This application claims benefit of Ser. No. 200803533, filed 12 Dec. 2008 in Spain and which application is incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to the above disclosed application.
The present invention refers to the load-bearing structure of a people and/or goods transport system, comprising a mobile band and upper and lower fixed plates for loading and unloading. The mobile band comprises a plurality of elements which run between lateral guides and railing with handrail.
The moving walkway appears as an evolution of the escalator, enabling to use wheeled devices, such as shopping carts, trolleys, prams or vehicles for the disabled, whose transport is not possible in an escalator. This kind of moving walkways, as well as escalators, generally have a structure where the rolling profiles are fixed, on which the blades or rungs of the moving walkable surface roll and where, in turn, the railings with handrails and the dragging and overturn mechanisms are fixed.
The load-bearing structure in conventional passenger transport systems, such as escalators or moving walkways, in its traditional conception, is usually a welded metallic structure formed by two lattices, the members of which are laminated profiles, joined together by transverse elements which increase their rigidity. On each lattice, there are mounted screwed profiles, which serve as a guide for the movement of the blades or rungs forming the tread, as well as all the mechanical and electric elements needed for its operation.
The use of two lattices forces to close the hole between them to avoid the falling of particles and drops coming from the rolling surface or from the mechanisms and their elements, for which there is on the lower part a horizontal sealing plate which has to be welded in a watertight manner to the lower curbs of the side lattices in its entire length. Other alternatives include sealing also with lattice in the lower part, on which a series of trays rest.
Additionally, it is necessary to mount an outer coating which laterally covers said lattices to avoid the access of the public to the inside of the structure. The dimensions of the structure section have to be such that they provide enough space to house the band of blades or rungs in its way back, which in certain occasions makes the resulting structure larger than really needed to save the opening from the structural point of view. This entails a need for a minimum mounting space which in certain cases conditions the height of the installation.
The present invention refers to a passenger and/or goods transport system comprising a main mobile band and lower and upper fixed plates for loading and unloading. The mobile band circulates along a guidance system and said band is activated by an appropriate power transmission system, being laterally limited by two railings on which handrails circulate at the same speed as the mobile band; and with the appropriate control and safety systems for a correct system operation. More specifically, the present invention is characterized in that the load-bearing structure of the walkway or escalator is a beam comprising two close section profiles longitudinally joined to the ends of a folded sealing sheet with a U-shaped section, and being joined together by a series of elements with a transverse arrangement which increase its torsional rigidity.
In a preferred configuration, the metallic profiles are formed in such a way that, besides fulfilling a structural function, they provide the vertical and horizontal guidance for the movement of the blades or rungs of the ball race, in such a way that the mounting process is simplified.
In a preferred configuration, the load-bearing metallic profile serves as a support and fixing base for the railing with handrail and the bedplate. The folded sheet also serves as a closure for the whole assembly, providing the necessary watertightness, under the ball race. Said folded sheet makes it unnecessary to install a rear closing coating, although other configurations are possible where additional coatings are added for ornamental purposes.
Other configurations are also possible in which the ball race of the blades or rungs does not form an intrinsic part of the metallic profile with a resistant sealing closed section, instead, the ball races are independent and are incorporated to it by an adjustable union.
According to an embodiment, the load-bearing metallic profiles are integral to the folded closing sheet through a riveted union in an appropriate arrangement to ensure the effort transmission between them. Other embodiments using welded, screwed-in, adhesive unions or combinations thereof are also possible. With the embodiment described, the system of the invention presents the following advantages:
In the attached drawings an example of a non-limiting embodiment is described, in which:
The characteristics and advantages of the system of the invention will be understood better with the following description of a non-limiting embodiment, shown in the aforementioned drawings.
In the walkway shown in
On each one of the side beams there are coating plates 10 all along them, so that access to the interior of the load-bearing structure through the lattices is closed. On the upper members of the lattices the railings with handrail are fixed through an adjustable screwed-in union.
According to the invention, the load-bearing structure 12 of the walkway is a beam constituted by a central body 15 and two side profiles 16. The central body comprises a sole metallic sheet formed in such a way that on its upper part two side profiles can rest. Said side profiles are sealed metallic profiles with thin walls and configured in such a way that the rollers 19 of the mobile band 11 blades 18 can roll directly on them and they can be guided in the direction perpendicular to the movement direction.
The side profiles are rigidly joined between them through a series of assembling elements 17 the axis of which is in a plane parallel to the surface or mobile band 11. Additionally, said side profiles are rigidly joined to the central body in longitudinal direction so that complete rigidity of the beam is guaranteed, for example, through a union of rivets arranged in such a way that they can transmit the efforts from the mobile band during its use, and from the weight of all the accessories.
According to the invention, the assembly of the structure provides the necessary rigidity for the installation, being it possible to increase (or reduce), in a simple manner, said rigidity according to the shape given to the sheet of the central body, according to the needs of installation. In turn, the shape of this sealing sheet makes unnecessary the watertight union between the side profiles and the central body, since, on the one hand, it acts as a king of container, and on the other hand, it makes possible the stocking of one on top of the other, in order to reduce to a minimum the space required for transport and storage.
In turn, the side profiles serve as support for the railings 13 with handrail 14, and for the bedplates 20.
Thus, an embodiment of the invention refers to a load-bearing structure for people and/or goods transport systems, having:
characterized in that:
According to other characteristics of the invention:
2) The load-bearing structure:
4) The load-bearing structure comprises second side beams 16A:
5) The connection means 1516 are selected between riveted connections, screwed connections.
6) The central body 15 comprises a simple beam formed by at least a metallic sheet configured to allow a stocking of a plurality of load-bearing structures 12 resting on one another.
7) The central body 15 comprises a beam formed by a lattice structure.
8) The load-bearing structure also comprises a railing 13 having a handrail 14 and a bedplate 20 on each side profile 16 to laterally limit the mobile band 11.
9) The central body 15 has a trapezoid-like transverse section.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200803533 | Dec 2008 | ES | national |