CN112897305A

CN112897305A - Evacuation indicating system based on escalator

Info

Publication number: CN112897305A
Application number: CN202110143975.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: M.朱里奥克萨; 严伟; 万新春
Original assignee: Kone Elevators Co Ltd; Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Elevators Co Ltd; Kone Corp
Priority date: 2021-02-02
Filing date: 2021-02-02
Publication date: 2021-06-04

Abstract

The invention relates to an evacuation indicating system based on an escalator, which comprises: a controller; an alarm module configured to receive an external signal indicating the occurrence of an emergency to signal passengers of an evacuation; and the emergency exit indicator is arranged on the escalator and indicates the direction of an emergency exit under the control of the controller when the alarm module sends an evacuation signal.

Description

Evacuation indicating system based on escalator

Technical Field

The invention relates to an evacuation indicating system based on an escalator.

Background

Currently, all buildings have emergency exits. However, in the event of an emergency such as a fire, the direction of the emergency exit is often not clear. Escalators do not play a corresponding role in the evacuation process as a common facility in buildings.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an escalator-based evacuation indication system comprising:

a controller;

an alarm module configured to receive an external signal indicating the occurrence of an emergency to signal passengers of an evacuation;

and the emergency exit indicator is arranged on the escalator and indicates the direction of an emergency exit under the control of the controller when the alarm module sends an evacuation signal.

Advantageously, the emergency exit indicator is a light strip provided on the escalator along the length thereof, the light strip being configured to emit light of a predetermined colour indicating the direction of the emergency exit when the alarm module emits the evacuation signal.

Advantageously, the light strip is arranged along the apron or along the handrail belt.

Advantageously, the emergency exit indicator is a pattern projected onto a doorway or a step of an escalator, the pattern being configured to indicate the direction of an emergency exit when the alarm module emits an evacuation signal.

Advantageously, the alarm module is further configured to signal to the passengers that an emergency exit is reachable via the escalator when the alarm module signals an evacuation.

Advantageously, the alarm module comprises a speaker to emit a signal in the form of a sound to the passenger.

Advantageously, the alarm module comprises a virtual assistant having a human-shaped form capable of signaling the evacuation of the passengers by means of a predetermined action.

Advantageously, the alarm module is further configured to determine whether an emergency occurs near the escalator after receiving an external signal indicating that an emergency occurs, and if it is determined that an emergency occurs near the escalator, the alarm module signals the passenger not to use the escalator while the escalator is stopped.

Advantageously, the controller is configured to change the direction of travel of the escalator to coincide with the direction of the emergency exit when the direction of travel of the escalator does not coincide with the direction of the emergency exit.

Advantageously, the evacuation indication system further comprises a monitoring module detecting the number of passengers on the escalator, the monitoring module sending a message indicating that the number of passengers is greater than a predetermined threshold to an alarm module, the alarm module signaling that the number of passengers is greater than the predetermined threshold when the number of passengers is greater than the predetermined threshold.

Advantageously, the alarm module is further configured to signal evacuation of passengers via another emergency exit.

Drawings

Advantages and objects of the present invention will be better understood in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the relationship of the various components. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an escalator-based evacuation indication system according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the escalator, schematically showing a virtual assistant of the alarm module.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the escalator, schematically showing the evacuation indication system.

Detailed Description

Various embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, it is to be noted that, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to constituent parts having substantially the same or similar structures and functions, and repeated description thereof will be omitted. The term "sequentially comprising A, B, C, etc" merely indicates the order of the included elements A, B, C, etc. and does not exclude the possibility of including other elements between a and B and/or between B and C.

The drawings in the present specification are schematic views to assist in explaining the concept of the present invention, and schematically show the shapes of respective portions and their mutual relationships.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 1 to 3.

In the event of an emergency, such as a fire, the evacuation instruction system 1 indicates the direction of an emergency exit to passengers using an escalator and conveys the passengers.

The evacuation indication system includes a controller 11, which may be a controller of an escalator system. The evacuation indication system also includes an alarm module 13 configured to receive an external signal indicating the occurrence of an emergency and, upon receipt of such external signal, to signal an evacuation of the passengers. Generally, the external signal may be an element in the environment in which the escalator is located that monitors for an emergency, such as a fire alarm. The alarm module may include a speaker 131 and a virtual assistant 132, as shown in fig. 3, which may be provided at a suitable position of the escalator to emit a sound signal to give an evacuation signal to passengers. The virtual assistant 132 is in the form of a human figure, as shown in fig. 2, the virtual assistant 132 being capable of signaling the passengers with evacuation through various predetermined actions, such as through various hand gestures.

The alarm module 13 may also be configured to determine whether an emergency occurs near the escalator after receiving the external signal, and if it is determined that an emergency occurs near the escalator, the alarm module sends a signal to the passenger to indicate that an emergency occurs near the escalator, reminding the passenger not to ride the escalator while the escalator stops operating. Alternatively, the alarm module also signals the evacuation of passengers via another escalator and indicates the direction of this escalator.

The evacuation indication system also includes a panic exit indicator 14 disposed on the escalator that indicates the direction of a panic exit under the control of the controller upon the occurrence of an evacuation signal at the alarm module. For example, the emergency exit indicator is a light strip provided on the escalator along the length of the escalator, such as a light strip L1 provided on a skirt or a light strip L2 provided on a handrail, which emits light of a predetermined color in case of an emergency and indicates the direction of the emergency exit, such as light strips that form a rapid movement along the length of the escalator, so that passengers can clearly recognize the direction of the emergency exit. Alternatively, the emergency exit indicator may also be a pattern projected onto a step or a doorway of an escalator, the pattern being configured to indicate the direction of the emergency exit under the control of the controller in the event of an emergency, e.g., the pattern forming an arrow or the like.

When the running direction of the escalator is inconsistent with the direction of the emergency exit, the controller also changes the running direction of the escalator to be consistent with the direction of the emergency exit.

The evacuation indication system also comprises a monitoring module 12 which, for safety reasons, detects the number of passengers on the escalator when the number of passengers evacuated via the escalator is excessive, for example exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and sends this information to an alarm module which, on the basis thereof, signals the passengers that the number of passengers is excessive and signals the passengers to prohibit evacuation via this escalator and evacuation via another escalator or in some other way. For example, the monitoring module may be a camera, but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the monitoring module may also be in other forms.

While the alarm module has been described as generating a variety of signals, it should be understood that these signals may each be a sound signal emitted by a speaker or a video signal generated by a virtual assistant.

According to the invention, through the evacuation indication system based on the escalator, passengers can be evacuated quickly by using the escalator, clear indication of the direction of an emergency exit is provided for the passengers, and the passengers can be evacuated conveniently.

The above description is merely illustrative of the present invention, which is set forth to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to fully practice the present invention, and not to limit the present invention. The technical features disclosed above are not limited to the combinations with other features disclosed, and other combinations between the technical features can be performed by those skilled in the art according to the purpose of the invention, so as to achieve the purpose of the invention.

Claims

1. An evacuation indication system based on an escalator, the evacuation indication system comprising:

a controller;

2. An evacuation indication system according to claim 1, wherein the emergency exit indicator is a light strip provided on the escalator along the length thereof, the light strip being configured to emit a light of a predetermined colour indicating the direction of the emergency exit upon the alarm module emitting the evacuation signal.

3. An evacuation indication system according to claim 2, wherein the light strip is disposed along a skirt panel or along a handrail belt.

4. An evacuation indication system according to claim 1, wherein the emergency exit indicator is a pattern projected onto a doorway or steps of an escalator, the pattern being configured to indicate the direction of the emergency exit when the alarm module signals evacuation.

5. An evacuation indication system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm module is further configured to signal passengers that an emergency exit is reachable via the escalator when the alarm module signals evacuation.

6. An evacuation indication system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm module includes a speaker to emit a signal in the form of a sound to the passenger.

7. An evacuation indication system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm module includes a virtual assistant having a human form capable of signaling passengers evacuation through a predetermined action.

8. An evacuation indication system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm module is further configured to determine whether an emergency situation occurs near the escalator after receiving the external signal indicating the occurrence of the emergency situation, and if the emergency situation is determined to occur near the escalator, the alarm module signals the passengers not to use the escalator while the escalator is stopped.

9. An evacuation indication system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to change the direction of travel of the escalator to coincide with the direction of the emergency exit when the direction of travel of the escalator does not coincide with the direction of the emergency exit.

10. An evacuation indication system according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring module detecting the number of passengers on the escalator, the monitoring module sending information indicating that the number of passengers is greater than a predetermined threshold to an alarm module, the alarm module signaling that the number of passengers is greater than the predetermined threshold when the number of passengers is greater than the predetermined threshold.

11. An evacuation indication system according to claim 10, wherein the alarm module is further configured to signal evacuation of passengers via another emergency exit.