EP2944533B1 - Railway vehicle comprising an air-conditioning system provided with a filter module - Google Patents

Description

GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to the field of air conditioning of a railway vehicle.

In known manner, a rail vehicle comprises an air conditioning system for managing the renewal and the air temperature of a living area of the railway vehicle in which passengers are located. Such an air conditioning system can contribute to passenger comfort.

An air conditioning system conventionally comprises an inlet opening opening out of the railway vehicle, an outlet opening opening into the interior of the railway vehicle, in particular in the passengers' living area, and a module for suction adapted to allow the flow of air from said inlet opening to said outlet opening.

The document DE 26 55 273 A1 describes a ventilation grille in louver, in particular, for rail vehicle. The ventilation grid comprises a support in which are mounted two sets of spaced apart blades, front blades and rear blades.

Preferably, the air conditioning system further comprises a recirculation inlet and a recirculation outlet for sucking up a flow of air from the living zone, filtering said air flow and then reinjecting it into said life zone.

To allow filtration of the recirculation air, the recirculation inlet comprises a filtration module. In practice, the filtration module has a filtering wall, for example, made of synthetic fiber or fiberglass, through which the air to be filtered must flow. In known manner, the filtering wall is folded so that the filtration surface is greater than the passage section of the circulation inlet so as to allow optimal filtration while having a recirculation inlet of small section.

In a known manner, with reference to figures 1 and 2 , there is shown a filtration module 100 adapted to filter, upstream to downstream, an upstream air flow F1 to provide a stream of filtered downstream air F2. The filtration module 100 comprises a frame 101 adapted to be mounted in the recirculation inlet. Conventionally, the passage section of the frame 101 is decreasing from upstream to downstream to allow the mounting of said frame 101 in a conventional air conditioning duct of a rail vehicle whose side walls are bevelled. For this purpose, with reference to figures 1 and 2 , the frame 101 comprises an upstream portion 101a of rectangular shape, a downstream portion 101b of frustoconical shape and whose section is decreasing from upstream to downstream. With reference to the figure 1 partially representing a filtration module 100, the frame 101 further comprises guide elements 103 mounted vertically in said downstream portion 101b and spaced regularly from each other in a plane transverse to the flow axis of the air flow .

With reference to the figure 2 representing a complete filtration module 100, the filtration module 100 further comprises a first flat filtering wall PF1, a pleating module 104, a second filtering wall PF2 and a frame 102. The pleating module 104 comprises a plurality of pleating elements 105 adapted to extend downstream between said guide members 103 of the frame 101 as illustrated in FIG. figure 2 . The second filter wall PF2 abuts downstream with the pleating elements 105 and abuts upstream with the guide elements 103 so as to be folded. The first filter wall PF1 is flat and is mounted upstream of the second filter wall PF2.

The filtering walls PF1, PF2 and the pleating module 104 are held locked between said frame 101 and said frame 102 as shown in FIG. figure 2 .

Also, in operation, an upstream air flow F1 enters inside the upstream frame 101a to be filtered on the one hand by the first flat filter wall PF1 and on the other hand by the second filter wall PF2 so to obtain a stream of filtered downstream air F2.

In practice, the assembly of the filtration module 100 is complex to implement since the second filter wall PF2 must be manually folded between the guide elements 103 of the frame 101 and the pleating elements 105 of the pleating module 104 as illustrated at figure 2 . Then, the assembly must be blocked by the setting up of the counter frame 102.

With reference to the figure 3 when the second filtering wall PF2 is incorrectly positioned, the second filtering wall PF2 may extend projecting from the downstream part of the frame 101b and thus form a passage space DEF1 in which an air flow can circulate bypassing the second filtering wall PF2. Moreover, always in reference to the figure 3 in the event of assembly failure, the second filtering wall PF2 may not be long enough to reach the edge of the frame 101, which may form another passage space DEF2 in which an air flow may circulate bypassing the second filter wall PF2. Such passage spaces DEF1, DEF2 do not allow optimal filtration since part of the air flow is not filtered by the second filter wall PF2.

In addition to the filtering defects, the repeated replacement of the filtering walls PF1, PF2 of a filtration module 100 during maintenance steps generates significant efforts on the frame 101 and the counter frame 102, which can lead to their plastic deformation. Also, in the event of deformation, the maintenance of the filter walls PF1, PF2 is not ensured and filtering defects may appear.

The invention therefore aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a railway vehicle equipped with a filtration module whose maintenance is easy.

GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined by the technical features of claim 1. For this purpose, the invention relates to a railway vehicle comprising an air conditioning system which comprises a filtration module comprising a peripheral fastening frame defining internally a passage opening and a plurality of longitudinal and parallel filter bags therebetween, said plurality of filter bags being disposed in said passage opening.

The use of filter bags instead of a flat filtering wall which must be folded eliminates all assembly defects known in the prior art for a rail vehicle air conditioning system. Moreover, the introduction of the filtration module within the air conditioning system is advantageously accelerated.

In addition, the integration of the frame and filter bags in the same element avoids any relative mounting fault. In addition, the filtration module is a wear part that allows the simultaneous replacement of filter bags and frame. Thus, any elastic deformation of the frame following repeated maintenance is avoided. The rail vehicle thus obtained is then simple to maintain.

Preferably, each filter bag having a peripheral opening edge and a bottom, the peripheral opening edge of each filter bag is connected directly to the attachment frame. Thus, any leakage between a filter bag and the frame is avoided.

Advantageously, said frame extending in a plane, each filter bag extends orthogonally to said plane in order to have a large filtration area, greater than the passage opening of the frame.

Preferably, each filter bag having an opening peripheral edge and a bottom, the section of said filter bag is decreasing from said peripheral edge opening towards said bottom. Thus, the walls of the filtration pockets are advantageously not in contact with each other, which improves the filtration.

Preferably, each filter bag having a peripheral edge of rectangular opening, defining a length and a width, and a bottom edge parallel to said length, each filter bag has a triangular side wall connecting a width of the peripheral edge of rectangular opening at one end of the bottom edge. Thus, the risk of contact between two adjacent filter bags is limited.

Preferably, each filter bag has two longitudinal walls and two side walls connected to the bottom edge.

In one aspect, each filter bag has a longitudinal wall of rectangular shape connecting a length of the rectangular opening peripheral edge to the bottom edge. In other words, the bottom edge has the same length as the length of the peripheral edge in order to have a large filtration surface while avoiding that the filter pockets are in contact with the walls of the air conditioning system.

In another aspect, each filter bag has a longitudinal wall of non-rectangular parallelogram shape connecting a length of the rectangular opening peripheral edge to the bottom edge. In other words, the bottom edge has a length less than the length of the peripheral edge to form beveled filter bags which are particularly suitable for mounting in an air conditioning duct whose side walls are bevelled from upstream to downstream.

More preferably, said frame extending in a plane, the cross section of each filter bag by a plane parallel to the plane of the frame is rectangular. Such filter bags are thus optimized for a rectangular frame.

According to one aspect of the invention, each filter bag having a plane of symmetry extending along its length, the section of a filter bag by said plane of symmetry is a non-rectangular parallelogram. In other words, the walls of the pockets are canted from upstream to downstream. This is particularly advantageous when the pockets extend along the length of a rectangular frame.

Preferably, said plurality of filter bags comprises a first set of main pockets and at least one auxiliary bag, preferably a set of auxiliary bags, an auxiliary bag having a smaller volume than a main bag. Such pockets make it possible to adapt the volume of the filtration module to allow it to be mounted in pipes of various shapes.

Preferably, the main pockets extend centrally to said attachment frame while the auxiliary pockets extend laterally to said attachment frame. Such auxiliary pockets make it possible to limit the lateral bulk of the filtration module while allowing optimum filtration. Such a filtration module can advantageously be mounted in an air conditioning duct whose side walls are beveled from upstream to downstream.

According to a preferred aspect, each auxiliary filter bag having two longitudinal walls and two side walls connected to the bottom edge, the longitudinal walls are of different dimensions. Preferably, the longitudinal wall closest to the frame is larger than its other longitudinal wall to avoid contact with an air conditioning duct whose side walls are beveled from upstream to downstream.

According to one aspect of the invention, the frame being rectangular, each filter bag extends along the length of said frame.

According to another aspect of the invention, the frame being rectangular, each filter bag extends along the width of said frame.

Advantageously, the railway vehicle comprises a living area, preferably a passenger car. Preferably, said filtration module is mounted in said life zone so as to suck up an air flow from said life zone.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

• la figure 1 est une représentation en perspective d'un module de filtration selon l'art antérieur, le module de plissage et les parois filtrantes n'étant pas représentées ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'un module de filtration complet selon l'art antérieur ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe schématique d'un module de filtration de la figure 2 ayant un défaut d'assemblage ;
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique de face d'une première forme de réalisation d'un module de filtration pour véhicule ferroviaire selon l'invention ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique de dessus du module de filtration de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique de face d'une deuxième forme de réalisation d'un module de filtration pour véhicule ferroviaire selon l'invention ;
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique de dessus du module de filtration de la figure 6 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue schématique de face d'une troisième forme de réalisation d'un module de filtration pour véhicule ferroviaire selon l'invention ; et
• la figure 9 est une vue schématique de dessus du module de filtration de la figure 8.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will follow, given solely by way of example, and referring to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective representation of a filtration module according to the prior art, the pleating module and the filtering walls not being shown;
• the figure 2 is a sectional view of a complete filtration module according to the prior art;
• the figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a filtration module of the figure 2 having an assembly fault;
• the figure 4 is a schematic front view of a first embodiment of a filtration module for railway vehicle according to the invention;
• the figure 5 is a schematic view from above of the filtration module of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 is a schematic front view of a second embodiment of a filtration module for railway vehicle according to the invention;
• the figure 7 is a schematic view from above of the filtration module of the figure 6 ;
• the figure 8 is a schematic front view of a third embodiment of a filtration module for rail vehicle according to the invention; and
• the figure 9 is a schematic view from above of the filtration module of the figure 8 .

It should be noted that the figures disclose the invention in detail to implement the invention, said figures can of course be used to better define the invention where appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE MODES OF REALIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

According to the invention, with reference to Figures 4 to 9 , there are shown three embodiments of a filtration module 1 adapted for use in an air conditioning system of a railway vehicle according to the invention.

According to the invention, the railway vehicle comprises a living area, for example a car with seats for passengers, which includes an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system comprises at least one air conditioning duct opening into said living area. A filtration module 1 is mounted in said air conditioning duct.

The filtration module 1 comprises a peripheral fixing frame 2 internally defining a through opening 20. In this example, the peripheral fixing frame 2 is of rectangular shape and extends in a plane so as to define a length and a width . Thus, such a frame 2 can be mounted instead of a frame according to the prior art as will be presented later. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that the shape of the attachment frame 2 could be different.

Always referring to Figures 4 to 9 , the filtration module 1 comprises a plurality of filter pockets 3 longitudinal and parallel to each other, said plurality of pockets filter 3 being disposed in said passage opening 20 to cover it completely. As illustrated in figures 5 , 7 and 9 each filter pocket 3 extends orthogonally to the plane of the frame 2 so that the filtration surface is greater than the passage opening 20 of the frame 2 in the manner of a second pleated filter wall according to the prior art .

In this example, each filter bag 3 has an upstream rectangular opening peripheral edge 30 and a rectilinear downstream bottom edge 31. Each length of the opening edge 30 is connected to the bottom edge 31 by a longitudinal wall 32 while each width of the opening edge 30 is connected to one end of the bottom edge 31 by a side wall 33.

The section of said filter bag 3 is decreasing from said peripheral opening edge 30 towards said bottom edge 31, that is to say from upstream to downstream. In particular, the cross section of each filter bag 3 by a plane parallel to the plane of the frame is rectangular in order to optimize the filtration for a fastening frame 2 of rectangular shape.

In order to allow the mounting of the filtration module 1 in a filtration module according to the prior art, the filtration module 1 generally has a decreasing section from upstream to downstream as shown in FIGS. figures 5 , 7 and 9 . In particular, the filtration module 1 extends in a volume whose side walls are chamfered from upstream to downstream so as to allow its mounting in an air conditioning duct whose side walls are beveled from upstream to downstream.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5 representing a first embodiment of the filtration module 1, each filter bag 3 extends along the width of said fixing frame 2. Each filter bag 3 comprises two rectangular longitudinal walls 32 of the same dimensions and two isosceles triangular side walls 33. Otherwise said, the bottom edge 31 has the same length as the length of the peripheral edge 30 of rectangular shape.

In this example, said plurality of filter bags 3 comprises a first set of main pockets 3a and a second set of auxiliary pockets 3b, an auxiliary bag 3b having a smaller volume than a main pocket 3a. Preferably, the depth of an auxiliary bag 3b is smaller than that of a main bag 3a as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 .

Still referring to the figure 5 , the main pockets 3a extend centrally to said fixing frame 2 while the auxiliary pockets 3b extend laterally to said fixing frame 2. Thus, the filtration module 1 can be easily mounted in a conventional air conditioning duct whose walls side are beveled and ensures better performance of the auxiliary bags 3b. Indeed, the filtration module 1 has a limited lateral size due to the presence of the auxiliary pockets 3b of shallow depth.

Alternatively, with reference to Figures 6 and 7 which represent a second embodiment of a filtration module 1, the auxiliary pockets 3b 'are not symmetrical but comprise two longitudinal walls 32 of different dimensions and two non-isosceles triangular side walls 33. With reference to the figure 7 , the longitudinal wall 32 closest to the frame 2 is larger than its other longitudinal wall 32 to prevent contact with an air conditioning duct whose side walls are beveled from upstream to downstream.

A third embodiment of a filtration module 1 is described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 . The numerical references used to describe elements of structure or function that are identical, equivalent or similar to those elements of Figures 4 and 5 are the same, to simplify the description. Moreover, the entire description of the embodiment of the Figures 4 and 5 is not repeated, this description applying to the elements of the Figures 8 and 9 when there are no incompatibilities. Only notable differences, structural and functional, are described.

With reference to Figures 8 and 9 each filter bag 3 extends along the length of said frame 2. With reference to the figure 9 each filter bag 3 comprises a plane of symmetry extending along its length and the section of a filter bag by said plane of symmetry is a non-rectangular parallelogram (see figure 9 ). In other words, each filter bag 3 comprises longitudinal walls 32 of shape non-rectangle parallelogram, also called beveled walls 32, to allow easy mounting of the filtration module 1 in a conventional air conditioning duct of a rail vehicle whose side walls are bevelled. Preferably, with reference to the figure 9 each filter pocket 3 has a bottom edge 31 parallel to the length of the opening edge 30 and whose length is less than that of the opening edge 30.

Thanks to the invention, a filtration module 1 according to the invention can be used instead of a filtration module according to the prior art. In other words, the filtration module 1 replaces a frame, a counter frame, a pleating module and the two filter walls of the prior art. No assembly step is necessary, which is particularly advantageous.

In addition, the assembly time is considerably reduced since it is no longer necessary to pleat the second filter wall. In addition, since the frame 2 is integral with the filter bags 3, the frame 2 and the filter bags 3 are replaced simultaneously. Also, any deformation of the frame 2 related to the repetition of maintenance operations is advantageously avoided.

Filtration defects detected in the prior art are also solved in view of the fact that there is no more pleating of the filtering wall but filter bags directly integral with the frame.

Such a filtration module is advantageously placed in an air conditioning duct, the side walls of which are bevelled, opening inside a living area of a railway vehicle.

Claims (10)

1. A railway vehicle including an air conditioning system which comprises a filtering module (1) including a peripheral securing frame (2) internally defining a passage opening (20) characterised in that the filtering module (1) includes a plurality of longitudinal filter bags (3) parallel to each other, said plurality of filter bags (3) being disposed in said passage opening (20), each filter bag (3) including an opening peripheral edge (30) and a bottom (31), the opening peripheral edge (30) of each filter bag (3) is directly connected to the securing frame (2).
2. The railway vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of said filter bag (3) is decreasing from said opening peripheral edge (30) to said bottom (31).
3. The railway vehicle according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein each filter bag (3) including a rectangular opening peripheral edge (30), defining a length and a width, and a bottom edge (31) parallel to said length, each filter bag (3) includes a triangle-shaped side wall (33) connecting a width of the rectangular opening peripheral edge (30) to an end of the bottom edge (31).
4. The railway vehicle according to claim 3, wherein each filter bag includes two longitudinal walls and two side walls connected to the bottom edge.
5. The railway vehicle according to one of claims 3 and 4, wherein each filter bag (3) includes a rectangle-shaped longitudinal wall (32) connecting a length of the rectangular opening peripheral edge (30) to the bottom edge (31).
6. The railway vehicle according to one of claims 3 and 4, wherein each filter bag (3) includes a non-rectangular parallelogram shaped longitudinal wall (32) connecting a length of the rectangular opening peripheral edge (30) to the bottom edge (31).
7. The railway vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said plurality of filter bags (3) includes a first set of main bags (3a) and at least one auxiliary bag (3b), an auxiliary bag (3b) having a lower volume than a main bag (3a).
8. The railway vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of filter bags (3) includes a first set of main bags (3a) and a second set of auxiliary bags (3b), an auxiliary bag (3b) having a lower volume than a main bag (3a).
9. The railway vehicle according to one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the main bags (3a) extend centrally to said securing frame (2) whereas the auxiliary bags (3b) extend sidewise to said securing frame (2).
10. The railway vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the railway vehicle including a life zone, preferably a passenger car, said filtering module (1) is mounted in said life zone so as to draw an air stream from said life zone.

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