Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
  • B66B23/00—Component parts of escalators or moving walkways

Definitions

• This invention relates to an improved support structure for an escalator that includes at least one stamping or pre-made module.
• Escalators are typically supported on truss structures having a common, well- known design.
• the trusses are made from multiple segments of tubular steel that are cut to specified lengths with certain angles cut on each of the ends. Each of these segments is fixtured so that adjacent segments can be manually welded in place. This is time consuming and requires a highly skilled work force, which results in high costs for building each truss.
• brackets are attached to the truss to support tracks, exterior cladding, and other escalatqr hardware. Attachment of the brackets requires additional labor and usually requires shimming so that escalator components can be properly aligned when installed. Next the escalator components are installed at the factory and significant adjustments are made from outside of the truss to ensure that all components are properly and securely mounted. Finally, the exterior cladding is attached to cover the openings in the truss. The cladding adds cost and weight but does not provide any additional structural strength or stiffness.
• each escalator installation has different design requirements that can vary the length and angle of rise for the escalator, the truss must be specifically cut and assembled for each different installation. Because the above described assembly process is so labor intensive, the costs for building the truss structure can be very high.
• This invention provides an improved truss structure that provides a closed design that eliminates the need for exterior cladding while providing additional structural strength and stiffness. Further, the improved truss structure requires fewer components, is easy to assemble and install, and significantly reduces the number of brackets needed to attach other escalator hardware. The improved truss can also be assembled at the job site, OT-4739 which provides flexibility in shipping and allows truss components to be brought into existing building without difficulty.
• a support structure for an escalator includes a bottom landing support, a top landing support, and a rise that interconnects the bottom landing support to the top landing support.
• the rise includes at least one module.
• the module for the rise is formed as a single piece stamping extending from the bottom landing support to the top landing support.
• the stamping has a U-shape with a horizontal base portion and a pair of vertical side portions. At least one reinforcement beam is secured to each side portion of the stamping to provide sufficient strength and stiffness for the rise.
• a portion of the truss length includes conventional diagonal support members.
• a module provides support, hi one example, such modules comprise a steel sheet.
• the module is formed as a plurality of stamped modules with each module formed as a single piece stamping.
• Each stamping has a U-shape with a horizontal base portion and a pair of vertical side portions. Attachment plates are used to secure one stamped module to the next to form the rise. Beams are installed on each side portion and extend along the length the stamped modules to provide strength and stiffness.
• the module is formed as a plurality of stamped modules with each module formed from a plurality of stampings including a single bottom piece and a pair of side pieces welded to the bottom piece to form a U-shape. Attachment plates secure adjacent modules to each other. Beams are installed on each side portion and extend along the length the stamped modules to provide strength and stiffness.
• the module is formed as a plurality of stamped modules with each module being formed from a pair of stampings welded together. At least one channel beam is secured along one vertical edge of the module for joining with a mating channel beam on one of the adjacent stamped modules.
• the module is formed as a plurality of stamped modules with each module being formed from a first stamping having a generally vertical body portion with an angled upper edge and an angled lower edge and a second stamping having a generally vertical body potion with an angled upper edge and an angled lower edge.
• the first and second stampings being joined together such that the angled upper edges extend in opposing directions from each other to form an upper channel and the angled lower edges extending in opposing directions form each other to form a lower channel.
• Attachment plates join adjacent modules to each other. Beams are received in the upper and lower channels for reinforcing the rise.
• the modules By using formed modules, installation time is reduced, costs are decreased, and consistent high quality is provided.
• the modules also provide flexibility in producing support structures of varying length that can be rapidly assembled from a common inventory of parts.
• Figure 1 is an escalator supported on a truss structure known in the art.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive truss structure.
• Figure 3 is a magnified perspective view of a portion of Figure 2 using a fastener attachment method.
• Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a welding attachment.
• Figure 5 is an alternate embodiment of a truss structure.
• Figure 6 is an exploded view of the truss shown in Figure 5.
• Figure 7 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of a truss structure.
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a truss structure.
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a truss structure.
• Figure 10 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of a truss structure.
• Figure 11 is another example of a truss designed according to this invention.
• Figure 1 illustrates an escalator supported on a known truss structure 20.
• the truss 20 is made from multiple segments 22 of tubular steel that are cut to specified lengths. Each of these segments 22 is manually welded to adjacent segments to form the truss 20.
• thte truss 20 includes a bottom landing structure 24, a top landing structure 26, and a rise structure 28 that interconnects the bottom 24 and top 26 landing structures.
• brackets are attached to the truss to support tracks, exterior cladding, and other escalator hardware (not shown). Attachment of the brackets requires additional labor and usually requires shimming so that escalator components can be properly aligned when installed, which is time consuming and expensive.
• a unique support structure assembly 30 for an escalator is shown in Figure 2.
• the support structure includes a bottom landing support portion 32, atop landing support portion (not shown) similar to the bottom landing support portion 32, and a rise portion 36 that interconnects the bottom 32 and top landing supports.
• the rise portion 36 includes at least one module.
• the module is preferably made from steel and can be created using bending or stamping processes that are well known in the art.
• the module is formed as a single piece stamping 38 that extends from the bottom landing support 32 to the top landing support.
• the single piece stamping 38 is formed with a U-shape including a horizontal base portion 40 and a pair of vertical side portions 42.
• Reinforcement beams 44 are secured to each side portion 42 of the stamping 38.
• the reinforcement beams are four inches by four inches with a quarter of an inch wall thickness.
• the reinforcement beams 44 provide additional rigidity and structural support for the escalator.
• a pair of beams is installed in each side portion 42 with one beam at the upper edge 46 and one beam at the lower edge 48 as shown in Figure 9, however, a single beam 44 or more than two (2) beams 44 could be installed at each side 42.
• the bottom 32 and top 34 landing supports can be formed from similar stamped structures or traditional welded steel tubing trusses can be used.
• the steel module for the rise 36 is formed as a plurality of stamped modules 50.
• Each module 50 is formed as a single piece stamping having a U-shape with a horizontal base portion 52 and a pair of vertical side portions 54.
• a plurality of attachment plates 56 are used to secure one stamped module 50 to the next stamped module 50 to form the rise 36.
• the attachment plates 56 can be fastened, welded, or joined to the modules 50 by methods well known in the art. Any number of modules 50 can be used to form the rise 36 depending on the length and angle of orientation for the rise.
• the rise 36 is formed from four (4) modules 50 that are secured to each other with the attachment plates 56.
• Beams 44 for reinforcing each side portion 54 are mounted to extend along the length of each stamped module.
• the bottom 32 and top 34 landing supports can be formed from similar stamped structures or traditional welded steel tubing trusses can be used.
• the module is formed as a plurality of stamped modules 60.
• Each module 60 is formed from a plurality of stamped pieces including a single bottom piece 62 and a pair of side pieces 64 welded perpendicularly to and along edges 66 of the bottom piece 62 to form a U-shape.
• Attachment plates 56 are used to secure one stamped module 60 to the next stamped module 60 to form the rise 36.
• Beams 44 for reinforcing the modules 60 are mounted to extend along the length the rise 36.
• the bottom 32 and top 34 landing supports can be formed from similar stamped structures or traditional welded steel tubing trusses can be used.
• FIG. 11 Another example is shown in Figure 11.
• portions of the structure near machine components include modules as support members.
• the illustrated example has a steel sheet 120 that preferably is welded in place.
• the module sheet 120 replaces tubular members adjacent to the drive machine.
• the steel module is formed as a plurality of stamped modules 70 with each module 70 formed from a pair of stampings 70a, 70b welded together about the circumference.
• the stampings 70a, 70b include diagonal reinforcement portions 72 that are integrally formed within the stampings 70a, 70b as one piece.
• Channel beams 55 are secured along opposing vertical edges 76 of each of the modules 70.
• the channel beams 55 are preferably C-shaped, however, other beam configurations could also be used.
• the channel beam 55 from one module 70 is joined to a mating channel beam 55 on an adjacent stamped modules 70.
• the channel beams 55 can include a plurality of openings 78 for receiving fasteners 57 shown in Figure 3, or the beams 55 can be welded together as shown in Figure 4.
• the bottom 32 and top 34 landing supports are also formed from similar stamped modules 70.
• the steel module is formed as a plurality of stamped modules 70 with each module formed from a pair of stampings 70a, 70b, as discussed above.
• multiple reinforcement portions 72 are integrally formed within the module 70.
• the steel module is formed as a plurality of stamped modules 80 with each module 80 formed from a pair of stampings 82, 84.
• the first stamping 82 has a generally vertical body portion with an angled upper edge 86 and an angled lower edge 88.
• the second stamping 84 also has a generally vertical body potion with an angled upper edge 92 and an angled lower edge 94.
• the pair of stampings 82, 84 are mirror images of one another and are joined together such that the angled upper edges 86, 92 extend in opposing directions from each other to form an upper channel 96.
• the angled lower edges 88, 94 also extend in opposing directions from each other to form a lower channel 98.
• Attachment plates 56 are used to join side edges 100 of the body portions to adjacent stamped modules 80 in a manner similar to that discussed above.
• the bottom 32 and top 34 landing supports are also formed from similar stamped modules 80.
• the angled upper 86, 92 and lower 88, 94 edges are at a forty-five degree angle with respect to the vertical body portions so that the channels 96, 98 are formed as a right angle, i.e. a ninety degree angle, when the first stamping 82 is joined to the second stamping 84.
• a first beam 102 is received in the upper channel 96 and a second beam 104 is received in the lower channel 98 for reinforcing the rise 36.
• Steel stamping manufacturing processes are well known in the art. Any type of steel stamping process can be used to form the stamped modules that are used for the escalator support structure.
• the steel stamping modules allow for easy assembly and installation of an escalator in older buildings that are being renovated.
• the modules also reduce the number of brackets and attachment hardware while providing the required structural strength and stiffness.

Landscapes

• Escalators And Moving Walkways (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25315764

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (8)

Families Citing this family (25)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (16)

• 2001
  • 2001-05-11 US US09/853,339 patent/US20020175039A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2002
  • 2002-05-08 WO PCT/US2002/014492 patent/WO2002092491A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2002-05-08 DE DE10296793T patent/DE10296793B4/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-05-08 CN CN02809588.XA patent/CN1269720C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-05-08 JP JP2002589383A patent/JP2004528252A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (1)

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