WO2017093818A1 - Améliorations apportées à des escalators linéaires ou associées à ces derniers - Google Patents

Améliorations apportées à des escalators linéaires ou associées à ces derniers Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017093818A1
WO2017093818A1 PCT/IB2016/055846 IB2016055846W WO2017093818A1 WO 2017093818 A1 WO2017093818 A1 WO 2017093818A1 IB 2016055846 W IB2016055846 W IB 2016055846W WO 2017093818 A1 WO2017093818 A1 WO 2017093818A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
escalator
tread
nosing
drive
lateral
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2016/055846
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Roger Graham GEDEN
Craig Brendan Russell
Original Assignee
Geden Roger Graham
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Geden Roger Graham filed Critical Geden Roger Graham
Publication of WO2017093818A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017093818A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B21/00—Kinds or types of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B21/02—Escalators
    • B66B21/04—Escalators linear type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B23/00—Component parts of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B23/08—Carrying surfaces
    • B66B23/12—Steps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B23/00—Component parts of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B23/14—Guiding means for carrying surfaces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to linear escalators. More particularly but not exclusively it relates to linear escalators that present steps, the tread nosing of which is not perpendicular to the conveying direction.
  • Escalators were originally conceived as "moving stairways". They were based on the notion of fixed steps, only that they moved. This archetype is still the basis behind modern escalators.
  • the steps of the escalator themselves move from a flat entry landing zone where a user enters the escalator, to an inclined or declining zone, (depending on the riding direction), before reverting to another flat exit landing zone where the user disembarks.
  • the user is additionally subject to acceleration or deceleration, in both the horizontal and vertical directions. This accelerating and decelerating (or vice versa) may occur both vertically and horizontally at the same time. This effect can easily cause loss of balance in the user, thus decreased safety for escalator users.
  • the present invention may be said to be a linear escalator to convey people in a conveying zone of the escalator from one elevation to another, the linear escalator comprising a plurality of linked steps that each have a tread and a riser and that can circulate around an endless path and that in the conveying zone of the escalator are configured as a moving staircase each presenting a tread for people to stand on and where the tread to riser interface of juxtaposed steps is oblique to their linear advance direction through the conveying zone, the tread run of each discrete step being constant across the width of the tread, thereby providing for each discrete step an ability to receive, fully supported on its tread, one foot of a user ahead more of the user's other foot with respect to the advance direction when the feet point in the advance direction.
  • the interface is at an acute angle to the perpendicular to the advance direction, when seen in plan view.
  • the acute angle is between 2 and 55 degrees.
  • the tread of each step is generally rhomboidal in plan.
  • the acute angle is between 10 and 30 degrees..
  • the interface is linear when seen in plan view.
  • the interface can non linear when seen in plan view.
  • the present invention may be said to be a step to form part of an endless array of steps of a linear escalator, to be advanced on an endless path, the step comprising :
  • a tread bounded by a nosing and an edge opposed the nosing and lateral parallel edges that extend between the nosing and the edge opposed the nosing,
  • step running gear that includes:
  • the corner at the junction of the nosing and one lateral and parallel edge being positioned advanced more in the advance direction than the corner at the junction of the nosing and the other lateral and parallel edge.
  • the tread is not rectangular in plan shape.
  • nosing of the tread is not entirely perpendicular to the advance direction when seen in plan view.
  • nosing is not perpendicular to the advance direction when seen in plan view..
  • the angle of a notional line between the corner at the junction of the nosing and one lateral and parallel edge and the corner at the junction of the nosing and the other lateral and parallel edge is oblique to the advance direction, when seen in plan view (ie looking down on the tread).
  • the tread is rhomboidal in plan view.
  • one side of the step is asymmetrically positioned relative the other side of the step.
  • the guide wheel at one side of the step is positioned more advanced in the advance direction than the guide wheel at the other side of the step when seen in plan view.
  • the drive member at one side of the step is positioned more advanced in the advance direction than the guide wheel at the other side of the step when seen in plan view.
  • the drive member at one side of the step is positioned no more or less advanced in the advance direction than the guide wheel at the other side of the step when seen in plan view.
  • the running gear at one side of said step is asymmetrically positioned relative the running gear at the other side of said step.
  • the running gear's asymmetric positioning is the same as the side's asymmetric positioning.
  • the running gear at one side of said step is positioned advanced more in the advance direction relative the running gear at the other side of said step.
  • one side of the step is positioned advanced more in the advance direction than the other side of the step.
  • the sides of the step are a reflection of each other yet one side is positioned more advance in the advance direction than the other side of the step.
  • the running gear at one side of the step is positioned relative its respective side of the step identically as the running gear on the other side of the step relative its respective side of the step.
  • the asymmetric placement is, when seen looking in plan view onto the treat and in side view, about a notional plane of symmetry that lies in the advance direction of the step midway between the two sides and in which the normal of the tread surface lies.
  • the running gear at one side of said step is symmetrically positioned relative the running gear at the other side of said step when seen in front view looking along the tread, about a notional plane of symmetry that lies in the advance direction of the step midway between the two sides and in which the normal of the tread surface lies.
  • the riser of the step has a face that, at any cross sectional plane parallel to the tread taken from the tread towards its base, has a profile that is the same as the nosing when seen in plan view..
  • the riser of the step has a face that, at any cross sectional plane parallel to the tread taken from the tread plate towards its base, is a translation of the nosing when seen in plan view..
  • the tread run, at any location between the two lateral parallel edges, is constant.
  • the tread run, at any location between the two lateral parallel edges, is less than the distance between the two lateral parallel edges.
  • the two lateral sides of the step when viewed in side view onto a side, are in partial overlap with each other.
  • nosing between the two lateral parallel edges is, when seen in plan view, straight.
  • nosing from one of the lateral parallel edges to the other of the lateral parallel edges is, when seen in plan view, straight.
  • the nosing between the two lateral parallel edges when seen in plan view, is at least partially straight.
  • nosing between the two lateral parallel edges when seen in plan view, is at least partially curved.
  • nosing between the two lateral parallel edges when seen in plan view, is curved.
  • no part of the nosing projects more advanced in the advance direction than one of lateral parallel edges.
  • the two parallel edges of the tread are parallel to the advance direction.
  • the angle of a notional straight line between the advance most end of a first lateral parallel side and the advance most end of the second lateral parallel side, when seen in plan view, to the advance direction is less than 88 degrees and preferably between 88 degrees and 40 degrees.
  • the angle is between 80 and 60 degrees..
  • the step running gear is asymmetrically positioned.
  • the edge opposed the nosing of the tread is of a profile that is a geometric translation of the profile of the nosing.
  • each drive member comprises an axle.
  • each axle carries a chain wheel to be supported by a respective chain wheel guide track of the escalator.
  • the step running gear at each side also includes a step wheel presented for guided movement along a step wheel guide track.
  • axles and the rotational axes of the guide wheels are all parallel to each other.
  • axles and the rotational axes of the guide wheels are all parallel to each other and perpendicular to the advance direction.
  • the step wheels at each side have rotational axes that are perpendicular to the advance direction and are not co-axial each other.
  • the step wheel is placed adjacent more the edge opposed the nosing
  • the guide wheel is placed adjacent more the nosing
  • the drive member is positioned intermediate the step wheel and the guide wheel .
  • the step wheel at one side of the step is placed more advanced in the advance direction than the step wheel on the other side of the step.
  • the distance between the step wheel and the guide wheel and drive member on one side of the step is the same as the distance between the step wheel and the guide wheel and drive member on the other side of the step.
  • the relative geometric layout of the guide wheel and step wheel and drive member is the same on one side of the step as the other side of the step..
  • axles and the rotational axes of the guide wheels, and where provided, the step wheels are all parallel to each other.
  • the present invention may be said to be a linear escalator
  • a truss structure supported guide wheel guide track to guide and vertically support said guide wheel at a side of each step positioned relative said truss structure in a manner keeping the tread of each step substantially horizontal throughout movement on the endless path in the conveying zone.
  • the guide wheel guide track on one side of the array is a horizontal translation to the guide wheel guide track on the other side of the array when seen looking onto the side of the escalator.
  • each said guided pulling member is guided at each of said upper and lower return zone about a respective drive wheel rotationally mounted relative to said truss structure at least one of the drive wheels able to be driven by said motor.
  • each drive wheel is a drive gear.
  • the pulling member is a chain.
  • each drive gear includes gear teeth to mesh with a respective chain.
  • the drive wheels at the bottom return zone are mounted with rotational axes coaxial.
  • the drive wheels at the top return zone are mounted with rotational axes coaxial.
  • the distance between the lower zone drive gear and upper zone drive gear on one side of the array of said steps is the same as the distance between the lower zone drive gear and upper zone drive gear on the other side of the array of steps.
  • the rotational axis of the upper zone drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is not coaxial the rotational axis of the upper zone drive gear at other side of the array of said steps.
  • the rotational axis of the lower zone drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is not coaxial the rotational axis of the lower zone drive gear at other side of the array of said steps.
  • the rotational axis of the upper zone drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is coaxial the rotational axis of the upper zone drive gear at other side of the array of said steps.
  • the rotational axis of the lower zone drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is coaxial the rotational axis of the lower zone drive gear at other side of the array of said steps.
  • the distance between rotational axes of the lower zone drive gears is the same as the distance between the rotational axes of the upper zone drive gears.
  • the rotational axes of the lower zone drive gears lie in a horizontal plane.
  • the rotational axes of the upper zone drive gears lie in a horizontal plane.
  • at least one of the drive gears is driven directly or indirectly by a motor.
  • the escalator includes a landing at each of the upper zone and lower zone, each landing including a step comb that has a comb edge that is of a profile, when seen in plan view looking down on the landing that is a geometric translation of the nosing of the steps that pass beneath it.
  • the escalator includes a landing at the upper regions and lower region, each landing including a step comb that has a comb edge that is of a profile, when seen in plan view looking down on the landing that is oblique to the advance direction of the steps..
  • the escalator includes hand rail belts on each side of the array.
  • the belt on one side being asymmetrically positioned the belt on the other side.
  • the hand rail belt on ones side follows an endless path that is identical to the endless path followed by the other hand rail belt, the paths when view side on to the escalator being a horizontal translation of each other.
  • truss structure supports guide rails for the step running gear to engage with .
  • guide rails for the guide wheel of each step at one side of the array are provided and guide rails for the guide wheel of each step at the other side of the array are provided, the guide rails on one side being a horizontal translation of the guide rails on the other side when the escalator is viewed from the side.
  • step wheels are provided by each step
  • guide rails for the step wheel of each step at one side of the array are provided and guide rails for the step wheel of each step at the other side of the array are provided, the guide rails on one side being a horizontal translation of the guide rails on the other side when the escalator is viewed from the side.
  • guides are provided to guide the pulling member at one side of the array and guides are provided to guide the pulling member at the other side of the array, the guides on one side being a horizontal translation of the guides on the other side when the escalator is viewed from the side.
  • guides are provided to guide the pulling member at one side of the array and guides are provided to guide the pulling member at the other side of the array, the guides on one side overlaying the guides on the other side when the escalator is viewed from the side.
  • the horizontal translation of the guide wheel guides corresponds to the horizontal translation between the guide wheels at each side of each step.
  • the horizontal translation of the step wheel guides corresponds to the horizontal translation between the step wheels at each side of each step.
  • At least one landing has decoration that is visually matching of the nosing profile of the treads passing from under the landings.
  • the steps are kept in a contiguous relationship with adjacent steps in a manner where the edge opposed the nosing of the tread of one steps abuts the riser (or the nosing when treads are co-planar as they may be approaching or departing the landings) of an adjacent step.
  • the present invention may be said to be a step for a linear escalator having a nosing edge oblique to the direction of travel when in use.
  • the present invention may be said to be a linear escalator comprising an array of juxtaposed and connected steps to each circulate on an endless path each step having a nosing edge that is oblique to the direction of travel on the path.
  • the tread of the step is rhomboidal in plan view..
  • the present invention may be said to be a step to form part of an endless array of steps of a linear escalator to advance on an endless path, the step
  • a step tread that has a tread plane and is bounded by a nosing and an edge opposed the nosing and lateral parallel edges that extend between the nosing and edge opposed the nosing,
  • step running gear that includes:
  • each of said drive members positioned so that a notional straight line extending through each of said drive members (a) is oblique to the advance direction and (b) passes through or proximate a normal to the tread plane that also passes through or proximate the centre of gravity of the step.
  • one side of the step is asymmetrically positioned relative the other side of the step.
  • the guide wheels are positioned so that a notional straight line extending through each of said guide wheels is oblique to the advance direction and is parallel the notional straight line extending through the drive members.
  • the corners of the nosing and the two parallel edges and the corners of the edge opposed the nosing and the two parallel edges correspond to corners of a notional rhomboid.
  • the running gear at one side of said step is positioned advanced more in the advance direction relative the running gear at the other side of said step.
  • one side of the step is positioned advanced more in the advance direction than the other side of the step.
  • the running gear at one side of the step is positioned relative its respective side of the step identically as the running gear on the other side of the step relative its respective side of the step..
  • the asymmetric placement is, when seen looking in plan view onto the treat and in side view, about a notional plane of symmetry that lies in the advance direction of the step midway between the two sides and in which the normal of the tread surface lies.
  • the running gear at one side of said step is symmetrically positioned relative the running gear at the other side of said step when seen in front view looking along the tread, about a notional plane of symmetry that lies in the advance direction of the step midway between the two sides and in which the normal of the tread surface lies.
  • the guide wheel on one side of said step is placed more advanced in the advance direction than the guide wheel on the other side of the step.
  • the drive member on one side of said step is placed more advanced in the advance direction than the drive member on the other side of the step.
  • the riser of the step has a face that is of a constant profile.
  • the riser of the step has a face that, at any cross sectional plane parallel to the tread taken from the tread towards its base, has a profile that is the same as the nosing..
  • the riser of the step has a face that, at any cross sectional plane parallel to the tread taken from the tread plate towards its base, is a translation of the shape of the nosing.
  • the tread run at any location between the two lateral parallel edges is constant.
  • the tread run, at any location between the two lateral parallel edges is less than the distance between the two lateral parallel edges.
  • the two sides of the step when viewed in side view onto a side, are in partial overlap with each other.
  • nosing between the two lateral parallel edges is, when seen in plan view, straight..
  • nosing from one of the lateral parallel edges to the other of the lateral parallel edges is, when seen in plan view, straight.
  • the nosing between the two lateral parallel edges when seen in plan view, is at least partially straight.
  • nosing between the two lateral parallel edges when seen in plan view, is at least partially curved ..
  • nosing between the two lateral parallel edges when seen in plan view, is curved.
  • no part of the nosing projects more advanced in the advance direction than one of lateral parallel edges.
  • the tread is rhomboid shaped in plan view..
  • nosing when seen in plan view is parallel the notional line between the drive members.
  • the two parallel edges of the tread are pa rallel to the advance direction.
  • the angle of a notional straight line between the drive members and the advance direction is less than 88 degrees and preferably between 88 degrees and 40 degrees seen in plan view (ie looking parallel the normal of the tread plane).
  • the angle is between 80 and 65 degrees..
  • the angle of a notional straight line between the advance most end of a first lateral parallel side and the advance most end of the second lateral parallel side when seen in plan view to the advance direction is less than 88 degrees and preferably between 88 and 40 degrees.
  • the angle is between 80 and 55 degrees..
  • the profile of the edge opposed the nosing is of a profile that is a translation of the profile of the nosing.
  • each drive member comprises an axle.
  • each axle carries a chain wheel to be supported by a chain wheel guide track of the escalator.
  • the step running gear at each side also includes a step wheel presented for guided movement along a step wheel guide track.
  • axles and the rotational axes of the guide wheels are all parallel to each other.
  • axles and the rotational axes of the guide wheels, and where provided, the step wheels, are all parallel to each other..
  • the present invention may be said to be a linear escalator comprising :
  • each step comprising
  • each step there is provided a drive member coupled to a respective endless pulling member, the drive member on one parallel side of said step being coupled to a respective pulling member that is advanced more in the advance direction than where the drive member on the other parallel side of said step is coupled to its respective endless pulling member.
  • the pulling members are guided at least in part by truss structure supported guides.
  • the nosing is oblique to the advance direction.
  • a notional straight line extending through each of said drive members is parallel the nosing when seen in a view looking parallel the normal of the planar tread.
  • the array of steps are each interconnected in series at each lateral side of the step by said endless pulling member to pull each step on the endless path with preferably the tread side edges remaining parallel the direction of travel on the endless path.
  • a truss structure supported guide wheel guide track is provided to guide and vertically support a guide wheel at a side of each step positioned relative said truss structure in a manner keeping the tread of each step substantially horizontal throughout movement on the endless path in the conveying zone.
  • a truss structure supported drive member guide track is provided to guide and vertically support the drive member at a side of each step positioned relative said truss structure in a manner keeping the tread of each step substantially horizontal throughout movement on the endless path in the conveying zone.
  • the centre of gravity of the step lies in a notional straight line that is parallel a normal to the plane of the tread that also passes through or proximate a notional straight line extending through where each of the drive members are coupled to a respective pulling member.
  • the centre of gravity lies in a plane midway between the two parallel lateral side edges, a normal to the plane of the tread also lying in this plane.
  • each side is a guide wheel having an axis of rotation, the axes of rotation being parallel but offset from each other.
  • the axes are parallel and offset from each other yet lie in a notional plane that is parallel the plane of the tread ..
  • the drive member on one side is offset the drive member on the other side, yet lie in a notional plane that is parallel the plane of the tread and preferably remain in such relative disposition throughout movement on the endless path.
  • each drive member includes an axle that supports a chain wheel for rotation about chain wheel axis of rotation, the chain wheel axes of rotation being parallel and non- coaxial each other offset and lying in a notional plane that is parallel tread.
  • the pulling member is a chain.
  • the tread includes a tread pattern ..
  • the array of said steps circulate along said endless path pulled at lateral sides by a said respective pulling member that loops around a lower escalator end drive gear and upper escalator end drive gear.
  • the distance between the lower escalator end drive gear and upper escalator end drive gear on one side of the array of said steps is the same as the distance between the lower escalator end drive gear and upper escalator end drive gear on the other side of the array of steps.
  • the rotational axis of the upper escalator end drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is not coaxial the rotational axis of the upper escalator end drive gear at other side of the array of said
  • the rotational axis of the lower escalator end drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is not coaxial the rotational axis of the lower escalator end drive gear at other side of the array of said steps.
  • the distance between rotational axes of the lower escalator end drive gears is the same as the distance between the rotational axes of the upper escalator end drive gears.
  • the rotational axes of the lower escalator end drive gears line in a horizontal plane.
  • the rotational axes of the upper escalator end drive gears line in a horizontal plane.
  • At least one of the drive gears is driven directly or indirectly by a motor.
  • the invention may also be said to be a linear escalator comprising :
  • the lower return zone drive gear at one lateral side of the array and the lower return zone drive gear at the other lateral side of the array are of the same diameter and rotate about parallel horizontal axes of rotation that lie in a horizontal plane yet are not co-axial
  • the upper return zone drive gear at one lateral side of the array and the upper return zone drive gear at the other lateral side of the array are of the same diameter and rotate about parallel horizontal axes of rotation that lie in a horizontal plane yet are not co-axial
  • the drive chain at one side of the array is connected to said step at a location of the step that is more advanced in the advance direction than where the drive chain at the other side of the array is connected to the step.
  • the present invention may broadly be said to be a linear escalator comprising :
  • each step of the array of steps comprising :
  • a tread that has a tread plane and is bounded by a nosing and an edge opposed the nosing and lateral parallel edges that extend between the nosing and edge opposed the nosing,
  • step running gear that includes:
  • the drive members positioned preferably at a respective side of the step in a location relative the side that is intermediate of being below the nosing and below the edge opposed the nosing.
  • the drive members are positioned so that a notional line there between (a) is oblique to the advance direction and (b) passes through or proximate a normal to the tread plane that also passes through the centre of gravity of the step
  • the rotational axis of one of the drive wheels at the lower return section lies in a horizontal plane that the rotational axis of the other d rive wheels at the lower return section lies said rotational axes spaced the same distance that the drive members are spaced from each other.
  • step running gear Preferably at each side of said step, step running gear also includes a guide wheel spaced from said drive member.
  • a truss supported guide wheel guide track to guide and vertically support said guide wheel at a side of each step, the guide wheel guide track on one side of the array being a horizontal translation to the guide track on the other side of the array when seen looking onto the side of the escalator,
  • each step of the escalator is the same shape.
  • each step of the escalator is oriented when seen in plan view, in the use section, in the same manner..
  • the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a step of or for a linear escalator, the step being adapted for serial tessellation with like steps and to advance in a downwards direction over a conveying zone, the step being characterised that its tread has a nosing that allows a user's feet to be supported more advanced of the other of a user's feet when the user is facing the downwards direction.
  • the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a step of or for a linear escalator to travel through the conveying zone of the escalator with its tread asymmetric of its advance axis whereby a user is able to place his or her feet, positioned on said tread, one more advanced of the other..
  • the tread is rhormboidal ..
  • the tread is planar..
  • the tread is of a fixed (non-reconfigurable) configuration.
  • the tread defines the entire of the support presented for a user to stand on..
  • the tread is horizontal when travelling in the conveying zone of the escalator.
  • the tread is shaped to accommodate and support the entire of each foot of the user, one foot able to be placed more advanced in the advance axis direction of the escalator than the other foot when the step is moving down through the conveying zone.
  • each tread when in the conveying zone presents a nosing that is not perpendicular to the advance axis direction.
  • each tread when in the conveying zone presents a nosing that has a section that is more advanced than other section(s) of the nosing in the advance axis direction when the step is moving down through the conveying zone.
  • the nosing at one lateral edge of the tread is more advanced than at the opposite lateral edge of the tread when the step is moving down through the conveying zone.
  • the present invention may be said to broadly consist in an escalator of a plurality of linked steps that can circulate around an endless path and that in the conveying zone are predominantly configured as a moving staircase where the tread to riser interface of juxtaposed steps is oblique to their linear advance direction.
  • the comb plate of the landings at each end of the conveying zone is not perpendicular to the linear advance direction.
  • the comb plate at where the steps appear or disappear to/from the conveying zone is oblique to the linear advance direction.
  • the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a step for a linear escalator that can circulate around an endless path pulled by at least one drive chain, including through a conveying zone at where a person can be supported for transport by the step, the step comprising a nosing edge at the intersection of its riser and tread plate, and a distal edge being a horizontal translation of the nosing edge with respect to the direction of travel direction in operation, the tread plate intermediate both the nosing edge and the distal edge for supporting a user in operation when the step is in the conveying zone of the escalator, the tread plate having
  • the nosing edge and distal edge are oblique to the direction of travel of the step when seen in plan view when in the conveying zone.
  • the first region and second region when combined form or form part of a generally rhomboid shaped tread when viewed in plan ..
  • each lateral side of the step comprises a guide wheel towards the riser to guide the relative position of the step whilst travelling through the conveying zone.
  • the guide wheels present their axes coaxial on another.
  • the guide wheels present their axes in a common plane that is parallel the plane of the tread plate but not coaxial one another.
  • each lateral side of the step comprises a drive axle at where the step is pulled via pivotal attachment to the drive chain.
  • the drive axles are presented at each side coaxial one another.
  • drive axles present their axes in a common plane that is parallel the plane of the tread plate but not coaxial one another.
  • the step comprises at each side a step wheel towards the distal edge to further guide the relative position of the step.
  • the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a step for a linear escalator having tread plate that when viewed in plan is substantially rhomboid shape.
  • the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a linear escalator with steps of one or other of the preceding paragraphs..
  • the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a linear escalator having serially interconnected steps that can circulate around an endless path pulled by two flanking chains each pivotally connected to a respective drive member of and at each lateral side of the step, including through a conveying zone at where a person can be supported for transport by a said step, wherein each step is supported in a substantially constant orientation about its endless path and comprises sufficient wheel pairs on each lateral side of the step, the escalator providing tracking of such wheels to hold each said step to its substantially constant orientation; wherein to better support each step at a constant orientation at least one of (a) the wheel pairs, and (b) the pivot axes of each step to its flanking chains, is/are coaxially offset relative each other.
  • the present invention may be said to broadly consist in an escalator comprising or including an array of steps, each step having a riser and a tread the nosing of which is not perpendicular to the direction of travel of the step, the steps of the array each being adapted to circulate serially around an endless path, wherein each step is at each lateral side thereof pivotally connected at a drive axis to a drive member to a respective array flanking first and second drive chain each driven to advance synchronously with each other around respective endless chain paths and to thereby pull the steps around said first mentioned endless path, the drive axes being parallel but not coaxial each other.
  • the present invention may broadly be said to be an escalator step comprising :
  • a rhomboid shape planar tread with two parallel lateral side edges and two parallel major edges, one of the major side edges being the nosing edge of the step,
  • each guide wheel to be guided in a guide track of an escalator each guide wheel having an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation or one guide wheel being parallel but offset from the axis of rotation of the other guide wheel.
  • the axes of rotation of the guide wheels are parallel and offset from each other yet lie in a notional plane that is parallel the plane of the tread .
  • each lateral side of the step is a drive member with which a pulling member of the escalator can be coupled to cause the step to be pulled and circulate along an endless path.
  • the drive member at one lateral side is aligned to the drive member at the other lateral side.
  • the drive member at one lateral side and the drive member at the other lateral side lie on a notional line that is parallel the planar tread and that is perpendicular the lateral side edges.
  • the drive member at one lateral side is offset relative the drive member at the other lateral side.
  • the drive member at one side is offset the drive member at the other side, yet both lie in a notional plane that is parallel the plane of the tread .
  • each drive member includes an axle that supports a chain wheel for rotation about a chain wheel axis of rotation, the chain wheel axes of rotation being parallel and non- coaxial each other offset and lying in a notional plane that is parallel tread.
  • the pulling member is a chain.
  • the tread includes a tread pattern .
  • the escalator is of a kind that carries an array of said steps that circulate along an endless path pulled at lateral sides by a respective pulling member that loops around a lower escalator end drive gear and upper escalator end drive gear..
  • the distance between the lower escalator end drive gear and upper escalator end drive gear on one side of the array of said steps is the same as the distance between the lower escalator end drive gear and upper escalator end drive gear on the other side of the array of steps.
  • the rotational axis of the upper escalator end drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is not coaxial the rotational axis of the upper escalator end drive gea r at other side of the array of said steps.
  • the rotational axis of the lower escalator end drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is not coaxial the rotational axis of the lower escalator end drive gear at other side of the array of said steps.
  • the rotational axis of the upper escalator end drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is coaxial the rotational axis of the upper escalator end drive gear at other side of the array of said steps.
  • the rotational axis of the lower escalator end drive gear at one side of the array of said steps is coaxial the rotational axis of the lower escalator end drive gear at other side of the array of said steps.
  • the distance between rotational axes of the lower escalator end drive gears is the same as the distance between the rotational axes of the upper escalator end drive gears.
  • the rotational axes of the lower escalator end drive gears line in a horizontal plane.
  • the rotational axes of the upper escalator end drive gears line in a horizontal plane.
  • At least one of the drive gears is driven directly or indirectly by a motor.
  • the escalator includes a landing at the upper regions and lower region, each landing including a step comb that has a comb edge that is of a profile, when seen in plan view looking down on the landing that is a geometric translation of the nosing of the steps that pass beneath it..
  • the escalator includes a landing at the upper regions and lower region, each landing including a step comb that has a comb edge that is of a profile, when seen in plan view looking down on the landing that is oblique to the advance direction of the steps..
  • the escalator includes hand rail belts on each side of the array.
  • the belt on one side being asymmetrically positioned the belt on the other side.
  • the hand rail belt on ones side follows an endless path that is identical to the endless path followed by the other hand rail belt, the paths when view side on to the escalator being a horizontal translation of each other.
  • the escalator includes a truss structure that supports guide rails for the step running gear to engage with.
  • guide rails for the guide wheel of each step at one side of the array are provided and guide rails for the guide wheel of each step at the other side of the array are provided, the guide rails on one side being a horizontal translation of the guide rails on the other side when the escalator is viewed from the side.
  • guide rails for the step wheel of each step at one side of the array are provided and guide rails for the step wheel of each step at the other side of the array are provided, the guide rails on one side being a horizontal translation of the guide rails on the other side when the escalator is viewed from the side.
  • guide rails are provided to guide the pulling member at one side of the array are provided and guide rails are provided to guide the pulling member at the other side of the array, the guide rails on one side being a horizontal translation of the guide rails on the other side when the escalator is viewed from the side.
  • guide rails are provided to guide the pulling member at one side of the array are provided and guide rails are provided to guide the pulling member at the other side of the array, the guide rails on one side overlaying the guide rails on the other side when the escalator is viewed from the side.
  • the present invention may broadly be said to be a step that will form part of an endless array of steps of an escalator, to advance around an endless path, the step comprising :
  • a tread bounded by a nosing and an edge opposed the nosing and lateral parallel edges that extend between the nosing and the edge opposed the nosing,
  • step running gear that includes:
  • one lateral parallel side of the tread being asymmetrically positioned relative the other parallel side of the tread .
  • the escalators herein described are linear escalators.
  • the present invention may be said to be an escalator comprising a truss structure having an upper region and a lower region and a sloping conveying region and sloping return region intermediate of said upper region and lower region and defining an elongate endless loop path,
  • the linear bearing is constrained about said guide rail yet can translate along the guide rail.
  • the linear bearing comprises of two wheels each contacting said guide rail to bear on respective and opposed surfaces of said guide rail.
  • the guide rail is an elongate member of constant cross section.
  • the guide rail is of a round cross section and a first of said wheels bears on a side of said rail and the other wheel bears on a diametrically opposed side of said rail.
  • the side of the rail is the upper side of the rail and the diametrically opposed side of the rail is the underside of the rail.
  • the linear bearing bears on both the an upwardly facing surface and downwardly facing surface of the guide rail.
  • the wheels are dependent from a said step in a manner to have their rotational axes parallel to each other.
  • the rotational axes are horizontal.
  • the wheels are part of a bogie secured to said step..
  • each pair dependent from said step at a respective side of the step, to each engage with a respective guide rail positioned adjacent each side of the step.
  • the wheels sandwich said guide rail.
  • the wheels are positioned adjacent the edge of the tread of the step opposed the nosing of the tread.
  • the step includes a chain drive member with which the endless drive chain of the escalator is engaged, to cause the step to be moved along the endless loop path.
  • the chain drive member is located vertically in line with the center of gravity of the step when the tread of the step is horizontal.
  • the linear bearing is located spaced from the chain drive member to together with said chain drive member provide vertical support of said step in said conveying region.
  • the vertical support is provided to prevent step rocking occurring in said conveying region.
  • the drive chain and/or chain drive member is supported by a drive chain guide in said conveying region.
  • the steps are supported in each of said upper and lower regions by a said chain drive member at each side of said step only..
  • the chain drive member at one side of said step is more advanced in the direction of travel of the step on the loop than then chain drive member at the other side of said step.
  • the step is of a kind as herein described..
  • the present invention may be said to be a step to form part of an endless array of steps of a linear escalator to advance on an endless path, the step comprising :
  • a step tread that has a tread plane and is bounded by a nosing and an edge opposed the nosing and lateral parallel edges that extend between the nosing and edge opposed the nosing,
  • step running gear that includes:
  • a linear bearing spaced from said drive member and presented to locate with and be both upwardly and downwardly supported by a guide track of the escalator, the drive members positioned so that a notional straight line extending through each of said drive members (a) is oblique to the advance direction and (b) passes through or proximate a normal to the tread plane that also passes through or proximate the centre of gravity of the step.
  • the present invention may be said to be a step to form part of an endless array of steps of a linear escalator to advance on an endless path, the step comprising :
  • a step tread that has a tread plane and is bounded by a nosing and an edge opposed the nosing and lateral parallel edges that extend between the nosing and edge opposed the nosing,
  • step running gear that includes:
  • a drive member with which an endless pulling member of the escalator can engage to pull the step around an endless path, and a linear bearing spaced from said drive member and presented to locate with and be both upwardly and downwardly supported by a guide track of the escalator.
  • the drive members are positioned so that a notional straight line extending through each of said drive members (a) is oblique to the advance direction and (b) passes through or proximate a normal to the tread plane that also passes through or proximate the centre of gravity of the step..
  • This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.)
  • Figure 1 shows an escalator of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a side view of figure 1.
  • Figure 3 shows a plan view of part figure 2, showing symmetrical step running gear and a rhomboid shaped tread wherein a rear step drive member is utilised at each side of the step.
  • Figure 4 shows a perspective view of Figure 3.
  • Figure 5 shows a plan view of part figure 1, showing symmetrical step running gear and a rhomboid shaped tread wherein a rear step drive member is utilised at each side of the step wherein the angles of the rhomboid are more significant when compared to that shown in figure 3.
  • Figure 5A is a perspective view of the step of figure 5.
  • Figure 5B-D shows a sequence of a step rotating during guidance into for example the lower the transition zone from the conveying zone.
  • Figure 6 is a plan view of another example of a step that can be utilised, the step tread being rhomboidal but the step running gear on one side of the step being horizontally translated relative the opposite side.
  • Figure 7 shows a perspective view of escalator parts at a lower region of an escalator that incorporates the steps shown in figure 6.
  • Figure 8 shows a top perspective view of the step of figure 6.
  • Figure 9 shows a side view of Figure 8.
  • Figure 9A shows a side view of Figure 8 and a cross sectional plane AA.
  • Figure 9B is a cross sectional view onto cross sectional plane AA.
  • Figure 10 shows a plan view of Figure of 7.
  • Figure 10A shows a plan view of a motor and drive gears with a coupling in between.
  • Figure 10B is a side view of Figure 10A.
  • Figure IOC is a perspective view of Figure 10A.
  • Figure 11 shows a left view (left side being when seen looking down the escalator) of Figure 7.
  • Figure 12 shows a right view of Figure 7.
  • Figure 13a-c shows plan views of variations of landing platform shape.
  • Figure 14 shows a right side view of a step of figure 6 coupled to a drive chain on each side and associated chain guide tracks, conveying zone guide wheel guide tracks and return zone guide wheel guide tracks at a lower return zone of the escalator.
  • Figure 15 shows a side view of a lower return zone with some components missing to help illustrate the gap between the upper guide wheel guide track and the return zone guide wheel guide track, for steps having rear step drive members.
  • Figure 16 shows a perspective view of Figure 15.
  • Figure 17 shows a plan view of a step with a rear step drive member, at a lower return zone, coupled to a drive chain at each side that are each in turn meshed with lower drive gears.
  • Figure 18 shows a left side view of escalator parts at a lower return zone with steps having a rear step drive member and with provisions to fully guide the guide wheel through the return zone.
  • Figure 18A show one side of the upper return zone configuration of the example of escalator of figure 20.
  • Figure 19 shows a perspective view of escalator parts at a lower return zone with steps having rear step drive members and with provisions to fully guide the guide wheel through the return zone.
  • Figure 20 shows a right view of Figure 19.
  • Figure 21 shows a view of Figure 20 in a simplified form to show the gap to cross for the guide wheels.
  • Figure 22 shows a right side view of Figure 19.
  • Figure 23 is a side view of escalator parts at a lower return zone with steps having rear step drive members and where the guide wheels are substantially un-guided through the return zone.
  • Figure 24 is a perspective view of escalator parts at a lower return zone with steps having a rear step drive member and where the guide wheel of each step is substantially un- guided through the return zone.
  • Figure 25 shows a left view of Figure 24.
  • Figure 26 shows a right view of Figure 24.
  • Figure 27 shows a step with an intermediate step drive member and a step wheel as well as a guide wheel at each side of the step.
  • Figure 28 shows a plan view of Figure 27.
  • Figures 28A-E illustrate aspects of a step of Figure 27 in relation to its C.O.G.
  • Figures 28F-J illustrate aspects of a differently configures step
  • Figure 29 shows a plan view of a step with intermediate step drive members, each coupled to a respective drive chain.
  • Figure 29A is a side view of the lower return zone of an escalator having steps with intermediate step drive members, with some components removed for clarity.
  • Figure 29B is a view of one side of the lower return zone of an escalator having steps with intermediate drive members, with some components removed for clarity.
  • Figure 30 is a view of one side of an escalator, with parts not shown for clarity, with step wheel guidance through the return zone and no guide wheel guidance, the steps having intermediate step drive members.
  • Figure 31 shows a view of Figure 30 with some parts removed, highlighting the gap in the step wheel guide track.
  • Figure 32 shows a top perspective view of escalator parts of the arrangement of figure
  • Figure 33 shows the parts of figure 32 with the drive motor, drive gear and drive train there between.
  • Figure 33A shows a variation of parts of the escalator as per figure 30 showing one side of an escalator where the step and guide wheels are un-supported in the return zone.
  • Figures 33B-F show a different step configuration wherein a linear bearing us used instead of a step guide wheel
  • Figure 33G is a close up view of region A of figure 33F
  • Figure 33H is a side view of a guide and parts of the linear bearing in contact with the guide
  • Figure 331 shows an end view of the guide and linear bearing
  • Figure 33J shows an end view of a differently shaped guide and linear bearing
  • Figure 33L shows a linear bearing including a plate mounting the two wheels of the bearing, to be mounted for rotation to the step about a the axis R,
  • Figure 33K shows a variation of the linear bearing and guide.
  • Figure 34 shows a view of a side of escalator parts with step wheel and guide wheel guidance through the return zone, the steps having intermediate step drive members.
  • Figure 35 shows a perspective view of escalator parts with step wheel and guide wheel guidance through the return zone, the steps having intermediate step drive members.
  • Figure 36 shows a view of figure 35 with some parts removed for illustration purposes.
  • Figure 37 shows a left side view of escalator parts with full guide rails and intermediate step drive members of each step.
  • Figure 38 shows a right side view of escalator parts with full guide rails and intermediate step drive members of each step.
  • Figure 39 is a perspective view of one part of an escalator of the present invention with a variation to those herein described before wherein only part of the running gear of the steps and of the truss structure are horizontally translated between sides.
  • Figure 39A is a perspective view of a step that may be utilised in the escalator arrangement of Figure 39.
  • Figure 39B is a plan view of the step of Figure 39A looking down on the tread.
  • Figure 39C is a front view of the step of Figure 39A.
  • Figure 39D is a side view of the step of Figure 39A.
  • Figure 39E is the opposite side view of the step of Figure 39A.
  • Figure 40 is a side view of the escalator arrangement of Figure 39.
  • Figure 41 is a plan view of the escalator arrangement of Figure 39.
  • Figure 42 is a close up perspective view of the lower return zone of the escalator arrangement of Figure 39.
  • Figure 43 is a close up side view of the escalator arrangement of Figure 39.
  • Figure 44 is a close up plan view at the lower region of the escalator arrangement of Figure 39.
  • Figure 45 shows one side of the escalator arrangement at the lower region of the escalator arrangement of Figure 39 including the drive gear.
  • Figure 47 is a side view of the escalator of Figure 39 but with the drive gear removed and also the step wheel and guide wheel guide tracks removed to show more clearly the chain wheel guide.
  • Figure 48 is a side view of the escalator of Figure 39 but with some components removed including the drive gear, the chain guide and the guide wheel guide to more clearly show the guide wheel guide on each side.
  • Figure 49 is a side view of the escalator of Figure 39 but with some components removed including the drive gear, the chain guide and the guide wheel guide to more clearly show the step wheel guide on each side.
  • Figure 49 shows the chain wheel guides and path of the chain in both in the conveying zone and in the return zones between the upper and lower regions of an escalator seen in side view.
  • Figure 50 shows the guide wheel guides both in the conveying zone and in the return zone between the upper and lower regions of an escalator seen in side view.
  • Figure 51 shows the step wheel guides both in the conveying zone and in the return zone between the upper and lower regions of an escalator seen in side view.
  • Figure 52 i-v shows plan views of variations of step shape.
  • Figure 53 shows a top perspective of a comb at the comb/step interface.
  • Figure 54 shows the comb and platform where the fingers or castellations of the comb project in a direction parallel the advance direction and where the tread pattern of the landing matches the angle of the comb to the advance direction.
  • Figure 55 is a side view of components of an escalator including showing balustrades with handrails provided on each side of the array of steps.
  • Figure 56 shows the balustrades with handrails including more clearly that they are horizontally translated relative each other between one side and the other preferably to the same degree as the skewing of the treads.
  • Figure 1 and 2 show some of the primary components of a linear escalator 101 that incorporates improvements over the prior art, herein after described. Alternative examples of components are herein described and for convenient reference, throughout the detailed description, reference numerals for like features are repeated in 100 unit increments.
  • the escalator 101 comprises a truss structure 118 that provides the structural support and foundation for the escalator components.
  • the truss structure is secured/supported by a building structure in an appropriate manner.
  • the truss structure 118 extends between landing regions at the upper region 120A and lower region 120B of the escalator.
  • the truss structure supports (a) fixed gear in the form of for example guide tracks that will herein after be described and (b) running gear that includes drive gears 111, at least one motor 104 and a drive train between the motor(s) and the drive gear(s) and at each side of an array of steps, a pulling member such as belt or a drive chain 110.
  • the drive chain is preferably inextensible and endless. It defines a rack.
  • Supported for movement by the guide tracks is an array of a plurality of steps 102 and associated step.
  • the steps each have running gear such as the guide wheels 115 that are able to be supported on the guide tracks.
  • the linear escalator 101 includes a plurality of steps 102 that are pulled by the drive chains to circulate around a continuous path defined in part by at least one and preferably a plurality of truss mounted guide tracks or rails at each side of the array of steps.
  • the array of steps is pulled by a drive chain 110.
  • a drive chain 110 Preferably there are two drive chains, one provided for each lateral side 195A and 195B of the array.
  • Each chain llOA and l lOB is preferably positioned flanking each side of each of the steps 102. This can be seen in figure 5 where one step of the array is shown coupled to the chains 110A/B.
  • the drive chains 110A and HOB hold the steps in a regular spaced disposition to each other.
  • Each drive chain is endless and each circulate between the upper and lower regions of the escalator.
  • the drive chains 110A/B are driven by a motor 104 via a drive train.
  • the drive train may include gearing such as a gear box 105 that may transfer rotational torque via for example a drive belt or chain 106 to a pulley 107 mounted on an axle 112 that is also part of or mounts the drive gears 108A and 108B, one for each chain.
  • the drive gears 108 directly drive a respective drive chain 110 for movement along its endless path.
  • Each drive gear 108 includes gear teeth to mesh with the drive chain.
  • the drive gears can drive the chain each side of the escalator so that both sides of the array of steps are caused to move in a synchronous manner.
  • a single motor 104 may be provided say for example at the upper region 120A or at a lower region 120B.
  • a plurality of motors may be provided one at each of the upper region 120A and lower region 120B. In the most preferred form only a single motor is provided that powers the drive gears for the drive chains 110 on each side of the escalator.
  • the drive gears may reverse in rotation in order to cause the escalator to reverse in operational direction.
  • a pair of motor driven drive gears may be provided at one end of the escalator and a pair of idle drive gears may be provide at the opposite end.
  • the idle drive gears not being directly coupled to a motor but are driven for rotation by the motor at the opposite end via the drive chain. It is at each drive gear that the chain is redirected to return to the other drive gear.
  • the chain rotates about its respective upper and lower drive gears through substantially 180 degrees to change direction.
  • an upper landing comb 109U may be provided at where the steps appear for use (when the escalator is in a downward travelling mode) from the transition zone 124.
  • the steps are positioned in the conveying zone 121 with the treads horizontal.
  • the conveying zone slopes.
  • the steps, when travelling down, will reach the lower region 120B at where they disappear beneath a lower landing comb (not shown) for re-entry into transition zone 124. Examples of preferred landing and comb configurations are shown in figures 15A-C.
  • the transition zone 124 is the zone of the escalator where the steps are not visible to a user and where the steps are returned back towards that part thereof where they are again presented for use at the conveying zone 121.
  • the transition zone 124 is preferably terminated by the upper and lower return zones 123/122.
  • the return zones are those parts of the escalator at where the steps are
  • the escalator shown in Figure 1 and 2 is of a kind where the steps are engaged to the drive chains at a step drive member 114a and 114b respectively, at a rear location of the steps (rear here being the reference frame in the orientation travelling down through the conveying zone 121 where the nosing of the tread is the leading portion of the tread).
  • Each of the steps may include a step drive member for the chain to pivotally connect to about a pivot axis.
  • Such coupling preferably occurs at the chain link connection of adjacent chain links of the drive chain.
  • Each drive chain may be guided for movement by a drive chain guide track 116.
  • the guide track may form part of the truss supported fixed gear. This may be a direct guidance or guidance via a chain wheel also mounted by the step drive member.
  • the chain wheel guide track may be continuous or not. It may include guide blocks around/over which the chain is guided.
  • Each of the steps on each side preferably also includes a guide wheel 115A and 115B that are each supported on dedicated guide wheel tracks 117A and 117B for guided movement of each step along its path at least in the conveying zone.
  • the guide wheel is more advanced than the drive member of the step, when travelling in the advance direction A, where the nosing of the tread is the lead portion of the tread.
  • the guide wheel guide tracks and drive chain guide tracks may be continuous or disrupted as the case may be, required for the manoeuvring of the steps in the transition zone. More detail about the preferred manner in which the steps are moved in the transition zone will be described hereinafter.
  • One aspect of the current invention provides an answer to the question of how to better improve the balance of a user standing on a moving escalator and thereby improve user safety.
  • the escalator design proposed consciously or subconsciously encourages and/or allows a user to place one foot in front of the other when generally facing in the direction of travel of the escalator. This may be achieved by the treads of the steps being non rectangular. The treads are preferably oblique to the direction of travel. This is shown in the plan view of Figure 3.
  • step tread is rhomboid shaped or generally rhomboid shaped. Whilst other shapes are also contemplated and will be herein described, for ease of reference rhomboidal treads are generally described herein.
  • a user is more likely to have one foot placed further forward of another foot where a tread provides a surface configuration to visually cue and/or to facilitate such. Rhomboidal shaped treads will help increase the probability that the user will stand on a tread with better balance.
  • each step has a tread leading edge or nosing 130 and opposite tread trailing edge 131 that are not, or not solely, perpendicular to the advance direction A of the steps. This can for example be seen in plan view in Figure 3. "Leading” and “trailing” being a relative term and dependent on direction of travel.
  • the leading face of the riser of the step is preferably also profiled to match.
  • the tread is preferably planar, though tread patterns may be provided thereon. In plan view (looking parallel the normal to the planar surface of the tread), the tread is preferably a rhomboid shaped tread.
  • the step 102 comprises of a tread 129 that has a substantially straight leading edge 130 when seen in plan view, that is at an angle that is non-perpendicular to the advance direction A.
  • the advance direction A in this case being the direction of travel of the array of steps in the conveying zone 121 travelling in a downward direction. This orientation is described throughout the detailed description for ease of reference.
  • each step 102 is able to be pulled at/near each of its lateral sides by the drive chains 110A and HOB.
  • Each drive chain is coupled to the step by the step drive members 114A and 114B on respective lateral sides 191a and 191b of the step.
  • the lateral sides may be skeletal or defined by a plate.
  • the drive members 114A and 114B are preferably proximate more the trailing edge 131 of the tread 129 than the nosing in this example.
  • the steps are preferably also guided for movement by the guide wheels 115A and 115B supported by guide tracks 117A and 117B.
  • Chain guidance may be provided for by a chain guide track in/with which the chain is located.
  • a step drive member mounted wheel or similar may be provided that is located with a chain guide track to thereby guide the chain and step drive member.
  • An oppositely angled nosing may instead be provided so that in a similar manner, the right foot can be placed more advanced of the left.
  • the ability to place feet, one more advanced of the other, is in relation to the orientation of the feet both pointing parallel the advance direction. Ie where the heel of each foot trails the toes (or vice versa). This is the most common position for people travelling on an escalator where they face the direction of travel. Whether a person chooses to so stand is up to them. It may be that one foot is placed facing forwards and the other is at an acute angle to that direction.
  • a tread of the present invention allows a person to increase their base of support, not just by increasing the width of their stance in a direction lateral to the advance direction of the steps to improve lateral stability, but also the direction of the advance direction of the steps, thereby enhancing their overall postural steadiness when traveling on an escalator of the present invention.
  • the body will topple if the center of gravity of the body is displaced outside its base of support.
  • typical running gear and fixed gear of a normal escalator may be utilised.
  • step running gear places the axes of the step drive members 114A and 114B coaxially of each other and the axes of the guide wheels 115A and 115B coaxially of each other.
  • the truss supported fixed and running gear of the escalator including the guide wheel guides and drive chain guides and drive chains on each side of the escalator as well as the upper and lower drive gears 108 and 111 are all positioned in a manner mirror imaged about a vertical plane in which the central elongate axis of the escalator lies.
  • the tread (and riser) are of a skewed (eg rhomboidal) geometry, not the step running gear or truss mounted fixed gear and running gear.
  • a stable platform can be provided by each of the steps when a person stands on a tread. This is because the pressure able to be exerted on the step by a person, outside of the lines of the zone of support (provided along the axes of the guide wheels and the step drive members), to cause a step to rock is minimal. Not a lot if any tread is presented in a notionally cantilevered manner.
  • the locus of the leading (and trailing edge) as it moves through the upper and lower return zones may require for substantially more head room beneath the
  • the effective tread depth D needs to be accounted for during step flipping, even though the actual tread depth (aka tread run) d is substantially smaller, especially at greater angles a. This is evident from figures 5B-D that shows a sequence of a step moving into the transition zone where, upon rotation of the step, the trailing edge starts to lift above the plane it was in prior to entering the transition zone.
  • a tread that presents a leading and trailing edge at significantly greater angles to the advance direction A is going to better encourage and/or allow a person to place one foot more in advanced of another thereby enhancing their anterior/posterior steadiness.
  • the tread width is denoted as W in figure 5.
  • a modified escalator arrangement where such significant angles can be accommodated yet reduce or prevent rocking and to deal with head room demands, is therefore desirable. Reference hereinafter will be made to examples of such escalator arrangements.
  • each step and step running gear (step drive member, guide wheel) on one side of the step preferably assumes a an asymmetric or skewed configuration relative the running gear on the opposite side. This is shown in Figure 6 for example. This is an example of a step having rearwardly positioned step drive members and more forwardly positioned guide wheels.
  • the step 402 as shown in plan-view in Figure 6 includes a tread 427 having a leading edge (also referred to as nosing) 430 and a trailing edge 431.
  • the leading edge and trailing edge of the tread are preferably a geometric translation of each other. They are preferably straight between the lateral edges/sides 435A and 435B of the tread when seen in plan view (ie looking down on the tread).
  • the lateral edges 435A and 435B of the tread are preferably parallel each other. They are preferably straight between leading and trailing ends (430A/B and 431A/B).
  • the lateral sides of the tread and of the step preferably extend parallel to the advance direction of travel of the escalator.
  • the tread depth or run d remains constant across the entire width of the tread.
  • the tread is preferably planar and remains constantly so. It is extensive between the leading and trailing edges and sides.
  • the left end 430B of the lead ing edge 430 is more advanced in the advance direction than the right end 430A of the leading edge 430.
  • the left end 431B of the trailing edge 431 is more advanced in the advanced direction than the left end 431A of the trailing edge 431.
  • the leading and trailing edges are straight between their respective left and right ends but variations as will herein be described are also envisaged.
  • the tread is substantially rhomboid in plan shape, the corners 430A/B and 431A/B being at the junctions of the edges of the rhomboid shape.
  • a rear step drive member 414A is located to be trailing, in the advance direction, the step drive member 414B on the opposite lateral side 435B of the tread .
  • the guide wheel 415A at a first lateral side 435A has an axis that trails the axis of the guide wheel 415B at the opposite lateral side 435B.
  • the axes of the drive members 414 and the guide wheels 415 are preferably all parallel to each other.
  • the axes are perpendicular to the advance direction A.
  • the guide wheel axes lie in a notional plane parallel to the plane of the tread.
  • the step drive member axes lie in a notional plane parallel to the plane of the tread.
  • the axes preferably remain substantially horizontal throughout the full path of movement though (and whilst not described) it is envisaged that some inventive aspects herein described can be incorporated in an escalator where steps are flipped over in the return zones/sections.
  • a notional skewing (or asymmetry) of the geometry of a step and its running gear, when seen in plan view, has occurred to adopt this configuration, whereas in the configuration of step of figure 4 the step running gear has not been so skewed .
  • This skewed geometry is preferably also applied to the riser 428 of the step as seen in figure 8.
  • the leading edge of the riser is a geometric translation of the profile of the nosing 430 of the step. This can be seen with reference to figures 9A and 9B at cross sectionals plane AA. This preferably applies for all steps and their risers described herein.
  • a horizontally skewed relationship of some of the truss mounted fixed and running gear is provided.
  • At least the guide tracks for the guide wheels are also a horizontal translation of each other.
  • the chain drive and chain on one side of the array of steps are a horizontal translation or in a skewed relationship to each other.
  • FIG 10 shows a plan view at the lower region 420B of an escalator (with certain parts removed for clarity) it can be seen that a plurality of steps 402 can be pulled along the endless path by virtue of each step being connected to a drive chain 410A and 410B at/near respective lateral and substantially parallel sides 491A and 491B of each of the steps.
  • the sides may be side plates.
  • the sides may alternatively be notional sides or sides configured in a skeletal manner.
  • the chains 410A and 410B are able to mesh with respective lower drive gear 411A and 41 IB that are also provided at respective sides of the array of steps.
  • the axis of rotation 432A of the drive gear 411A is preferably not coaxial the axis of rotation 432B of the drive gear 411B. They may be perpendicular to the advance direction but are horizontally separated relative to each. They both lie in a notional horizontal plane dissecting each of these axes but the axis 432B is more advanced in the advanced direction A than the axis 432A. This is preferably mirrored at the upper region also.
  • the drive chain on both sides are hence the same effective length.
  • a single motor 404 may drive both of the drive gears 411A and 411B and cause both to rotate at identical rotational speeds.
  • a drive belt or chain 406A and 406B may couple an output on a common axis of the motor 404 with respective drive gears 411A and 411B.
  • a separate pulley or sprocket arrangement to that part of the drive gears that mesh with the drive chain may be provided.
  • Alternative motor drive and drive train configurations will be possible.
  • lOA-C a variation is shown where a universal coupling 462 is provided between the drive gears 411A and 41 IB and only one drive belt 406 is used to connect the motor output to the drive gear 41 IB.
  • FIG 11 A side view of the region shown in Figure 10 can be seen in Figure 11, the opposite side view in figure 12. When seen in this orientation it is clear that the face of the riser 428 of each step is not perpendicular the advanced direction A.
  • each of the steps is guided for movement by truss mounted fixed gear.
  • this fixed gear includes at each side of the array of steps, a drive chain guide track 416A and 416B.
  • the drive chain guide track guides a respective drive chain around its path of movement.
  • the drive chain guide track is continuous at least over the conveying zone. It may terminate, at least in part, at where the chain is picked up by the upper and lower drive gears.
  • the full guiding of the drive chain by the drive chain guide track 416A and 416B may be terminated because at this point each drive chain is picked up by a respective drive gear.
  • the path of each chain is at this point where the drive chain is picked up, determined by the diameter of the drive gear.
  • the drive chain guide track guided drive chain ensures each step follows an appropriate path and motion.
  • the guide wheels 415A and 415B on each side of the step are appropriately guided along a path through the conveying zone and the transition zone. This is preferably achieved by guide wheel guide tracks 417A and 417B.
  • the guide tracks keep the steps in an upright configuration keeping the treads horizontal both in the conveying zone and preferably also in the transition zone.
  • the steps are preferably not flipped and inverted such as is common in many escalator designs.
  • the guide wheel guide tracks are presented to allow the guide wheels to move along the guide wheel guide tracks. They are preferably vertically supported and laterally confined by the guide wheel guide tracks. Upward movement confinement may not need to be provided for by the guide wheel guide tracks but can be.
  • the guide wheel guide tracks 417A and 417B are preferably continuous save for at the upper and lower return zones. As can be seen in figures 16-18 and 20-23, at the lower return zone the guide wheel guide tracks are adapted and configured to take into account the transition of the steps from travelling down to needing to travel back up through the transition zone (in a downwardly operating escalator mode). Likewise at the upper return zone, the guide wheel guide tracks are adapted and configured to take account of the transition of the steps from travelling upwards through the transition zone to needing to travel down through the conveying zone (in a downwardly operating escalator mode).
  • Figure 14-16 and 18-21 show a close up view of the lower return zone 422 without the truss mounted running gear being shown. Here, a more detailed view of parts of the truss mounted fixed gear and step(s) with step running gear can be seen. Because of the non- flipping nature of this example of escalator, a crossing of the path followed by the drive chain and step drive members of the steps occurs with the path followed by the guide wheel . This is for example accounted for by virtue of a discontinuity in the guide wheel guide tracks.
  • the guide wheel guide tracks 417A and 417B hence preferably terminate to allow their respective side drive chain members past.
  • a terminal ending 426B of the upper guide wheel guide track 417BU is at a location to allow for the drive chain 410B and/or step drive member 414B to move past the terminal ending 426B.
  • Lower return zone guide wheel guide tracks 425A and 425B are presented to pick up the guide wheels on the opposite side of the gap between the terminal end 426A and 426B respectively and the respective lower return zone guide wheel guide tracks 425A and 425B.
  • Movement of the guide wheels on respective lateral sides of each step across the gap is controlled by virtue of the geometry of the step running gear and the truss mounted fixed gear. Whilst the guide wheels 414A and 414B will release from the terminal end of their respective guide wheel guide tracks 417A and 417B, and therefore will be within the gap and momentarily not in direct contact with guides, the drive member axes are offset (the axes of the drive members 414A and 414B are not coaxial) and the step drive members 414A and 414B are rigidly held relative to a respective drive gear and the steps are prevented from yawing when held at each side by respective drive gears, thereby resisting a tipping of the step during the phase where the guide wheels 415A and 415B are transitioning across the gap.
  • the drive members 414A and 414B were coaxial, the drive members and truss mounted fixed gear may not provide this inherent stability; separate step support would be required to prevent unwanted rotation of the step about such coaxial axes when guide wheels become unsupported at the gap.
  • Figure 17 illustrates a plan view of the escalator at the lower return zone 422 with a significant number of components removed and to shown one step 402 only.
  • This on its own provides some inherent stability to the step because a rotation of the step for example about the axis of one drive member 414B is resisted because the other drive member 414A cannot move up as it is constrained for movement by the drive chain 410A with which it is engaged.
  • the drive chain is in turn constrained by the drive chain guide track and/or the drive gear 411A.
  • Figures 18-22 illustrate the lower return zone 422 and illustrates the gap 434B between the return zone guide wheel guide track 425B and the upper guide wheel guide track 417BU.
  • the lower guide wheel guide 417BT is presented for the guide wheel 425B of each step to become load bearing thereon as each guide wheel and its associated step comes through the return zone.
  • figure 20A show the upper return zone configuration for the example of escalator of figure 20.
  • figure 20A show the upper return zone configuration for the example of escalator of figure 20.
  • Figures 11-22 is shown. In this variation there is no return zone guide wheel guidance.
  • Figure 23 is a side view of the left side parts of the escalator at the lower return zone 522 and it illustrates that the upper guide wheel guide track 517BU terminates at a terminal ending 526B at where the respective drive chain 510B and step drive members 514B will pass it. Beyond the terminal ending 526B the guide wheel of each step is not picked up for guidance by a return zone guide wheel guide track as has been described in Figures 11-22. The guide wheels 515B are not picked up for guidance until they reach the transition zone guide wheel guide track 517BT. Likewise for the guide wheels on the opposite side but which are not shown in figure 23 for clarity purposes.
  • each step comprises on each side, a guide wheel, a step wheel, and intermediate thereof a step drive member which is preferably coupled to a drive chain of the escalator.
  • a step drive member which is preferably coupled to a drive chain of the escalator.
  • the use of an intermediate step drive member may help resolve some if not the majority of canti levered forces experienced by the steps of the figures 23-26 escalator embodiment when in the return zone (or elsewhere when the guide or step wheels are not guided by guide tracks).
  • Figures 27 and 28 show the step 602 that includes a tread 629 and riser 628.
  • the step provides a guide wheel 615B and step drive member 614B as well as a step wheel 636B which are replicated in geometric layout on the opposite lateral side as guide wheel 615A, step wheel 636B and step drive member 614A.
  • the axes of the guide wheels on each side are preferably horizontally spaced in the advance direction relative to each other.
  • the axes of the drive members on each side and the axes of the step on each side are preferably identical relative to the opposite side.
  • Figure 28A-D show other views of the step of figures 27 and 28.
  • the centre of gravity COG of the step when in a use orientation (tread horizontal).
  • the position of the COG is preferably such that a plumb line 670 there through passes through a notional straight line of support 669 that extends between the step drive members.
  • This notional straight line is preferably parallel the nosing.
  • the support arm is adapted and configures as that it and its respective guide wheel is substantially obscured from sign when the step is in the conveying region, by an adjacent step.
  • Positioning the guide wheels on an arm projects the support it provided away from the step. It preferably projects it to be proximate the nosing above so as to help reduce the prospect that the step can rock under the weight of a user.
  • the guide wheels are laterally further apart (distance LI) than the step wheels are (distance L2) .
  • the corresponding guide tracks are hence also so placed relative each other.
  • Respective drive members 614A and 614B are coupled to the drive chain to allow for them to pull each step along its endless path.
  • Figure 17 the guide wheel and step wheel on each side are shown but without associated guide wheel guide tracks and step wheel guide tracks.
  • Figures 30-33 illustrate more detail of an escalator that includes steps having step wheels and intermediate step drive members. In the version shown in Figures 30-33 guidance of the guide wheel through the lower return zone 622 is unsupported.
  • Figure 30 which shows escalator components on the left side at a lower return zone, a conveying zone guide wheel guide track 617BU is provided for supporting the guide wheels 615B on one side of each of the steps 602.
  • a terminal end 626B is defined where the guide wheels 615B release from the conveying zone guide wheel guide track 617BU. The guide wheel is not picked up for support until it reaches the opposite end of the user zone guide wheel guide track at upper return zone.
  • the step wheel 636B is also supported by a step wheel guide track 637B.
  • the step wheel guide track 637B comprises of a conveying zone step wheel guide track 637BU and a transition zone step wheel guide track 637BT.
  • the step wheel guide track constrains movement of the step wheel in a direction other than along the path defined by the guide track. So rather than merely offering only a surface for the step wheel to bear downwardly onto, the step wheel guide track also offers a surface to prevent a lifting upwards of the step wheel as it is being guided by the step wheel guide.
  • a gap 638B is provided in the step wheel guide track 637B that allows the drive chain/ step drive member 614B to pass there through.
  • Opposite side components are preferably similarly configured.
  • the use of the intermediate step drive member in this example becomes apparent when the centre of gravity of the step is considered.
  • the step drive members are preferably placed so that a notional line, between their points of engagement at the lateral sides of a step, is located close if not on a line that the centre of gravity of the step acts through when the tread is horizontal. This is explained above with reference to figures 28A-28D.
  • Figure 33A which is a variation of the configuration shown in Figure 30, neither the guide wheels or steps wheels of each step are guided in the return zone.
  • the centre of gravity preferably acts on a line 670 that passes midway between the step drive member 614B and 614A when seen in side view.
  • Step drive member 614A has been shown in one of the steps only in figure 33A in a manner for illustrative purposes only.
  • This geometric layout preferably causes the inherent step support provided by the step drive members (when no other parts of the step are supported) to be better balanced. It reduce the forces on the step drive members because the cantilevered support of the step that they need to cater for is negligible.
  • the centre of gravity acting on a line close or on the notional straight line of support reduces the moments acting on the steps and hence reduces the loads transferred by the step drive members to the truss mounted fixed gear and/or drive gears.
  • An advantage is that the escalator may have less components in the return zones.
  • This variation allows for the guide wheel 615 for example to be dispensed with, thereby reducing the number of components even further.
  • the step of or for the escalator described in figures 33B-G is preferably of a non- rectangular configuration with for example a rhomboidal shaped tread as shown. But instead the tread may be rectangular.
  • the step preferably at both its sides as shown, presents a step drive member 614A and 614B with which each endless chain of the escalator can engaged.
  • the two step drive members are offset to each other and positioned relative the respective sides of the step to take advantage of the centre of gravity balancing effect that can thereby be facilitated.
  • the step drive members are preferably each guided by a respective guide that offers vertically upward support to the step drive members.
  • the step drive members each carry a wheel or other bearing member to make rolling contact with the respective guides so that such guided support is a wheeled guided support to reduce friction and noise.
  • the support is vertically upwards to resist against the weight of the step and load bearing on the step.
  • Additional support of the step as it moves through the conveying region is provided by a linear bearing, a substitute to the step wheel 636 described above.
  • Such additional support together with the support offered by the step drive members create a stable platform for a person, when standing on the tread of the step.
  • the additional guide wheels such as guide wheels 615A and 615B to be provided because of the linear bearing configuration.
  • the linear bearing preferably manifests in the form of two linear bearings 636AX and 636BX, one at each side of the step.
  • the two linear bearings are located at or near the edge of the tread opposite the nosing of the tread.
  • the linear bearings trail step drive members at their respective sides.
  • the linear bearings each engage with a respective guide rail in the conveying zone (and optionally also at at least part of the transition zone).
  • Figure 33H shows a guide rail 637BUX being a guide rail presented to engage with the linear bearing 636BX when in the conveying region.
  • the linear bearings preferably comprises two wheels each.
  • the linear bearing 636Bx has is a first wheel 683B and a second wheel 684B. They are spaced apart so as to each bear against the guide rail 637BUX an allow for independent rolling contact to be made with the guide.
  • first wheel When traveling down the first wheel will rotate counter clockwise about its axis of rotation 685B and the second wheel will rotate clockwise about its axis of rotation 686B.
  • Each linear bearing may present itself as a bogie that includes the two wheels as described and connector there between.
  • the connector may be plate 687A and 687B for each linear bearing 636AX and 636BX as seen exploded view in figure 33D.
  • the plate 687A and 687B may be plate 687A and 687B for each linear bearing 636AX and 636BX as seen exploded view in figure 33D.
  • each of the two wheels of each linear bearing can rotationally mount each of the two wheels of each linear bearing. Axles and fasteners may be involved to achieve this.
  • the wheels of each bearing are preferably mounted so that their rotational axes are parallel and spaced apart.
  • the arms are preferably dependent from the step in a manner to present the wheels in an appropriate location so that they can engage with a respective guide rail at least in the conveying region of the escalator.
  • the learn bearing bears on upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of the guide.
  • the guide 637BUX has an upwardly facing surface 689 onto which the wheel 683B can bear in a downward direction.
  • the guide 637BUX has a downwardly facing surface 690 onto which the wheel 684B can bear in an upward direction.
  • each guide wheel can be removed because the linear bearings are able to resist downward force encountered and upward force encountered.
  • Downward force is encountered if for example a weight WB is applied to the step as seen in Figure 33B and 33F. This will encourage a dropping of the edge opposite the nosing by rotation about the drive members. However the wheels 683A/B will resist or restrict this dropping.
  • An upward force is encountered if for example a weight WA is applied to the step. Force WA will encourage the step to pivot about the drive members and a lifting of the step at the edge opposite the nosing. The wheels 684A and 684B will restrict or resist this lifting.
  • Pivoting of the bogie may occur relative to the step. This pivoting may be facilitated, at where the plate is coupled to the step, by an axle R as seen on one side of the step in figures 33D and 33G. This pivot may be intermediate of the axes 685B and 686B and preferably midway there between. The pivoting allows for the bogie to manoeuvre the wheels around bends of the guide at for example the upper and lower transition regions.
  • the wheels may be of a shape and configuration to self-centre on the guide rail. As can be seen in figure 331 and 33 J where the guide is circular or square in cross section, the wheels may be bobbin shaped. This helps prevent the wheels from slipping laterally off the guide with which they are engaged. Additional wheels (so more than just two) may be provided for each linear bearing. If 3 or 4 wheels are used, they can all act to bear on the guide rail and prevent slipping off. Linear roller bearing configurations may be used.
  • Figure 33K shows a variation of the linear bearings that could be used.
  • the guides may terminate.
  • the linear bearings are able release and be picked up by the guides at their terminal ends.
  • a lead in configuration between the terminal end of the guide and the linear bearing may be provided to ensure a smooth transition onto/with a guide.
  • step and guide as described allows the steps to remain in an upright condition through the movement along the endless path. No filliping of steps preferably occur in the transition region. Placing the drive member away from below the nosing region or the edge of the tread opposite the nosing and closer to the centre of gravity of the step, means that the step is better self-balancing when in the transition region and therefore less components to otherwise help balance the steps are needed.
  • FIG. 34 being part of an escalator at the lower return zone 722 and illustrating for convenience only the left side of the escalator when looking down the escalator, there is shown a plurality of steps 702 each including a guide wheel 715B and drive member 714B and step wheel 736B.
  • the step drive member 714B of each step is coupled to the drive chain 710B that is guided for movement along its path to cause each of the steps to be pulled.
  • Each step has a guide wheel supported on the guide wheel guide track 717B, comprising here of upper guide wheel guide track 717BU and transition zone or lower guide wheel guide track 717BT separated by a gap 738B.
  • a return zone guide wheel guide track 725B is provided substantially alongside the transition zone guide wheel guide track 717BT for supporting guiding movement of the guide wheels of each step through to a turn zone.
  • step wheel guide track 737B is
  • discontinuous at the return zone in order to create a gap for the drive chain 710B and/or drive member 714B to pass through.
  • the step wheel is set more inwardly the step than the guide wheel.
  • a gap as has already been described is provided in order to create a discontinuity of the guide wheel guide tracks 717BU and 717BT for the similar purposes. This configuration is replicated on the opposite side of the escalator but is not shown. Similarly the sides at the upper return zone can be so configured.
  • Figure 37 shows, at a lower return zone, both sides of the steps and truss supported fixed gear where component reference numerals for a selective step have been applied only to that step for the purposes of illustrating relative positioning of parts of the step on each side of the escalator. This being replicated on Figure 38 but seen from the opposite side.
  • the drive chain 810B is in direct overlap the drive chain 810A on the opposite side of the array of steps. There is no horizontal translation of one drive chain to the other.
  • the step and guide wheels are still preferably appropriately spaced, at one lateral side more advanced in the advance direction than the other side.
  • Figures 39A-E an example of a step that may be used in the escalator of this example is shown.
  • the step 802 includes a tread 829 and a nosing 828.
  • a guide wheel 815B and step wheel 836B as well as a step drive member 814B with which the drive chain can be coupled.
  • corresponding running gear of the step is provided in the form of the guide wheel 815A the step wheel 836A and step drive member 814A.
  • the guide and step wheels on one lateral side of the step are a horizontal translation in the advanced direction A of the guide and step wheels on the opposite lateral side of the step.
  • the drive members are coaxially aligned. They lie on the same horizontal plane, the plane is parallel to the plane of the tread.
  • the drive chains on each side are mirrored about a central vertical plane passing through the escalator in its elongate direction.
  • the drive gears at each of the upper and lower regions are mirrored about this plane.
  • the fact that the path of the chain on one side crosses over the path of the guide and step wheels on that side at a different time that chain and guide and step wheel paths cross on the other side means that there is no instance in time that not one guide or step wheel is in guided contact with a respective guide track in the return zones.
  • the steps herein described present tread nosing, when seen in plan view in the conveying zone, that is not purely at a right angle to the advance direction.
  • the preferred form of step presents a rhomboidal tread where the nosing of leading edge (leading when the step is travelling down the conveying zone) is at an angle to the advance direction (direction of travel).
  • the normal to the edge may be a few degrees (eg 2 degrees) to the advance direction. Or it may be more substantial such as more than 2 degrees. Preferably it is between 2-55 degrees. Preferably it is between 10-30 degrees.
  • the direction of the angle of the nosing of the treads provides an opportunity for a user to be better balanced.
  • the direction is preferably such that when looking down the conveying zone of the escalator the tread of each step is more advanced on the left side than the right side.
  • step may be used that fulfil the above requirement of having a region of the step forward (or back depending on direction of travel) more than another region. This aids the user in being able to place one foot further forward than their other foot on a tread of a step.
  • a user at for example the top of an escalator, is about to step from the landing onto a step to travel down, he or she will see steps appear from the comb where part of the tread is more advance than other parts. That person will be inclined and is more likely to place one foot (in the advance direction) more advanced than the other foot on a tread.
  • tread is substantially rhomboid shaped.
  • at least part of the leading edge or nosing of a tread is more advanced than other parts of the leading edge of the tread.
  • leading edge at for example point 930b is more advanced than the leading edge at point 930a.
  • point 931b is more advanced than point 931a. This could also be reversed .
  • the line between points 930a and 930b is straight.
  • the leading edge seen in plan view may be profiled and non linear.
  • its shape does approximate an arbitrary line 950 of the notional underlying rhomboidal shape as shown Figure 52i.
  • a tread with a leading edge that has two straight sections is shown.
  • a first straight section may be presented perpendicular to the advance direction.
  • a second straight section is shown at an angle other than perpendicular to the advance direction. This may present for users of the escalator a section 960 of tread where a user can stand on a tread in a more stable manner and a section 961 where users can walk up or down the escalator.
  • the leading edge 930 and in the trailing edge 931 are parallel each other. Tread depth or run (d) along any line parallel to the advance direction would then remain constant.
  • a lower landing 103L at a lower region 120B includes a lower landing comb 109L. It is serrated and has finger like elements 140 as more clearly seen in figures 43 and 44 to better mesh with castellations or ridges 141 of the treads passing below it in order to help prevent foreign matter falling below the landing.
  • the castellations or ridges are aligned to the advance direction.
  • the lower landing comb 109L may be set at an angle perpendicular to the advance direction.
  • Steps appearing (if travelling up through the conveying zone) from the comb will have the tread trailing edge 131 (which in this direction of travel being the lead edge) appear in a non-instant manner because of the edge being not purely perpendicular to the direction of travel.
  • FIG. 13A Alternative comb and landing configurations are shown in figures 13 A-C.
  • the comb angle or shape matches that of the leading and trailing edges of the treads as seen in plan view.
  • the comb is angled opposite the angle of the leading and trailing edges.
  • the fingers of the combs are preferably aligned to the advance direction A. This is for example seen in figure 54 where the fingers 140 project parallel to the advance direction.
  • a tread pattern 139 may be provided on the landings that aligns with the nosing of each step.
  • the angle/profile of the comb and the tread pattern matches that of the steps nosing/trailing edge.
  • FIG 55 there is shown a side view of part of the components of an escalator that now also includes the balustrades with handrail guides. It is typical for escalators to have balustrades with handrails for users of the escalators to balance themselves by.
  • the handrail guides guide handrail belts on each lateral side of the escalator that travel at substantially the same speed as the steps.
  • the escalator of the present invention includes handrail belts that are also skewed or horizontal translation one side to the other.
  • the handrail belt 190B is a horizontal translation of the handrail belt 190A. In the preferred form the translation is to the same extent as the translation of the running gear of the lateral sides of the steps. A person therefore
  • the visual cues provided by the angle of the nosing/trailing edge, the staggered handrails and the angled comb shape of the landings and their decorations means that no or at least a less conscious decision needs to be made by users as to which foot to lead with, when stepping on and off the escalator. Boarding a rhomboidal step shaped escalator with these visual cues, gives the rider mental and visual cues how to approach the escalator and indeed to ride it. These visual cues well also help encourage the placement of feet on a tread of a step, where one foot is placed more advanced than the other, so that the user is better balanced.
  • tread that has leading and/or trailing edges that extend non- perpendicular to the direction of travel means that a person can place one foot more advanced than the other each fully supported on a tread of a step.
  • the fact that part of the tread projects more advanced other parts means that a user is able to see the step projection and offers a feeling of safety whilst also offering a surface adjacent, on the same tread, that can be used for one foot to lunge onto should this be required when fore/aft instability is encountered. It should be noted that this is particularly the case in the more dangerous descent when the step width is foreshortened due to the imposition of the nose and riser of the step above jutting into the rear of the user's ankle area.

Abstract

Selon l'invention, une marche qui fera partie d'un groupement sans fin de marches d'un escalator, pour avancer le long d'une trajectoire sans fin, comprend un plan de marche délimité par un nez de marche et un bord opposé au nez de marche et des bords parallèles latéraux qui s'étendent entre le nez de marche et le bord opposé au nez de marche, deux côtés latéraux et parallèles s'étendant à partir de bords parallèles latéraux respectifs dudit plan de marche, de chaque côté de ladite marche, un engrenage de déplacement de marche qui comprend un élément d'entraînement avec lequel un élément de traction sans fin de l'escalator peut venir en prise pour tirer la marche le long de sa trajectoire sans fin, et une roue de guidage espacée dudit élément d'entraînement et présentée de façon à se positionner dans une voie de guidage de l'escalator, un côté parallèle latéral du plan de marche étant positionné de manière asymétrique par rapport à l'autre côté parallèle du plan de marche.
PCT/IB2016/055846 2015-11-30 2016-09-30 Améliorations apportées à des escalators linéaires ou associées à ces derniers WO2017093818A1 (fr)

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JP2020132305A (ja) * 2019-02-14 2020-08-31 三菱電機ビルテクノサービス株式会社 据付の手間を低減する乗客コンベア
JP7332003B1 (ja) 2022-08-08 2023-08-23 フジテック株式会社 マンコンベヤ及びマンコンベヤ用ステップ

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2020132305A (ja) * 2019-02-14 2020-08-31 三菱電機ビルテクノサービス株式会社 据付の手間を低減する乗客コンベア
JP7178922B2 (ja) 2019-02-14 2022-11-28 三菱電機ビルソリューションズ株式会社 据付の手間を低減する乗客コンベア
JP7332003B1 (ja) 2022-08-08 2023-08-23 フジテック株式会社 マンコンベヤ及びマンコンベヤ用ステップ

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