PASSENGER TRANSPORT SYSTEM HAVING A SUPPORT

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a passenger transport system having a circulating transport belt and a drive for driving the belt. The drive has a motor, a connecting gear, and a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor via the connecting gear. The passenger transport system has a support structure in which the transport belt is movably guided and the drive shaft is rotatably mounted. The passenger transport system also has a support which is arranged on the support structure in the region of a first end in order to support the first end of the support structure on a building structure. The support projects from the support structure starting at an underside of the support structure and in orthogonal direction relative to the longitudinal extent of the support structure. The motor is fastened to the support outside of an internal space defined by the support structure.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A passenger transport system configured as an escalator or moving walkway comprising a circulating transport belt and a drive configured for driving the circulating transport belt, wherein the drive comprises at least one motor, at least one connecting gear, and a drive shaft operatively coupled to the at least one motor via the at least one connecting gear, wherein the circulating transport belt is guided via the drive shaft and is configured to be moved with the drive shaft, and comprising a support structure in which the circulating transport belt is arranged such as to be configured to be movably guided, and wherein the drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the support structure in a region of a first end of the support structure, wherein: the passenger transport system comprises a support which is arranged on the support structure in the region of the first end and is configured to support the first end of the support structure on a building structure in an intended installation position of the passenger transport system; and wherein the support projects below an underside of the support structure by projecting from the underside at least in the orthogonal direction; and wherein the at least one motor is fastened to the support outside of an internal space defined by the support structure.

16. The passenger transport system of claim 15, wherein an intermediate gear is arranged between the at least one motor and the at least one connecting gear, and the at least one motor is fastened to the support via a housing of the intermediate gear.

17. The passenger transport system of claim 16, wherein the intermediate gear is a hypoid gear, a hypoid spur gear, or worm gear and has a gear ratio from its output shaft to its input shaft in a range of 1:5 to 1:40.

18. The passenger transport system of claim 15, wherein the at least one connecting gear is a spur gear and has a gear ratio from its output shaft to its input shaft in a range of 1:1 to 1:20.

19. The passenger transport system of claim 16, wherein the at least one connecting gear and the intermediate gear are coupled to one another in a torque-transmitting manner via an elastic coupling.

20. The passenger transport system of claim 15, wherein the drive shaft protrudes through a connecting gear housing of the at least one connecting gear such that the at least one connecting gear is pivotably mounted in the support structure via the protruding drive shaft and the at least one connecting gear is supported on the support or on the support structure via a torque support.

21. The passenger transport system of claim 15, wherein the support is releasably fastened to the support structure with fastening means.

22. The passenger transport system of claim 15, wherein the support comprises a height-adjustable base region.

23. The passenger transport system of claim 15, wherein the support structure comprises a U-shaped cross section transversely to the longitudinal extent of the passenger transport system, wherein the U-shaped cross section is formed by two side parts and a bottom structure of the support structure, wherein the bottom structure is arranged at lower edges of the two side parts with respect to an installation position of the support structure in the building structure and couples them firmly to one another, and wherein top chords are positioned on an upper side of the two side parts, wherein first ends of the two side parts and the first end of the bottom structure form the first end of the support structure.

24. The passenger transport system of claim 23, wherein top chord end portions of the top chords are positioned in the region of the first end of the support structure, which in the longitudinal extent of the support structure protrude beyond the support, the bottom structure, and remaining components of the two side parts and which are configured as carriers of a floor cover of the passenger transport system.

25. The passenger transport system of claim 24, wherein the top chord end portions project beyond the at least one motor.

26. The passenger transport system of claim 24, wherein the support structure comprises two L-shaped sidewalls, which each comprise a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, and the two L-shaped sidewalls with their vertical legs are each fastened to the first end of each side part of the support structure, wherein the two L-shaped sidewalls are arranged parallel to one another and their horizontal legs extend parallel to the top chord end portions of the passenger transport system.

27. The passenger transport system of claim 26, wherein a bearing block with a roller bearing is arranged on each horizontal leg of the two L-shaped sidewalls for rotatably supporting the drive shaft.

28. The passenger transport system of claim 27, wherein the bearing block is fastened to at least one of the two L-shaped sidewalls by adjusting means such as to be adjustable in its position relative to the at least one of the two L-shaped sidewalls.

29. The passenger transport system of claim 16, wherein the at least one connecting gear is a spur gear and has a gear ratio from its output shaft to its input shaft in a range of 1:1 to 1:20.

30. The passenger transport system of claim 17, wherein the at least one connecting gear and the intermediate gear are coupled to one another in a torque-transmitting manner via an elastic coupling.

31. The passenger transport system of claim 16, wherein the drive shaft protrudes through a connecting gear housing of the at least one connecting gear such that the at least one connecting gear is pivotably mounted in the support structure via the protruding drive shaft and the at least one connecting gear is supported on the support or on the support structure via a torque support.

32. The passenger transport system of claim 16, wherein the support is releasably fastened to the support structure with fastening means.

33. The passenger transport system of claim 16, wherein the support comprises a height-adjustable base region.

34. The passenger transport system of claim 25, wherein the support structure comprises two L-shaped sidewalls, which each comprise a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, and the two L-shaped sidewalls with their vertical legs are each fastened to the first end of each side part of the support structure, wherein the two L-shaped sidewalls are arranged parallel to one another and their horizontal legs extend parallel to the top chord end portions of the passenger transport system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Embodiments of the present 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 present disclosure. Identical or equivalent features have the same reference signs. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a passenger transport system according to the present disclosure, the first end of which is supported via a support in a building structure, and the second end of which is supported via a support bracket in the building structure;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged and detailed side view of the first end of the passenger transport system from FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view, from below, of the first end of the passenger transport system shown in FIG. 2, without adjacent contours of the building structure.

[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 shows a schematic side view of a passenger transport system 1 configured as an escalator, which connects a first level El to a second level E2 of a building structure 3. The passenger transport system 1 comprises a support structure 11 composed of four support structure modules 13, 15, 17, 19 that are connected in series with one another. A first end 8 of the support structure 11 is supported on a foundation floor 7 of level E1 via a support 33 arranged on the floor side. A second end 6 of the support structure 11 is supported on the floor 5 of level E2 via a support bracket 16 arranged on the face side. Instead of being supported via a support bracket 16, the second end 6 can also be supported on the floor 5 of level E2 with a support arranged on the base side of the support structure 11.

[0031] The first support structure module 13 arranged in level E2 comprises an access region 21. The fourth support structure module 19 also comprises an access region 23 and is arranged in level E1. The second support structure module 15 and the third support structure module 17 are arranged between, and can connect, the first support structure module 13 and the fourth support structure module 19. For the sake of clarity, only the outlines of the first and fourth support structure modules 13, 19 were shown. The second and third support structure modules 15, 17 are shown in more detail and have an identical structure in the present embodiment. The support structure modules 13, 15, 17, 19 are connected to one another via connection points 31. Releasable connecting devices, such as high-strength bolts, are usually used for this purpose.

[0032] The support structure 11 can bear the load of all remaining components of the passenger transport system 1 and can support them on the building structure 3. Such components are, for example, a drive 41, guide rails 43, and a controller 45 for controlling the drive unit 41. A transport belt 25 is furthermore arranged between the side parts 63, 65 of the support structure 11 described further herein in FIGS. 2 and 3. The transport belt 25 of the passenger transport system 1 comprises steps 27. In the case of a moving walkway, the transport belt 25 could have pallets instead of steps 27. The transport belt 25 is guided by the guide rails 43 such as to move in a circular manner and can be driven by the drive 41.

[0033] Two balustrades 51 (only one of which is visible due to the side view shown in FIG. 1) that can be assembled from balustrade components 53, 55, 57 are erected above the support structure 11, wherein the balustrades 51 are arranged on both sides of the transport belt 25, namely fastened to fastening flanges 61 of the support structure 11. A handrail 29 is arranged on each of the two balustrades 51 such as to move in a circular manner. The two handrails 29 are also driven synchronously with the transport belt 25 with the drive 41.

[0034] FIGS. 2 and 3 both show the first end 8 of the support structure 11 from FIG. 1 in an enlarged and more detailed side view, or in a three-dimensional view from below. The two figures are described jointly. The position words below and above, and the features underside and upper side used hereinafter refer to the installation position of the support structure 11 in the building structure 3.

[0035] The first end 8 of the support structure 11 is supported on the building structure 3 with the support 33 in the intended installation position of the passenger transport system 1. For the sake of clarity, the building structure 3 is shown only in FIG. 2, but not in FIG. 3. The support 33 protrudes from the support structure 11 starting at an underside U of the support structure 11 and in orthogonal direction relative to the longitudinal extent thereof.

[0036] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, the support structure 11 has a U-shaped cross section transversely to the longitudinal extent of the passenger transport system 1, which cross section is formed by two side parts 63, 65 and a bottom structure 67 of the support structure 11. The bottom structure 67 is arranged at the lower edges 64, 66 of the side parts 63, 65 and connects them firmly to one another. Top chords 69, 70, which project as top chord end portions 71, 72 beyond the first end 8 of the support structure 11 in the longitudinal extent of the passenger transport system 1, are present on the upper side 68 of the side parts 63, 65. By definition, the first end 8 of the support structure 11 is formed by the first ends of the side parts 63, 65 and the first end of the bottom structure 67, and not by protruding regions such as the top chord end portions 71, 72. The top chord end portions 71, 72 serve as carriers of a floor cover 73 of the passenger transport system 1. The drive 41, which is completely spanned by the floor cover 73, is arranged below the top chord end portions 71, 72.

[0037] The support structure 11 also comprises two L-shaped sidewalls 75 (only one of which is visible), which each comprise a vertical leg 76 and a horizontal leg 77. Below the top chord end portions 71, 72, a respective sidewall 75 can be welded with its vertical leg 76 to each side part 63, 65. The two sidewalls 75 are arranged parallel to one another, wherein their horizontal legs 77 extend parallel to the top chord end portions 71, 72 of the support structure 11.

[0038] The already mentioned drive 41 copmrises a motor 80, an intermediate gear 81, a connecting gear 83, and a drive shaft 84 following its drive train. The drive shaft 84 is thereby operatively connected to the motor 80 in a speed-reducing and torque-transmitting manner.

[0039] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, the drive 41 comprises two motors 80, two intermediate gears 81, and two connecting gears 83 (one of which is hardly visible), which can act in parallel on the drive shaft 84, in a torque-transmitting manner. The number of motors 80 to be used can depend on the intended transport height (vertical distance of levels E1 and E2) and on the length of the passenger transport system 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport elements 27 connected to form a circulating transport belt 25 are guided via the drive shaft 84. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the transport belt 25 was omitted for reasons of clarity so as to show the two drive sprockets 85 of the drive shaft 84, via which the transport belt 25 is deflected and driven.

[0040] A bearing block 78 with a roller bearing (not visible since located inside the bearing block) can be arranged on each horizontal leg 77 of the two sidewalls 75, in which bearing blocks the drive shaft 84 can be rotatably mounted. The two bearing blocks 78 can be fastened to the sidewall 75 by adjusting means 79 such as to be adjustable in their position relative to the sidewall 75. For better mutual support, a leg end 74 of a horizontal leg 77 is connected in each case to the top chord end portion 71, 72 arranged thereabove with a releasable triangular frame 90. Screws, pins, and the like can be used for a releasable connection. The support structure 11 thus can define an internal space 12 with its two side parts 63, 65, its bottom structure 67, its two sidewalls 75, and its two triangular frames 90. The drive shaft 84 is arranged in the internal space 12 such as to be rotatable.

[0041] The motor 80 can be fastened to the support 33 via a housing 87 of the intermediate gear 81 outside of the internal space 12 defined by the support structure 11. The intermediate gear 81 can be a hypoid gear, hypoid spur gear, or worm gear and can have a gear ratio from its output shaft 88 to its input shaft 89 in the range of 1:5 to 1:40. A motor shaft 103 of the motor 80 is connected to the input shaft 89 of the intermediate gear 81. The output shaft 88 of the intermediate gear 81 is connected to an input shaft 91 of the connecting gear 83 in a torque-transmitting manner via an elastic coupling 82. An auxiliary motor 97, which can be coupled to the motor shaft 103 of the motor 80 with a clutch gear 98, is arranged below one of the two motors 80. The auxiliary motor 97 can be provided to move the transport belt 25 at very low speed during maintenance work.

[0042] The connecting gear 83 can be configured as a multi-stage spur gear and can have a gear ratio from its output shaft 92 to its input shaft 91 in the range of 1:1 to 1:20. The output shaft 92 of the connecting gear 83 can be configured as a hollow shaft in which the drive shaft 84 is arranged so as to protrude. The drive shaft 84 also protrudes through a connecting gear housing 93 of the connecting gear 83. As a result, the connecting gear 83 can be, on the one hand, pivotably mounted in the support structure 11 via the protruding drive shaft 84. On the other hand, the connecting gear 83 can also be supported on the support 33 via a torque support 94. In the present exemplary embodiment, the connecting gear 83 is thus arranged partially within the internal space 12 and partially outside the internal space 12.

[0043] A chain wheel 86, which can drive a handrail drive wheel 101 via a circulating chain 99, is arranged on both face sides of the drive shaft 84. The handrail 29 schematically shown as a dot-dashed line can be driven with the handrail drive wheel 101 shown as a discontinuous line in FIG. 2.

[0044] The support 33 can be releasably fastened to the support structure 11 with fastening means. In the exemplary embodiment shown, however, the support 33 is welded to the support structure 11. Moreover, the support 33 has a height-adjustable base region 34. This can allow for a precise height adjustment of the passenger transport system 1, or rather of its floor cover 73, relative to an adjacent floor 4 of the building structure 3. The base region rests on a foundation plate 95, which is anchored to the foundation floor 7 in the building structure 3 with anchor screws 96.

[0045] While FIGS. 1 to 3 show a welded support structure 11, it is obvious that riveted, clinched, screwed, glued, or other support structures 11 can also be used for the present disclosure.

[0046] 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 one do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered to be limiting.