EP0420061B1 - Escalator handrail obstruction device with sensors - Google Patents

Escalator handrail obstruction device with sensors Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0420061B1
EP0420061B1 EP19900118194 EP90118194A EP0420061B1 EP 0420061 B1 EP0420061 B1 EP 0420061B1 EP 19900118194 EP19900118194 EP 19900118194 EP 90118194 A EP90118194 A EP 90118194A EP 0420061 B1 EP0420061 B1 EP 0420061B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
handrail
housing
escalator
bumper
bumper member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19900118194
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0420061A3 (en
EP0420061A2 (en
Inventor
Willy Adrian
Detlev B. Moldenhauer
Dietrich Herrmann
Detlev Abraham
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Otis Elevator Co
Original Assignee
Otis Elevator Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US07/414,866 external-priority patent/US4924995A/en
Priority claimed from US07/414,865 external-priority patent/US4976345A/en
Application filed by Otis Elevator Co filed Critical Otis Elevator Co
Publication of EP0420061A2 publication Critical patent/EP0420061A2/en
Publication of EP0420061A3 publication Critical patent/EP0420061A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0420061B1 publication Critical patent/EP0420061B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B29/00—Safety devices of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B29/02—Safety devices of escalators or moving walkways responsive to, or preventing, jamming by foreign objects
    • B66B29/04—Safety devices of escalators or moving walkways responsive to, or preventing, jamming by foreign objects for balustrades or handrails

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a safety device for use on the reentry housing of an escalator handrail. More particularly, the device of this invention is operable to sense longitudinal forces, in a preferred embodiment also radial forces, occurring in the area of the reentry housing, and is further operable to turn the escalator off in appropriate cases.
  • the handrail on an escalator is driven over a handrail guide in synchronism with the moving steps of the escalator, or other moving walkway.
  • the handrail reverses its direction of travel, over a curved newel in the more modern escalators, and moves along a hidden return path of travel.
  • the escalator handrail passes through a reentry housing as it begins its return travel. Care must be taken that objects or materials are not pulled into the reentry housing by the moving handrail lest damage to the mechanism or injury to a passenger may occur.
  • the device described in US-A-4,619,355 is provided with a brush member surrounding the handrail entering the reentry housing.
  • a switch is actuated to stop the escalator.
  • This device is not able to detect flat objects sticking to the handrail because these objects may pass the brush member without being engaged.
  • DE-A-2,050,139 shows a safety device arranged within the entry housing consisting of a deformable body enclosing the handrail.
  • This body is filled with a liquid and contains a sensor for measuring the pressure within the liquid. In this way the presence of articles pushing against the deformable body can be detected.
  • a disadvantage of this solution is e.g. the fact that the device is arranged within the entry housing and may not prevent larger articles from being jammed at the entry of the entry housing. Furthermore, this liquid filled safety device is difficult to manufacture and liable to damage.
  • This invention relates to a device which senses abnormal forces exerted in the area of the reentry housing, which forces are the result of an object being pulled into the reentry housing by the handrail, or, in a preferred embodiment, to sense forces being a result of an object or the like being jammed into the reentry housing.
  • the escalator is turned off and a warning alarm is sounded.
  • the device includes a collar that is mounted in the mouth of the reentry housing and through which the handrail moves.
  • An elastomeric bumper is fitted into the collar and forms the outermost element of the device.
  • the bumper is the element of the device which will be directly contacted by anything which is on the handrail as the latter enters the reentry housing.
  • a plurality of pins are mounted on the bumper and extend through and past the collar in the direction of travel of the handrail. The pins are operable to contact a switch mounted in the reentry housing adjacent to the handrail when the bumper is sufficiently deformed by contact with something on the handrail which is being pushed by the handrail into the reentry housing. When the pins contact the switch, the escalator is shut off and an alarm is sounded.
  • a radial pressure sensor disposed between the bumper and the collar for detecting material which is carried past the bumper by the handrail. Such material will encounter the collar and will jam against the collar. This will cause a radially outwardly directed force against a portion of the bumper disposed adjacent to the handrail, which radial force will be detected by the radial pressure sensor. When this occurs, the pressure sensor will shut the escalator off and sound an alarm. After the jam is cleared, the escalator must be manually restarted.
  • the device which is denoted generally by the numeral 2 surrounds the handrail 4 as the latter enters the reentry housing 6 (fragmentally shown in phantom lines).
  • the various components of the device 2 are shown in FIGURE 2.
  • the bumper 8 is elastomeric, and can be formed from a material such as neoprene rubber, or the like.
  • the bumper 8 has a through passage 10 through which the handrail 4 moves in the direction of the arrow A, and a rounded exposed surface 12 facing the direction from which the handrail advances.
  • the downstream end of the bumper 8 is formed with an annular boss 14.
  • An annular recess 16 is formed in the downstream side of the bumper 8 about the boss 14.
  • the recess 16 includes inner and outer lands 18 and 20, respectively.
  • An annular base member 22 is disposed downstream of the bumper 8.
  • the base 22 has a profiled locking boss 24 of annular configuration which is snap fitted into the bumper recess 16 and releasably held in place by the lands 18 and 20.
  • the base 22 is also formed with an internal throat 26 which telescopes into the passage 10 of the bumper 8.
  • the throat 26 has an axial bore 28 through which the handrail moves.
  • a plurality of pins 30 are mounted in the base 22 and extend downstream therefrom.
  • a guide member 32 is disposed downstream of the base 22 and is formed with a counterbore 34 which telescopes over the outside of the base 22.
  • a boss 36 formed in the counterbore 34 telescopes into a mating portion 38 in the base 22.
  • the pins 30 extend through passages 40 in the guide 32.
  • the guide members 32 are preferably formed as halves of mating pairs as shown in FIGURE 5 which are held together by the pins 30 when the latter are telescoped into the passages 40.
  • Each guide member 32 has a lateral opening 42 through which a roller 44 can contact the moving handrail to guide the latter.
  • the rollers 44 are mounted on shafts 46 secured in place by nuts 48.
  • An outer housing or case 50, formed in mating halves overlies the assembly.
  • the housing part 50 has an upstream flange 52 the nests into an annular marginal recess 54 in the bumper 8, and a side wall 56 that surrounds the guide 32.
  • Inside of the housing part 50 are lugs 58 that fit into external slots 60 in the guides 32 to secure the two parts together.
  • the nuts 48 are accessible through openings 62 in the housing 50.
  • FIGURES 3 and 4 are front elevational views of the bumper 8 and base 22, that show clearly the shapes of these parts.
  • the bumper 8 and base 22 have peripheral gaps 64 and 66, respectively, which allow the handrail to be positioned in the passages 10 and 28, respectively.
  • the shape of the bumper recess 16 and the base locking boss 24 is also clearly shown.
  • the location of the pins 30 in the base 22 is also shown clearly in FIGURE 4.
  • FIGURE 6 shows the handrail 4 moving through the device in the direction of the arrow A.
  • the housing part 50 engages a stop 51 fixed to the escalator truss which holds the housing 50 and guide 32 against movement in the direction of the arrow A.
  • the housing 50 and guide 32 are fixed relative to the moving handrail.
  • the bumper 3 and base 22 can slide relative to the housing 50 and guide 32, however the natural resiliency of the bumper 8 and the fact that it engages the flange 52 on the fixed housing 50, will serve to hold the bumper 8 and base 22 in a neutral position shown in FIGURE 6 wherein the pins 30 are spaced apart from a switch 31 which controls operation of the escalator power source. If the pins 30 actuate the switch 31, then the escalator will shut down. Additionally, there is a radial pressure sensor 15 interposed between the outer surface of the bumper boss 14 and the inner surface 25 of the base 22.
  • the pressor sensor 15 is a tape consisting inside of material which is electrically conductive. The conductivity changes with pressure applied on the surface of the tape. As previously noted, as shown in FIGURE 6 there are no abnormal forces acting upon the reentry assembly, and the handrail 4 is moving in a normal fashion therethrough.
  • FIGURE 7 the device is viewed with a force F acting upon the surface 12 of the bumper 8, which force F is generated by a foreign object being pulled against the bumper 8 by the moving handrail 4.
  • the natural resiliency of the bumper 8 will create a counter force F1 between the bumper 8 and the fixed housing flange 52 which biases the pins 30 away from the switch 31. So long as the force F is less than the biasing force F1, the pins 30 will be held away from the switch 31. Once the force F exceeds the force F1, the pins 30 will be moved against the switch 31 to actuate the latter, causing the escalator to stop and causing an alarm to sound.
  • FIGURE 8 This condition is illustrated in FIGURE 8 wherein the net force acting upon the pins 30 is F2, whereby the pins 30 are moved against the switch 31.
  • F2 the net force acting upon the pins 30
  • F1 the only force acting upon the pins 30, as shown in FIGURE 9.
  • the elasticity of the bumper 8 thus moves the pins 30 away from the switch 31 and the escalator is restarted, and the alarm turned off.
  • FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate operation of the device when a foreign object or material is pulled into the device 2 by the handrail 4.
  • the force exerted on the bumper 8 by an object at the interface between the handrail 4 and the bumper 8 is designated by F3, and will have an axial component and a radial component due to its proximity to the handrail 4.
  • F3 force exerted on the bumper 8 by an object at the interface between the handrail 4 and the bumper 8
  • the pins 30 will be moved against the switch 31 and the alarm will sound, and the handrail 4 will stop.
  • the radial component of the force F3 will activate the radial pressure sensor 15 by deforming the bumper boss 14 whereupon, when the force F3 is applied on the sensor 15, the current i will change due to the change of conductivity. This is detected by an electronic device which in turn gives a signal that turns off the escalator.
  • the foreign body can be removed from inside the device 2, and the escalator then must be manually restarted; i.e. it will not restart automatically as it will when only the switch 31 has been activated.
  • the device of this invention provides a dual safety function in that object impacting the reentry housing may cause the escalator to turn off, and objects which actually are pulled into the reentry housing by the handrail will also turn off the escalator. In the former instance, the escalator will automatically restart once the anomaly is removed, and in the latter instance, the escalator must be manually restarted.
  • the components of the device are self adjustable and can conform to some degree of handrail wear and dirt buildup on the handrail without losing its ability to function as intended.
  • the component parts of the device may all be molded from suitable plastics and thus can be accurately mass produced at low cost.

Landscapes

  • Escalators And Moving Walkways (AREA)
EP19900118194 1989-09-29 1990-09-21 Escalator handrail obstruction device with sensors Expired - Lifetime EP0420061B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US414865 1989-09-29
US07/414,866 US4924995A (en) 1989-09-29 1989-09-29 Escalator handrail obstruction device with sensors
US414866 1989-09-29
US07/414,865 US4976345A (en) 1989-09-29 1989-09-29 Escalator handrail obstruction device with sensors

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0420061A2 EP0420061A2 (en) 1991-04-03
EP0420061A3 EP0420061A3 (en) 1991-06-05
EP0420061B1 true EP0420061B1 (en) 1993-11-03

Family

ID=27022754

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900118194 Expired - Lifetime EP0420061B1 (en) 1989-09-29 1990-09-21 Escalator handrail obstruction device with sensors

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0420061B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH0798632B2 (ja)
CN (1) CN1030304C (ja)
AU (1) AU617081B2 (ja)
CA (1) CA2025625C (ja)
DE (1) DE69004395T2 (ja)
RU (1) RU2015101C1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4229994C2 (de) * 1992-09-08 1995-03-16 Orenstein & Koppel Ag Handlaufeinlaufteil für den Handlauf einer Rolltreppe, eines Rollsteiges o. dgl.
US5295567A (en) * 1992-12-30 1994-03-22 Otis Elevator Company System for emergency stopping of escalator handrail
KR200331931Y1 (ko) * 2003-08-20 2003-11-01 김종숙 에스컬레이터 또는 무빙워크의 핸드레일 살균장치
DE10351220A1 (de) 2003-10-28 2005-06-02 Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Stuttgart - Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts Rohrförmiges Implantat
JP4910892B2 (ja) * 2007-06-05 2012-04-04 三菱電機株式会社 乗客コンベアのインレット安全装置
DE202008003486U1 (de) 2008-03-12 2008-05-15 Thyssenkrupp Fahrtreppen Gmbh Sicherheitsvorrichtung für eine Fahrtreppe
JP5704715B2 (ja) * 2011-05-26 2015-04-22 東芝エレベータ株式会社 乗客コンベアのインレット安全装置
EP3309108B1 (en) 2016-10-14 2020-03-25 Otis Elevator Company People conveyor and method of operating a people conveyor
NO345059B1 (en) * 2018-06-12 2020-09-14 Autostore Tech As Safety device for a delivery vehicle
CN110817673A (zh) * 2018-08-10 2020-02-21 奥的斯电梯公司 具有安全传感器的自动扶梯系统
CN109911751B (zh) * 2019-04-03 2024-05-14 快意电梯股份有限公司 扶手电梯
CN112284312A (zh) * 2020-10-22 2021-01-29 广州文冲船厂有限责任公司 一种管件长度测量装置

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH362818A (de) * 1958-03-29 1962-06-30 Inventio Ag Sicherheitseinrichtung am Gummihandlauf einer Rolltreppe
BE758095A (fr) * 1969-11-03 1971-04-01 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Dispositif de protection de main courante
JPS5128392Y2 (ja) * 1971-05-14 1976-07-17
JPS49112383A (ja) * 1973-03-02 1974-10-25
JPS5426629Y2 (ja) * 1974-10-31 1979-09-01
US4619355A (en) * 1985-08-06 1986-10-28 Otis Elevator Company Escalator handrail entry safety switch actuator
DE3802983A1 (de) * 1988-02-02 1989-08-10 Thyssen Man Aufzuege Sicherheitsklappe fuer den handlaufeinlauf einer fahrtreppe

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69004395D1 (de) 1993-12-09
CA2025625C (en) 1994-06-14
CA2025625A1 (en) 1991-03-30
RU2015101C1 (ru) 1994-06-30
DE69004395T2 (de) 1994-05-05
EP0420061A3 (en) 1991-06-05
EP0420061A2 (en) 1991-04-03
CN1030304C (zh) 1995-11-22
JPH03120194A (ja) 1991-05-22
JPH0798632B2 (ja) 1995-10-25
AU6233590A (en) 1991-04-11
AU617081B2 (en) 1991-11-14
CN1050528A (zh) 1991-04-10

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