US3623589A - Rotating support member for moving handrail - Google Patents

Rotating support member for moving handrail Download PDF

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Publication number
US3623589A
US3623589A US8447A US3623589DA US3623589A US 3623589 A US3623589 A US 3623589A US 8447 A US8447 A US 8447A US 3623589D A US3623589D A US 3623589DA US 3623589 A US3623589 A US 3623589A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
handrail
hoop
rollers
conveyor system
balustrade
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US8447A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ernest D Johnson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
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Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co filed Critical Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3623589A publication Critical patent/US3623589A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B23/00—Component parts of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B23/02—Driving gear
    • B66B23/04—Driving gear for handrails
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B23/00—Component parts of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B23/22—Balustrades

Definitions

  • Handrail support member located at ends of balustrades consists of a hoop or rim which rotatably supports the handrail during movement between its upper and lower runs.
  • Each hoop is supported by a plurality of rollers which may be rigidly mounted on the newel support frame or suspended therefrom by load equalizing lever arms to obtain a more uniform distribution of bearing pressure around the inner periphery ofthe hoop thus reducing contact stresses.
  • This invention relates generally to a rotating support member for moving handrails which causes considerably less drag and wear on the handrails than previous known fixed handrail guides and is more simple in construction and easier to install than present day newel pulleys.
  • Most passenger conveyor systems are provided with endless moving handrails adjacent one or both sides of the moving belt or stairway for grasping by the passengers while being transported on the belt or stairway.
  • the upper run of the handrail is generally supported by a guide rail extending along the top of the balustrade structure, whereas the lower or return run is supported within or beneath the balustrade, depending on whether or not the balustrade is light-transmissive.
  • the guide rails curve around the ends of the balustrades to provide a continuous guide surface along which the handrail slides during passage between the upper and lower runs. Such end sliding contact creates considerable drag on the handrail resulting in excessive wear and deterioration of the handrail, and also adds considerably to the amount of power required to move the handrail.
  • Plural rollers have been provided along the curved end portions of the guide rail which have reduced the drag on the handrail but this has also caused premature failure of the handrail.
  • Another object is to provide such a handrail support member which minimizes the amount of drag on the handrail during passage between the upper and lower runs and permits the use of higher handrail tensions.
  • a further object is to provide such a handrail support member which distributes the stresses uniformly over a large area of the handrail resulting in increased handrail life.
  • Still another object is to provide such a handrail support member which is easy to mount in modern day conveyor system designs incorporating light-transmissive balustrade panels and creates a very esthetic appearance when viewed through the light-transmissive panels.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic fragmentary side elevation view of a typical modern passenger conveyor system incorporating the preferred form of handrail support members of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of the passenger conveyor system of FIG. 1, with portions of the balustrade and handrail broken away to show the details of construction of the handrail support member;
  • FIGS. 3 through 5 are enlarge transverse sections through the handrail support member of FIG. 2, taken on the planes of the lines 3-3, 4-4, and 55, respectively.
  • FIG. I there is schematically shown a typical passenger conveyor system 1 having a handrail 2 in the form of an endless flexible belt extending along one or both sides of the conveyor portion 3 for grasping by the passengers while being transported along the conveyor portion.
  • the handrail 2 is desirably generally C-shape in section as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and consists of an upper run 4 which is supported by a guide rail along the upper edge of the balustrade 6 located at the sides of the conveyor portion 3, and a lower run 7 which is desirably supported beneath the balustrades 6 to permit lighttransmissive or transparent panels 8 and 9 to be used between the balustrade posts 10 and at the newel portions 11 of the balustrades.
  • a handrail support member 15 in accordance with this invention at the ends of the balustrades.
  • One of the handrail support members 15, which are of identical construction, is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 through 5, and consists of a large diameter support rim or hoop 16 which surrounds the curved end portion 17 of the newel support structure 18 after passing through openings 20 in the newel support structure from the interior of the balustrade 6 between the light-transmissive panels 9.
  • the hoop 16 is of a rigid material such as steel which has been rolled to shape and the ends welded or otherwise connected together by a mechanical joint.
  • a plurality of rollers 22 mounted circumferentially around the outer periphery of the curved newel end portion 17 provide the sole means of support for the hoop 16, thus eliminating the need for the usual center mount for conventional newel pulleys which are unsightly when viewed through the transparent balustrade panels and are difficult to mount therein.
  • the rollers 22 may include bearings such as ball bearings, roller hearings or other types of antifriction bearings to provide a minimum of resistance to rotation thereof.
  • the rollers 22 may be rigidly supported by the newel support structure 18, but it is preferred that such rollers 22 be suspended by means of a series of load-equalizing lever arms 23 to better distribute the load on the hoop l6 and reduce contact stresses.
  • a series of load-equalizing lever arms 23 As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two pairs of such load-equalizing lever arms 23 are desirably provided, each pair being pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on opposite ends of a pivot shaft 24 utilizing suitable bushings 25.
  • the pivot shafts 24 are carried by mounting brackets 26 bolted or otherwise secured to the newel support structure 18. Set screws 27 (see FIG. 3) may be used to lock the pivot shafts 24 in place within the mounting brackets.
  • roller support members 28 are pivotally connected intennediate their ends as by means of a pivot shaft 29 and suitable bushings 30 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Between such roller support members 28 at the ends thereof are bearing shafts 32 on which are mounted the rollers 22 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Screws 33 or the like may be used to secure the bearing shafts 32 to the support members 28, and spacers 34 may be provided between the inner races 35 of the rollers 22 and support members 28.
  • the outer races 38 of the rollers 22 are received in a groove or channel 39 around the inner circumference of the hoop 16 which is maintained in engagement with the rollers 22 by the handrail 2 pressing against the hoop as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, as the handrail 2 is driven in synchronism with the conveyor portion 3 by suitable means, not shown, the hoop 16 will be caused to rotate by engagement by the handrail and will provide adequate support for the handrail during move ment between the upper and lower runs with very little drag or friction on the handrail, resulting in much less distortion and wear of the handrail than that caused by existing handrail supports such as roller clusters and guide rails.
  • the large diameter hoop 16 also distributes the stresses on the handrail over a large area, and the lever arm supported rollers 22 distribute the load over a large area of the hoop thus reducing contact stresses between the rollers 22 and hoop 16.
  • Side plates 40 of metal or other rigid material cover the sides of the newel support structure 18 and hide from view the rollers 22 and their respective mounts, thus leaving visible only the portion of the hoop 16 which can be seen through the transparent balustrade panels 9. If the hoop I6 is made of an attractive material or is attractively decorated, the visual effect of the hoop 16 passing between the transparent panels 9 can be very esthetic.
  • the side plates 40 in addition to concealing the rollers 22 and mounts therefor, also extend slightly into the interior of the handrail 2 adjacent the inturned edges 41 as shown in FIGS. 3 and to provide guide surfaces for maintaining the handrail 2 properly centered with respect to the outer periphery of the hoop 16.
  • the roller faces and hoop 16 may also be coated with an elastomer or plastic material to reduce noise, ifdesired.
  • the handrail support member of the present invention is of a relatively simple construction which may be readily installed in existing or new passenger conveyor systems and provides a smooth rotating surface for the handrail during its passage between the upper and lower runs.
  • the handrail support member is particularly effective in eliminating the high friction and distortion of the handrail that has been caused by previous known handrail support members resulting in increased handrail life, and also permits the use of higher handrail tensions, as desired.
  • a handrail support member at one end of said balustrade for supporting said handrail during passage between said upper and lower runs at said one end, said handrail support member comprising a large diameter hoop rotatable about a center, the outer periphery of said hoop being engaged by and supporting said handrail during movement between said upper and lower runs, and means radially spaced from said center for rotatably supporting the inner periphery of said hoop in the region opposite the outer periphery which is engaged by said handrail during movement between said upper and lower runs.
  • balustrade has light-transmissive panels through which an unsupported portion of said hoop is visible.
  • said means for supporting said hoop for rotation includes a plurality of rollers engaging the inner periphery of said hoop opposite the outer periphery thereof which is engaged by said handrail as aforesaid, and means for supporting said rollers adjacent the end of said balustrade.
  • said means for supporting said rollers further comprises plural load-equalizing arms to the ends of which said support members are pivoted intermediate their ends, said load-equalizing arms also being pivotally mounted intermediate their ends to distribute the load on said hoop among said rollers.
  • pivotal mounts for said load-equalizing arms comprise mounting brackets secured to the end of said balustrade, a pivot shaft carried by each mounting bracket, and a pair of load-equalizing arms pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on opposite ends of said pivot shafts.
  • pivotal mounts for said support members comprise pivot shafts extending between the ends of said pairs of load-equalizing arms, said support members being pivotally connected to said loadequalizing arms in pairs by said last-mentioned pivot shafts.
  • the conveyor system of claim 10 further comprising bearing shafts between the ends of each pair of support members, said rollers being mounted on said bearing shafts.

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  • Escalators And Moving Walkways (AREA)
US8447A 1970-02-04 1970-02-04 Rotating support member for moving handrail Expired - Lifetime US3623589A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US844770A 1970-02-04 1970-02-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3623589A true US3623589A (en) 1971-11-30

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US8447A Expired - Lifetime US3623589A (en) 1970-02-04 1970-02-04 Rotating support member for moving handrail

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3623589A (fr)
BE (1) BE762374A (fr)
CA (1) CA927306A (fr)
CH (1) CH523198A (fr)
DE (1) DE2103516A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2080474A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1278751A (fr)
NL (1) NL7101436A (fr)
SE (1) SE364929B (fr)
ZA (1) ZA7113B (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4934506A (en) * 1989-09-14 1990-06-19 Otis Elevator Company Escalator handrail guide rail
US5033607A (en) * 1990-09-20 1991-07-23 Otis Elevator Company Handrail newel guide assembly for an escalator
EP0484858A2 (fr) * 1990-11-05 1992-05-13 Otis Elevator Company Mécanisme d'entraînement équilibré d'une main courante pour escalier roulant à ajustage automatique
US5477954A (en) * 1994-02-16 1995-12-26 Inventio Ag Handrail turn around for escalators and moving walks
US5638937A (en) * 1995-01-13 1997-06-17 Inventio Ag Handrail drive system conversion
US20060201778A1 (en) * 2003-11-03 2006-09-14 Kone Corporation Conveyor
US20070029163A1 (en) * 2004-02-03 2007-02-08 Kone Corporation Travelator, moving ramp or escalator
US20080308385A1 (en) * 2004-01-16 2008-12-18 Jin Koo Lee Newel Guide for Supporting a Handrail Traveling Over a Newel
CN102348631A (zh) * 2009-03-10 2012-02-08 奥的斯电梯公司 带有标准轴承的模块化链条中柱

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3602945A1 (de) * 1986-01-31 1987-08-13 Thyssen Man Aufzuege Glasbalustrade fuer fahrtreppen und fahrsteige

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2929483A (en) * 1959-05-25 1960-03-22 Hitachi Ltd Driving device of movable handrails for escalator

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2929483A (en) * 1959-05-25 1960-03-22 Hitachi Ltd Driving device of movable handrails for escalator

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4934506A (en) * 1989-09-14 1990-06-19 Otis Elevator Company Escalator handrail guide rail
US5033607A (en) * 1990-09-20 1991-07-23 Otis Elevator Company Handrail newel guide assembly for an escalator
EP0484858A2 (fr) * 1990-11-05 1992-05-13 Otis Elevator Company Mécanisme d'entraînement équilibré d'une main courante pour escalier roulant à ajustage automatique
EP0484858A3 (en) * 1990-11-05 1992-05-27 Otis Elevator Company Balanced self adjustable escalator handrail drive
US5477954A (en) * 1994-02-16 1995-12-26 Inventio Ag Handrail turn around for escalators and moving walks
US5638937A (en) * 1995-01-13 1997-06-17 Inventio Ag Handrail drive system conversion
US20060201778A1 (en) * 2003-11-03 2006-09-14 Kone Corporation Conveyor
US7320393B2 (en) 2003-11-03 2008-01-22 Kone Corporation Conveyor
US20080308385A1 (en) * 2004-01-16 2008-12-18 Jin Koo Lee Newel Guide for Supporting a Handrail Traveling Over a Newel
US7571797B2 (en) * 2004-01-16 2009-08-11 Otis Elevator Company Newel guide for supporting a handrail traveling over a newel
CN1910108B (zh) * 2004-01-16 2010-09-29 奥蒂斯电梯公司 支承在支柱上移动的扶手的支柱导轨
US20070029163A1 (en) * 2004-02-03 2007-02-08 Kone Corporation Travelator, moving ramp or escalator
US7341139B2 (en) * 2004-02-03 2008-03-11 Kone Corporation Travelator, moving ramp or escalator
CN102348631A (zh) * 2009-03-10 2012-02-08 奥的斯电梯公司 带有标准轴承的模块化链条中柱
CN102348631B (zh) * 2009-03-10 2014-05-14 奥的斯电梯公司 带有标准轴承的模块化链条中柱

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1278751A (en) 1972-06-21
CA927306A (en) 1973-05-29
SE364929B (fr) 1974-03-11
NL7101436A (fr) 1971-08-06
BE762374A (fr) 1971-07-16
FR2080474A5 (fr) 1971-11-12
CH523198A (fr) 1972-05-31
DE2103516A1 (de) 1971-08-26
ZA7113B (en) 1971-10-27

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