STEP CHAIN FOR ESCALATORS, AND PERSON CONVEYOR DEVICE HAVING A STEP CHAIN OF THIS TYPE

Abstract

A step chain for driving steps of an escalator may include link plates, chain pins, chain bushes, and buffer rollers that are connected to one another to form chain links, which can be moved in relation to one another. The step chain may also include running rollers disposed outside the chain links. The buffer rollers may each be designed in the form of a multi-component part that comprises at least one inner, dimensionally stable sliding component, by way of which the buffer rollers can be arranged in a rotatable manner, respectively, on the chain bushes, and an outer, damping component that is designed to be more elastically deformable than the sliding component. The step chain may be utilized in a person-conveyor device, such as an escalator or a moving walkway, for example.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. A step chain for driving steps of an escalator, the step chain comprising: link plates, chain pins, chain bushes, and buffer rollers that are connected to form chain links, wherein the chain links are movable relative to one another, wherein each of the buffer rollers is configured as a multi-component part that comprises an inner dimensionally-stable sliding component by way of which the buffer rollers are disposed in a rotatable manner, respectively, on the chain bushes, and an outer damping component configured to be more elastically deformable than the inner dimensionally-stable sliding component; and running rollers disposed outside the chain links.

11. The step chain of claim 10 wherein each of the buffer rollers is configured as a two-component part.

12. The step chain of claim 10 wherein each of the buffer rollers is an injection molding.

13. The step chain of claim 10 wherein the inner dimensionally-stable sliding component and the outer damping component are disposed coaxially relative to one another.

14. The step chain of claim 10 wherein the inner dimensionally-stable sliding component is comprised of a first plastics material and the outer damping component is comprised of a second plastics material.

15. The step chain of claim 14 wherein the first plastics material is harder than the second plastics material.

16. The step chain of claim 14 wherein the first plastics material is polyamide or polyoxymethylene.

17. The step chain of claim 15 wherein the first plastics material is polyamide or polyoxymethylene.

18. The step chain of claim 14 wherein the second plastics material is polyurethane.

19. The step chain of claim 17 wherein the second plastics material is polyurethane.

20. A person-conveyor device comprising: tread elements that are connected to form an endless tread-element belt; a drive unit; and a step chain that comprises link plates, chain pins, chain bushes, and buffer rollers that are connected to form chain links, wherein the chain links are movable relative to one another, wherein each of the buffer rollers is configured as a multi-component part that includes an inner dimensionally-stable sliding component by way of which the buffer rollers are disposed in a rotatable manner, respectively, on the chain bushes, and an outer damping component configured to be more elastically deformable than the inner dimensionally-stable sliding component, and running rollers disposed outside the chain links, wherein the endless tread-element belt is connected to the drive unit for driving the endless tread-element belt via the step chain.

21. The person-conveyor device of claim 20 wherein each of the buffer rollers is configured as a two-component part.

22. The person-conveyor device of claim 20 wherein each of the buffer rollers is an injection molding.

23. The person-conveyor device of claim 20 wherein the inner dimensionally-stable sliding component and the outer damping component are disposed coaxially relative to one another.

24. The person-conveyor device of claim 20 wherein the inner dimensionally-stable sliding component is comprised of a first plastics material and the outer damping component is comprised of a second plastics material.

25. The person-conveyor device of claim 24 wherein the first plastics material is polyamide or polyoxymethylene.

26. The person-conveyor device of claim 24 wherein the second plastics material is polyurethane.

27. The person-conveyor device of claim 24 wherein the first plastics material is harder than the second plastics material.

28. The person-conveyor device of claim 27 wherein the first plastics material is polyamide or polyoxymethylene.

29. The person-conveyor device of claim 27 wherein the second plastics material is polyurethane.

Description

[0027] Further advantageous details, features and design specifics of the invention will be explained more closely in conjunction with the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the FIGURE, it being the case that:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a step chain according to the invention.

[0029] The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 shows part of a step chain 1. The step chain 1 is designed here for driving steps of an escalator. The step chain 1 comprises link plates 2, chain pins 3, chain bushes 5 and buffer rollers 6, which are connected to one another to form chain links 7 which can be moved in relation to one another. The link plates 2 here form, alternately in each case, inner pairs of link plates and outer pairs of link plates.

[0030] The step chain 1 also comprises running rollers 8 arranged outside the chain links 7. In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated, said running rollers are arranged in a rotatable manner on hollow spindles 4, which are fastened or to be fastened on the steps of an escalator (not illustrated in FIG. 1), in other words the running rollers are arranged pretty much alongside the chain links. However, it is also possible for the running rollers 8 to be arranged in a rotatable manner, in particular, on extended chain pins. As a result of the running rollers 8, the step chain 1 is suitable in particular for driving steps of an escalator designed for an average to high volume of traffic.

[0031] The buffer rollers 6 of the step chain 1 are designed in the form of two-component plastics injection moldings. The buffer rollers 6 here comprise an inner, sliding component 9 and an outer, damping component 10. The sliding component 9 here is made of a hard, dimensionally stable plastics material, for example polyamide or polyoxymethylene. The damping component 10 is made of a less hard, more elastically deformable plastics material, for example of polyurethane.

[0032] The sliding component 9 and the damping component 10 are each arranged coaxially in relation to one another and each form hollow cylinders. In this exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the damping component 10 corresponds essentially to the thickness of the sliding component 9.

[0033] By way of the sliding component 9, the respective buffer rollers 6 of the step chain 1 are arranged in a movable, in particular rotatable, manner in each case on the chain bushes 5. The first plastics material gives the sliding component 9 good sliding properties here.

[0034] When use is made of the step chain 1, in particular for driving a step belt of an escalator, the damping components 10 are in engagement, temporarily in each case, with the driving chain wheel (not illustrated in FIG. 1), that is to say from the time at which a damping component 10 runs into the chain wheel until the time at which the damping component 10 runs out of the chain wheel. As a result of the damping realized by the damping component 10, the level of noise associated with using the step chain 1 is advantageously reduced.

[0035] The exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures and explained in conjunction therewith serve to explain the invention and do not have a limiting effect thereon.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0036] 1 step chain [0037] 2 link plate [0038] 3 chain pin [0039] 4 hollow spindle [0040] 5 chain bush [0041] 6 buffer roller [0042] 7 chain link [0043] 8 running roller [0044] 9 sliding component [0045] 10 damping component