Side monitoring device for a passenger transport system

Abstract

A side monitoring device for a passenger transport system is described. The device monitors a force application upon a base plate of the passenger transport system along a gap formed between a transport band of the passenger transport system and the base plate. The device includes a mounting structure, at least one elongate belt, and a force sensor. The mounting structure is configured for the installation of the device in a base plate region of the passenger transport system adjacent to a transport region. A belt is functionally connected to the mounting structure and extends parallel to at least a portion of the traveling path. The force sensor is functionally connected to the belt and configured for detecting a force exerted upon the mounting structure by the belt in a direction of displacement extending parallel to the traveling path.

Claims

1. A side monitoring device for a passenger transport system, wherein the side monitoring device is configured for monitoring a force application upon a base plate of the passenger transport system along a gap formed between a transport band of the passenger transport system and the base plate, and wherein the side monitoring device comprises: a mounting structure; at least one elongate belt; and a force sensor; wherein the mounting structure is configured for installation of the side monitoring device in a base plate region of the passenger transport system adjacent to a transport region in which multiple tread units of the transport band, which are arranged behind one another and coupled to one another, are displaced along a traveling path during the operation of the passenger transport system, wherein the belt is functionally connected to the mounting structure and extends parallel to at least a portion of the traveling path, wherein the force sensor is functionally connected to the belt and configured for detecting a force exerted upon the mounting structure by the belt in a direction of displacement extending parallel to the traveling path, wherein the side monitoring device further comprises a supporting device, which is stationarily held in the base region after its installation and arranged on a side of the belt lying opposite of the transport region, wherein the supporting device supports the belt against a motion that is directed laterally away from the transport region.

2. The side monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the belt is held in such a way that it can be displaced over a displacement distance in a direction of displacement.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the displacement distance is at least 50 cm.

4. The side monitoring device according claim 1, wherein the mounting structure is supported on the supporting device.

5. The side monitoring device according claim 1, wherein the supporting device comprises guide structures on a surface of the supporting device that is directed toward the belt, wherein said guide structures are configured for guiding the belt vertically and transverse to the direction of displacement during displacement in the direction of displacement.

6. The side monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding element that is interposed between a surface of the supporting device and an opposing surface of the belt, wherein the surface of the sliding element that contacts the surface of the belt has a lower coefficient of sliding friction than a surface of the supporting device that contacts the surface of the belt.

7. The side monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated belt comprises a plurality of belts that extend vertically adjacent to one another parallel to the traveling path and parallel to one another.

8. The side monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the force sensor is a strain gauge.

9. The side monitoring device according claim 1, wherein the belt comprises a plastic belt.

10. The side monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the belt comprises a metal strip.

11. A passenger transport system comprising: multiple a plurality of tread units that are arranged behind one another, coupled to one another, and configured to be displaced along a traveling path within a transport region; and a side monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting structure of the side monitoring device is installed in a base plate region adjacent to the transport region and the belt of the side monitoring device extends parallel to at least a portion of the traveling path, and wherein the supporting device is stationarily held in the base region after its installation and arranged on a side of the belt lying opposite of the transport region, wherein the supporting device supports the belt against a motion that is directed laterally away from the transport region.

12. The passenger transport system according to claim 11, wherein the passenger transport system comprises a safety chain circuit with multiple safety switches that are connected to one another in series, and wherein the force sensor forms part of the safety chain circuit and is designed for opening a switching state and for thereby interrupting the safety chain circuit when it is detected that a force exceeding a minimum force value is exerted upon the mounting structure by the belt.

13. The passenger transport system according to claim 11, wherein the force sensor comprises a strain gauge, and wherein the passenger transport system further comprises a measuring device that is configured for generating a stop signal, based on which the operation of the passenger transport system can be stopped, when it is detected that a force exceeding a minimum force value is exerted upon the force sensor by the belt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to the attached drawings, wherein neither the drawings nor the description should be interpreted in a restrictive sense.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a portion of a passenger transport system with a side monitoring device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a portion of another passenger transport system with a side monitoring device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view of a belt and a force sensor of a side monitoring device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a section through a belt of a side monitoring device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, wherein said belt is supported by a supporting device.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a view of a belt and a force sensor of a side monitoring device according to an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a section through a belt of a side monitoring device according to an alternative embodiment of the disclosure, wherein said belt is supported by a supporting device.

(8) The figures are merely schematic and not true-to-scale. Identical or identically acting characteristics are identified by the same reference symbols in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a passenger transport system 1 in the form of an escalator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The passenger transport system 1 comprises a transport band 5 in a transport region 6, wherein multiple tread units 7 in the form of steps are arranged behind one another along the traveling path 25 and coupled to one another in said transport band. A base plate 9 (which is merely illustrated with a broken line in order to provide a better overview) is respectively arranged on opposing sides adjacent to the transport region 6 in respective base plate regions 10. A gap 11 extends between one of the base plates 9 and an opposing edge of the transport band 5.

(10) The passenger transport system 1 is furthermore equipped with a side monitoring device 13 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The side monitoring device 13 comprises a mounting or mounting structure 15, an elongate belt 19 and a force sensor 21. The side monitoring device 13 is designed for monitoring a force application upon the base plate 9 of the passenger transport system 1 along the gap 11. According to FIG. 1, as well as an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the side monitoring device 13 is for this purpose arranged in the base plate region 10, e.g., laterally adjacent to the transport region 6 and therefore laterally adjacent near the transport band 5 and the gap 11, respectively.

(11) The mounting 15 of the side monitoring device 13 is configured for installing the side monitoring device 13 in the base plate region 10 and for thereby rigidly connecting the side monitoring device to the passenger transport system 1 in a mechanical manner. This may be realized with various techniques and components, which are not illustrated in greater detail in the figures. A potential component of such a mounting 15 in the form of a deflection roller 17 is merely illustrated as an example.

(12) The belt 19 is functionally connected to and therefore held by the mounting 15. In this case, the belt 19 and the mounting 15 are configured in such a way that the belt 19 extends parallel to at least a portion of the traveling path 25. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the belt 19 extends between two deflection rollers 17. At least a portion of the belt 19 is arranged in front of the base plate 9, e.g., located between the base plate 9 and the transport region 6.

(13) In the example shown, end regions of the belt 19 are guided around the deflection rollers 17 and thereby deflected by 180°. The respective end regions of the belt 19 are functionally connected to springs 23 and mechanically held under tension by these springs 23. Due to the elasticity of the springs 23, the belt 19 is held in such a way that it can be displaced in a direction of displacement 27 parallel to the traveling path 25. In this case, the dimensions and the elasticity of the springs 23 are chosen such that the belt 19 can be displaced within a displacement distance 37.

(14) In the example shown, the force sensor 21 is arranged between one of the springs 23 and the associated end region of the belt 19 as illustrated in an enlarged manner in FIG. 3.

(15) The force sensor 21 is mechanically connected to the belt 19 on the one hand and to the spring 23 on the other hand and configured in such a way that it can detect forces exerted upon the belt 19 in the direction of displacement 27. For example, the force sensor 21 may be realized in the form of a cost-efficient strain gauge 33, which has a simple and robust design.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view in order to elucidate an option for supporting the belt 19 against a motion that is directed laterally away from the transport region 6 with the aid of a supporting device 29. In this case, the supporting device 29 in the form of a suitably bent metal sheet is functionally connected to the mounting 15 in a mechanical manner and extends on a side of the belt 19 that lies opposite of the transport region 6.

(17) In the example shown, a planar sliding element 31 is interposed between the belt 19 and the supporting device 29. The sliding element 31 may be fastened on the supporting device 29. For example, the sliding element 31 consists of a plastic material, particularly polytetrafluoroethylene, which has a lower coefficient of sliding friction than a surface 39 of the supporting device 29 when a surface 41 of the sliding element 31 contacts a surface 43 of the belt 19. Accordingly, the friction occurring during a motion of the belt 19 relative to the supporting device 29 can be substantially reduced with the aid of the sliding element 31.

(18) In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the side monitoring device 13 not only comprises a single belt 19, but rather multiple separate belts 19. In this case, each of the belts 19 extends parallel to the traveling path 25 (see FIG. 1) and is directed toward this traveling path with one of its principal surfaces. The belts 19 are arranged parallel to one another and adjacent to one another in a vertical direction. An associated force sensor 21 in the form of a strain gauge 33 is arranged on a respective end region of each belt 19, wherein the respective force sensor 21 cooperates with a respectively associated spring 23 on an opposite side. Guide structures 35 are respectively provided on the supporting device 29 between vertically adjacent belts 19 and guide the belts 19 vertically and transverse to the direction of displacement 27 during their displacement in the direction of displacement 27. Planar sliding elements 31 may also be provided between the belts 19 and the supporting device 29 in this exemplary embodiment.

(19) In the highly schematic passenger transport system 1 according to FIG. 1, the force sensors 21 are monitored and evaluated with the aid of a measuring device 49. The measuring device 49 respectively forms part of a control unit 53 or is connected to this control unit 53. The control unit 53 serves for controlling a drive 51 of the passenger transport system 1. In this case, the control unit 53 monitors a safety chain circuit 45, in which multiple safety switches 47 are connected to one another in series. Each of the safety switches 47 may monitor a safety-relevant function of the passenger transport system 1 and transfer into an open, non-conductive state as soon as a situation that jeopardizes the safety has been detected.

(20) The force sensor 21 may form part of this safety chain circuit 45. In this case, the force sensor or an evaluation of its properties by the measuring device 49 may be respectively realized in such a way that a switching state is opened and the safety chain circuit 45 is thereby interrupted in case the force sensor 21 detects that a force exerted by the belt 19 exceeds a minimum force value. The force sensor 21 particularly may be realized in the form of a strain gauge 33.

(21) The measuring device 49 can generate a stop signal upon the detection of a force that exceeds the minimum force value, wherein the operation of the passenger transport system 1 can be temporarily stopped by the control unit 53 based on said stop signal.

(22) During the operation of the passenger transport system 1, embodiments of the side monitoring device 13 described herein make it possible to detect when an object being moved along by the transport band 5, e.g., a shoe of a user, bridges or ends up in the gap 11 and subsequently contacts the belt 19 of the side monitoring device 13. A force is exerted upon the belt 19 in the direction of displacement 27 due to the fact that the object is not only pressed against the belt 19 orthogonally, but simultaneously moved in the direction of displacement 27, wherein said force can be detected by the force sensor 21. If the measured force exceeds the specified minimum force value, this excessive force can be taken into account by the control unit of the passenger transport system 1 and the operation of the passenger transport system 1 can be temporarily interrupted, for example, in that the control unit 53 stops the drive 51.

(23) In summary and with a slightly different choice of words, embodiments of the side monitoring device 13 described herein can be referred to as passive safety devices. In case an object such as a body part, a piece of luggage or an article of clothing ends up between a tread unit 7 and a base plate 10, the preferably movable belt 19 of the side monitoring device 13 can begin to move, for example, until a safety switch 47 deactivates the passenger transport system 1. Very high loads can respectively lead to tearing of the belt 19 or the belt 19 of a plurality of belts 19, which is subjected to the highest load, wherein a belt 19 can be exchanged in a relatively simple manner.

(24) The side monitoring device 13 may also function as an active device. For example, approximately 80-100 special belts may be provided in the side monitoring device in order to measure mechanical tensions by means of force sensors 21. This makes it possible to check the mechanical tensions of these belts 19 (on a very low level in order to prevent a short service life of the force sensors 21) or to measure locally higher tensions in the system (e.g., due to a collision of tread units 7 with the base plate 9).

(25) It is preferred to use belts 19 because they can be easily replaced in the event of torn or damaged belts 19.

(26) The force sensors 21 used preferably are realized in the form of very cost-efficient strain gauges 33.

(27) According to estimates, the thickness of a panel-like side monitoring device 13 can be kept small, e.g., smaller than 20 mm, such that the side monitoring device 13 can be implemented in existing passenger transport systems in a relatively simple manner.

(28) For example, a potential length of the permissible displacement distance 37 in the direction of displacement 27, in which the tread units 7 move (upward or downward along the traveling path 25), may amount to approximately ±0.8 m (which practically corresponds to the maximum horizontal length in a lower or upper portion of the escalator). This portion of the base plate 9 is satisfactorily protected by a safety brush (very narrow gap between an upper surface of tread units 7 and the brush).

(29) The belt 19 may be implemented in the form of an expendable item and realized in the form of a relatively cost-efficient extruded plastic part.

(30) In conclusion, it should be noted that terms such as “having,” “comprising,” etc. do not preclude any other elements or steps and that terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. It should furthermore be noted that characteristics or steps, which were described above with reference to one of the exemplary embodiments, can also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps of other above-described exemplary embodiments. The reference symbols in the claims should not be interpreted in a restrictive sense.