GB1185913A - Improvements in or relating to Variable Speed Moving Pavements - Google Patents

Abstract

1,185,913. Variable speed moving pavements. A. CUMBERBIRCH. 21 June, 1968 [23 March, 1967; 13 April, 1967; 24 May, 1967; 11 July, 1967; 23 Dec., 1967], Nos. 13601/67; 17007/67; 24054/67; 31943/67 and 58584/67. Heading B7L. A transport apparatus comprises platforms 3 forming a continuous moving pavement, each end of each platform 3 carrying a depending pin 4 engaging a wheeled (or sliding) assembly running on an endless track rail 1 disposed in a vertical or horizontal plane, the separation of the rails varying along the track to cause the platforms to vary their alignment (i.e. rotate) so that the pavement moves at different speeds in the different zones A, B, C1, C2, but each platform remains in generally side-by-side relationship with adjacent platforms in all the zones. The gaps 5 in zones C1 and C2 are covered by overlapping the platforms 3, or by providing a further type of overlapping floating platform which is secured by springs to the platforms 3. Each platform 3 has two depending members 20, one of which is engaged by a lug on one of a number of endless drive belts or chains 1a or engages in a variable-pitch helical groove in a rotating drive drum 3a in zones C1 and C2. The motors driving the belts and drums are synchronized. When the rails 1 are in vertical planes the return side of the drive belts la propels the unused return part of the pavement and another drive drum is provided below each drum 3a to drive the unused platforms in zones C1 and C2. When the rails 1 are in a horizontal plane, a pillar 22 is attached to each end of each platform and has rotatable rings 23 to which are secured concertina screens 24 and telescopic handrails 25; the pillar 22 on every sixth platform X contains a slidable rod 27 secured to a cam follower 28 which is raised at each station B by a surface ,29 to contact a screen 24 by means of a lazy tongs 30. The gap between each platform X and its neighbours is bridged by longitudinal overlapping treads 21 pivoted thereto.