Articulated Bus

Overview

An articulated bus is a transit vehicle built in two rigid body sections joined by a pivoting hinge, so it can carry far more passengers than a rigid bus while still negotiating ordinary city corners. The join is the defining feature: a load-bearing turntable, a damped central pivot, and a concertina bellows that seals the gap and lets passengers walk freely between the two halves. The low-floor layout, step-free from kerb to aisle, speeds boarding for crowds, wheelchairs, and strollers. These buses run busy trunk routes and bus-rapid-transit corridors where a single high-capacity vehicle replaces two standard ones.

How it works

The bus is two modules. The Front Body Section carries the driver, front doors, and the steered front axle; the Rear Body Section holds the engine bay and the driven and trailing axles. Between them, the Articulation Joint joint lets the sections swing relative to each other through a slewing-ring turntable, while hydraulic dampers resist jackknifing and a bellows keeps weather out of the gangway.

Power comes from the rear-mounted Diesel/CNG Engine, a turbocharged inline-six burning diesel or compressed natural gas, feeding the Transmission and its retarder. Torque reaches the road through the Drive Axle, the centre "pusher" axle, whose portal final drive keeps the floor low. The Front Steer Axle guides the front, and a rear Rear Tag Axle shares the load and often steers to tighten the turning circle. Every axle rides on Air Suspension that kneels at stops, and Air Brakes clamp disc brakes at all wheels. Inside, the Passenger Area provides seating, stanchions, and powered doors, the HVAC conditions both halves, and the driver works from the Driver Area. A 24 V Electrical System system runs the multiplex network across the joint.