ES366496A1 - Variable-speed transport apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An endless passenger conveyer comprises a plurality of connected platforms 3, Fig. 7, which have parallel longitudinal sides 3a, 3b and which move relatively slowly transversely to their longitudinal axes across a loading or unloading zone, and at a higher speed in a direction at an acute angle to their longitudinal axes across a transport section 1A, 2A, Fig. 2, a link section connecting the two zones, wherein the platforms are accelerated or retarded, and walls 4, 5 defining a passageway between the loading and unloading zone and the terminal or starting end of the transport section the guiding means for the platforms being such that each platform remains in contact with its two adjacent platforms along at least part of its longitudinal sides throughout displacement along the passageway. In Fig. 2, parts of two conveyers are shown in combination with a constant speed belt A, the two conveyers 1A, 2A being for loading and unloading passengers from the belt respectively, and the loading end is sufficiently wide to allow the simultaneous passage of four people, this being ensured by three partition walls 6a, 6b, 6c. The platforms 3, Fig. 7, have slightly convergent lateral sides 3c, 3d, each platform 3 having on its underside in the vicinity of its obtuse angles rollers 7 which engage in channel-section rails 8, 9 whose spacing governs the inclination of the platforms to the direction of movement. The platforms 3 are also provided with rollers 10 to permit relative longitudinal movement. Each platform is connected to its two adjacent platforms by two pairs of levers, e.g. 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b, Fig. 2, pivoted together at joints 14 and pivotally connected to the platforms 3 by studs 13, forming a continuous jointed chain K, driven by a motor, and controlling the relative position of the platforms by engagment of the joints 14 in a rail 15. Vertical rods 16 which are slidable in holes in the platforms 3 are made to project upwards, for passengers to hold, in the loading or unloading and transfer regions, by a guide rail beneath the platforms which retracts the rods in the other parts of the circuit. Other. platform shapes and conveyer arrangements may be adopted for arrangements of two travelling belts, Figs. 1, 9-16 (not shown), and in Fig. 17 a single conveyer forms a transporter having two stations A, B, and a transport section x in each direction, y and z indicating acceleration and deceleration zones respectively.