Platform gap filler

Abstract

A platform gap filler comprising an elongate body with a series of perpendicular fingers including a reinforcing element to reduce the vertical deflection of fingers whilst still allowing lateral deflection. The reinforcing elements are preferably attached to an embedded mounting bar. A cover over the fingers prevents point loads from passing through the fingers.

Description

Platform Gap FillerFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to railway infrastructure and in particular a gap filler to fill the gap between a railway carriage and a platform.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Gaps between railway carriages and platforms are essential to ensure that the two do not collide. Historically a gap of around 100mm has been used to allow for the many factors that could affect the gap such as platform construction, track placement, carriage variations, wheel bearings and wheel wear.

[0003] Platform gaps have led to a number of accidents over the years, with passengers’ feet or legs falling into the gap. The prevalence of gap accidents is exacerbated amongst the aged or people with disabilities.

[0004] Gap fillers have been known for several years and typically comprise a series of resilient fingers fitted perpendicular to the platform edge. The fingers effectively provide an extension to the platform, supporting people as they tread on them, and also allow for temporary lateral deflection when impacted by a railway carriage. Whilst existing gap fillers are functional, they have several limitations.

[0005] A first limitation is that the fingers deflect vertically under load. This can be unnerving for a passenger and cause them to lose their footing, and / or limit the practical length of the fingers that can be used. A typical gap filler with polyurethane fingers 75mm long by 10mm wide by 50mm high may deflect by up to 20mm under a tip load of 40 kg. Such fingers still leave a sizable gap, approximately 80mm between their end and a railway carriage when mounted on a 500mm wide body.

[0006] Another limitation is that a load spread over a small area, such as a stiletto heel or tip of a walking stick, may slip between adjacent fingers.

[0007] A further limitation is that the gap filler itself may trap objects that have fallen into the gap as known gap fillers comprise sharp corners on their underside.

[0008] The object of this invention is to provide a gap filler to alleviate the above problems, or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In a first aspect the invention provides a gap filler for an edge of a railway platform comprising an elongate body with an integral mounting bar a series of spaced apart perpendicularly protruding fingers with a top and a bottom and of a length x, width y and a height z greater than the width y, wherein the fingers include embedded reinforcing elements disposed towards the top of the fingers and extending along the length x of the fingers.

[0010] Preferably the reinforcing elements are retained by the mounting bar.

[0011] The reinforcing elements may comprise a string, a rigid member or a mesh.

[0012] Preferably the reinforcing elements comprise a string passing through the mounting bar and retained by the mounting bar via a crimp on the string or a knot in the string.

[0013] The reinforcing elements may comprise a string extending from a first finger, through first and second holes in the mounting bar and to a second finger

[0014] In preference the gap filler further comprises a cover attached to the body and extending over the fingers.

[0015] The fingers may be partially attached to the cover, and the cover may comprise reinforcing elements.

[0016] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

[0018] Figures 1 A and 1 B show above and below perspective views of a gap filler according to a first embodiment of the invention, including re-enforcing elements.

[0019] Figure 2 shows the inner components of the first embodiment of the gap filler.

[0020] Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of the first embodiment of the gap filler

[0021] Figures 4A and 4B show above and below perspective views of a gap filler according to a second embodiment of the invention, including a cover.

[0022] Figure 5 shows a cross section through the second embodiment of the gap filler.DRAWING COMPONENTS

[0023] The drawings include the following integers.10 gap filler (first embodiment)20 body22 mounting holes30 finger40 mounting bar42 mounting hole50 string (reinforcing element)52 crimp100 gap filler (second embodiment)120 body130 finger135 rounded lower edge140 mounting bar160 cover162 detached distal portion (of cover)DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and / or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0025] The present invention provides a railway carriage to platform gap filler with several improvements over known prior art devices. A first improvement is the inclusion of a reinforcing element to reduce the vertical deflection of fingers for a given length, providing same length fingers with less deflection, or longer fingers with the same deflection. A second improvement is a cover to prevent point loads from passing through the fingers. A third improvement is to remove the sharp corner on the underside of the fingers which may trap objects or limbs. Embodiments of the gap filler with one, two or all three of the improvements are encompassed by the invention.

[0026] Figures 1 A and 1 B show above and below perspective views of a gap filler 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The gap filler 10 is similar to known devices in comprising an elongate body 20 with a series of perpendicular protruding fingers 30. Mounting holes 22 facilitate attaching the gap filler to the top side of a platform with the aid of an internal mounting bar 40 which can be seen in Figure 2 which provides a view of the internal components of the gap filler. Typically the body and fingers are moulded from a resilient and rugged polymer such as polyurethane, with the mounting bar made of metal or other suitable rigid material and vulcanised to mating surfaces. The gap filler 10 is distinguished from prior art devices in including reinforcing elements in the form of a string 50 moulded within each finger which can be seen protruding from the distal ends of the fingers in Figure 1 A. The strings protrude to allow them to be held taut and in position as the gap filler is moulded, and may subsequently be cut flush with the distal ends of the fingers. The string is located towards the top of the fingers so that it will be in tension when a downward load is applied to the fingers, thus helping to minimise downward deflection. As the string is centered laterally it will not impede transverse deflection of the finger under impact from a train carriage. A suitable string is 3mm nylon cord restrained by passing through a hole in the reinforcing bar and having an aluminium crimp 52 on its proximal end. A cross sectional view of a gap filler 10 is shown in Figure 3. Other strings or cords, even meshes or rigid elements may instead be used as a reinforcing element. If a string is used it may be restrained at the reinforcing bar by other suitable means such as knot, or a single string may be used in two fingers, passing through two holes in the reinforcing bar aligned with the two fingers. With a reinforcing element in place, a polyurethane finger of similar dimensions to known prior art devices, e.g. fingers 75mm long by 50mm high by 10mm wide and with a gap of 10mm and mounted on a 500mm wide body would have a tip deflection of < 5mm compared with > 20mm for a prior art device. Allowing thesame tip deflection of 5mm the invention could provide 100mm long fingers, substantially reducing the gap.

[0027] Figures 4A and 4B show above and below perspective views of a gap filler 100 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The gap filler 100 is similar to the gap filler 10 in having an elongate body 120 with a series of protruding fingers 130, but is distinguished in a first aspect by having cover 160 sitting above the fingers 130. The cover is formed integrally with the body and end fingers to keep the cover in position, however it is not attached to the distal portions 162 of the remaining fingers so that lateral movement of the fingers is not impeded. This is best seen in the cross- sectional view of Figure 5. The cover prevents objects with a small footprint such as stiletto heels or the end of a walking stick from slipping between the fingers. A cover thickness of approximately 3mm has been found effective. For added resistance to point loads the cover may be reinforced on its underside or internally with a webbing.

[0028] The lower edges 135 of the fingers 130 are rounded to limit the chances of trapping any objects that have found their way below the fingers. Alternatively, the lower edges may be chamfered for a similar effect.

[0029] The reinforcing element, and the cover and rounded lower edge have been shown in separate embodiments of the invention but can all be combined together in a further embodiment of the invention.

[0030] The reader will now appreciate the present invention which provides an improved gap filler with laterally deflecting, but vertically rigid fingers which can be longer than those of prior art devices with similar deflection thus giving a small residual gap, or similar length fingers to prior art devices but with less deflection. A cover over the fingers prevents smaller objects slipping between the fingers, and a rounded or chamfered lower edge prevents objects from being trapped underneath.

[0031] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way beconsidered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[0032] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A gap filler for an edge of a railway platform comprising an elongate body with an integral mounting bar a series of spaced apart perpendicularly protruding fingers with a top and a bottom and of a length x, width y and a height z greater than the width y, wherein the fingers include embedded reinforcing elements disposed towards the top of the fingers and extending along the length x of the fingers.

2. A gap filler as in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing elements are retained by the mounting bar.

3. A gap filler as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise a string.

4. A gap filler as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise a rigid member.

5. A gap filler as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise a mesh.

6. A gap filer as in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing elements comprise a string passing through the mounting bar and retained by the mounting bar via a crimp on the string or a knot in the string.

7. A gap filler as in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing elements comprise a string extending from a first finger, through first and second holes in the mounting bar and to a second finger8. A gap filler as in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a cover attached to the body and extending over the fingers.

9. A gap filler as in claim 8, wherein the fingers are partially attached to the cover.

10. A gap filler as in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the cover comprises reinforcing elements.

Images