WO1997039972A1 - Stairlift skate - Google Patents
Stairlift skate Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997039972A1 WO1997039972A1 PCT/GB1997/000747 GB9700747W WO9739972A1 WO 1997039972 A1 WO1997039972 A1 WO 1997039972A1 GB 9700747 W GB9700747 W GB 9700747W WO 9739972 A1 WO9739972 A1 WO 9739972A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- roller
- skate
- rollers
- axis
- rail
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
- B66B9/00—Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures
- B66B9/06—Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures inclined, e.g. serving blast furnaces
- B66B9/08—Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures inclined, e.g. serving blast furnaces associated with stairways, e.g. for transporting disabled persons
- B66B9/0807—Driving mechanisms
- B66B9/0815—Rack and pinion, friction rollers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to stairlifts and more particularly to a skate for supporting a chair assembly on and guiding it along a stairlift rail.
- Stairlifts comprise a rail mounted along a flight of stairs, and a motorised chair assembly for travelling along that rail.
- the chair assembly is supported on the rail by means of a carriage or skate mounted to the chair assembly, and typically comprising two spaced-apart sets of rollers.
- a known stairlift comprises a flat rail on which the rollers run, and each set of rollers is able to turn to follow variations in the inclination of the rail and also to follow curves formed in the rail according to changes in direction of the stairway.
- a preferred form of rail is a tubular rail of circular cross-section, which is stronger than a similarly- dimensioned flat rail and can be formed to a smaller bend radius.
- a skate for a stairlift chair assembly comprising two spaced-apart pairs of rollers, the two rollers of each pair being arranged to run respectively above and below a circular-section support rail of the stairlift, the two rollers of each pair being rotatable about respective axes transverse of the skate, and each roller being able to turn about a further axis which intersects and is orthogonal to the rotary axes of the pair of rollers, but being constrained so that its rotary axis remains substantially in a plane to which said further axis is perpendicular.
- each pair of rollers is able to turn, about said further axis or axis of turning, to follow curves in the support rail.
- the rotary axes of the rollers remain substantially in respective planes, so that one roller of each pair continues to run on the upper side of the rail, and the other roller of that pair runs on the lower side of the rail: this ensures a firm support for the chair assembly at all times.
- the rotary axes of the two rollers of each pair remain in respective planes which are parallel to each other, said axis of turning being perpendicular to those planes: in other words, the rollers do not displace around the longitudinal axis of the main rail.
- Each roller may have bearing elements at its opposite ends (e.g. ball bearings engaged in respective depressions at its opposite ends) , these bearing elements being engaged in arcuate slots of opposed bearing supports. These bearing elements thus provide for the roller to rotate on its rotary axis, and the bearing elements can slide within their respective arcuate slots for the roller to turn on said axis of turning.
- each roller is rotatably mounted on an axle, the opposite ends of which are fitted with cross-pieces having arcuate outer end surfaces, these cross- pieces being engaged in arcuate slots of opposed bearing supports.
- the two pairs of rollers are mounted to respective roller housings, and the roller housings are mounted for turning about respective parallel, horizontal axes spaced apart longitudinally of the skate.
- Each roller housing is thus able to turn and follow the support rail, as the inclination of the support rail changes.
- the axis of one of the roller housings is fixed, and the other roller housing is mounted on a support which is able to turn about the axis of the one roller housing: the skate is therefore able to follow variations in the inclination of the support rail whilst maintaining the chair assembly upright.
- FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a chair assembly of a stairlift, shown mounted on its support rails;
- FIGURE 2 is a view of a skate mounted to the chair assembly
- FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view of the skate, showing alternative arrangements for mounting the skate rollers
- FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of one of the rollers; and FIGURE 5 is another view of the skate.
- a stairlift comprising a chair assembly 10 supported on and guided along a main tubular rail 12 of circular cross-section, by means of a skate 20 which will be described in detail below.
- the chair assembly 10 is propelled by an electric motor (not shown) which drives a toothed wheel 13 engaged with a corresponding rack 14 extending behind a second or auxiliary tubular rail 15.
- a roller 16 is provided on the motor drive shaft and runs on the upper side of the second rail 15 to provide auxiliary support for the chair assembly 10: a further roller 17 runs along the front of the rail 15 to help prevent the chair assembly 10 from tipping forward.
- the skate 20 comprises a support member 22 which is pivotally mounted to the chair chassis 19, for turning about a horizontal, transverse axis A.
- Two roller housing 24,26 are pivotally mounted to the support member 22, for turning about the axis A and about a parallel axis B, respectively.
- Two rollers e.g. 27,28 are rotatably mounted in each of the roller housings: as shown in Figure 1, one roller of each pair runs on the upper side of the tubular rail 12, and the other roller of the pair runs on the lower side of the rail.
- Each roller has a concave peripheral surface, of radius of curvature corresponding to the cross-section of the rail 12.
- a flight of stairs may include landings or other features such that the angle of inclination of the main rail 12 varies along its length.
- the spacing of the rail 15 from the rail 12 is therefore varied along the length of the stairway to ensure that the chair assembly 10 remains upright at all positions along the stairway: it will be appreciated that there is a constant distance between the point on the main rail 12 at which the upper pair of skate rollers engage that rail, and the point on the lower or auxiliary rail 15 at which the rollers 16,17 engage that rail; thus by appropriately varying the distance of auxiliary rail 15 from the main rail 12 as the inclination of the main rail varies, the chair assembly is maintained upright as it travels along its rails.
- each of the two pairs of skate rollers can independently follow those changes, their housings 24,26 independently turning about their respective axes A, B.
- the stairway will include changes in direction or other features, such that the main rail 12 will include curved portions to follow those changes.
- the skate rollers are able to pivot, as shown in Figure 3, to follow such curves in the main rail 12.
- the rollers of each pair are mounted for rotation around respective axes C, D which extend transverse to the skate (and normally horizontally) : in order to follow curves in the main rail 12, the rollers are able to turn about an axis E which is orthogonal to and intersects both roller axes C, D.
- the rollers are constrained so that their rotary axes C, D remain substantially in respective parallel planes, to which the axis E is perpendicular: axis E lies in a vertical plane containing the axis of the main rail 12 and is perpendicular to the latter axis.
- this arrangement may be achieved using one-piece rollers, each roller e.g.
- each roller e.g. 40 is rotatably mounted on an axle 41 having a cross-piece 42 fitted in a transverse slot in each of its opposite ends.
- each cross- piece 42 has flat, parallel opposite side surfaces and an arcuate outer end surface 43. The two members 42 are engaged in arcuate slots in the bearing supports 33,34 of the respective roller housing, to allow the roller to turn through a limited angle about the axis E.
- each roller is able independently to turn around the axis E, although in practice the two rollers of each pair will turn in unison around that axis in order to follow the main rail 12.
- each roller housing comprises a base 34 providing a bearing support for both rollers of that pair, and respective bearing supports 33 for the opposite ends of those rollers, the bearing supports 33 being mounted to the base 34 by means of posts 36.
- the base 34 is cut-away or recessed at 37, to accommodate the main rail 12 where this is tightly curved.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/171,557 US6082496A (en) | 1997-03-19 | 1996-04-20 | Stairlift skate |
DE69701137T DE69701137T2 (en) | 1996-04-20 | 1997-03-19 | CHASSIS FOR STAIRLIFT |
JP9537805A JP2000508612A (en) | 1996-04-20 | 1997-03-19 | Sliding member for stair lift |
EP97907226A EP0894075B1 (en) | 1996-04-20 | 1997-03-19 | Stairlift skate |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9608244.1 | 1996-04-20 | ||
GBGB9608244.1A GB9608244D0 (en) | 1996-04-20 | 1996-04-20 | Stairlift skate |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1997039972A1 true WO1997039972A1 (en) | 1997-10-30 |
Family
ID=10792421
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1997/000747 WO1997039972A1 (en) | 1996-04-20 | 1997-03-19 | Stairlift skate |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0894075B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2000508612A (en) |
DE (1) | DE69701137T2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9608244D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997039972A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1999043594A1 (en) * | 1998-02-26 | 1999-09-02 | Otto Ooms B.V. | A stair lift and a supporting unit for a stair lift |
NL1014396C2 (en) * | 2000-02-16 | 2001-08-20 | Freelift Bv | Device for transport along a slope or staircase. |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN105692398B (en) * | 2016-04-28 | 2018-11-13 | 浙江非常道楼道电梯有限公司 | Passageway lift and its driving mechanism |
GB2565072A (en) * | 2017-07-31 | 2019-02-06 | Stannah Stairlifts Ltd | Improvements in or relating to drive systems |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2701981A1 (en) * | 1977-01-19 | 1978-07-20 | Guenter Haette | Travelling staircase chair for invalids - has support carriage driven by chain which runs in guides along side of stairs |
EP0137577A1 (en) * | 1983-10-10 | 1985-04-17 | Antony Stopher | A stair lift |
EP0143737A1 (en) * | 1983-09-21 | 1985-06-05 | César Rigert | Conveying device to overcome level differences |
WO1995029867A1 (en) * | 1994-05-01 | 1995-11-09 | Bengt Johansson | Method and means at stair lifts |
-
1996
- 1996-04-20 GB GBGB9608244.1A patent/GB9608244D0/en active Pending
-
1997
- 1997-03-19 EP EP97907226A patent/EP0894075B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-03-19 DE DE69701137T patent/DE69701137T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-03-19 WO PCT/GB1997/000747 patent/WO1997039972A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1997-03-19 JP JP9537805A patent/JP2000508612A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2701981A1 (en) * | 1977-01-19 | 1978-07-20 | Guenter Haette | Travelling staircase chair for invalids - has support carriage driven by chain which runs in guides along side of stairs |
EP0143737A1 (en) * | 1983-09-21 | 1985-06-05 | César Rigert | Conveying device to overcome level differences |
EP0137577A1 (en) * | 1983-10-10 | 1985-04-17 | Antony Stopher | A stair lift |
WO1995029867A1 (en) * | 1994-05-01 | 1995-11-09 | Bengt Johansson | Method and means at stair lifts |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1999043594A1 (en) * | 1998-02-26 | 1999-09-02 | Otto Ooms B.V. | A stair lift and a supporting unit for a stair lift |
NL1014396C2 (en) * | 2000-02-16 | 2001-08-20 | Freelift Bv | Device for transport along a slope or staircase. |
EP1125882A1 (en) * | 2000-02-16 | 2001-08-22 | Freelift B.V. | Device for transport along incline or staircase |
JP2001253666A (en) * | 2000-02-16 | 2001-09-18 | Freelift Bv | Device performing conveyance along inclined track or stairs |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69701137D1 (en) | 2000-02-17 |
EP0894075A1 (en) | 1999-02-03 |
GB9608244D0 (en) | 1996-06-26 |
JP2000508612A (en) | 2000-07-11 |
DE69701137T2 (en) | 2000-09-21 |
EP0894075B1 (en) | 2000-01-12 |
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