EP3891091A1

EP3891091A1 - Balustrade for a people-transporting device, people-transporting device comprising such a balustrade, and method for modernising a people-transporting device

Info

Publication number: EP3891091A1
Application number: EP19809825.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Moritz Tim Münchow; Gerrit Brand; Frank Neerhut
Original assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbH
Current assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbH
Priority date: 2018-12-04
Filing date: 2019-11-27
Publication date: 2021-10-13
Also published as: WO2020114846A1; CN113382944A; AU2019394592B2; KR20210119959A; CN113382944B; DE102018220899A1; AU2019394592A1; KR102591179B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a balustrade (1) comprising a plurality of first panels (2), a plurality of second panels (3), and a handrail guide (4) arranged on the first panels (2), the second panels (3) being arranged laterally offset with respect to the first panels (2) in such a way that the second panels (3) protrude beyond the handrail guide (4). Support elements (5) are arranged in each case between two first panels (2), with at least one holding element (10) being arranged on the support elements, which holding element holds the second panels (3). The invention also relates to a people-transporting device having at least one such balustrade (1). Lastly, the invention relates to a method for modernising a people-transporting device, wherein the people-transporting device is fitted with such a balustrade (1).

Description

Balustrade for a passenger conveyor, passenger conveyor with such a balustrade and method for modernizing a passenger conveyor

The invention relates to a balustrade comprising a plurality of first panels, a plurality of second panels and a handrail guide arranged on the first panels. The second panels are laterally offset from the first panels in such a way that the second panels protrude beyond the handrail guide. Furthermore, the invention relates to a passenger conveyor with such a balustrade and a method for modernizing a passenger conveyor.

Balustrades of this type are used in particular in the case of passenger conveying devices, such as escalators or moving walks. The second panels serve in particular as a fall protection device to prevent people who use the passenger conveyor device from falling over the handrail of the passenger conveyor device from the passenger conveyor device. Since the handrail guide is arranged on the first panels of the balustrade, over which a driven, endless handrail is guided during operation of a passenger conveyor device, the first panels cannot have any height, but second panels are necessary, which are arranged laterally offset from the handrail guide are.

A balustrade for an escalator is known from WO 2006/042428 A2, for example, in which the first panels are arranged below the handrail and the second panels are laterally offset from the handrail and project above the handrail. The escalator is specially adapted to this balustrade.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to improve a balustrade mentioned at the beginning and to provide an improved passenger conveyor device. In particular, a visually appealing balustrade is to be created, which serves as fall protection. In particular, simple retrofitting of passenger conveyor devices with such a balustrade, which serves as fall protection, should also be made possible, preferably with minor adjustments to the passenger conveyor device.

To achieve this object, a balustrade, a passenger conveyor and a method for modernizing a passenger conveyor according to the independent claims are proposed. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and the description and are shown in the figures. The proposed solution provides a balustrade, in particular an escalator or moving walk balustrade, which comprises a plurality of first panels, a plurality of second panels and a handrail guide arranged on the first panels. The second panels are laterally offset from the first panels in such a way that the second panels protrude beyond the handrail guide. Support elements are each arranged between two first panels, at least one holding element, which holds the second panels, being arranged on the support elements. Advantageously, no major adjustments to the design of the passenger conveyor are necessary in this balustrade. In particular, it is provided that the balustrade comprises a balustrade base, the first panels advantageously being arranged with their lower ends in the balustrade base, in particular in corresponding holders of the balustrade base. Advantageously, the balustrade base has no changes compared to a balustrade base which is used for a balustrade without fall protection, which first panels but no second panels comprises. In addition, the balustrade is visually appealing, with the second panels providing reliable fall protection. The support elements are advantageously held by the first panels alone, in particular by the support elements being clamped between two successive first panels. The support elements of the balustrade are advantageously not connected to the balustrade base in such a way that the balustrade base mechanically fixes the support elements.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, glass panes or glass panels are provided as the first panels. Furthermore, glass panes or glass panels are preferably provided as second panels. The glass panes can in particular be toughened safety glass or laminated safety glass. The first panels and / or the second panels are preferably transparent. Even if the panels are preferably glass panels, it is provided in particular according to one embodiment variant that the first panels and the second panels are made of different materials. In one embodiment, the panels can in particular also be made of one or more of the materials mentioned below: plexiglass, acrylic glass, stainless steel, steel sheet, aluminum sheet. In particular, the pallets can also be made of a composite material, in particular the composite material sold under the Dibond® brand at the time of registration.

Advantageously, the at least one holding element is designed as a continuous one-part or multi-part holding element, in particular as a parallel to the handrail guide Holding element. In particular, it is provided that the at least one holding element is at least partially metallic, preferably at least partially made of aluminum or at least partially made of steel. Advantageously, the at least one holding element is at least one holding profile, in particular at least one continuous casting profile, preferably at least one aluminum continuous casting profile. Furthermore, it is particularly provided that the cross section of the at least one holding element is essentially round or has a U-shape. In particular if the second panels are designed as glass panels, the at least one holding element is advantageously at least one glass clamping strip. Glass paper is advantageously used in each case between the glass panel and the glass clamping strip in order to avoid direct contact between the glass panel and the glass clamping strip. In addition, the second panels are advantageously fixed with a fixing element in the at least one holding element. In particular if the at least one holding element is designed as at least one holding profile, in particular as at least one glass clamping strip, a plastic wedge is provided in particular as the fixing element. This plastic wedge advantageously has a bevel, which is advantageously in an angular range between 1 ° and 15 °. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the bevel has an angle of 4 °. According to an advantageous embodiment variant, it is provided that a plurality of holding elements are provided as the at least one holding element, which hold the second panels.

The second panels held in the at least one holding element are advantageously connected to one another at their abutting edges, in particular via point connections. Additionally or alternatively, it is provided as an advantageous embodiment that the second panels are connected at their upper end by means of at least one clamping strip, preferably by means of at least one metallic clamping strip.

In particular to further improve the optical perception of the proposed balustrade, the at least one holding element according to an advantageous embodiment comprises at least one light source. The at least one light source is advantageously oriented such that the second panels are illuminated. If the second panels are glass panels, it is particularly provided that the light sources are arranged below the lower edge of the second glass panels, so that the light from the at least one light source is guided into the glass panels.

A preferred embodiment provides that the balustrade has second panels over the entire length of the balustrade. In particular, configurations are also provided, in which the balustrade only has second panels in sections, especially if there is only a partial danger for people to injure themselves dangerously in the event of a fall over the handrail. Thus, in particular when using such a balustrade in an escalator, it can be provided that the second panels only comprise second panels from a certain flea, which the escalator has against the ground.

The fleas of the second panel should in particular be dimensioned in such a way that effective fall protection is achieved. The fleas of the arrangement of the at least one folding element can in particular be selected such that the second panels are partially arranged parallel to the first panels, so that the corresponding projection surfaces of a lower region of the second panels partially overlap the upper region of the first panels. In particular, it is provided that the at least one holding element is arranged at the level of the upper end of the first panels, so that the second end of the second panels virtually connects to the first panels. According to a further, less preferred embodiment, there may also be a gap between the upper end of the first panels and the lower end of the second panels. However, this gap should be so small that there is no risk that persons could be harmed due to this gap, especially in the event that fall protection would not be guaranteed by the gap that had arisen.

Advantageously, the second panels are limited to a height of 200 cm (cm: centimeters) perpendicular to the handrail. A particularly advantageous height is between 30 cm and 100 cm perpendicular to the handrail. The height is particularly advantageously limited to a maximum of 50 cm above the handrail. With such a height, good fall protection is advantageously already guaranteed for most scenarios. In addition, with such a limitation of the maximum height, the weight to be carried by the least one holding element is advantageously reduced. Such a limitation also advantageously results in cost savings, in particular for material and transport costs.

Another advantageous embodiment of the balustrade provides that a cantilever arm is arranged on each of the support elements. The cantilever arm in each case comprises a free end and a mounted end, the at least one holding element being arranged on the free end of the respective cantilever arm. In particular, it is provided that a cantilever arm is arranged on each support element. The supported end of the respective cantilever can be arranged on the respective support element in different ways. In particular, the cantilever can be welded to the respective support element. For one simplified assembly of the cantilever arm is provided as an advantageous embodiment that the cantilever arm is suspended in the support element. For this purpose, the cantilever arm advantageously has corresponding hook elements which engage in corresponding receptacles of the support element, in particular in the manner of a shelf system, in which shelf hooks for hanging shelf boards are suspended in a wall strip. According to a further particularly advantageous embodiment, a respective cantilever arm is screwed to the respective support element. This advantageously allows an improved adjustability of the cantilever, in particular with regard to its arrangement height.

The respective cantilever arms in particular create a distance from the first panels and from the handrail guide, so that the second panels can advantageously be arranged laterally offset from the first panels. In particular, a handrail guided over the handrail guide can continue to be used as intended. In particular, it is provided that second panels are arranged offset parallel to the first panels. The offset between the first panels and the second panels is further advantageously between 10 cm and 40 cm, preferably between 15 cm and 30 cm. The cantilever arms are preferably at least partially metallic, in particular at least partially made of aluminum or at least partially made of steel.

A further advantageous embodiment of the balustrade provides that the support elements each have a guide, in particular a guide which extends over the entire height of the support element and in which the respective cantilever arm is fixed. This advantageously further improves the adjustability of the cantilever with respect to its arrangement height. It is further advantageously provided that a respective cantilever arm at its end, with which it is arranged on the support element, has a counterpart which is designed to correspond to the guide of the support element and with which the respective cantilever arm engages in the guide of the respective support element. A further advantageous embodiment provides that the guide is designed as a groove, in particular as a T-groove. The cantilever arm or a sliding block fixing the cantilever arm advantageously engages in this groove, in particular the T-groove. In particular when designing the guide as a groove, in particular as a T-groove, and fixing the cantilever arms with slot nuts or hammer head screws correspondingly configured to the groove, the arrangement height of the respective cantilever arm and thus also the height of the holding element for the second panels is advantageously very good adjustable. An advantageous further development of the balustrade provides that the respective cantilever arm is fixed at its end supported with a fixing element. The fixing element is advantageously introduced into the respective support element on the side opposite the cantilever arm. In particular, screws are provided as fixing elements. In this embodiment, the fixing elements can advantageously be tightened by means of a torque wrench. This advantageously simplifies the assembly, in particular also compared to a fixation by means of sliding blocks in the guide of the respective support element. In this embodiment variant, in particular the threaded bolt of the respective screw element extends in the longitudinal direction of the respective cantilever arm. The respective cantilever arm advantageously has through-openings at its mounted end, which advantageously extend in the longitudinal direction of the respective cantilever arm. According to an advantageous embodiment, these passage openings have an internal thread which is in operative connection with the external thread of the screw element. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the cantilever arms have free spaces behind the passage openings, a screw nut being arranged in such a free space, which is in operative connection with the screw element. A further advantageous embodiment provides that the passage openings are elongated holes in order to be able to further adapt the arrangement height of the cantilever arms to the respective support elements.

In particular, it is provided that the respective cantilever arm is arranged in the upper half of a respective support element, in particular that the respective cantilever arm is arranged in the upper third of a respective support element. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the cantilever arms are arranged on the respective support element so as to be height-adjustable. In an advantageous embodiment variant, the arrangement position for the cantilever on the respective support element is fixed, in particular through corresponding passage openings in the support elements, such as in particular bores. The height of the cantilever arms can advantageously be adjusted by the height of the support elements between the first panels.

A further advantageous embodiment of the balustrade provides that a U-shaped, upwardly open clamp holder is arranged as a holding element on the free end of the respective cantilever arm. These clamp holders advantageously hold the second panels. The clamp holders advantageously have a length between 2 cm (cm: centimeters) and 60 cm, over which the respective second panel is supported. In particular, the length is between 6.5 cm and 22 cm. According to a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the balustrade, a respective support element has a receptacle on the longitudinal sides thereof. Advantageously, the first panels, between which the respective support element is arranged, are each arranged with a lateral end in a receptacle of the support element. The receptacles are advantageously designed as a groove, in which advantageously engage the lateral ends of the respective first panels as a tongue. This advantageously further increases the stability of the arrangement. In addition, this configuration is characterized by a further improved optical perception. Advantageously, the lateral ends of the respective first panels exert a clamping effect on the respective support element, as a result of which the support element is held between two first panels.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the support elements) are each designed as a rail, in particular as a metal rail. A support element designed as a rail is advantageously arranged in the joint of two first panels.

Advantageously, the support elements each have a first support element part with an outer area and a second support element part with an outer area. In a configuration of the support elements as rails, the first support element part is advantageously a first rail part and the second support element part is advantageously a second rail part. The first support element part and the second support element part are advantageously arranged such that the outer region of the first support element part is arranged on one balustrade side and the outer region of the second support element part is arranged on the other balustrade side. With such a multi-part design of the support elements, an improved clamping effect can advantageously be achieved. The hold of the support elements between the first panels is hereby advantageously improved. In addition, such a multi-part design of the support elements has particular advantages when installing the balustrade. Such a multi-part support element, which comprises a first support element part and a second support element part, can in particular be installed without the handrail guide having to be removed from the first panels. Advantageously, the first support element part is arranged from one balustrade side between two first panels and the second support element part is arranged on the other balustrade side between these two first panels. The connection of the support element parts is advantageously carried out by means of screw elements, it being provided in particular that the respective cantilever arm is also fastened to the support element by means of these screw elements. Here is particular It is provided that the screw element is introduced through the first support element part, then through the second support element and then into a corresponding passage opening on the mounted end of the cantilever arm and the screw element is screwed. Advantageously, a space adjoins the corresponding passage opening, in which a screw nut for receiving the screw element can be arranged. As an alternative or in addition, an embodiment is provided, the passage opening having a corresponding internal thread in which the screw element engages.

According to one embodiment variant, it can be provided that the first support element and the second support element are arranged exclusively on the outside in front of the respective first panels, the at least one fixing means to which the support element parts are connected, in particular the screws, which connect the first support element part to the second support element part connect, reach through the space between the respective two first panels.

A preferred embodiment of the balustrade, however, provides for the first support element part to have an inner region, in particular an inner profile, the inner region being arranged between the first panels. The second support element part further preferably has an inner region, in particular an inner profile, the inner region being arranged between the first panels. Advantageously, the assembly of the support elements is further simplified by this inner region or by these inner regions because the arrangement positions of the support element parts are largely predetermined by the inner regions. In addition, it is advantageously provided that the support element parts do not make direct contact, so that in particular a clamping effect on the first panels is ensured. The support elements are advantageously held between the first two panels solely on the basis of the clamping action. Advantageously, therefore, the inner region of the first support element part does not contact the inner region of the second support element part, so that the inner regions in particular do not abut one another. This advantageously further improves the assembly and the stability of the arrangement. In particular, it can be provided that the lateral ends of the first panels, between which a support element is arranged, contact the respective support element or the respective support element parts directly. In one embodiment variant, in which the support elements are in particular also connected to the handrail guide and / or to the balustrade base, it can be provided that the first support element part and the second support element part, in particular the inner region of the first support element part and the inner region of the second support element part contact each other directly.

According to one embodiment variant, a tolerance distance between the respective support element or the respective support element parts and the respective lateral end of a first panel is maintained. This has the advantage that the first panels are kept stress-free even when the support element is thermally expanded.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the receptacles are formed between the first support element part and the second support element part of a respective support element, into which the first panels protrude with their respective lateral ends. The receptacles of the support element, in which the lateral ends of a respective first panel engage, are advantageously provided with a panel protection, in particular with glass paper. In particular, it is provided that the panel protection is an elastically more flexible material than the material of the support element.

The first support element part and / or the second support element part advantageously each have an outer region. This outer area is in particular the area of the respective support element part which is not arranged between two first panels. In particular, it is provided that the receptacles are formed between the outer region of the first support element part and the outer region of the second support element part, into which the first panels project with their respective lateral ends. In particular, it is provided that the outer regions contact the respective first panel with their surface facing the respective first panel. In particular, it is provided that the support elements with the outer regions lie at least partially on the respective outer surface of the respective first panel. A protective layer is advantageously formed between the outer region of the respective support element and the panel surface, in particular made of an elastically flexible material, in particular of glass paper. This advantageously protects the lateral ends of the first panels better.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the balustrade, the balustrade comprises at least one end panel. This at least one end panel is advantageously arranged on a respective balustrade end. Such an end panel advantageously has a first panel area with a first lower end and a second panel area with a second lower end. Such is advantageously End panel arranged with its first lower end in the at least one holding element and arranged with its second lower end in at least one further holding element. The at least one further holding element is advantageously not arranged on the cantilever arms and not on the supporting elements. In particular, it is provided that the at least one further holding element is arranged in the floor area, in particular on a cover plate frame of a passenger conveyor device for which the balustrade is provided. The at least one further holding element can in particular also be arranged additionally or alternatively on the balustrade base.

In particular, it is provided that the end panel in the second panel area extends from the lower end of an adjacent first panel to the upper end of an adjacent second panel. In particular, it is further provided that the end panel in the first panel area extends from the lower end of a second panel to the upper end of a second panel. In particular, glass panels are provided as end panels, in particular made of toughened safety glass or laminated safety glass. The optical perception of the balustrade is advantageously further improved by the at least one end panel. In particular, it is provided that a balustrade comprises two end panels, namely one end panel each at the ends of a respective balustrade.

The person conveyor device further proposed for solving the above-mentioned object comprises a balustrade according to the invention, in particular a balustrade according to an embodiment as described above and below or according to a combination of these embodiments. In particular, it is provided that the passenger conveyor device is an escalator or a moving walk. In particular, it is further provided that the passenger conveyor device comprises a rotating conveyor belt, preferably a rotating conveyor belt formed from a plurality of tread elements, in particular a step or pallet belt.

A handrail, which forms an endless handrail band, is advantageously guided over the handrail guide of the balustrade. This handrail is advantageously driven at the same speed as the conveyor belt or at up to 15% higher speed than the conveyor belt. In particular, it is provided that the passenger conveyor device comprises two balustrades designed according to the invention, which advantageously delimit the conveyor belt laterally. Furthermore, it is particularly provided that the passenger conveyor device connects the first level with a second level, in particular two different floors.

In particular, it is provided to create a new person conveyor device with a balustrade according to the invention in a modernization process. In the proposed method for modernizing a passenger conveyor device, it is provided in particular that a passenger conveyor device is equipped with a balustrade according to the invention, in particular with a balustrade according to a configuration as described above or below or according to a combination of these configurations. The method includes in particular the complete new construction of a passenger conveyor device with a balustrade according to the invention. In particular, however, the retrofitting of an existing passenger conveying device with a balustrade according to the invention is also provided, wherein an existing balustrade of such an existing passenger conveying device can advantageously be used at least partially and converted into a balustrade according to the invention.

In particular, it is provided that the passenger conveying device that is to be modernized already has an existing balustrade, this existing balustrade already comprising a plurality of the first panels, which are arranged, in particular, in a butt joint. The first panels of the existing balustrade are in particular glass panels. It is advantageously provided as a method step that at least one first panel of the existing balustrade, which has a first length, is removed. This first panel is then replaced by a first panel that has a second length that is shorter than the first length. The first panel with the second length can in particular be another first panel or the first panel shortened to the second length. The first panel with the second length is advantageously so much shorter than the first panel with the first length that the distance between the further first panels can be increased such that the support elements can be arranged between these first panels. In particular, it is provided that a further first panel with a first length is replaced by a further first panel with a second length, this second length in turn being correspondingly shorter than the first length in order to correspondingly increase the distances between the first panels that are not to be replaced to be able to.

In particular in the case of passenger conveyor devices, such as escalators, which connect a first height level to a second height level and, as a rule, in the region of the transition from the horizontal extension into the oblique extension each have a first panel with a curvature correspondingly adapted to this transition, it is advantageous to replace this first panel, since in this case the corresponding adaptation of the arrangement of the further first panels, which should not be replaced, both in the area of the horizontal extension of the passenger conveyor as well as in the area of the oblique extension of the passenger conveyor.

After the removal of the at least one first panel, the successive first panels are advantageously each spaced apart by a distance A. The distances between the first panels of the existing balustrade before the rearrangement are typically no more than up to 3 mm (mm: millimeters), typically in particular 2 mm. This distance is advantageously increased to at least 10 mm, preferably to at least 13 mm. The distance between the first panels depends in particular on the width of the support elements to be used, which are arranged between the first panels. For optical reasons in particular, however, it is provided that the distances between two successive panels should preferably not be extended beyond 70 mm. A preferred distance to be created is between 13 mm and 30 mm. In a further method step, the support elements are arranged between the first panels spaced apart by the distance.

According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the existing balustrade of the passenger conveyor device to be modernized comprises a handrail guide. This handrail guide is advantageously removed as part of the modernization. According to an advantageous embodiment, the support elements are then inserted from above between the spaced-apart first panels in order to arrange the support elements between the spaced-apart first panels. In this embodiment variant, the support elements are advantageously formed in one piece. If the support elements in this embodiment variant are formed in several parts, the support element parts are advantageously already assembled in such a way that the receptacles of the support elements are already formed, in which the lateral ends of the first panels engage. After arranging the support elements between two first panels, the handrail guide is placed on the first panels. The handrail guidance of the existing balustrade can advantageously be reused. If the support elements each comprise a first support element part and a second support element part, it is advantageously provided that the first support element part is arranged on the one balustrade side. It is also advantageously provided that the second support element part is arranged on the other balustrade side. The arrangement of the respective first support element part and the respective second support element part is advantageously carried out in such a way that the inner region of the support element is arranged between two successive first panels within the created distance, and that the respective outer region of the support element projects beyond a lateral section of the respective first panel, advantageously such that the outer regions of the support element parts form the receptacle into which the lateral ends of the first panels protrude. Advantageously, in this embodiment variant, in which the respective support element comprises the first support element part and the second support element part, the handrail guide of the existing balustrade does not have to be removed, in particular not completely removed. The handrail guidance of the existing balustrade can advantageously be retained for the creation of the balustrade according to the invention.

The first support element part is advantageously connected to the second support element part in each case by means of a screw connection. In particular, it is provided that the respective cantilever arm is additionally fixed to the support element by means of this screw connection. Advantageously, the assembly is further simplified in this way, since the connection of the first support element part to the second support element part can take place in one work step and, moreover, the cantilever arm is arranged on the support element.

According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the passenger conveyor device comprises a cover plate frame with a cover plate embedded therein. The cover plate embedded in the cover plate frame has a first width. As a further method step, the cover plate with the first width is removed. The at least one further holding element is advantageously arranged on the cover plate frame. A cover plate is used in the cover plate frame, which has a second width, the second width being less than the first width. According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, the cover plate with the first width can accordingly be shortened to the second width and reused. In particular, it is provided that the cover plate with the second width and the at least one holding element have the same overall width as the cover plate with the first width. In particular, it is provided that the at least one further holding element is a holding profile, in particular one Glass terminal block. In particular, it can further be provided that the at least one further holding element comprises a holder with which the at least one further holding element is fastened to the cover plate frame.

As a further method step, provision is made in particular for the cantilever arms to be arranged on the respective support elements, advantageously by means of a screw connection, as described above. The arrangement height of the cantilever arms on the support elements is advantageously adapted accordingly. The cantilever arms are advantageously each arranged in a guide of the support elements.

The at least one holding element is then advantageously arranged at the free ends of the cantilever arms. An arrangement aid is advantageously formed between the at least one holding element and the cantilever arms, in particular as a tongue and groove arrangement. In particular, it is provided that the at least one holding element is screwed to the cantilever arms. Other mounting options can also be provided. After the fastening of the at least one holding element to the cantilever arms, the second panels are advantageously arranged on or in the at least one holding element. In particular, it is provided that glass panels are used as the second panels and at least one glass clamping strip is used as the at least one holding element. Glass paper is advantageously introduced into the glass clamping strip, and a respective glass panel is inserted into the glass clamping strip. A respective glass panel is advantageously fixed in the glass clamping strip with at least one clamping wedge. An end panel, in particular a glass end panel, is advantageously arranged at the ends of the balustrade. This is advantageously fixed both on or in the at least one holding element, in particular the glass clamping strip, and advantageously also on or in the at least one further holding element, which can be arranged in particular on the cover plate frame of the passenger conveyor. This further holding element is also advantageously a glass clamping strip.

The second panels are advantageously arranged in an abutting manner. Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the second panels are additionally connected to one another, in particular by means of point connections between successive second panels and / or a terminal strip arranged at the upper end of the second panels. Advantageously, the end panels are also butted with the respectively adjacent second panel. The end panels each with the adjacent one are further advantageous connected to the second panel, in particular by means of point connections between the panels and / or a terminal strip arranged at the upper end of the respective end panel and the adjacent second panel.

Further advantageous details, features and design details of the invention are in

In connection with the embodiments shown in the figures explained.

It shows:

1 shows a simplified schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a balustrade according to the invention;

2 shows a simplified schematic illustration of a section of an exemplary embodiment for a balustrade according to the invention;

3 shows a simplified schematic illustration of a section similar to that in FIG. 2 from a different perspective;

FIG. 4 shows a simplified schematic illustration of a section similar to that in FIG. 2 from a different perspective; FIG.

5 shows, in a simplified schematic representation, a further section from an exemplary embodiment of a balustrade according to the invention.

6 shows a highly simplified schematic illustration of a passenger conveyor device in which an exemplary embodiment for a method according to the invention for modernizing the passenger conveyor device is used;

7 shows a further, highly simplified, schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment for the arrangement of support elements in the frame when carrying out a method according to the invention; and

Fig. 8 in a simplified schematic representation another embodiment for a balustrade according to the invention. 1 shows a perspective, schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a balustrade 1 designed in accordance with the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the balustrade 1 is shown together with an escalator support 41, in particular in order to illustrate the arrangement of the balustrade 1 in relation to this escalator support 41 and to show the To clarify size relationships in relation to the escalator support 41. In addition, a person 50 is shown schematically in FIG. 1 as he would stand on a step element of an escalator. It can further be seen from this illustration that the total height of the balustrade 1 is so high that an unintentional fall of a person 50 over the balustrade 1 is impossible.

The balustrade 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of first panels 2, these first panels 2 being glass panels. A handrail guide 4 is arranged on the first panels 2. When using this balustrade 1, a powered handrail is guided over this handrail guide 4 in a person conveyor device (not shown in FIG. 1). Laterally offset and parallel to the first panels 2, a plurality of second panels 3 are arranged such that the second panels 3 protrude beyond the handrail guide 4. The second panels 3 are also glass panels.

For the arrangement of the second panels 3, a support element 5 is arranged between two first panels 2. In particular, it is provided that the support elements 5 are each clamped between two first panels 2. In the upper area of the support elements 5, a cantilever 11 is arranged on the support elements 5. At the free end of the respective cantilever 11, a glass clamping strip is arranged as a holding element 10 for the second panels 3. For this purpose, the second panels 3 are set in the holding element 10, at least one clamping wedge fixing the second panels 3 in the holding element 10.

A cover plate frame 47 is arranged at the beginning and at the end of the escalator support 41. In this cover plate frame 47, a cover plate 48 is arranged and, in addition, a further glass clamping strip as a further holding element 27. At the beginning and at the end of the balustrade 1, an end panel 22 is also arranged. The end panel 22 is also a glass panel. The end panel 22 has a first panel area 23 with a first lower end 25 and a second panel area 24 with a second lower end 26. With its first lower end 25, the end panel 22 is arranged in each case in the holding element 10 held by the cantilever arms 11. With the second lower end 26, the end panel 22 is in each case arranged in the further holding element 27, which on the Cover plate frame 47 is arranged. The end panel 22 extends in the second panel area 24 from the lower end of an adjacent first panel 2 to the upper end of an adjacent second panel 3.

In particular, it can be provided that at least one light source is installed in the holding element 10, the second panels 3 being illuminated by means of the at least one light source (not shown in FIG. 1).

Advantageous configurations, in particular of the support elements 5, the cantilever arms 11 and the at least one holding element 10, are shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, each of which shows a section of a balustrade 1.

2 shows a support element 5 arranged between two first panels 2. A cantilever arm 11 is arranged on the support element 5. The supported end 13 of the cantilever 11 is screwed to the support element 5 in this embodiment. At the free end 12 of the cantilever 11, a glass clamping strip is arranged as a holding element 10. A second panel 3 is arranged in the holding element 10, the second panel 3 being a glass panel in this exemplary embodiment. Support element 5, cantilever 11 and holding element 10 are in particular made of aluminum.

The first panels 2 are spaced apart from one another by a distance A. This distance A can in particular be between 13 mm and 30 mm. The support element 5 is arranged between these successively arranged first panels 2. The support element 5 comprises a first support element part 6 and a second support element part 7, the support element parts 6, 7 being connected to one another via screw connections 28. For this purpose, the first support element part 6 and the second support element part 7 have corresponding passage openings through which the fixing elements 15, in particular screws, reach. The first support element part 6 and the second support element part 7 extend over the entire length of the support element 5. The support element part 6 and the support element part 7 each have an inner region 8 and an outer region 9 and advantageously each form a T-profile. The first support element part 6 and the second support element part 7 are arranged with the respective inner region 8 between the two first panels 2, the support element parts 6, 7 abutting one another with their inner regions 8. The outer regions 9 of the support element parts 6, 7 protrude beyond the lateral ends 17 of the first panels 2, so that on the long sides of the support element parts 6, 7 formed support element 5 recordings 16 are formed. The lateral ends of the first panels 2 are arranged in these receptacles 16. The screw connections 28, which connect the first support element part 6 to the second support element part 7, achieve a clamping effect in interaction with the first panels 2, as a result of which the support element 5 is held in the corresponding position between the first panels 2. The lateral ends 17 of the first panels 2 can act on the inner regions 8 of the support element 5 in order to increase the clamping effect. In particular, however, the outer regions 9 of the support element 5 act on the outer sides of the first panels 2 in order to increase the clamping effect.

In this exemplary embodiment, the second support element part 7 of the support element 5 also has a guide 14. In the upper area of this guide 14, the cantilever 11 is arranged with its stored end 13. This cantilever arm 11 advantageously extends obliquely upwards. As a result, the overall height of the second panels 3 can advantageously be lower.

In this exemplary embodiment, the supported end 13 of the cantilever 11 is supported on the support element 5 with the upper two screw connections 28, which also hold the first support element part 6 and the second support element part 7 together in this area. The supported end 13 of the cantilever 11 has two through openings 18, behind which the cantilever 11 each has a free space 19. The screws 15 of the upper two screw connections 28 protrude through the first support element part 6, the second support element part 7 and the passage opening 18 and are then locked with a screw nut 29. The free spaces 19 are advantageously so large that a tool can be used to act on the respective screw nut 29.

At the free end 12 of the cantilever 11, a glass clamping strip is arranged as a holding element 10. 2, 3 and 4 each show only a section of such a holding element 10. In particular, the free end 12 of the cantilever arm is screwed to the holding element 10. The holding element 10 preferably has a T-groove 37 at its lower end. At the free end 12 of the cantilever, a sliding block 38 with a screw element 39 is advantageously arranged, the sliding block 38 engaging in the T-groove 37 and the holding element 10 being fixed to the cantilever arm 11 by means of the screwing element 39. An inside of the holding element 10 is lined with a glass paper 30. This protects the second panel 3 introduced into the holding element 10. By means of a clamping wedge 31, which can in particular be made of a plastic material, the second panel 3 is held in the Holding element 10 fixed. In this exemplary embodiment, the clamping wedge 31 has an insertion slope of 4 °. FIGS. 3 and 4 each show the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 from a different perspective.

An advantageous embodiment variant provides that, as shown for example in FIG. 4, the respective cantilever arm is arranged in the upper third of a respective support element 5. According to this embodiment variant, the support element 5 is designed as a rail, in particular as a two-part rail with a first rail part and a second rail part, the support element 5 designed as a rail being arranged in the abutment of two first panels 2. In this embodiment variant, a U-shaped clamp holder, which is open at the top, is arranged at the free end 12 of the respective cantilever arm 11, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4. The respective clamp holders hold the second panels 3.

FIG. 5 shows a section of an exemplary embodiment of a balustrade 1, in which in particular details are shown of how the lower end of a balustrade 1, as shown in FIG. 1, could be designed according to an advantageous embodiment. The balustrade 1 in this case comprises a plurality of first panels 2, a plurality of second panels three and a handrail guide 4 arranged on the first panels 2. The second panels 3 are arranged laterally offset from the first panels 2, the second panels 3 the Surpass handrail guide 4. A support element 5 is arranged between each two first panels 2. In the upper area of a respective support element 5 there is a cantilever arm 11, to which holding elements 10 are fastened, which hold the second panels 3. The first panels 2 are held by brackets 35 which are arranged on an escalator support 41. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the support elements 5 are not connected to these brackets 35, but are held between the first two panels 2 solely by the clamping action.

A cover plate frame 47 with a cover plate 48 arranged therein is also arranged on the escalator support 41. A further holding element 27 is arranged on the cover plate frame 47, which is designed as a glass clamping strip in this exemplary embodiment.

At its lower end, the balustrade 1 comprises an end panel 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the end panel 22 has a first panel region 23 with a first lower end 25 and a second panel region 24 with a second lower end 26. With the first lower end 24 of the first panel area 23, the end panel 22 is held in the holding element 10. With the lower end 26 of the second panel area 24, the end panel 22 is held in the further holding element 27.

In this exemplary embodiment, the second panels 3 and the end panels 22 are connected to one another at their upper ends via a metal rail 33, in particular a terminal strip, and are additionally held by the latter. On the end panel 22, the metal rail 33 is guided to the lower end 26 of the second panel area 24.

A method according to the invention for modernizing a passenger conveyor device is explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. 6 schematically shows a passenger conveyor device 40 which connects a first floor level 55 to a second floor level 56. The passenger conveyor 40 has an existing balustrade 1. A plurality of first panels 2, in particular glass panels 2, are arranged in an abutting manner. As part of the modernization, a handrail guide that is not explicitly shown in FIG. 6 is removed. The existing balustrade 1 has two first glass panels 2 ′ with a radius of curvature and a first length. These two first glass panels 2 ’are also removed and replaced with corresponding first glass panels 2 * with a second length that is shorter than the first length of the respective glass panels 2’. The glass panels 2 * can be new glass panels or the correspondingly shortened first glass panels 2 ’. Because the replaced glass panels 2 * have a shorter length than the original first glass panels 2 ', the distances A between the further first glass panels 2 can now be increased to at least 13 mm in such a way that the support elements 5 are inserted between the first glass panels 2 can.

It is particularly advantageous to remove the glass panels 2 ', since this means that both the distances A of the first panels 2, which are arranged in the area of the slope of the escalator 40, and the distances A in the horizontal areas of the escalator 40 adapt accordingly to let.

If the distances A between the first glass panels 2 are created, in this exemplary embodiment the support elements 5 are inserted into the distances A between two successive first glass panels 2. If all the support elements 5 are inserted between the first panels 2, the original handrail guide or a new handrail guide is mounted again on the first panels 2. On the support elements 5 the at least one holding element 10 is attached for holding the second panels 3 (not explicitly shown in FIG. 6). The at least one holding element 10 is attached in particular via cantilever arms, as shown in particular in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

The cantilever arms are in particular screwed to the support elements 5. The at least one holding element is then arranged at the free end of the cantilever arms, in particular as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. In particular, it is provided that several glass clamping strips are arranged on the support elements 5 as the at least one holding element. Additional glass panels are then used as second panels 3 in the glass terminal strips. These glass panels 3 can either be attached to one another at the abutting edges. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that a metal rail is arranged at the upper end of the glass panels, in particular as shown in FIG. 5. In addition, it is provided in particular that an end panel is arranged at the respective end of the escalator 40, as is also shown in particular in FIG. 5 and explained with reference to FIG. 5.

A configuration variant of the method described above is explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 7, in which the support elements 5 are not inserted into the created distances A between successive first panels 2, as explained with reference to FIG. 6. This embodiment variant comprises the support elements 5, a first support element part 6 and a second support element part 7, which are shown schematically in FIG. 7 in a top view. This changes the modernization process. In particular, a handrail guide of an existing balustrade does not necessarily have to be dismantled before the support elements 5 are inserted into the distances A.

If the distance A between two successive first panels 2 is set, the first support element part 6 is arranged from one balustrade side and the second support element part 7 is arranged from the other balustrade side in such a way that an inner region 8 of the respective support element part 6, 7 projects into the distance A, the first support element part 6 and the second support element part 7 advantageously not making contact after being inserted between the two first panels 2 in order to achieve the necessary clamping effect. The distances D 1 and D2, that is to say the depth extension of the inner regions, are therefore advantageously less overall than the distance D3, that is to say the thickness of the first panels 2. It is therefore advantageous that Dl + D2 <D3. A respective outer region 9 of the first support element part 6 and of the second support element part 7 protrude beyond the lateral ends 17 of the panels 2 and form one Recording 16 from, as shown in particular in Fig. 2. The lateral ends 17 of the first panels 2 are enclosed by the outer regions 9.

The support element parts 6, 7 are then fixed to each other with at least one fixing element 15. The support element parts 6, 7 have corresponding passage openings 20 through which the fixing element 15 is introduced. In particular, it is provided that a cantilever 11 shown only in sections in FIG. 7 is introduced into a guide 14 of the second support element part 7 and is arranged on the support element 5 formed from the support element parts 6, 7. In particular, it is provided that the fixing element 15 not only connects the first support element part 6 to the second support element part 7, but also fixes the cantilever 11 to the support element 5 with the fixing element 15, in particular by drawing tension between the first support element part by means of the fixing element 15 6 and the second support element part 7 is constructed. For this purpose, the cantilever arm 11 has a passage opening 18 at its mounted end 13, into which the fixing element 15, in particular a screw, can engage. In this way, the support elements 5 are clamped between two first panels in this embodiment variant. The further method steps advantageously remain unchanged from the method steps described above, in particular the method steps described with reference to FIG. 6.

The section of a balustrade shown in FIG. 8 differs from the balustrade explained with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in particular in that the guide 14 of the second support element part 7 is designed here as a T-groove. The supported end 13 of the cantilever 11 is arranged on the support element 5 with corresponding flanged head screws which engage with the T-groove. In this exemplary embodiment, the cantilever 11 is therefore not fixed with a fixing element which also connects the first support element part 6 to the second support element part 7 at the same time. An advantage of this embodiment is that the arrangement height of the cantilever 11 on the support element part 7 can be adjusted in an improved manner.

The exemplary embodiments shown in the figures and explained in connection with these serve to explain the invention and are not restrictive thereof. Reference symbol list

1 balustrade

2 first panel

3 second panel

4 handrail guidance

5 support element

6 first support element part

7 second support element part

8 interior

9 outdoor area

10 holding element

11 cantilever

12 free end of the cantilever (11)

13 end of the cantilever arm (11)

14 guidance of the support element (5)

15 fixing element

16 recording

17 lateral end of a first panel (2)

18 passage opening in the cantilever (11)

19 clearance in the cantilever (11)

20 passage opening in the support element parts (6, 7)

22 end panel

23 first panel area of the end panel (22)

24 second panel area of the end panel (22)

25 first lower end of the first panel area (23) of the end panel (22)

26 second lower end of the second panel area (24) of the end panel (22)

27 further holding element

28 screw connection

29 nut

30 glass paper

31 clamping wedge

33 metal rail

35 mounting of the first panels (2)

37 T-slot 38 sliding block

39 screw element

40 passenger conveyor

41 Carrier of the passenger conveyor (40) 45 Balustrade inventory

47 cover plate frame

48 cover plate

50 person

55 first floor level

56 second floor level

A distance between two first panels (2)

D l distance

D2 distance

D3 distance

Claims

Expectations

1. balustrade (1) comprising a plurality of first panels (2), a plurality of second panels (3) and a handrail guide (4) arranged on the first panels (2), the second panels (3) being offset laterally to the first panels (2) are arranged such that the second panels (3) protrude above the handrail guide (4), characterized in that support elements (5) are each arranged between two first panels (2), at least on the support elements (5) a holding element (10) is arranged which holds the second panels (3).

2. balustrade (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that on the supporting elements (5) each have a cantilever arm (11) with a mounted end (13) and a free end (12), the at least one holding element (10 ) is arranged at the free end (12) of the respective cantilever arm (11).

3. balustrade (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the supporting elements (5) each have a guide (14) in which the mounted end (13) of the respective cantilever arm (11) is fixed.

4. balustrade (1) according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the respective cantilever arm (11) is fixed at its end (13) with a fixing element (15), the fixing element (15) in the respective support element ( 5) is introduced on the side opposite the cantilever arm (11).

5. balustrade (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the respective cantilever arm (11) in the upper half of a respective support element (5), in particular in the upper third of a respective support element (5), is arranged, in particular is arranged adjustable in height.

6. balustrade (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that at the free end (12) of the respective cantilever arm (11) as a holding element (10) a U-shaped, upwardly open clamp holder is arranged, respectively the clamp holders hold the second panels (3).

7. balustrade (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a respective support element (5) on the longitudinal sides of each has a receptacle (16), the first panels (2), between which the respective support element (5) is arranged is arranged, each with a lateral end (17) in a respective receptacle (16) of the support element (5).

8. balustrade (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support elements (5) are each designed as a rail, wherein a support element designed as a rail (5) is arranged in each case in the joint of two first panels (2).

9. balustrade (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support elements (5) each have a first support element part (6) with an outer region (9) and a second support element part (7) with an outer region (9), wherein the first support element part (6) and the second support element part (7) are arranged such that the outer region (9) of the first support element part (6) is arranged on one side of the balustrade and the outer region (9) of the second support element part (7) on the other Balustrade side is arranged.

10. balustrade (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the first support element part (6) and / or the second support element part (7) have an inner region (21, 22), the inner region (21, 22) between the first panels (2) is arranged.

11. balustrade (1) according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that between the first support element part (6) and the second support element part (7) of a respective support element (5), the receptacles (16) are formed according to claim 7.

12. balustrade (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an end panel (22), the end panel (22) having a first panel region (23) with a first lower end (25) and a second panel region (24) with a second has the lower end (26), the end panel (22) having its first lower end (25) being arranged in the at least one holding element (10) and the second lower end (26) being arranged in at least one further holding element (27) .

13. balustrade (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first panels and / or the second panels and / or the end panels are glass panels.

14. Passenger conveyor (40), in particular escalator or moving walk, with a rotating conveyor belt, characterized by at least one balustrade according to one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method for modernizing a passenger conveyor (40), characterized in that a passenger conveyor (40) is equipped with a balustrade (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the passenger conveyor (40) has an existing balustrade (45), the existing balustrade (45) comprising a plurality of the first panels (2), the first panels (2) being arranged in an abutting manner, characterized in that that at least a first panel (2) of the existing balustrade (45), which has a first length, is removed, that this first panel (2) by a first panel, which has a second length, which is shorter than the first length, it is replaced that successive first panels (2) are each spaced apart by a distance (A) and that the support elements (5) are arranged between the first panels (2) spaced apart by the distance (A).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the existing balustrade (45) comprises a handrail guide (4), characterized in that the handrail guide (4) is removed, and in that the support elements (5) from above between those spaced apart by the distance (A) first panels (2) are inserted in order to arrange the support elements (5) between the first panels (2).

18. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the first support element part (6) is arranged on one balustrade side of the existing balustrade (45) and the second support element part (7) is arranged on the other balustrade side of the existing balustrade (45), such that the inner region (8) of the support element (5) is arranged between two successive first panels (2) within the created distance (A), and that the respective outer region (9) of the Support element (5) projects over a lateral section (17) of the respective first panel (2).

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the first support element part (6) is connected to the second support element part (7) in each case by means of a screw connection (28), the respective cantilever arm (11) on the screw connection (28) additionally Support element (5) is fixed.

20. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the passenger conveyor (40) comprises a cover plate frame (47) with a cover plate (48) embedded therein, which has a first width, characterized in that the cover plate (48) is removed that the further holding element (27) is arranged on the cover plate frame (47), and that the cover plate (48) with the first width is replaced by a cover plate (48) with a second width, the second width being less than the first Width.