COUPLING SYSTEM FOR REMOVABLY COUPLING A TRANSPARENT MATERIAL PANEL

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a coupling system for removably coupling a transparent material panel (2), in particular a glass panel, with a frame (1), in particular a frame of a wheeled railway vehicle.
In particular, said coupling system comprises:
- a frame (1) provided with an opening (10) and with first releasable coupling means (11), where said first releasable coupling means (11) are arranged on said frame (1), around said opening (10), so as to form a first geometric figure defined by a closed polygonal,
- a transparent material panel (2) dimensioned to cover said opening (10) and a predetermined portion of said frame (1) arranged around said opening (10), as well as provided with second releasable coupling means (21), configured to be coupled/uncoupled to/from said first releasable coupling means (11), where said second releasable coupling means (21) are arranged on said transparent material panel (2) in a peripheral portion of the latter so as to form a second geometric figure defined by a further closed polygonal,
- an inflatable air chamber (12), arranged on said first releasable coupling means (11), where said air chamber (12) is dimensioned to occupy a portion of said first releasable coupling means (11) and extends along said first geometric figure.
Said second geometric figure has size and shape such that, when said transparent material panel (2) is coupled with said frame (1), said second releasable coupling means (21) are coupled with said first releasable coupling means (11) in correspondence of at least one portion straddled on said air chamber (12).
Said air chamber (12) has an inlet (12A), arranged externally to said first releasable coupling means (11), to allow the passage of a quantity of air or gas inside said air chamber (12) so that said air chamber (12) moves from a first condition, in which said air chamber (12) is deflated, so that said second releasable coupling means (21) are coupled with said first releasable coupling means (11) and said transparent material panel (2) is coupled with said frame (1), to a second condition, in which said air chamber (12) is inflated, so that said second releasable coupling means (21) are at least partially separated from said first releasable coupling means (11) and said transparent material panel (2) is at least partially uncoupled from said frame (1).
The present invention relates also to a method for removably coupling a transparent material panel, in particular a glass panel (2), with a frame (1), in particular a frame of a wheeled railway vehicle.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupling system for removably coupling a transparent material panel, in particular glass panel, with a frame, in particular a frame of a wheeled railway vehicle.

[0002] Particularly, the invention relates to the structure of a coupling system to allow coupling/uncoupling in easy way of a glass panel with/from a frame of a train.

[0003] Glass panels used in a train, such as windows, may be subject to breakages due to acts of vandalism or impacts with objects.

[0004] When the glass panel part of a train window is broken, it is necessary that the whole train must be lead to the workshop to remove the glass panel and replace it with a further glass panel, with the resulting time and cost, mainly due to the fact that the train is stationary in the workshop, and therefore can not move, and to the logistics.

[0005] Currently, glass panels used in a train, such as windows, are installed on the train frame by means of different technical solutions.

[0006] A first technical solution is to install a glass panel on a frame by means of a rubber gasket.

[0007] Such a gasket is provided with two cavities: a first cavity to allow the housing of a glass panel portion and a second cavity to allow the housing of a frame portion being part of the coach of the train itself.

[0008] Said gasket is provided with a seat for inserting a blocking element to block the glass panel to the frame.

[0009] A first drawback due to the installation of a glass panel on the frame of the coach by means of a rubber gasket is due to the fact that it is necessary to remove the rubber gasket when needed in order to remove the glass panel and replace it with an additional rubber gasket.

[0010] A second drawback is given by the fact that a rubber gasket has a predetermined mechanical strength and if the value of such a predetermined mechanical strength is high it is difficult to assemble/disassemble such rubber gasket.

[0011] Another drawback is given by the difficulty of installing double curvature glass panels.

[0012] In a second technical solution, a glass panel is glued to the frame of the coach by means of a structural adhesive.

[0013] A first drawback due to the gluing of a glass panel directly to the frame is given by the difficulty of disassembling such glass panel when it is necessary to replace it.

[0014] In order to remove a glass panel from the frame, ultrasonic knives are necessary and also it is necessary an accurate cleaning of the installation compartment after disassembling.

[0015] A second drawback is given by the fact that it is necessary that the removal of a glass panel glued on the frame is performed by a trained staff.

[0016] A third drawback is given by the fact that when replacing a glass panel with a further glass panel, to glue the latter to the frame, appropriate fixing means are needed to keep fixed and in position such a further glass panel for all the drying time of the structural adhesive.

[0017] A further drawback is given by the fact that the staff, although trained, is exposed to contact with non-ecological materials.

[0018] In a third technical solution, the glass panel is installed on a train frame by means of a supporting element, which in turn is secured to said frame of said train. In particular, said supporting element is bolted to said frame.

[0019] A first drawback of such technical solution is the cost due to the manufacturing of the supporting element.

[0020] A second drawback is given by the weight due to the necessary presence of the supporting element.

[0021] A further drawback is due to the need of requiring supporting elements and glass panels for substituting supporting elements and glass panels to the original supplier.

[0022] Object of the present invention is to overcome said drawbacks providing a coupling system for removably coupling a transparent material panel, in particular a glass panel, with a frame, in particular a frame of a wheeled railway vehicle, where said coupling system has a simple structure and a low manufacturing cost and allow to couple/uncouple said transparent material panel with/from a frame in a simple manner.

[0023] It is therefore object of the present invention a coupling system for cremovably coupling a transparent material panel, in particular a glass panel, with a frame, in particular, a frame of a wheeled railway vehicle, where said coupling system comprises:

• a frame provided with an opening and with first releasable coupling means, where said first releasable coupling means are arranged on said frame, around said opening, so as to form a first geometric figure defined by a closed polygonal,
• a transparent material panel dimensioned to cover said opening and a predetermined portion of said frame arranged around said opening, as well as provided with second releasable coupling means, configured to be coupled/uncoupled to/from said first releasable coupling means, where said second releasable coupling means are arranged on said transparent material panel in a peripheral portion of the latter so as to form a second geometric figure defined by a further closed polygonal,
• an inflatable air chamber, arranged on said first releasable coupling means, where said air chamber is dimensioned to occupy a portion of said first releasable coupling means and extends along said first geometric figure.

[0024] In particular, said second geometric figure has size and shape such that, when said transparent material panel is coupled with said frame, said second releasable coupling means are coupled with said first releasable coupling means in correspondence of at least one portion straddled on said air chamber.

[0025] Said air chamber has an inlet, arranged externally to said first releasable coupling means, to allow the passage of a quantity of air or gas inside said air chamber so that said air chamber moves from a first condition, in which said air chamber is deflated, so that said second releasable coupling means are coupled with said first releasable coupling means and said transparent material panel is coupled with said frame, to a second condition, in which said air chamber is inflated, so that said second releasable coupling means are at least partially separated from said first releasable coupling means and said transparent material panel is at least partially uncoupled from said frame.

[0026] It is preferable that said second geometric figure is equal to said first geometric figure.

[0027] With reference to said first releasable coupling means, said first releasable coupling means can comprise a seat for housing said air chamber.

[0028] In particular, said first releasable coupling means can comprise a first strip of fabric having a first rigid bottom and a plurality of loops extending from said first rigid bottom, and said second releasable coupling means can comprise a second strip of fabric provided with a second rigid bottom and a plurality of hooks extending from said second rigid bottom.

[0029] More particularly, said first releasable coupling means and said second releasable coupling means constitute the two components of a closure device known as Velcro©.

[0030] Object of the present invention is also to provide a method for coupling in a removable manner a transparent material panel, in particular a glass panel, with a frame, in particular a frame of a wheeled railway vehicle.

[0031] It is therfore object of the invention a method for removably coupling a transparent material panel, in particular a glass panel, with a frame, in particular a frame of a wheeled railway vehicle, where said method comprises the following steps:

A) providing a frame, in particular a train frame, having an opening,

B) applying first releasable coupling means on said frame, around said opening , in such a way as to form a first geometric figure defined by a closed polygonal,

C) applying an inflatable air chamber on said first releasable coupling means, wherein said air chamber is dimensioned to occupy a portion of said first releasable coupling means and extends along said first geometric figure; said air chamber having an inlet, arranged externally to said first releasable coupling means, to allow the passage of a quantity of air or gas inside said air chamber so that said air chamber moves from a first condition, in which said air chamber s deflated, to a second condition, in which said air chamber is inflated, and vice versa;

D) providing a transparent material panel dimensioned to cover said opening and a predetermined portion of said frame arranged around said opening;

E) applying second releasable coupling means on a peripheral portion of said transparent material panel, configured to be coupled/uncoupled to/from said first releasable coupling means, in such a way as to form a second geometric figure defined by a further polygonal closed;

F) coupling said transparent material panel with said frame in such a way that said second releasable coupling means are coupled with said first releasable coupling means in correspondence of at least a portion straddled on said air chamber.

[0032] The present invention will be now described, for illustrative, but not limitative purposes, according to its embodiment, making particular reference to the enclosed figures, wherein:

Figure 1 shows the coupling system, object of the invention, comprising a frame provided with first releasble coupling means and an air chamber arranged on said first releasable coupling means, and a glass panel provided with second releasable coupling means;

Figure 2 shows the glass panel coupled with the frame;

Figure 3 is a section of the coupling system of figure 2 to show the air chambre when it is deflated;

Figure 4 shows the glass panel coupled with the frame, when a quantity of air has been injected in said air chamber so that the latter is inflated and allow to separate the glass panel from the frame;

Figure 5 is a section of the coupling system of Figure 4 to show that the air chambre is inflated;

Figure 6 show the glass panel uncoupled from the frame and grasped from two operators.

[0033] With particular reference to Figure 1, a coupling system for coupling a transparent material panel with a frame is disclosed.

[0034] In the example being disclosed, said transparent material panel is a glass panel and said frame is a train frame.

[0035] Said coupling system comprises:

• a frame 1 having an opening 10 and provided with first releasable coupling means 11, where said first releasable coupling means 11 are arranged on said frame 1, around said opening 10, so as to form a first geometric figure defined by a closed polygonal,
• a transparent material panel 2 dimensioned to cover said opening 10 and a predetermined portion of said frame 1 arranged around said opening 10, as well as provided with second releasable coupling means 21, configured to be coupled/uncoupled to/from said first releasable coupling means 11, where said second releasable coupling means 21 are arranged on said transparent panel material 2 in a peripheral portion of the latter so as to form a second geometric figure defined by a further closed polygonal,
• an inflatable air chamber 12, arranged on said first releasable coupling means 11, where said air chamber 12 is dimensioned to occupy a portion of said first coupling means 11 and extends along said first geometric figure.

[0036] In the example being described, said second geometric figure is equal to said first geometrical figure, so that, when said glass panel 2 is coupled to said frame 1, said second releasable coupling means 21 are coupled with said first releasable coupling means 11. Accordingly, said further polygonal and said polygonal are equal.

[0037] However, it is not necessary for said second geometric figure to be equal to said first geometric figure, but it is necessary that said second geometric figure is of has size and shape such that, when said glass panel 2 is coupled with said frame 1, said second releasable coupling means 21 are coupled with said first releasable coupling means 11 in correspondence of at least one portion straddled on said air chamber 12.

[0038] In the embodiment being described, said peripheral portion of said glass panel 2 has shape and size such that when said glass panel 2 is coupled with said frame 1, said peripheral portion is overlapped with said predetermined portion of said frame.

[0039] In particular, when said glass pan 2 is coupled with said frame 1, said second releasable coupling means 21 are coupled with said first releasable coupling means 11 so as to be overlapped.

[0040] As can be seen from Figure 1, in the embodiment being described, said first releasable coupling means 11 and said second releasable coupling means 21 form a rectangular geometric figure.

[0041] Said first releasable coupling means 11 and said second releasable coupling means 21 are configured to be coupled/uncoupled each other.

[0042] In particular, in the embodiment being described, said first releasable coupling means 11 comprise a first strip of fabric having a first rigid bottom 11 A and a plurality of loops 11 B extending from said first rigid bottom 11 A.

[0043] Said second releasable coupling means 21 comprise a second strip of fabric provided with a second rigid bottom 21 A and a plurality of hooks 21 B extending from said second rigid bottom 21 A.

[0044] In other words, said first releasable coupling means 11 and said second releasable coupling means 21 constitute the two components of a closure device marketed under the name Velcro©

[0045] Advantageously, the two components of said closure device do not separate by traction but by peeling and the structure of the coupling system allows said two components to be separated by peeling through the action of the air chamber.

[0046] When said glass panel 21 is coupled with said frame 11, the hooks 21 B of said second releasable coupling means 21 engage with the loops 11 B of said first releasable coupling means 11.

[0047] In order to uncouple said glass panel 21 from said frame 11, a force is required to release hooks 21 B of said second releasable coupling means 21 from loops 11 B of said first releasable coupling means 11.

[0048] As already mentioned, said coupling system further comprises an inflatable air chamber 12, applied on said first releasable coupling means 11, sized to occupy a portion of said first releasable coupling means 11 and extends along said first figure geometric.

[0049] In particular, the air chamber 12 has an inlet 12A to allow the passage of an amount of air or gas (preferably compressed air or compressed gas) inside the air chamber 12, so that, through said inlet 12A, the air chamber 12 can be inflated and deflated when needed.

[0050] Said inlet 12A is arranged externally to said first releasable coupling means 11.

[0051] In the example being described, said air chamber 12 is inflated by air and said inlet 12A is configured to allow the connection with air blowing means to injected air into said air chamber.

[0052] The air chamber 12 can pass from a first condition, in which said air chamber 12 is deflated, so that said second releasable coupling means 21 are coupled with said first releasable coupling means 11 and said glass panel 2 is coupled with said frame 1, to a second condition, in which said air chamber 12 is inflated, so that said second releasable coupling means 21 are at least partially separated by said first releasable coupling means 11 and said glass panel 2 is at least partially uncoupled from said frame 1.

[0053] Although not shown in Figures, said first releasable means 11 can be provided with a seat for housing said air chamber 12, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0054] Figure 2 shows the coupling system when the glass panel 2 is coupled with the frame 1.

[0055] As can been seen from Figure 2, the inlet 12A of the air chamber is external to said first releasable coupling means 11.

[0056] Figure 3 show a particular of the coupling system when the glass panel 2 is coupled with the frame 1.

[0057] Said first releasable coupling means 11 are coupled with said second releasable coupling means 21 and said air chamber 12, arranged on said first releasable coupling means 11, is deflated.

[0058] Figure 4 shows the coupling system when the air chamber 12 has been deflated.

[0059] An amount of air has been injected into said air chamber 12 by means of air blowing means (not shown) connected to the inlet 12A of the air chamber itself.

[0060] As an amount of air is injected into air chamber 12, said air chamber 12 tends to inflate, and when the air chamber 12 is inflated, said glass panel 2 separates from said frame 1, because said second realasable coupling means 21 separate from said first releasable eans 11.

[0061] In other words, the hooks 21 B of said second releasable coupling means 21 separate from the loops 11 B of said first releasable means 11.

[0062] Figure 5 shows a particular of the coupling system, when the air chamber is inflated.

[0063] Accordingly, the glass panel 2 is separated from the frame 1.

[0064] Figure 6 shows to operators grasping the glass panel 2 uncoupled from frame 1.

[0065] The present invention relates also a method for removably coupling a transparent material, in particular a glass panel, with a frame, in particular a train frame.

[0066] Said method comprises the following steps:

A) providing a frame 1, in particular a train frame, having an opening 10,

B) applying first releasable coupling means 11 on said frame 1, around said opening 10, in such a way as to form a first geometric figure defined by a closed polygonal,

C) applying an inflatable air chamber 12 on said first releasable coupling means 11, wherein said air chamber 12 is dimensioned to occupy a portion of said first releasable coupling means 11 and extends along said first geometric figure; said air chamber 12 having an inlet 12A, arranged externally to said first releasable coupling means, to allow the passage of a quantity of air or gas inside said air chamber 12 so that said air chamber 12 moves from a first condition, in which said air chamber 12 is deflated, to a second condition, in which said air chamber 12 is inflated, and vice versa;

D) providing a transparent material panel 2, I particular a glass panel, dimensioned to cover said opening 10 and a predetermined portion of said frame 1 arranged around said opening 10;

E) applying second releasable coupling means 21 on a peripheral portion of said transparent material panel 2, configured to be coupled/uncoupled to/from said first releasable coupling means 11, in such a way as to form a second geometric figure defined by a further polygonal closed;

F) coupling said transparent material panel 2 with said frame 1 in such a way that said second releasable coupling means 21 are coupled with said first releasable coupling means 11 in correspondence of at least a portion straddled on said air chamber 12.

[0067] Advantageously, as already said, the coupling system, object of the invention, allow to couple/uncouple simply a transparent material panel, in particular a glass panel, with a frame, in particular a frame of a wheeled railway vehicle.

[0068] A second advantage is given by the fact said coupling system allows to couple a transparent material panel having any thickness with a frame.

[0069] In the specific case in which said transparent material is a glass panel and the frame is the train frame, a third advantage is given by the fact that it is not necessary a trained staff to remove said glass panel from the train frame.

[0070] Furthermore, a fourth advnatage is given by the possibilità to remove a glass panel and replace said glass panel with a further glass panel in any moment and in any location, without the need of leading the train in the workshop.

[0071] A further advantage is given by the fact that it is not necessary any structural adhesive to fix the glass panel to the coach of the train and then it is not necessary to wait for the dryng time of the latter.

[0072] The present invention has been described for illustrative, but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that variations and/or modifications can be carried out by a skilled in the art, without departing from the scope thereof, as defined according to enclosed claims.

Claims

1. Coupling system for removably coupling a transparent material panel (2), in particular a glass panel, with a frame (1), in particular a frame of a wheeled railway vehicle, said coupling system comprising:

- a frame (1) provided with an opening (10) and with first releasable coupling means (11), where said first releasable coupling means (11) are arranged on said frame (1), around said opening (10), so as to form a first geometric figure defined by a closed polygonal,

- a transparent material panel (2) dimensioned to cover said opening (10) and a predetermined portion of said frame (1) arranged around said opening (10), as well as provided with second releasable coupling means (21), configured to be coupled/uncoupled to/from said first releasable coupling means (11), where said second releasable coupling means (21) are arranged on said transparent panel material (2) in a peripheral portion of the latter so as to form a second geometric figure defined by a further closed polygonal,

- an inflatable air chamber (12), arranged on said first releasable coupling means (11), where said air chamber (12) is dimensioned to occupy a portion of said first releasable coupling means (11) and extends along said first geometric figure;

where
said second geometric figure has size and shape such that, when said transparent material panel (2) is coupled with said frame (1), said second releasable coupling means (21) are coupled with said first releasable coupling means (11) in correspondence of at least one portion straddled on said air chamber (12), and
said air chamber (12) has an inlet (12A), arranged externally to said first releasable coupling means (11), to allow the passage of a quantity of air or gas inside said air chamber (12) so that said air chamber (12) moves from a first condition, in which said air chamber (12) is deflated, so that said second releasable coupling means (21) are coupled with said first releasable coupling means (11) and said transparent material panel (2) is coupled with said frame (1), to a second condition, in which said air chamber (12) is inflated, so that said second releasable coupling means (21) are at least partially separated from said first releasable coupling means (11) and said transparent material panel (2) is at least partially uncoupled from said frame (1).

2. Coupling system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second geometric figure is equal to said first geometric figure.

3. Coupling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first releasable coupling means (11) comprise a seat for housing said air chamber (12).

4. Coupling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first releasable coupling means (11) comprise a first strip of fabric having a first rigid bottom (11 A) and a plurality of loops (11 B) extending from said first rigid bottom (11 A), and in that said second releasable coupling means (21) comprise a second strip of fabric provided with a second rigid bottom (21 A) and a plurality of hooks (21 B) extending from said second rigid bottom (21 A).

5. Coupling system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said first releasable coupling means (11) and said second releasable coupling means (21) constitute the two components of a closure device known as Velcro©.

6. Method for removably coupling a transparent material panel (2), in particular a glass panel, to a frame (1), in particular the frame of a wheeled railway vehicle, said method comprising the following steps:

A) providing a frame (1), in particular a train frame, having an opening (10),

B) applying first releasable coupling means (11) on said frame (1), around said opening (10), in such a way as to form a first geometric figure defined by a closed polygonal,

C) applying an inflatable air chamber (12) on said first releasable coupling means (11), wherein said air chamber (12) is dimensioned to occupy a portion of said first releasable coupling means (11) and extends along said first geometric figure; said air chamber (12) having an inlet (12A), arranged externally to said first releasable coupling means (11), to allow the passage of a quantity of air or gas inside said air chamber (12) so that said air chamber (12) moves from a first condition, in which said air chamber (12) is deflated, to a second condition, in which said air chamber (12) is inflated, and vice versa;

D) providing a transparent material panel (2) dimensioned to cover said opening (10) and a predetermined portion of said frame (1) arranged around said opening (10);

E) applying second releasable coupling means (21) on a peripheral portion of said transparent material panel (2), configured to be coupled/uncoupled to/from said first releasable coupling means (11), in such a way as to form a second geometric figure defined by a further polygonal closed;

F) coupling said transparent material panel (2) with said frame (1) in such a way that said second releasable coupling means (21) are coupled with said first releasable coupling means (11) in correspondence of at least a portion straddled on said air chamber (12).

Drawing