SUPPORT STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN ALIGNMENT DEVICE FOR SUPPORT STRUCTURE SECTION CONNECTION REGIONS

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a support structure of a passenger transport system which is designed an escalator or moving walkway and comprises an alignment device for two support structure sections of the support structure to be connected to one another. The alignment device comprises a first alignment part comprising a fastening region and a recess, and a second alignment part comprising a fastening region and a projection, wherein a contour of the projection is complementary to a contour of the recess. The projection and/or the recess also have a V-shape.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A support structure of a passenger transport system, which is configured as an escalator or moving walkway, the support structure comprising: a first support structure section and a second support structure section, wherein the first support structure section and the second support structure section each comprise: two support walls arranged in parallel planes, and at least two cross-struts configured to connect the support walls, a connection region connecting an end of the first support structure section and an end of the second support structure, wherein the connection region comprises at least one alignment device comprising: a first alignment part comprising a first fastening region and a recess, and a second alignment part comprising a second fastening region and a projection, wherein a contour of the projection is configured to interlock with a contour of the recess, and wherein the contour of the projection or the contour of the recess each have a V-shape arranged to lie in a directional plane that extends orthogonally to the two support walls and between the two support walls.

11. The support structure of claim 10, wherein: in the connection region on the end of the first support structure section, at least one of the first alignment parts is fixed with the first fastening region to the at least two cross-struts and an axis of symmetry of the recess extends parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the support structure sections, in the connection region on the end of the second support structure section, at least one of the second alignment parts is fixed with the second fastening region to the at least two cross-struts and an axis of symmetry of the projection extends parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the support structure section, the first alignment part and the second alignment part are arranged in the connection region relative to one another such that, in an assembled state of the support structure, the support walls of the support structure sections are aligned relative to one another as a result of the interlocking of the contour of the projection and the contour of the recess.

12. The support structure of claim 10, wherein the at least one alignment device is arranged on the at least two cross-struts of the support structure sections.

13. The support structure of claim 11, wherein the at least one alignment device is arranged on the at least two cross-struts of the support structure sections.

14. The support structure of claim 10, wherein the support structure sections adjoining one another are firmly connected to one another in the connection region with connecting screws and connecting plates.

15. The support structure of claim 11, wherein the support structure sections adjoining one another are firmly connected to one another in the connection region with connecting screws and connecting plates.

16. The support structure of claim 12, wherein the support structure sections adjoining one another are firmly connected to one another in the connection region with connecting screws and connecting plates.

17. The support structure of claim 10, wherein a ratio of a width of a base of the V-shape to a support structure width is in the range of 1:20 to 1:40.

18. The support structure of claim 11, wherein a ratio of a width of a base of the V-shape to a support structure width is in the range of 1:20 to 1:40.

19. The support structure of claim 12, wherein a ratio of a width of a base of the V-shape to a support structure width is in the range of 1:20 to 1:40.

20. The support structure of claim 14, wherein a ratio of a width of a base of the V-shape to a support structure width is in the range of 1:20 to 1:40.

21. The support structure of claim 10, wherein the two support structure sections each further comprise a floor plate, and, in the connection region of the two support structure sections, an edge region of one of the two floor plates protrudes beyond the two support walls, wherein the edge region comprises a double bevel with an inclined flank surface configured to ensure an overlap of the two floor plates.

22. The support structure of claim 11, wherein the two support structure sections each further comprise a floor plate, and, in the connection region of the two support structure sections, an edge region of one of the two floor plates protrudes beyond the two support walls, wherein the edge region comprises a double bevel with an inclined flank surface configured to ensure an overlap of the two floor plates.

23. The support structure of claim 10, wherein the first alignment part and the second alignment part are machined from a plate material and wherein the projection or the recess is formed by a machined contour of the respective alignment part.

24. The support structure of claim 11, wherein the first alignment part and the second alignment part are machined from a plate material and wherein the projection or the recess is formed by a machined contour of the respective alignment part.

25. The support structure of claim 23, wherein the V-shape of the projection or the recess comprises flanks which are arranged at a flank angle relative to one another, wherein the flank angle is in the range between 10 to 140.

26. The support structure of claim 24, wherein the V-shape of the projection or the recess comprises flanks which are arranged at a flank angle relative to one another, wherein the flank angle is in the range between 10 to 140.

27. A passenger transport system that is configured as an escalator or moving walkway and can be divided into sections, comprising the support structure of claim 10.

28. A passenger transport system that is configured as an escalator or moving walkway and can be divided into sections, comprising the support structure of claim 11.

29. A passenger transport system that is configured as an escalator or moving walkway and can be divided into sections, comprising the support structure of claim 12.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in more detail herein and in the accompanying drawings, wherein corresponding elements are provided with the same reference signs in all figures. Neither the drawings nor the description are to be interpreted as limiting the disclosure. In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a passenger transport system with a support structure, which is composed of two support structure sections which are firmly connected to one another by a connection region; and

[0026] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, three-dimensional representation of the point A of the connection region indicated in FIG. 1, with two alignment devices arranged in the connection region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows schematically in a side view a passenger transport system 1 that is configured as an escalator or moving walkway and connects a first floor level E1 to a second floor level E2 of a building 3. The passenger transport system 1 comprises a support structure 11 composed of two support structure sections 13, 15. The support structure 11 is supported on the floors 5, 7 of the floor levels E1, E2 of the building 3 via two support brackets 17 arranged at the end face and spans the intermediate space 9 between the floor levels E1, E2 like a bridge.

[0028] The two support structure sections 13, 15 of the support structure 11 are connected to one another at point A by a connection region 21. Detachable fasteners such as high-strength connecting screws can be used to connect two supporting structure sections 13, 15. It is possible to divide the support structure 11 into more than two support structure sections 13, 15, wherein the number of connection regions 21 is thereby increased. As indicated, the support structure 11 shown is a truss construction, which can comprise of welded steel profiles or may have been machined from sheet metal plates.

[0029] As shown schematically by the balustrade 19, the supporting structure 11 may accept the load of all the other components of the passenger transport system 1 and can support them on the building 3. The passenger transport system 1 can be completely assembled and tested at the manufacturer's factory and then separated in the connection regions 21. The sections 14, 16 created in this way can then be packaged for transport and transported to the intended installation site. At the installation site, the sections 14, 16 may still need to be connected to one another in the correct order, in order to create a ready-to-use passenger transport system 1.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged, three-dimensional representation of the point A indicated in FIG. 1 of the connection region 21 of the two support structure sections 13, 15. Each of the support structure sections 13, 15 in each case can comprise two support walls 23 arranged in planes parallel to one another. In FIG. 2, only one of the two support walls 23 is shown in each case for each support structure section 13, 15, in order to better show an interior space 25, delimited by such walls, of the support structure sections. A central longitudinal axis ML of the support structure sections 13, 15 is intended to additionally illustrate that, with each support structure section 13, 15, a second support wall 23 that is mirror-symmetrical to the first support wall 23 can be present. These two support walls 23 may be firmly connected to one another at their middle height Hm by cross-struts 27, so that each of the support structure sections 13, 15 can have an H-shaped cross-section. The two support structure sections 13, 15 can be firmly connected to one another in the connection region 21 with a fastener such as the connecting screws 31 and connecting plates 33 shown.

[0031] Furthermore, two alignment devices 40 are arranged in the connection region 21. Each of the alignment devices 40 comprises a first alignment part 41 comprising a fastening region 43 and a recess 45, and a second alignment part 42 comprising a fastening region 43 and a projection 44. A contour 47 of the projection 44 can be configured to be complementary to a contour 47 of the recess 45, wherein both contours have a V-shape.

[0032] As shown by way of example in FIG. 2, the two first alignment parts 41 are arranged with their fastening region 43 in a stationary manner in the connection region 21 on a cross-strut 27 of the first support structure section 13. Here, an axis of symmetry SA of the V-shaped recess 45 extends parallel to the central longitudinal axis ML or to the longitudinal extension of the first support structure section 13. In an analogous manner, the two second alignment parts 42 are arranged with their fastening region 43 in a stationary manner in the connection region 21 on a cross-strut 27 of the second support structure section 15. Here, the first alignment parts 41 and the second alignment parts 42 are aligned relative to one another in the connection region 21 in such a way that, in the assembled state, the support walls 23 of the support structure sections 13, 15 may be precisely aligned with one another as a result of the interlocking of the V-shaped projection 44 and the V-shaped recess 45. The V-shape of the projection 44 and the recess 45 can be arranged to lie in a directional plane RE that extends orthogonally to the support walls 23 and between such support walls 23. Due to this arrangement, upon joining together the support structure sections 13, 15, the support walls 23 may align themselves automatically relative to one another. This may be possible if the projection 44 also meets the recess 45. Experience shows that a lateral offset of the support walls 23 of two support structure sections 13, 15 upon joining with assembly devices such as hoists, cable winches, and the like is not particularly large, but is always present. Preferably, a width B of a base of the V-shape relative to a structural width Y of the support structure 11 should be in a range of 1:20 to 1:40.

[0033] The two alignment devices 40 shown in FIG. 2 can be made of a plate material. The alignment parts 41, 42 of the alignment device 40 can be cut out of a steel plate with a laser cutting system, for example, or from a high-strength polymer plate with a water jet cutting system. The fastening regions 43 can be provided with through-holes, which in FIG. 2 are covered by screws 48. In the cross-struts 27, there can be threaded holes (not visible), into which the screws 48 are tightened.

[0034] In order to attain a precise alignment of the alignment parts 41, 42 on the cross-struts 27, the alignment devices 40 can be mounted in the connection regions 21 after the complete assembly of the passenger transport system 1 at the manufacturer's factory. For this purpose, the alignment devices 40 can be fastened to the cross-struts 27 with the screws 48, wherein care can be taken to ensure that the projection 44 is precisely arranged in the recess 45 in each case. This can be the case if the flanks 51, 52, which form the V-shape of the V-shaped projection 44 or the V-shaped recess 45, respectively, abut against one another. In the present exemplary embodiment, the flanks 51, 52 are arranged at a flank angle of 90 relative to one another, but this can also be chosen to be more obtuse or more acute. After tightening the screws 48, through-holes can be drilled for dowel pins 49, and dowel pins 49 can be pressed into the holes. The completed passenger transport system 1 can then be disassembled into sections at the manufacturer's factory by removing the connecting screws 31 and connecting plates 33 in the connection regions 21.

[0035] As FIG. 2 also shows, the support structure sections 13, 15 can be in each case provided with a floor plate 61, 63, wherein, in the connection region 21 of two support structure sections 13, 15, an edge region 65 of one of the two floor plates 13, 15 adjacent to one another can protrude beyond the two support walls 23. This projecting edge region 65 can be provided with a double bevel 67 with an inclined flank surface 69, in order to ensure an overlap of the two floor plates 61, 63.

[0036] Although the present disclosure has been described by illustrating specific exemplary embodiments, it is obvious that numerous further embodiments can be created with knowledge of the present disclosure, e.g., by arranging on the cross-struts 27 a plurality of alignment devices 40, which, due to their specific arrangement, enable not only lateral but also vertical alignment. Here, the V-shape of some alignment parts 41, 42 is arranged in the directional plane RE, and the V-shape of further alignment parts 41, 42 is arranged in a plane parallel to the support walls 23.