Tarpaulin system for covering and uncovering, especially for a freight vehicle such as a railway wagon

摘要

The system, comprising a series of tarpaulin supporting arches (3) that slide along lengthwise rails (4), and intermediate arches (6) between them pivoted to the main arches, has flexible strips (7) connecting the intermediate arches on adjacent pairs of main arches. The strips occupy a contracted position when the intermediate arches are folded, and an extended position when the intermediate arches are deployed and the main arches are in position to support. Each flexible strip has a curved middle section and two rolled ends to fit round the intermediate arches, and is made from an elastically deformable metal such as stainless steel with a plastic coating.