Technology of articulated transit buses

264 Pages·2015·12.96 MB·English

by  Gundersen, Richard G

DEPARTMENT of
-MA-06-0120-82-4
transportation
HE
SC-UMTA-82-17
8. b
1 JUL
.\37 1983
no.
DOT-
LIBRARY
TSC-
\-
J :aT
8?- Technology of
U.S.Department Articulated Transit Buses
ofTransportation
Urban Mass
Transportation
Administration
Office of Technical Assistance Prepared by:
Office of Bus and Paratransit Systems Transportation Systems Center
Washington DC 20590 Urban Systems Division
October 1982
Final Report
NOTICE
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship
of the Department of Transportation in the interest
of information exchange. The United States Govern-
ment assumes no liability for its contents or use
thereof.
NOTICE
The United States Government does not endorse prod-
ucts or manufacturers Trade or manufacturers 1
.
nam&s appear herein solely because they are con-
sidered essential to the object of this report.
4 v 3
A2>7
?? 7
AST*
- c
V ST‘ (*c Technical Report Documentation Page
1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No.
UMTA-MA-06-0120-82-
4. Title and Subtitie ~6. Report Date
DEPARTMENT OF October 1982
TECHNOLOGY OF ARTICULATED TRANSIT BUSES I
TRANSPORTATION 6. Performing Organization Code
TSC/DTS-6
JUL 1983 j
8 Performing Organization Report No.
.
7. Author's) DOT-TSC-UMTA-82-17
Richard G. Gundersen
|
t |kh aR
9. Performing Organization Name and Address jjo. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
UM262/R2653
U.S. Department of Transportation
Research and Special Programs Administration 11. Contract or Grant No.
Transportation Systems Center
Cambridge MA 02142 13. Type of Report and Period Covered
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
U.S. Department of Transportation Final Report
Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Office of Technical Assistance
Office of Bus and Paratransit Systems 14. Sponsoring Agency Code
URT-20
Washington DC 20590
15. Supplementary Notes
DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
16. Abstract
JUL 1983
I
s
[
LIBRARY
This study assembles technical informatilon to increase thfe transit community's
awareness and understanding of the articuTated transit coach and its emerging
role in urban transportation. The report is organized to provide information
on: 1) status of deployment of articulated transit coaches in this country;
2) design and performance aspects of this type of vehicle; and 3) general
experiences in the operation and maintenance of articulated buses.
17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement
Articulated transit bus design, DOCUMENT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
IS
performance, O&M THROUGH THE NATIONALTECHN CAL
INFORMATION SERV CE, SPR NGFI ELD,
VIRGINIA 22161 I 1 I
19. Security Clossif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 258
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

PREFACE
This study was conducted to assemble technical information to increase the
transit communities’ awareness and understanding of the articulated transit
coach and its emerging role in urban transportation. This study was initiated
and sponsored by UMTA’s Office of Bus and Paratransit Systems.
The report is organized to provide an understanding of: status of deploy-
1 )
ment of articulated transit coaches in this country; 2 design and performance
)
aspects of this type of vehicle; and 3 ) general experiences in the operation
and maintenance of articulated buses.
The report was prepared by the Urban Systems Division of the Transportation
Systems Center. Important contributions in the identification of foreign
producers of articulated buses and the development of comparative specifica-
tions (Appendix A & B) were made by Mr. Ted Hawkes, President of Transporta-
tion Equipment Development Company.
ill
FACTORS
CONVERSION
METRIC
IV
REPORT OUTLINE
Page
.0 INTRODUCTION
1 1
2.0 PURPOSE
5
3.0 OVERVIEW OF ARTICULATED TRANSIT BUS DEPLOYMENT
6
IN THE U.S.
3.1 Current Status of Articulated Bus Fleet 6
3.2 Future Trends in Articulated Bus Deployment 17
4.0 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTICULATED BUS TECHNOLOGY
4.1 Brief Profile of U.S. Manufacturers 23
4.2 Manufacturing Techniques 25
4.3 Propulsion Configurations 27
4.4 Articulated Bus Capacity 29
4.5 Maneuverability and Handling 31
4.6 Braking and Weight Distribution 35
4.7 Articulated Joint 35
4.8 Miscellaneous Design Characteristics 40
5.0 OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE CHARACTERISTICS 43
.....
5.1 Operational Characteristics 43
5.1.1 Fuel Economy 44
.
5.1.2 Bus Scheduling Concerns 44
5.1.3 Stability in High Speed Operation 45
5.1.4 Rear Side "Swing-out" 46
5.1.5 Passenger Acceptance 47
5.1.6 Fare Collection 47
5.1.7 Institutional Concerns 48
5.2 Maintenance Characteristics 53
5.2.1 Servicing, Inspection and Storage 53
....
5.2.2 Transmission Reliability and Maintenance 54
5.2.3 Air Conditioning Reliability and Maintenance 55
. . ,
5.2.4 Accessory Belt Drives 56
5.2.5 Parts Cost and Delivery 56
5.2.6 Body Repair 58
5.2.7 Brake and Tire Life 58
5.2.8 Articulated Joint
59
6.0 MISCELLANEOUS TECHNICAL INFORMATION
65
7.0 FINDINGS AND CONSIDERATIONS 73
V
REPORT OUTLINE (CONTINUED)
Page
APPENDIX A - REPRESENTATIVE LIST OF NORTH AMERICAN AND A-l
EUROPEAN ARTICULATED BUS MANUFACTURERS
APPENDIX B - DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF B-l
SELECTED ARTICULATED TRANSIT BUSES
Vi
1
LIST OF FIGURES
Figuie
Page
1 Distribution of Domestic Fleet of Articulated 11
Transit Buses
2 Relative Contract Prices: Articulated and 15
Conventional Transit Coaches
3 Characteristics of the U.S. Articulated Bus 19
Market in the U.S.
4 Representative Bus Chassis 26
Propulsion Configurations
5 27
6 Relative Bus Sizes 32
Turning Envelope
7 32
Swing-Out with Steered Rear Axle
8 33
Swing-Out with Fixed Rear Axle
9 33
10 Articulated Bus Operation on Ramps 35
Relative Movement of Articulated Joint 36
1
12 M.A.N. Chassis 38
13 Renault Chassis 40
14 Neoplan Articulated Double Decker Bus 69
15 Maintenance of Articulated Bus Mechanism 72
Using Portable Lift Equipment
Vll
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
Chronology of Articulated Bus Experiences in the U.S. 3
1
2 Procurement History of U.S. Articulated Transit Buses 7
Comparison of Passenger Capability 30
3
4 Relative Capacities of Articulated and Conventional 31
Buses at Equal Passenger Comfort Levels
5 Representative Turning Radii 34
6 Summary of Operational Experiences of Articulated Buses 49
in the U.S.
7 Summary of Servicing and Maintenance Experiences 60
B Summary Design, Dimensional and Performance B-l
Characteristics (Appendix B)
vii
i