PASSENGER TRANSPORT SYSTEM WITH MONITORING AND MARKING DEVICE FOR CHARACTERIZING DEFECTIVE STEP UNITS

Abstract

The application relates to passenger transport systems and related methods. The passenger transport system has multiple step units, a comb plate, a monitoring device, and a marking device. The step units are to be moved one behind the other continuously along a predefined movement path during normal operation. The comb plate is arranged at a fixed position relative to the predefined movement path. The monitoring device is configured to monitor an actual position of a currently monitored step unit relative to the predefined movement path and to detect a deviation of the actual position from the predefined movement path by more than an allowable tolerance value and activate the marking device in response thereto. Upon being activated, the marking device is configured to mark the currently monitored step unit and/or a step unit spatially correlating to the currently monitored step unit.

Claims

1. A passenger transport system, comprising: multiple step units configured to be moved one behind the other continuously along a predefined movement path during normal operation; a comb plate arranged at a fixed position relative to the predefined movement path; and a monitoring device configured to monitor an actual position of a currently monitored step unit relative to the predefined movement path and to detect a deviation of the actual position from the predefined movement path by more than an allowable tolerance value and activate a marking device in response thereto; wherein the marking device; upon being activated, is configured to provide the currently monitored step unit and/or a step unit spatially correlating to the currently monitored step unit in a defined manner with a marking.

2. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the marking device is configured to form the marking as a visually perceptible marking.

3. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the marking device is configured to apply the marking to the step unit contactlessly.

4. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the marking device comprises a paint spray device.

5. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the marking device is configured and arranged to provide the step unit with the marking on a lower face and/or a side face of the step unit.

6. The passenger transport system according claim 1, wherein the marking device is configured to detect and identify an available marking that can be uniquely assigned to each step unit.

7. The passenger transport system according claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a mechanically operable position detector that is configured and arranged to be mechanically operated if there is a deviation of the actual position of the currently monitored step unit from the predefined movement path by more than an allowable tolerance value.

8. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyor chain, wherein each step unit is mechanically connected to the conveyor chain at a defined position and is moved by the conveyor chain, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to indirectly monitor the position of the currently monitored step unit by monitoring a current position of the conveyor chain.

9. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the marking device is configured to monitor the actual position of the currently monitored step unit contactlessly.

10. The passenger transport system according claim 1, wherein the marking device is configured to monitor the actual position of the currently monitored step unit optically.

11. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises an optically operating position detector that is configured and arranged to be operated when there is a deviation of the actual position of the currently monitored step unit from the predefined movement path by more than an allowable tolerance value.

12. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the marking device is configured and arranged to monitor a position of a step surface of the currently monitored step unit that faces upwards.

13. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, further comprising a guide device that is designed and arranged to guide the step units at a sufficient spacing from the comb plate whilst they are being moved.

14. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit is further designed to cause the passenger transport system to cease its normal operation and/or to transmit a warning signal upon activation of the marking device.

15. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the tolerance value is selected such that a spacing between a surface of a profile of the comb plate that faces downwards and a surface of the currently monitored step unit that is opposite said surface and faces upwards is between 0.3 mm and 3 mm.

16. A method for modernizing an existing passenger transport system, wherein the passenger transport system has multiple step units and a comb plate, wherein the step units are to be moved one behind the other continuously along a predefined movement path during normal operation, and the comb plate is arranged at a fixed position relative to the predefined movement path, the method comprising: retrofitting the passenger transport system with a monitoring device and a marking device; the monitoring device configured to monitor an actual position of a currently monitored step unit relative to the predefined movement path and to detect a deviation of the actual position from the predefined movement path by more than an allowable tolerance value and activate the marking device in response thereto; wherein upon being activated, the marking device is configured to provide the currently monitored step unit and/or a step unit spatially correlating to the currently monitored step unit in a defined manner with a marking.

17. The passenger transport system according to claim 1, wherein the tolerance value is selected such that a spacing between a surface of a profile of the comb plate that faces downwards and a surface of the currently monitored step unit that is opposite said surface and faces upwards is between 1 mm and 1.6 mm.

Description

[0052] Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, neither the drawings nor the description being intended to be interpreted as limiting the invention.

[0053] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a passenger transport system in the form of an escalator.

[0054] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an end region of an escalator adjoining a comb plate.

[0055] FIG. 3 is a sectional view through an end region of an escalator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 4 is a sectional view through an end region of an escalator according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] The drawings are merely schematic and not to scale. Like reference signs refer to like or analogous features in the different drawings.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a passenger transport system 1 designed as an escalator 3. The escalator 3 is used to convey passengers between levels E1 and E2. The escalator 3 comprises a lower access region 5 and an upper access region 7. A region 9 that is inclined to the horizontal runs between the lower and upper access regions 5, 7, which both extend horizontally. The escalator 3 comprises lateral balustrades 11 and skirting panels 13. Endless handrails 15 are provided along each balustrade 11.

[0059] In order to be able to convey passengers while standing, the passenger transport system 1 comprises a plurality of step units 17, which are designed as steps in the case of the escalator 3. The step units 17 are arranged one behind the other, with respect to a direction of travel 19 of the escalator 3, and adjoin one another substantially directly. In this case, the step units 17 are each connected to a conveyor chain 21 (sometimes also referred to as a step chain), using which the step units 17 can be moved in the direction of travel 19 along a movement path. During normal operation, the step units 17 are guided along a predefined movement path by means of guide rollers or guide slide elements, for example, which are guided by rails or similar guide elements. The conveyor chain 21 and the step units 17 fastened thereto are deflected close to the two access regions 5, 7 by an upper deflecting unit 25 and a lower deflecting unit 23.

[0060] At the two access regions 5, 7, the step units 17 moved by the conveyor chain 21 each pass through below a comb plate 27. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of this region.

[0061] Whereas the step units 17 move along the predefined movement path 29, the comb plate 27 is fixed so as to be stationary, for example on a comb plate receiver 31 in the access region 7, and is therefore at a fixed position relative to the predefined movement path.

[0062] In the example shown, a surface 33 of the step unit 17 that faces upwards has ribs 35 and grooves located therebetween, which grooves are each oriented in parallel with the direction of travel 19. A plurality of teeth 39 are located on the comb plate 27 on a surface 37 thereof that faces downwards and therefore towards the step unit 17 passing therebelow, which teeth mesh with the grooves of the step unit 17. Optionally, the comb plate 27 may be composed of multiple adjacent segments.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a section of an escalator 3 near the upper access region 7. For reasons of clarity, only one individual step unit 17 is shown, which moves below the comb plate 27 in the direction of travel 19 by means of the conveyor chain 21. The step unit 17 is, near its front end, connected to the conveyor chain 21 via a pin 40. The conveyor chain 21 runs along a guide rail 43 via guide rollers 41.

[0064] If all the components of the passenger transport system 1 function correctly, i.e. none of the components deviate from the predefined state, for example due to damage or wear, the step units 17 move during normal operation along the predefined movement path 29, pulled by the conveyor chain 21 and guided by the guide rollers 41 running on the guide rail 43 and optionally by additional guide rollers or guide slide elements such as idling rollers (not shown). When approaching the upper access region 7, the step units 17 move below the comb plate 27 at a predetermined spacing of 1.5 mm, for example, i.e. are spaced apart by a gap 42. Such a small spacing ensures that the step unit 17 does not collide with the comb plate 27. It can also prevent objects or even body parts of passengers from getting caught in an excessive gap 42.

[0065] However, if there are deviations from a predefined state in the case of one or more components, such as heavy use of individual guide rollers 41, or if a guide roller 41 breaks, or if a shaft 40 breaks, or if the guide rail 43 is deformed, or similar, this can lead to deviations from the predefined movement path 29 when the steps 17 move.

[0066] For example, the diameter of an individual guide roller 41 may be reduced due to locally excessive use or wear or increased due to accumulation of dirt such that the step unit 17 connected to said guide roller via the pin 40 is no longer moved along the predefined movement path 29, but instead slightly lower or higher below the comb plate 27.

[0067] In particular, if the step unit 17 is raised higher, i.e. the gap 42 is reduced, this may result in danger of a collision with the comb plate 27. However, even if the front end of the step unit 17 were to be moved lower and therefore with a greater gap 42 below the comb plate 27 due to a reduced guide roller 41, there may be a risk of collision, as even in this case, the step unit 17 is no longer correctly guided along the predefined movement path 29, but instead may have a specific backlash and therefore, in the case of correspondingly unfavorable load from a passenger, the front end of the step unit 17 may tilt upwards and then collide with the comb plate 27.

[0068] In order to minimize such a risk of collision, a monitoring device 49 is provided for the passenger transport system 1. This monitoring device 49 is designed to be able to determine the actual position of a currently monitored step unit 17, in order to thereby be able to detect a deviation of the actual position from the predefined movement path 29.

[0069] If deviations are detected that are greater than a predetermined allowable tolerance value, the monitoring device 49 assumes that there is an increased risk of collision between the currently monitored step unit 17 and the comb plate 27. The monitoring device 49 can then take appropriate measures. For example, operation of the passenger transport system 1 can be adjusted or at least modified, for example decelerated. Additionally or alternatively, a warning signal may be transmitted to a central maintenance office and/or to the user of a passenger transport system 1.

[0070] In order to make it easier for maintenance personnel to identify a worn or damaged step unit 17, which is therefore in danger of collision, a marking device 45 is also provided for the passenger transport system 1. Upon being activated, this marking device 45 is designed to provide the currently monitored step unit 17 and/or one or more step units 17 that has a fixed locational relationship with this currently monitored step unit 17 with a marking (57). The marking 57 should preferably be visually perceptible, such that it can be detected by maintenance personnel easily and without additional tools.

[0071] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the monitoring device 49 is equipped with a mechanically actuated position detector 54. The position detector 54 comprises a switch 53 of which the actuating arm 56 rests against a switch cam 55. The switch cam 55 rests in turn on the conveyor chain 21 via a sensing means 59. The monitoring device 49 or the switch 53 thereof is activated as soon as the conveyor chain 21 deviates excessively from its normal direction of movement. As the conveyor chain 21 is rigidly connected to each step unit 17 via the pins 40, the position of a currently monitored step unit 17 can be indirectly monitored in this way by monitoring the current position of the conveyor chain 21.

[0072] As soon as an intolerable deviation of the step unit 17 from the predefined movement path 29 is detected by the monitoring device 49 in this way, said monitoring device passes an activation signal on to the marking device 45 via the control means 51. The marking device 45 activated in this way therefore applies the marking 57 to the lower face 61 of the step unit 17 or to one of the lateral flanks of the step unit 17.

[0073] In the example shown, the marking device 45 is designed as a paint spray device 47. In this case, the paint spray device 47 is designed and arranged such that upon being activated, it can spray a jet of paint 63 towards the lower face 61 of the step unit 17. The paint spray device 47 itself does not touch the step unit 17 in this case, i.e. the marking 57 can be applied contactlessly.

[0074] However, the individual step units 17 may already comprise a clearly distinguishable marking 57 due to the production process. A marking 57 of this kind may be a serial production number, a barcode, an integrated RFID tag or the like, for example. This can be used by the marking device 45 in that the device does not mark the corresponding step unit 17 actively, for example by means of a spot of paint, but passively, by detecting and storing the uniquely identifiable marking 57. Accordingly, the marking device 45 may be designed to detect and identify an existing marking 57 that can be uniquely assigned to each step unit 17. For this purpose, the marking device 45 must comprise a detection device such as a camera, an RFID reading device and the like.

[0075] Whereas in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the actual position of a currently monitored step unit 17 is monitored by a monitoring device 49 having a mechanically actuated position sensor 54, it is proposed, with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, to monitor this position contactlessly and preferably using an optically operating position detector 65.

[0076] The position detector 65 may monitor the gap 42 between the upper face 33 of the step unit 17 and the lower face 37 of the comb plate 27, for example. For this purpose, the position detector 65 may be designed in the form of a single-stage or multi-stage light barrier. As soon as the gap 42 changes its size, i.e. is narrowed or widened, this can be taken as evidence for an increased risk of collision, as a result of which the marking device 45 can be reactivated by the control means 51 connected to the position detector 65.

[0077] The position detector 65 may be arranged at a hole in one of the skirting panel 13 (see FIG. 1), for example, and monitor the gap 42 or alternatively another region of the step unit 17 through said hole. If the above-described unique marking 57 of the step unit 17 is arranged in the detection region of the position detector 65, said detector can also be used as a device for detecting the uniquely distinguishable, existing marking 57.

[0078] As an additional feature, the passenger transport system 1 may also be equipped with a guide device 67 (see FIG. 2). The guide device 67 may be designed and arranged to guide the step units 17 at a sufficient spacing from the comb plate 27 whilst they are being moved. In this case, the guide device 67 does not necessarily need to guide step units 17 running past said device. If a step unit 17 moves correctly along the predefined movement path 29, said unit does not need to be guided by the guide unit 67. Accordingly, the guide device 67 can remain passive in this case. However, if a step unit 17 is unallowably far from the predefined movement path 29, and therefore there is a risk of collision with the comb plate 27, the guide device 67 can guide the corresponding step unit 17 suitably such that a collision of this kind is prevented.

[0079] For example, the guide device 67 as shown in FIG. 2 may be arranged on a lateral edge of the comb plate 27. It can be provided there as a protruding and suitably geometrically formed metal plate 69 of which the lower face 71 is designed and arranged such that a region of the step unit 17 that comes too close to the comb plate 27 is pushed downwards and therefore away from the lower face 37 of the comb plate 27.

[0080] Optionally, functions of the monitoring device 49 may be combined with functions of the guide device 67. For example, a switch, for example in the form of a piezo element, may be provided on the lower face 71 of the guide device 67, which switch can be actuated by a step unit 17 that deviates from the predefined movement path 29, the marking device 45 being activated as a result.

[0081] In the case of the passenger transport system 1 proposed here or a passenger transport system retrofitted within the context of modernizing, collisions between a step unit and the comb plate can be prevented by means of the monitoring device and the marking device, and step units at risk of a collision can be quickly and easily detected by maintenance personnel using the marking applied to the units by the marking device.

[0082] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as comprising, having, etc. do not preclude other elements or steps and terms such as a/an or one do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the embodiments above can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered limiting.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0083] 1 passenger transport system [0084] 3 escalator [0085] 5 lower access region [0086] 7 upper access region [0087] 9 inclined region [0088] 11 balustrade [0089] 13 skirting panel [0090] 15 handrail [0091] 17 step unit [0092] 19 direction of travel [0093] 21 conveyor chain [0094] 23 lower deflecting unit [0095] 25 upper deflecting unit [0096] 27 comb plate [0097] 29 predefined movement path [0098] 31 comb plate receiver [0099] 33 upper face of the step unit [0100] 35 ribs [0101] 37 lower face of the comb plate [0102] 39 teeth of the comb plate [0103] 40 pin [0104] 41 guide roller [0105] 42 gap [0106] 43 guide rail [0107] 45 marking device [0108] 47 paint spray device [0109] 49 monitoring device [0110] 51 control means [0111] 53 switch [0112] 54 position detector [0113] 55 switch cam [0114] 56 actuating arm [0115] 57 marking [0116] 59 sensing means [0117] 61 lower face of the step unit [0118] 63 jet of paint [0119] 65 position detector [0120] 67 guide device [0121] 69 metal plate [0122] 71 lower face of the guide device