US1130555A - Moving stairway. - Google Patents

Description

G. A. WHEELER, DEG D.

H. M. WHEELER, ADMINISTRATOR.

MOVING STAIRWAY. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 16, 1309].

1,130,555, Patented Mar.2, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1. i2 1 G. A. WHEELER, DECD. n. M. WHEELER, ADMINISTRATOR. MOVING STAIRWAY.

APPLICATION FILED $1017.16, 1909.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

e. A, WHEELER, DEGD.

H. M. WHEBLEB,- ADMINISTRATOR.

MOVING STAIRWAYf APPLICATION FILE-D NOV. 16, 1909.

Patented Mar. 2

G. A. WHEELER, DEGD.

H. m. WHEELER, ADMINISTRATOR.

MOVING STAIRWAY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1909.

Patented Mar. 2,

4 sEEETS-EHEET 4 6 e c 1 a a Q C a e 1 lzlll IIILI a e o o A a a 5. Q 1 6\u\\\\ n 4 a o. a 1 o x e 9 .0

I o wHUP o w 1 0 1 GEORGE A. WHEELER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.;

GEORGE A. WHEELER, DECEASED.

H. M. WHEELER ADMINISTRATOR on MOVING STAIRWAY.

Application filed November 16, 1909. Serial No. 528,426.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the 'cityand State of New Yprk, have invented new and useful Improvements in Moving Stairways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in mechanism of the particular class described and claimed in my U. S. Patent No. 888,949, May 26th, 1908, one object of the present invention being to simplify the construction and reduce the space occupied by such mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to improve the device as to safety.

A further object is'to provide a simple drive for the device and one that will economize power and utilize the weight of the iiesgending load in raising the ascending These and other advantageous ends I secure by the constructions hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which V Figure 1 is a plan, to some extent diagrammatic, of a moving stairway constructed in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic vertical section on line 22 of the stairway illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic vertical section on line 3-3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an isometric view of one of the carriages or steps; Fig. 5 is a similar fragmentary view in detail of the upper portion of a carriage or step; Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the upper parts of two of the carriages and illustrates different relative positions; Fig. 7 is a detailed side view and Fig. 8 a detailed plan, partly in horizontal section, of the stairway illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Figs. 9, 10 and 11 comprise a transverse section, side elevation and horizontal sectional plan, respectively, of my improved stairway and illustrate more particularly the driving mechanism; Fig. 12 is a detailed "iew of'three of the steps or carriages in operative position on the inclined guides; Figs. 13 and 14 are views similar to Figs. 7 and 8 but illustratea modified form of my device; Figs. 15 and 16 are views similar to Figs. 9 and 11, and

- illustrate a modified form of driving mecha- Specification of Letters Patent.

nism; Fig. 17 is an isometric fragmentary detail of a modification fully explained hereinafter.

Referring first to Figs. 4, 5 6, 7 and 8 of the above drawings, which show-one embodiment, preferred for the purposes; of illustration, my improved stairway consists of a series of carriages or steps A, each mounted upon a pair of wheels a journa'led alternately upon two sets of axles a and a which are preferably arched in form and broadened at the middle into a substantially rectangular plate, in each of the fourcorners of which are holes a with an additional hole a at the center where the plate is preferably thickened to .form an annular flange around the hole a. The axles a and a differ only in length, the axles a being enough longer than the axles a so that the wheels on the former do not track'with the wheels on the latter; otherwise all the steps or carriages A are alike; Extending upward through the holes a are four similar rods at? which also pass through four similar holes in each of the bearing blocks a, a, a", a and a that are superimposed, one above another, upon the axles a and a the support of a framework to .which the tread and two similar risers of each carriage or step are attached. Thelower bearing block a contains a half socket, and the bearing block a contains a half socket on both its upper and under sides, the half socket on its under side registering with the half socket in block a and forming a hearing a for a ball. In like manner the block a, has a half socket on both its upper and under sides, the half'socket on its under side forming, with the half socket on the upper side of a'. before mentioned, another bearing a for a ball. In the same manner a third and-a fourth bearing a is formed by half Patented Mar. 2,

and thus form a rigid built-up standard for sockets in the bearing blocks a and a, the

a right angle with the axles 0: and a while the opposite vertical side a is at a difierent angle with the axles, being splayed out wardly; the upper side a and the lower side a ofi the openings a" are also splayed outwardly. These four sides of the openings a each forms a stop for a purpose mentioned hereinafter. built-up standard, above described, is a framework, preferably of cast metal, consisting of four similar hubs a" connected by webs a and carrying projecting plates a. Through holes at in the centers of the hubs a" pass the rods a thereby securing the framework rigidly to the standard. Each carriage or step A, moreover, comprises a tread having a riser along each of its opposite longitudinal edges, and may be built up, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, of two similar but oppositely placed sheet metal stampings bent to form the longitudinal edges a of the tread and the risers a. The risersd are formed with a longitudinal ridge, about their middle height, for

the purpose of stiffening the depending plates which are thus shaped into two planes, meeting to constitute an angle, made exterior so as to provide clearance for the forming tools. The risers a preferably terminateat either end in bufiers a which may be formed of metal pieces suitably fastened on, The stampings, where they constitute the edges of the tread, are preferably grooved. or roughened'to prevent slipping.

For the purpose of securing the stampmgs rigidly to the framework .above described, the side of the stamping opposite the riser is bent down parallel with the upper plane of the riser and then substantially at right Resting upon the.

from the metal sheet or else angles-thereto, forming a flange a which is Y punched or drilled with holes, two in each stamping, through which the rods a pass and is clamped down tightly by the locking nuts a. The projecting plates a, are of such shape as to fit closely against the rear sides of the stampings which may be secured to them by. tap screws orthe plates 055 means.

a may be flanged and bolted to the stampings.

Between the two stampings, above mentioned, the tread of the carriages or steps A may be formed of apiece of-wood a? with the end edges protected by metal strips a screwed on. The wooden piece a may be secured in place by screws entering wooden strips (1. located underneath and screwed or bolted to the flanges through holes made in both. 7 V 7 On the under side of the axles a and a of the carriages,,in the opening of the'arch, isjcurnsile'd a. roller a upon a shouldered pin a inserted in the hole or bore a and secured in" place by a cotter pin 0. or other The roller a is so mounted that its tread is in a horizontal line with the axles of the supporting wheels 0; of the carriages A.

he several carriages or steps A. are connected into an endless jointed structure by means of links B and the sockets or bearings a, each link B terminating at either end in a ball b,"which passes through an opening a and is journaled in one of the sockets a, as is clearly shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 12. There are two of these links between each pair of carriages or steps, making four links Whose terminals are journaled in the four sockets a of each built-up standard, the bottom and third sockets receiving the balls of the pair of links connecting one adjacent standard, and the second and fourth sockets receiving the balls of the pair of links connecting the other adjacent standard. Thus each pair of links is attached in parallelism,

'ing portions upon which the carriages or steps form flights X, and preferably hori-' zontal portions at top and bottom on which the carriages form landings Y, and looped portions Z connecting the horizontal portions into an endless way, the track or guideway on the looped portions being arranged in an improved manner and one that permits of turning, without interference, rigid carriages in a space small in all dimensions. As it is not necessary or desirable to use the carriages when on the loops Z, this portion of the. stairway is covered over by a stationary platform D. The remaining or exposed portions of the stairway are designated as carrying runs.

While for the purposes of illustration, l[ have shown but one general arrangement of flights, landings and loops, it is to be understood and will be obvious to those shlled in the art, that the varioustypes of Stairways shown in the patent mentioned in the second paragraph of this specification, as well as to engage with the wheels 11 of the long I and short axles, a and a respectively, of

the two series of carriages. 0n the flights X of the stairway, the treads of the rails a and c are in a single plane of such inclination that the carriages are retained with the bottoms of the buffers a in contact, and with the side edges of the links B in contact with the sides a' of the openings (Z12 in the bearing blocks; and with the upper sides a of the openings (1 of the carriages having the long axles a and the lower sides (1 of the openings a" of the carriages having the short axles a in contact with the upper and lower edges respectively of the adjacent links B, thus locking the individual carriages in alinement both laterally and vertically, as is clearly shown in Fig. 12. Similarly on the landings Y, the carriages are locked against lateral displacement by the contact of the juxtaposed tops of the buffers (1 and of the stops a with the links B;

' being inclined downwardly, before the loop is reached, by sections of' rail 0 sufliciently long and enough steeper than on the flights to cause the carriages with the axles a to take relative positions in which they are below and, clear. of the carriages having the axles a whose rails 0 continue around the loops Z preferably in the same horizontal plane as on the landings Y. Thus the carriages with the axles a are free to swing over, and the carriages with the axles a vunder, each other respectively; and the sides a of the openings a" in the bearing blocks are at such an angle as to contact with the side edges of the links B and retain the carriages in radial positions on the curved rails of the loops Z, which, measured on the chain line, are preferably of such radius, relative to the distance from centerto center ofthe ball socketsa when the carriages are lapped, that the carriages are in radial position when they enter or leave the loops Z, as well as when they are traveling thereon; and the upper sides a and the lower sides a of the openings at of the carriages having the short and long axles respectively, that are out of contact with the. B on the flights, Fig. 12, are splayed at such an angle as to be in contact with the links on the loops Z, thereby cooperating with the stops that are in contact on the carrying runs, and with the radial stops a, to lock the treads of the carriages in gid hori n al andv lateral se through the two separated endless. lines of parallel links B which lie in the same Vertical planes and whose bearings are centered vertically over each other in every position of the carriages. The rollers a to which the drive is applied, as hereinafter described, are mounted on a line with the axles or axes of the carriages and thus the driving mechanism has no tendency to tilt the treads of the carriages from the horizontal.

In order to supplement gravity in holding the wheels at of the long and short axles a and a to their respective rails 0 and a, guard rails 0 and c are located above the rails 0 and 0 respectively, and are extended, on both sides, around the loops Z.

After the carriages have traversed a loop Z, it. is necessary that the carriages with the short axles a be raised to the level that they were on before entering the loop, 2'. 0., the

. level of the landing Y of which they form a part. Hence the rails 6, beyond the loop, are inclined upwardly by short sections of rail 0?, corresponding with the sections 0 until their level coincides with that of the rails c.

As will be seen by reference to Figs. 7 and 8, the junctures between the inclined and horizontal rails, both at the beginning is angular which shape tends to cause a variation in the tension of. the belt of carriages, due-to changes in position of the links in relation to the rails at these points, 6.. 9., when two adjacent pairs of links are parallel with the rails 0 and 0 respectively, as in Fig.7, the links nearly coincide 1n length with the rails, but when a pair of links is across an angular juncture, the coincidence in length is destroyed. and the tension 'afl'ected. By proportioning -or adjusting, the lengths of the rails intermediate of these junctures, I may so locate them that these two described positions will alternate at each or any two adjacent pairs of junctures, thereby insuring a practically uniform tension in the belt of carriages.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 6, which illustrates three relative positions of adjacent carriages or steps, the risers a are nowhere in contactand the space formed between the carriages on the landings, while not enough to admit the tip of a crutch or "cane used for support, is yet wide enough to allow of skirts lifting out in case their edges should fall therein, and thereby preventing them from being caught, as occasionallyhappens when the path of contiguous edges of the steps or carriages is such belt ofcarriages, I provide the screw gear as to fit the risers closelyin changing'from 95 and ending of the landings and of the loops,

so-mounted as to engage with the rollers a on the carriages A. T preferably drive both the ascending and the descending runs of the stairway, providing the screw gear E, Figs. 9, 10 and 11, on the ascending side and the corresponding screw gear E on the descending side. The shafts for the gears E and E are carried in suitable bearings e and 6 respectively and are provided with bevel gears e and e meshing with the bevel pinions e and 6 respectively on a shaft 6" which is carried in suitable bearings e and reaches across from one landing or flight of one run to the landing or flight of the other run. The two bevel pinions e and e are so mounted, of course, as to drive the gears with which they mesh, and consequently the gears E and E in opposite directions.

The screw gears E and E are preferably similar and of such length and pitch as to retain the rollers a? of at least two adjacent carriages on both runs in engagement at all times; and the screw gears are so located as to take the strain of the descending load off the portion of the belt on the loop Z and transmit it, through the shaft e, to the ascending run where it is utilized in the gear E' to assist in raising the ascending load. I may provide similar gearing for the bottom of the stairway. This arrangement of drives leaves the carriages on the loops free to vary their speed to suit the varying positions of the carriages thereon. Where conditions require, I may provide additional drives intermediate' of the ends of the stairway.

In Figs. 13 and 14:, T have shown a modification of the loop construction. In this form, instead of the rails 0 being depressed, the rails c are elevated a corresponding distance, while the level of the rails 0 remains unchanged, thereby causing the carriages with the long axles a to rise in order to permit of the previously described overlapping and underlapping, the platform D being elevated a corresponding distance. These figures also illustrate another modification of the loop, which is applicable to both forms, namely the employment of an are or turn other than 180, in thiscase 90, which may be utilized, either to locate one of the runs at an angle with the other, in this case at a right angle, or to introduce a straight-section into the loop which, after being continued the distance that the situation requires, may terminate in another arc or turn, bringing the other run at any desired angle with or distance from the first run.

Tn'each form, in order to safeguard passengers, T preferably employ a device located at the points'where the carriages pass under the fixed platforms, indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7-, 9 and 13, and described by me in a former patent (No. 47 9,8641, Aug. 2, 1892).

It is also to be understood that my improved stairway would be flanked, preferably on both sides, by the usual moving handrails which or the casings therefor, are indicated in various figures.

The left hand carriage or stepin Fig. 12 illustrates a method that ll preferably employ for automatically lubricating the sock ets which form bearings for the balls of the links. A. reservoir H for lubricant is located underneath the tread of the carriage, above the center of the sockets a, with a pipe 71. leading to a .duct h? in the upper bearing block and additional ducts h? connecting the other sockets.

Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate a modification of the drive. The common driving shaft 7, in-

versing the motion without the use of bevel In Fig. 17 T have shown the blocks containing the ball sockets for the links constructed of pressed metal such as sheet metal stampings, which have sockets m with openingsm pressed into the metal, and the stampings are secured in place on the rods a by having holes punched or drilled in them and being blocked up with the sepa- Y rators m While I have shown and described a suit able method, or methods of constructing and arranging my improved stairway, ll do not limit myself to the specific constructions or arrangements shown or described, since the scope of my invention embraces numerous modifications of which the described constructions or arrangements are typical.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of substantially straight ascending and descending runs connected by curvedruns, carriages arranged to travel on said runs, the'curved portions of the runs being so shaped that alternate carriages will obliquely overlap and underlap respectively in passing around the curve, substantially as described.

a single vertical plane, and being so laid out that alternate carriages will underlap the others in passing around the curves, substantially as described.

- 3. The combination, in a device of the 134? as described.

classdescribed, of substantially straight guides and curved lateral guides, carriages arranged to travel on said guides, the guides being so arranged that each alternate carriage only will move to a position on a different level from that of the succeeding one before turning, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, a plurality of carriages mounted upon anti,- friction'deviccs and comprising more than one series intermingled in a regular order, the supporting devices of each series being attached in such relative planes as not to track with those of another series, guides for the supporting devices of each series and consisting of substantially straight horizontal and inclined portions and laterally curved portions connecting the substantially straight portions into an endless way, the

guides on the curved portions being so arranged as to cause the series of carriages to overlap and underlap'each other respectively in passing around. the curves, substantially 5. In a device of the class described, a plurality of carriages, each mounted upon a single pair ofwheels, and comprising two series intermingled in a regular order, the

wheels of one series being attached in such vertical planes as not to track with the wheels of the other series, tracks for the wheels of each series, said tracks consisting of substantially straight horizontal and inclined portions and laterally curved portions, connecting the substantially straight portions into-an endless way, the-tracks on l the curved portions being in such relative horizontal planes as .to cause the two series of carriages to overlap and underlap each other respectively in passing around the curves, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, a guideway consisting of substantially straight horizontal and inclined portions and laterally curved portions connecting the substantially straight portions into an endless way, two rails on each side of said substantially straight portions disposed in the same horizontal and inclined planes respectively, and continuing railson the laterally curved portions disposed in different horizontal planes, with carriages arranged to'travelon said rails, substantially as described.

7. In a device of. the class described, comprising a guidewa'y consisting of substantially straight portions and curved portions,

intermingled series of carriages said series hdifiering from each other in the length of their axles with wheels journaled on the axles, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the class described, a

series of carriages each comprising an axle supporting a standard which in turn supports a framework and attached thereto a tread portion formed of two oppositely placed metal stampings with risers integral therewith, and a filling in member between said stampingscompleting the tread portion, substantially as described."

standard, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the class described, a series of carriages connected by links having balls journaled in sockets on the carriages,

said sockets being formed of metal stamp ings, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the class described, a series of carriages having rlsers composed of two planes meeting to form an exterior angle, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

13. In a device ofthe class described, com prising horizontal and inclined carrying runs, a series of carriages adapted to-form steps on the inclined run and a practically unbroken platform on the horizontal run,

each carriage havinga riser consisting of two planes meeting to form an exterior angle, said risers terminating at either end in bufi'ers, substantially as described.

14. In a device of the class described, comprising horizontal and inclined carrying runs, a series of carriages adapted to form steps on the inclined run and a platform on the horizontal run, said carriages having risers terminating at either end in bufl'ers, the said risers being arranged to be everywhere out of contact with each other and said bufiers being arranged to abut against each other, on both of said runs, substantially as described.

15. In a device of the classdescribed, the combination with a guideway comprising substantially straight inclined and horizontal portions and laterally curved portions, of a series of carriages adapted to travel thereon and to form steps on the inclined portions, practically unbroken platforms on the horizontal portions and to alternately loop prising straight inclined and laterally curved runs, link connected carriages arranged to travel on said runs, said carnages rality of socket bearings, with a reservoir for lubricant located above said sockets and 1 arduct leading therefrom tothe socketbearings, substantially as described.

.18. In a device of the class described, the combination with a connected series of carriages and a guideway, therefor, of a screw driving {rear mounted to-engage with said carriages, said screw gear being of a suitable length d having its pitch adapted to theflength'of the connection between said carriagesfwhereby a' plurality of carriages a amant" are in engagement with said gear at m times, substantially as described.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with a series of carriages and a. guideway therefor, comprising substantially straight carrying runs and laterally curved connecting runs, of means for changing the relative positions of the carriages at the beginning of the connecting runs, so that they will turn clear of each other while passing said connecting" runs, and for restoring the alinement of the-carriages after the connecting runs are passed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, 'I have signed my name'to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I GEQRGE A. WHEELER.

Witnesses: I

Dnms V. Snronr, FRA K VAN DER LINN

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