Abstract: Transportation apparatus, such as a moving walk or an escalator, having a continuous handrail driven about a closed loop by a handrail drive. The closed loop includes a longitudinal axis, or axes, which divide a load run on which passengers may grasp the handrail, and a return run. The transportation apparatus includes a drive unit which, in addition to driving the transportation apparatus, also drives the handrail drive via a drive chain or belt. The chain or belt is automatically tensioned, notwithstanding wear thereof, or longitudinal positional adjustment of the apparatus drive unit towards either end of the apparatus, by mounting the handrail drive unit such that it is free to move longitudinally, in either direction of the handrail, restrained only by the drive chain or belt.

Abstract: Transportation apparatus for transporting passengers between spaced landings, including a conveyor, a conveyor drive unit, a handrail, a handrail drive unit, and a handrail drive pulley. The conveyor drive unit includes first and second spaced sprockets, and a drive chain reeved about the sprockets which drives the conveyor. The handrail drive pulley and a predetermined one of the sprockets are separately journaled for independent rotation about a common axis, with a drive belt linking the handrail drive pulley and predetermined rotational elements of the handrail drive unit. The pulley is selectively engageable with the predetermined one of the sprockets, to drive the handrail in synchronism with the conveyor when they are engaged, and enabling the frictional forces resisting the movement of the handrail to be directly measured when they are not engaged.

Abstract: An escalator having a conveyor constructed of rigid, pivotally interconnected toothed links, step axles, steps on the step axles, axle rollers on the axles, and step rollers on the steps. The guide arrangement for the conveyor includes a truss having axle and step roller guides. The guide portion of the truss includes movable, free-floating, self-adjusting, upper and lower turnarounds guided for rectilinear movement, and a fixed intermediate portion. Sliding joints which permit mis-alignment without binding interconnect the movable and fixed portions of the axle and step roller guides.

Abstract: Continuously self-adjusting handrail apparatus for transportation apparatus, such as escalators and walks, in which the handrail guide automatically responds to forces therein to reduce the magnitude of load induced forces which tend to dislodge the handrail from its guide. The curved guide section adjacent each newel of an associated balustrade is arranged to change its curvature and increase or decrease its length, as required, in response to such forces, with the forces being such that when one section increases its length, the other section reduces it length.

Abstract: An escalator having a drive unit mounted in a supporting truss via a deflection beam. Load forces developed in the drive unit are transmitted from the drive unit to the ends of the deflection beam via elongated mounting base members which are not subjected to bending moments sufficient to cause harmful deflection and misalignment of the driving and rotating elements of the drive unit. The midpoint of a deflection beam is attached to the truss. Positioning devices adjustably orient the drive unit in the truss, and the midpoint connection of the drive unit to the truss adjustably selects the position of the drive unit along the longitudinal axis of the truss.

Abstract: Self-adjusting handrail apparatus, including a handrail member which is both pushed and pulled about the substantially continuous guide loop. The guide loop includes a gap linked by a biasing arrangement which maintains a slight tension in the handrail member, notwithstanding changes in the loop length of the handrail member.