Patent GB-958127-A (GB)
Title: Landings for passenger conveyors
IPC: B66B29/06
Filed: 1960-10-28
Abstract: 958,127. Escalators and like passenger conveyers. SANDVIKENS JERNVERKS A.B. Oct. 28, 1960 [Oct. 29, 1959], No. 37177/60. Heading B8A. A landing for a passenger conveyer belt or escalator comprises a platform which projects over the transport surface of the conveyer and is longitudinally slidable both away from and towards the transport surface from a rest position in which it is spaced from the transport surface by a narrow gap, the arrangement being such that when the platform is urged downwards by the weight of a passenger it is caused to move towards the surface to close the gap, while an obstruction in the gap causes the platform to move away from the transport surface. In one embodiment, Fig. 1, the transport surface is a belt 2 passing around a pulley 1 adjacent each landing. The platform 3 at each landing comprises a frame provided with rollers 5a, 5b adjacent its corners which rest on inclined surfaces 6a, 6b formed in respective blocks 7a, 7b. The frame is suspended by rubber blocks 14a, 14b between brackets 10 secured to a support frame 4, the rubber blocks being carried by threaded adjustment members 15a, 15b to vary the degree of resiliency and fit the rest position of the platform, in which the projecting part 13 of the platform has its edge 13a slightly spaced from the transport surface. The blocks 7a, 7b are also adjustable by threaded members 8, 9 so that in the rest position of the platform the rollers 5a, 5b engage the sloping surfaces 6a, 6b at a point slightly above their lowermost part where they meet steeply sloping surfaces 12a, 12b respectively the arrangement being such that when a passenger steps on the platform the platform is moved slightly towards the transport surface so that the edge 13a just touches the transport surface and the rollers 5a, 5b engage the surfaces 12a, 12b which act as stops. If a piece of waste material or other obstruction enters between the edge 13a and the transport surface the platform moves away from the transport surface against the action of the rubber blocks 14a, 14b until the obstruction has cleared. A microswitch 16 (see Figs. 3 and 7) is arranged to be actuated if the movement of the platform exceeds a predetermined amount, which switches off the drive to the conveyer surface. In another embodiment, Fig. 3, the platform is suspended on leaf springs 17a, 17b, additional restoring force being applied by rubber blocks 19. Adjustable fixed abutments 20a, 20b limit movement of the platform. In a further embodiment, Figs. 4, 6, 7, the platform is movable laterally as well as longitudinally, the projecting part 13 of the platform being formed with comb teeth 21 which engage in grooves in the transport surface 2, so that the platform may follow lateral wander of the transport surface. For this purpose the platform carries blocks 23a which are formed with sloping surfaces 6a, 12a corresponding to those of the first embodiment and through which the platform is supported on four balls 24. The balls 24 rest on small balls 25 in a cup-shaped member 27. Rubber blocks 14b act on the platform through rollers 44 to urge it towards the transport surface. To ensure that the comb teeth do not foul the grooves in the transport surface the platform is maintained in alignment with the transport belt by rollers 33, 34 engaging the belt edge, these rollers being carried on a yoke pivoted to an arm secured to the platform and urged into engagement with the belt edge by a spring 37.