Device for reducing the air resistance of rail vehicles

Abstract

A rail vehicle front end has a center buffer coupling with a free coupling end section such that the free coupling end section is connectable to a further center buffer coupling of a further rail vehicle front end. The center buffer coupling extends along a longitudinal axis in a rest position. The center buffer coupling is mounted in such a way that the free coupling end section can be pivoted with respect to the longitudinal axis. The rail vehicle front end has a front panel that radially surrounds the center buffer coupling at least in sections such that a front opening pointing substantially in the longitudinal direction is defined between the front panel and the center buffer coupling. A cover device for covering the front opening extending between a front panel and a center buffer coupling of a rail vehicle is also disclosed.

1 . A rail vehicle front end, comprising:
 a center buffer coupling with a free coupling end section such that the free coupling end section is connectable to a further center buffer coupling of a further rail vehicle front end;   the center buffer coupling extending along a longitudinal axis in a rest position;   the center buffer coupling being designed and mounted in such a way that the free coupling end section can be pivoted with respect to the longitudinal axis   a front panel radially surrounding the center buffer coupling at least in sections such that a front opening pointing substantially in the longitudinal direction is defined between the front panel and the center buffer coupling;   a cover device arranged in such a way that the front opening is at least partially covered by the cover device, the cover device comprises a through opening aligned in the longitudinal direction;   the free coupling end section of the center buffer projecting from an inside to an outside through the through opening of the cover device or is substantially flush with the through opening of the cover device; and   the cover device having at least a first rigid support element and at least a first fabric-like material section and a second fabric-like material section, the first fabric-like material section extending radially between the front panel and the first rigid support element at least in sections, the second fabric-like material section extending radially between the center buffer coupling and the first rigid support element at least in sections.   
     
     
         2 . The rail vehicle front end according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cover device is connected to the front panel via a radial outer edge of the cover device or abuts the front panel; and   the cover device is connected to the center buffer coupling via a radial inner edge of the cover device or abuts the center buffer coupling.   
     
     
         3 . The rail vehicle front end according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover device is arranged within the rail vehicle front end in such a way that the first rigid support element is arranged in a manner axially spaced from a region of the first fabric-like material section and axially spaced from a region of the second fabric-like material section. 
     
     
         4 . The rail vehicle front end according to  claim 1 , wherein the first rigid support element is arranged at least in sections within the front opening such that the first rigid support element is radially surrounded by the rail vehicle front end at least in sections. 
     
     
         5 . The rail vehicle front end according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cover device has at least a second rigid support element;   the second rigid support element defines a through opening;   the second rigid support element is arranged in such a way that the center buffer coupling projects through the through opening; and   the center buffer coupling and the cover device are arranged in such a way that pivoting the center buffer coupling with respect to the longitudinal axis causes a change in position and/or orientation of the second rigid support element.   
     
     
         6 . The rail vehicle front end according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover device comprises:
 a first module which covers a first region of the front opening; and   a second module which covers a second region of the front opening;   wherein;   the first region and the second region of the front opening are not congruent; and   the first module of the cover device and the second module of the cover device, via a closure device, are connectable to one another and are detachable from one another in a non-destructive manner.   
     
     
         7 . A cover device for covering a front opening extending between a front panel and a center buffer coupling of a rail vehicle, comprising:
 the cover device having a through opening aligned in a longitudinal direction;   the cover device being configured such that the front opening can be covered at least in sections by the cover device;   the cover device having at least a first rigid support element, and at least a first fabric-like material section and a second fabric-like material section;   the cover device being configured to be arranged on the rail vehicle in such a way that the first fabric-like material section is arranged at least in sections radially between the front panel and the first rigid support element; and   the cover device being configured in such a way that the second fabric-like material section can be arranged at least in sections radially between the center buffer coupling and the first rigid support element.   
     
     
         8 . The cover device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first fabric-like material section, the second fabric-like material section and the first rigid support element are components of a bellows. 
     
     
         9 . The cover device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first fabric-like material section and the second fabric-like material section are arranged in such a way that they each have a fold or a corrugation. 
     
     
         10 . The cover device according to  claim 9 , wherein the folds or corrugations of the first and second material sections are configured such a way that a respective center of curvature of a fold or corrugation is arranged between the longitudinal axis and an apex of the fold or an apex of the corrugation. 
     
     
         11 . The cover device according to  claim 7 , wherein the cover device is configured such that it is connectable to the front panel on an outside or can be placed against the front panel. 
     
     
         12 . The cover device according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover device is configured in such a way that it is connectable to the center buffer coupling on an inside or can be placed against the center buffer coupling. 
     
     
         13 . The cover device according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first material section is connected to the first rigid support element in a form-fitting, force-fitting or material-fitting manner; and   the second material section is connected to the first rigid support element in a form-fitting, force-fitting or material-fitting manner.   
     
     
         14 . The cover device according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first material section is connected to the first rigid support element in the force-fitting manner; and   the second material section is connected to the first rigid support element in the force-fitting manner.   
     
     
         15 . The cover device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first rigid support element is self-supporting. 
     
     
         16 . The cover device according to  claim 15 , wherein the entire cover device is self-supporting. 
     
     
         17 . The cover device according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the cover device has a plurality of rigid support elements; and   the first or the second fabric-like material section extends between at least one adjacent pair of rigid support elements.   
     
     
         18 . The cover device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first rigid support element is a closed ring which surrounds a circular, elliptical or polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
         19 . The cover device according to  claim 18 , wherein the closed ring surrounds the rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         20 . The cover device according to  claim 18 , wherein all rigid support elements are closed rings.