US2058379A

US2058379A - Moving stairway handrail guide

Info

Publication number: US2058379A
Application number: US60364A
Authority: US
Inventors: Handy Arthur Edward; Margles Samuel Gustave
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Current assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Priority date: 1936-01-23
Filing date: 1936-01-23
Publication date: 1936-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1953-10-20

Description

A. E. HANDY ET AL 2,058,379

MOVING STAIRWAY HANDRAIL GUIDE Filed Jan. 23, 1936 A H}INVENTOR5 BY rmur a ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 20, 1936 PATENT OFFICE MOVING STAIBWAY HANDRAIL GUIDE Arthur Edward Handy, Lynbrook, and Samuel Gustave Margles, BrooklymN. Y., assignors to Otis Elevator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 23, 1936, Serial No. 60,364

6 Claims.

This invention relates to centering devices for the handrails of moving stairways. In a moving stairway installation, the handrails are loosely guided along their upper and lower runs. Thus considerable lateral motion of the handrails is permitted.

A balustrade construction in which the balustrade extends into :the handrail not only along the upper run but also around the newel wheel to the point where the handrail disappears into the stairway, involves using a narrow newel wheel. It is the object of this invention to provide an arrangement at the newel wheel that will position the handrail upon the newel wheel in central alignment with the balustrading which extends into the handrail at the newel wheel, thus preventing rubbing of the handrail against the sides of the balustrading at the newel wheel, and which also prevents the handrail being forced from the newel wheel.

. In carrying out the invention, an aligning or centering block is positioned inside the handrail adjacent the newel wheel on at. least one of the runs and preferably on both the upper run and the lower run. The blocks are close fitting with.

respect to the-inner contour of the handrail and supplement the usual guides in leading the handrail onto and from the newel wheel. The block for the upper run of the handrail-is preferably forked and cooperates with the handrail on each side of the newel wheel up to the tangent point of the handrail and the newel wheel. The blocks are positioned to center the handrail with respect to the balustrade which extends into the hand- 35 rail at the newel wheel and act to prevent any appreciable lateral motion of the handrail upon the newel wheel so that wear of the handrail and balustrade is obviated. Furthermore, this construction prevents the throwing ad of the hand- 40 rail.

The features'and advantages of the invention will become apparent from thespecification and appended claims.

In the drawing: 45 Figure 1 is a viewinsideelevation of a portion of a moving stairwayembodying the handrail centering; and maintaining means of the present invention; A

Figure 2 isa section taken along the line 2-2 ofFigurel;

T Figure 3 is asection-taken along the line 3-3 ofFigure Figure 4. is a section taken along the line 4-4 55 ofFigure3;v i v (Cl. 198-I6) rail omitted. 5

Referring to Figure 1, the balustrade H of the moving stairway I2 is equipped with a movable handrail M. The upper run of the handrail is supported and guided along the top ofv the balustrade by means of a longitudinally extending 10 guide IS. A newel wheel l6, carries the handrail around the end of the stairway through a handrail opening 11 in the balustrade. The newel wheel is rotatably mountedon a newel stand l8 positioned inside the balustrade. A longitudi- 15 nally extending guide 20 supports and guides the return run of the handrail.

Referring also to Figure 2, the balustrade H comprisesa handrail support 2| preferably of extruded metal having smooth surfaces. The vertical spaced sides 22 of support 2| are integral with a horizontal rib 23 which joins the sides below the top edges thereof. Guide I5 is mounted upon thetop edges of the sides 22. The handrail is illustrated as C-shaped in cross-section and fits over the guide. The in-turned edges 24 of the handrail overlap the sides 22 of the handrail support. A clearance is provided between each edge 24 of the handrail and its respective side 22. Re-

ferring also to Figures 3 and 4, each side 22 is continuous in the same longitudinal and vertical plane between the edges of the handrail. The sides 22 extend arcuately around the end of the balustrade and terminate at the handrail opening H. A portion of the circumference of the newel wheel projects throughthe rib 23 of the balus-' 'trade and is positioned centrally between the sides 22. An equal clearance is provided between each side 22 and. the newel wheel. A clearance is also provided between the end of rib 23 and the 40 periphery of the newel wheel. The straight and smooth balustrade construction as described above eliminates any finger pinching hazard between the handrail and the balustrade.

The upper and lower runs of the handrail are guided by the guides l5 and 20 respectively, and to reduce friction ample running clearance is provided between the handrail and the guides. Guide 15 is secured to the top edges of handrail support 2| as by, a bolt 25 and a nut 26. The square head of the bolt projects into av longitudinally extending T-shaped slot 21 formed in the guide and the body of the bolt passes through an aperture provided in rib 23. The end ofguide v20 is afllxed by a ibolt 28 in a similar manner to iron is secured to the newel stand and has a .block 34.

angle iron 30 by means of bolts 43 so that the portion of its horizontal leg cut away to accommodate the periphery of the newel wheel. As the guides I5 and 20 are of identical crosssection, only the guide I5 and its operation will be described.

The guide comprises a pair of top flanges 32 for engaging the under side of the intermediate portion of the handrail and a pair of laterally extending flanges 33 for laterally guiding the handrail. Considerable clearance is provided between the laterally extending flanges 33 and their respective cooperating portions of the handrail, which permits a certain amount of lateral and vertical movement of the handrail on the guide. The flanges 33 of the guide also prevent the edges 24 of the handrail fromrubbing against the sides 22 of the balustrade adjacent the guide. I

Referring also to Figures 5 and 6, an upper centering block 34 and a lower centering block 35 are provided for the upper and lower runs of the handrail respectively. The blocks are positioned inside the handrail near the points where it runs on and off the newel wheel and act to maintain the handrail upon'the newel wheel in central alignment with the sides 22 of the balus-' trade, adjacent the newel wheel. Block 34 is mounted on the top edges of the sides 22, adjacent the transition of the handrail from guide l5 to the newel wheel. angle iron 30, adjacent the transition of the handrail from guide 20 to the newel wheel.

According to the preferred construction, upper centering block 34 is formed of hardened steel and comprises a short solid portion 36 and a forked end 31. The forked end of the block spans the rim of the newel wheel and extends within the handrail to the point where the handrail contacts the periphery of the'newel wheel. The solid portion 36 of the block is of a size and contour to substantially occupy the-space within the inner C-shaped walls of the handrail, as illustrated in Figure5. A slight clearance, say one-sixty-fourth inch, is provided between each curved laterally extended side 38 of the block and its respective cooperating portionof the handrail. The sides of the block are flatly beveled at 39. A slight clearance, say one-thirty-second inch, is also'provided between the fiat top surface of the block and the under side of the intermediate portion of the handrail. The contour of the forked end 31 conforms to the contour of the adjacent solid portion 36 of the block. The corners of the portion 36 and of the forked end are chamfered as at 40. All the remaining sharp edges of the block are rounded off. The under side of the block is provided with a pair of iongitudinally extending grooves 4|. The block rests on the top edges of the sides 22 with the sides positioned in the grooves. The grooves locate the block centrally upon the top of the balustrade with respect to the sides 22. The block is clamped to the top of the balustrade by means of a bolt 42. The bolt passes through a suitable aperture in rib 23 and is threaded into the portion 36 of the block.

The lower centering block 35 is also preferably formed of hardened steel. Block 35 is short, having rounded ends and corners, and is identical in lateral cross-section as the portion 36 of upper Block 35 is secured and adjusted on edges of the handrail clear the sides 22 as it is Block 35 is mounted on carried through the handrail opening H. A spacer 44 is positioned between theblock and the angle iron. If desirable in certain installations, block 35 may be provided with a forked end, which spans the newel wheel and extends within the handrail up to the vertical plane through the axis of the newel wheel. Also, in certain installations it may be desirable to omit the forked end provided on the upper block 34.

In operation, because of the comparatively short length of the close fitting upper and lower centering blocks, very little friction is developed between the moving handrail and the blocks. The

handrail is positioned on the newel wheel with its in-turned edges equally disposed on each side of the sides 22 of the balustrade which extend into the handrail at the newel wheel, by means of the blocks. The small clearance between the blocks and the cooperating inner surfaces of the handrail practically eliminates the lateral movement or float of the handrail upon the newel wheel. This prevents the edges of the handrail from rubbing and wearing the. sides 22 of the balustrade which project into the handrail on each side of the newel wheel. The close fitting upper and lower blocks also act to prevent the handrail being twisted or forced from the newel wheel.

Although the invention has been described as applied to one end of a moving stairway, it. is to be understood that it may be applied to both ends of the stairway.

What is claimed is:

1. In a moving stairway installation, the combination of a handrail, a newel wheel over which said handrail runs, abalustrade extending into said handrail on each side of said newel wheel, and a centering device secured in place within said handrail in central alignment with said extended balustrade for limiting the lateral motion of said handrail.

2. In a moving stairway installation in which a handrail is guided upon a loose fitting guide and a newel sheave is provided for carrying said handrail around the end of the stairway; a balustrade supporting said guide and extending around one end of the stairway, said balustrade having side portions which extend into the handrail on each side of said sheave with clearance between them and said handrail; a centering device closely fitting within said handrail; and means for securing said centering device in place within said handrail adjacent the rim of said sheave so as to guide the handrail onto the rail from its upper run to its lower run around one end of the stairway; a balustrade having side portions which extend into the handrail along the upper run of "the stairway and continue around said end of the stairway on each side of said wheel withclearance between them and said handrail; two centering blocks closely fitting within said handrail; and means for securing said blocks in place within said handrail, one at the point where the handrail runs from its upper run onto the newel wheel and the other at the point where the handrail runs onto its lower run from the newel wheel, to maintain the handrail upon said newel wheel substantially central with 7 respect to said side portions of said balustrade on each side of said newel wheel.

4. In a moving stairway installation in which a handrail is guided by a loose fitting guide and in which a pulley is provided for carrying said handrail around one end of the stairway; a balustrade having side portions which project into the handrail and continue around said end of the sairway on each side of said pulley with a clearance between them and saidhandrail; a block within said handrail for centering said handrail upon said balustrade at said end of the stairway, said block having a contour substantially conforming to the inner contour of said handrail so as to closely fit within said handrail,

extending from the end of said guide over the pulley and being provided with a groove for said pulley; and means for securing said block upon said balustrade central with respect to. said side portions.

5. In a moving stairway installation in which a C-shaped handrail is guided along one of its' runs by a guide fitting loosely therein and is carried around an end of the stairway by a newel wheel; a balustrade having laterally spaced sides which project into the handrail along said run and on each side of said newel wheel around said end of the stairway, with clearance between said sides and the edges of said handrail; a block within said handrail for guiding said handrail from said run onto said newel wheel, said block fitting closely within said handrail, being of a contour substantially conforming to the inner contour of said handrail,-,and having one end forked to receive the newel wheel, said forked end extending to a point substantially on,the 7 rail along said run and also on each side of the rim of said newel wheel around said end of the stairway, with clearance between said sides and said in-turned edges of said handrail; a hardened steel block within said handrail for guiding said handrail from said run onto said newel wheel, said block fitting closely within said handrail, being of a contour substantially conforming to the inner contour of said handrail, extending over said newel wheel to a point substantially on' the vertical centerline of said newel wheel, being forked to span the rim of said newel wheel, and being provided with longitudinally extending grooves spaced equidistant from its centerline to receive said sides of said balustrade; and means i for securing said block upon said balustrade with said sides in said grooves to center said block with respect to said balustrade.

ARTHUR EDWARD HANDY. SAMUEL GUSTAVE MARGLES.