Patent ID: 7063203

Claim:
A variable speed handrail for a passenger moving walkway system or escalator, comprising: a flexible profile, which circulates along the walkway or escalator, the profile including a forward moving section and a return section; the flexible profile moves at a constant speed; a drag mechanism for the profile; a plurality of handgrips coupled on the flexible profile, the handgrips are movable along the direction of the profile selectively with the profile or independent of the profile, the handgrips being movable at a speed substantially identical to a speed of walkway plates of the walkway system or escalator, which plates are the plates then closest to respective ones of the handgrips; the handgrips having a first connection device connectable to a constant speed drag mechanism and a second connection device connectable to a variable speed auxiliary drag mechanism, both connection devices being operable for dragging the handgrips; the first connection device connects the handgrips to the constant speed drag mechanism when the handgrips are moved along a first section of the profile along which the walkway plates move at a constant speed, and the second connection device connects the handgrip to the variable speed auxiliary drag mechanism when the handgrips are moved along a second section of the profile along which the walkway plates move at a variable speed.