Abstract: The present invention teaches a mechanical device that monitors the support wheels, or rollers, of a moving escalator stair step. The diameter of each support wheel is indirectly measured by determining the height of each support wheel axial above a given plane. Support wheels that have unacceptable diameter trip an activation mechanism that sends an electrical signal to stop the escalator's driving motor.

Abstract: An elevator system having multiple elevator cars efficiently assigns cars and communicates the car assignments to the potential passengers. A hallway intuitive user interface is readily adapted to installations having varying numbers of elevator cars with varying floor access by incorporating a graphical display that is rendered accordingly. Moreover, a combination of visual, textual and aural indications are given to the passenger that the destination entered is valid and assigned to a car. For those instances where a potential passenger fails to enter a destination correctly, the elevator system retains a traditional elevator control interface in the elevator car.

Abstract: An elevator system having multiple elevator cars efficiently assigns cars and communicates the car assignments to the potential passengers. A hallway intuitive user interface is readily adapted to installations having varying numbers of elevator cars with varying floor access by incorporating a graphical display that is rendered accordingly. Moreover, a combination of visual, textual and aural indications are given to the passenger that the destination entered is valid and assigned to a car. For those instances where a potential passenger fails to enter a destination correctly, the elevator system retains a traditional elevator control interface in the elevator car.

Abstract: A moving walkway is shown having a walkway surface with first and second ends and formed of a series of hinged rigid pallets in an endless loop. A direction-reversing sprocket is at each of the first and second ends. Each pallet is hinged to adjacent pallets along an axis substantially transverse to the walkway at opposite ends of the pallets along a length of the endless loop. Each pallet being transversely subdivided into a plurality of parts, each of the pallet parts being unidirectionally hinged to an adjacent one of the plurality of parts such that each pallet will support vertical loads on the walkway surface as a rigid unit and will hinge separately as the endless loop reverses direction around the sprockets.

Abstract: An elevator car door opening and closing apparatus is taught having a clutch assembly carried by each car door for coupling with a landing door locking and unlocking assembly whereby the car and landing doors open and close simultaneously. The clutch assembly includes a four bar mechanical expanding and collapsing parallelogram linkage which engages, unlocks, and opens the landing door. Mechanical linkage is also attached to the parallelogram linkage whereby the elevator car doors may only be forced opened a limited amount if the car is stalled between landing sites.

Abstract: An elevator car door opening and closing apparatus is taught having a clutch assembly carried by each car door for coupling with a landing door locking and unlocking assembly whereby the car and landing doors open and close simultaneously. The clutch assembly includes a mechanical expanding and collapsing parallelogram mechanism which engages, unlocks, and opens the landing door. Mechanical means is also disclosed whereby the elevator car doors may only be forced opened a limited amount if the car is stalled between landing sites.

Abstract: An improved flexible drive assembly for escalators and moving walks is provided. The improved drive assembly includes a substantially horizontally disposed motor. The drive assembly of the present invention further includes a substantially horizontally disposed single-stage worm gear input shaft arranged perpendicularly with a main step band sprocket shaft. The worm gear input shaft, in turn, drives a horizontal output shaft disposed in parallel fashion to the main step band sprocket shaft. One or more drive chains each link corresponding output shaft gears with corresponding main drive sprocket gears disposed on the main step band sprocket shaft. Step chain sprockets of larger diameter than the main drive sprockets are disposed adjacent to and inwardly of a corresponding main drive sprocket. These step band sprockets engage the step band and drive it about its endless path.

Abstract: Inserts mountable on the top surface of the treads of escalator steps and walkway segments enabling adjustment of the gap between the ends of the tread and the adjacent balustrade skirts. The top surface of each tread is provided with evenly spaced ribs defining grooves therebetween and extending from the front edge to the rear edge of the tread. At its sides, the tread top surface has recessed planar unribbed surfaces extending from the front edge to the rear edge of the tread. A pair of plastic inserts is provided for each tread. The inserts are mirror images of each other and have ribs extending from their forward edges to their rearward edges, and having the same spacing as the tread ribs. The inserts are mountable on the recessed planar surfaces of the tread and extend from the forward edge to the rearward edge thereof. The outer edge of each insert has a downwardly depending flange covering the adjacent side edge of the tread.