Apparatus for reducing gaps between a platform and a guided vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus for reducing the gap between a platform and a guided vehicle has a horizontal row of parallel blades whose roots are rigidly fixed to the platform, having a resilient bending stiffness in a vertical direction which is greater than a bending stiffness in an horizontal direction parallel to the row. Each blade is of elastomer material containing one or more inserts for presenting lower resistance to bending in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction. In a modified embodiment the apparatus has a mechanical actuator having a rest state and an active state. The actuator is coupled to the blades in such a manner that the blades are curved in one of the active state and rest state and project from the platform through a distance that is smaller than when the actuator is in the other of the active state and rest state.

1 . Apparatus for reducing a gap between a platform and a guided vehicle, comprising a horizontal row of parallel resilient blades having roots rigidly fixed to the platform, each of said blades being made of elastomer material containing one or more inserts having a resistance to bending in a vertical direction which is greater than a resistance to bending in an horizontal direction parallel to said row.  
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the blades have a bending stiffness in the vertical direction greater than a bending stiffness of the blades in a transverse direction by at least one order of magnitude.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the blades are arranged and located to be forcibly bent by the vehicle while the vehicle is going past the row in proximity to the platform.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus for reducing a gap between a platform and a guided vehicle, comprising: 
 a horizontal row of parallel resilient blades having roots rigidly fixed to the platform, the blades having a bending stiffness in a vertical direction which is greater than a bending stiffness in a horizontal direction, and    a mechanical actuator having a rest state and an active state, said actuator being coupled to the blades in such a manner that the blades are curved in one of the active state and rest state and project from the platform through a first distance that is smaller than a second distance through which blades project from the platform when the actuator is in the other of the active state and rest state.    
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the actuator is designed to bring the blades into a state in which they are substantially straight and the blades have a resiliency tending to return said blades to a condition in which they are curved.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , in which the actuator has a drive member for moving from a rest position to an active position in which it straightens out the blades.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , in which the actuator comprises a drive member coupled to the blades via at least one pulling cable or rod extending in a direction of the row and coupled to the blades at a point intermediate between roots and tips of said blades.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , in which the inserts are made of plates that are thin in the horizontal direction.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , in which the blades are integral with a base member of elastomer material reinforced by a core.