Passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways typically include moving surfaces such as steps that carry passengers between landings at opposite ends of the conveyor. The moving surfaces are propelled by a drive assembly including a motor, a drive sprocket and a step chain. The motor typically causes the drive sprocket to rotate. The step chain is driven by the sprocket. The step chain is secured to the moving surfaces in a manner that results in the desired conveyor operation.
Conventional passenger conveyor drive assemblies present various issues. One issue is noise and vibration associated with step chain linkages moving along the path and interacting with the drive sprocket. Another issue is that step chains typically require lubrication, which introduces materials and maintenance issues. Additionally, typical step chain arrangements require maintenance, which introduces additional expense and inconvenience for building owners.
An exemplary drive assembly for a passenger conveyor includes a belt including a plurality of cords at least partially encased in a jacket. A plurality of connecting blocks are secured to the belt longitudinally spaced apart from each other along the belt.
The various features and advantages of the disclosed example will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
As can be appreciated from
A drive wheel 40 is rotated by a motor (not illustrated) and imparts a moving force to move the belt 32 and the connecting blocks 34 along a path corresponding to the path followed by the moving surfaces 22. The connecting blocks 34 cooperate with a correspondingly configured surface or features on the drive wheel 40 such that the connecting blocks 34 are positively engaged by the drive wheel 40 to move them and the belt 32. In the illustrated example, the connecting blocks 34 are at least partially received within recesses 42 in the drive wheel 40. In this example, the drive wheel 40 also includes an exterior drive surface 44 that engages the belt 32 directly to propel the belt 32. In this example, frictional engagement between the drive surface 44 and the belt 32 facilitates moving the belt as desired.
The connecting blocks 34 provide a positive driving surface and the belt 32 provides a frictional driving surface for causing desired movement of the belt 32 and the connecting blocks 34. The moving surfaces are coupled with the belt 32 by a connection between the connecting blocks 34 and axles 46 such that movement of the belt 32 and connecting blocks 34 results in corresponding movement of the moving surfaces 22. In this example the connecting blocks 34 have interiorly facing connection surfaces that are configured to be connected to the axles 46. The moving surfaces 22 are connected to the axles 46 using a conventional step-to-axle connection in one example. In another example, the connecting blocks 34 have at least one connection surface configured to be connected directly to a portion of a moving surface 22. The connecting blocks 34 facilitate coupling the moving surfaces 22 to the belt 32 so that the drive assembly 30 can move the moving surfaces 22 as desired.
In the example of
There are various possible configurations of a drive assembly 30 designed according to this invention. One example is shown in
The connecting blocks 34 in this example include a first portion 54 received against one side of the belt 32 and a second portion 56 received on an oppositely facing side of the belt 32. In this example, there is one first portion 54 and two second portions 56. Securing members 58 hold the connecting blocks 34 in their desired positions on the belt 32. One example includes threaded securing members 58 such as bolts that are received through holes in the belt 32 and are threaded into at least one of the portions 54 or 56.
The connecting blocks in one example comprise metal. One example comprises steel. Some connecting blocks have a polymer coating. Other example connecting blocks comprise hard plastic materials.
The example of
In each of the examples of
In the example of
The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US09/47183 | 6/12/2009 | WO | 00 | 9/22/2011 |