With Means Synchronizing The Operation Of The Steps And A Handrail Patents (Class 198/331)
-
Patent number: 11970364Abstract: A passenger transport system having a conveyor belt is described. The passenger transport system comprises at least one handrail and a fastening device for a protective device in the region of the handrail end curve. A control unit blocks the operation of the passenger transport system in one direction of travel on the basis of a sensor signal, such that, if there is at least one protective device in the region of the handrail end curve, the direction of travel in which the handrail runs into the protective device is blocked. A method for controlling a bidirectional passenger transport system is also described.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Inventio AGInventors: Andreas Drahohs-Föderler, Christoph Eder, Gerhard Stoiber
-
Patent number: 10875745Abstract: The application relates to a handrail-drive system of an escalator. The handrail-drive system includes a handrail drive with drive elements and a belt-form handrail which can be moved in a circulatory manner. The handrail is delimited by an outer contour configured as a gripping surface and by an inner contour which leaves a cavity free in the handrail. The driving force is transmitted from the drive elements to the handrail on two mutually opposite side surfaces of the inner contour, wherein a complementary configuration of the side surfaces makes it possible for all the other forces which are caused by the transmission of the driving force and act between the side surfaces to compensate for one another.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventor: Csaba Boros
-
Patent number: 10189681Abstract: An escalator or moving walkway comprises two access areas. The escalator or the moving walkway comprises components generating thermal losses that are arranged in at least one of the access areas in a component room. The escalator or the moving walkway comprises at least one walkable access module, which is arranged adjacent to the component compartment. The access module comprises a cavity, wherein at least one opening exists between the component compartment and the cavity, through which the thermal energy of the components generating thermal losses can be transferred from the component compartment to the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventors: Jürg Burri, Michael Matheisl
-
Patent number: 10155641Abstract: An escalator or moving walkway comprises two access areas. The escalator or the moving walkway comprises components generating thermal losses that are arranged in at least one of the access areas in a component room. The escalator or the moving walkway comprises at least one walkable access module, which is arranged adjacent to the component compartment. The access module comprises a cavity, wherein at least one opening exists between the component compartment and the cavity, through which the thermal energy of the components generating thermal losses can be transferred from the component compartment to the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: INVENTIO AGInventors: Jürg Burri, Michael Matheisl
-
Patent number: 10065839Abstract: A system for braking an escalator or moving walkway includes a handrail and passenger support in registration with one another so as to move together. A braking tensioner selectively increases tension in the handrail during operation. The increased tension serves to frictionally brake the handrail and hence the passenger support. The braking tensioner may be located in any of various locations depending upon system design, and may be driven in any suitable manner, e.g., hydraulically, electrically, electromagnetically, and so on. Frictional wear on the handrail is reduced by the fact that the described braking system spreads the frictional load over a large area of the handrail, e.g., the many locations where the handrail contacts the underlying support throughout its length.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventor: Chan-Jong Park
-
Patent number: 9428368Abstract: The invention relates to a device (2) for driving a handrail (6) for an escalator (40) or for driving a handrail (6) for a moving walkway, the device comprising a drive belt (1) guided along a contact zone (10) and deflected on a deflection roller (7) after passing through the contact zone (10). The handrail (6) can be guided resting against the drive belt (1) along the entire contact zone (10) and can be driven by the drive belt (1) by means of friction between drive belt (1) and handrail (6). The device (2) comprises a deflection element (16), which deflection element (16) ensures that a lift-off point (18) of the handrail (6) from the drive belt (1) delimiting the contact zone (10) is arranged upstream of the deflection region of the drive belt (1) on the deflection roller (7). According to the invention, an escalator (40) or a moving walkway can be modernized with such a device (2).Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: INVENTio AGInventors: Andreas Trojer, Georg Adamcik, Michael Matheisl, Thomas Novacek
-
Patent number: 8627940Abstract: A drive system for transport of a passenger transport installation including an escalator or a moving walkway. Steps or pallets of the transport are actively connected to pulling elements which can be moved in the transport direction by at least one electric motor provided with a gear train having a chain wheel. The electric motor containing the gear train is positioned in one of the reversing areas of the transport and a further electric motor exclusively serves for the linear motion of the transport. Bushes/rolls of plate link chains are adjacent to or roll along individual teeth of the chain wheel while only getting into line contact, outside the tooth ground of the chain wheel. A point of force application of the bushes/rolls on the respective tooth of the chain wheel is realized such that only a one-directional force application component is generated at the respective tooth.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Winfried Lanzki, Andreas Tautz, Carsten Rolf, Heinrich Zeiger, Alfred Thiel
-
Patent number: 8016097Abstract: An escalator handrail drive arrangement includes a drive belt (26) mounted within a drive housing (35). Pressure rollers (30) are mounted in pairs and pivotally attached to the drive housing. The pressure rollers bias a handrail (22) against the drive belt. The pressure roller arrangements are mounted at each axial end. A spring (44) biases the pressure roller arrangements against the handrail, with the spring being centered along the axial length of the pressure rollers. This spring is preferably mounted within the drive housing such that no additional space is required outwardly of the drive and roller arrangement to accommodate the spring.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Andreas Stuffel, Helmut Meyer, Klaus Rohrbach
-
Patent number: 7980379Abstract: A conveyance device has two endless arrangements of tread steps, step plates or pallets driven in a transportation direction by a drive. Adjacent to a first longitudinal side of the first arrangement is a first balustrade with a handrail, and adjacent a second longitudinal side of the first arrangement is a second balustrade and handrail. The second arrangement is located parallel and next to the first arrangement and is also driven by the drive. The second balustrade is configured as a center balustrade between the two arrangements to be used by persons on both arrangements. A third balustrade and handrail is adjacent a second side of the second arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Inventio AGInventor: Gerald Winkler
-
Patent number: 7958986Abstract: An exemplary device for driving a handrail of a passenger conveyor includes a handrail drive member configured to engage a handrail. A motor is associated with the drive member such that a driving output of the motor is exclusively for moving the handrail drive member. An exemplary passenger conveyor includes a step chain and a handrail. A step chain motor is associated with the step chain for moving the step chain. A handrail motor that is distinct from the step chain motor is associated with the handrail for moving the handrail.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Dirk Winkelhake, Raymond J. Moncini
-
Patent number: 7954620Abstract: A passenger conveyor assembly (20) includes a moveable stepping surface (22). A first drive (50) is operative to move the stepping surface (22). A handrail (30) and a second drive (40) is provided as part of the passenger conveyor assembly (20). A controller (70) controls the second drive (40) independent of the first drive (50) to allow for movement of the stepping surface (22) or the handrail (30) when the other of the handrail (30) or the stepping surface (22) is stationary.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventor: Dirk Winkelhake
-
Patent number: 7784598Abstract: A bi-directional escalator includes an ascending escalator and a descending escalator arranged in parallel and side-by-side with the ascending escalator. A driving machine drives an ascending driving unit and a descending driving unit at the same time. A controller controls operation of the driving machine. The driving machine includes an electric motor and a reduction gearbox connected to the electric motor. The reduction gearbox has a first output shaft and a second output shaft both arranged on the same side of the reduction gearbox.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Yongqing Fang, Jie Hu, Jianguo Li, Mingping Jiang, Feng Xu
-
Patent number: 7735623Abstract: The present invention is a linearly actuated rotating handrail system for escalators and moving walkways. The system includes a worm band or a handrail, having a first friction device on one side, a dragging device formed by a second friction device and coupled to the first friction device to drag the worm band in the displacement direction. The pressure device includes a first layer of kinematic support, formed by a crank, an articulated shaft, a driving connection rod, shafts and driven cranks. There is a second layer formed by traction rollers. The application of pressure to the worm band or handrail and its balanced distribution over the different pressure rollers is carried out by slides actuated by a distributor, tightened by an elastic system. The elastic system transmits the tension by a beam.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2009Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation Center, S.A., Thyssenkrupp Elevator (ES/PBB), Ltd.Inventors: Miguel Angel Gonzalez Alemany, Juan Domingo Gonzalez Pantiga, Manuel Alonso Cuello, David Moris Moro, Jose Ojeda Arenas
-
Publication number: 20100096240Abstract: A passenger conveyor assembly (20) includes a moveable stepping surface (22). A first drive (50) is operative to move the stepping surface (22). A handrail (30) and a second drive (40) is provided as part of the passenger conveyor assembly (20). A controller (70) controls the second drive (40) independent of the first drive (50) to allow for movement of the stepping surface (22) or the handrail (30) when the other of the handrail (30) or the stepping surface (22) is stationary.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2007Publication date: April 22, 2010Inventor: Dirk Winkelhake
-
Patent number: 7686152Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system for moving walkways and stairs by means of horizontal drive chains, having a drive actuation mechanism and drive chains responsible for causing the movement of the plates of the walkway or steps of the stairs. The drive chains and the pallets or steps have direct mutual engagement devices which are opposite and coupled to one another along a straight section of the path of the belt or stairs. The devices have deformable rollers which are assembled in the links of the drive chain and engage in complementary cavities that the plates or links have at the back part.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2008Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation Center, S.A., Thyssenkrupp Elevator (ES/PBB) Ltd.Inventors: Miguel Angel Gonzalez Alemany, Juan Domingo Gonzalez Pantiga, Manuel Alonso Cuello, José Ojeda Arenas, David Moris Moro
-
Patent number: 7600628Abstract: The invention relates to a carriage for driving handrails of walkways and moving stairs, comprising a body (6) in the form of a vertical plate in which leading rollers (7) are assembled; two swinging locking pawls (12-13) for locking with a drive chain; a free turning wheel (24) intended to be supported against a cam profile in order to cause the pawls (12-13) to swing between an operative vertical position and an inoperative horizontal position; and an arm (8) intended to engage with the variable pitch screws.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2007Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Norte, S.A., Thyssenkrupp Elevator (ES/PBB) Ltd.Inventors: Miguel Angel González Alemany, Juan Domingo Gonzalez Pantiga, Manuel Alonso Cuello
-
Patent number: 7320393Abstract: An arrangement for a people mover located near a floor surface comprises a transport conveyor structure including a conveyor and a handrail having a casing. A drive machine is operatively arranged at least for moving the conveyor and the handrail. The drive machine is located above the floor surface and is installed in the transport conveyor structure, at least partly inside the casing of the handrail.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Marc Ossendorf
-
Patent number: 7137500Abstract: A passenger conveyor system (20) has a drive module that engages only one side (50) of the step chain loop (30). In a multiple drive module arrangement, at least one of the drive modules (40B) engages both sides (50, 52) of the step chain loop while another engages only one side (50). The inventive arrangement is not sensitive to spacing (54, 56) between the drive modules. Another example embodiment includes a synchronizing module (60) that engages both sides (50, 52) of the step chain loop (30).Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2003Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventor: Richard N. Fargo
-
Patent number: 6974018Abstract: An escalator has a step-band with steps for the transport of persons. The step-band is bounded on its sides by a balustrade held by a balustrade base. A handrail-drive drives the handrails, and has friction-wheels driving the handrails on the outside of the handrails. Rollers press upon the insides of the handrails, pressing the handrail against the friction-wheel. At least one further friction-wheel arranged on a step chain-wheel drives the friction-wheel through frictional or mechanical engagement.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2004Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Inventio AGInventors: Gerhard Lunardi, Michael Matheisl
-
Patent number: 6971497Abstract: A handrail-drive for an escalator or moving walk drives the handrail through frictional contact with an outside surface of the handrail. Press-on rollers engaging the inside of the handrail may be employed to press the handrail against a drive-wheel of the drive. The force of the rollers may be adjustable. The drive-wheel may include a gas-filled tire on a rim and can be driven by a motor, a step-chain wheel, or a step-chain drive.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2004Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Inventio AGInventors: Thomas Illedits, Hubert Hölzl
-
Patent number: 6685004Abstract: An escalator drive machine includes a motor output sheave connected to a drive motor through a belt reduction assembly including a main output sheave. A drive belt extends from the belt reduction assembly and is guided along a plurality of guide sheaves to engage the step chain and propel the escalator tread plates. In addition, by locating a pinch roller adjacent the handrail, the drive belt and handrail can be pinched together to provide a motive force to the handrail. The drive belt thereby synchronously drives the handrail. In another embodiment the drive machine includes a counter-rotating motor to drive a drive belt on each side of the escalator system.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Richard Fargo, Charles Darling
-
Patent number: 6640959Abstract: In connection with a drive for escalators or moving sidewalks that is mounted within the step or pallet belt and comprises a distributor gear with two output shafts, specifically one for the handrail and one for the step or pallet belt, whereby each output shaft is provided with a drive gear for driving the output shaft, as well as an assembly unit mounted between the drive shafts for the distributor gear, the latter comprising a least one electric motor, the goal is to improve such a drive by particularly simplifying its assembly and using components that are simpler with respect to their design and therefore less costly. This is accomplished in that the electric motor (1), the planetary gear (2) and a drive step (9, 7, 8) linked with the power take-off of the planetary gear (2) for the direct drive of at least the drive gear (10) of the output shaft (12) for the step or pallet belt, are combined in one single assembly unit (3) that can be secured on the distributor gear.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: O&K Antriebstechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Karl-Wilhelm Haumann, Wolfram Grossmann
-
Publication number: 20030066732Abstract: The device includes a protection and safety assembly which covers the downstream end of said device and which, in said decelerated safety zone, includes a moving member disposed above said handrail elements and adapted to be entrained by a foreign body itself entrained by said handrail elements in the same direction as and at the same speed as said handrail elements along a substantially horizontal path, and detector means adapted to detect predetermined displacement of said member in said direction, and to cause at least said device to stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Inventor: Philippe Lefeuvre
-
Patent number: 6527099Abstract: An escalator drive machine includes a motor output sheave which drives a drive belt along a closed look between the output sheave and a drive sprocket. The output sheave engages the drive belt with the step chain such that the step chain and attached tread plates are propelled from one landing to the other. The output sheave includes a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth. The first set of teeth is around the output sheave hub to engage a set of belt teeth extending from the drive belt. The second set of teeth is preferably located along a rim of the output sheave and is engageable with corresponding link teeth located along each link in the drive chain. The second set of teeth maintain their relationship with the corresponding link teeth due to the first set of teeth, however, there is no contact therebetween. However, should the drive belt fail or become disengaged, the second set of teeth engage the corresponding link teeth.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2002Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Joerg Ostermeier, Helmut Meyer, Andreas Stuffel
-
Patent number: 6457573Abstract: An escalator drive machine includes a motor output sheave which drives a drive belt along a closed look between the output sheave and a drive sprocket. The output sheave engages the drive belt with the step chain such that the step chain and attached tread plates are propelled from one landing to the other. The output sheave includes a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth. The first set of teeth is around the output sheave hub to engage a set of belt teeth extending from the drive belt. The second set of teeth is preferably located along a rim of the output sheave and is engageable with corresponding link teeth located along each link in the drive chain. The second set of teeth maintain their relationship with the corresponding link teeth due to the first set of teeth, however, there is no contact therebetween. However, should the drive belt fail or become disengaged, the second set of teeth engage the corresponding link teeth.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2001Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Joerg Ostermeier, Helmut Meyer, Andreas Stuffel
-
Patent number: 6450317Abstract: An escalator drive machine includes a motor output sheave connected to a drive motor through a belt reduction assembly including a main output sheave. A drive belt extends from the belt reduction assembly and is guided along a plurality of guide sheaves to engage the step chain and propel the escalator tread plates. In addition, by locating a pinch roller adjacent the handrail, the drive belt and handrail can be pinched together to provide a motive force to the handrail. The drive belt thereby synchronously drives the handrail. In another embodiment the drive machine includes a counter-rotating motor to drive a drive belt on each side of the escalator system.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2000Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Richard Fargo, Charles Darling
-
Patent number: 6260687Abstract: An apparatus for exchanging roller bearings of escalator and moving walkway chainwheel sub-assemblies includes the provision of auxiliary supports to which the chainwheel sub-assembly can be fixed. With removal of axle carriers the central axle becomes accessible, and can be displaced laterally to disengage from one of the roller bearings, which is subsequently removed and replaced. The central axle is then displaced in the opposite direction to allow access to an opposite roller bearing. Auxiliary centering for the axle in an axle cylinder is provided to prevent shifting of the axle within the cylinder when the axle carriers are removed. The steps of fixing the chainwheel sub-assembly to the auxiliary supports and subsequently shifting the axle to free the bearings constitute a method for bearing removal which does not require disassembly of the escalator/walkway conveying run and allows the escalator or walkway to be walked on during the exchange process.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2000Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Inventio AGInventor: Robert Ulrich
-
Patent number: 6119845Abstract: Present invention relates to a hand rail driving pulley for a passenger conveyor. According to the invention, when difference between the moving velocity of a step and the moving velocity of a hand rail generates, by adjusting the radius of the driving pulley, the velocity difference can be synchronized without any change of new part. And present invention discloses a new installing method of elastic contacting ring inserted into a groove not the conventional adhering method, so when a worn contacting ring is changed, changing work can be done easily and simply.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: LG Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kee Hyo Song
-
Patent number: 5755315Abstract: A handrail drive for a passenger conveyor includes a drive belt that does not encompass either the main drive shaft or the handrail drive shaft. In a particular embodiment, the drive belt includes a plurality of outwardly extending teeth and is formed from a reinforced elastomeric material. The teeth are engaged with complementary toothed extensions on the main and handrail drive shafts. Two pair of deflection rollers maintain contact between the drive belt and drive shafts and an adjustable spring maintains tension in the drive belt.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1995Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Knuth Wallbaum, Jorg Ostermeier, Kurt Pietsch
-
Patent number: 5566810Abstract: Movement of the handrail on an escalator or moving walkway passenger conveyor is smoothed out by providing a totally elastomeric coupling between the conveyor step chain and the handrail drive mechanism. The handrail drive mechanism is a friction drive roller, or belt, which is driven by being connected to the step chain. The connection between the step chain and the handrail drive is provided by an elastomeric member which engages both a step chain-driven sprocket and the handrail drive mechanism. The elastomeric connection damps out jerks which are created by the chordal nature of the step chain and the main motor drive chain as the chains pass around chain return sprockets. The elastomeric connection therefore smooths out movement of the handrail.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1995Date of Patent: October 22, 1996Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Helmut Meyer, Alfons von Herz, Dirk Winkelhake
-
Patent number: 5522492Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved escalator handrail drive system. The system is a drive wheel with an uphill and downhill side, an escalator handrail wrapped around a portion of the drive wheel, and two pressure rollers. One pressure roller is positioned adjacent to the downhill side of the drive wheel and forms a first nip therebetween and the other pressure roller is positioned adjacent to the uphill side of the drive wheel and forms a second nip therebetween. The escalator handrail is driven by the drive wheel with the assistance of the uphill pressure roller and the downhill pressure roller applying pressure to the handrail as it passes through each of the first and second nips so as to ensure sufficient contact area between the drive wheel and the handrail. There are also at least two guide rollers with at least one positioned adjacent to the downhill side of the drive wheel and at least one positioned adjacent to the uphill side of the drive wheel.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1995Date of Patent: June 4, 1996Assignee: Home ElevatorsInventors: John P. Spriggs, James F. Evans
-
Patent number: 5379877Abstract: A handrail drive located at a reversal region of a handrail. The handwheel drive has a motor-gear assembly including an electric motor and a multistage planet gear assembly. The handwheel drive further includes a handrail wheel having a drive region connected with the motor-gear assembly. The drive region and the motor-gear assembly are co-axially located.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: O&K Orenstein & Koppel AGInventor: Peter Hoefling
-
Patent number: 5131521Abstract: A moving handrail on an escalator or the like is driven by pairs of rollers which form a nip through which the handrail moves. The rollers are eccentrically mounted so as to automatically tighten the nip in response to resistance to movement of the handrail. The roller or rollers which contact the underside of the handrail are rotatably driven by power sprockets, while the roller or rollers contacting the outer or exposed surface of the handrail are idler rollers which are not rotated by the power sprockets so as to lessen scuffing of the exposed surface of the handrail by the rollers.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1991Date of Patent: July 21, 1992Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Gerald E. Johnson, James A. Rivera, Frank M. Sansevero, Dat Nguyen
-
Patent number: 5125494Abstract: A drive pulley system is provided for a handrail drive mechanism of a passenger conveyor. The system includes a pulley, with a handrail drive belt wrapped about the pulley for rotation therewith. A pair of disc-like members are disposed on opposite sides of the pulley to sandwich the pulley therebetween. The disc-like members have diameters greater than that of the pulley and are rotatable relative to the pulley, or the disc-like members may be fixed to the pulley and be fabricated of low friction material. The handrail is wrapped about the outer peripheries of the disc-like members, spacing the handrail from the drive belt, and thereby allowing differential linear movement between the handrail drive belt and the handrail due to the relative rotation between the disc-like members and the pulley, or due to slippage between the handrail and the low friction disc-like members.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1991Date of Patent: June 30, 1992Assignee: Montgomery Elevator CompanyInventors: Thomas R. Nurnberg, Kenneth J. Smith
-
Patent number: 5092446Abstract: A handrail monitoring system for use in a passenger conveyor such as an escalator, moving sidewalk or the like, compares the speed of each handrail against their nominal installed speed and responds when the handrail speeds differ from nominal by a selected percentage, i.e., when the difference in speed is 5, 10, 15 or 20%, as selected by an operator. Handrail speed is compared with the nominal handrail speed which may be established over a continuous range of speeds depending upon the installation. The system outputs either an immediate audio and/or visual alarm upon excessive slowing of a handrail or a delayed audio and/or visual alarm following a selected time interval to allow for temporary, short interruptions in handrail transport not due to conveyor system malfunction, but rather frequently due to passenger interference with the handrail.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1991Date of Patent: March 3, 1992Assignee: ECS CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Sullivan, Jr., Bradley A. Mitchell
-
Patent number: 5090551Abstract: A conveyer for transporting people includes a transmitting mechanism for transmitting the drive force of a treadboard driving section for moving treadboards to a drive mechanism of a handrail driving section for moving handrails. The transmitting mechanism includes a transmission shaft on which first and second junction sprockets are fixed, a first drive chain stretched between the treadboard driving section and the first junction sprocket, and a second drive chain stretched between the second junction sprocket and the drive mechanism. A detecting device is arranged to detect a twist of the transmission shaft attributable to the difference between loads acting on the first and second junction sprockets. The device detects a change in the moving sped of the handrail in accordance with the detected twist of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1991Date of Patent: February 25, 1992Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yoshihito Yasuhara, Toshio Saitou
-
Patent number: 5072820Abstract: The handrail of an escalator is continuously monitored for movement by a sensor assembly. In the event that the handrail stops moving, the escalator steps are stopped so as to provide a safe environment for passengers on the escalator. The system can also be used with moving walkways equipped with moving handrails.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1991Date of Patent: December 17, 1991Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Matthias Steffen, Gerald Wente
-
Patent number: 4895240Abstract: The handrail of an escalator of other passenger conveyor is driven by traction rollers which engage the handrail and also directly engage links which are connected to and drive the steps or tread of the conveyor. The handrail is biased into engagement with the traction rollers, and moves at substantially precisely the same speed as the steps or tread due to the direct connection between the step or tread drive and the handrail drive.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1989Date of Patent: January 23, 1990Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Klaus Bruehl, Dietmar Thaler
-
Patent number: 4775044Abstract: A parallel drive for escalators or moving sidewalks is located within the region of reversal and inside the rotating step or pallet belt, the drive including with electric motor, gearing, step or pallet drive apparatus and handrail drive apparatus. The apparati are driven by the drive shafts of a drive unit comprising electric motor and planetary gearing arranged with their axes parallel to the axes of driven shafts of the step or pallet drive and the handrail drive.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1986Date of Patent: October 4, 1988Assignee: O & K Orenstein & Koppel AktiengesellschaftInventor: Peter Hofling
-
Patent number: 4674619Abstract: A passenger conveyor including body frame is formed of a main frame including upper and lower horizontal sections and an inclined section therebetween, and upper and lower auxiliary frames mounted on the upper and lower horizontal sections of the main frame, respectively. A front side of the upper auxiliary frame and the upper horizontal section forms a recessed portion, and a driving device for driving handrail is provided in the recessed portion so that the handrail driving device is positioned over the surface of the upper horizontal section and the width of the passenger conveyor is reduced without changing the height of the handrail driving device. The lower auxiliary frame and the inclined section of the main frame also form a recessed portion and a tension device is disposed in the recessed portion so as to be disposed over the main frame, whereby the passenger conveyor is reduced in width by 100-150 mm.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1985Date of Patent: June 23, 1987Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Elevator Engineering Ltd.Inventors: Hayashi Nakazawa, Shouichi Nakao, Cyuichi Saito, Makoto Kawagoshi
-
Patent number: 4589539Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1983Date of Patent: May 20, 1986Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: Henry Boltrek, Edward F. Parvis
-
Patent number: 4580675Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1983Date of Patent: April 8, 1986Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: Henry Boltrek
-
Patent number: 4535880Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1983Date of Patent: August 20, 1985Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: Henry Boltrek
-
Patent number: 4295556Abstract: A passenger conveyor has a plurality of steps each including a treadboard provided with a number of cleats and grooves defined therebetween, the cleats being adapted to mesh with teeth of a comb-like plate at each terminal of the conveyor, and a frame to which the treadboard is secured; handrails adapted to run in synchronism with the travel of the steps; handrail frames disposed beneath the handrails; and balustrade panels. The treadboard is formed of a corrugated stainless steel sheet and is reinforced by at least one reinforcement member attached to the underside of the treadboard. The handrail frame is formed by first and second members both made of stainless steel sheets and having U-shaped cross-sections. The first and second members are welded together in back-to-back relationship so that the open side of the first member is directed toward the handrail while the open side of the second member is directed toward the balustrade panel.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1979Date of Patent: October 20, 1981Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Cyuichi Saito, Katsuya Teranishi
-
Patent number: 4227605Abstract: A driving unit for driving the circulating step band of escalators which is arranged inwardly of the step band and includes an electric motor, a transmission and a hand rail drive. The output shaft of the transmission simultaneously serves as main drive shaft for the step band. The electric notor has a housing which is formed by a rotor which is journalled in an overhung manner on the input shaft of the transmission. The torque of the transmission is absorbed through the intervention of a torque support by a handrail drive shaft which is driven by a chain or a gear transmission.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1976Date of Patent: October 14, 1980Assignee: O & K Orenstein & Koppel AktiengesellschaftInventor: Peter Hofling