Patent ID: 6341683
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: B66B

Abstract:
A moving walk for effecting transport of a person in a longitudinal direction along a structure, comprising:first and second belt modules, each including: a first end and a second end; a endless belt extending from said first end to said second end; and a drive circulating said endless belt; a floor plate disposed in a surface of said structure adjacent at least one of said first end of said first belt module and said second of said second belt module for permiting the person to step from said floor plate onto said at least one of said first end of said first belt module and said second of said second belt module; said first and second belt modules being serially disposed adjacent one another in the longitudinal direction with said second end of said first belt module opposing said first end of said second belt module; one of said second end of said first belt module and said first end of said second belt module being disposed higher than another one of said second end of said first belt module and said first end of said second belt module; said drives of said first and second belt modules operating to effect transport from said one of said second end of said first belt module and said first end of said second belt module to said another one of said second end of said first belt module and said first end of said second belt module; moving handrails disposed adjacent sides of said first and second belt modules, extending in the longitudinal direction and driven in conjunction with said first and second belt modules, for accepting a hand of the person being transported on said first and second belt modules; and means for moving at least one of said second end of said first belt module and said first end of said second belt module in a vertical direction to a position which is one of above and below another one of said second end of said first belt module and said first end of said second belt module.