GB1171329A - Escalators - Google Patents

Abstract

1,171,329. Escalators. HITACHI Ltd. 25 Aug., 1967 [31 Aug., 1966; 16 Sept., 1966; 28 Dec., 1966 (2); 11 Jan., 1967; 20 Jan., 1967 (2); 30 June, 1967], No. 39303/67. Heading B8A. [Also in Division B7] An escalator, wherein both the ascending and descending runs, disposed in side-by-side relation, are adapted to convey passengers comprises a plurality of treadboard elements 4 pivotally attached to an endless chain drive member 5 and guided in a semicircular section 3, 3<SP>1</SP> between the respective ends of the ascending and descending runs in such a way that the trailing edge of the elements in one run becomes the leading edge of the elements in the other run. The endless chain 5 extends around the inside of the escalator path and has pairs of lugs 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b to which are pivotally attached one end of arms 23, 24. The other end of the arm 24 is attached to arm 23 which in turn is attached to a universal joint 25 suspended by a member 22 below the treadboard elements. An extension 32 of the arm 23 mounts a roller 31 in engagement with a guideway 33 and an angled extension 28 of the member 22 mounts a roller 27 in engagement with a guideway 26. The extension 28 is fixed relative to the treadboard elements whereby on passage around the semicircular sections said elements are maintained facing the same direction. Additional guides 75, 76 are engaged by lugs 39 on the treadboard elements to assist in guidance around the semicircular section and further rollers 17, 18 mounted on said elements engage guideways 19, 20 and thereby support said elements when under load during the ascending and descending runs. The lower driven sprocket 16 is mounted on a carriage (82), Fig. 11 (not shown), along with the lower semicircular guideways, said carriage (82) has wheels (84), (84<SP>1</SP>) and is biased by a spring (77) in an outward direction to exert a tension in said endless chain. In an alternative embodiment, Figs. 14, 16, 17 (not shown), a pair of spaced chains (109), (110) are situated beneath the treadboard elements (100) and have dogs (108) extending therebetween for engagement with a slot (105) in the underside of the elements. The elements have rollers (101), (102) for engagement with rails (107), (108) to support the same and further rollers (103), (104) for engagement with guides (147a, 147b, 147c, 147d) during their passage around the semicircular sections. An arm (136) driven in synchronization with the endless chains has rollers (136<SP>1</SP>) located at the ends thereof to engage the slot (105) and move said elements around said semicircular section in a manner in which their directional position is unchanged.