Crash module for a rail vehicle

1. A crash module for a rail vehicle, comprising:

a front impact plate;

a rear connecting plate;

a crash element disposed between the front impact plate and the rear connecting plate; and

a plate-shaped guide element disposed between the front impact plate and the rear connecting plate, wherein the plate-shaped guide element is essentially oriented in a longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle,

wherein the guide element is a solid metal sheet, and

wherein the guide element has a U-shaped cross-section with a top flange and a bottom flange.

2. The crash module as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

anti-climbing devices disposed on the front impact plate.

3. The crash module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the guide element is essentially rectangular in shape.

4. The crash module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the guide element is disposed vertically.

5. The crash module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the guide element has at least one predetermined deformation zone.

6. The crash module as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the predetermined deformation zone is aligned essentially vertically.

7. The crash module as claimed in claim 5 , wherein one predetermined deformation zone is a plastic hinge.

8. The crash module as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the plastic hinge is implemented in the form of a plastic hinge line and cutouts in the top flange and in the bottom flange normal to the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle.

9. The crash module as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a predetermined deformation zone is a mechanical hinge.

10. The crash module as claimed in claim 5 , wherein at least one predetermined deformation zone is disposed on the guide element such that the guide element is subdivided into two element areas.

11. The crash module as claimed in claim 10 , wherein

one predetermined deformation zone is located at the junction between the two element areas of the guide element,

one predetermined deformation zone is disposed in the region of an attachment point of the guide element to the front impact plate, and

one predetermined deformation zone is located in the region of the attachment point of the guide element to the rear connecting plate, the region of the respective attachment point extending to the point on the guide element that is one third of the overall length of the guide element away from the respective attachment point.

12. The crash module as claimed in claim 11 , wherein at least one of the predetermined deformation zones is implemented as a plastic hinge or as a mechanical hinge.

13. The crash module as claimed in claim 10 , wherein

one predetermined deformation zone is located at an attachment point of the guide element to the front impact plate,

one predetermined deformation zone is disposed at the attachment point of the guide element to the rear connecting plate, and

one predetermined deformation zone is located at the junction between the at least two element areas of the guide element.

14. The crash module as claimed in claim 13 , wherein at least one of the predetermined deformation zones is implemented as a plastic hinge or as a mechanical hinge.

15. The crash module as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the guide element has three predetermined deformation zones.

16. The crash module as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

two crash elements;

two guide elements with a U-shaped cross-section, wherein

the two crash elements are disposed side by side such that there is a gap between the crash elements,

the guide elements are disposed in the gap with each guide element disposed close to one crash element,

each guide element is connected to the front impact plate and the rear connecting plate, and

the guide elements include a predetermined deformation zone on a plastic hinge line at connection points to the front impact plate, the connecting plate and in a center.

17. The crash module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped guide element is rigidly connected to the front impact plate and the rear connecting plate.

18. The crash module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped guide element is disposed in the crash module such that it rests against the front impact plate and the rear connecting plate with an end area facing the front impact plate and the rear connecting plate and the respective end areas are pushed and rotated against the front impact plate and the rear connecting plate.

19. The crash module as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the respective end areas of the guide element are attached to the front impact plate and the rear connecting plate by fastening means.