GB815661A - Improvements in passenger conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

815,661. Passenger conveyers. HEWITT-ROBINS Inc. Nov. 8, 1956 [Nov. 17, 1955], No. 34142/56. Class 78 (1). A passenger conveyer comprises a continuous, unbroken standing surface in the form of an endless, elastic belt superimposed on a train of closely spaced wheeled platform members to which it is secured at intervals, the platform members being articulated by swivel means allowing the conveyer to flex in both horizontal and vertical planes and to twist. As shown, the belt 15 is pretensioned and secured to each platform 1 by bolts 16 such that the belt edges remain in tension when the conveyer is negotiating a horizontal turn. The platforms are provided at one end with a pair of supporting rollers 3 for engaging tracks 20, Fig. 5, and a guide roller 10 for engaging a guide track 21. A pair of links 4 secured to the underside of each platform extends beyond the end of the platform opposite that of the rollers and its opposite ends comprise ball and socket members 6, 7 respectively by which the platforms are articulated together and which lie on the common transverse axis of the rollers 3. The bail member 6 of the joint is mounted on a pin 5 between the extended ends of the links 4 while the socket member 7 is mounted in a lug 9 welded between the opposite ends of the links 4. The conveyer also comprises side panels 22 and endless hand rails 23. In use, the conveyer may be guided in horizontal curves 45, 47, Fig. 10, and roll-over turns 36, 37, 38 in addition to straight runs, the conveyer being suitably dipped at the entering and leaving points 41, 42 for the passengers for passage beneath the floor and where it is necessary to pass under another run. For the roll-over turns the conveyer is twisted by twisting the guide rails 20, 21 which are supported at intervals throughout the turn by suitable brackets, the brackets 29, Fig. 9, for the vertically guided part of the path where the turn is made being disposed on the inside of the turn so that the belt 15 is on the outside of the turn and remains in tension against the plates. The conveyer is driven at spaced driving stations 50, 51, 52 by endless driving chains 56, Fig. 2, each equipped with dogs 57 engaging between pairs of pins 58 secured between the pairs of links 4 of the platforms 1.