JPH04317990A - Escalator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure safety in transporting a wheel chair, etc., by forming a special step dedicated to up-traveling from two ordinary steps, and forming a special step for down-traveling from three ordinary steps. CONSTITUTION:A special step U dedicated to up-traveling consists of two ordinary steps 7A, 7B adjoining up and down, and when a wheel chair K is to put placed thereon, the steps 7B, 7A shall be maintained on the same level generated by the forward passage horizontal part and the slope of the forward passage 3. In case the arrangement is equipped with a foot rest F, three such steps shall constitute the special step in which the step 7C situated above the step 7B is added as an aux. step. A special step D for down-traveling is composed of steps 8A, 8B, 8C having a stepboard movable part to be raised and held at the same level as the upper stepboard 7'', which a helper shall get on. Accordingly a wheel chair or the like placed on the special step U, D can be held safely while the helper stands behind in upright attitude whether it is in up-traveling or down-traveling. Thus safety in transporting can be ensured.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an escalator that is capable of transporting not only general users but also vehicles such as strollers and wheelchairs for the handicapped. This invention relates to an escalator that can secure a wide space for loading vehicles.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art As urban buildings become more three-dimensional, many escalators are being installed for the convenience of users of railway station buildings and public facilities. However, because the depth dimension (depth width) of each step is usually narrow in general escalators, it is not possible to load vehicles such as wheelchairs in a horizontal position and safely transport them, and escalators are also used for vehicles. There was an inconvenience that people could not easily use the service.

[0003] As a conventional technique to solve such problems, a specific step for placing a vehicle on a large number of steps arranged in an endless manner (multiple steps above and below are held at the same height and the depth is wide) is proposed. An escalator incorporating a specially constructed step to secure a space for carrying vehicles has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 19437/1983).

The schematic configuration of this conventional escalator capable of transporting vehicles is as shown in FIG. Specific steps 7A, 7B, and 7C with a special structure that can be moved and deformed are provided so that the vehicle K can be mounted horizontally on the route (the upward route between the upper and lower floor entrances).

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional escalator, the specific steps 7A, 7B, and 7C for transporting vehicles, which are incorporated into the large number of steps 7, are used for both ascending and descending operations of the escalator. Since it is a dual-purpose type that can be used as
An attendant M standing on the lower step 7' of A can support the person in an upright position as shown in Fig. 11, but when descending, the person M standing on the lower step 7'
The caregiver M who is sitting on the upper step 7'' of C has to support the vehicle K with the step installed in a state where the waist is bent greatly (a posture with the waist bent as shown in Fig. 12), and the person M who is holding the step has an improper gripping posture. There was a problem in that the vehicle was not stable and there was a risk of falling for attendant M and vehicle users.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to allow an attendant to easily and safely hold a vehicle equipped with steps in an upright position, regardless of whether the escalator is ascending or descending. It is an object of the present invention to provide an escalator equipped with specific steps exclusively for ascending operation and for descending operation that can be grasped.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the escalator of the present invention has two types of specific steps on which a vehicle K such as a wheelchair is placed: one for ascending operation and one for descending operation, and the escalator has two types of specific steps for carrying vehicles K such as wheelchairs, one for upward operation and one for downward operation. The specific step U consists of at least two steps: an upper step 7B and a lower step 7A having a step movable part 21 that is raised and held at the same height as the upper step 7B, and is designed exclusively for descending operation. The specific step D is a step movable part 8 that is raised and held at the same height as the upper step 7'' on which the attendant M stands.
1, 82, 83, the first step 8A, the second step 8B,
It is characterized in that it is composed of a three-step third step 8C, and the specific steps U and D, which are dedicated to upward operation and dedicated to downward operation, are used depending on the respective driving directions.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the escalator having the above structure, the vehicle K placed on the specific step U for upward operation can be moved to the specific step U.
An attendant M standing on the lower step 7' can safely support the vehicle K in an upright position as shown in Fig. An attendant M standing on the upper step 7'' of the specific step D can safely support it in an upright position as shown in FIG.

[0009]

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

Reference numeral 1 shown in FIG. 1 is the main frame of an escalator installed diagonally across the upper and lower floors.
Inside, a circulation path 2 is constructed by arranging front and rear wheel guide rails, a step chain drive sprocket, and a driven sprocket, as in the conventional case.

A large number of steps 7 are provided across the outgoing path 3 on the upper surface of the circulation path 2, the return path 4 on the lower surface, and the inverted portions 5 and 6 at the upper and lower floor side ends.
... are connected in a row in an endless manner via left and right step chains (not shown), and these steps 7 ... each have a pair of left and right front and rear wheels 9a, 9b, and are moved by a drive mechanism (not shown). General passengers will be transferred to the upper and lower floors side entrance 10.
, 11.

Up to this point, the escalator is similar to the existing general escalator, but in order to make it possible to transport a vehicle K such as a wheelchair carrying a handicapped person, the present invention is capable of transporting a vehicle K such as a wheelchair carrying a disabled person. Two types of specific steps are incorporated: a specific step U used exclusively for upward operation on which K is placed, and a specific step D used exclusively for downward operation.

[0013] The specific steps U exclusively for ascending operation consist of two steps 7A and 7B, upper and lower adjacent to each other, and when loading a vehicle K such as a wheelchair, the upper step 7B and the lower step 7A are placed on the outward horizontal section. Of course, even on the inclined part of the outbound route 3, the same height is maintained as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, so that a wide space for mounting vehicles can be secured.

[0014] In addition, if the vehicle K has a footrest F that gets in the way of escalator transportation, the specific step U
It is composed of a three-step staircase with an auxiliary step 7C as described below added to the aforementioned lower step 7A and upper step 7B. This auxiliary step 7C is located immediately above the step 7B, and in order to prevent the footrest F of the vehicle K from getting caught, the top tread and rear riser plate of the step 7C are connected as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the step is divided into left and right end portions 12a, 12b and a center portion 12c, and the step center portion 12c is configured to tilt backward.

That is, the step 7C normally has a pair of left and right lock pins 13, 13 that hold the center part 12c of the step at the same height with respect to both left and right end parts 12a, 12b.
When mounted on a vehicle, the lock pins 13, 13 are retracted from side to side by a forward/backward driving means such as a solenoid, and the center part 12c of the step is moved by its own weight to the front end hinge (
(not shown) as the center of rotation and is configured to rotate in a tilted state downward toward the rear.

[0016] Here, the specific step U (upper step 7B)
A configuration in which the lower step 7A) and the lower step 7A maintain the same height when the vehicle K is placed on it will be explained.

First, the lower step 7A forming the specific step U is divided into a step main body 20 and a step movable part 21, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7.
In contrast, the structure includes a link mechanism 22 as a guide means for guiding and supporting the step movable part 21 so that it can move upwardly.

The main step body 20, similar to the general steps 7, includes a frame 25 having a pair of left and right front and rear wheels 9a, 9b, and is attached and fixed to the rear side of the frame 25 so as to be curved backward. The movable step part 21 is composed of a tread plate 27 arranged on the upper surface of the step main body 20, and a tread plate 27 that protrudes downward from the rear side of the tread plate 27 and extends from the inside of the riser plate 26. It is composed of an auxiliary riser board 28 arranged substantially parallel to each other.

The link mechanism 22 as the guide means is a double X-shaped link mechanism like a kind of pantograph, and the lower link 3 is pivotally connected in an X-shape by a shaft pin 30.
1 and 32, and upper links 34 and 35, which are also pivotally connected in an X-shape by a shaft pin 33, are vertically connected by shaft pins 36 and 37, and these are connected in a state in which the left and right pairs are interlocked with each other. It is of structure.

The lower rear end hinge (axis pin) 38 of the link mechanism 22 is attached to the rear end of the upper surface of the frame 25, and the upper front end hinge (axis pin) 39 is attached to the lower front end of the step board 27. It is being Further, a roller 41 attached to the lower front end slide hinge (axis pin) 40 of the link mechanism 22 is slidably fitted into the slit 25a at the front end of the upper surface of the frame 25 so as to be movable back and forth. ) 42 is slidably fitted into a slit 27a near the rear end of the lower surface of the step board 27 so as to be movable back and forth. The link mechanism 22 always holds the step movable part 21 in a horizontal state and guides and supports it so that it can move in parallel so as to rise slightly diagonally backward.

Note that the lower step 7A is reversed from the upper surface outgoing path 3 of the circulation path 2 at the reversing portions 5 and 6 to form the lower surface return path 4.
If the movable step part 21 hangs down freely when moving the main frame 1, there is an inconvenience that the movable step part 21 will hit the bottom of the main frame 1. It can be held locked by

On the other hand, the upper step 7B forming the specific step U includes a frame 45 provided with a pair of front and rear wheels 9a, 9b on the left and right, and a frame 45 on the rear side of the frame 45, similar to the other general steps 7... It is composed of a riser board 46 that is attached and fixed to the frame 45 and stands up in a backwardly curved state, and a tread plate 47 that is attached and fixed to the frame 45.
A lift mechanism 50 is provided on the lower surface portion of 7.

The lift mechanism 50 is comprised of a solenoid 52 fixed to the lower surface of the footboard 47, and a movable arm 51 that is activated by the solenoid 52 and extends and retracts rearward from the upper through-hole 46a of the riser board 46. When the solenoid 52 is operated by an external power supply supplied via a current collector (not shown), the arm 51 protrudes rearward and moves the tread plate 27 of the step movable section 21 to the upper step 7.
It is raised and held at the same height as the step board 47 of B. Note that the reference numeral 53 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 is a front wheel guide rail, and the reference numeral 54 is a rear wheel guide rail.

[0024] Therefore, the specific step U having the above-mentioned configuration is used for the other steps 7 during normal ascending operation for transporting general passengers.
. . . Similarly, from the upper surface outgoing path 3 of the circulation path 2, it is reversed at the reversing sections 5 and 6 and travels on the lower surface return path 4. That is, in the upper and lower horizontal parts 3a, 3b and the intermediate inclined part 3c (see FIG. 1) of the outgoing route 3, the upper step 7B and the lower step 7A of the specific step U are connected to the front and rear wheels as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Guided by guide rails 53 and 54, each moves while maintaining a horizontal posture.

Moreover, the upper and lower horizontal parts 3a, 3 of the outgoing path 3
In b, the adjacent steps are at the same height as shown in FIG. 6, and in the intermediate inclined portion 3c, the adjacent steps are vertically shifted from each other and run with a difference in level. This allows general users to be transported safely. In this state, the solenoid 5 of the lift mechanism 50
2 is de-energized, and its movable arm 51 remains recessed inside the step 7B.

[0026] When transporting a vehicle K such as a wheelchair for a handicapped person, a corresponding operation switch (not shown) is operated to stop the upward operation of the escalator or to set it to a slow operation state. Now, the specific steps U (upper and lower steps 7A, 7B) on which wheelchairs are placed are located on the lower floor side horizontal section 3a of the outbound route 3.
When the lift mechanism 50 of the upper step 7B comes into operation, its movable arm 51 projects rearward and supports the tread 27 of the step movable part 21 of the lower step 7A from the bottom side as shown in FIG.

[0027] Specific step U on which vehicle K is placed in this state
travels in the direction from the horizontal part 3a to the inclined part 3c, and when the upper and lower steps 7A, 7B gradually create a difference in level in a horizontal position, the step movable part 21 of the lower step 7A moves to the step main body 20. On the other hand, while being guided and supported by the double X-shaped link mechanism 22, it is lifted up by the arm 51 as shown in FIG. 5, and maintains the same height as the upper step 7B.

At that time, the double X-shaped link mechanism 22
extends upward, and its lower rear end hinge 38 and upper front end hinge 39 are pivoted to the frame 25 and the tread plate 27, and the roller 41 of the lower front end slide hinge 40 and the roller 43 of the upper rear end slide hinge 42 are Since the link mechanism is slidably fitted into the slits 25a and 27a of the frame 25 and the footboard 27 so as to be movable back and forth, the link mechanism 22
Due to this function, the step movable part 21 moves upwards smoothly while remaining in a horizontal state and moving in parallel slightly diagonally rearward along the riser plate 46 of the upper step 7B.

Generally, on the inclined part 3c of the outgoing path 3, the space between the upper and lower steps becomes slightly clogged, but regardless of this, the step movable part 21 always maintains a constant small gap with the riser plate 46 of the upper step 7B. I come to do it.

In other words, in the outward slope section 3c, as shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, in order to maintain the horizontal position of each step, the front and rear wheels 9a and 9b are placed on the same level guide rails 53 and 54, so that the horizontal distance between the upper and lower steps is equal to the outward slope 3.
It will shrink slightly depending on the inclination angle of c. In order to avoid mutual contact between the steps at this time, the risers of each step usually rise in an arcuate curved surface centered on the front end of the tread of the step. The link mechanism 22 is arranged so that the step movable part 21 of the lower step 7A always rises while maintaining a constant small gap on the riser board 46 having such a configuration.
is set, thereby preventing the step movable part 21 of the lower step 7A from coming too close to the upper step 7B and rubbing against it, or conversely from increasing the gap and causing danger.

[0031] Now, the upper and lower two steps 7A and 7B are surely maintained at the same height, and while a wide vehicle loading space is secured, the vehicle can travel on the outbound slope 3c, and the wheelchair placed on it can be moved. It is now possible to safely transport a vehicle K such as a vehicle K while stably holding it in a horizontal state, and the attendant M of the vehicle K is placed on the lower step 7' of the specified step U (lower step 7A). The vehicle K equipped with steps can be safely held in an upright position as shown in FIG. 2.

When the vehicle K is being transported, the lock pins 13, 13 of the auxiliary step 7C are retracted to the left and right by forward/backward driving means (not shown) such as a solenoid, so that the central part 12c of the step is moved backwards. Figures 8 and 9 tilted downward
It is in such a state that it does not get in the way of the footrest F of vehicle K.

[0033] Then, when the specific step U (upper and lower steps 7A, 7B) on which the vehicle K is placed moves from the intermediate inclined part 3c of the outgoing route 3 to the upper horizontal part 3b, the link mechanism 22
While gradually contracting downward, the step movable part 21 maintains the same height as the step 7B and comes to be housed within the step main body 20. In this way, the operation of the escalator is stopped or slowed down at the upper floor side horizontal section 3b, and the vehicle K equipped with the steps is disembarked there. At that time, the movable arm 51 of the lift mechanism 50 is retracted as shown in FIG. The support of the step movable part 21 of the lower step 7A is released, and the running state is returned to the same as that of a normal step.

Next, the configuration of the specific step D exclusively for descending operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 10. This specific step D exclusively for descending operation includes a first step 8A, a second step 8B, and a third step having step movable parts 81, 82, 83 that are raised and held at the same height as the upper step 7'' on which the attendant stands. It consists of 3 steps of step 8C, and the vehicle K equipped with this specific step is designated as specific step D.
Attendant M is standing on the upper step 7″ of the
The structure is such that it can be supported.

The first step 8A of the specific step D has approximately the same configuration as the lower step 7A of the above-described specific step U for upward operation, and has a pair of left and right front and rear wheels 9a, 9.
b, and a step movable part 81 supported on the frame 25a via a pantograph-type link mechanism 22a, and the lower side of the step of the step movable part 81 is shown in FIGS. 4 to 7. A lift mechanism 50a having the same configuration as the lift mechanism 50 shown in FIG.

Further, the second step 8B and the third step 8C of the specific step D have substantially the same configuration as the first step 8A, and include a frame 25b provided with a pair of left and right front and rear wheels 9a, 9b, 25c, and step movable parts 82 and 83 supported on the frames 25b and 25c via pantograph link mechanisms 22b and 22c,
The lift mechanism 50 is located below the step of the step movable part 82 of B.
A lift mechanism 50b similar to a is equipped.

On the other hand, the step 7'' on which the attendant M stands is the upper step 7 of the above-mentioned specific step U exclusively for ascending operation.
It has substantially the same configuration as B, and has a pair of left and right front and rear wheels 9a.
, 9b, a riser plate 46 that is fixedly attached to the rear side of the frame 45 and stands up in a backwardly curved state, and a treadle plate 47 that is attached and fixed on the frame 45. A lift mechanism 50 having the same configuration as the lift mechanism 50 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 is installed on the lower surface of the footboard 47.

[0038] The specific step D having the above-mentioned configuration has its first step 8A, second step 8B, and third step 8C located on the upper floor side horizontal portion 3b of the outward route 3 shown in FIG. The step movable parts 81, 82, 83 are the lift mechanisms 50, 5
0a and 50b, and by the downward movement of each step (the downward movement of the outward slope portion 3c), the steps 8A to 8C are raised and maintained at the same height as the step 7'' on which the attendant M is placed, as shown in FIG. The rest of the structure and operation are the same as those of the specific step U for upward operation described above, so a detailed explanation of the structure and operation will be omitted.

[0039]

Effects of the Invention The escalator of the present invention has the above-mentioned specific steps U exclusively for ascending operation and specific steps D exclusively for descending operation.
Therefore, regardless of whether the escalator is ascending or descending, the attendant M who stands on the lower step 7' or upper step 7'' of the vehicle K equipped with the specified step is , can be easily and safely held in an upright position as shown in FIG. 3, and has the effect of ensuring safety when transporting a vehicle K such as a wheelchair.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire escalator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which vehicles are transported when the escalator is in upward operation.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of conveyance of vehicles during the descending operation of the escalator.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the escalator, showing a specific step dedicated to upward operation of the escalator in a state where it is mounted on a vehicle at the horizontal portion of the lower floor of the outgoing route.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a specific step dedicated to upward operation of the escalator in a state in which vehicles are being transported on an outbound slope.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state of the specific step at the horizontal portion of the forward route during normal operation.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing the state of the specific step at an outbound inclined portion during normal operation.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of transportation on an outbound slope where vehicles are placed on the specific step.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an auxiliary step added to the specific step.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a specific step exclusively for descending operation of the escalator in a state in which vehicles are being transported on an outbound slope.

FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a conventional escalator in a vehicle conveyance state during upward operation.

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a conventional escalator in a state where vehicles are being transported during descending operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

2...Circulation path, 3...Outgoing path on the upper surface, 3a, 3b...Horizontal part of the outgoing path, 3c...Slope part of the outgoing path, 4...Return path on the bottom surface, 7...Normal steps, K...Vehicles such as wheelchairs, M...Caregiver, U...Specific step for upward operation, 7A...Lower step, 7B...Upper step, 7
C... Auxiliary step, D... Specific step exclusively for descending operation, 8A... First step, 8B... Second step, 8C... Third step, 7', 7''
...Steps at the lower and upper positions for the attendant to stand on, 9a...Front wheel,
9b... Rear wheel, 10, 11... Upper/lower floor entrance/exit, 20... Step main body, 21 (81-83)... Step movable part, 22 (22a-
22c)...Pantograph type link mechanism, 25 (25a
~25c)...Frame, 27...Treadboard, 50 (50a, 5
0b)...Lift mechanism that interlocks the step movable part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A plurality of adjacent upper and lower steps for carrying vehicles such as wheelchairs, among a large number of steps arranged in an endless line between the upper and lower floor entrances and running from the outbound path on the upper surface to the return path on the lower surface. In an escalator in which the specific steps are identified and held at the same height on the outbound slope section to ensure a space for loading vehicles with a wide depth, the specific steps are designated for use only for ascending operations and for descending operations. There are two types of steps, and the specific steps for upward operation are composed of at least two steps: an upper step and a lower step that has a movable part of the step that is raised and held at the same height as the upper step. The dedicated specific steps consist of three steps, the first step, the second step, and the third step, each having a movable step part that is raised and held at the same height as the upper step on which the caregiver stands, and is designed exclusively for this upward operation. and an escalator characterized in that specific steps dedicated to descending operation are used depending on the respective driving direction.