Abstract: An escalator is provided with a curved path of travel from its entry to its exit landings. The path of travel of the escalator steps as seen in plan is a curve having a fixed center and a constant radius from landing to landing. In elevation, each landing portion will be disposed in vertically spaced horizontal planes, and there with be a medial constant slope ascending or descending portion. Interconnecting each landing portion with the constant slope portion will be entry and exit transitional curved portions of varying slope as seen in the elevational view. To enable the steps to traverse the curved path successfully, the effective length of the outer of the step chains is varied at different points along the path of travel of the escalator.

Abstract: A continuous coupling circulating along a closed path and having variable length links each comprising a bogie having at least one bobbin rotated by a wheeled railway system. Successive links are connected by flexible lines which wind on the bobbins and on which are carried vehicles. A supplementary parameter is introduced defined by the ratio of upstream and downstream discharge of the lines from a bogie and permitting suppression of interference phenomena and jerks normally caused by acceleration variations thus improving the comfort of passengers.

Abstract: The invention relates to continuous transport apparatus whose transport speed is variable. The embodiment illustrated is a moving walkway in which the load-bearing members are plates, adjacent plates overlapping to present a continuous surface. The load-bearing members are mounted on respective supports and the variation in speed is obtained by varying the spacing between adjacent supports. The supports are connected by a flexible link, which is a chain or belt in the preferred embodiment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transportation device comprised of a series of load carrying components connected together so that the distance between the components vary thereby allowing the components to move in a closed loop path. Rotatingly driven endless screws are positioned along the closed loop path and are engaged by a projection associated with the component as a particular component moves along a screw. The thread pitch of the screws is arranged to control the distance between adjacent component and the speed of the components.

Abstract: A funicular type transport device including a variation chain and at least one tractor chain. The variation chain includes a plurality of variation links of variable length forming a continuous loop and a plurality of mobiles interconnected with the plurality of variation links. Each of the plurality of mobile components is provided with an interconnection device selectively engageable with the at least one tractor chain. A sensor measures the tension in the variation chain. A control device responds to the sensor to maintain the tension in the variation chain below a predetermined maximum level.

Abstract: A handrail, suitable for use with an accelerating and decelerating moving walkway, comprising a plurality of overlapping handrail elements (51) movable about the periphery of a vertical, oval track, is disclosed. Handrail acceleration and deceleration is produced by changing the amount of element overlap. Element overlap is changed by an overlap control mechanism that comprises a plurality of suitably positioned cam rails (85a and b; 87a, b, c and d; 89a, b, c and d; 90a and b; and, 91) and a plurality of cam followers. The cam followers include rollers (69, 75 and 81) and arms (61, 71) that link the handrail elements (57) together. The rollers ride on the cam rails. The coaction between the rollers and the cam rails causes the arms to fold and unfold, which folding and unfolding action changes the amount of handrail element overlap.

Abstract: A cable drive system suitable for use with moving walkways wherein a plurality of serially connected platforms (10) travel in a circuitous path of travel that includes change-of-direction regions (18, 20) connected by constant speed zones is disclosed. The cable drive system of the invention is particularly suited for use with an accelerating and decelerating moving walkway wherein acceleration and deceleration zones are located at the beginning and end, respectively, of each constant speed zone. The cable drive system comprises a drive cable (60) positioned beneath the constant speed zones of the path of travel and releasable cable-coupling mechanisms (98) associated with and connected to the platforms (10). An actuating mechanism (94, 96 and 122, 124) actuates the cable-coupling mechanisms to grip the cable (60) at the beginning of the constant speed zones and release the cable at the end of the constant speed zones.

Abstract: Platform for passenger conveyor comprising a rigid flat plate having a wheel set attached to each end. Each wheel set comprising a main support wheel positioned on a guide rail and a retaining wheel positioned on the underside of the rail. The axis of the two wheels being spaced-apart in the direction of movement of the platform.

Abstract: A belt conveyor transportation system includes a plurality of belt conveyor units each having an endless belt whose main constituent element consists of a magnetic material so as to be magnetically attractive with magnets, and the conveyor units are continuously arranged lengthwise along a desired transportation network layout to form a conveyor line. The conveyor units of the conveyor line drive their magnetic belts separately or in groups each including a number of the units at an independent speed. A moving body or bodies are arranged to move along the conveyor line, and the moving member includes a magnet system. By virtue of the magnetic attraction between the conveyor units and the magnet system, the moving member travels along the conveyor line while being hauled by the magnetic belts of the conveyor units at their respective speeds.

Abstract: An expanding-contracting device associated with a running linear assembly, and applicable to moving platforms, composed of a succession of forks guided over a looped path, a section of which coincides with a section of the path followed by rods of an endless belt, each fork being adapted to grip a rod and being connected to one of the adjacent forks by means of a connection device controlling, in accordance with a pre-established program, the spacing between the two forks in relation to the position of the first fork, so that the spacing decreases progressively in a first zone of the coincidence section, and increases progressively in a second zone of the section, situated downstream of the first zone.

Abstract: A belt conveyor transportation system includes a plurality of belt conveyor units each having an endless belt whose main constituent element consists of a magnetic material so as to be magnetically attractive with magnets, and the conveyor units are continuously arranged lengthwise along a desired transportation network layout to form a conveyor line. The conveyor units of the conveyor line drive their magnetic belts separately or in groups each including a number of the units at an independent speed. A moving body or bodies are arranged to move along the conveyor line, and the moving member includes a magnet system. By virtue of the magnetic attraction between the conveyor units and the magnet system, the moving member travels along the conveyor line while being hauled by the magnetic belts of the conveyor units at their respective speeds.

Abstract: An accelerating and decelerating moving walkway, including a plurality of overlapping platforms formed such that walkway surface irregularities are minimized and such that the platforms change direction in a minimal amount of space, is disclosed. Each platform includes a pallet and a tapered, trailing edge flap. The underside of the flaps are combed and mesh with the combed upperside of the platform that they overlap. Each flap is hinged to its associated pallet in a manner that allows only a limited amount of rotation. Surface irregularities, which occur primarily when the overlapping platforms are stretched out in the constant speed zone, are minimized by convexly contouring the upper surface of the pallets in the direction of platform overlap; and, by controlling the rotation of the flaps so that contact is maintained between the flaps and the platforms they overlie.

Abstract: The chain has a single direction of curvature and is capable of passing over pinions of small diameter. This chain is made up of a classic chain comprising at regular intervals a link to which is fixed a block having at least two rectilinear coplanar faces and tangent to the pins of the links and each extending over a length equal to the interval respectively from one part to the other of the link. An application of this chain consists in a variable speed handrail.

Abstract: A handrail having accelerating and decelerating regions whereat people board and alight from an accelerating and decelerating walkway is disclosed. The handrail comprises a plurality of overlapping handrail elements. The elements move in a vertical, oval track having lengthy sides joined by curved ends. Acceleration of the handrail is synchronized with the acceleration of the moving walkway, and occurs immediately subsequent to the entry of people on the moving walkway. Deceleration of the handrail is synchronized with the deceleration of the moving walkway, and occurs just prior to the exit of people from the moving walkway. Pairs of adjacent overlapping handrail elements are operably connected together by an extendable and retractable member. Each extendable and retractable member is also connected to a cam follower. The cam followers follow acceleration and deceleration cams located internal to the vertical, oval track that defines the handrail path of travel.

Abstract: A variable speed walkway system capable of receiving passengers, accelerating them to above walking speed conveying them over a selected distance at a constant speed, and decelerating them for comfortable exiting is provided. In the preferred form, the system comprises a plurality of rollers driven by a prime mover through individual polyurethane belts to obtain acceleration and deceleration. In a second preferred form, the system comprises a variable speed drive employing one or more belts each of which drives a plurality of rollers. All rollers driven by a single belt accelerate or decelerate in unison. Acceleration and deceleration in this second embodiment is preferably computer controlled. A handrail which accelerates and decelerates with the walkway is provided for both embodiments.

Abstract: A linear induction drive system for an accelerating and decelerating moving walkway comprising a plurality of interconnected platforms that encompass the entire path of travel of the walkway and overlap one another by a small portion of their length in linear constant speed zones and by a substantial portion of their length in acceleration and deceleration zones is disclosed. The linear induction drive system comprises a plurality of stationary linear induction motor stators located in the constant speed zones. Affixed to the platforms are reaction rails formed of a plurality of links rotatably attached to one another such that the links are linearly aligned with one another in the constant speed zones and fold in an accordian manner in the acceleration and deceleration zones. In the constant speed zone the reaction rails are driven by power applied to the linear induction motor stators. Due to the platform interconnection this drive force moves the entire walkway.

Abstract: This transport system for transferring passive vehicles such as cars, platforms, containers, by means of a continuous-drive conveyor is characterized in that each vehicle comprises, in addition to carrier wheels engaging the main and fixed carrier rail, at least one tire-mounted wheel carried by cross beams projecting laterally from the vehicle, the tire-mounted wheel being adapted to engage intermediate retarding or acceleration tracks, a skid mounted in parallel relationship at the end of the cross beams and adapted to engage endless belts driven at low linear speeds for embarkment and disembarkment purposes, and also for transferring the vehicle to turnaround turntables at the ends of the system, and another skid adapted to engage the main endless belt conveyor for driving the vehicle at high speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable pitch conveyor or a chain in which the length of the links can be varied.Each link includes a cross-bar T.sub.i mounted between longitudinal rocking bars B.sub.i that are interconnected by linked bars L.sub.i. The bars B.sub.i are integral with a toothed sector which controls the rocking of the bars by meshing with a moving rack adapted to follow, with a variable speed, the motion of the chain.

Abstract: Principal movable elements are mounted for displacement on a first rolling track and coupled together in pairs by a flexible link of constant length. Auxiliary movable elements are mounted for displacement on a second rolling track. The spacing between the first and second rolling track is variable along at least a part of the path of travel. Each flexible link passes over two deflecting members each mounted integrally on one of the principal movable elements. A central portion of each flexible link is always positioned substantially in the direction of displacement and the two extreme portions of each link are respectively secured to an auxiliary movable element without rigid part between a principal and an auxiliary element.