US1023443A - Conveyer. - Google Patents

Description

c. D. SEEBBRGBR.

CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI'. '1. 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

C. D. SEEBERGER. l

GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. 1902.

Patented Apr@ 16, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

`C. D. SBEBBRGER.

GONVBYER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1902.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

V4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l mmh,

C. D. SEEBERGER.

GONVBYER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI'. 7. 1902.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

- nNrrE- srArns 'PATENT' oinuou.I

' CHARLES D. SEEBERGE, 'or'. NEW Yom. N. Y., Assis-NOR 'roo'rrs ELEvA'roR COMPANY, A CORPORATION or, NEW YORK.

OONVEYER.

Speciaton oi Letters Patent.

Patented Apnie, 1912.

Application filed June 7, 1992. serial No. 110,641.

Conveyers, vof which the following is al specification.

My present invention concerned with certain improvements in that form of a convyingapparatus known as moving stairways or'inolined footways, and-is designed primarily to produce a device of the class described in which the. horizontal .portions of the carrier constituting the landings shall run more slowly than the inclined portion constituting the inclined run, so that although the`apparatus is -run at a comparatively high rate of speed in order to convey passengers rapidly from one ioor to another, yet it will be easy to get on andof of the same at the landing.

Myiinventionf is further concerned with an auxiliary landing which may be applied to 4any lordinary type .of moving stairway, and which runs at a lower rate of speed than the footwa-y so that by stepping from the rapidly moving ,footway to the more slowly moving auxiliary'flanding, and thence to the stationary floor;,' 'or vice versa, -it possible to get off and On the foot-way safely although lit is running at a high rate-of speed. i

Another feature of my invention is a novel cable driving mechanism which I employ.-

1 -Still another feature of the invention is afnovel linkage system connecting the steps and for determining the dista-nce apart at which they shall operate on the different portions-of the track. l

- To illustrate my invention, I annex here-v to four sheets of drawings in which the same reference characters are used to designa-te identical parts inall the figures, of which- Figure 1 is Ia side elevation, somewhat diagrammatic in its nature, showing theV comple-te system, with some ofthe steps, and thextracks and -supporting structure omitted; Fig. 2 is a -plan view ofthe same; Fig.l 3.3isan :eleva-tion, partly lin section and also hat diagrammatic in its nature, show- J`the upper end on an eni-s al plan view of the chanism `shown in Fig. 3;'Fig. tol Fig. 3 but showing the lower end of the apparatus; Fig. 6 is a planv f view of the driving mechanism' shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the driving mechanism at the upper end of .the apparatus on the line 7-7 ofFigQ; Fig. 8 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale of one of the grip mechanisms attached to each s tep `for holding the driving cables, Wit-h the inclosing casing insect-ioni; Fig. 9 is a similar view in side elevation o f the mechn Aanism shown in Fig. 8; and Fig'. 1 0 is a detached view in side elevation of the linkage spacing the steps and the mechanism' employed for automatically shorteningjthe same when the stepsv are telescoped on the landings. v

Each step 201s composed of a plurality Y of ribs or brackets 21, rigidly secured upon the axles 24, which have the yokes 22 rigidly secured near the ends thereof, which in turn have the wheels journaled thereon, the front wheels 23 being in dierent vertical planes from t-he rear wheels 25, so that they can operate on the lower tracks 26 on the inclined portion whiile the rear wheels operate on the upper tracks 27 so that the tread surfaces shall be held horizontal, the general arrangement of the trucks and'tracks being the same as shownin my application No. 7 9,520, tiled October 22, 1901, now Patent No. 994,879 dated J une 13, 1911. The tracks 26' and 27 are on substantially the same horizontal levels at the landings and on different levels on the inclinedcarrying portion, the arrangement of the tracks ,in this respect corresponding to that of the aforesaid applicatlon.

The brackets or ribs 21 on the valternate ,steps are, asbest' seen in Fig. 2, staggered or differently spaced, so: thatl they 'can inteI-, mesh on the lower landing where they are- `driven by the cable 2'8`2 and on the upper landing where they are .driven4 by the cable rangement ofparts, it will be seen that the` i Vsteps move slowly on .the landings where the passengers get on and off, and move rapidly on the inclined portions where the passengers are standing stationary, so that there is less danger of the passengers being overthrown .by the momentum of the apparatus, while permitting it to operate at a high rate of speed between the floors.

The cables 28 and 30 are in a different vertical plane from the cable'29, and are preferably in the saine vertical plane, so that only two cable grip mechanisms 31 and 32 need be applied to each step to coperate withl all the cables used for propelling them, the grips 31 coperating with the cable 29 and the grips 32 coperating with the cables 28 and 30. The details of these grips (which are all alike except that the grips 3l are operated from one side and the grips 32 from the other) are shown in Figs. 8 and 9, where it will be seen that a vertical housing 33 is employed projecting downward from the bottom of the step preferably directly beneath the axle. The grip bar 34 is slidingly mounted in this housing,`

`and a strong helically coiled expanding spring 35 is placed in the housing above the grip bar so that it tends to force the angular jaw 36 constituting the lower end of thep grip bar down upon tne cable.

Y 'io force the cable into engagement with the jaw firmly enough to compel the step to move with the cable, the dog- 37 is pivoted to the side of the housing 33 as at 38 and has its lower end 37 a shaped so as to swing upward and force the cable into the jaw. A helically coiled expanding spring 39 is interposed between the upper end of the dog 37 and the housing 33 in position so as to automatically hold the dog' in engagmg position. At suitable' points where the cables are to be picked up and dropped, I locate the grip operating cam strips 40, which are supportedby brackets from the stationary shafts 42 and 66 upon which the cable sheavesl to be described rotate, andare so shaped'as to coperate with the upper end of the ldog 37 to swing it into' 'position at the time the cable 'is to be gripped or released, Aas will be readily apparent. There are eight of these cam strips 40, two being located both above and below the stationary shafts 42 and 66 referred-to where the inclined portion meets the two landings, it being understood `that Fig. 8`represents the entry-end of one of the strips before its cam surface comes into play.l Y i To gradually reduce the rate of speed when the steps pass from the cable 29` to the cable 30, and to assist in properly spacing the steps for theupper landing, I preferably employ a pair of sprocket wheels 41 loosely mounted upon the "horizontal 'shaft 42supported in suitable bearings 43 secured to they supporting structure 44, as clearly shown in Fig.y 7. These sprocket wheels are driven by the means to be described,

and the spurs 45 on their peripheries engage with the axles 24 of the steps at the time'the steps are released from the cable 29 and move them to the point where they grip the cable 30. The angular v velocity of the sprocket wheels 41 is such -that they carrythe steps at a speed intermediate of the speeds at which they are carried bythe cables 29 and 30, 4so that the steps will be properly spaced and the jar which would result fro-1n suddenly transferring the steps from the rapidly moving cable 29 to the more slowly moving cable 30 will be divided.r I may employ similar sprockets at the lower landing for like reasons.

To drive the cables 29 and 30 and the sprocket Wheels' 41, I employ a worm. 46

which may be fastened to the armature shaft of a motor or any other rapidlyrotat-- ing source of power. This worm 46 meshes with a worm gear47 secured upon the sl(1aft not shown) on the supporting structure 44. Secured upon the shaft 48 are the gear wheels 49 which mesh with the' gear wheels 50 rigidly secured to the sprocket wheels 41, Whichas before stated are loosely mounted on the shaft 42. Nearer the central portion of the shaft 48 and at one side thereof is'secured the gear wheel 51 which is preferably larger than the gear wheels 49, and y meshes withA a gear wheel 52 loosely mounted on the shaft 42 and necessarily somewhat smaller than the gear wheel 50. Rigidly secured to and rotating with the gear wheel 52 is thecable sheave 53 around which the cable29 passes'. This sheave is grooved on its outer periphery to accommodate the cable, and is cable sheaves to be described, with the notches 54 which are' spaced aparta pe-v rovided, as are the other r'ipheral distance equal to the dist-ance bei tween the axles of the steps when they are connected to the cable 29. These recesses are of coursel necessary to accommodate the cable grips 31 and 32. The gear wheels 50 and 52 are preferably separated by astationary collar 55 secured to the shaft 42 between them, and toward the other end of i the s haft 42 is a similarly shaped and located collar 56 which separates the gear vwheel 50 and the gear wheel 57 secured to the cable sheave 58 over which the cable 30 passes. 'A driving gear` wheel 59 secured .upon the shaft 48 meshes with the gear wheel 57, and aswill be seen from an examination of Fig. 4, the diameter of the : gear wheels 59 and 57 are respectively smaller and larger than those of the gear .wheels l49 and 50 and 51 and 52, so that it will be seen that the cablesheave 58 rotates at a certain angularl velocity, thesprocket wheels 41 at a still greater angular velocity, and finally the cablesheave 53 operates at the greatestl angular velocity so that the tween the landing and the incline will be secured. A stationary collar 60 is preferably interposed between the sheaves 53 and 58.

An idle-cable sheave 61 journaled upon a suitable shaft -62 preferably supported from one side to economize on space for a motor, carries the cable 30, but it will be'noted that the cable grip recesses 54a thereof are closer together as is necessary to accommodatethe steps whichare intermeshed in. passing around the vsheave.`

At the lower end of the incline is a shaft 63 which may be geared to the shaft 48, o-r drivenl in perfect synchronism theewith by the cable 29 operating between sheaves 53 and 67. This shaft 63 has secured thereon the gear wheel 64 which meshes ,witha smaller gear wheel 65 loosely mounted upon the bearing shaft 66, which is supported in any suitable `manner upon the supporting frame of themachine. This `gear wheel 65 has rigidly secured thereto the cable sheave 67, which together lwith the sheave 53 carries the cable 29; The cable grip recesses 54h of this sheave are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the steps on the cable 28. Rigidly secured upon-the shaft 63 is a Vgear wheel 68, smaller in diameter than the gear wheel 64 and which meshes with the gear wheel 69 loosely mounted upon the shaftA66 and larger in diameter than the gear wheel 65. The `cable sheave 7() is rigidly secured to .the gear y wheel 69, and it, together with the idle cable sheavez71v mounted upon the shaft 72 suitably journaled -in the supporting frame, carries the cable 28. Thefcable grip recesses .54 on the sheave 71 Iare suitably spaced apart to accommodate the grips at the speed the steps are traveling on the lower landing, and the cable grip recesses '54d on the sheave 7Q are similarly spaced apart, the spacing apart, of the recesses 54d and54l, and ',the relative rates offl rotation of thesheaves 70 and 67 being such that the recesses. are substantially in register to accommodate the cable grips during the time that they are being transferred from the` cable 28 to the cable 29 on the ascent, and

from thecable 29 to the cable 28 on t-he de scent. y

To hold the steps together. and to assist in properly spacing them in passing from the landings to the incline vand vice versa, I

lmay pivot on the extended outer ends of thev shafts 24 Vtheylinks 73, each p air of which is pivotally connected between the steps by the pins 74, upon each of which is mounted an anti-friction roller `75, which ccpcrates with guiding rails 76 located on the upper sides where the track passes from the incline to the horizontal and at the same \relative place'on the return track.. This guide rail 76,`.of which only one on gthefupper side isxshown, is suitably supported from 4the frame supports 44, and lhas the cam portion 77 projecting upward inthe position to be struck by the anti-friction rollers 75 as the steps in their extended position reach it. The rollers 75 contacting with. the cam surface 77 are forced -down so that thev links are carried from the extended position shown at the left hand of Fig. 10, which they occupy when the steps are on the incline, to the partially folded position shown 'at the right'hand of said figure which they occupy when the steps are -1 at the landing. This mechanism, as will be seen, assists in@ forcing the stepst-o in-L te-rmesh or telescope Ion the landings, and y the cam surface 77 can be so shaped as to coperate exactly with the spurs 45 on the sprocket wheels 41 in carrying the steps from the extended to the intermeshed position.

The final feature of my invention is the auxiliary landing 78, which consists of a heavy'belt mounted at the side of the land- .ing and running t'around the driving pul- 44, as best seen ,in Fig. 7. One of the rollers 82 is so located as to hold the belt in engagement with the large driving roller 79 through substantially three quarters of its circumference in order that a strong driving power may be transmitted to the crossed belt. A belt or rope 84 running around a small belt wheel 85 securedron the shaft 48 and around the rolle-r 79 serves to rotate the latter at the necessary rate of speed to drive. the belt in the same direction as but at a lineal velocity which is less than that of.-

the steps passing beside it, sovtha't the passenger steppingfrom the rapidly moving steps on vthe landing to the more slowlyy moving auxiliary landing andthence to the stationaryn 'floor leaves the conveyer without any possibility -of being jarred or upset by the movement thereof. A 'similar auxiliary landing may be mounted at the other side of the upper landing, andv may bel mounted at either or both sides of the lower` embodied in the form which I at present consider best adapted for illustrating its fpurposes, -it will beunderstood that it is a, pable of wide modifications, and thatI do not desire to `be limited in theinterpretation of the following claims except as may be necessitated by thest-ate of'the prior art. What I `claim as new, and desire to secure l by Letters Patent of the United States isable stairway, of a side landing, said landing consisting of a fixed frame work and a traveling belt, and means for moving the upper surface of the belt in the same direction as and at a speed different from the speed of the moving stairway. A

3. In a device of the class described, the^` combination'with ways, providing carrying runs, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, and means for driving said steps at different rates ofspeed on different portions of said 'carrying runs. 4. In a device of the class described, the combination with the ways consisting of the horizontal portions at different levels and the inclined portion connecting 4the* same, of a series of steps or supports mounted to vtravel on said ways, and means for driving said steps at a certain speed on the horizontal portions constituting the landings and at a greater speed on the inclined portion connecting the same.

5. In a device of,` the class described, the combination with ways, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways,

a plurality of cables driving said steps on different portions of the ways, 'and driving mechanism for operating said cables at different rates of speed.

6. In a device of the class described, the

combination with w'ayshaving the horizontal portions' on different levels and the in- 591%'elined"f'portion-` connecting the same, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, separate'lcables for driving said steps on-the landings and on the inclined portions, and driving mechanism for operating the cable on the inclined portion ata greater rate `of speed than the cables -onthe -horizontal portions.

7.'"In"'a` device of the class described, the combination with ways, of 'a series of recessed steps adapted to intermesh and mounted to travel on said ways, and means A for driving said steps at different rates of speed on different portions of said ways.

8'. In a device of the class described, the combination with the ways consisting of the horizontal portions at different levels same, of a series of recessed steps adapted to telescope and mounted to travel on said ways and forming landings on thehorizontal portions and stairs on the inclined por- 'and the inclined portion connecting the l tions of said ways, and means for driving -said steps slowly on the landings and telescoping them, and for driving them more rapidly on the incline and extending them. 9. In a device of the class described, the

combination withl the ways, of a series of combination with the ways consisting of the horizontal portions on different levels and the inclined portions connecting the same, of a series of telescopingfsteps adapted to telescope and` mounted to travel on said ways, separate cables for driving said -steps on the horizontal'and on the inclined Viportions', and driving mechanism for oper- .ating the cables on the horizontal portions or a slower rate of speed than the cable on the 'inclined'portion 11. In a device ofthe class described, the combination with the ways, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, means for driving said steps at different rates ,of speed on different ortions of said ways, and link connections or spacing said steps apart the proper distance when they are traveling at different rates of speed.

12.- In a device of the class described, the combination with ways, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, means for driving said steps at different rates of speed on different portions of said ways, links connect-ing said steps for spacing them apart the proper distance when they are traveling at different rates ofspeed, and mechanism coperating with said links to force the steps together as they pass from a faster to a slower rate of movement. l

13.V In' a devicev of the"class described, the combination Withthe ways, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said v l or supports mounted to travel on said ways,4

a plurality of cables for driving said steps on different portions of the ways, and driving mechanism for operating said cables at different rates of speed consisting of driving sheaves concentrically mounted and driven at different rates of speed.

15. I n a device of the class described, the combination with ways, of a series'of steps or supports mounted to travel on said Ways, a plurality of cables for driving said steps on different portions of the ways, driving cable sheaves for two adjacent cables concentrically mounted, different sized gear wheels secured to said sheaves, and a driving shaft having gear wheels of diiferent diameters secured thereon and meshing with the gear wheels on the cable sheaves.

4 16. In a device of the class described, the,

combination with Ways, .of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, a plurality of cables for driving said ,steps on different portions of the Ways at different rates of speed, Vcable grips on said steps, the driving cable sheaves concentrically mounted and havingthe cable grip recesses in their peripheries, and means for rotating said sheaves at different rates of speed.

17. In a device of the class described, the

'combination with the ways having the hori- 'zontal portions on different levels and the inclined portions connect-ingthe same, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, a plurality-of cables for driving said steps faster konthe inclined portion than on the horizontal port-ions, and intermediate mechanism for carrying the steps kfil'om the inclined cable to the horizontal cae.

18.. In a device of the class described, the combination with the ways having the horizontal portions on diii'erent levels and the inclined portions connecting the same, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, a plurality of cables for driving said steps faster on the inclined portion than on the horizontal portions, intermedi- ,ate mechanism for carrying' the steps from the inclined cable to the horizontal cable, andmeans for driving'said cables at'diifer ent rates of speed and the intermediate mechanism at a rate of speed between that of the two cables.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with the ways consistingof the horizontal portions on 4different levels .and thefinclined portions connecting the same, of'a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, .a plurality of cables for 1 v[driving said steps on different portions of the ways, intermediate driving mechanism for carrying the steps from the inclined cable to the horizontal cable consist-ing of a sprocket wheel coperating with the steps, and means for drivlng said cables consistin of the cable sheaves concentrically mounted with .each other and with the sprocket wheels. 20. In a device ofthe class described, the combination with the Ways consisting of the inclined portion and the horizontal portion,

of a seriesof steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, two cables for driving said steps at different speeds on the horizontal portion `and the inclined portion, a shaft mounted adjacent the angle between the inclined and horizontal portions, a sprocket wheel 'having a gear ,wheel secured thereto.

mounted to rotate 0n said shaft, two driving cable sheaves each having a gear wheel secured thereto and mounted to rotate on said shaft, and a parallel driving shaft having the three gear Wheels secured thereon of different diameters and meshing with the three gear wheels secured to the two driving cabie sheaves and the sprocket wheel; all combined and cooperatingsubstantially as and 90 for the purpose described.

21. In a device of the class described, the

'combination with the ways, of the steps adapted to-coperate with said cable.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination with the ways, of the steps mounted to travel thereon, links connecting said steps, a cable traveling adjacent said ways, and grips on said steps adapted to cooperate with said cable.

23. In a device of the'class described, the combination lwith the ways, of the steps mounted to travel thereon,links connecting said .stepsv for spacing them apart and adapted to be moved to kink the chain on the end lportion of the Ways, and means to drive-the steps.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination With the ways, of the steps mounted to travel thereon, links connect-ing saidsteps for Spacing them apart, mea-ns for driving said steps, and means for moving said links at the end portions of the ways to kink the chain formed thereby and bring the steps to ether.

25. In a evice of the class described, the combination with the ways, of the steps mounted to travel thereon, a plurality of links connecting each adjacent. pair of said vsteps land forming a chain for spacing them apart, a projection on one of the links bctween each pair of steps, and a cam track adapted to coperate with said projection'to kink the chain formed by the links and. bring the steps together.

1 26. In a device of the class described, the

Vcombination with the ways having the inspeeds and forming a landing on the horizontal portion,means forV driving saidvsteps, an auxiliary landing at the 'Side of the landing formed by the steps, and means for driving said auxiliary landing at different speed from that of the steps.

27. In a deviceof the class described, the combination with the ways having the inclined and horizontal portions, of the steps mounted to travel thereon at differenton thehorl-l speeds and forming a landing zontal portion, means for d rivmgl said steps, an auxiliary landing at the side of the landing formed by the steps and consisting of an endless belt, .and means for driving the belt lat a, rate' of speed slower than that of the ste s.

2138. In a device of the class described, the combination with ways having inclined and horizontal portions, of steps mounted to travel thereon and forming a landing'on the horizontalportion, means'for driving said steps, an auxiliary landing adjacent the landing formedby the steps and consisting of the belt wheels, supporting wheels between said. belt wheels, a belt traveling over said wheels and supported thereby, and means for rotating one of the belt wheels to drive the belt at diierent speed from the movement of the steps.

29. In a conveyer, the combination with ways providing carrying runs, of a series of -same direction as the footway.

31. In a device of the class described,`the combination with the ways, of a series of -steps orrsupportsf mounted to travel onY-fsaid ways, a plurality of cables driving -said steps on different ortions of the ways,

s means for automatlcally transferring the step from one cable totheiother, and means for driving said cables.

32. In a device of the c lass described, the

combination withways, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel in .said Ways, 'a plurality of cables driving sald steps on di'erent portions of the ways, driving mechanism for operating said cables at different rates of speed, and means forau'tomatically transferring a step from one cable to another.

33. 'In a device of the class described, the

step

combinationwith Ways, of a series of' steps or supports .mounted to travel on said ways, a plurality of cables driving said steps on different port-ions of the ways, driving means to operate the cables at different speeds, a grip for each cable on each step, and means for automatically releasing the grip from one cable and simultaneously clutching another cable with another grip.

34e. .In a device of the class described, th combination with ways, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on'said ways, a plurality of cables driving said steps on different portions of the ways, said cables having concentric sheaves at their overlapping ends, a gri'pfor each cable oneach step, and means for automatically releasing thegripfrom one cable and simultaneously clutching another cable with another grip. '35. In a device of the class'described, the combination with ways, of a series of -steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, a plurality of cables driving said steps on different portions of the"ways, said cables I having concentric sheaves at their,l overlapping ends, a grip for each cable on each having a movable dog, and means for automatically releasing thegrip from one cable and simultaneously clutching another cable with another grip' consisting of cam tracks adapted to coperate with the movable dogs of the grips to release them or permit tthem to act, .as the case may be.

' 36. In a device of the .class described, the combination with ways, of a series of steps or supports mounted to travel on said ways, a pluralityof cables driving said steps on different portions of the ways, and having concentric sheaves at their overlapping ends'A withcable grip recesses in the peripheries thereof, a grip for each cable on each step,A 'and means for automatically releasing the grip from one cable and simultaneously attaching another grip to the other cable, said cable grip recesses being so spaced apart as to register at the point oftransfer as thel sheaves are driven at their relative rates of speed.

'37. In a device 'of the class described, the

Acombination with-the waysgof theasteps sup ported on said ways formingl carrying runs, and adapted to'travel thereon at diierent predetermined speeds on the various portions `of the carrying' runs, and means for driving said steps. l

k 38. In a device ofthe class described, the

combination with the. ways, of the steps mounted to travel thereon,.and a cable drive for` operating said steps on said ways.

39. Ina device of the class described, the combination with the-ways, of the telescoping steps lmounted to travel thereon, and means for'- driving said steps.

'40. In -a device of the classdescribed, a.

way providing an inclined run between difltions formed on the tread horizontal and inclined portions, o

ferent levels, a series of, movable steps form; 'ing an inclined footway, means to move the steps on the run, the riser of each step provided with slots adapted to receive' projecof an adjacent step at the levels.

41. In a devweof the class described, a

way'providing an inclined run between different levels, a series of connected steps forming an inclined footway, means to move the steps on the run, each step having its tread portion composed of ribs and-having vertical grooves in its riser adapted to re-v ceive the ends of the ribs of an adjacent st'ep at the levels.

' 42. In a device of the class described, the combination with the ways, of the separate steps, a cable moving along the line of said ways, and a cable grip on each step.

43. In a device of the class described, the' the the steps mounted to travel thereon, a pair of chains composed of links connecting said steps at each end, and. means for automatically shortening both ofsaid chains on part of the ways to bring the steps closer together while maintaining the same angle to each other.

44. In a device of the class described, 'the combination with the ways, includin the horizontal and inclined portions, o lthe combination with the ways, includin steps mounted to travel thereon, a plurality of cables to which said steps are individually adapted to be attached, means for driving said cables at di'erent rates of speed,a chain connecting said steps, and

means for. automatically shortening said chain asthe steps pass from a faster to a slower cable, and vice versa;

, 45. In a device of the class described, the combination with the ways, including the horizontal and inclined portions, of the steps mounted to travel thereon, a chain composed of links connecting said steps, contacting membersv such as antifri'ction rollers upon 'alternate links of said chain,

and a cam for engaging said contacting members for' automatically .shortening said chain on part of the ways. to bring the steps closer together.

46. In a conveyer, framework, tracks thereon, having inclined and horizontal sections, a continuous foot the combination of a' i

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