| 摘要 |
A canopy deployment and retraction mechanism particularly suited to cover the cargo compartment of an elongated vehicle such as a railroad car. Each of a series of tarpaulin-supporting, parallel bows has sliders at each end riding into a pair of funnel-shaped channels having their flat bases vertically secured to the upper inside lateral wall sections of the compartment. The spacing between the bases of the channels is lesser than the total length of a bow and its sliders and provides a degree of play in order to accommodate slight variations in the width of said compartment, and allow for self-centering of the cover. The shape of the channels allows for the placement of the cover retraction mechanisms such as cables and sliders within the outer periphery of the container, reducing bulk. The downward slope of the channel lower side further improves the evacuation of debris under the wiping action of the traveling sliders. The upward slope of the channel upper side further improves the sealing of the deployed canopy against the intrusion of rain water.
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