# US 9,434,392 B2 · Collision energy absorption column and railroad vehicle provided with the collision energy absorption column > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,392 B2 - Document ID: US9434392B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/351,680 - Filed: 2013-06-12 - Published: 2014-09-04 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-13 - Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Toshiyuki Hirashima; Seiichi Hayashi; Hitoshi Nagahara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434392B2 ## CPC - B61D 45/008: {Shock absorbing devices} - B61D 15/06: Buffer cars; Arrangements or construction of railway vehicles for protecting them in case of collisions (buffers B61G11/00) - B61D 17/00: Construction details of vehicle bodies (for tank wagons B61D5/00; for hopper cars B61D7/00; body details specially adapted for tipping wagons B61D9/06; for mine cars B61D11/00) - B61D 17/04: with bodies of metal; with composite, e.g. metal and wood body structures - B61D 17/06: End walls - B61D: BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F) ## Abstract A collision energy absorption column is provided on an end side of a railroad vehicle structure and extends from an end beam toward a roof structure. The collision energy absorption column includes a metal outer member having a transverse cross section of a channel shape, and an inner member made of reinforced plastic provided along an inner circumference of the outer member and extending in parallel with the outer member. The outer member is configured by joining two column halves extending along a column axis after arranging the two column halves are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the column axis of the outer member. The joined part of the column halves extends along the column axis. The outer member is coupled to the end beam and roof by a fastener. The inner member extends between the end beam and a part of the roof structure, excluding the fastening parts. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A collision energy absorption column to be provided in an end part of a railroad vehicle and extend from an end beam toward a roof structure, comprising: an outer member made of metal, the outer member having a channel shape or a hollow shape in a transverse cross section thereof; and an inner member made of reinforced plastic, the inner member being provided along an inner circumference of the outer member and extending in parallel with the outer member, wherein the outer member includes a first area to be coupled to the roof structure, and a second area to be coupled to the end beam, the first and second areas being end parts in a longitudinal direction of the column, the inner member is configured to extend between an upper part of the end beam and a lower part of the roof structure, excluding the first area and the second area, and the outer member at the first and second areas includes through holes, and the inner member has upper and lower ends terminated short of the first and the second areas. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The collision energy absorption column of claim 1, wherein the roof structure is to be coupled to the first area and the underframe is to be coupled to the second area, by a mechanical fastener, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The collision energy absorption column of claim 1, wherein the outer member is formed by joining two column halves extending along a column axis after the two column halves are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the column axis of the outer member, and a joined part of the column halves extends along the column axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The collision energy absorption column of claim 3, wherein each of the column halves includes a first plate part extending along the column axis, and second mutually parallel plate parts extending from both sides of the first plate part, perpendicular to the first plate part, and wherein both the column halves are arranged opposed to each other in a load direction of a collision load, and are joined to each other at tip ends of the second plate parts, and a plate face of the first plate part faces in a receiving direction of the collision load. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The collision energy absorption column of claim 1, wherein the reinforced plastic is a plastic containing textiles and a volume content of the textiles is 60% or more. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The collision energy absorption column of claim 1, wherein the reinforced plastic is FRP containing CFRP or GFRP. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A railroad vehicle comprising the collision energy absorption column of claim 1, the column being a collision post standing from a underframe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The railroad vehicle further comprising a corner post standing between a side sill and an end beam, the corner post including the collision energy absorption column of claim 1. ### Claim 9 A collision energy absorption column to be provided in an end part of a railroad vehicle and extend from an end beam toward a roof structure, comprising: an outer member; and an inner member housed inside the outer member, the inner member having a higher tensile strength than a tensile strength of the outer member in a longitudinal direction of the column, and the inner member being lighter in weight and smaller in ductility than the outer member, wherein the outer member includes a first area to be coupled to the roof structure, and a second area to be coupled to the end beam, the first and second areas being end parts in a longitudinal direction of the column, the inner member is configured to extend between an upper part of the end beam and a lower part of the roof structure, excluding the first area and the second area, and the outer member at the first and second areas includes through holes, and the inner member has upper and lower ends terminated short of the first and the second areas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The collision energy absorption column of claim 9, wherein the roof structure is to be coupled to the first area and the underframe is to be coupled to the second area, by a mechanical fastener, respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The collision energy absorption column of claim 9, wherein the outer member is formed by joining two column halves extending along a column axis after the two column halves are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the column axis of the outer member, and a joined part of the column halves extends along the column axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The collision energy absorption column of claim 11, wherein each of the column halves includes a first plate part extending along the column axis, and second mutually parallel plate parts extending from both sides of the first plate part, perpendicular to the first plate part, and wherein both the column halves are arranged opposed to each other in a load direction of a collision load, and are joined to each other at tip ends of the second plate parts, and a plate face of the first plate part faces in a receiving direction of the collision load. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The collision energy absorption column of claim 9, wherein the reinforced plastic is a plastic containing textiles and a volume content of the textiles is 60% or more. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A railroad vehicle comprising the collision energy absorption column of claim 9, the column being a collision post standing from a underframe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The railroad vehicle further comprising a corner post standing between a side sill and an end beam, the corner post including the collision energy absorption column of claim 9.