The invention relates to a people conveyor, to a conveying band for a people conveyor and to a conveying element which is employed in a conveying band of a people conveyor.
A people conveyor such as an escalator or a moving walkway typically comprises a band of conveying elements, such as pallets or steps, which are configured for conveying people, and a drive unit, which is configured for driving the band of conveying elements. Torque provided by the drive unit is transmitted to the band of conveying elements (conveying band) via transmission elements, which in particular may include chains and/or belts.
In a conventional people conveyor gaps are formed between adjacent conveying elements allowing the conveying elements to move with respect to each other. Due to wear these gaps may enlarge during the lifetime of the people conveyor. Enlarged gaps may deteriorate the safety and the riding comfort provided by the people conveyor.
It would be beneficial to provide a people conveyor comprising an improved conveying band which is less affected by gaps between adjacent conveying elements.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention a conveying element which is to be employed in a conveying band of a people conveyor comprises a tread and a riser. The conveying element is configured such that the riser at least partly forms an intermediate tread in the at least one horizontal portion of the conveying band. The riser in particular is rotatably connected to the tread and is configured to be rotatably connected to an adjacent conveying element, in particular to a tread of an adjacent conveying element.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention also include a conveying band comprising a plurality of conveying elements which are rotatably connected to each other.
A people conveyor according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises at least one horizontal portion, at least one inclined portion and a conveying band according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which extends along the at least one horizontal portion and the at least one inclined portion.
In a conveying band according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention gaps between adjacent conveying elements can be reduced to a minimum such that these gaps are not critical any more in practice. In particular, there is no risk that these gaps become larger during the lifetime of the people conveyor due to wear. This improves the safety and the comfort of the ride. In particular, the risk that any items or parts of a human body are trapped within gaps of the conveying band is considerably reduced.
A conveying band according to exemplary embodiments of the invention further allows for new people conveyor designs, in particular including arbitrary combinations of ascending, descending and horizontal portions of the people conveyor.
In the following, people conveyors according to exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the enclosed figures.
A conveying band 2 according to an exemplary embodiment comprises a plurality of conveying elements 4 each of which comprises a tread 6, which is oriented basically horizontally when the conveying element 4 is arranged in the conveying portion 62. Each tread 6 is provided with a tread surface 72 on its upper side and a plurality of reinforcement ribs 7 on its bottom side.
Each conveying element 4 further comprises a riser 8, which is oriented basically perpendicularly to the tread 6 when the conveying element 4 is arranged in the inclined conveying portion 62.
Thus, when the conveying element 4 is arranged in the inclined conveying portion 62, the tread 6 and the riser 8 in combination constitute a step which is similar to the conveying elements (steps) 53 of a conventional people conveyor/escalator 50 as it is shown in
Each of the risers 8 comprises a first part 8a, which is rotatably connected by means of a first joint 9 to a first edge of a tread 6, and a second part 8b, which is rotatably connected by means of a second joint, which is not visible in the figures, to a second edge 6b of an adjacent tread 6. The first and second parts 8a, 8b of each riser 8 are connected to each other in a manner which allows them to linearly move/shift with respect to each other.
As a result, the treads 6 and the risers 8 form a continuous conveying band 2 which does not comprise any gaps. As the conveying band 2 does not comprise any gaps, the risk that any items or parts of a human body are trapped and/or squeezed between the elements of the conveying band 2 is considerably reduced. This enhances the safety of the people conveyor 50. Providing a conveying band 2 without any gaps further enhances the ride comfort of passengers using the people conveyor 50.
Tread rollers 10 are rotatably mounted to the second edge 6b of each tread 6. The tread rollers 10 are supported and guided by a tread roller guiderail 66 which extends along the conveying portion 62.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the treads 6 are connected to a conveying chain 20 (see
A portion next to the first edge 6a of each tread 6 is supported by every third conveying chain bolt 26. Said portion in particular is provided with a bifurcated bearing structure 14, which is configured for accommodating a conveying chain bolt 26. The conveying chain 20 is in engagement with and driven by a sprocket 56. Although only one conveying chain 20 is shown in the figures, the skilled person will understand that two conveying chains 20, one conveying chain 20 extending on each lateral side of the conveying band 2, may be provided. The skilled person will further understand that the conveying chain 20 is an optional feature and that there are exemplary embodiments, in which the conveying band 2 is supported and driven directly by an appropriate drive, i.e. without providing and using a conveying chain 20.
In the return portion 64, which is shown in the lower part of
The movement of the second part 8b of a riser 8 with respect to the first part 8a is shown in more detail in
In an alternative configuration, which is not explicitly illustrated in the figures, the first and second parts 8a, 8b may be arranged in a telescopic configuration, in which the second part 8b is shifted into a cavity formed in the first part 8a.
Cleats 71 may be formed on the tread surfaces 72, 74 of the treads 6 and the second parts 8b of the risers 8 in order to enhance the friction of the shoes of the passengers and for providing grooves which allow to discharge water from the tread surfaces 72, 74. Additional cleats 71 may be provided on the top surfaces of the first parts 8a and on the bottom surfaces of the second parts 8b of the risers 8. The cleats 71 formed on the risers 8 may engage with each other and/or with the cleats 71 formed on the treads 6 for guiding the first and second parts 8a, 8b when moving and for avoiding a long continuous gap extending between the treads 6 and the risers 8 over the width of the conveying elements 4. The cleats 71 further may engage with corresponding comb plates (not shown) provided at the landing portions 51a, 51b.
The flat orientation of the risers 8 in the turnaround portions 57a, 57b provides an additional free space between the conveying portion 62 and the return portion 64 of the conveying band 2. This allows to arrange the drive unit 54 including a motor and a gear in between the conveying portion 62 and the return portion 64 of the conveying band 2, as illustrated in
A people conveyor 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may be an escalator comprising two landing portions 51a, 51b with an inclined conveying portion 62 in between, as it is illustrated in
A conveying band 2 according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, however, further allows for advanced conveyor designs, in particular including people conveyors 50 comprising an almost arbitrary combination of horizontal and inclined portions.
As illustrated in
The skilled person will understand that additional horizontal and/or inclined portions, which are not shown in
A people conveyor 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may further comprise inclined portions 82, 84 having different, in particular opposite, inclinations. As illustrated in
When comparing the configuration of the conveying elements 4 in the descending portion 84 shown in
As a result, the orientation of the risers 8 is changed so that in the descending portion 84 the second part 8b of each riser 8 is arranged above the first part 8a of the corresponding riser 8. However, the risers 8 in combination with the treads 6 still constitute steps, which are basically similar to the steps formed in the ascending portions 82 of the people conveyor 50.
While the terms “ascending” and “descending” have been used with respect to a conveying direction which is oriented from left to right in
A number of optional features are set out in the following. These features may be realized in particular embodiments, alone or in combination with any of the other features.
According to one embodiment the riser may be rotatably connected to a first tread and may be configured to be rotatably connected to an adjacent second tread. The riser in particular may be connected to the first and second treads by first and second joints, which allow for a rotating/pivoting motion between the riser and the respective tread. Such a configuration allows the riser to move between a first position, when arranged in an inclined portion of the conveying band, and a horizontal position in which the riser at least partly forms an intermediate tread when it is arranged in a horizontal portion of the conveying band.
According to one embodiment the tread and the riser may be configured to provide a continuous conveying surface in the at least one horizontal portion of the conveying band. A continuous conveying surface provides a safe and convenient riding experience to the passengers.
According to one embodiment the riser may comprise a first part, which is rotatably connected with the tread, and a second part, which is configured for being rotatably connected to an adjacent conveying element. The first and second parts in particular may be shiftably and/or rotatably connected with each other. Such a configuration allows the parts of the riser to compensate for any change of distance between adjacent conveying elements/treads when the riser moves from its inclined/vertical position into its horizontal position in which it provides an intermediate tread surface.
According to one embodiment the treads, the first and/or second parts may comprise a plurality of cleats, respectively. The cleats in particular may engage with each other for guiding the first and/or second part when they are moved with respect to each other and/or with respect to the tread. Engaging cleats allow for a controlled and guided movement of the two parts with respect to each other and/or with respect to the tread, respectively.
According to one embodiment the risers, when located in the at least one inclined portion, may be oriented at an angle of more than 0°, in particular at an angle of more than 45°, more particularly at an angle in the range from 80° to 90°, with respect to the treads. Such a configuration allows to closely mimic the configuration of a conventional escalator.
According to one embodiment the risers may at least partially overlap with the treads in the at least one horizontal portion. This allows to compensate for a reduced distance between adjacent treads in the at least one horizontal portion.
According to one embodiment the people conveyor may comprise a return portion,
with the conveying band also extending along the at least one return portion. In such a configuration, the risers may have the same configuration with respect to the treads as in the at least one horizontal portion. The risers in particular may at least partially overlap with the treads in the at least one return portion of the people conveyor. This allows to compensate for a reduced distance between adjacent treads in the return portion.
According to one embodiment the drive unit, which may include a motor and/or a gear for driving the conveying element, may be arranged between the conveying portion and the return portion of the conveying band. According to one embodiment electronic devices, in particular a controller and/or a frequency converter for driving the motor, may by arranged in this space as well. Due to the flat orientation of the risers in the turnaround portions, there is additional space available, which may accommodate components of the people conveyor. As a result, the extension of the people conveyor and in particular of the landing portions in the longitudinal direction may be reduced.
According to one embodiment the people conveyor may comprise a conveying chain (step chain), which is drivingly coupled to the conveying band, in particular to the treads of the conveying band. A conveying chain, which may be driven by a sprocket, provides a well suited means for effectively driving the conveying band.
According to one embodiment the people conveyor may comprise two horizontal portions, which in particular are configured as landing portions, and an inclined conveying portion, which extends between the two horizontal portions. Such a configuration is similar to the configuration of a conventional escalator. Thus, a people conveyor according to such an embodiment of the invention may be employed as an escalator which does not comprise any gaps between adjacent steps or treads.
According to one embodiment the people conveyor may comprise at least two inclined conveying portions and at least one horizontal portion extending between the at least two inclined conveying portions. The at least two inclined conveying portions in particular may be inclined in the same directions, such as upward/upwards or downwards/downwards and/or in opposite directions upwards/downwards or downwards/upwards with respect to the at least one horizontal portion. This allows for new conveyor designs; it in particular allows to form a bridge comprising at least one upward portion, at least one horizontal portion and at least one downward portion using only a single conveying band.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition many modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the dependent claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
17155390.2 | Feb 2017 | EP | regional |