JP5572717B2 - Escalator handrail chain - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an escalator, a moving walkway (traveler), a moving slope, and the like, and more particularly, to a handrail guide mechanism such as an escalator, a moving walkway, and a moving slope.

  Escalator systems typically comprise handrails that move with a plurality of pallets that form the escalator system (typically two handrails). The handrail moves across a handrail guide fixed to the balustrade of the escalator system. When guiding a handrail, it is desirable that the handrail guide reduce frictional resistance during movement of the handrail to reduce wear and reduce unwanted noise in the handrail. Usually, three approaches are taken to reduce the resistance. The first is to change the material of the handrail guide to a low friction material. The second is to coat the handrail or handrail guide. The third is to add a chain including a rotating element such as a rolling bearing between the handrail guide and the handrail. The chain is fixed to the handrail guide, and the rolling bearing contacts the handrail. This causes rolling contact and rolling friction between the handrail and the handrail guide, which has less adverse effects than sliding friction due to direct contact between the handrail and the handrail guide. .

  However, conventional handrails that include rolling bearing chains produce unwanted noise during operation. There are two reasons for this. The first reason is that the seal of the rotary bearing is damaged, and the lubricant leaks, resulting in dry rubbing and noise. As a second reason, noise is generated because the rolling bearing contacts the handrail guide and is rubbed against the guide when a lateral load is applied to the rolling bearing chain. Furthermore, when damage or the like occurs in the seal of the rolling bearing, foreign matter is mixed into the rolling bearing. As a result, rotation of the rolling bearing stops, heat is generated between the rolling bearing and the handrail, and the life of the handrail is shortened.

  According to one aspect of the invention, a handrail assembly of an escalator system includes a handrail that is movable along the length of the escalator, and a handrail guide assembly that defines a path of movement of the handrail. The handrail guide assembly includes a handrail guide and a plurality of bearing supports connected to each other to form a handrail chain and fixed to the handrail guide. One or more plain bearings extend at least partially through each bearing support of the handrail chain. The shaft extends through each bearing support and is in sliding contact with one or more sliding bearings. One or more rollers are secured to at least one end of the shaft and are in rolling contact with the handrail.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the handrail chain of the escalator system includes a plurality of bearing support portions connected to each other so as to form the handrail chain. One or more plain bearings extend at least partially through each bearing support of the handrail chain. The shaft extends through each bearing support and is in sliding contact with one or more sliding bearings. One or more rollers are secured to at least one end of the shaft and are in rolling contact with the handrail.

  The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description.

  Exemplary embodiments, advantages and features of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The top view which shows the Example of a handrail assembly. Sectional drawing which shows the Example of a handrail assembly.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a handrail assembly 10 such as an escalator, a moving walkway (traveler), and a moving slope. The handrail assembly 10 includes a handrail guide 12 made of sheet metal or the like, and a handrail chain 14 fixed to the handrail guide 12. The handrail chain 14 is formed of a plurality of slide bearing support portions 16, and the plurality of slide bearing support portions 16 includes a head end (head end portion) 18 of one slide bearing support portion and an adjacent slide bearing support portion. Are connected by linking the tail ends (tail end portions) 20 thereof. The plain bearing support 16 supports the plain bearing 22 and one or more rotating members 24. The one or more rotating members 24 interact with the handrail 26 (see FIG. 2) to reduce friction during movement of the handrail 26 in the handrail drive direction 28 along the handrail guide 12. One or more bosses 30 extend from the bearing support 16 in the transverse direction (side). The boss 30 extends in the transverse direction over a width 32 (hereinafter referred to as boss width) longer than the transverse length 34 of the rotating member. This feature functions effectively when a lateral (transverse) load is applied to the handrail chain 14 and the handrail chain 14 is pushed toward the wall of the handrail guide 12. Under such a lateral load, the boss 30 contacts the handrail guide 12 before the rotating member 24 contacts the handrail guide 12 because of the longer boss width 32 of the boss 30. That is, the boss 30 functions as a stopper that prevents the rotating member 24 from contacting the handrail guide 12. Thereby, the undesirable noise which arises when a rotating member contacts the conventional handrail guide can be prevented.

  The rotating member 24 and the sliding bearing 22 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, two sliding bearings 22 are disposed on the bearing support 16. A shaft 36 extends through the two sliding bearings 22 and the shaft 36 is configured to have a sliding friction relationship between the shaft 36 and the sliding bearing 22 when the shaft 36 rotates about the shaft axis 38. A roller 40 is fixed to the end 42 of each shaft, and rotates together with the shaft 36 around the shaft axis 38. The roller 40 comes into contact with the handrail 26 and reduces friction through rotation of the roller 40 and the shaft 36 by the sliding action of the shaft 36 with respect to the sliding bearing 22. In one embodiment, the sliding bearing 22 is lubrication-free bearings and has a bearing flange 44 that abuts the roller 40. In other embodiments, lubrication is provided between the bearing flange 44 and the roller 40. As shown in FIG. 2, two sliding bearings 22 are arranged, and a gap 46 (also referred to as a bearing gap) is provided along the shaft 36 between the two sliding bearings 22. In one embodiment, the bearing gap 46 is lubricated. In another embodiment, the two plain bearings 22 abut and there is no bearing gap 46 between the plain bearings 22. In yet another embodiment, only one plain bearing 22 is provided which extends entirely across the bearing support 16.

  By utilizing the above configuration, the rotation of the roller 40 in the handrail chain 14 is realized through the sliding motion of the shaft 36 (in one embodiment, the sliding motion with respect to the sliding bearing 22). As a result, noise is reduced as compared with a conventional handrail using a roller bearing, and a smooth operation is realized. In addition, in one embodiment, the plain bearing is self-lubricating, thus reducing handrail heating and extending the life of the handrail compared to the prior art.

  Although the present invention has been disclosed and described only with some embodiments, it should be understood that this is illustrative only and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, it should be understood that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

A handrail movable along the length of the escalator;
A handrail guide assembly that defines a path of movement of the handrail;
An escalator system handrail assembly comprising:
The handrail guide assembly
A handrail guide,
A plurality of bearing supports connected to each other to form a handrail chain and fixed to the handrail guide;
One or more plain bearings extending at least partially through each bearing support of the handrail chain;
A shaft extending through each bearing support and the sliding bearing and in sliding contact with one or more sliding bearings;
One or more rollers fixed to at least one end of the shaft and in rolling contact with the inner surface of the handrail;
A handrail assembly comprising:   The handrail assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more plain bearings are two plain bearings extending at least partially through each bearing support.   The handrail assembly of claim 2, including a gap between the two plain bearings. Handrail assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the lubricant is supplied to the gap.   The handrail assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more plain bearings are a single, integral bearing that extends through the entire bearing support.   The handrail assembly of claim 1, wherein each plain bearing has a bearing flange that substantially abuts one or more rollers.   The handrail assembly of claim 1 including one or more bosses extending transversely from the handrail chain beyond the transverse length of the one or more rollers. Escalator system handrail chain,
A plurality of bearing supports connected to each other to form a handrail chain;
One or more plain bearings extending at least partially through each bearing support of the handrail chain;
A shaft extending through each bearing support and the sliding bearing and in sliding contact with one or more sliding bearings;
One or more rollers fixed to at least one end of the shaft and in rolling contact with the inner surface of the handrail;
A handrail chain characterized by comprising:   9. The handrail chain of claim 8, wherein the one or more plain bearings are two plain bearings that extend at least partially through each bearing support.   The handrail chain according to claim 9, further comprising a gap between the two plain bearings. Handrail chain according to claim 10, characterized in that the lubricant is supplied to the gap.   9. The handrail chain of claim 8, wherein the one or more plain bearings are a single integral bearing that extends through the entire bearing support.   9. The handrail chain of claim 8, wherein each plain bearing has a bearing flange that substantially abuts one or more rollers.   9. The handrail chain of claim 8, including one or more bosses extending transversely from the handrail chain beyond the transverse length of the one or more rollers.

Images