tunnel or pipe.

[0023] The design of the bellows 6, in particular in the floor region, results from an aspect of FIG. 2. The bellows in the present case comprises individual wave-like elements 10 that are connected to one another by bellows frames 12. The wave-like elements 10 comprise an inner jacket 14 and an outer jacket 16, wherein the intermediate layer 18 likewise of wave-like design is provided spaced apart between the wave-like inner jacket and the wave-like outer jacket. The wave-like intermediate layer 18, that is in particular formed from a fire-retardant material, e.g. on the basis of aramid fibers, silicate fibers, glass fibers and/or polybenzimidazole fibers, has a fire-protection insert 20 at its side facing the inner jacket 14. The fire-protection insert 20 comprises an intumescent, that is fire-retardant, swelling, flexible material that can be commercially purchased.

[0024] FIG. 3 now shows a state of the waves of a bellow in which the outer jacket 16 is destroyed due to the effect of heat; the fire protection insert is swollen and forms an ash skeleton. Since the intermediate layer, as has already been explained multiple times at another passage, is formed from a fire-retardant or flame-retardant material, this intermediate layer 18 withstands the effect of the flames for a comparatively long time so that the intumescent material can also form an ash skeleton that is relatively stable since it is held by the intermediate layer 18. This means that the ash skeleton can furthermore maintain its function as an insulation layer. A substantial delay in the heating of the upper side of the floor of the passage at flame temperatures of 1000° C. can in particular be achieved with such a structure with a fire-protection insert that lies on the intermediate layer, that can swell when pressurized and that is thus intumescent. The same also applies accordingly with a fire-protection overlay that is, for example, sprayed onto the intermediate layer or is, for example, applied using a brush or a calendar.

[0025] The invention is usable not only with positive-wave bellows, but also with negative-wave bellows; negative-wave bellows are spoken of when the arching of the individual waves is directed toward the inside of the bellows.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0026] 1 articulated vehicle [0027] 2 vehicle part [0028] 3 vehicle part [0029] 5 passage [0030] 6 bellows [0031] 7 floor of the passage [0032] 8 articulated connection between the vehicle parts [0033] 10 wave-like element [0034] 12 bellows frame [0035] 14 inner jacket [0036] 16 outer jacket [0037] 18 intermediate layer [0038] 20 fire protection insert