Patent GB-1035704-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to transport apparatus
IPC: B66B9/10
Filed: 1964-03-20
Abstract: 1,035,704. Conveyers; lifts. G. BOULADON and P. ZUPPIGER. March 20, 1964 [March 22, 1963; June 6, 1963], No. 11829/64. Headings B8A and B8L. A variable-speed transport apparatus comprises a plurality of elevation units 10 driven and guided in the horizontal position around an endless circuit including upper and lower low speed zones 3, 4, wherein the units 10 move horizontally past landings 13, 14 vertically ascending and descending relatively high-speed zones 5, 6 intermediate the zones 3, 4 and varying speed zones HL, LH connecting the low and relatively high-speed zones. The drive for the elevator units 10 comprises variable-pitch screws 15, 16, Fig. 2, disposed in parallel to either side of the elevator units, the screw being omitted in part of the low-speed regions 3, 4, whereby separate screw sections 15a, 15b and 16a, 16b (not shown) are formed. The elevator units 10 are pushed over these non-drive areas by the adjacent units. Each screw section comprises a constant high-speed section 5, 6, a constant low-speed section 3, 4 and intermediate drive sections HL, LH which comprise a plurality of rectilinear screw parts coupled by universal couplings. The screws 15, 16 drivingly engage rollers 17, 18 which are mounted on arms 19, 20 extending from the upper portions of supports 21, 22, mounted vertically on top of the platform 11 of the unit 10. Further rollers 19a, 20a, Fig. 3, are mounted on the arms 19, 20 and run between pairs of co-extending circuitous guides 24, 25. Slideways in the form of pairs at channel members 26, 27 and 33, 34 are disposed around the circuit as shown in Fig. 1 and slidingly receive fingers 28, 29 and 31, 32 respectively extending sideways from the corners of the platform 11 of the units 10. The slideways 26, 27 are disposed on the outside of the circuit formed by the guides 24, 25 and extend around the whole of the circuit but for the upper varying speed zones and the upper low-speed zone where the slideways 33, 34 are disposed on the inside of the said circuit so that the units 10 are maintained horizontal. Overlap of the two pairs of slideways occurs just below the upper varying speed zones. Spring-loaded doors, Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 (not shown), in the sides of the slideways 26, 27, 33, 34 at each end of the low-speed zones 3, 4, allow the pairs of fingers of the platform 11, which are not used in the vertical travel, to enter and leave the slideways upon entering and leaving the low-speed zones. In a modification, Fig. 11 (not shown), the drive for the elevator units 10 through the highspeed zones 56 is by a pair of co-extending endless chains which engage laterally extending projections on the arms 19, 20. The chain path and the drive screws overlap in the drive changeover areas. In a further embodiment, Figs. 15, 16 (not shown), the drive of the elevator units through the horizontal low-speed zones 3, 4, is effected by constant low-speed screws each of which is disposed between a pair of parallel rails on which run wheels secured to the underside of the platforms 11. During the vertical runs of the elevator units they may be turned through 180 degrees by having a helical twist in the drive and guide means, this ensures that the same side of the unit 10 always leads into a landing area. Further circuits to produce this effect are shown in Figs. 23 to 27 (not shown). In the embodiment shown in Fig. 29 the elevator unit takes the form of a passenger enclosure including a platform 101 having wheels 300c for engagement with the rails in the lowspeed areas 3, 4 and roller 17d for engagement with the separate low-speed area screws and fixed side walls 105, 106 incorporating the slideway fingers 32<SP>1</SP> &c. and the screw-engaging rollers 17<SP>1</SP>. The other two walls and roof of the enclosure are formed by units 110, 111 slideable sideways relative to the platform 101 and walls 105, 106 by means of T-shaped sliders and grooves S 1 , S 2 , S 5 , S 6 . Each sliding unit 110, 111 supports at its outer edge a pair of rollers 119 which engage a cam rail 123, 124, Fig. 31 (not shown), in the low-speed zones 3, 4, causing the two units to slide apart at the entry to the zone and close at the departure therefrom. The adjacent open units passing through the low-speed zones form a corridor 125, Fig. 32 (not shown) comprising floor members 101 and wall members 105, 106 access to and from this corridor is by way of a stairway from overhead, the movable parts 110, 111 of the enclosures passing through hollow partitions 128, 129, Fig. 32 (not shown). In the embodiment of Fig. 33, the unit 110 upon reaching its outer position in the low-speed zone then slides vertically downwards together with the side wall 105. The latter sliding in T- shaped grooves relative to the platform 101. The device for lowering and raising the unit 110 and/or unit 111 in the centre portion of either low-speed zone where the cam rail on the relevant side is omitted comprises two inclined endless chains 131, 132, Fig. 35 (not shown), which engage a projection 105a at the bottom of the side wall 105. In this embodiment the corridor formed by the platform 101 in the landing areas 126<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 37 (not shown), is accessible through the gap formed by the lowered units. In the embodiment of Figs. 38, 40 each elevator unit or passenger enclosure comprises a fixed platform and top joined by a side wall 165. The wall opposite the latter is formed by two flexible portions 166a and 166b. The remaining two walls 163, 164 are formed by forward portions 163a, 164a and overlapping rearward portions 163b, 164b. All these wall members apart from 165 are slideable in grooves in the platform and top of the unit. Flights 187, Fig. 40, and endless chains 184, 184a mounted in the platform and top of the unit, engage apertures in the wall portions 166a, 1666, 163a, 163b to open the enclosure in the low-speed zone. The rearward side portions 1636, 164b are opened and closed by inturned flanges on the driven wall portions. The endless chains 184, 184a are driven to open and close the walls of the enclosure by a gear 174 engaging a rack 190, 191, Fig. 43 (not shown), at opposite ends of the lowspeed zone. A vertical shaft 186 transmits drive from the lower to upper endless chain. In a final embodiment, Fig. 45 (not shown), a plurality of enclosures as in the previous embodiment are disposed one above another in fixed relationship and each enclosure may be opened on the same side or opposing sides.