US3796161A

US3796161A - Handrails for passenger conveyors

Info

Publication number: US3796161A
Application number: US00228693A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Colombot
Original assignee: Agence National de Valorisation de la Recherche ANVAR
Current assignee: Bpifrance Financement SA
Priority date: 1971-02-26
Filing date: 1972-02-23
Publication date: 1974-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-12
Also published as: AU463448B2; CH559698A5; CA955553A; DE2209051A1; AU3944372A; BE779817A; NL7202487A; IT949361B; GB1359594A; ES400157A1; FR2127203A5

Abstract

Handrail suitable for use with a passenger conveyor having a treadway which is moved at a speed which is variable along its path. The handrail comprises a helical coil which is covered on part of its lateral portion throughout its length by a sheath, consisting of a corrugated booting or overlapping tube lengths. Driving means comprising a plurality of wheels distributed along the path impress a variable speed to the handrail.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Colombot 1 1 HANDRAILS FOR PASSENGER CONVEYORS [75] Inventor: Pierre Colombot,

Saint-Michel-sur-Orge, France [73] Assignee: Agence Nationale De Valorisation De 7 La Recherche(Anvar), Courbevoie,

France 221 Filed: Feb. 23, 1972 121 Appl.No.:228,693-

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 26, 1971 France 71.06793 [52] US. Cl. 104/25, 198/16 MS, 198/110 [51] Int. Cl B66b 9/14 [58] Field of Search 104/18, 20, 25, 167;

198/110,16-MS,16 R, 17, 18

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Masek .l 198/16 R 1 Mar. 12, 1974 6/1972 Angiolctti e1 a1. ..19s/110 2/1973 Zuppiger ..104 25 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 567,503 3/1924 France 104/25 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Robert Saifer Attorney, Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor & Hinds 57 ABSTRACT Handrail suitable for use with a passenger conveyor having a treadway which is moved at a speed which is variable along its path. The handrail comprises a helical coilwhich is covered on partof its lateral portion throughout its length by a sheath, consisting of a corrugated booting or overlapping tube lengths. Driving means comprising a plurality of wheels distributed along the path impress a variable speed to the handrail. I

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 12 1974 SHEEI 1 BF 5 Pmmmm 12 1974 3796'. 161

SHEEI 2 0F 5 PATENTEU m 12 I974 sum 3 BF 5 PATENTEBMR'IZW 3396.161

SHEET S 0? 5 HANDRAILS FOR PASSENGER CONVEYORS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to handrails suitable for use with passenger conveyors of the type known as moving walks adapted for movement at variable speed. Such moving walks have a relatively low speed in an entrance zone and in an exit zone for the passengers to go in and out without difficulty and move faster in an intermediate zone. In other words, the path of such a moving walk comprises parts where the speed is uniform and slow, parts in which the speed is uniform and 'high and intermediate parts in which the conveyor acsive coils being constant along the complete path of the handrail. Such handrails were however for use in constant speed conveyors or escalators only and not adapted for combination with variable speed conveyors of the moving walk type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a handrail suitable for use with a variable speed conveyor.

It is another object of the invention to provide a handrail whose speed is controllably variable along the path thereof, for co-operation with a variable speed passenger conveyor.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a handrail whose speed along its-path may be controlled for the speed at each location along the path to be close to the speed of the conveyor at the same locatron.

For this purpose, the handrail comprises a coilspring, means for guiding the spring along a closed loop with one run of the loop paralleling part at least of the path of a passenger conveyor. The spring is covered on its complete length, but on part only of its circumferential surface by a sheath providing a substantially smooth surface. Supporting and guiding means'project from some at least of the coils of the spring through the circumferential portion which is not covered by the sheath and co-operate with at least one guide-track. Driving means are distributed along the path and drive the coils at a speed which is variable along the path.

Further objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the invention given by way of examples only. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description refers to the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a side-view, partly in section,of a handrail structure according to a first embodiment of the inventron.

FIG. 2 is a section on line IIII of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a isometric view illustrating a detail of FIG. 1. Y I

FIG. 4 is a sketchof a driving mechanism for moving the handrail of FIG. 1.

FIG-5 is a isometric view schematically illustrating a portion of a handrail structure according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side-view which shows the spring of the handrail of FIG. 5 in two different conditions and the corresponding conditions of the driving mechanism (the two portions being drawn on different scales for more clarity).

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 5, illustrating the connection between the chain which drives the handrail and one coil of the spring.

FIG. 8 is a section on the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 6, illustrating a detail.

FIG. 9 is a schematic section on the line IXIX of FIG. 6, illustrating the co-operation between a driving wheel and the chain of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a handrail suitable for use with a continuous passenger conveyor whose speed is variable along its path. Although any type of variable speed conveyor may be associated with the handrail, the conveyor is preferably of the type described and claimed in French Pat. No. 68 41465 filed Dec. 2, 1969 in the name of Pierre COLOMBOT. In such a conveyor, a handrail having a speed which is close to the speed of the corresponding zone of the conveyor is practically necessary. It should be noted that this does not mean that the speeds of the conveyor and handrail are preferably identical in a same section. Although the identity is preferable in the zones where the conveyor moves at constant speed, the inventor has found that it may be preferable to move the handrail at a speed slightly in excess of that of the conveyor in those portions of the path where the conveyor accelerates or decelerates. This causes the passengers to move and walk slowly, thereby improving their balance and substantially decreasing the risk of tumbles.

Referring again to FIG. 1, there is shown a handrail comprising a coil-spring 1 whose axis is guided along an arcuate path constituting a loop having an upper run parallel with the moving walk of the conveyor, located at an appropriate place for the passengers to rest their hands. The down-run constitutes a return path.

A sheath is located on the spring for providing a relatively smooth surface on the complete length of the loop, but on part only of the circumferential surface of the spring. More precisely, the sheath covers an angular portion of the cross-section which is higher than but generally lower than 300. The sheath of FIG. 2 consists of bellows or booting whose successive folds contact successive coils of the spring.

In a modified embodiment (not shown), the constrictions of the bellows contact or rest on coils which are separated by one or more free coils. However, care should be taken to provide a sufficient support for the sheath for preventing the projecting portions thereof from shifting transversally if and when a passenger exerts a transversal force on the sheath.

Guiding means are provided for retaining the spring along its path and receiving the external forces which are exerted in a direction transverse of the path.

Referring to FIG. 2, two parallel tracks are located along the coils and confront that portion of the coils which is not covered by the sheath. Each track 5 slidably receives a guiding pad secured to a corresponding turn. Each turn may be provided with a pad or a predetermined proportion of the turns only may have such pads. It should be noted that two tracks are necessary in most cases in order to prevent the handrail from defleeting towards the outside. More than two tracks can obviously be used, but this is of no advantage in most cases.

A driving mechanism is located along the coil for driving it at a variable speed, which is close to that of the conveyor at the same location. The driving mechanism may be of the type which will later be described with reference to FIGS. 6 9. However, the mechanism of FIGS. 2 and 4 may also be used, but the movement of the handrail when driven by such a mechanism is with jerks which are removed when using the more complex and sophisticated system of FIG. 6.

As an example it may be indicated that the outer diameter of the coil spring will generally be between 50 mm and about 200 mm. The metal wire which is used for constituting the coils should be of such a grade as to tolerate the amounts of stretching and compression which are involved for adjustment of the speed. A number of available alloys may be used for that purpose when the ratio between the maximum length of the. pitch in the extreme stretched condition and the compressed condition (for which the coils may be closely packed) is about 6 l. The diameter of the wire will generally be from 3 mm to 10mm.

In the embodiment illustrated on FIG. 3, the folds have a shape which is closely similar to that of a tyre. The two rims of the folds are secured to the rims of adjacent folds. The bellows can be constituted coil spring adjacent to the of any material having a sufficient flexibility and resistance, such as leather, rubberized canvas, etc. While each fold is of roughly half-circular shape in the embodiment of FIG. 3, an axial crosssection of different shape can be used, for instance with a depressed portion in the mid-plane.

As shown on FIG. 3, the tyre-like folds are secured to the respective turns by tabs 6 formed along the rims and which are folded over the turns and bonded to the roots of the tabs. The tabs 6 are so cut that an aperture remains available for the tabs or an adjacent element in the space between two successive tabs of a same tyre-like element. -As a consequence, two adjacent elements may be secured to the same turn.

As shown on FIG. 2, the sheath extends on three quarters of the circumferential surface of the spring and a free space of about 90 is reserved.

As shown on FIG. 2, the handrail would be associated with a moving walk located in the left bottom corner of the Figure.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, some at least of the coils are secured to supporting members 4 consisting of sliding pads. The pads have a size such that they are slidably received in the inner passage of a guiding track 5. Two parallel guiding tracks are provided, each consisting of a metal rail having a U shaped cross-section. The two legs of the U are offset or curved towards each other so as to be parallel to the lower portion of the U, while reserving a slot through which the rod of the pad projects. The sliding portion of each pad is formed or coated with a material having a low coefficient of friction. An example of such material is polytetrafluorethylene, currently designated as TEFLON. The pads may be replaced with ball or roller bearings.

The two supporting members of the spring illustrated on FIG. 2 are separated by an angle of about Larger or smaller angles may be used. It is even possible to retain a single supporting element for each coil. Under particular conditions, a single track 5 may be used, but in most cases a single track does not provide a sufficient resistance to flexure in the transversal direction. Under actual conditions, it is generally sufficient to guide one coil for each five or 10 coils (i.e. each fifth or 10th turns).

The mechanism for driving the handrail which is illustrated on FIG. 2 consists of a plurality of toothed wheels. Each toothed wheel is secured on a rotatable shaft 8a driven by motor means (not shown). The teeth 8b mesh with successive coils of the spring.

In order to move each portion of the spring at a speed which is close to that of the conveyor at the same location, the number of teeth per wheel and the wheel diameter at each location are so selected that each wheel delivers the same number of coils per time unit, the coils being however in a state of compression which depends on the speed which is impressed to the handrail.

Referring to FIG. 4, there are schematically shown three separate

toothed wheels

81, 82, 83 having different numbers of teeth and different speeds and retaining the spring in different conditions of compression. As a consequence, the speeds of the handrail at the three corresponding locations are different. The sheath is adapted to compensate for such'different compressions of the spring.

In the portions of the path where the speed is being modified, each wheel which has characteristics different from those of the next wheel or previous wheel exerts on the spring a force which results in a jerk. This jerk may be attenuated by increasing the number of wheels per unit length, the successive wheels corresponding to speeds which are closer to each other. However, additional means are preferably associated with thehandrail for reducing the jerks and steadying the movement. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, such means comprise friction shoes 10 carried by some at least of the coil. In the portions of the path where the handrail accelerates or decelerates, the shoes frictionally engage a stationary rail 11 which is located in parallel relation with the coil-spring.

The shoes and stationary rail constitute a brake whose friction force may be adjusted by modifying the distance from the friction surface'of the rail to the axis of the spring. The friction force is adjusted for obtaining the smoothest possible variations. The friction brake may obviously be substituted with other types of brake, for instance with a eddy-current brake.

It should be noted that it is not always a advantage to impress a speed to the handrail which is identical to that of the conveyor at a same location. In the portions of the path where the conveyor accelerates or decelerates it may be preferable to move the handrail at a speed slightly in excess of that of the conveyor. The speed difference is an incitationfor the passengers to walk slightly, thereby their stability on the conveyor is increased.

Handles 12 are spaced along the handrail for providing a rest which is more comfortable that the folds of the sheath. Such handles have a shape such that it is not possible to hang objects, thereby removing the risk of accidents at the end of the path. The intervals between the handles are so selected that there remains about 40 cm. (1 ft. 4 in.) at the locations where the handrail is in its most compressed condition. With such a design, the minimum interval which remains between successive passengers resting on the handles is 40 cm and an interval is retained in the higher speed portions on the path such that the passengers do not pack into a crowd in the exit portion.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 9, there is shown a modified embodiment of the invention in which the sheath does not consist any longer of successive folds. The portion of handrail illustrated on FIG. 5 again comprises a coil-spring 11. On FIG. 5, the spring is illustrated in partially extended condition, the successive coils or turns of the spring being so arranged that they do not come into abutment before the handrail attains its minimum speed. The spring is so designed that its successive turns are separated by a pitch which may be adjusted between a minimum value (for which the successive turns may be closely packed) and a maximum value which is acceptable by the material of the spring. For current uses, a variation of the pitch in a ratio of 1 6 may be accepted and is compatible with the resiliency of currently available spring steels.

The sheath 12 of the handrail of FIG. 5 consists of successive tube lengths, two of which have been indicated and numbered 13a and 13b. Each tube length has an open-cylinder shape, having an annular development higher than 180. Each tube length is formed of resilient material, previously shaped into an arcuate .tube having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the helical spring 11 in rest condition. As a result, each tube length is 'forceably applied on the spring. Examples of suitable materials are arcuate stripsof steel or flexible material such as rubberized canvas or plastics. The thickness of the material may be about 1 mm or less when steel is used.

Each tube length illustrated on FIG. 5 is secured to a respective turn of the coil spring 11 by fingers l4 folded back over the turns. In' fact, successive tube lengths will generally be secured to turns which are separated by one or more intermediate turns, contrary to the arrangement illustrated on FIG. 5 for more simplicity. This is because the fingers tend to retain the turns on which they are secured in a plane which has an invariableangular position with respect to the axis, while this angular position is modified when the pitch of the spring is adjusted. The provision of free turns which can distort between the connected turns makes it possible to prevent the tube lengths from distorting in their end portions connected to the spring.

The end portion of each

tube length

13a, 13b which is not secured to the coil may carry a pad 15, which is intended to push the hand of a passenger rested on the handrail and to remove the risk of pinching. If the tube length is of plastic material, the pad can be a terminal bulged portion integral with the tube.

Some at least of the tube lengths carry handles or handholds 16, which again are preferably so designed that there is no possibility to hang an object. The handles are so located that the sliding portions of those tube lengths which overlapthose provided with handles do not come into abutment with the handles when the spring is in its condition of maximum compression. If

each tube length is about 20 cm long, a handle may be located on each tenth or twentieth tube length.

In most cases, an angular development of the tube length between 200 and 300 is of advantage, since the flexibility of the handrailremains sufficient for it to be turned back at the end of the upper run. In the remainder of the angular development (between 60 and there are located the guiding and driving mechanisms.

Since the guiding mechanism is quite similar to that illustrated on FIG. 2, a short description thereof will be given. The mechanism includes supporting members or pads 17 carried by some at least of the turns. Each pad 17 comprises a sleeve secured to the turn and a head (not shown) which is slidably received in either of two parallel tracks 18. Since the plane of the spring changes depending upon the condition of the spring, the heads of the pads 17 will be designed for jamming not to occur. This will generally lead to use a flat cylindrical shape. In most cases, the track 18 will be rectilinear, since the handrail is straight and horizontal.

Referring to FIGS. 6 10, the driving mechanism has a progressivity which renders useless the friction pads of the embodiment illustrated on FIGS. 1 4. This driving mechanism may be substituted to the wheels of FIGS. 2 and 4 for driving the handrail of FIG. I.

The left hand portion of FIG. 6 illustrates the spring in a portion of the path where the speed is relatively low, while the right hand portion illustrates a portion of the spring in a zone where the speed is maximum. The driving mechanism includes a continuous chain driven at a variable speed and which will be referred to in the following by the reference 18a. The chain consists of two sets of links, each adapted to bend resiliently while remaining in the plane of the chain (vertical plane in most cases). The links, which are illustrated as elongated metal blades or strips in the illustrated embodiment, constitute successive lozenges which are adjacent to each other and have common apices. The strips are bent in those portions where the speed is changing (i.e. in those portions where the spring is being compressed or stretched), due to the transversal forces v which exert on the strips. The strips 19 19,, 19 19,, constitute a first set, while the strips 20 20,, 20 20,, constitute a second set.

Two strips which belong to different sets, for instance strips 19 and 20 are connected to each turn of the coil spring. The two strips are pivotally mounted on the pin 21 secured to a clamp 22 retained on the turn of spring 11. Since the chain 18 should remain in a same plane throughout its length while the angular position of a given turn changes depending on the extent of stretch exhibited by the spring, the clamp should be connected to the spring with a clearance sufficient for it to move angularly.

The end portions of the strips which constitute the apices opposed to those connected to the spring are also pivotally connected on one other. As shown on FIG. 8, which illustrates the strips 20 and 19 the pivotal connection comprises a transverse axis 23 on which the end portions of the strips are pivotally connected.

The axes 23 are guided in their longitudinal movement in such a way that the ratio between the longitudinal and transverse diagonals of the lozenges corresponds to the speed impressed to the chain by motor means which will be described hereunder. For this purpose, each axis 23 carries two rollers 24 retained each between one rail 25. The two rails are parallel to each other and may be provided along part only on the path. The rails 25 have a sinuous or serpentine shape for their distance to the track 18 to vary. If the rails 25 are located along part only of the path, each portion preferably has a convergent inlet for avoiding jamming.

Last, the apices of the lozenges which are located mid-way between the

apices

21 and 23 consist of a pivotal connection between two strips belonging to differ ent sets. As shown on FIG. 9, the strips 19,, and 20,, carry respective rings 27 pivotally connected to a trans verse rod 26.

The chain is driven by successive pairs of wheels. Two such wheels 28 are shown on FIG. 6. Each wheel is formed with peripheral notches spaced at regular intervals. Each pair of notches 29 is adapted to receive the end portions of the rod 26. Each

wheel

28, 28, has a diameter, an angular interval between successive notches, and a rotational speed selected for each wheel (or rather each pair of wheels) to drive a same number of rods 26 per time unit. All rods may have the same rotational speed with different diameters. The successive pairs of wheels are so spaced that each notch successively engages a rod 26'during its rotation, drive that rod on part of the path, then leave it.

The number of wheels will be generally a fraction of the number of rods 26 which is betweenone tenth and one fiftieth.

The invention is obviously not restricted to those particular embodiments which have been described by way of examples and numerous modifications are possible. For instance, the links may consist of elongated rods which are flexible in all directions.-

I claim 1. A handrail comprising, in combination, a helically coiled endless elongated member, sheath means covering said coiled member throughout its length but on part only of its lateral surface, said sheath means providing a relatively smooth surface, guide means for guiding said member along a closed path, and a plurality of driving means distributed along said path and cooperating with following turns of said coiled member in seriatim order, said driving means being so constructed and arranged that all driving means pass the same number of turns per time unit while imparting different intervals between successive turns.

2. A handrail comprising in combination:

endless helically coiled spring means,

sheath means closely supported by said spring means and covering an angular portion comprised between 200 and 300 of said spring means throughout the length thereof,

guiding means for said spring, including sliding members each connected to a respective turn of said coil means and at least one stationary track slidably receiving all said members,

and a plurality of driving means distributed along said coil to impress different speeds to said spring along the path thereof, said driving means being so constructed and arranged that all driving means pass the same number of turns per time unit while imparting different intervals between successive turns.

3. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein said sheath means consist of bellows formed from a plurality of successive folds, each lateral inner portions of each said fold being connected to said coiled spring means adjacent to the inner portion of an adjacent fold.

4. A handrail according to claim 3, wherein said elements are constituted of rubberized canvas.

5. A handrail according to claim 3, wherein the two lateral inner portions of each element are connected to respective turns of the spring means by fingers turned back over the turns.

6. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein said sheath means consist of part cylindrical tube lengths having an angular development exceeding one portion of each tube length being secured to a respective turn of the spring means, said tube lengths being of such length and being separated by a number of turns so selected that there remains an overlap between successive tube lengths when the spring is in its condition of maximum stretch.

7. A handrail according to claim 6, wherein an end portion of each tube length is secured to the spring and the opposite end portion overlaps the next tube length and is provided with a pad.

8. A'handrail according to claim 6, wherein each tube length is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of plastics and. rubberized canvas.

9. A handrail according to claim 6, comprising handles carried by some at'least of the tube lengths, each handle being in such a location that it remains at a distance from the end portion of the preceding tube length when the spring is in its condition of maximum compression.

10. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein the driving means comprise a plurality of toothed wheels whose teeth engage turns of the coil in seriatim order, each wheel having a number of teeth, a diameter and a rotational speed so selected that it delivers a number of turns which is identical for all wheels.

11. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein said driving means comprise a chain including two sets of links, each adapted to bend in the plane of the chain, the links of one set being pivotally connected to the links of the other set close to their end portions and close to their mid-portion for constituting a continuous series of lozenges, an apex of each lozenge being connected to a respective turn of the spring means and said apices located mid-way between the end portions cooperating with motor means, all said motor means being synchronized for delivering an identical number of said apices per time unit.

12. A handrail according to claim 11, comprising means for guiding the apices of the lozenges which are opposed to those secured to the spring means, on part at least of the path of the handrail.

13. In combination with a passenger conveyor comprising a treadway moved at a variable speed from an entrance zone to an exit zone, a handrail according to claim 1 located substantially parallel to said treadway, wherein said driving means impress to said helically coiled member a variable speed which is adjustable at each point at a value which is close to the speed of the treadway at the same location along the path.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein said driving means impress to said handrail a speed slightly in excess of that of said treadway in the portions of said path where the speed is increased or decreased. =1 l

Claims

1. A handrail comprising, in combination, a helically coiled endless elongated member, sheath means covering said coiled member throughout its length but on part only of its lateral surface, said sheath means providing a relatively smooth surface, guide means for guiding said member along a closed path, and a plurality of driving means distributed along said path and cooperating with following turns of said coiled member in seriatim order, said driving means being so constructed and arranged that all driving means pass the samE number of turns per time unit while imparting different intervals between successive turns.

2. A handrail comprising in combination: endless helically coiled spring means, sheath means closely supported by said spring means and covering an angular portion comprised between 200* and 300* of said spring means throughout the length thereof, guiding means for said spring, including sliding members each connected to a respective turn of said coil means and at least one stationary track slidably receiving all said members, and a plurality of driving means distributed along said coil to impress different speeds to said spring along the path thereof, said driving means being so constructed and arranged that all driving means pass the same number of turns per time unit while imparting different intervals between successive turns.

6. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein said sheath means consist of part cylindrical tube lengths having an angular development exceeding 180*, one portion of each tube length being secured to a respective turn of the spring means, said tube lengths being of such length and being separated by a number of turns so selected that there remains an overlap between successive tube lengths when the spring is in its condition of maximum stretch.

8. A handrail according to claim 6, wherein each tube length is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of plastics and rubberized canvas.

9. A handrail according to claim 6, comprising handles carried by some at least of the tube lengths, each handle being in such a location that it remains at a distance from the end portion of the preceding tube length when the spring is in its condition of maximum compression.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein said driving means impress to said handrail a speed slightly in excess of that of said treadway in the portions of said path where the speed is increased or decreased.