JPS6270191A - Escalator for wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to an escalator that can serve not only general pedestrians but also wheelchair users, and in particular, an escalator that allows wheelchair users to ascend and descend safely. - Concerning steps.

[Background of the invention]

Escalators have long been popular as service facilities for general pedestrians.

In recent years, they have become widely used in various public facilities such as urban transportation, and as a result, there has been a demand for facilities that can serve not only ordinary pedestrians but also wheelchair users. It's been increasing.

However, conventional escalators have been made with pedestrians in mind, as mentioned above, and for this reason, the depth of the steps is approximately 400 meters, which is not enough for pedestrians. However, if a wheelchair user were to get into the wheelchair, the value would be too small compared to the size of the wheelchair, and there would be a risk of the wheelchair falling over, which would be a great danger. Therefore, in the past, it was generally recognized that it was impossible for wheelchair users to use escalators.

This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 6, a general escalator 100 is equipped with a plurality of endlessly moving steps 1.
As mentioned above, the depth dimension a of the treads 1a is around 400+m, and these steps 1 are lined up horizontally in the front and back near the entrance of the escalator 100, and the treads 1a of
Although it forms a continuous horizontal plane as shown by la' in FIG. 2, it is well known that it operates in a step-like manner in the inclined running portion.

Therefore, when the wheelchair 2 gets on the escalator 100 which is currently being operated with such a configuration as shown in FIG. As the escalator 100 is operated, the tread 1 of the step 1
a transitions from the horizontal continuous surface 1a' to a step-like tread shown in broken lines in FIG. rotates around the axis of the main wheel 3 as shown by the dashed arrow, and is in a greatly tilted state.

Therefore, with such an escalator 100, servicing wheelchair users is very dangerous and difficult.

However, in view of the recent rise in public opinion and the expansion of the range of activities of wheelchair users, the possibility of applying escalator services to wheelchair users has been positioned as one of the major issues. Various proposals have been made.

For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-41555 discloses an invention in which steps of an escalator are provided with specially large tread depths,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-12067 discloses an escalator in which a mechanism is installed on a specific step to enlarge the tread depth only when necessary. For example, it is possible to make it possible for wheelchair users to use escalators.

However, as mentioned above, the depth of the steps on a typical escalator is approximately 400m.
m, and even if the tread size is increased using the method described above, the limit is to make the escalator at most twice the size of the entire escalator, so these methods can also sufficiently eliminate the risk of wheelchairs falling over. I can't.

To explain this with reference to FIG. 8, even if the step 1 is provided with an extension 6 and the tread depth is expanded to b, its length will be approximately 800+m at most, and this dimension is insufficient to cover the entire length of the wheelchair 2. As a result, the wheelchair cannot be placed on the escalator unless the footrest 5 of the wheelchair 2 protrudes above the steps in front. Therefore, when the escalator step 1 shifts to diagonal travel.

The footrest 5 is interfered with by the rising step 1 in front,
The wheelchair 2 is lifted by the dimension d, giving the wheelchair 2 a rearward inclination, and there is a risk of it falling over.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned turning point can be solved by expanding the tread depth of the steps to more than double, but this would require a complicated sliding mechanism, and it would be difficult to maintain the necessary strength. It is difficult and tends to increase costs.

Therefore, as a solution to these difficulties, the patent application
There is an invention related to the application No. 9-70900, and this invention will be explained with reference to FIG. This is the same as in Figure 8.

The up-and-down mechanism 9 functions to change the tread plate 11.degree. 12 by a dimension from the normal tread position to the raised position aH with respect to the step body 1.0.

Therefore, even when the wheelchair 2 is placed on the treads 11 and 12 and the escalator starts running diagonally, the footrest 5 of the wheelchair 2 and the tread in the front are 1 interference will not occur and the escalator can be used safely.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the tread 11 is an extension of the tread 12, but the step 1 on which the lifting mechanism 9 is to be installed is manufactured from the beginning with a large tread depth, and the step 1 on the main body 1o is If the tread 12 is sufficient to support the main wheels 3 and front axle 4 of the wheelchair 2,
There is no particular need to provide the step board 11 for expansion.

By the way, even with escalators that eliminate the risk of falling, conventional methods have not been able to ensure that the wheelchair remains safely on the steps after the wheelchair is placed on the steps. However, no particular consideration has been given to the escalator side, and the only option is to rely on the braking device provided on the wheelchair itself.Therefore, in the past, there have been some concerns about safety when the wheelchair is mounted.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an escalator that provides sufficient safety when a wheelchair is mounted on the escalator.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a wheel stopper that protrudes only when a wheelchair is loaded on the treads of the steps for loading a wheelchair on an escalator, and a switch that detects the operation of this wheel stopper. The wheelchair transportation operation is started after confirming that the wheelchair has operated.

[Embodiments of the invention]

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the illustrated embodiment of the escalator according to the present invention will be described. In addition, the present invention.

Although the present invention can be applied to any escalator as long as it is possible to mount a wheelchair on the treads of the steps, the following explanation will be based on the escalator according to the invention of Japanese Patent Application No. 70900/1983. We will explain the case where this is applied.

1 and 2 are further embodiments of the escalator shown in FIG. 9, to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 11
and the second tread 12 are connected by a connecting pin 16 at the end of the step main body 10 on the riser 13 side, so that these treads 11 and 12 are folded and overlapped with each other as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, it can be rotated in the opposite direction and extended.

Reference numerals 14 and 15 denote tread grooves formed on one surface of the first tread plate 11 and a part of the main body 10. In the state shown in FIG.
It will be in the same condition as the tread surface.

Reference numerals 18 and 19 designate links that support the footboards 11 and 12 so as to be movable in the vertical direction.The central portions of each link are connected by a connecting pin 24, and the upper end is connected to the connecting pin 20 of the member 17 attached to the bottom surface of the footboard 12. , the footboard 12 is supported by the guide surface 23, and the lower end is connected to the guide surface 21 of the main body 10 and the connecting pin 22.
It is held by the main body 1o.

29 is a bell crank whose rotation center is a coupling pin 26 provided on the member 17, and one end thereof is coupled to the main body 1o via a coupling pin 27, a link 28, and the coupling pin 25. , the other end is connected to the first tread plate 11 via the connecting pin 30 and the link 32, and the connecting pin 31.
is combined with

Note that 33 is a stopper, and 34.35 is a traveling shaft.

At least one of the steps constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is incorporated into a plurality of steps provided in a normal escalator, thereby forming an escalator on which a wheelchair can be mounted.

During normal operation, the first treadle 11 is folded and overlapped with the second treadle 12, as shown in FIG. 1.

Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the external shape is almost the same as that of other ordinary steps, and the surface of the first tread 11 where the grooves 14 are formed and the part of the main body 10 where the grooves 15 are formed are different. As a tread, it can provide pedestrian-centered service just like a regular escalator.

Next, when service for the wheelchair becomes necessary, the operation of the escalator is stopped at a predetermined timing so that the stop shown in FIG. 1 is located at the entrance of the escalator.

Next, the front (right side in FIG. 1) end of the first treadle 11 is pulled up by an appropriate means 1, such as obtaining one, and this treadle 11 is moved to the second treadle plate 11 with the coupling pin 16 as the rotation center.
Rotate it as shown by the broken line arrow A in the figure.

Then, the rotation of the footboard 11 causes the bell crank 29 to rotate via the link 32, and this rotation causes the link 2 to rotate.
8 to the main body 10, the force shown by the broken line arrow B appears on the member 17 via the coupling pin 26 due to the reaction force. Therefore, the shape of this bell crank 29 and the link 2
If the length of 8.32 and the mounting position of the connecting pins 25, 26.31 are kept in a predetermined relationship, the first footboard 1
1, the second tread plate 12 rises from the main body 10, and as shown in FIG. 29 comes into contact with the stopper 33, these treads 11 and 1
2 is at a position elevated from the main body 10 by a predetermined dimension.

Therefore, if the wheelchair is loaded in this state, it will be in the same state as shown in FIG. 9, and the wheelchair can be carried safely without the risk of falling.

At this time, as is clear from FIG. 2, the reaction force due to the weight of the wheelchair is transmitted from the link 32 to the bell crank 29, which in turn
By being in contact with the main body 10, it is stably supported.

In addition, an overhang moment acts on the step body 10 due to this load L○, but this moment is
, 35 to the travel guide track of the escalator (not shown) and is supported there, so there is no particular problem.

Next, when you have finished using the wheelchair, rotate the first treadle 11 in the opposite direction and fold it up against the second treadle 12. can be returned to service as a general escalator.

In the above explanation, the first treadle 11 is rotated manually, but it may also be rotated by electric power, or by moving the links 18 and 19, or by using the bell crank 29. The above-mentioned operation may be performed by the rotation of .

Now, the escalator explained in Figures 1 and 2
On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 4, a part of the first treadle 11 is divided into a car stopper treadle 40, and a part of the treadle main body 10 is divided. It is divided into car stopper treads 41, and among these, the car stopper treadle 40
is engaged with the first footboard 11 via the support pin 42 and brackets 44 and 45, while the car stop footboard 41 is engaged with the second footboard 12 through the support pin 43 and bracket 46. It is something.

As a result, as shown in FIG. It has almost the same external shape as a staircase, and can provide services for pedestrians in the same way as a regular escalator.

When servicing the wheelchair becomes necessary, the first tread 11 is unfolded and raised together with the second tread 12 as in the conventional example shown in FIG.
A wheelchair is placed on the wheelchair, and then the wheel stopper treads 40 and 41 are rotated as shown by arrows C and D in FIG. 8, and locked in this rotated state. For this reason, it goes without saying that a locking mechanism is provided for each of them. Therefore, in this state, these footboards 40 and 41 act as a wheel stop for the main shaft 3 and front wheels 4 of the wheelchair, and even if the wheelchair Even if the braking device was not activated, the wheelchair would still be held securely on the footboards 11,12.

When the service for the wheelchair is finished, the locks of the stopper treads 40, 41 are released, the wheelchair is taken out of the escalator, and the wheelchair is folded into the state shown in FIG. 3 to return to normal service.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a switch S is provided on the bracket 44 of the first footboard 11, and an operating piece 60 for operating the switch S is provided on the bracket 45 of one of the vehicle stopper footboards 40. The operating piece 60 is provided with a recess 60a for operating the switch S. With this configuration, when the car stopper footboard 40 is rotated in the direction of arrow C to be in the locked state, the actuating piece 60 also rotates together with the bracket 45, so that the switch S and the concave portion 60a of the actuating piece are When engaged, the switch S becomes activated.

That is, it is possible to detect by the switch S and the operating piece 60 whether or not the car stopper footboard 4o has rotated and entered the locked state.

The operating system is such that after the switch S detects that the car stopper footboard 40 has rotated and entered the locked state, the transport service for the wheelchair is performed. In the example of FIG. 5, the vehicle stopper footboard 40 is shown, but the same applies to the vehicle stopper footboard 41 having the same function.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, there is no possibility that the wheelchair will miss the steps during the wheelchair transportation service using the escalator, and sufficient safety can be ensured.

Note that in the above embodiments, the operation of the car stop footboards 40 and 41 was not particularly explained, but this can be done manually as well.
Alternatively, it may be performed by an actuator such as an electric motor.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a wheel stopper is provided on the footboard on which the wheelchair is to be mounted, a switch is provided to detect the operation of the wheel stopper, and the wheelchair transportation service is started after the switch is activated. Therefore, it is possible to easily provide an escalator for transporting a wheelchair that securely holds the wheelchair on the tread and always ensures a high level of safety.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of escalator steps to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIGS.
The figure is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of an escalator. FIGS. 7 to 9 are explanatory diagrams showing problems in conventional escalators. 10... Step, 40, 41... Step board for car stop, S.
··switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an escalator in which at least one of a plurality of steps connected in an endless manner is provided with a specific step for mounting a wheelchair, the escalator protrudes from both front and rear ends of the specific step for mounting a wheelchair only when a wheelchair is mounted. An escalator for a wheelchair, comprising a wheel stop and a switch for detecting protrusion of the wheel stop. 2. The escalator for a wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the switch detects that the car stop protrudes, and then the wheelchair transport operation is started.