Following a D.O.T./F.T.A. mandate for...” a safety device between railcars to prevent individuals from stepping-off the platform between the cars and falling onto the tracks”, Siemens Transportation Systems and the MTA-office for LA Rail called upon BL to design & develop a working solution to the requirement and to complete the project...installed on the Siemens Rail-Cars for the ‘Green-Line’ of LA Rail with a deadline of 10-1-02. The system-design was approved and the project was completed ahead-of-schedule. BL personally developed the conceptual design, made prototypes, and with evaluation by Siemens and MTA including a full-spectrum of testing, was able to meet the design/ performance criteria with success.

The system consists of three, major components: Base-Plate (internal), Housing (main exterior body), and the NOSE (extended from the Housing). The Base-Plate and Housing are made of composite materials while the NOSEs are made of cast-elastomer. A sub-system of stn/stl and aluminum hardware are employed for the assembly of the system. The ‘NOSE’-components form the actual ‘Barrier’ when parked at the platform, yet survive continuous engagement when striking each-other as the cars go around turns in the tracks... the unique material in the Noses provides the compliant, fatigue and abrasion performance required.

Click the following LINK for Animation-Sequence of engaging Noses (View from above)
http://www.fibertecheng.com/sts.swf

TITLE 49,Subtitle A--Office of the Secretary of Transportation
PART 38-- (ADA) SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES
Sec. 38.85 ‘Between-Car Barriers’
Where operating in a high-platform, level-boarding mode,
devices or systems shall be provided to prevent, deter or warn
individuals from inadvertently stepping off the platform between cars. Appropriate devices include, but are not limited to, pantograph gates,chains, motion detectors or other suitable devices.