Bionic step element

Abstract

Step element for an escalator or for a moving walkway, wherein the step element is configured as a one-piece die-cast aluminum part, comprising a step element skeleton and a step plate, wherein the step plate has a step profile, wherein the step profile has webs and grooves running in the travelling direction, wherein the webs are formed by two web arms running practically parallel to one another and by a connecting web face and the grooves run between the webs which are arranged in a row alongside one another.

Claims

1. A step element for an escalator or for a moving walkway, wherein the step element is configured as a one-piece die-cast aluminium part, comprising a step element skeleton and a step plate wherein the step plate has a step profile, wherein the step profile has webs and grooves running in the travelling direction, wherein the webs are formed by two spaced apart web arms running substantially parallel to one another and by a web face running transverse to the web arms and connecting the two spaced apart web arms, and wherein the grooves run between the webs and are arranged in rows alongside one another.

2. The step element according to claim 1 wherein, the web arms of one web include an angle () of 0-6.

3. The step element according to claim 1 wherein, the web has a web cavity wherein the web cavity is formed by the web arms and the web face.

4. The step element according to claim 1 wherein, the web faces form the step surface wherein the web faces are arranged at practically right angles () to the web arms, wherein the internal angle () between the web arms and web face is preferably between 90-93.

5. The step element according to claim 1 wherein, the web width is less than or equal to the groove width.

6. The step element according to claim 1 wherein, the step profile has a wall thickness which runs constantly at the same thickness.

7. The step element according to claim 1 wherein, recesses are arranged in the step plate at right angles to the path of the webs and grooves.

8. A step element for an escalator or for a moving walkway, wherein the step element is configured as a one-piece die-cast aluminium part, comprising a step element skeleton and a step plate wherein the step plate has a step profile, wherein the step profile has webs and grooves running in the travelling direction, and wherein recesses are arranged in the step plate at right angles to the path of the webs and grooves; and wherein, the bottom of the groove is configured as a radius.

9. The step element according to claim 8 wherein, the recesses are formed the same width or narrower than teeth which are formed from the webs between the recesses.

10. The step element according to claim 8 wherein, the width of the recess corresponds to double the radius of the bottom of the recess.

11. A method for manufacturing a step element according to claim 8 wherein, the step element is made as a one-piece part in the die-casting process.

12. A method for manufacturing a step element according to claim 1 wherein, the step element is made as a one-piece part in the die-casting process.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures wherein the invention is not restricted only to the exemplary embodiment, more especially not to only a step element of an escalator but also a step element of a moving walkway. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a step element for an escalator;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional section of a step profile of a step element according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a two-dimensional section of a step profile of a step element according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional section of a step profile with recesses of a step element according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a two-dimensional section of a step profile with recesses of a step element according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional section of a step profile with recesses of a step element according to the invention, and

(8) FIG. 7 shows a two-dimensional section of a step profile with recesses of a step element according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a step element 1 for escalators. The invention can however equally be applied to step elements for moving walkways even where these are not shown in the drawings.

(10) The step element 1 is configured as a one-piece die-cast aluminium part whereby expensive assembly processes for the step element 1 can be avoided. The step element 1 comprises a step element skeleton 2 which is preferably formed from longitudinal and transverse girders as well as from ribs. The step element skeleton 2 is configured according to the required use. Step elements 1 for moving walkways as well as also for escalators comprise a step element skeleton 2 of this kind wherein the task of the skeleton 2 lies in forming a moving system through sufficiently rigid step elements 1 or step element skeletons 2 which are fastened on the drive chain and arranged in a row alongside each other. Whereby all the step element skeletons 2 have to fulfil the same task and the exact path and the exact arrangement of the longitudinal and transverse girders and also the ribs are not the prime concern, which is why they are not specifically dealt with here.

(11) The step element 1 comprises a step plate 3 which is configured with the step element skeleton 2 as a die-cast aluminium part. The step plate 3 has a step profile 4 on which the person being moved stands, or stands on the step surface 15 of the step profile 4. The step profile 4 is formed by the webs 5 which are placed in a row alongside one another but spaced from one another, which is clearly visible in FIGS. 2-7. In order to configure the step element 1 as economically as possible in production, as little material as possible is used, wherein however the prescribed loads have to be withstood.

(12) FIGS. 2 to 5 show a possible embodiment of a step profile 4 in which the webs have web cavities 9.

(13) This means that the web 5 is formed by two web arms 7 running approximately parallel to one another and connected to one another via the web face 8 wherein the web faces 8 which are spaced from one another and arranged in a row alongside each other form the step surface 15. In order to ensure the step element 1 can be removed from the mould the webs 5 or web arms 7 preferably have a slight incline. The web arms 7 of a web 5 preferably include an angle of 0-6, which in turn produces the approximately right-angled path of the web face 8 relative to the web arms 7.

(14) The angle included between the web arms 7 and the web face 8 preferably amounts to 90-93. Grooves 6 are formed between the webs 5, these grooves preferably being of equal width to or narrower than the web width 13.

(15) The webs 5 or web arms 7 of the individual webs 5 are connected to one another via the bottom 16 of the grooves, which forms the step profile 4 which is clearly apparent in FIG. 2. The step profile 4 preferably has a continuous constant wall thickness 18. The corners in the step profile 4 are preferably formed by radii which favours the flow behaviour of the material.

(16) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a further configuration of a step profile 4 in which recesses 10 run at right angles to the webs 5 and grooves 6 towards the webs 5 and grooves 6. Wherein the width of the recesses 10 is the same as or narrower than the width of the teeth which are formed by the spacing of the recesses 10 relative to one another.

(17) FIGS. 6 and 7 show a further configuration of the step profile 4. The webs 5 are formed by simple ribs which are spaced from one another and thus form the grooves 6. In order now to undertake the task of improving the commercial viability by saving material, recesses 10 running at right angles to the webs 5 and grooves 6 are arranged in the step plate 3. Through the spacing of the recesses 10 relative to one another teeth 11 are formed in the webs 5 wherein the width of one tooth is wider than or equal to the width of one recess 10. In order to ensure optimum flow of the material or liquid aluminium the bottom 17 of the recesses 10 is configured as a radius. The width of the recess 10 preferably corresponds to double the radius or to the diameter of the semi-circle or half shell which serves as the bottom 17 of the recess.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

(18) 1 Step element 2 Step element skeleton 3 Step plate 4 Step profile 5 Web 6 Groove 7 Web arm 8 Web face 9 Web cavity 10 Recess 11 Tooth 12 Underneath side step plate 13 Web width 14 Groove width 15 Step surface 16 Bottom of groove 17 Bottom of recess 18 Wall thickness Included angle of web arms Included angle between web arm and web surface