Methods and apparatus for ventilating carriages

A ventilation control device as for a high-speed carriage, the ventilation control device comprising:

• means for defining a ventilation duct through which a ventilation air flow can flow;
• shutter means movable between an open position for enabling ventilation air to flow through the ventilation duct and a closed position for closing the ventilation duct;
• means for moving the shutter means from the open position to the closed position;
• movable air flow sensing means disposed in the ventilation duct for moving in response to ventilation air flow sensing the movement corresponding to the ventilation air flow in the ventilation duct, comprising a deflectable flap disposed int he ventilation duct, said deflectable flap comprises a leaf spring;
• and
• initiating means connected to the shutter means for moving the shutter, said initiating means being responsive to the movement of the movable air flow sensing means, the initiating means moving said means for moving the shutter means to said closed position after the ventilation air flow exceeds a predetermined ventilation air flow.

A train carriage having a ventilation system, said ventilation system comprising:

• an intake duct for conducting ventilation air from an exterior of the train carriage to an interior of the train carriage;
• an exhaust duct for conducting the ventilation air from the interior of the train carriage to the exterior of the train carriage;
• an intake blower for blowing the ventilation air through the intake duct;
• an exhaust blower for blowing the ventilation air through the exhaust duct;
• intake air flow sensing means disposed in the intake duct for sensing the flow of the ventilation air, said intake air flow sensing means comprising means for determining when a flow of the ventilation air in the intake duct is equal to a first predetermined threshold value;
• exhaust air flow sensing means disposed in the exhaust duct for sensing the flow of the ventilation air, said exhaust air flow sensing means comprising means for determining when the flow of the ventilation air in the exhaust duct is equal to a second predetermined threshold value;
• an intake shutter operatively connected to the intake air flow sensing means and responsive thereto to close off the intake duct when the flow of the ventilation air is equal to the first predetermined threshold value, and
• an exhaust shutter operatively connected to the exhaust air flow sensing means and responsive thereto to close off the exhaust duct when the flow of the ventilation air is equal to the second predetermined threshold value.

A method of ventilation a high-speed carriage, said high-speed carriage including a intake duct and an exhaust duct, each of said intake duct and said exhaust duct having a movable sensing member, the method comprising the steps of:

• blowing air from an exterior of the high-speed carriage to a interior of the high-speed carriage through the intake duct;
• blowing air from the interior of the high-speed carriage to the exterior of the high-speed carriage through the exhaust duct;
• directing the blown air in the exhaust duct and in the intake duct against the movable sensing member of each of the intake duct and the exhaust duct respectively;
• blocking one of the intake duct and exhaust duct when the movable sensing member moves a predetermined distance by placing one of the intake duct and the exhaust duct in a closed position;
• holding one of the intake duct and the exhaust duct at the closed position for a predetermined time period, and
• re-opening one of the intake duct and the exhaust duct to allow resumption of air flow therein.

A ventilating device for a high-speed train carriage comprising:

• means for defining a ventilation duct;
• a fan for blowing air through the ventilation duct;
• a movable shutter to open and close the ventilation duct;
• driving means for driving the movable shutter;
• a movable flap, extending across the ventilation duct, and moved by an air flow through the ventilation duct against a restoring force, and
• means responsive to the movement of the movable flap for actuating the driving means to move the movable shutter to close the ventilation duct, after the movable flap has moved a predetermined amount.

An ventilating device for ventilating an interior of a high-speed carriage having a ventilating duct communicating between an interior and an exterior of the high-speed carriage, the ventilating device comprising;

• a shutter adapted to open and close said ventilation duct;
• a sensing device having a movable member moved by air flow between the interior of the high-speed carriage and the exterior of the high-speed carriage;
• and
• closure-initiating means actuated by the sensing device only after the movable member moves a predetermined amount, said closure-initiating means controlling the shutter to close the ventilating duct.