RAIL FASTENING DEVICE FOR GUIDE RAIL SECTIONS OF AN ESCALATOR OR MOVING WALKWAY

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a rail fastening device for fastening guide rail sections in a guide rail system of an escalator or a moving walkway. The guide rail system includes at least one side plate having a hole, wherein the area of the hole has a hole length which is greater than its hole width. The rail fastening device has a rail receiving part, a screw connection and a clamping bar piece, wherein the length and width of the clamping bar piece match the hole width and the hole length of the hole such that said clamping bar piece can be guided through the hole in a first position and can be supported on the material of the side plate surrounding the hole in a second position, in the fully assembled state.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A rail fastening device for fastening guide rail sections in a guide rail system of an escalator or a moving walkway, wherein the guide rail system comprises at least one side plate having a hole, an area of the hole having a hole length which is greater than a hole width, the rail fastening device comprising: a rail receiving part, a screw connection, and a clamping bar piece, wherein the rail fastening device is configured to transition from a pre-assembled state into a fully assembled state; wherein, in the pre-assembled state, the clamping bar piece is connected to the rail receiving part by the screw connection such that that the clamping bar piece is pivotable relative to the rail receiving part about a central longitudinal axis of the screw connection; wherein the rail receiving part comprises a rail receiving region and a support surface, wherein the support surface is supported against the side plate in the fully assembled state; and wherein a length and a width of the clamping bar piece correspond to the hole width and the hole length of the hole such that the clamping bar piece can be guided through the hole in a first position and can be supported on the side plate surrounding the hole in a second position, in the fully assembled state.

15. The rail fastening device of claim 14, wherein a profile of the clamping bar piece are rectangular in shape.

16. The rail fastening device of claim 14, further comprising a pivot weight arranged on the clamping bar piece, wherein the pivot weight is configured to pivot the clamping bar piece of the rail fastening device, after guidance thereof through the hole, from the first position into the second position due to gravity.

17. The rail fastening device of claim 14, wherein, further comprising an aerobic adhesive or microencapsulated adhesive that secures the screw connection of the rail fastening device in the fully assembled state.

18. The rail fastening device of claim 14, further comprising a counter holder, configured to fasten to the side plate, wherein, in the fully assembled state, the guide rail section fastened to the side plate is arranged between the rail receiving part and the counter holder.

19. The rail fastening device of claim 14, wherein the rail receiving part comprises a contact face and a protrusion and wherein a width of the contact face delimited by the protrusion is shorter than a width of the guide rail section to be received by the rail receiving part.

20. The rail fastening device of claim 14, further comprising an anti-rotation device on the clamping bar piece, by which anti-rotation device a torque applied to the clamping bar piece by the screw connection can be supported in a form-fitting manner in the hole.

21. The rail fastening device of claim 14, further comprising an anti-rotation device on the rail receiving part, by which anti-rotation device a torque applied to the rail receiving part by the screw connection can be supported in a form-fitting manner in the hole.

22. The rail fastening device of claim 14, wherein the rail fastening device is pre-assembled, in that the rail receiving part is connected to the clamping bar piece by the screw connection, and wherein an assembly spacing is preset between the rail receiving part and the clamping bar piece, which assembly spacing is greater than a thickness of the side plate in the region of the hole for which said rail fastening device is provided.

23. A guide rail system of an escalator or a moving walkway, the guide rail system comprising: at least one guide rail section and at least one side plate having at least one hole, an area of the at least one hole having a hole length which is greater than its hole width; and at least one rail fastening device arranged in the at least one hole, the at least one rail fastening device fastening the at least one guide rail section is fastened to the at least one side plate, and the at least one rail fastening device comprising: a rail receiving part, a screw connection, and a clamping bar piece, wherein the rail fastening device is configured to transition from a pre-assembled state into a fully assembled state; wherein, in the pre-assembled state, the clamping bar piece is connected to the rail receiving part by the screw connection such that that the clamping bar piece is pivotable relative to the rail receiving part about a central longitudinal axis of the screw connection; wherein the rail receiving part comprises a rail receiving region and a support surface, wherein the support surface is supported against the side plate in the fully assembled state; and wherein a length and a width of the clamping bar piece correspond to the hole width and the hole length of the hole such that the clamping bar piece can be guided through the hole in a first position and can be supported on the side plate surrounding the hole in a second position, in the fully assembled state.

24. The guide rail system of claim 23, wherein the rail fastening device further comprises a pivot weight arranged on the clamping bar piece, wherein the pivot weight is configured to pivot the clamping bar piece of the rail fastening device, after guidance thereof through the hole, from the first position into the second position due to gravity.

25. The guide rail system of claim 23, wherein the rail fastening device further comprises an aerobic adhesive or microencapsulated adhesive that secures the screw connection of the rail fastening device in the fully assembled state.

26. The guide rail system of claim 23, wherein the rail fastening device further comprises a counter holder, configured to fasten to the side plate, wherein, in the fully assembled state, the guide rail section fastened to the side plate is arranged between the rail receiving part and the counter holder.

27. The guide rail system of claim 23, wherein the rail receiving part comprises a contact face and a protrusion and wherein a width of the contact face delimited by the protrusion is shorter than a width of the guide rail section to be received by the rail receiving part.

28. The guide rail system of claim 23, wherein the rail fastening device further comprises an anti-rotation device on the clamping bar piece, by which anti-rotation device a torque applied to the clamping bar piece by the screw connection can be supported in a form-fitting manner in the hole.

29. The guide rail system of claim 23, wherein the rail fastening device further comprises an anti-rotation device on the rail receiving part, by which anti-rotation device a torque applied to the rail receiving part by the screw connection can be supported in a form-fitting manner in the hole.

30. An escalator or moving walkway comprising the at least one guide rail system according of claim 23.

31. A method for servicing or modernizing a guide rail system of an escalator or a moving walkway, which guide rail system comprises at least one side plate having at least one hole, the area of the hole having a hole length which is greater than its hole width, and at least one rail fastening device of claim 14 for fastening guide rail sections being present in the guide rail system, wherein the rail fastening device is pre-assembled, in that the rail receiving part is connected to the clamping bar piece by means of the screw connection, and an assembly spacing is preset between the rail receiving part and the clamping bar piece, which assembly spacing is greater than a thickness of the side plate in the region of the hole.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein: in a further step, the clamping bar piece of a pre-assembled rail fastening device is brought into a first position and is thus aligned, with respect to its length and width, to the hole length and the hole length of the hole; in a further step, the clamping bar piece is guided through the hole until the support surface of the rail receiving part rests on the side plate; in a further step, the clamping bar piece is pivoted about the central longitudinal axis of the screw connection and thus brought into a second position; and in a further step, the rail fastening device is brought into a fully assembled state, in that the screw connection is tightened with a predetermined screw tightening torque, while the clamping bar piece is held in the second position, until the clamping bar piece is positioned on the material of the side plate surrounding the hole and the support surface of the rail receiving part and/or the guide rail section to be fastened presses against the side plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein neither the drawings nor the description are intended to be interpreted as limiting the disclosure. In the figures:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a part of an escalator arranged on a lower story of a building, said escalator comprising a structural framework and a guide rail system installed in the structural framework;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a rail fastening device in the pre-assembled state;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a rail fastening device which is arranged on a side plate of the guide rail system shown in FIG. 1, viewed from a side accessible for a mechanic; and

[0028] FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the rail fastening device in FIG. 3, viewed from a side inaccessible for a mechanic.

[0029] The figures are merely schematic and not true to scale. In the different figures, identical reference signs denote identical or similar features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a part of an escalator 1 arranged on a lower story E1 of a building 3. The escalator 1 comprises a structural framework 5 and a guide rail system 7 installed in the structural framework 5. The guide rail system 7 comprises two side plates 9 (only one is shown on account of the central longitudinal sectional view), between which a step band (not shown) is guided on guide rail sections 11, 13. In order to keep the installation width of the escalator 1 small, the side plates 9 are arranged close to the laterally protruding structural elements such as the posts 15 and cross stays 17 of the structural framework 5. Walls 19 of the building 3 typically adjoin the outside of the structural framework 5 at a small spacing, such that the surface of the side plate 9 facing towards the structural elements 15, 17 of the structural framework 5 is inaccessible for assembly work. However, the side of the side plate 9 facing away from the structural elements 15, 17, on which side the guide rail sections 11, 13 are arranged, is very easily accessible if, as shown, the step band has been removed.

[0031] By means of an angle grinder, guide rail sections 11, 13 that are welded to the side plate 9 and are to be replaced can now be removed. The weld joints to be separated are typically arranged in the region of what are known as welding windows. Said welding windows are rectangular and thus constitute pre-existing holes 21 which can be used for assembling the new guide rail sections 11, 13. For assembly of the guide rail sections 11, 13, rail fastening devices 23 are provided.

[0032] The area of the holes 21 has a rectangular cross section having a hole length L.sub.S and a hole width B.sub.S, the hole length L.sub.S being significantly greater than the hole width B.sub.S. The lower guide rail section 13 is still welded to the side plate 9. The upper guide rail section 11 has already been replaced, and therefore fastened to the side plate 9 by means of rail fastening devices 23.

[0033] As shown in three-dimensions in FIG. 2, the rail fastening device 23 essentially comprises a rail receiving part 25, a screw connection 27 and a clamping bar piece 29. The rail receiving part 25 comprises a rail receiving region 31 and a support surface 33. In the fully assembled state, the support surface 33 is supported against the side plate 9. The rail receiving region 31 essentially comprises a contact face 35 and a protrusion 37. The exact function of the protrusion 37 is explained below in connection with the description of FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0034] The length L.sub.R and width .sub.R of the clamping bar piece 29 match the hole width B.sub.S and the hole length L.sub.S of the hole 21 (see FIG. 1) such that the clamping bar piece 25 can be guided through the hole 21 in the first position shown in FIG. 2, in the pre-assembled state, and can be supported on the material of the side plate 9 surrounding the hole 11 in a second position, in the fully assembled state (see FIG. 4).

[0035] In other words, in the fully assembled state a central region of the rail fastening device 23 protrudes through the hole 21 and clamps edge portions of the hole 21 or the side plate 9 between the support surface 33 and the surfaces 37 of the clamping bar piece 29 which face the side plate 9 and are in contact thereon. This achieves a very stable and wide bracing of forces which could act on the rail receiving part 25 and have to be braced via the side plate 9.

[0036] In order to simplify the assembly of a guide rail section 11, 13, the rail fastening device 23 is preferably pre-assembled, as shown in FIG. 2. In the pre-assembled state, the rail receiving part 25 is connected to the clamping bar piece 29 by means of the screw connection 27. Furthermore, the clamping bar piece 29 is connected to the rail receiving part 25 by means of the screw connection 27 in such a way that the clamping bar piece 29 is mounted so as to be pivotable, relative to the rail receiving part 25, about the central longitudinal axis 43 of the screw or the screw connection 27. In order to be able to later secure the screw connection 27, an anaerobic adhesive can be applied in the region denoted by an arrow A. Of course, screws can also be used for the screw connection 27, which screws already have a microencapsulated adhesive applied to the thread thereof by the manufacturer.

[0037] In order that the pre-assembled rail fastening device 23 can be fastened to the side plate 9, an assembly spacing t must be preset between the rail receiving part 25 and the clamping bar piece 29, which spacing is greater than a thickness s (see FIG. 3) of the side plate 9 in the region of the hole 21. This is because the clamping bar piece 29 otherwise still protrudes in part into the hole 21 and therefore cannot be pivoted.

[0038] In order to additionally simplify the assembly, a pivot weight 45, indicated by a dashed line, can be arranged on the clamping bar piece 29, which pivot weight pivots the clamping bar piece 29 of the pre-assembled rail fastening device 23 automatically from the first position into the provided second position, on account of the torque M caused by gravity, after said clamping bar piece has been guided through the hole 21. Of course, said pivot weight 45 is not absolutely essential; the torque M can also be generated by means of a screwdriver and transmitted to the clamping bar piece 29 via the screw connection 27.

[0039] The fully assembled state of the rail fastening device 23 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which will be described together in the following. FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional detail of that rail fastening device 23 which is denoted by an arrow X in FIG. 1. All the other rail fastening devices 23 shown in FIG. 1 preferably likewise correspond to said rail fastening device 23. In this case, FIG. 3 shows the rail fastening device 23 from the side of the side plate 9 that is easily accessible for a mechanic. FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional detail of this same rail fastening device 23 of FIG. 3, from the side which a mechanic can access only with difficulty.

[0040] The rail fastening device 23 assembled on the side plate 9 comprises the components shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the width W A of the contact face 35 of the rail receiving part 25, delimited by the protrusion 37, is slightly shorter here than the width W T of the guide rail section 11 resting on the contact face 35. If the screw connection 27 (indicated in FIG. 3 by the central longitudinal axis 43 thereof) of the rail fastening device 23 is now tightened, the support surface 33 is supported against the side plate 9, and in addition the guide rail or the guide rail section 11 is clamped between the side plate 9 and the protrusion 37. However, this is only possible if, when the screw connection 27 is tightened, there is still a gap Z between the rail receiving part 25 and the clamping bar piece 29.

[0041] The mode of operation of the anti-rotation device 39 formed on the rail receiving part 25 is also clearly visible in FIG. 4. By means of said anti-rotation device 39, a torque M applied to the rail receiving part 25 by the screw connection 27, by means of which torque the clamping bar piece 29 is intended to be pivoted during the assembly process, can be supported in a form-fitting manner in the hole 21. This both facilitates the course of the assembly, and prevents the rail receiving part 25 from rotating, as long as the screw connection 27 is not yet securely tightened and the guide rail section 11 is not yet resting on the contact face 35. Furthermore, the weight forces of the step band acting on the guide rail section 11 are supported in a form-fitting manner over a surface 41 of the anti-rotation device 39, such that the screw connection 27 does not have to be designed to be as strong in order, for example, to achieve a sufficient frictional connection between the support surface 33 and the side plate 9.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the rail fastening device 23 can furthermore comprise a counter holder 47 which, in the present embodiment, can be fastened to the side plate 9 by means of a screw 49. If the rail fastening device 23 is in the fully assembled state, the guide rail section 11 fastened to the side plate 9 is arranged between the rail receiving part 25 and the counter holder 47. A counter holder 47 of this kind thus prevents the guide rail section 11 from being able to lift off from the rail receiving part 25.

[0043] Although FIG. 1 shows a part of an escalator 1, it is obvious that the rail fastening device 23 can also be used in guide rail systems 7 of a moving walkway. Furthermore, alternatively thereto or in combination with the anti-rotation device 39 shown in FIG. 2, an analogously designed deadlock anti-rotation device 51 can be provided on the clamping bar piece 29. By means of said deadlock anti-rotation device 51, a torque M applied to the clamping bar piece 29 by the screw connection 27 can also be supported in a form-fitting manner in the hole 21. However, it is then necessary to ensure, during assembly, that the assembly spacing t is sufficiently large for the deadlock anti-rotation device 51 to be located outside of the hole 21, for the purpose of pivoting. After pivoting, the entire rail fastening device 23 can be retracted slightly, until the deadlock anti-rotation device 51 engages in the hole 21. Subsequently, the screw connection 27 can be tightened with a provided tightening torque.

[0044] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as having, comprising, etc. do not preclude other elements or steps and terms such as a or an do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered to be limiting.