Patent Publication Number: US-7581631-B2

Title: Travelator, moving ramp or escalator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/FI2004/000814 filed Dec. 31, 2004, designating the United States and claiming priority from Application No. FI20040091 filed in Finland on Jan. 22, 2004, the disclosures of both applications being incorporated herein by reference along with each and every U.S. and foreign patent and patent application mentioned herein below. The subject matter of this application is also related to commonly owned and concurrently filed U.S. application No. 11/491,496. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a travelator, moving ramp or escalator whereby people are transported on a conveyor in a horizontal direction or at an upward/downward angle. The conveyor is mounted on a frame which again is secured to a fixed structure, such as a floor in the case of a travelator, or to different floor levels in the case of a moving ramp or escalator. 
     As is known for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,829, the frame of an escalator is usually a rigid trussed construction welded together from beam elements, on which construction the guide tracks and other equipment required for the conveyor are mounted as separate parts. A problem with a frame structure constructed by welding is that it is very difficult to obtain a structure of exact dimensions. The assembly requires the use of expensive and complicated welding jigs. The frame is expensive and producing it is an expensive operation. In simplified terms, the load condition of a frame implemented as a trussed construction corresponds to the load condition of a double-supported beam supported by its ends. According such a frame has been designed to carry, with a certain safety margin, its own weight, the weight of the parts mounted on it and the weight of the passengers, which is why the frame is very heavy and difficult to handle. A trussed construction is usually very stiff and strong, but it is seldom optimized with respect to weight. 
     Further, European Patent document EP 1 321 424 A1 discloses a frame structure composed of planar frame plate elements. The elements have no profiled parts. The frame plate elements are provided with one or more openings. The openings are formed in the plates by a flame, plasma or laser cutting method. A problem with this frame structure is that its manufacture is time-consuming and expensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a travelator, moving ramp or escalator that has an inexpensive frame and that can be manufactured at a low cost. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a travelator, moving ramp or escalator that can be installed in its entire length on a load-bearing carrying structure without the frame itself having to bear any large loads. 
     The above and other objects are accomplished according to the invention wherein there is provided in an exemplary embodiment a travelator, moving ramp or escalator for transporting passengers, comprising: a frame adapted to be supported on a fixed structure; and a conveyor mounted on the frame; wherein the frame comprises two elongated frame parts, each frame part comprising a number of profiled metallic bodies of solid material joined together one after the other, each profiled metallic body including: coupling, supporting and/or guide elements integrated in the profiled metallic body; and an integrated wall forming an outwardly visible outer surface of each frame part. 
     According to the invention, the frame comprises a number of profiled metallic bodies preferably mutually identical in cross-section and successively connected to each other, said profiled bodies having coupling, supporting and/or guide elements integrated with the aforesaid one profiled metallic body of solid material. 
     The invention has the advantage that the frame structure formed from profiled metallic bodies is inexpensive and its manufacturing costs are low. Elements having different functions can be integrated in the shapes of one and the same profiled body. A very light frame structure of low construction can be achieved as the frame is mounted in its entire length on a fixed base. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the frame comprises two elongated frame parts provided with guide tracks for guiding the conveyor and consisting of aforesaid profiled metallic bodies or similar bodies connected together end to end one after the other. In addition, a number of transverse cross members extend transversely between the frame parts to hold them parallel to each other at a distance from each other. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the profiled metallic body consists of one or more profiles extruded from a light alloy, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the conveyor is a pallet conveyor comprising a plurality of successive pallets and a drive element, such as a link chain or belt, to which the pallets are connected to move the pallets, the drive element being arranged as an endless loop having an upper portion and a lower portion. 
     In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the travelator, moving ramp or escalator comprises a handrail which itself comprises a handrail frame and an endless handrail belt supported on the handrail frame and arranged as a loop having an upper handhold portion that the passenger can grip with a hand for support and a lower return portion disposed inside the frame part. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the travelator, moving ramp or escalator comprises a number of suspenders connected to the profiled metallic body at a distance from each other to support the return portion of the handrail belt. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the handrail belt is in cross-section a substantially C-shaped profile, defining inside it an interior groove which in the return portion of the handrail belt opens upwards and which has at its edges edge flanges directed towards each other, with a gap between them. The suspender comprises a web extending through the gap of the handrail belt into the interior groove and suspension flanges extending on either side of the web under the edge flanges to support the handrail belt. 
     In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the suspender comprises one or more coupling elements for securing a conductor. 
     In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the suspender has been formed from a material that has a substantially low friction coefficient. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the contact surfaces of the edge flanges of the handrail belt that come into contact with the suspension flanges are coated with a material that has a substantially low friction coefficient. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, one profiled metallic body of continuous material contains one or more items of the following group integrated in it: 
     a wall forming the outwardly visible outer surface of the frame part; 
     a bottom fitted to be resting against a fixed base, 
     first stop faces for forming a guide surface for supporting and guiding the pallets; 
     second stop faces, against which the handrail frame can be supported; 
     a mounting slot for a fastening element for securing the handrail frame; 
     a first coupling element for securing the suspender, 
     a second coupling element for coupling a second profiled body, such as a profiled body forming an interior wall, from a lateral direction; 
     a first space, which has been fitted to receive inside it the return portion of the handrail belt; 
     a second space, which has been fitted to receive inside it the upper portion of the drive element; 
     a third space, which has been fitted to receive inside it the lower portion of the drive element; 
     a fourth space, which has been fitted to receive inside it an extension joint element for joining the profiled metallic bodies end to end one after the other; 
     a fifth space, which has been fitted to receive inside it an alignment pin for butt alignment of the profiled metallic bodies. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the travelator, moving ramp or escalator is a travelator, moving ramp or escalator of low construction height designed to be mounted on a fixed base, such as a floor or other support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  presents a diagrammatic side view of an embodiment of the travelator of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  presents the travelator of  FIG. 1  as seen from direction II-II; 
         FIG. 3  presents a cross-sectional view of a part of the travelator in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  presents the profile of the frame part in  FIG. 3  and a covering profile that can be attached to it; 
         FIG. 5  presents a suspender that can be joined to the profile of the frame part  3  in  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  presents an axonometric view of the suspender in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  present a travelator of low construction height, designed to be mounted on a fixed base, such as a floor or other support, which means that no pit needs to be made in the fixed base for the travelator machinery. In the following description of an exemplary embodiment, the invention is described with reference to a horizontal travelator, but it is obvious that corresponding principles of the invention can also be applied to moving ramps and escalators. 
     The travelator comprises a conveyor  1 , which may be for example, a pallet conveyor or a belt conveyor, which is supported on a frame  2 . The entire length of the frame  2  rests on a floor base. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the frame  2  comprises two elongated frame parts  4 ,  5 , which are connected together by a number of transverse cross members  7  extending transversely between the frame parts  4 ,  5  to hold them parallel to each other at a distance from each other. The frame parts  4 ,  5  are composed of mutually identical profiled metallic bodies  3  joined together end to end one after the other, which contain guide elements  6  integrated in one profile of solid material for guiding the coupling, supporting and/or moving parts of the conveyor, as will be described later on with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     As is further shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the travelator comprises two handrails  12 , one on either side of the conveyor  1 . The handrails  12  comprise a handrail frame  13 , which is secured to the profiled metallic bodies  3  serving as frame parts  4 ,  5 . Mounted on the handrail frame  13  is an endless handrail belt  14 , which has been arranged as a loop having an upper handhold portion  15  that the passenger can grip with a hand for support and a lower return portion  16  disposed inside the frame part  4 ,  5 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view of one side of the conveyor  1 . The other side, which is not shown in the figures, is identical but reversed like a mirror image. It can be seen from the figure that the conveyor  1  is a pallet conveyor comprising a number of pallets  8  arranged one after the other. In this case, the drive element  9  used to move the pallets is a link chain, to which the pallets  8  are secured to move them. The drive element  9  has been implemented as an endless loop, which extends perpendicularly to the plane of the figure and of which the figure shows the upper portion  10  and the lower portion  11 . The pallet  8  shown at a higher level is a pallet moving in the transport direction. The pallet  8  shown at a lower level is a pallet moving in the opposite direction, returning to the beginning of the conveyor track. 
     The profiled metallic body  3 , of which the frame parts  4  and  5  are composed, consists of a profile extruded from a light metal, preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy, containing many functions integrated in one body. The low construction height is exemplified by the fact that in one embodiment the height of the profile is about 34 cm. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the handrail belt  14  is supported by suspenders  17 , one of which is seen in the figure, which are fastened to the profiled metallic body  3  at a distance from each other to support the return portion  16  of the handrail belt  14 . The handrail belt  14  is a substantially C-shaped profile in cross-section such that it defines inside it an interior groove  18  which, in the return portion  16  of the handrail belt, opens upwards. At the edges of the interior groove  18  are edge flanges  19  directed towards each other, with a gap  20  between them. 
     It can be seen from the  FIG. 3  that the web  21  of the suspender  17  extends through the gap  20  of the handrail belt into the interior groove  18 . The suspension flanges  22  extend under the edge flanges  24  on either side of the web  21 , thus supporting the handrail belt  14 . 
     From  FIGS. 5 and 6  it can see that the suspender  17  comprises a vertical mounting flange whereby the suspender  17  can be fastened with a screw joint to the profiled body  3 . The mounting flange has three snap-on coupling elements  23  formed on it for the attachment of conductors. The suspender  17  is preferably a single solid piece extruded from plastic. To allow the handrail belt to slide with low friction on the suspenders, the suspender  17  is formed from a plastic material having a substantially low friction coefficient. Similarly, the contact surfaces  24  of the edge flanges  19  of the handrail belt  14  that come into contact with the suspension flanges  22  may be coated with a material having a substantially low friction coefficient. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 3 and 4 , integrated in the single profiled metallic body of solid material is a wall  25  forming the outwardly visible outer surface of the frame part  4 ,  5  and a bottom  26  fitted to be resting against a fixed base. Further, the profiled body  3  has first stop faces  27 ,  28  for forming a guide track  6  for supporting and guiding the pallets  8 . The upper stop face  27  supports the wheels of loaded pallets  8 . The whole or part of the length of the upper stop face  27  can be covered with a wearing plate  43 , such as a sheet steel plate, which can be fastened in place in a groove  44  formed in the profiled metallic body. Such a sheet steel plate  43  is preferably provided at least at the joints between profiled metallic bodies  3  to eliminate any discontinuities of the stop face that may arise due to inaccurate alignment. Further, integrated in the profiled metallic body  3  are second stop faces  29 ,  30 , which are a horizontal stop face  29 , on which the edge of the handrail frame plate  13  can be supported, and a vertical stop face  30 , against which the edge of the handrail frame plate  13  can be rested. Formed in the profiled body  3  is also a mounting slot  31  for a retaining bolt  32  used to secure the handrail frame  13 , which slot can receive the head of the bolt  32  inside it. The profiled metallic body  3  further has a groove integrated in it as a coupling element  33  for fastening the suspender  17 . In addition, it has a second coupling element  34  for joining a second profiled body  35  forming an interior wall to the profiled metallic body  3  from a lateral direction. Further, the profiled metallic body  3  contains a first space  36 , which has been fitted to receive the return portion  16  of the handrail belt  14  inside it. Moreover, the profiled metallic body  3  contains a second space  37 , which has been fitted to receive the upper portion  10  of the drive element  9  inside it. A third space  38  has been fitted to receive the lower portion  11  of the drive element  9  inside it. Furthermore, the profiled metallic body  3  contains three fourth spaces  39 , which have been fitted to receive inside them a bar-like extension joint element  40  for joining the profiled metallic bodies  3  end to end one after the other. In addition, the profiled metallic body  3  contains three fifth spaces  41 , which have been fitted to receive inside them round alignment pins  42 , by means of which the profiled metallic bodies  3  can be accurately aligned relative to each other. 
     The invention is not limited to the embodiment examples described above; instead, many variations are possible within the scope of the inventive concept defined in the claims.