The disclosure relates to a passenger transport system which is designed as a moving walkway or escalator, and to the design of its access regions.
Moving walkways are well-known and efficient passenger transport systems used for transporting users horizontally on the same level of a structure, or with a slight incline up to 12° from a first level to a second level of a structure. In the case of moving walkways, a plurality of pallets is arranged one behind the other in the direction of transport and connected to at least one traction device to form a conveyor belt.
Escalators are used to transport users from a first level to a second level of a structure, the transport usually taking place over steeper gradients of between 30° and 35°. An escalator has a conveyor belt made of traction means and steps arranged one behind the other.
Typical areas of application of passenger transport systems of the aforementioned type are airports, train stations, subway stations, amusement parks, shopping centers and the like. The width of the passenger transport system is selected depending on the expected passenger traffic and the space available for the given application.
Escalators and moving walkways generally have a support structure with two deflection regions, between which the conveyor belt is guided in a continuous manner. Of course, instead of the support structure, there can also be a sufficiently supported rail system through which the conveyor belt can be guided in a circulating manner. Above the deflection regions, there are access regions with a surface which is accessible to walkers, who can embark and disembark from the conveyor belt via this surface. The walking-accessible surface is usually created by floor covering elements that span and cover the mechanics of the deflection regions. Balustrade bases with balustrades, on which circulating handrails are arranged, extend parallel to the transport direction of the passenger transport system on both sides of the conveyor belt. This allows users to hold onto the handrails while moving.
Escalators and moving walkways are passenger transport systems in which the users can also carry transport carts such as shopping transport carts, wheeled suitcases, and the like along with them. While users can walk on the conveyor belt without a transport cart, this is not possible, not permitted or problematic for users with transport carts, since forward walking motion can result in the transport carts scraping the fixed base plates of the balustrade bases during movement on the conveyor belt. When this happens, frictional forces between the base plate and the transport cart produce transverse forces which act on the transport cart in such a way that uncontrollable movements of the transport cart on the conveyor belt can occur. In principle, it is desirable for users to walk on the conveyor belt, since this significantly increases the transport flow of the passenger transport system.
Not every person usually carries a transport cart with them, such that conflicts can arise on the conveyor belt if users want to walk past the transport cart but are prevented from doing so by transport carts that are staggered in their orientation or are placed side by side.
The object of the present disclosure is therefore to prevent the problems on the conveyor belt listed above, and to improve the transport flow of the passenger transport system.
This object is solved by a passenger transport system that has two access regions and one conveyance region. The conveyance region has a circulating conveyor belt which is arranged between the two access regions and connects them to each other. Each of the two access regions has a stationary region accessible to walkers, via which a user can embark or disembark from the conveyor belt. At least one of the walking-accessible surfaces is equipped with a guide device to guide and channel users based on their different needs. The guide device comprises tactile elements. By the planar arrangement of these tactile elements in the walking-accessible surface, the same is divided into a first corridor with tactile elements and a second corridor without tactile elements. In this case, the two corridors are arranged side by side, and extend over the walking-accessible surface in the direction of conveyance of the conveyor belt. In other words, a passenger can embark or disembark from the conveyor belt via a corridor with tactile elements and via a corridor without tactile elements.
The use of tactile elements has been widely used in recent decades to facilitate movement in public spaces for people with visual impairments. Tactile elements are used to mark particularly suitable pathways between important public facilities. These elements can be perceived using a cane. For example, tactile elements are applied directly to asphalt and paved surfaces using filler-enriched paint, leaving permanent raised structures in the form of truncated cones and ledges once the paint is dry. Tactile elements are also manufactured as individual parts and applied to walking-accessible surfaces in predetermined patterns. Furthermore, prefabricated panels are also known which have tactile elements arranged in predefined patterns. Tactile elements are standardized in ISO 23599, for example.
Observations in public space have shown that people with heavy rolling luggage or shopping transport carts avoid areas with tactile elements as much as possible, exit them as soon as possible, or strive to cross them using the shortest possible route. Since these transport carts have very small wheels, the tactile elements cause a high rolling resistance, which, unconsciously, must be overcome as soon as possible—whereas these tactile elements are hardly noticeable when walked over. In other words, surfaces with tactile elements are easy for walkers to pass over but pose a certain obstacle for transport carts with very small rollers or wheels (micro-mobility).
The present disclosure makes use of these observations by using tactile elements to form two corridors in the access regions of the passenger transport system, and thus to guide and channel users with different needs. The use of tactile elements also has the advantage that users with a visual impairment can be guided to the conveyor belt in an ideal manner via the corridor equipped with tactile elements, such that they do not stand between the transport carts on the conveyor belt. Although this is not a problem when embarking on the conveyor belt, it may happen that a user with a transport cart stops briefly in the access region when disembarking from the conveyor belt, and the visually impaired user is conveyed into the stationary transport cart or its user.
In one embodiment of the disclosure, the width of the second corridor is designed with a track width of transport carts permitted on the conveyor belt. This is particularly important in shopping centers with shopping transport carts or in airports and train stations with luggage transport carts, since in these cases, transport carts of the same type are particularly often transported by the users.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure, the first corridor tactile elements adjoining the second corridor are arranged in such a way that they form an entry region of the second corridor, the entry region having an increasing width the further it extends away from the conveyor belt over the walking-accessible surface. In other words, the entry region acts like a funnel for the transport carts as they are pushed through the second corridor of the people transport system.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure, at least a proportion of tactile elements of the first corridor is arranged as an orientation aid in a predetermined surface pattern which contains information. This surface pattern can, for example, indicate the floor number in Braille to users with a visual impairment and/or indicate the direction of travel of the passenger transport system. Of course, a specific arrangement of tactile elements can also form pictograms showing sighted users that they can use the first corridor to get past the transport carts.
Tactile elements can be formed, for example, in the shape of a truncated cone. The top surface diameter of the tactile element is preferably between 12 mm and 25 mm, and its base surface area is 5 mm to 15 mm, preferably 9 mm to 11 mm, greater than the top surface diameter. As a result, the rollers of the transport cart are not completely in contact with the tactile elements, but can run over them, albeit with considerable additional effort. In the case of tactile elements arranged on the edge of the second corridor, the cone flanks of such tactile elements also cause rollers which graze them to slip off, and thus be shunted in the direction of the second corridor. So that the tactile elements do not become a stumbling block for the user, their truncated cone height or element height is between 3 mm and 6 mm, preferably 4 mm and 5 mm.
A tactile element can also be elongate, for example in the form of a strip, with the top surface width of such a tactile element being between 12 mm and 25 mm. In order to achieve the same properties as the tactile elements designed in the shape of a truncated cone, their base surface width is 5 mm to 15 mm, preferably 9 mm to 11 mm, greater than the top surface width, and their strip height or element height is between 3 mm to 6 mm, preferably 4 mm to 5 mm.
If it is known which transport carts are mainly used in the region of the passenger transport systems, the element height can be selected in relation to the roller diameter of the rollers used on the transport cart. Tactile elements with an element height in the range of 2% to 10% of a roller diameter of transport carts allowed on the conveyor belt have shown very good results in terms of their desired effect in the access region of the passenger transport system.
In one configuration, the tactile element can have an attachment region on its base surface, through which the tactile element can be connected to floor covering elements of the passenger transport system, which form the walking-accessible surface. This attachment region can be an adhesive surface, a protruding pin, an internal thread, a through-hole for countersunk screws, and the like.
Since the transport carts are channeled in the second corridor, there is also an increased risk that they can collide with fixed parts of the passenger transport system, such as the balustrade or the balustrade base, since the transport carts are guided very close to them in order to have the widest possible first corridor for walking users. In order to prevent such collisions, a guide device can therefore be arranged in an edge region of the second corridor opposite the first corridor, which guides the transport cart past a balustrade base adjoining the guide device and/or a balustrade of the passenger transport system arranged above the balustrade base. The guide device is designed in such a way that it cannot be run over by the transport cart. The simplest way is to use correspondingly high strips that can be arranged in the edge region of the second corridor.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure, at least one sensor, by means of which it is possible to detect when a transport vehicle passes over the tactile elements, can be arranged in the region of the tactile elements. A wide variety of sensor types such as, for example, inductive sensors, radar sensors, force measuring sensors, TOF cameras, video cameras, sound sensors, vibration-detecting sensors and the like can be used in this case. Their signals are sent to a signal processing unit, and evaluated depending on the sensor type. With sound sensors, the typical rattling noise that occurs when a transport cart drives over tactile elements can be evaluated. In the case of video cameras and TOF cameras, their recorded image signals are processed and evaluated. The signal processing unit can be arranged, for example, in the sensor, or separately from it as a separate component, or it can be present in a controller of the passenger transport system.
The signal processing unit is preferably connected to a controller of the passenger transport system and/or to a communication module. As a result of detected crossings of tactile elements made by transport carts, the controller and/or the communication module can emit warning signals or instructions on how to proceed to the users of the passenger transport system via an output module. Such warning signals or instructions on how to proceed can be, for example, automatically generated announcements such as: “Please use the left-hand side when using a transport cart.” Such warning signals or instructions on how to proceed can also be output visually, for example on a screen. Of course, combinations are also possible in this case. In addition, the controller of the passenger transport system can temporarily reduce the speed on the basis of such warning signals, if this is necessary or desired by the operator of the passenger transport system.
To facilitate the guiding and channeling of users with different needs, the tactile elements of the guide device can be provided with a signaling color and/or with a luminous means. The luminous means arranged within the tactile element can be an RGB LED, for example, such that the wavelength of the emitted light can be selected depending on the direction of conveyance of the conveyor belt. Of course, light effects, such as running lights and the like, can also be generated if, for example, each of the tactile elements of the guide device is provided with a light source, and these are activated individually or in groups.
Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are explained in more detail in the description below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numbers, and in which:
In order to connect the two levels E1, E2, the passenger transport system 1 has a stable support structure 5 (only the outlines of which are shown), the ends of which rest like a bridge on the support points 7 of the building 3 provided for them. The passenger transport system 1 can substantially be divided into two access regions 11, 13, and a conveyance region 15 arranged between the two access regions 11, 13. A conveyor belt 17 that can circulate is arranged in the conveyance region 15. The guidance and deflection of the conveyor belt 17, which is usually composed of conveyor chains and pallets, and its drive, are well known and are therefore not shown and described in detail.
The conveyor belt 17 connects the two access regions 11, 13 to each other, with each of the two access regions 11, 13 having a walking-accessible surface 21. Balustrade bases 23 with balustrades 25 extend on both sides of the conveyor belt 17 in order to give the users of the passenger transport system 1 lateral support. The balustrade bases 23 and balustrades 25 are fixed to the supporting structure 5, wherein each balustrade 25 is provided with a circulating handrail 27, which must move synchronously with the conveyor belt 17 in accordance with applicable standards and regulations.
Depending on the defined area of use, the passenger transport system 1 has one or two directions of conveyance F (from level E1 to level E2 and in the opposite direction from level E2 to level E1). The direction of conveyance F thus proceeds from one access region 11 to the other access region 13, or vice-versa. In the present example, as particularly visible in
The guide device 31 includes tactile elements 33, the surface arrangement of which in the access region 11, 13 divides the walking-accessible surface 21 into a first corridor K1 with tactile elements 33 and a second corridor K2 without tactile elements 33. The two corridors K1, K2 are arranged next to each other and extend in the direction of conveyance F of the conveyor belt 17 over the walking-accessible surface 21 of the access region 11, 13.
As can be clearly seen in
It can also be seen in
Since the transport carts 41 are channeled in the second corridor K2, there is also an increased risk that they could collide with fixed parts of the passenger transport system 1, such as the balustrade 25 or the balustrade base 23, since the transport carts 41 are guided very close to them in order to provide the widest possible first corridor K1 and/or passage Z for passing users. In order to avoid such collisions, a guide device 45 can therefore be arranged in an edge region 43 of the second corridor K2 opposite the first corridor K1. This guides the transport cart 41 past a balustrade base 23 adjoining the guide device 45 and/or past a balustrade 25 of the passenger transport system 1 arranged above the balustrade base 23. The guide device 45 is designed in such a way that it is very difficult for the transport cart 41 to run over it. The simplest approach is the use of correspondingly tall strips, which are arranged in the edge region 43 of the second corridor K2.
The guide device 31 shown in
The walking-accessible surface 21 of an access region 11, 13 is, as shown in section in
As can also be seen in
As can be seen in
Since the tactile elements 33, 35 are intended to encourage a user to push their transport cart 41 through the second corridor K2, but without completely blocking use of the first corridor K1 with transport carts 41, the element height HE of the tactile elements 33, 35 is preferably 2% to 10% of a roller diameter DR of the rollers 49 of the transport cart 41 permitted on the conveyor belt 17. This increases the rolling resistance when the tactile elements 33, 35 are passed over to a such a degree that the user instinctively switches to the second corridor K2. In addition, when driven over, the tactile elements generate a “rattling” with sufficiently high amplitudes, which the user finds unpleasant. In addition, this “rattling” can be detected very effectively by a sensor 51, and can be better processed in the signal processing unit 53 by filter options which remove operating noise of the passenger transport system 1 and ambient noise.
So that the tactile element 33 can be connected to the floor covering elements 29 of the passenger transport system 1, which form the walking-accessible surface 21, it has an attachment region 39 on its base surface 37. The attachment region 39 is formed by the base surface 37 itself and a plastic pin 61 with longitudinal ribs 63. During assembly, a hole with the diameter of the plastic pin 61 is drilled in the floor covering element 29, and the tactile element 33 is pressed in like a nail. The longitudinal ribs 63 are deformed by the narrowness of the bore, such that the plastic pin 61 is stuck in the hole. The tactile element 33 shown is also excellently suitable for being equipped with a sensor 51 or a light source, for example, wherein the electrical connection 65 can be passed through the plastic pin 61 as indicated by the broken line 65.
Although the disclosure has been described by showing specific exemplary embodiments, it is obvious that numerous further embodiments can be created with the knowledge of the present disclosure, for example, by combining the features of the individual exemplary embodiments and/or interchanging individual functional units of the exemplary embodiments. For example, the elongate tactile element 35 can also be equipped with lighting and/or a sensor 51 and can be provided with a signal color. Moving walkways can of course also be provided with guide devices 31 which extend horizontally over the same level of a structure 3.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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21179815.2 | Jun 2021 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2022/064858 | 6/1/2022 | WO |