Abstract: A sliding door apparatus for a railway platform, has a plurality of sliding doors provided along an edge of a railway platform, the plurality of sliding doors being, in a closed position, arranged continuously along a line; a sliding door shifting apparatus for shifting those of the sliding doors to be opened and closed into shifted positions parallel to the closed position of the plurality of sliding doors; opening/closing apparatus for opening and closing the sliding doors disposed at the shifted positions, the opening/closing apparatus being capable of moving the sliding doors in varying directions and amounts; and a logic apparatus for analyzing information regarding the positions and widths of entrances of a railway vehicle stopped at the platform, selecting the sliding doors to be shifted, and controlling the shifting and opening/closing of the sliding doors such that the sliding doors are opened and closed in conformity with the entrances of the railway vehicle.

Abstract: A side body structure for vehicles is formed of a plurality of sections. Each of the sections has a reinforcement formed as an integrally continuous construction. The reinforcement has a plurality of through holes which reduce the total weight of the reinforcement. The reinforcement further includes a plurality of ribs formed around the holes and is securely fastened together to a surface of an outer plate.

Abstract: A folding door apparatus for a railway platform has a plurality of continuously provided folding doors each composed of two elements, a mid-portion between the two elements serving as an inflection point, the plurality of folding doors being movable between closed positions in which the folding doors are disposed in a line along a railway platform and inflected positions in which openings in the folding door apparatus are formed; a door opening and closing driving apparatus including a pair of opening and closing acting bodies for moving the folding doors in a direction and amount necessary to form the openings in the folding door apparatus; and a logic unit for analyzing information regarding the positions and widths of entrances of a railway vehicle stopped at the platform, and controlling the direction and amount of movement of the folding doors such that the openings in the folding door apparatus correspond to the entrances of the railway vehicle.

Abstract: A method of smoothing the outer surfaces of sliding doors wherein, after a doorway is closed with a sliding door, a wall member is projected outwardly, the outer wall member having an outer surface of a size and shape which is nearly the same as those of the doorway, such that the surface of the outer wall member is flush with the surface of the structure.