JP2011195220A - Escalator device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an escalator device enabling a step for a wheelchair to quickly retreat to a safe space upon water immersion.SOLUTION: This escalator device includes a plurality of steps including the step for a wheelchair which are endlessly connected and which run between an upper entrance and a lower entrance, a water immersion detection means 3 which detects the water immersion of a lower pit 1 formed under the lower entrance and which outputs a water immersion detection signal, and a control means for performing a predetermined processing according to the water immersion detection signal. The escalator device further includes a means for detecting the position of the step for a wheelchair and a means for determining the stop control method for the step for a wheelchair according to the position of the step for a wheelchair. When the water immersion detection means 3 detects water immersion, the escalator device determines the present position of the step for a wheelchair and moves the step for a wheelchair to the retreated position when detecting water immersion.

Description

  The present invention relates to an escalator device including a wheelchair step among escalator devices that detect and respond to inundation of a lower pit formed below a lower entrance.

  In an escalator that is connected endlessly and has a plurality of steps that travel between the upper and lower entrances and exits, the lower pit has been conventionally detected as detecting the inundation of the lower pit formed below the lower entrance. An inundation detecting means is provided at a predetermined height, and in accordance with the inundation detection signal output from the detecting means, the informing means informs that the lower pit is inundated, or the control means stops the escalator. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP-A-7-206355 (paragraph numbers 0024 to 0030, FIG. 3)

  However, in recent years, since it has a tendency to rain with a large amount of rain in a relatively short time, the water that has entered the lower pit may suddenly raise the water level. Even if the inundation detection signal is output when the water level reaches a predetermined level, there is little time delay and the escalator device may be submerged. In particular, wheelchair steps have a problem that the structure of the equipment is precise, weak against flooding, and expensive, so that once flooded, it takes a lot of time and money to recover, and this inconveniences customers and users. It was.

  The present invention has been made from the state of the prior art described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an escalator device capable of quickly retracting a wheelchair step to a safe space when flooded.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is formed endlessly connected, a plurality of steps including a wheelchair step that travels between an upper entrance and a lower entrance, and is formed below the lower entrance. Means for detecting the position of the wheelchair step in an escalator device comprising inundation detecting means for detecting inundation in the lower pit and outputting an inundation detection signal and control means for performing predetermined processing in accordance with the inundation detection signal And a means for determining a stop control method for the wheelchair step according to the position of the wheelchair step.

  In the present invention configured as described above, the water that has entered the lower pit flows into the lower pit, and when the water level reaches a predetermined level, the inundation detection means detects this and outputs an inundation detection signal. At this time, by determining the wheelchair step stop control method in accordance with the position of the wheelchair step, the wheelchair step can be quickly retracted to the safety space during flooding.

  Further, the control means outputs an escalator stop command according to the inundation detection signal, and stops the step at a predetermined deceleration rate via the speed reduction means.

  In such a configuration, when the water level in the lower pit reaches a predetermined level and the inundation detection means outputs an inundation detection signal, the control means outputs an escalator stop command after the retraction command, and the step passes through the deceleration means. Stop at a predetermined deceleration. Thus, when stopping the escalator, by gradually stopping the step at a predetermined deceleration, it is possible to prevent the user from falling down due to the stop operation and to ensure safety.

  Further, a water reservoir is formed at the bottom of the lower pit, and the inundation detecting means is arranged in the water reservoir.

  In this configuration, the water that has entered the lower pit first flows into a water reservoir formed at the bottom of the lower pit, and when the water level of the water reservoir reaches a predetermined level, the inundation detection means detects this. Output a flood detection signal. In this way, the water that has entered the lower pit first flows into the reservoir, and when the water level of the reservoir reaches a predetermined level, inundation detection is performed, so that the wheelchair steps are retracted to the safety space. A longer time can be secured.

  Furthermore, it is characterized by having means for switching to manual operation.

  With this configuration, if the escalator is automatically paused, the escalator installed at a railway station or the like that may cause difficulty in organizing the flow of people will be automatically evacuated by the administrator during flooding. Determine whether to do it. Thus, the wheelchair step can be retracted to the safety space while ensuring safety according to the use status of the escalator.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the wheelchair step can be evacuated rapidly to safe space at the time of flooding, and, thereby, the convenience of a customer and a user can be aimed at.

It is the schematic of the escalator apparatus with which this invention is applied. It is a principal part block diagram of the escalator apparatus with which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st Example of the escalator apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd Example of the escalator apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an escalator device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The escalator device includes a plurality of steps including a wheelchair step (not shown) that are connected endlessly and travel between an upper entrance and a lower entrance, and as shown in FIG. 1, below the lower entrance Is formed with a lower pit 1 serving as a reversal part of the step.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a water reservoir 2 having a predetermined depth is formed at the bottom of the lower pit 1. It is. The reservoir 2 is provided with a drainage groove (not shown).

  The inundation detecting means 3 has a cord 3a fixed to an inspection lid 4 provided at one end above the water reservoir, and a float 3b attached to the other end of the cord 3a. 3b floats on the water 5 that has entered the reservoir 2 and outputs an inundation detection signal when the water level rises to a predetermined angle, for example, 45 degrees.

  Further, the escalator device is provided with a control means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the escalator, and this control means outputs an escalator stop command in response to the above-described inundation detection signal, and decelerates the step, for example, not shown. While stopping at a predetermined deceleration via the inverter device, the escalator stop is notified to the user and the outside, for example, the management room, by a not-shown notifying means.

  In many cases, inundation occurs from the lower part of the escalator's machine room and gradually proceeds to flood the escalator's equipment. In order to protect expensive wheelchair steps, it is necessary to promptly retract the wheelchair steps from the flooded space. Therefore, in this embodiment, an evacuation determination section and a evacuation position (stop position) are set at an arbitrary position of the escalator, for example, near the upper machine room of the escalator, and the wheelchair step is quickly evacuated to the evacuation position when flooded. It is. The retreat determination section here refers to a section in which the wheelchair step can be safely stopped at the retreat position (stop position) if the wheelchair step is located in this section. In addition, as a method for detecting the position of a wheelchair step (not shown), a method in which the control means calculates the position from a rotary encoder or the like provided in the drive machine, a switch (photoelectric switch, magnetic Switch, mechanical switch) and a method using a cam.

  In the first embodiment, when water enters the lower pit 1 due to heavy rain or the like during normal operation of the escalator as shown in step S1 of FIG. It flows into the formed reservoir 2. The water that has entered the reservoir 2 is drained by a drain groove (not shown). However, if the amount of rainwater intrudes more than the amount of drainage, water starts to accumulate in the reservoir 2 and the water level rises. Then, as the water level rises, the float 3b starts to float as shown in FIG. When the inclination of the float 3b reaches 45 degrees as shown in FIG. 2B, the inundation detection means 3 outputs an inundation detection signal. In response to this inundation detection signal, the control means detects inundation as step S2 and, as shown in step S3, alerts the escalator stop to the passengers and the management room by means of notifying means (not shown). Specifically, for escalator passengers and managers, the escalator body or the speaker / display provided in the vicinity of the escalator, the speaker / display installed in the management room, and the like are used. Next, in step S4, the current position of the wheelchair step is determined, and it is determined whether or not the wheelchair step is in the preset avoidance determination section. When there is a wheelchair step in the evacuation determination section, as shown in step S6, a notice broadcast or display that the escalator will be stopped is executed. Thereafter, the control means outputs a deceleration command as step S7, and gradually reduces the speed of the step through the inverter device before the planned stop position. Next, as step S8, the wheelchair step is moved to the retracted position (stop position). When it reaches, a stop command is output to stop the step, and in this state, the escalator is paused as step S9.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 described above that the wheelchair step is outside the preset avoidance determination section described above, operation is performed at a normal speed until the wheelchair step reaches the retreat section in step S5. Next, as described above, as shown in step S6, a notice broadcast or display to stop the escalator is performed. Thereafter, the control means outputs a deceleration command as step S7, and gradually reduces the speed of the step through the inverter device before the planned stop position. Next, as step S8, the wheelchair step is moved to the retracted position (stop position). When it reaches, a stop command is output to stop the step, and in this state, the escalator is paused as step S9.

  According to the first embodiment, the wheelchair step can be quickly evacuated to a safe space when flooded, thereby improving convenience for customers and users. In addition, the water that has entered the lower pit 1 first flows into the reservoir 2 and the inundation is detected when the water level of the reservoir 2 reaches a predetermined level, so that the wheelchair step is quickly retreated to a safe space. Can be secured for a longer time. Furthermore, when stopping the escalator, by gradually stopping the step at a predetermined deceleration, it is possible to prevent the user from falling down due to the stop operation and to ensure safety.

  In the first embodiment, the float type detecting means arranged in the water reservoir 2 is exemplified as a float type. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a sensor whose electrical characteristics change due to water is detected. It may be used as a means. In addition, it is assumed that inundation of the lower pit, which is generally damaged, is detected and dealt with. However, depending on the installation environment of the escalator, there may be a case of inundation near the upper machine room. In this case, a retreat section may be provided in the lower machine room or the middle part where the influence of water immersion is small.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In an escalator installed at a railway station or the like, many passengers use the escalator, and when the escalator is automatically stopped, it may be difficult to organize the human flow. In order to prevent this, it is necessary for the administrator to confirm the usage status of the escalator at the time of alerting. Therefore, in the escalator device of the present embodiment, a manual operation changeover switch is provided in the management room, the actual escalator, or in the vicinity of the escalator. Then, as shown in step S10 of FIG. 4, it is determined whether the administrator continues the evacuation operation or switches to manual operation after alerting. When switching to manual operation is not performed, that is, when evacuation operation is continued, the escalator device is controlled in the same procedure as shown in the first embodiment, and the wheelchair step is moved to the evacuation position (stop position). And suspend the escalator. On the other hand, when switching to manual operation in the above-described step S10, the escalator is operated by manual operation by the administrator as shown in step S11.

  According to the second embodiment, when the escalator is automatically stopped, the escalator is installed at a railway station or the like that may cause difficulty in the arrangement of the human flow, and safety is ensured according to the situation of the escalator. Meanwhile, the wheelchair step can be retracted to the safety space.

  In FIG. 4, when the manual operation changeover switch is not operated, the shift to the evacuation operation is performed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and conversely, when there is no switch operation, It is also possible to stop the evacuation operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower pit 2 Reservoir 3 Inundation detection means 3a Cord-like body 3b Float 4 Inspection lid 5 Water

Claims (4)

A flood detection signal is detected by detecting inundation of a plurality of steps including a wheelchair step and a lower pit formed below the lower entrance, connected endlessly and traveling between the upper entrance and the lower entrance. In an escalator device comprising a flood detection means for outputting and a control means for performing a predetermined process in accordance with the flood detection signal,
An escalator device comprising: means for detecting a position of the wheelchair step; and means for determining a stop control method for the wheelchair step according to the position of the wheelchair step.   2. The escalator device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs an escalator stop command in response to the inundation detection signal, and stops the step at a predetermined deceleration rate via a deceleration unit.   2. The escalator device according to claim 1, wherein a reservoir is formed at the bottom of the lower pit, and the inundation detecting means is disposed in the reservoir.   The escalator device according to claim 1, further comprising means for switching to manual operation.

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