GB2520272A

GB2520272A - A comb plate for an escalator landing platform

Info

Publication number: GB2520272A
Application number: GB1320013.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ali Albadri
Original assignee: Tube Lines Ltd
Current assignee: Tube Lines Ltd
Priority date: 2013-11-13
Filing date: 2013-11-13
Publication date: 2015-05-20
Also published as: GB201320013D0; WO2015071629A2; WO2015071629A3

Abstract

A comb plate for a landing platform of an escalator is located between a fixed part of the platform and moving steps of the escalator, the comb plate comprising a comb base plate 2 carrying a plurality of teeth in the form of cleats 4 arranged in spaced parallel relationship, the teeth each being mounted on the comb base plate so as to be individually releasable from the comb base plate. Preferably the teeth are mounted on comb base plate on a locking pin (6 fig 6) extending across the base traverse to the direction of movement of the escalator steps. The teeth may also have two frangible projections (12 & 13 fig 4) engageable with a fixed element on the base which is frangible in response to movement of the tooth in response to a predetermined load. The outer ends of the teeth (11 fig 4) may also be coated with a visible coating of contrast and colour to that of the comb plate and step.

Description

I

A comb plate for an escalator landing platform The present invention relates to a comb plate for a landing platform of an escalator.

In a typical arrangement, an escalator has landing platforms at ts upper and lower ends on to which passengers step from the moving stairs. At the junction where the moving stairs move under the fixed landing platform, a comb plate secured to the platform is provided to minimise the gap between the step and the fixed landing platform in order to minimise the risk of objects getting caught in the gap. Typically, a comb plate consists of an aluminium or aluminium alloy casting and extends across the full width of the steps.

The comb plate carries a plurality of cleats arranged in spaced parallel relationship which are adapted to interengage with matching cleats on the steps. The teeth on the comb plate are adapted to close the gap between the adjacent cleats to minimise the risk of any object being caught. The upper surface of the cleats on the comb plate are inclined to provide a smooth transition between the moving stairs and the fixed landing platform.

Inevitably, objects can get caught between the comb plate and the escalator tread which can cause significant damage to the comb plate and/or the step, which can in turn lead to substantial damage to the escalator and its drive mechanism. The present invention seeks to provide an improved form of comb plate to minimise the risk of substantial damage being caused to the escalator, and to provide a more economic way of repairing any damage to the comb plate.

According to the present invention there is provided a comb plate for a landing platform of an escalator, the comb plate being adapted to be secured to the landing platform and located between a fixed part of the platform and moving steps of the escalator, the comb plate comprising a comb plate base canying a pluraUty of teeth in the form of cleats arranged in spaced parallel relationship which cleats mesh with corresponding cleats on the steps, the teeth each being mounted on the comb plate base so as to be individually releasable from the comb plate base.

Preferably, the comb plate base comprises a plurality of comb plate base sections each adapted to carry a plurality of said teeth, the plate base sections being contiguously arranged so as to extend across the width of a step of the escalator.

In a preferred embodiment, the teeth are mounted on the comb piate base on a locking pin extending across the base transverse to the direction of movement of the escalator steps A preferred embodiment has fastening means comprising a plurality of damping screws disposed along the length of the locking pin to damp the locking pin securely to the comb plate base.

Preferably, the teeth each have a frangible projection engageable with a fixed element on the comb plate base and frangible in response to movement of the tooth in a first direction in response to a predetermined load applied thereto in a first direction.

Preferably, a Further frangible projection is located on each tooth and engageable with a fixed element on the base and frangible in response to movement of the tooth in a second direction opposite to said first direction in response to a predetermined load applied thereto.

The outer free end of each tooth may be coated with a visible coating of a contrasting colour to that of the comb plate and step to assist the visually impaired in locating the approaching landing platform.

Preferably, the comb plate is formed of an aluminium or an aluminium alloy diecasting A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a comb plate section for a landing platform of an escalator, Figure 2 shows and underside view of the comb plate section of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a side view of the comb plate section of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a side view of a cleat for mounting in the comb plate section Figure 5 shows an end view of the underside of the section, and Figure 6 shows and underside view with a number of cleats removed.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a schematic view of a comb plate base section 2 for positioning at the interlace between a landing platform (not shown) of an escalator system and the escalator steps which are arranged to pass under the landing platform. In a typical instaation one metre wide, which enables two people to pass side-by-side, five of the comb plate sections illustrated are contiguously mounted to extend across the width of the landing platform covering the full extent of the tread width of a step.

The comb plate section has a base 2 which is adapted to be screwed to the main body of the landing platform by two screws 3 so as to provide a smooth profile with a smooth transition from the treads of the escalator to the landing platform itself. As shown particularly in Figure 3, the base is curved from the landing platform downwardly towards the escalator steps to assist in the smooth transition.

Each escalator step (not shown) has a plurality of cleats in the form of upstanding ribs arranged in spaced parallel relationship and extending in the direction of travel of the escalator over the full length of the tread. In order to close the gap between the underside of the comb plate base and the step, a plurality of teeth in the form of cleats 4 which extend from the edge of the base section so as to mesh with the cleats on the steps as they pass under the landing platform. In this way the gap between the landing platform and the steps is reduced to a minimum.

In existing designs, the cleats are cast integrally with the comb plate base, typically being a diecast aluminium or aluminium alloy. In practice, foreign bodies enter the gaps between the cleats and the landing platform or between the cleats 4 and the tread and the typical result is that the tips of the fingers are broken off. This can constitute a safety hazard for users and, furthermore, the broken parts can inadvertently fall into the drive mechanism where they can cause serious damage and downtime for repair. Typically, some comb plate base sections have to be replaced every 4 days or so whenever more than one or two cleats are damaged. Since the damaged cleats are integral with the comb base plate, the whole base plate has to be scrapped.

In the present invention, as shown particularly in Figures 4, 5 and 6. the cleats 4 are movabry mounted in the comb base section 2. As shown in Figure 4, the cleats 4 have a bore 5 therein by which the cleats 4 are mounted on a locking pin 6, as shown in figure 6, which extends across the width of the base section transverse to the direction of movement of the escalator steps. The Sate 4 are a close fit in slots 7a, 7b in the base section 2 and are held in position by the pin 6 which passes through the base portion and is through the bores in each cleat. The pin 8 is secured in position by a plurality of clamping bolts 8, shown particularly in Figure 5. In this way, should one of the cleats 4 fail, it is a relatively simple matter to unscrew the base section 2 from the landing platform, slacken the bolts 8 holding the locking pin 6 and then sliding the pin 6 out until the damaged cleat 4 can be removed and replaced with a new one. The comb base section 2 can then be returned to service. The result is that there is a considerable saving in cost because only the broken part has to be scrapped not the whole base section as

with the prior art.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, there is shown a side view of the cleat 4 itself. The cleat has the bore through which the locking pin passes and has a flat underside 9 which is designed to enter between the cleats on the steps with only a small clearance below.

On its top side, the cleat surface 10 is inclined upwardly from its front end 11 at an angle to provide a smooth transition to the surface of the base section 2 as illustrated in Figure 3 in particular.

The cleat 4 has two frangible projections 12, 13 integrally formed in the cleat which are designed to break and give an indication of failure before any major damage is done. One projection 12 extends from the rear of the cleat and engages with the underside of a surface of the comb plate base. If a foreign object attempts to enter between the cleats and the landing platform the force urges the cleat pivotably downwardly, whereupon the frangible projection 12 breaks off and the cleat 4 can pivot to a position in which its failure is visually obvious and which in many cases enables the foreign body to pass into the interior of the escalator without causing major damage to the landing platform or the base section.

The second frangible projection 13 lies forwardly of the pivot point provided by the locking pin 6 and ifs underside engages with a part of the base portion so that it is normally in a secure position. Should a foreign body attempt to force its way between the lower surface 9 of the cleat and a step of the escalator, the cleat 4 is forced upwardly and the frangible projection 13 breaks off. Again in a similar manner to the first embodiment, it is a relatively straightforward matter to remove the comb plate base section 2 and replace the broken cleat. n this way the risk of significant damage to the base secflon and the landing platform is substantiauy reduced.

The outer ends 11 of the cleats 4 mounted on the comb plate base section 2 are coated with a plastics matwial of a contrasting, bright colour which not only assists the visuay impaired in seeing the approaching landing platform but also provides a visual indication for maintenance workers of whether the cleats are bent or misahgned, which is a sign of incipient failure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A comb plate for a landing platform of an escalator, the comb plate being adapted to be secured to the landing platform and located between a fixed part of the platform and moving steps of the escalator, the comb plate comprising a comb plate base carrying a plurality of teeth in the form of cleats arranged in spaced parallel relationship which cleats mesh with corresponding cleats on the steps, the teeth each being mounted on the comb plate base so as to be individually releasable from the comb plate base.
2, A comb plate according to claim I in which the base carries a plurality of comb plate base sections each adapted to carry a plurality of said teeth, the plate sections being contiguously arranged so as to extend across the width of a step of the escalator.a. A comb plate according to claim I or 2 wherein the teeth are mounted on the comb plate base sections on a locking pin extending across the base transverse to the direction of movement of the escalator steps.4. A comb plate according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein the teeth each have a frangible projection engageable with a fixed element on the base and frangible in response to movement of the tooth in a first direction in response to a predetermined load applied thereto in a first direction.5. A comb plate according to anyone of claims 1-4 wherein a further frangible projection is located on each tooth and engageable with a fixed element on the base and frangible in response to movement of the tooth in a second direction opposite to said first direction in response to a predetermined load applied thereto.6. A comb plate according to any one of the preceding claims in which the outer free end of each tooth is coated with a visible coating of a contrast and colour to that of the comb plate and step.I7. A comb p'ate according to claim 3 and any claim dependent thereon, induding fastening means to clamp the locking pin securely to the comb plate base.8. A comb plate according to daim 7 wherein the fastening means comprises a plurafity of damping screws disposed along the length of the locking pin.9. A comb plate according to claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 8 when dependent thereon, wherein the frangible projections are formed integrafly with the teeth.ia A comb plate according to any one of the preceding claims formed of an aluminium or an aluminium alloy diecasting.