EP0743921A1

EP0743921A1 - Helical escalator

Info

Publication number: EP0743921A1
Application number: EP95909696A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erik Brunn
Original assignee: O & K Rolltreppen GmbH; O&K Rolltreppen GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: O&K Rolltreppen GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1994-02-09
Filing date: 1995-02-09
Publication date: 1996-11-27
Also published as: WO1995021788A1; CN1140440A; DE4404065A1; JPH09501902A; RU2107018C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a helical escalator having a vertical and stationary central column, at least one first guide track which cooperates with the latter and extends helically along the vertical extension thereof, at least one second guide track provided at a predetermined radial distance from said first guide track, a plurality of steps which are equipped with at least one shaft and which are provided in the region of their outer ends with rollers resting on the guide tracks, at least one drive member which interconnects the steps and moves in the corresponding transport direction, an upper and a lower direction-changing area and a return area for the steps externally of the transport area, the spiral extending at a substantially constant predetermined angle of inclination between the upper and lower landing areas and possibly intermediate landing areas, and the return area of the steps being provided below the transport area, and the step rollers rolling on corresponding further guide tracks extending helically relative to the guide tracks of the transport area, the drive member being disposed approximately in the region of the radially outer step extension, and holding and guiding arrangements for the steps being provided in the region of the radially inner and/or radially outer step extension.

Description

Spiral escalator

The invention relates to a spiral escalator with a central vertical and stationary central column.

From EP-B 415 953 an escalator is known which is guided in the manner of a helix, with a plurality of movable steps, which are designed in the shape of a sector of a circle and run on at least one stationary helical guide, a vertical center column , which is arranged in the center of the stairway area, a coupling device arranged in the circumferential area of the central column for holding and guiding the narrow inner side ends of the steps, and a drive for moving the steps with at least the coupling device of the central column about the vertical column axis can be driven in the direction of rotation. The stair treads are connected to one another in an endless chain, with only the broad outer side ends of the stair treads being coupled to one another with the respective adjacent side ends of the adjacent stair treads via connecting elements which pivot the stair treads relative to one another about an approximately vertical axis and further enable an approximately vertical displacement of the steps relative to one another. The steps can be detached from the coupling device with which the inner side ends of the steps are held. The spiral escalator can be designed as a simple upward or downward staircase, the empty strand being guided through the interior of the central column. Alternatively, there is the possibility of providing both an upstroke area and a lowering area, a separate center column being provided for the upstroke area and the lowering area. The individual or the two center columns are set in rotation in a constructionally complex manner by means of external drives. Both the return of the steps through the inner area of the individual central center pillar and the use of two central pillars are considered to be extremely space-consuming, the accessibility of the inner return area appearing to be particularly problematic. In addition, the diameter of the central return column is disadvantageously increased due to the internal return area.

DE-C 4009 973 relates to an encircling circular escalator which, like the above-mentioned document, contains a rotatable central center column. The circular escalator has an annular curved body which takes and guides the steps for movement along the stairs. With a rotation of the central axis by 360 ° a step performs a closed up and down movement. This means that on average only 180 ° are available for upward and downward movement, so that in the case of larger storey heights, diameters of many meters are inevitably necessary. The diameter for overcoming a projectile of 4.8 m, for example, would be approximately 10 m. Overcoming several floors, especially with intermediate exits, is hardly possible in practice.

Both of the aforementioned spiral escalators do not have so-called transition areas, which slidely connect the almost horizontal landing areas (landing areas) with the transport area (slope area). In both, an abrupt change of direction from the horizontal to the slope is provided, with large horizontal accelerations having to be accepted.

The aim of the subject matter of the invention is to further develop a spiral escalator in such a way that it can be erected in a confined space, overcomes any heights, enables smooth transitions between the landing areas and the climbing zone and is of a simple, mechanical construction.

This goal is achieved in a spiral escalator with a central vertical and stationary center column, with at least one cooperating first guideway running spirally along the vertical extension of the center column, at least one second guideway provided with a predetermined radial distance from it, a plurality of with at least Steps equipped with an axle, which in the area of their outer ends are equipped with step rollers resting on the guideways, at least one drive element connecting the steps and moving in the corresponding transport direction, an upper and a lower deflection area and a return area for the steps outside the transport area, the spiral running with a predeterminable, essentially constant angle of inclination between the upper and lower and, if appropriate, intermediate stair landing areas, and the return is provided in the area of the steps below the transport area and the step rollers roll on corresponding further guide tracks spiraling to the guideways of the transport area, the drive element is arranged approximately in the area of the radially outer step extent and in the area of the inner area and / or the radially outer step extension holding and guiding devices are provided for the steps. Advantageous further developments of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

The step rollers of the individual steps can thus be guided on associated cam coils, the steps themselves being secured against lateral displacement by holding and guiding elements located radially on the inside and / or outside. The drive element, in particular in the form of a link chain, is preferably provided in the radially outer region outside the steps, while the radially inner region of the steps preferably does not contain a separate drive element and can only be deflected from the transport region into the return region below by means of driving wheels in the associated deflection region . Alternatively, however, the drive element would also be conceivable in the radially inner region, i.e. provided on the column side. In the case of an arcuate (hook-shaped) configuration of the holding and guiding devices, they engage in particular in the lower deflection area in a substantially horizontally extending contactor on the central central column, this slot ensuring that the hook-shaped holding and guiding devices can be easily accessed Deflection from the area of the center column or into the area of the same can be reintroduced.

If the drive chain makes a helical movement around the center of the central axis and the associated guideway is cut correspondingly rising, the step axis follows this movement without changing its horizontal position.

In the reversal areas, the stepped axes (if internal holding and guiding elements are present, these are also) by a drive wheel and together with the outer drive chain and the drive wheel at an angle of approximately 180 ° to the return area underneath or in reverse ¬ se from the return area to the transport area. With radially inner holding and guiding elements, these are positioned in the space between the inner and outer guideway of the associated transport or return area and can thus pass through the return area without colliding with the upwardly sliding holding and guiding elements of the steps of the transport area. The reversal in the lower deflection area takes place as previously described.

The invention makes it possible to build spiral escalators with diameters of approx. 4 m and to overcome any height differences. With several storey heights, an entry and exit zone can be provided for each storey which, so that the spiral escalator according to the invention combines the advantages of the elevator, namely the low space requirement and the large transport heights, with the advantages of the conventional escalator, namely the large conveying capacity.

The center column can either be designed as a thin-walled tube, on its outer circumferential area the guideways (for example as an arcuate segment), preferably by means of screws, or it can be designed as a thick-walled tube whose outer circumferential surface e.g. is machined by machining (milling or the like) in order in this way to produce the necessary guideways for the inner step rollers of the transport and / or return area and possibly also the slot in the lower deflection area.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing using an exemplary embodiment and is described as follows. Show it:

Figure 1 - Sketch of a one extending over two floors

Spiral escalator,

Figure 2- schematic diagram of a spiral escalator according to Figure 1 in open

Presentation,

FIG. 3- center column according to FIG. 2 with step axes and rollers,

Figure 4- transition from the central column to the upper reversing station,

Figure 5- Schematic diagram of the lower deflection area

FIG. 6- step with step axis, holding and guiding devices and schematically indicated center column,

Figure 7- Center column with horizontal slot for holding and

Guide devices in the lower deflection area,

8 shows a schematic diagram of a spiral escalator with guideways provided on the same radius for the transport and return areas, Figure 9- Sketch of a spiral escalator with different

Radii provided guideways for the transport and return areas.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a spiral escalator 1 extending over two floors, which essentially contains the following components: a central, stationary, vertically arranged central column 2, radially inner and radially outer balustrades 3, 4, including associated handrails 5, 6, a plurality of steps 7. The spiral escalator 1 includes a lower spiral section 8 (floor 1), an intermediate exit 9 and an upper spiral section 10 (floor 2). The treads 7 can be deflected in the lower 8 and in the upper spiral section 10 in a manner not shown here and - as explained in more detail in the following figures - can be returned. The drive element is also not recognizable here.

If the transport direction is assumed to be upward (arrow direction), the spiral escalator 1 has in the area of the lower spiral section 8 a landing area 11 (landing area) which essentially comprises a plurality of almost horizontally running steps 7. I smoothly merges into the transport area 13 and extends helically along the stationary center column 2 with a given pitch angle. Similar transition areas 14 are provided in the area between the upper transport area of the first floor and the first exit area (landing area) 15 of the intermediate exit 9. A deflection of the steps 7 is not provided in the area of the intermediate exit 9, rather the steps 7 are continued horizontally and transferred to the area of the second floor in the same way as for the first floor. Here, too, a lower access area 16 (landing area), a transition area 17 and a transport area 18 with a predetermined gradient are provided. The upper spiral section 10 likewise contains a transition area 19 and an exit area (landing area) 20.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the spiral escalator 1 indicated in FIG. 1 in an open representation. The central and stationary center column 2, the steps 7 and the upper spiral section 10 can be seen. The steps 7 are each provided with two axes 21, 22, one axis 21 being axially longer than the other. Both axes 21,22 are provided with stepped rollers 23,24 and 25,26, the Step rollers 23, 24 represent so-called pull rollers and step rollers 25, 26 represent so-called drag rollers. The drag rollers 25, 26 roll here on tracks that are not shown in any more detail, but which are of secondary importance for the design of the subject of the invention.

The inner step roller 23 of each axis 21 rolls here on an inner guide track 27, which in this example is connected to the center column 2 by screwing, and the radially outer step roller 24 interacts with a radially outer guide track 28 spaced apart therefrom. The treads 7 cooperate with a single drive element 29, which is formed by a link chain which receives the outer step roller 24 of each step 7 between the individual links 29 ', 29 ". The link chain 29 is provided outside the treads 7 and moves the treads 7 thus connected to each other in the transport direction (arrow direction), namely in the direction of the upper spiral section 10, which simultaneously forms the upper deflection area. The link chain 29 is deflected in a known manner by means of a chain wheel 30, while in the radial direction inner area, ie in the area of the center column 2, only one driving wheel 31 is provided, which receives the radially elongated axle areas 32 of the axles 21, so that each step 7 can be deflected into the return area 33 without angular misalignment to the transport area 13 inner guideways 34 (only indicated) and There are outer guide tracks 35 for the stepped rollers 23, 24, the guide track 34 extending below the guide track 27 along the vertical extension of the center column 2 with the same angle of inclination. Furthermore, rolling support rollers 36 are provided on the circumference of the central column 2 and, for the sake of simplicity, are arranged on the axles 21 outside the inner step rollers 23. Furthermore, only indicated, essentially arc-shaped holding and guiding devices 37 in the form of hooks are provided here.

FIG. 3 shows, in an enlarged form, the center column 2 according to FIG. 2, the transport area 13 indicated by an arrow and the return area 33, likewise represented by an arrow. The inner guide track 27 provided for the transport area 13 and the one for the return area can be seen 33 provided inner guide track 34. Also indicated are the axes 21, the support rollers 36, the outer step rollers 24, the outer guide track 28 for the transport area 13 and the link chain 29, the inner step rollers 23 and the hooks 37 which are curved in this example that in the end of each Axis 21 in particular articulated and with a predetermined vertical distance below it ε. are ordered.

Figure 4 also shows in an enlarged view the transition from the central column 2 to the upper spiral section 10, i.e. the upper deflection area. In addition to the center pillar 2, the following components can be seen: the axes 21, the inner guide track 27 and the inner step rollers 23 of the transport region indicated by an arrow; the inner drive wheel 31 and the arc-shaped holding and guiding devices 37. The inner stepped rollers 23 are held in the area of the upper helical section 10 between guide plates 40, 41 and deflected together with the steps not shown here. The arc-shaped holding and In this example, guide devices 37 have a somewhat longer arc length, so that front and rear horizontal support rollers 36 are provided for better support. For the sake of clarity, no vertical support rollers are shown here. For the purpose of deflection in the upper deflection area 10, the arc-shaped holding and guiding devices 37 leave the guideway 27 and are deflected together with the axes 21. The reference numeral 37 'denotes a holding and guiding device which is currently in the state of the deflection.

FIG. 5 also shows a schematic diagram of the lower deflection area 8 of the spiral escalator 1. In particular, the following components can be seen: the central vertical and stationary center column 2, the inner guideways 27, 34 on the one hand of the transport area 13 and on the other hand of the return area 33, which on the axes 21 provided inner step rollers 23, the radially outer guide tracks 28, 35 together with the associated outer step rollers 24 provided on the axles 21, the drive member 29, the arc-shaped holding and guiding devices 37 and the lower driving wheel 31 for deflecting the inner area 32 of the Axes 21. In order that the holding and guiding devices 37, which are connected in an articulated manner to the axles 21 in particular, can be introduced into the transport area 13 of the center column 2, the latter has an essentially horizontally running slot 38 approximately at the level of the lower driving wheel 31. A similar slot is provided on the part of the center column 2 (not shown) where the holding and guiding devices 37 are transferred from the return area 33 into the area of the lower driver wheel 31. The slot (s) 38 preferably have inlet and outlet guides (not shown further here) bevels that can be provided with noise-damping materials if necessary.

Figure 6 shows a partial representation of a step 7 in connection with an associated axis 21, an inner step roller 23, an outer step roller 24 (traction rollers), the drag rollers 25, 26 and the center column 2 and an arcuate holding and guiding device 37. The illustrated In this example, the holding and guiding device 37 has a relatively long arc length, so that front and rear horizontal support rollers 36 are provided for better support, which roll on the circumference 39 of the center column 2. If required, vertical rollers (not shown further) can also be provided in the area of the holding and guiding device 37. The inner step roller 23 runs on its associated inner guide track 27, which is formed here by the transport region 13 acting upward (arrow direction).

FIG. 7 shows the center column 2 with indicated inner guideways 27, 34 and the substantially horizontally extending slot 38 in the lower deflection area 8 for introducing the arch-shaped holding and guiding devices 37 (not shown further here).

Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a spiral escalator 1 '. The center column 2 ', treads 7', axes 21 ', inner and outer step rollers 23', 24 'and further radially outer support rollers 42 can be seen. In the end regions of the axes 21', on the one hand, are radially inner, i.e. In the area of the center column 2 ', the holding and guiding devices 37 already described are provided in conjunction with at least one horizontal support roller 36, while additional holding and guiding devices 42 are provided on the radially outer side, which are supported on supporting surfaces not shown here. The inner stepped rollers 23 'run in the transport area 13' on associated inner guide tracks 27 ', preferably applied to the circumference 39' of the center column 2 ', while for the return area 33' an associated inner guide track 34 'runs on the circumference 39 'the center column 2' is applied. The radii of the inner guideways 27 ', 34' of both the transport area 13 'and the return area 33' are identical in this example.

9 shows, as a further alternative to FIG. 8, a central column 2 "which, on the one hand, has an inner guide milled into the peripheral surface 39" for the transport area 13 " track 27 "and, on the other hand, for the return area 33" has an inner guide track 34 "applied to the circumference 39" of the center column 2 "(eg by screwing). The guide tracks 27" and 34 "are provided on different radii, so that also roll the associated inner 23 "and outer stepped rollers 24" on different radii. The same applies to the radially outer holding and guiding devices 42, which are also provided on different radii and are operatively connected to corresponding support surfaces, not shown here.

Claims

claims

Spiral escalator with a central vertical and stationary center column (2 ₎ 2 ', 2 ") ₁ at least one interacting with it, spiraling along the vertical extension of the center column (2,2'2") first guide track (27,27', 27 "), at least one second guideway (28) provided with a predetermined radial distance therefrom, a multiplicity of steps (7, 7 ') equipped with at least one axis (21, 21'), which in the region of their outer ends also on the guideways ( 27, 27 ', 27 ", 28) on the stepped rollers (23, 23', 24, 24 ') are equipped, at least one drive element connecting the steps (7, 7') to each other and moving in the corresponding transport direction ( 29), an upper and a lower deflection area (8, 10) as well as a return area (33.33 ', 33 ") for the steps (7,7') outside the transport area (13.13 ', 13"), the spiral with a predeterminable, essentially constant angle of inclination between the upper un d the lower and possibly intermediate stair landing areas (11, 20,9), and where the return area (33,33 ', 33 ") of the steps (7,7') below the transport area (13, 13 ' , 13 ") is provided and the stepped rollers (23, 23 ', 24, 24') on corresponding further guide tracks which extend spirally to the guide tracks (27, 27 ', 27", 28) of the transport area (13.13'.13 ") (34, 34 ', 34 ", 35) roll, the drive member (29) is arranged approximately in the area of the radially inner or the radially outer step extent and in the area of the radially inner and / or the radially outer step extent holding and guiding devices (37) are provided for the steps (7,7 ').

Spiral escalator according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (37) are provided in the radially inner region of the steps (7, 7 ') and with regions (39, 39', 39 ") of the center column (2) cooperate.

Spiral escalator according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding and guiding elements (42) are provided in the radially outer area of the steps (7, 7 ') and radially outside the central column (2, 2', 2 ") with corresponding support areas work together.

4. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guideways (27, 27 ', 34, 34', 34 ") are formed in the shape of a segment of a circle and on the outer circumference (39, 39 ', 39") of the center column (2, 2 ', 2 "), in particular by screwing.

5. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guideways (34 ") are made by shaping the central column (2"), in particular by milling.

6. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pitch angle of the guideways (27.27'27 ", 28) of the transport area (13, 13 ', 13") essentially that of the guideways (34, 34', 34 "35) of the return area (33,33 ', 33") corresponds.

7. spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that with the step rollers (23.23 ', 23 ", 24) provided axes (21,21') with predetermined distances over the lateral boundary edges of the steps (7,7 ', 7 "protrude and the step rollers (23, 23', 23", 24) are provided in the end regions of the axes (21, 21 ').

8. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the drive member (29) is a single chain which is articulated in the radially outer region on the axes (21) of the individual steps (7).

9. spiral escalator according to claim 8, characterized in that the chain (29) is a link chain, that the radially outer step rollers (24) between the tabs (29 ', 29 ") are arranged, and that at least the respective step roller (24) containing area between the tabs (29 ', 29 ") is provided with a bushing containing a spherical bearing.

10. Spiral escalator according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the respective step rollers (24) receiving tabs (29 ', 29 ") of the chain (29) are equipped with spherical bearings containing bushings.

11. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the center column (2) at least in the lower deflection area (8) on the one hand for introducing the holding and guiding devices (37) into the transport area (13) and on the other hand for transferring the same from the return area (33) into the deflection area (8) is provided with an essentially horizontal slot (38)

12. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (37) are arcuate.

13. spiral staircase according to claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (37) are designed in the form of a hook.

14. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (37) are attached to the radially inner end of the axes (21, 21 ').

15. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (37) are provided in an articulated manner at the end of the axes (21, 21 ').

16. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (37) are arranged vertically below the axes (21, 21 ') at a predetermined distance.

17. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (37) the associated axes (21,21 ') both in the transport (13,13') and in the return area (33,33 ' ) are attached to the respective axes (21, 21 ') in advance.

18. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (37) are provided at least on one side with a horizontal support roller (36).

19. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (37) are equipped with at least one horizontal (36) as well as with at least one vertical guide roller.

20. Spiral escalator according to claim 19, characterized in that the horizontal roller (36) or the horizontal rollers (36) on the outer circumference (39) of the central column (2,2 ^* ) is supported or supported, and that the vertical roller or roll the vertical rollers in particular on the guideways (27, 27 ', 27 ", 34, 34', 34") for the inner step rollers (23).

21. Spiral escalator according to claim 3, characterized in that the holding and guiding devices (42) are roller-shaped and are supported on corresponding supporting surfaces outside the central column (2 ', 2 ").

22. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the radially outer drive member (29) in the deflection areas (8, 10) can be guided via a chain wheel (30), and that the radially not interacting with a drive member inner regions of the axles (21) can be received and deflected by a correspondingly designed driving wheel (31).

23. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the inner step rollers (23 ') roll in the transport area (13') as well as in the return area (33 ') on guideways (27', 34 ') with the same radius len.

24. Spiral escalator according to claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the inner (23 ") and the outer step rollers (24") on guideways (27 ", 34") with different radii in the transport (13 ") and in the Rücklaufbe Roll off richly (33 ").