GB957272A - Moving sidewalk - Google Patents

Abstract

957,272. Endless conveyers. WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION. Aug. 30, 1962 [Sept. 1, 1961; June 6, 1962], No. 33377/62. Heading B8A. A moving walk for conveying passengers from one landing 7 to another 9 comprises an endless articulated belt 1 composed of rigid platforms 3 linked at adjacent edges so as to be free to pivot about the axles 13 of rollers 11 running in a pair of tracks 5, one each side of the belt 1. A rack 37 of steel having a substantial number of teeth 39 is attached to the underneath of each platform at both outer edges and the belt 1 is driven by a pair of parallel resilient toothed endless belts 41 simultaneously engaging several of the platforms 3 at both sides. The belts 41 are driven by an electric motor 59 situated within the upper loop of the belt 1. The coil of a safety relay S is connected in series with two sets of mechanically operated contacts 63, one for each belt 41, adapted to detect a break in such belt causing contacts S1 S2, S3 to be opened and stopping the belt 1. Each platform 3 has a plurality of parallel cleats 29 spaced to form grooves 31, the ends of the cleats 29 being staggered and radiused. At both landings 7, 9 comb-plates 73 co-operating with the cleats 29 are provided, the platforms 3 being accurately guided at these plates by guide vanes 77 attached to the underneath of the platforms 3 co-operating with guide rollers 79. A fixed balustrade 81 is disposed on each side of the upper or conveying run of the belt 1 and has an endless hand-rail 83 moved in synchronism with the belt 1. Each balustrade 81 comprises a panel 85 positioned by a bracket 87 and a support strip 89 provided with a covering 95 of nylon with a lip 97 meshing with adjacent cleats 29 by extending into the groove 31 between them.