FI127154B

FI127154B - people mover

Info

Publication number: FI127154B
Application number: FI20165949A
Authority: FI
Inventors: Nathan Jiesong Jiang; Eric Yun Zhao
Original assignee: Kone Corp; Kone Elevators Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-12-09
Filing date: 2016-12-09
Publication date: 2017-12-15
Also published as: FI20165949A; CN206798937U; CN108609468A; CN108609468B

Description

PEOPLE MOVER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a people mover, such as an escalator, autowalk or moving ramp, and in particular to safety related components thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Escalators, autowalks and moving ramps are people movers, each of which typically comprises an endless band of conveying elements, such as steps or pallets for supporting the load to be transported, i.e. a person. The conveying element typically comprises rollers and a tread member with a tread surface on which a person can stand. The people movers typically furthermore comprise plurality of elongated guide rails for guiding and supporting the rollers of the conveying elements.

[0003] The endless band of conveying elements has a forward moving band section and a reversing band section moving below the forward moving band section. The endless band of conveying elements changes its direction by a curve section between the aforementioned band sections, in which curve section the path of the endless band of conveying elements turns around a horizontal axis extending in width direction of the people mover. The people movers are conventionally installed partially below the ground or floor level of the surroundings. For this purpose, the people mover comprises a pit, and at least the aforementioned curve section is located in the pit. The pit is covered by an openable cover plate forming a tread plate along which people can pass onto the endless band of conveying elements or away from it. There can be a working space in the pit below the cover plate and beside the curve section.

[0004] For protecting the technician working in the pit, the people mover can be equipped with a guard plate placed between the working space and the curve section. Document CN205222421U discloses such a guard plate. It has been possible to monitor the state of the guard plate.

[0005] A drawback of the known solutions has been that the guard plate has not been able to give adequate protection against various dangerous situations that are possible to occur in the pit space. The known solutions have been sensitive only for the dangerous situation caused by running of the conveying elements away from their intended course. A further drawback of the known solutions has been that the parts located behind the safety guard, nor the safety guard and related components have not been adequately swift to service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the invention is to introduce a new people mover improved in terms of its ability protect people against various dangerous situations that are possible to occur in the pit space and its immediate proximity. An object is to introduce a solution by which one or more of the above defined problems of prior art and/or problems discussed or implied elsewhere in the description can be solved.

[0007] An object is particularly to introduce a reliable and simple guard plate solution, wherein a guard plate provides a safety wall between the curve section and people and other objects, while it is also able to move such that that it aids the people mover notice various unsafe situations swiftly and reliably without blind spots. At the same time the object is to ensure safety by providing that the people mover is efficiently, reliably and simply triggered to react to any of said various dangerous situations that are possible to occur in the pit space and its immediate proximity. Embodiments are presented, inter alia, wherein the guard plate design, mounting and sensing are such that it can be moved by a push from several directions, which push is sensed and reacted to appropriately.

[0008] It is brought forward a new people mover comprising a pit; an endless band of conveying elements, the endless band of conveying elements comprising a curve section located in the pit, in which curve section the path of the endless band of conveying elements turns around a horizontal axis extending in width direction of the people mover, and a control system for controlling movement of the endless band of conveying elements, which control system preferably comprises a control unit. The control unit can include an electronic processing means such as one or more microprocessors. The people mover further comprises an openable cover plate on top of the pit forming a tread plate along which people can pass onto the endless band of conveying elements or away from it; a working space in the pit below the cover plate and beside the curve section; a guard plate mounted between the working space and the curve section forming a plate wall between the working space and the curve section; a sensing arrangement for sensing position of the guard plate; and a stationary frame. The people mover further comprises a hinge arrangement by which the guard plate is connected with the frame pivotally around a horizontal pivot axis both in clockwise direction and in counterclockwise direction, said pivot axis being parallel with said horizontal axis; and the sensing arrangement for sensing position of the guard plate is arranged to sense pivoting of the guard plate both in clockwise direction and in counterclockwise direction; and the control system of the people mover is arranged to stop movement of the endless band of conveying elements in response to sensing pivoting of the guard plate in clockwise direction and in response to sensing pivoting of the guard plate in counterclockwise direction. With this solution one or more of the above mentioned objects can be achieved. Preferable further details of the people mover are introduced in the following, which further details can be combined with the method individually or in any combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a people mover according to an embodiment.

Figure 2 illustrates the people mover of Figure 1 when the cover plate of the pit is removed.

Figure 3 illustrates a horizontal front view of the guard plate as seen from direction of the working space of the pit.

Figure 4 illustrates a horizontal side view of the guard plate as seen in width direction of the people mover.

Figure 5 illustrates preferred details of the guard plate, the hinge arrangement, and the sensing arrangement.

Figure 6 illustrates an enlarged view of preferred details of the guard plate, the hinge arrangement and the sensing arrangement.

Figure 7 illustrates a horizontal side view of the guard plate and preferred details of the hinge arrangement as seen in width direction of the people mover.

Figure 8 illustrates details of a sensor of the sensing arrangement according to a first embodiment.

Figure 9 illustrates details of sensors of the sensing arrangement according to a second embodiment.

The foregoing aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and the detailed description related thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Figure 1 illustrates a people mover 1 according to an embodiment. The people mover 1 comprises an endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a for supporting the load to be transported, i.e. a person. The people mover 1 presented in Figure 1 is an escalator, whereby said conveying elements 3a are steps. Each said conveying element comprises a planar tread surface 3a’ on which a person can stand.

[0011] The endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a has a forward moving band section and a reversing band section moving below the forward moving band section. The endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a has a curve section 4 between the aforementioned band sections, in which curve section 4 the path of the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a turns around a horizontal axis 5 extending width direction W of the people mover 1. Such a curve section 4 is at both ends of the people mover. The people mover 1 further comprises a pit 2, wherein said curve section 4 is located, as well as an openable cover plate 6 on top of the pit 2 forming a tread plate along which people can pass onto the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a or away from it. The pit 2 forms a space below the level of the upper surface of the ground or floor that is beside the curve section 4. There is a working space 7 in the pit 2 below the cover plate 6 and beside the curve section 4, the working space being suitable for accommodating a person. The cover plate 6 being openable provides that a person, such as the technician intending to service the people mover 1, can move into the working space 7 in the pit 2.

[0012] For providing protection, the people mover 1 comprises a guard plate 8 mounted between the working space 7 and the curve section 4 forming a plate wall between the working space 7 and the curve section 4, and a sensing arrangement 9 for sensing position of the guard plate 8. The guard plate 8 is illustrated in Figures 2-7.

[0013] The people mover 1 comprises a stationary frame 10, a so called truss. The stationary frame 10 preferably forms a metal beam structure on which the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a are mounted movably. In the preferred embodiment, each said conveying element 3 comprises rollers and a tread member with a tread surface 3a’ on which a person can stand. The stationary frame 10 then preferably supports a plurality of elongated guide rails for guiding and supporting the rollers of the conveying elements 3a.

[0014] As illustrated in Figures 3-7, the people mover 1 further comprises a hinge arrangement 11,12 by which the guard plate 8 is connected with the stationary frame 10 pivotally in two pivoting directions, i.e. both in clockwise direction D2 and in counterclockwise direction Dl, around a horizontal pivot axis 13, which pivot axis 13 is parallel with said horizontal axis 5. Thus, the guard plate 8 is made moveable by pivoting under push of an object leaning, colliding or wedging against it. This is realized irrespective of the pushing direction. The pivotal movability provides such a movability for the guard plate 8 that can be sensed simply, but also that the push is forcefully and reliably transmitted to a location of the guard plate 8 that is being sensed. Pivoting has the advantageous effect that parts distant from the pivot axis move a significant length which can simply be sensed. It provides also that pushes directed on the guard plate 8 from various angles can be made to cause movement of the guard plate 8. The guard plate 8 being pivotal in two directions D2,D1 provides that it can be moved by push from several directions. A push coming from the direction of the working space 7, as well as a push coming from the direction of the curve section 4 can be sensed by the sensing arrangement 9. As will be later described, by advantageous positioning of the horizontal pivot axis 13 and/or by advantageous shaping of the upper parts of the guard plate 8 it is furthermore facilitated that also wedging and falling of objects from above cause effective pivoting of the guard plate.

[0015] The sensing arrangement 9 for sensing position of the guard plate 8 is arranged to sense pivoting of the guard plate 8 both in clockwise direction D2 and in counterclockwise direction Dl; and the control system 20 of the people mover 1 is arranged to stop movement of the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a in response to sensing pivoting of the guard plate 8 in clockwise direction D2 and in response to sensing pivoting of the guard plate 8 in counterclockwise direction Dl. This provides that the people mover is efficiently, reliably and simply triggered to react to various dangerous situations occurring in the pit space or its immediate proximity. Hereby, provision of safety without blind spots is made possible. Generally, the guard plate 8 provides a safety wall between the curve section 4 and people but it is also able to move such that that it aids the people mover noticing an unsafe situation swiftly and reliably without blind spots. Should the comb plate or the cover plate 6 of the people mover yield under a passenger, for instance, his stumbling into dangerous parts of the people mover are efficiently blocked, sensed and reacted to. Likewise, should the technician stumble in the working space 7 towards the curve section 4, the guard plate 8 blocks his passage to contact with the curve section 4, pivots and activates stopping of the people mover 1. Likewise, should a conveying element 3a of the curve section 4 run from its course, its passage to the working space 7 will be blocked by the guard plate 8. The guard plate will pivot and activate stopping of the people mover 1.

[0016] As illustrated in Figure 4, the guard plate 8 is pivotal around the horizontal pivot axis 13 in said counterclockwise direction Dl such that its lower edge moves from direction of the curve section 4 towards the working space 7, and in said clockwise direction D2 such that its lower edge moves towards the curve section 4 from direction of the working space 7.

[0017] The guard plate 8 is preferably shaped to maximize protection against various dangerous situations. Figures 2-7 illustrate a preferred shape for the guard plate 8. The particular shape together with pivotal movement is advantageous as it provides that push directed on the guard plate 8 from various angles can be made to cause movement of the guard plate 8.

[0018] For protecting person or objects from getting into contact with moving parts of the people conveyor, the guard plate 8 comprises an oblique plate portion 81 comprising a planar surface facing diagonally upwards towards the cover plate 6. The oblique pate portion 81 gives efficient protection for objects or persons approaching particularly from above as it causes that pivoting around the horizontal pivot axis 13 occurs by force when a person or an object from above falls into the pit. The oblique shape wedges the guard plate to pivot also when the object pushes it straight downwards.

[0019] The oblique plate portion 81 extends diagonally upwards away from the working space 7 on top of the curve section 4. Thereby, falling between the guard plate 8 and the curve section 4 is efficiently blocked. Pivoting of the guard plate 8 triggers stopping the movement of the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a of the people conveyor 1, and the oblique plate portion 81 itself is effective enough to block entrance of the object or person between the guard plate 8 and the curve section 4 at least until said movement of the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3 is stopped. Preferably, said hinge arrangement 11,12 comprises one or more hinges. In the presented preferred embodiment, said hinge arrangement 11,12 comprises a first hinge 11 and a second hinge 12, fixed on the oblique plate portion 81, said first hinge 11 and said second hinge 12 connecting the oblique plate portion 81 of the guard plate 8 and the stationary frame 10 pivotally to each other. This positioning provides that the guard plate 8 becomes a seesaw-kind of structure that is easily displaceable in either one of the pivoting directions D2 or Dl.

[0020] To further increase protection the guard plate 8 comprises a horizontal plate portion 80. The horizontal plate portion 80 is located on top of the curve section 4. It comprises a planar surface facing upwards. The horizontal section 80 causes that pivoting around the horizontal pivot axis 13 occurs by force when a person or an object from above falls or is wedged on top of the curve section 4. Pivoting of the guard plate 8 triggers stopping the movement of the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a of the people conveyor 1, and the horizontal plate portion 80 itself is effective enough to block entrance of the object or person between the guard plate 8 and the curve section 4 at least until said movement of the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a is stopped.

[0021] The guard plate 8 furthermore comprises a vertical plate portion 82 comprising a planar surface facing horizontally towards the working space 7. The vertical plate portion 82 extends vertically downwards from the lower edge of the oblique plate portion 81. An efficient protection of the service person located inside the working space 7 is hereby provided.

[0022] The overall structure of the guard plate 8 is preferably such that the horizontal plate portion 80, the oblique plate portion 81 and the vertical plate portion 82 are portions of a same bent metal plate piece, and the bent metal piece comprises a bend between the horizontal plate portion 80 and the oblique plate portion 81, and a bend between the oblique plate portion 81 and the vertical plate portion 82. Thus, the guard plate 8 is simple to manufacture and able to ensure safety in various dangerous situations. Each of said horizontal plate portion 80, the oblique plate portion 81 and the vertical plate portion 82 has preferably more than 15 cm length as measured along a plane to which said horizontal pivot axis 13 is orthogonal.

[0023] Said horizontal pivot axis 13 is preferably located on a lower level than the upper edge of the oblique plate portion 81. Thus, pivoting in two directions is facilitated. Particularly, if the horizontal plate portion 80 is pushed downwards, pivoting in the counterclockwise direction D1 is suitably swift and forceful. Said horizontal pivot axis 13 is however preferably located on a higher level than the lower edge of the oblique plate portion 81.

[0024] The position of the guard plate 8 is preferably furthermore such that it extends from below the level of the horizontal axis 5 of the curve section 4 above the level of the horizontal axis 5 of the curve section 4. Thus, it protects the most critical heights efficiently. As mentioned, the position of the guard plate 8 is preferably also such that the oblique plate portion 81 extends diagonally upwards away from the working space 7 on top of the curve section 4, and furthermore preferably such that the horizontal plate portion 80 is located on top of the curve section 4. These together provide that the guard plate 8 protects very efficiently all the most critical sectors of the curve section 4.

[0025] In the preferred embodiments illustrated, the sensing arrangement 9 for sensing position of the guard plate 8 comprises one or more sensors 9a,9b;9a’, each of which is arranged to sense position of a part 15a,15b of the guard plate 8. Figures 3, 5 and 6 illustrate a preferred positioning of the sensors. It is preferable that each said sensor 9a,9b;9a’ is mounted on the frame 10, whereby they are accurately and stationarily positioned. Preferably, said horizontal pivot axis 13 is higher than each of said one or more sensors 9a,9b;9a’, as illustrated in Figure 3, 5 and 6. Thus, each sensor is at a height and location easily accessible by the service person without danger. Here, each sensor is also able to sense pivoting of the guard plate 8 effectively. The preferred number of said sensors depends on the sensor type. The sensing can be implemented using only one sensor 9a’, or plurality of sensors 9a,9b. Figure 3 shows how the single sensor 9a or the two sensors 9a,9b could be placed.

[0026] In the preferred embodiments illustrated, the sensing arrangement 9 is also designed to allow easy detachment of the guard plate 8. For this end, the guard plate 8 comprises for each sensor 9a,9b;9a’a protrusion 15a, 15b protruding in direction of said pivot axis 13 of the guard plate 8 away from the guard plate 8. Such a protrusion 15a, 15b is, however, not necessary as also any other part of the guard plate 8 can serve as the part the position of which is to be sensed.

[0027] As mentioned, the preferred number of said sensors depends on the sensor type. Only one sensor 9a is enough if the sensor is a two-way sensor, because in this way the pivoting in two directions D2,D1 is very simple to arrange. Having two sensors is preferable if the sensor is not a two-way sensor.

[0028] The pivotal movability also facilitates simplicity of the mounting of the guard plate. The mounting of the guard plate 8 is in the preferred embodiment designed such that the stationary frame 10 comprises a first frame part 10a and a second frame part 10b which are on opposite sides of the guard plate 8 in direction of said pivot axis 13, the guard plate 8 comprising a first edge 8a located beside the first frame part 10a, and a second edge 8b located beside the second frame part 10b, which first and second edges 8a, 8b are in direction of said pivot axis 13 opposite edges of the guard plate 8. Thus, the guard plate 8 is in direction of said pivot axis 13 between the first frame part 10a and a second frame part 10b on which it is mounted. This facilitates accessibility of the hinge arrangement, whereby it can be serviced, but also manipulated so as to detach the guard plate 8 simply.

[0029] Said hinge arrangement 11, 12 comprises a first hinge 11 connecting said first edge 8a of the guard plate 8 and said first frame part 10a; and a second hinge 12 connecting said second edge 8b of the guard plate 8 and said second frame part 10b. The first hinge 11 comprises a first hinge part 11a fixed on the first edge 8a of the guard plate 8, and a second hinge part lib fixed on the first frame part 10a, which first and second hinge part 11a, lib of the first hinge 11 are pivotal relative to each other. Likewise, the second hinge 12 comprises a first hinge part 12a fixed on the second edge 8b of the guard plate 8, and a second hinge part 12b fixed on the second frame part 10b, which first and second hinge part 12a,12b of the second hinge 12 are pivotal relative to each other.

[0030] The first hinge part 11a and the second hinge part lib of the first hinge 11 are detachably connected to each other; and the first hinge part 12a and the second hinge part 12b of the second hinge 12 are detachably connected to each other. Thereby, the guard plate 8 can be removed from its position by simply detaching each first hinge part 11a, 12a from the second hinge part 11a, 12b of the hinges 11,12. Removal and detachment of the guard plate 8 are made simple and easy as the guard plate 8 is between the first and second frame parts 10a, 10b. No relevant component related to the mounting of the guard plate 8 needs to remain behind the guard plate 8, which makes all relevant components related to the mounting of the guard plate 8 simply accessible. Hereby, the curve section 4 as well as the guard plate 8 itself and all the components related to the mounting thereof become very easy and swift to service. In the preferred embodiment, the first edge 8a and the second edge 8b of the guard plate 8 are edges of the oblique plate portion 81 of the guard plate 8.

[0031] Figures 3-7 illustrate preferred details of the hinge structure. Figure 6 illustrates details of the first hinge 11 only, but the second hinge 12 is preferably configured otherwise similar as the first hinge 11 but mirror-like. As presented, it is preferable that one of the first hinge part 11a, 12a and the second hinge part lib, 12b of each hinge 11,12 comprises a shaft lib, 12b having a central axis oriented parallel and coincident with the horizontal pivot axis 13 of the guard plate 8, and the other of the first hinge part 11a, 12a and the second hinge part lib, 12b of each hinge 11,12 comprises a nest 11c, 12c for receiving the shaft lib, 12b. In the preferred embodiment, with each said hinge 11,12 said first hinge part 11a, 12a comprises the nest 11c, 12c and the second hinge part lib, 12b is the shaft.

[0032] So as to make the detachment of the guard plate 8 swift and simple, the nest 11c, 12c comprises a channel lid, 12d for guiding the shaft lib, 12b into and/or out from the nest 11c, 12c by movement of the shaft lib, 12b in radial direction thereof. Hereby, the guard plate 8 can be attached by movement occurring only along a vertical plane for which the horizontal pivot axis 13 of the guard plate 8 is orthogonal. The channel lid, 12d is more specifically such that it forms an unobstructed passage for the shaft lib, 12b away from the nest 11c, 12c by movement of the shaft lib, 12b in radial direction thereof. The channel lid, 12d is shaped to allow inserting of the shaft into the nest 11c, 12c by movement of the shaft lib, 12b in radial direction thereof, and to allow withdrawing of the shaft from the nest 11c, 12c by movement of the shaft lib, 12b in radial direction thereof. The channel lid, 12d is in the form of a slot formed in the first hinge part 11a, 12a, and extends through the first hinge part 11a, 12a in direction of the horizontal pivot axis 13.

[0033] For the purpose of detachment and reattachment, each of said first hinge and second hinge 11, 12 comprises releasable tightening means 14 for tightening the first hinge part 11a, 12a and the second hinge part lib, 12b of the hinge 11,12 together. This is implemented in the preferred embodiment such that the shaft lib, 12b is in the form of a threaded bolt, and the tightening means 14 comprise a threaded nut 14, such as a butterfly nut as visible in Figure 6, screwed on the shaft lib, 12b.

[0034] As visible in Figures 4-7 particularly, it is preferred that the horizontal pivot axis 13 of the guard plate 8 is offset from the guard plate 8 towards the working space 7. Thus, the hinge structures are simple to place unhidden behind the guard plate 8 structures, but they are instead easily accessible by a service person for servicing and detachment of the first hinge part 11a,12a from the second hinge part 12a, 12b. Hereby, the guard plate 8 also serves effectively as a seesaw-kind of structure that is easily displaceable in either of the pivoting directions D2 or Dl.

[0035] The people mover 1 may further comprise a limit means 16 for limiting the range of pivoting movement of the guard plate 8 in clockwise direction D2 and/or counterclockwise direction Dl. This prevents excessive pivoting. Said limit means 16 for limiting the range of pivoting movement of the guard plate 8 in clockwise direction D2 and/or counterclockwise direction Dl are preferably arranged to block pivoting more than 10 degrees.

[0036] Figure 8 illustrates preferred details of the sensor arrangement 9, when one and the same sensor 9a’ is used to sense pivoting of the guard plate 8 in both of the directions D2,D1. The sensor 9a’ is two-way sensor arranged to sense pivoting of the guard plate 8 both in clockwise direction D2 and in counterclockwise direction Dl. In the embodiment presented in Figure 8, said sensor 9a’ comprises a sensor body 90 and a sensing head 91 placed against a part 15a of the guard plate 8. Pivoting of the guard plate 8 both in clockwise direction D2 and in counterclockwise direction Dl is arranged to cause movement of the sensor head 91. The sensing can be arranged such that movement of the sensing head 91 is arranged to break an electrical circuit (not showed].

[0037] Preferably, the aforementioned two-way sensor 9a’ is more specifically such that it comprises a sensor body 90, a sensing head 91 placed against a part 15a of the guard plate 8, and a pushing means such as a spring (internal, not showed], and the sensing head 91 is arranged to be pushed by the pushing means against the part 15a of the guard plate 8, the part 15a of the guard plate 8 being arranged to push the sensing head 91 towards the sensor body 90 when the part 15a of the guard plate 8 pivots in one of its pivoting directions D2,D1, and the pushing means being arranged to push the sensing head 91 outwards from the sensor body 90 when the part 15a of the guard plate 8 pivots in the other of its pivoting directions D2,D1. Then, movement of the sensing head 91 towards the sensor body 90 is arranged to break an electrical circuit (not showed), and movement of the sensing head 91 outwards from the sensor body 90 is also arranged to break said electrical circuit.

[0038] Figure 9 illustrates preferred details of the sensor arrangement 9, where said one or more sensors 9a,9b comprises a sensor 9a arranged to sense pivoting of the guard plate 8 in counterclockwise direction D1 and a further sensor 9b arranged to sense pivoting of the guard plate 8 in clockwise direction D2. In this embodiment, the sensors 9a,9b need not be two-way sensors.

[0039] This is preferably implemented such that one sensor 9a comprises a sensor body 90 and a sensing head 91 placed against a part 15a of the guard plate 8. Pivoting of the guard plate 8 in counterclockwise direction D1 is arranged to cause movement of the sensor head 91 of the sensor 9a. Said pivoting is illustrated by arrow in Figure 9. This movement of the sensing head 91 is arranged to break an electrical circuit (not showed). Another sensor 9b of said sensors 9a,9b comprises a sensor body 90 and a sensing head 91 placed against a part 15b of the guard plate 8. Pivoting of the guard plate 8 in clockwise direction D2 is arranged to cause movement of the sensor head 91 of the sensor 9b. Said pivoting is illustrated by arrow in Figure 9. This movement of the sensing head 91 is arranged to break an electrical circuit (not showed). Each said sensor 9a,9b is preferably a limit switch.

[0040] The sensing is preferably more specifically implemented such that said sensor 9a arranged to sense pivoting of the guard plate 8 in counterclockwise direction D1 comprises a sensor body 90, a sensing head 91 placed against a part 15a of the guard plate 8, and said part 15a of the guard plate 8 is arranged to push the sensing head 91 towards the sensor body 90 when the part 15a of the guard plate 8 pivots in counterclockwise direction Dl. Said sensor 9b arranged to sense pivoting of the guard plate 8 in clockwise direction D2 comprises a sensor body 90, a sensing head 91 placed against a part 15b of the guard plate 8, and a pushing means such as a spring (internal, not showed) arranged to push the sensing head 90 against said part 15b of the guard plate 8, the pushing means being arranged to push the sensing head 91 outwards from the sensor body 90 when the part 15a of the guard plate 8 pivots in the clockwise direction D2. Then, movement of the sensing head 91 of the sensor 9a towards the sensor body 90 is arranged to break an electrical circuit (not showed], and movement of the sensing head 91 of sensor 9b outwards from the sensor body 90 is also arranged to break an electrical circuit.

[0041] As mentioned, the people mover 1 comprises a control system 20 for controlling movement of the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a. The control system 20 preferably comprises a control unit 20a, which may include an electronic processing means such as one or more microprocessors, but preferably the control system 20 also comprises a motor for moving the endless band 3 of conveying elements 3a, and a brake for braking said movement.

[0042] Generally, the people mover can be an escalator, autowalk or a moving ramp. The aforementioned conveying elements are steps if the people mover is an escalator and pallets if the people mover is an autowalk or a moving ramp.

[0043] It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying Figures are only intended to teach the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The above-described embodiments of the invention may thus be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

A passenger conveyor (1) comprising a pit (2); conveying elements (3a) of an endless belt (3) comprising a curved portion (4) located in a pit (2) having a convex portion (4) of conveying elements (3a) of an endless belt (3) rotating about a horizontal axis (5); a guide system (20) for controlling the movement of said endless belt (3) of transport elements (3a); an opening cover plate (6) on top of the well (2); a work space (7) in a pit (2) adjacent to the curved portion (4); a shield (8) mounted between the working space (7) and the curved portion (4); an identification arrangement (9) for identifying the location of the shield (8); a stationary body (10); characterized in that the passenger conveyor further comprises a hinge arrangement (11,12) by which the shield plate (8) is connected to the body (10) folding both clockwise (D2) and counterclockwise (D1) about the horizontal folding axis (13) parallel to the folding axis (13). with said horizontal axis (5); and said identifying arrangement (9) for detecting the location of the shielding plate (8) is arranged to detect the deflection of the shielding plate (8) both clockwise (D2) and anti-clockwise (D1); and said control system (20) of the passenger conveyor (1) is arranged to stop movement of the transport elements (3a) of said endless belt (3) in response to clockwise (D2) detection of deflection and response (D1) to deflection of protective plate (8).

Passenger conveyor according to Claim 1, characterized in that the protective plate (8) comprises an inclined plate portion (81) comprising a planar surface which faces obliquely upwards.

A passenger conveyor according to claim 2, characterized in that the inclined plate portion (81) extends over the curved portion (4).

A passenger conveyor according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said hinge arrangement (11,12) comprises a first hinge (11) and a second hinge (12) attached to said inclined plate portion (81), and said first hinge (11) and a second hinge (12) folding together the inclined plate portion (81) of the shield plate (8) and said stationary body (10).

Passenger conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective plate (8) comprises a horizontal plate portion (80) which is located on the curved portion (4).

A passenger conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shield plate (8) comprises a vertical plate portion (82) having a planar surface which looks horizontally towards the work space (7).

A passenger conveyor according to claims 2, 5 and 6, characterized in that the horizontal plate portion (80), the inclined plate portion (81) and the vertical plate portion (82) are portions of the same bent metal piece, and said bent metal piece comprises a horizontal bend portion (80) and between the inclined plate portion (81) and the bend between the inclined plate portion (81) and the vertical plate portion (82).

Passenger conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said horizontal folding axis (13) of the shield plate (8) is disposed at a transition from the shield plate (8) towards the work space (7).

A passenger conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stationary body (10) comprises a first body (10a) and a second body (10b) which are on opposite sides of the shield plate (8) in the direction of said folding axis (13). , and the shielding plate (8) comprises a first edge (8a) adjacent to the first frame member (10a) and a second edge (8b) adjacent to the second frame member (10b), the first and second edge (8a, 8b) of said folding axis (8a). 13) in the direction opposite to the edges of the shielding plate (8); wherein said hinge arrangement (11,12) comprises a first hinge (11) connecting said first edge (8a) of said shield plate (8) and said first body member (10a); and a second hinge (12) connecting said second edge (8b) and said second body (10b) of the shielding plate (8); and wherein said first hinge (11) comprises a first hinge portion (11a) secured to said first edge (8a) of said shield plate (8) and a second hinge portion (11b) secured to a first frame portion (10a) (11) the first and second hinge portions (11a, 11b) being foldable with respect to one another, and said second hinge portion (12) comprising a first hinge portion (12a) secured to said second edge (8b) of said shield plate (8) and a second hinge portion (12b) ) attached to the second body portion (10b), the first and second hinge portions (12a, 12b) of the second hinge (12) being foldable with respect to each other.

Passenger conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification arrangement (9) for detecting the location of the shielding plate (8) comprises one or more sensors (9a, 9b; 9a'J), such as a boundary sensor. the location of the portion (15a; 15b).

A passenger conveyor according to claim 10, characterized in that each of said sensors (9a, 9b; 9a '] comprises a sensor body (90) and a sensing head (91) positioned against a part (15a; 15b) of the shielding plate (8).

A passenger conveyor according to claim 11, characterized in that the movement of the sensor head (91) is arranged to cut off the electrical circuit.

13. A passenger conveyor according to one of the preceding claims 10 to 12, characterized in that each of said sensors (9a, 9b; 9a '] is a limit sensor.

Passenger conveyor according to one of the preceding claims 10 to 13, characterized in that said one or more sensors (9a, 9b; 9a '] comprises a sensor (9a'), in particular a bi-directional sensor, arranged to detect folding of the protective plate (8) and clockwise (D2). ] that counterclockwise (Dl].

A passenger conveyor according to claim 14, characterized in that the deflection of the shield plate (8) both clockwise (D2) and counterclockwise (D1) is arranged to cause movement of said sensor head (91) of said sensor (9a ').

The passenger conveyor of claim 15, characterized in that the movement of said sensor head (91) of said sensor (9a ') is arranged to cut off the electrical circuit.

A passenger conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said one or more sensors (9a, 9b; 9a '] comprise a sensor (9a) arranged to detect clockwise (D2) deflection of the protective plate (8) and sensor (9b) arranged to detect the anti-clockwise (D1) deflection of the shield (8).

Passenger conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passenger conveyor (1) further comprises boundary means (16) for defining the deflection movement area in a clockwise (D2) and / or anticlockwise (D1) manner.

Passenger conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guard plate (8) is arranged to fold clockwise (D2) with its lower edge moving towards the curved portion (4) in the direction of the work space (7) and counterclockwise (D1) with its lower edge moves in the direction of the curved portion (4) towards the work space (7).