Moving walkway

Abstract

A moving walkway (1) comprises at least one endless belt (12) moving in a conveyance direction along a closed loop; a plurality of pallets (20); and a plurality of linkages (26a, 26b) rotatably connecting adjacent pallets (20) with each other. A mounting portion (20a) of each pallet (20) is rotatably connected to the at least one belt (12).

Claims

1. Moving walkway comprising: at least one endless belt moving in a conveyance direction along a closed loop, the closed loop comprising a conveyance portion and a return portion extending between two turnaround portions, respectively; a plurality of pallets; and a plurality of linkages rotatably connecting adjacent pallets with each other; wherein at least one mounting portion of each pallet is rotatably connected to the at least one belt.

2. Moving walkway according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portions connected to the at least one belt are first mounting portions and each pallet further comprises a second mounting portion, the first and second mounting portions being spaced apart from each other along the conveyance direction; and wherein each of the linkages rotatably connects the first mounting portion of a respective pallet with the second mounting portion of an adjacent pallet.

3. Moving walkway according to claim 1, wherein a first end of each linkage is rotatably connected to a first mounting portion of one of the plurality of pallets and to the at least one belt; and a second end of each linkage is rotatably connected to a second mounting portion of an adjacent pallet.

4. Moving walkway according to claim 1, wherein each of the linkages comprises a first linkage element and a second linkage element, wherein the first linkage elements are spaced apart from the second linkage elements in the lateral direction.

5. Moving walkway according to claim 4, further comprising first linkage axles extending between first sides of the first and second linkage elements.

6. Moving walkway according to claim 5, wherein the linkage axles are fixed to the at least one belt at a position corresponding to the neutral phase of the at least one belt which is neither compressed nor stretched when the belt is bent.

7. Moving walkway according to claim 5, further comprising second linkage axles extending between second sides of the first and second linkage elements.

8. Moving walkway according to claim 1, wherein the at least one belt is arranged below the pallets, when the pallets are located in the conveyance portion.

9. Moving walkway according to claim 1, further comprising pallet rollers attached to the pallets and guide rails configured for guiding and supporting the pallet rollers.

10. Moving walkway according to claim 9, wherein the pallet rollers are configured to travel along the turnaround portions without being supported by any guide rails.

11. Moving walkway according to claim 9, wherein each of the pallets is equipped with at least two pallet rollers.

12. Moving walkway according to claim 11, wherein the least two pallet rollers are arranged coaxially with each other.

13. Moving walkway according to claim 11, wherein the at least one belt is arranged between the at least two pallet rollers.

14. Moving walkway according to claim 1 comprising at least two belts extending parallel to each other, wherein each pallet is connected to each of the belts.

15. Moving walkway according to claim 14, wherein pallet rollers are arranged between the at least two belts.

16. Moving walkway according to claim 4, wherein the first and second linkage elements are located on opposite lateral sides of the belt.

17. Moving walkway according to claim 5, wherein the first linkage axles are fixed to the at least one belt.

18. Moving walkway comprising: at least one endless belt moving in a conveyance direction along a closed loop, the closed loop comprising a conveyance portion and a return portion extending between two turnaround portions, respectively; a plurality of pallets; and a plurality of linkages rotatably connecting adjacent pallets with each other; wherein at least one mounting portion of each pallet is rotatably connected to the at least one belt; wherein each of the linkages comprises a first linkage element and a second linkage element, wherein the first linkage elements are spaced apart from the second linkage elements in the lateral direction; a first linkage axle extending between the first and second linkage elements; the first linkage axle fixed to the belt by a fastener extending through an opening formed in a central portion of the first linkage axle and through a mounting element provided at an opposite, toothed side of the belt.

Description

(1) In the following exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the enclosed figures.

(2) FIG. 1 schematically depicts a side view of a moving walkway.

(3) FIG. 2 schematically depicts a side view of a portion of a conveyance band of a moving walkway according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 schematically depicts a perspective view of a straight portion of the conveyance band according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 schematically depicts a side view of a portion of the conveyance band in a turnaround portion according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 schematically depicts a perspective view of a portion of the conveyance band in a turnaround portion according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view though the conveyance band according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(8) FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of a first linkage axle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 6B shows a side view thereof.

(9) FIG. 7 schematically depicts a side view of a portion of the conveyance band according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(10) FIG. 8 schematically depicts a perspective view of a portion of the conveyance band shown in FIG. 7 in a turnaround portion.

(11) FIG. 9 shows a sectional view through the conveyance band shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

(12) FIG. 1 schematically depicts a schematic side view of a moving walkway 1.

(13) The moving walkway 1 comprises an endless conveyance band 10 moving along an upper conveyance portion 16 and a lower return portion 18. Turnaround portions 5, 7, are provided at both ends of the moving walkway 1. In the turnaround portions 5, 7 the conveyance band 10 passes from the conveyance portion 16 into the return portion 18, and vice versa.

(14) Optionally balustrades 4 supporting moving handrails 6 extend parallel to the conveyance portion 16.

(15) FIG. 2 schematically depicts a side view of a portion of the conveyance band 10 of a moving walkway 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in particular a portion next to a turnaround portion 5. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the straight portion of the conveyance band 10 shown in FIG. 2.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a side view of a portion of the conveyance band 10 within the turnaround portion 5 and FIG. 5 shows a perspective view thereof.

(17) The conveyance band 10 comprises a toothed belt 12 extending in a conveyance direction along the upper conveyance portion 16 and the lower return portion 18. In FIG. 2 the belt 12 is depicted only schematically in the return portion 18. In the turnaround portion 5 the teeth of the belt 12 engage with a sprocket 14, which is configured for transferring the belt 12 from the conveyance portion 16 into the return portion 18, and/or vice versa. The belt may have a width of 100 mm to 200 mm, in particular a width of 125 mm to 175 mm, more particularly a width of 150 mm in the lateral direction.

(18) A similar sprocket 14 (not shown) is provided in the other turnaround portion 7 of the moving walkway 1 (cf. FIG. 1), which is not shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. At least one of the sprockets 14 is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the belt 12. In an alternative embodiment, a diverter wheel (not shown) may be used instead of a second sprocket 14.

(19) The conveyance band 10 further comprises a plurality of pallets 20 attached to the belt 12. For clarity of the illustration only some of the pallets 20 are shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, respectively. Each of the pallets 20 comprises a tread plate 21 for supporting passengers using the moving walkway 1.

(20) Each pallet 20 has at least one first mounting portion 20a, which is shown on the right side of the pallets 20 in FIGS. 2 to 5, and at least one second mounting portion 20b, which is shown on the left side of the pallets 20 in FIGS. 2 to 5. The first and second mounting portions 20a, 20b are spaced apart from each other in the conveyance direction.

(21) The first and second mounting portions 20a, 20b are also spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction when the pallets 20 are located in the conveyance portion 16 or in the return portion 18. In other words, the first and second mounting portions 20a, 20b are arranged at different heights when the pallets 20 are located in the conveyance portion 16 or in the return portion 18.

(22) Each pallet 20 comprises a first mounting portion 20a and a second mounting portion 20b on each lateral side of the belt 12, respectively (cf. FIGS. 3 and 5).

(23) The first mounting portions 20a of each pallet 20 are rotatably connected to the belt 12 by first linkage axles 22 extending between the first mounting portions 20a and the belt 12.

(24) FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of a first linkage axle 22 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention and FIG. 6B shows a side view thereof. Each first linkage axle 22 is formed as a U-shaped bracket comprising a central portion 22a extending along the non-toothed side of the belt 12 when the first linkage axle 22 is mounted to the belt 12, and two lateral cylindrical extensions or stubs 22b laterally extending from both ends of the central portion 22a. The cylindrical extensions or stubs 22b are arranged coaxially with each other along a common axis A.

(25) For mounting a first linkage axle 22 to the belt 12, the central portion 22a is arranged along the non-toothed side of the belt 12 and the first linkage axle 22 is fixed to the belt 12 by means of screws or bolts (not shown) extending though openings 23 formed in the central portion 22a and a mounting element 34 provided at the opposite, toothed side of the belt 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

(26) The first linkage axles 22 in particular are designed so that the common axis A of the extensions or stubs 22b extends through a neutral phase of the belt 12, i.e. a portion of the belt 12 which is neither compressed nor stretched when the belt 12 is bent in the turnaround portions 5, 7 for being guided around the sprocket 14.

(27) First linkage axles 22 may be mounted at every 7th tooth of the belt 12.

(28) In addition to the first mounting portions 20a of a pallet 20, a linkage 26a, 26b including two linkage elements 26a, 26b is rotatably connected to each first linkage axle 22. In particular, a first linkage element 26a of the linkage 26a, 26b is arranged on a first lateral side of the belt 12, and a second linkage element 26b of the linkage 26a, 26b is arranged on a second lateral side of the belt 12. Thus, each linkage element 26a, 26b is sandwiched between the belt 12 and a first mounting portion 20a of a pallet 20. Each linkage element 26a, 26b is formed as a bar comprising a first end and an opposing second end. Each first linkage axle 22 extends through an opening formed next to the first end of each linkage element 26a, 26b, respectively.

(29) As a result, the first linkage axles 22 rotatably connect each linkage element 26a, 26b to the belt 12 and to a first mounting portion 20a of one of the pallets 20, respectively.

(30) A second linkage axle 24 extends between the second mounting portion 20b of an adjacent pallet 20 through the second end of each linkage element 26a, 26b. As one linkage element 26a, 26b is arranged on each lateral side of the pallet 20, two adjacent pallets 20 are connected to each other by two linkage elements 26a, 26b, respectively. The linkage elements 26a, 26b are pivotably connected with respect to each of the two adjacent pallets 20. This allows changing the distance between the two pallets in the conveyance direction in the turnaround sections by pivoting the linkage elements 26a, 26b with respect to the pallets 20.

(31) The linkage elements 26a, 26b connect the pallets 20 with each other independently of the belt 12, thus forming an endless chain of pallets 20 without the aid of the belt 12. In consequence, the chain of pallets 20 remains intact even in case the belt 12 should brake.

(32) Each pallet 20 further is equipped with at least one pallet roller 28 rotatably attached to the respective pallet 20. The pallet rollers 28 are guided by straight guide rails 30, 32 in the conveyance portion 16 and in the return portion 18, respectively (see FIG. 4). The pallet rollers 28 may have a diameter d of 25 mm to 100 mm, in particular a diameter d of 55 mm. The width of the pallet rollers 28 in the lateral direction may be in between 20 mm and 25 mm. The pallet rollers 28 in particular may have a width of 22 mm in the lateral direction.

(33) The guide rails 30, 32 do not extend into the turnaround portions 5, 7, at least not to such an extent as to guide the pallet rollers 28 around the turnaround portions 5, 7.

(34) Thus, in the turnaround portions 5, 7 the conveyance band 10 is guided only by the engagement of the belt 12 with the respective sprocket 14. The moving walkway 1 in particular does not comprise curved guide rails for guiding the pallet rollers 28 around the curved turnaround portions 5, 7. Not employing any curved guide rails facilitates the installation of the moving walkway 1, as no curved guide rails, which are more difficult to handle than straight guide rails, need be manufactured, transported and installed and aligned. Guiding the rollers 30 along curved guide rails further would generate additional noise during operation.

(35) The additional degree of freedom provided by the rotatably mounted linkage elements 26a, 26b allows for a desirable small diameter of the turnaround portions 5, 7.

(36) In an exemplary configuration, in which the vertical distance Do between the tread plates 21 of the pallets 20 in the conveyance portion 16 and the tread plates 21 of the pallets 20 in the return portion 18 is D.sub.0=253 mm, the maximum vertical distance D.sub.1 between the tread plates 21 of the pallets 20 in the turnaround portions 5, 7 increases only by a few millimeters, e.g. by =3 mm on each side up to D.sub.1=259 mm (see FIG. 4). FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through the conveyance band 10 in the conveyance portion 16 in a plane which is oriented orthogonally to the conveyance direction, i.e. the conveyance band 10 travels in the conveyance direction perpendicularly to the plane of FIG. 6.

(37) FIG. 6 illustrates that each pallet 20 is connected to two belts 12 extending parallel to each other in the conveyance direction (perpendicularly to the plane of view). In the turnaround portions 5, 7, each of the belts 12 is in engagement with and guided by an associated sprocket 14. Each belt 12 is connected to the pallets 20 by two linkage elements 26a, 26b as it has been described before.

(38) Two pallet rollers 28 are rotatably connected to each pallet 20. The pallet rollers 28 are guided by respectively associated straight guide rails 30. The belts 12, the linkage elements 26a, 26b and the pallet rollers 28 are arranged under the pallets 20. Hence, no parts of the conveyance band 10 extend beyond the pallets 20 in the lateral direction and thus the dimension of the conveyance band 10 in the lateral direction is defined by the width W of the pallets 20, which may be up to e.g. 1400 mm. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the pallet rollers 28 are arranged between the two belts 20 in the lateral direction.

(39) Arranging the belts 12, the linkage elements 26a, 26b and the pallet rollers 28 under the pallets 20 in the conveyance portion 16 and above the pallets 20 in the return portion 18 (cf. FIG. 4) allows reducing the total width of the conveyance band 10 compared to a configuration in which the belts 12, the linkage elements 26a, 26b and/or the pallet rollers 28 are arranged laterally to the pallets 20.

(40) FIGS. 7 to 9 correspond to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, respectively, depicting another exemplary embodiment of the invention. In said alternative embodiment, the pallet rollers 28 are arranged laterally outside the two belts 12 extending parallel to each other.

(41) With respect to the other features, in particular with respect to the connection of the pallets 20 to the belts 12 by means of the linkage elements 26a, 26b, the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is very similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, which has been described in detail before. Thus, the identical features are not discussed in detail again, but reference is made to the previous description. The second linkage axles 24 are fixed to the second mounting portions 20b be means of screws 29 depicted in FIG. 7.

(42) Although arranged laterally outside the two parallel belts 12, the pallet rollers 28 are still arranged below or above the pallets 12 in this embodiment as well. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 9, also in this embodiment the width of the conveyance band 10 may be reduced basically to the width W of the pallets 20. Although the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures comprise two belts 12 extending parallel to each other, the skilled person will understand that the principles of the invention may be applied equally to moving walkways 1 comprising only one belt 12 or more than two belts 12.

(43) Similarly, more than two pallet rollers 28 may be attached to each of the pallets 20 in order to reduce the load acting on each of the pallet rollers 28.

(44) While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

REFERENCES

(45) 1 moving walkway

(46) 4 balustrade

(47) 5 turnaround portion

(48) 6 handrail

(49) 7 turnaround portion

(50) 10 conveyance band

(51) 12 belt

(52) 14 sprocket

(53) 16 conveyance portion

(54) 18 return portion

(55) 20 pallet

(56) 20a first mounting portion

(57) 20b second mounting portion

(58) 21 tread plate

(59) 22 first linkage axle

(60) 22a central portion

(61) 22b extension or stub

(62) 23 opening

(63) 24 second linkage axle

(64) 26a, 26b linkage/first and second linkage elements

(65) 28 pallet rollers

(66) 29 screw

(67) 30, 32 guide rails

(68) 34 mounting element

(69) d diameter of the pallet rollers

(70) D.sub.0 vertical distance between the tread plates of the pallets in the conveyance portion and the return portion

(71) D.sub.1 maximum vertical distance of the tread plates of the pallets in the turnaround portions

(72) difference between D.sub.1 and D.sub.0

(73) W width of the pallets