US2919786A - Moving stairway hand rails - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FUJJELL G. 774 Tom Jan. 5, 1960 R. s. TILTON MOVING STAIRWAY HAND RAILS Filed June 29, 1956 l 2 a 2 Z 3 51 2 u m 3 vwv'nuuv hwk 5 I Z i z 5 a l 2 2 2 2 Q 2 z 0 1 U 3 7 M .wD 3 2 3 Z Z M 5 3 3 Jan. 5, 1960 R. e. TILTON 2,919,786

MOVING STAIRWAY HAND RAILS Filed June 29. 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 20 Z1 Z0 Z1 20 21 20 Z1 Z0 J fi IG. 15.

B05551. L G. 774 To N.

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Jan. 5, 1960 R. a. TILTON 2,919,736

MOVING STAIRWAY HAND RAILS Filed June 29, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 if: a. 16.

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United States atent O MOVING STAIRWAY HAND RAILS Russell G. Tilton, Mountain Lakes, N.J., assignor to Multiscope, Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of Kansas Application June 29, 1956, Serial No. 594,748

8 Claims. (Cl. 198-16) The present invention relates particularly to hand rails for moving stairways which travel in their orbit in the stair and in unison with the travel of the moving steps of the stair.

This invention is an improvement over that shown and described in Patent No. 2,780,338 in that the same eliminates some of the parts therein and thereby eliminating considerable friction in the movement of the hand rail with relation to its track.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of means forming a part of a hand rail construction reducing friction of the hand rail in its travel along its tracks.

Another object is the provision of shoe members forming a part of the hand rail construction and with the shoe members being formed of friction-reducing material.

Another object of the invention is the elimination of portions of the hand rail track and thereby eliminating considerable friction of the hand rail with relation thereto.

Other objects and particular advantages of the hand rail construction shown in the accompanying drawings and herein described will become more apparent in the course of the following description.

Referring now to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical detail showing the orbit of the hand rail.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portion of a hand rail embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 3 is a detail cross section through the hand rail, taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail cross section through the hand rail, as taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail cross section through the hand rail similar to that shown in Figure 3, but with the same being shown in position on the upper track, as taken on line 5-5 of the diagrammatical Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail cross section through the hand rail, with the same being shown in the position assumed on the upper track, as taken on line 66 of the diagrammatical Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail cross section through the hand rail, the same being shown in the position as taken on line 77 of the diagrammatical Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an elevational detail of one of the hand rail shoe members.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the shoe member shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical detail section through the shoe member, taken on line 10-10 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is also a vertical section through the shoe member, as taken on line 11-11 of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the hand rail, taken on line 1212 of Figure 3, and showing the shoe members secured thereto.

Figure 13 is an elevational detail of one of the inserts of the hand rail track.

Figure 14 is a vertical detail section through the insert, as taken on line .1414 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a partial side elevation of a track insert member.

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Figure 16 is a section through the track insert member, taken on line 16-16 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is also a section through the track insert member, taken on line 17-17 of Figure 15.

Figure 18 is an enlarged detail cross section through the bellows member similar to that shown in Figure 3, but with a modification being shown therein comprising a method of securing the bellows to the hand rail chain by means of spring-urged pins.

Figure 19 is a detail side elevation of the casing provided for the spring-urged pin and its spring.

Figure 20 is a detail elevation of the spring member.

Figure 21 is a detail side elevation of the spring-urged pin.

Figure 22 is a detail side elevation of the assembled spring-urged pin.

Like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

iln order that the objects of the invention and the advantages thereof may be more fully understood, I will now take up a detailed description thereof in which the same will be more fully set forth.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numerals 20 refer to the bellows portion of the hand rail which is formed of rubber or other flexible and suitable material and having grooves formed therearound for the reception of inserts 21, the outer surfaces of which lie within the outer periphery of the bellows 2t and with the outward projection of the bellows beyond the inserts providing a suitable gripping surface for passengers of the stairs.

Bellows-chain connectors 22 are embedded in the bellows portion and extend downwardly therefrom and are pivotally secured to respective chain depending lugs or plates 23 by means of shoulder pins 24, as more clearly shown in Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7. The plates 23 are provided to form a portion of the hand rail drive chain which is composed of companion links 25 and rollers 26.

In order to provide as near friction free operation of the hand rail as possible in its travel about its orbit, I provide shoes 27 which are secured on the outer surfaces of the bellows chain connectors and are secured thereto by means of the shoulder pins 24, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 12.

The shoes 27 are preferably made of nylon which has a low coefficient of friction, and are preferably formed as shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, with a channel 28 being formed in the chain side thereof for the reception of the chain connectors 22. A pair of lugs 29 are formed on the same side of each of the shoes forming a channel therebetween, and providing for the reception of chain depending lugs 23. Bosses 30 are for-med on the opposite side of the shoes with the same terminating and providing space for the outer ends of shoulder pins 24. The bosses 30 are of such thickness as to project outwardly beyond the ends of the pins 24. Flanges 31 are formed integrally with one edge of the shoes and are of the same curvature as the under portion of the bellows with the same being let into the bellows member substantially flush therewith.

The upper track 32 of the stair is partially shown in cross. section in Figures 5 and 6 with inwardly-turned flanges 33 being formed continuously thereon and pro-. viding guides for the hand rail in its travel. The lower track 34 is partially shown in cross section in Figure 7, with the same being provided with inwardly-turned flanges 35 similar to flanges 33 of the upper track. A stem 36 is formed centrally in the upper track and is in alignment with rollers 26 of the hand rail chain. Nylon track segments 37 are secured to the upper and lower tracks 32 and 34 by means of screws 38, as shown in Figure 5.

The segments 37 are located substantially as shown in Figure 1. The segments provide means preventing the rollers 26 from riding on the stems 36 of the track and thereby eliminate frictional contact of the rollers on the stems 36, there being sufficient tension on the hand rail chain to make the same taut and with the flanges 31. of the shoes 27 being in sliding contact with the inwardlyturned flanges 33 of the track 32. Likewise, the shoes provide means of contact with flanges 35 of the lower track 34, as shown in Figure 7. Should there be side or lateral motion of the hand rail with relation to the tracks, bosses 3t provide the contact points of the shoes therewith.

The modification as shown in Figure 18 uses springurged pins for securing the bellows directly to the hand rail chain depending lugs 23 instead of using the bellows chain connectors 22. The spring-urged pins are each composed of a casing 41 which has one end thereof solid with the other end being open. The closed end has a flange 42 formed thereon while the open end has a flare 43. The casing 41 is moulded into the bellows member while the same is being poured and the flange, being embedded in the bellows, prevents the casing from loosening with relation to the bellows. The pin member is formed hollow to accommodate the spring 45, as shown in Figure 18. The pin member has a chain-engaging tip formed on the end thereof.

In pouring the bellows, only the casing 41 is embedded therein while the spring 45 and the pin member 44 are inserted in the casings while assembling the bellows with the hand rail chain. Respective links of the chain are driled to receive the tips of the pins.

Operation In the operation of the hand rail, each of the hand rail chains runs over two sprockets, indicated as 39 and 4 in Figure 1. Either of the sprockets may be power driven with the other serving as a return idler. The hand rail is carried through its orbit by means of a hand rail chain running over the sprockets. On the upper run of the hand rail, the rollers run on the inserts 37 near the curved portions of the track, but the hand rail on the inwardly turned flanges 33 of the track by contact of flanges 31 of the shoes 27 therewith. Any side thrust or lateral movement of the hand chain brings the bosses 3%) into contact with the track member, as Will be more clearly shown in Figures and 6.

In the travel of the hand rail chain around the sprockets, the hand rail is supported by the engagement of the chain with the sprockets.

It will be noted, by referring to the drawings and the above description, friction of the hand rail with relation to the track is substantially eliminated and resulting in less power being required for the operation of the hand rail and with less noise being present. With all of the wear of the parts being confined to the shoes 27, the same may be easily replaced.

I desire that it be understood that I am not to be limited to the specific design of the parts herein shown and described, but that minor changes may be made therein, insofar as the changes may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now shown and described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a moving stair hand rail construction, a pair of spaced-apart sprockets, a hand rail track extending between the sprockets, a continuous hand rail chain running along the hand rail track in an orbit over said sprockets, a hand rail secured to and carried by the chain over said sprockets, a series of shoe members secured to each side of the chain by means of bellowschain connectors and having portions of the bellows-chain connectors embedded in the hand rail, and with the hand chain being adapted to ride on the hand rail track.

2. In a hand rail construction, a hand rail chain, hand rail track members, a flexible hand rail having bellowschain connectors embedded therein and depending therefrom and secured into the hand rail chain by means of bellows-chain connectors, shoe members secured on the depending portions of the bellows-chain connectors, and with said shoe members providing gliding contact with the hand rail track members.

3. in a moving stairway hand rail construction, a hand rail chain, a hand rail carried by the hand rail chain, a hand rai track, said track forming a guide for the hand rail, said hand rail track having a continuous stein formed midway between the sides thereof, low friction segments secured at intervals to the continuous stern of the hand rail track with said segments being located at points of contact of the hand rail chain with the hand rail track, with shoes of a low friction coeflicicnt b i secured to each side of the hand rail chain by .s of bellows-chain connectors and providing means g ng the hand rail in its orbit with relation to the hand rail track, and with a portion of each of the shoes underlying the adjacent surface of the hand rail.

4. In a moving stairway hand rail construction, a hand rail chain, a flexible hand rail adapted to travel in an orbit over a pair or spaced-apart sprockets with the hand rail being secured to the hand rail chain and carried over the sprockets thereby, a hand rail track providing guiding means for the hand rail chain, a series of low frictional coefficient shoes secured to the hand rail chain by means of respective bellows-chain connectors, and with the shoes providing means preventing excessive lateral movement of the hand rail chain with relation to the hand rail track.

5. In a moving stairway hand rail construction, a hand rail track, a hand rail chain, a flexible hand rail carried by and secured to the hand rail chain by means of a plurality of bellows-chain connectors, a series of shoe members secured to and carried by the respective bellows-chain connectors, with said shoe members being relieved for the reception of the bellows-chain connectors, track-cont ing flanges formed on the shoe members with the ges thereof being let into the flexible hand rail and with bosses being formed on each of the shoes and adapted to guide the hand rail in its orbit over the hand rail track.

6. in a hand rail construction comprising a flexible bellows connected with a hand rail chain, means connecting the bellows with the hand rail chain, said means being composed of a series of spring-urged pins secured in the bellows and extending into the links of the hand rail chain.

7. In a moving stairway hand rail construction, a hand rail chain, a bellows member having a plurality of springurged pins embedded therein and projecting toward the hand rail chain, with the hand rail chain being perforated for the reception of the spring-urged pins, and with the springurged pins projecting into the perforations of the hand rail chain.

8. A moving stairway hand rail chain, a bellows removably secured to the hand rail chain by means of spring-urged pins, each of said pins being composed of a casing member embedded in the bellows, a spring located in the casing, a pin member slidably positioned in the casing member, and with the spring urging the pin member toward the hand rail chain.

References (lifted in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 673,890 Reno May 14, 1901 1,956,155 Lindquist et al. Apr. 24, 1934 2,065,508 Barnes Dec. 29, 1936 2,211,427 Margles Aug. 13, 1940 2,275,048 Hohnecker Mar. 3, 1942 2,650,036 Berkepeis Aug. 25, 1953 2,780,338 Tilton Feb. 5, 1957

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