BELT-DRIVEN ESCALATOR

Abstract

A belt-driven escalator (2) includes a plurality of escalator steps (4) arranged to travel along an inclined conveyance path (101), a drive belt (10) connected to the plurality of escalator steps (4), a drive system (24) arranged to drive the drive belt (10) so as to propel the plurality of escalator steps (4) along the inclined conveyance path (101); and a belt support structure (22). The belt support structure (22) includes a plurality of support wheels (206) and a support belt (212) extending over the plurality of support wheels (206). The support belt (212) is arranged to provide support to the plurality of escalator steps (4) via the drive belt (10).

Claims

1. A belt-driven escalator (2) comprising: a plurality of escalator steps (4) arranged to travel along an inclined conveyance path (101); a drive belt (10) directly and rotatably connected to the plurality of escalator steps (4); a drive system (24) arranged to drive the drive belt (10) so as to propel the plurality of escalator steps (4) along the inclined conveyance path (101); and a belt support structure (22) comprising a plurality of support wheels (206) and a support belt (212) extending over the plurality of support wheels (206), wherein the support belt (212) is arranged to provide support to the plurality of escalator steps (4) via the drive belt (10).

2. The belt-driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyance path (101) comprises an upper transition region (110) between an inclined region (106) and a non-inclined landing region (104), and the belt support structure (22) is arranged to provide support to the steps (4) in the upper transition region (110).

3. The belt-driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support belt (212) is arranged to provide curved support to the drive belt (10) in the upper transition region (110).

4. The belt-driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the belt support structure (22) is arranged to provide curved support to the drive belt (10) with a curve that matches a curve of the upper transition region (110).

5. The belt-driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of support wheels (206) over which the support belt (212) extends comprises at least three coplanar support wheels (206) arranged in a curve.

6. A belt-driven escalator (2) comprising: a plurality of escalator steps (4) arranged to travel along an inclined conveyance path (101); a drive belt (10) connected to the plurality of escalator steps (4); a drive system (24) arranged to drive the drive belt (10) so as to propel the plurality of escalator steps (4) along the inclined conveyance path (101); and a belt support structure (22) comprising a plurality of support wheels (206) and a support belt (212) extending over the plurality of support wheels (206), wherein the support belt (212) is arranged to provide support to the plurality of escalator steps (4) via the drive belt (10); wherein the support belt (10) comprises a lower surface in contact with the one or more support wheels (206) and comprising at least one longitudinal groove (214), and at least one of the support wheels (206) over which the support belt (212) extends comprises a corresponding ridge (216) engaged with the at least one longitudinal groove (214).

7. The belt-driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support belt (212) comprises a flat belt comprising several adjacent “v” shaped grooves (214), and at least one of the support wheels (206) comprises a corresponding plurality of ridges (216).

8. The belt-driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive belt (10) is toothed.

9. The belt-driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the belt support structure (22) comprises a frame (204) to which the plurality of support wheels (206) is mounted.

10. A belt-driven escalator (2) comprising: a plurality of escalator steps (4) arranged to travel along an inclined conveyance path (101); a drive belt (10) connected to the plurality of escalator steps (4); a drive system (24) arranged to drive the drive belt (10) so as to propel the plurality of escalator steps (4) along the inclined conveyance path (101); and a belt support structure (22) comprising a plurality of support wheels (206) and a support belt (212) extending over the plurality of support wheels (206), wherein the support belt (212) is arranged to provide support to the plurality of escalator steps (4) via the drive belt (10); wherein the belt support structure (22) comprises a frame (204) to which the plurality of support wheels (206) is mounted; wherein one or more of the plurality of support wheels (206) is adjustably mounted to the frame (204).

11. The belt-driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the belt support structure (22) comprises one or more removable mounting structures (218) via which one or more support wheels (206) is mounted to the frame (204).

12. The belt-driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the belt support structure (22) comprises two terminal support wheels (206a) between which the support belt (10) extends, along with one or more intermediate support wheels (206b) located between the two terminal support wheels (206a).

13. The belt driven escalator (2) as claimed in claim 1, A belt-driven escalator (2) comprising: a plurality of escalator steps (4) arranged to travel along an inclined conveyance path (101); a drive belt (10) connected to the plurality of escalator steps (4); a drive system (24) arranged to drive the drive belt (10) so as to propel the plurality of escalator steps (4) along the inclined conveyance path (101); and a belt support structure (22) comprising a plurality of support wheels (206) and a support belt (212) extending over the plurality of support wheels (206), wherein the support belt (212) is arranged to provide support to the plurality of escalator steps (4) via the drive belt (10); wherein the belt support structure (22) comprises a plurality of adjacent support belts (10).

14. A belt support structure (22) for supporting an escalator drive belt (10), the belt support structure (22) comprising a plurality of support wheels (206) and a support belt (212) extending over the plurality of support wheels (206), wherein the support belt (206) is arranged to provide support to the drive belt (10); wherein the support belt (212) comprises a flat belt comprising several adjacent “v” shaped grooves (214) and at least one of the support wheels (206) comprises a corresponding plurality of ridges (216).

15. (canceled)

Description

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

[0041] Certain examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a belt driven escalator according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section view of an upper section of the belt driven escalator;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a close up partial cross-section view of the belt driven escalator;

[0045] FIG. 4 is another close up partial cross-section view of the belt driven escalator;

[0046] FIG. 5 shows the belt support structure of the escalator shown in FIGS. 2-4;

[0047] FIGS. 6 and 7 are partial views of the belt support structure shown in FIG. 5;

[0048] FIG. 8 is a cross section view of the belt support structure shown in FIGS. 5-7;

[0049] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of forces acting on the belt-support structure in use;

[0050] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-section view of an upper section of a belt driven escalator according to another example of the present disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 11 is a close-up partial cross-section view of the belt driven escalator of FIG. 10;

[0052] FIG. 12 shows the belt support structure of the belt driven escalator of FIGS. 10 and 11;

[0053] FIG. 13 is a side view of the belt support structure of FIGS. 10 to 12;

[0054] FIG. 14 is a side view of the belt support structure of FIGS. 10 to 12 with one side plate removed;

[0055] FIGS. 15 and 16 show cross-sections through a terminal support wheel and support belt of the belt support structure of FIGS. 10 to 14; and

[0056] FIGS. 17 and 18 show cross-sections through an intermediate support wheel and support belt of the belt support structure of FIGS. 10 to 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a belt driven escalator 2 comprising a plurality of escalator steps 4 arranged to travel along an escalator conveyance path 101 to convey passengers. The conveyance path 101 comprises a lower landing region 102, an upper landing region 104 and an inclined region 106 located between the landing regions 102, 104. The conveyance path 101 comprises a lower transition region 108 between the inclined region 106 and the lower landing region 102 and an upper transition region 110 between the inclined region 106 and the upper landing region 104. In the upper transition region 110, the steps 4 transition from travelling at an incline in the inclined region 106 to travelling parallel to the ground in the non-inclined upper landing region 104.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the escalator 2 in the upper transition region 110. Each step 4 comprises a tread surface 6 and a front surface 8. Each step 4 is rotatably connected to a drive belt 10. The drive belt 10 is driven by a drive system 24 to propel the plurality of escalator steps 4 along the conveyance path 101.

[0059] Each escalator step 4 comprises a pair of step rollers 12 and a pair of support rollers 14. The tread surface 6 extends from the front surface 8 to a rear edge 16. The step rollers 12 are connected to the step 4 near the rear edge 16, with one step roller 12 at each side of the rear edge 16. The support rollers 14 are connected to the step 4 near the bottom of the front surface 8, with one support roller 14 on each side of each step 4. The drive belt 10 is connected to each step 4 such that the axes of rotation of the support rollers 14 pass through the drive belt 10 when it is connected, to reduce the application of off-axis forces (i.e. a moment) to the support rollers 14.

[0060] As the steps are propelled along the conveyance path 101, the step rollers 12 travel along two parallel step tracks 18 and the support rollers 14 travel along two parallel support tracks 20 that are rigidly fixed to a truss 28 that provides the overall structure to the escalator 2. The step tracks 18 and support tracks 20 are arranged such that the tread surface 6 of each step 4 remains horizontal (i.e. parallel to the ground) throughout passenger conveyance. For example, in the curved upper and lower transition regions 108, 110 the step tracks 18 and support tracks 20 diverge from one another and are similarly curved to keep the steps 4 level.

[0061] As mentioned above, in the upper transition region 110 the steps 4 transition from travelling at an incline to travelling parallel to the ground (when the escalator 2 is operated in an upwards direction; an opposite transition occurs when the escalator 2 is driven in a downwards direction). The tension force in the drive belt 10 in the upper transition region 110 thus has a component which urges the steps 4 (via the support rollers 14) into the support tracks 20. It will be appreciated that in other examples in which the belt 10 is connected to a different location on the step 4, the tension forces may be applied through the step rollers 12 against the step tracks 18 or indeed through both the step rollers 12 and the support rollers 14 against both the step tracks 18 and support tracks 20.

[0062] The step tracks 18 and support tracks 20 (and the step rollers 12 and support rollers 14) could simply be engineered to be strong enough to withstand this additional force in the upper transition region 110. However, this would either cause them to be unnecessarily strong in other regions, or require them to have a complex structure with different levels of strength in different regions. Instead, in this example the escalator 2 comprises a belt support structure 22 in the upper transition region 110 that is arranged to support the escalator steps 4 via the drive belt 10. The belt support structure 22 is arranged to at least partially unload the support tracks 20 (and consequently the support rollers 14) in the upper transition region 110, and may even be arranged to fully unload, i.e. entirely lift the support rollers 14 away from the support tracks 20 in the transition region. The support rollers 14 and support tracks 20 may thus be designed to provide only the support required in other regions of the conveyance path 101, with the belt support structure 22 providing additional support in the upper transition region 110. As discussed above, sections of the support tracks 20 may be omitted in the region where full support is provided by the belt support structure 22. Again, it will be appreciated that in other examples where the belt connection is made to a different part of the step 4, the support provided by the belt support structure 22 may instead partially or fully lift the step rollers 12 from the step tracks 18 or may partially or fully lift both sets of rollers 12, 14 from both tracks 18, 20.

[0063] The belt support structure 22, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3-8, comprises a frame 204 (shown in FIGS. 4-6) to which a plurality of coplanar support wheels 206 is mounted (reference number 206 encompassing both reference numbers 206a and 206b discussed further below). The frame 204 is in turn mounted to the truss 28 of the escalator 2 via four screw-adjustable fittings 208 and a retaining member 210. The screw-adjustable fittings 208 enable the position and orientation of the frame 204 relative to the truss 28 to be adjusted. In this example, the frame 204 simply rests on top of the screw-adjustable fittings 208 but is retained from moving laterally or in the direction of travel of the drive belt 10 by the retaining member 210.

[0064] The plurality of support wheels 206 comprises two larger terminal support wheels 206a at either end of the frame and six smaller intermediate support wheels 206b in between the terminal support wheels 206a. Three adjacent support belts 212 extend over and around the support wheels 206. Each support belt 212 comprises a poly-v belt comprising a series of adjacent grooves 214 (shown best in FIG. 8) and the terminal support wheels 206a each comprise a corresponding series of adjacent ridges 216 (indicated in FIG. 6), to help guide the support belts 212.

[0065] The frame 204 comprises two outer plates 218 to which the plurality of support wheels 206 is mounted via a plurality of axles 220. One of the plates 218 (the plate primarily visible in FIG. 3) is held in place by the retaining member 210. Over the life of the escalator, it may be necessary to repair or replace one or more of the support belts 212. The structure and arrangement of the belt support structure 22 facilitates this. To remove and replace a support belt 212, only the retaining member 210 and one plate 218 need to be removed, without needing to disassemble the whole belt support structure 22 or remove it from the escalator 2. One of the terminal support wheels 206a is adjustably mounted to the outer plates 218, allowing the tension in the support belts 212 to be adjusted. The support belt (or belts) 212 that need to be replaced can be slid off the side of the belt support structure 22 where the plate 218 has been removed. These old support belts 22 can then be fully separated from the escalator 2 simply by lifting the belt support structure 22 off the screw-adjustable fittings 208 far enough to allow the old belt to pass between the screw-adjustable fittings 208 and the belt support structure 22. New support belts 212 can be installed using the reverse procedure.

[0066] As best shown in FIG. 9, the support belts 212 provide support force F.sub.support to the drive belt 10 along a smooth curve that matches the curve of the upper transition region 110. This provides the increased support needed in the upper transition region 110 arising from the tension force F.sub.tension in the drive belt 10 and the incline angle α of the escalator 2, without the support rollers 14 needing to be in contact with the support tracks 20 in this region. Accordingly, the steps 4 are maintained in their appropriate horizontal orientation as required. The use of the support belts 212 means that the support is provided along a smooth curve, increasing passenger comfort and reducing stresses in the drive belt 10.

[0067] FIG. 10 is a partial side view of an upper transition region of another belt driven escalator 102 with a similar general structure to the escalator 2 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-9.

[0068] However, the escalator 102 comprises a different example of a belt support structure 122 that is arranged to support the escalator steps 4 via the drive belt 10.

[0069] The belt support structure 122, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 11-18, comprises a frame 1204 to which a plurality of coplanar support wheels 1206 (encompassing 1206a and 1206b) is mounted. The frame 1204 is, in turn, mounted to the truss 28 of the escalator 102 via two adjustable fittings 1208. The adjustable fittings 1208 enable the position and orientation of the belt support structure 122 relative to the truss 28 to be adjusted.

[0070] The plurality of support wheels 1206 comprises two larger terminal support wheels 1206a at either end of the frame 1204 and seven smaller intermediate support wheels 1206b in between the terminal support wheels 1206a. Two adjacent support belts 1212 extend over and around the support wheels 1206. Each support belt 1212 comprises a poly-v belt comprising a series of adjacent grooves 1214 (shown best in FIGS. 15 and 16) and the terminal support wheels 1206a each comprise a corresponding series of adjacent ridges 1216, to cooperate with the grooves 1214 and help guide the support belts 1212.

[0071] The frame 1204 comprises two outer plates 1218 to which the plurality of support wheels 1206 is mounted via a plurality of axles 1220. One of the terminal support wheels 1206a (the righthand one in FIG. 12) is adjustably mounted to the outer plates 1218, allowing the tension in the support belts 1212 to be adjusted.

[0072] FIGS. 15 and 16 show cross-sections through a terminal support wheel 1206a and the support belt 1212 and showing how the ridges 1216 of the terminal support wheel 1206a cooperate with the grooves 1214 of the support belt 1212. FIGS. 17 and 18 show cross-sections through an intermediate support wheel 1206b and show that the intermediate support wheel 1206b has a smooth (no grooves or ridges) outer surface that provides support to the support belt 1212. No additional grooves or ridges are needed on these intermediate support wheels 1206b as sufficient guidance is provided by the terminal support wheels 1206a. This allows the intermediate support wheels 1206b to be simpler and less expensive. It will be appreciated that while this structure of FIGS. 15-18 has been shown in relation to the example of FIGS. 10-14, it applies equally to the example of FIGS. 1-9 as well.

[0073] While the disclosure has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of examples, it should be readily understood that the disclosure is not limited to such disclosed examples. Rather, the disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, while various examples of the disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosure may include only some of the described examples. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.