Chain link for a highly resilient conveyor chain of a moving walkway, an escalator or a lift

A conveyor chain for a moving walkway, an escalator or a lift, wherein the conveyor chain comprises:

• a plurality of chain links, each chain link comprising:
• two chain link connector receiving regions that are arranged at opposing ends of the chain link and are each for receiving one chain link connector that mechanically interconnects two neighboring chain links in such a way that a tensile force can be transmitted in the tensile direction from one chain link to the neighboring chain link;
• a loop that is closed in a ring shape and surrounds the two chain link connector receiving regions, the loop being formed by a fiber composite material,
• wherein the fiber composite material forming the loop comprises fibers that are embedded in an elastomer matrix material and that extend longitudinally along the ring-shaped loop, the elastomer matrix material configured to allow the chain link to be bent in a reversible manner in a direction transverse to the tensile direction, in radii of curvature of less than 500 mm, without occurring plastic deformation of the fiber composite material;
• and
• a plurality of chain link connectors, wherein neighboring chain links of the plurality of chain links are in each case interconnected, so as to be resistant to tension, with chain link connectors that engage in the chain link connector receiving regions of said chain links.

A conveyor belt assembly for a moving walkway or an escalator, wherein the conveyor belt assembly comprises:

• a conveyor chain comprising:
• a plurality of chain links, each chain link comprising:
• two chain link connector receiving regions that are arranged at opposing ends of the chain link and are each for receiving one chain link connector that mechanically interconnects two neighboring chain links in such a way that a tensile force can be transmitted in the tensile direction from one chain link to the neighboring chain link;
• a loop that is closed in a ring shape and surrounds the two chain link connector receiving regions, the loop being formed by a fiber composite material,
• wherein the fiber composite material forming the loop comprises fibers that are embedded in an elastomer matrix material and that extend longitudinally along the ring-shaped loop, the elastomer matrix material configured to allow the chain link to be bent in a reversible manner in a direction transverse to the tensile direction, in radii of curvature of less than 500 mm, without occurring plastic deformation of the fiber composite material;
• and
• a plurality of chain link connectors, wherein neighboring chain links of the plurality of chain links are in each case interconnected, so as to be resistant to tension, with chain link connectors that engage in the chain link connector receiving regions of said chain links;
• a plurality of pallets or steps that are fastened to the conveyor chain;
• a conveyor wheel configured to convey the conveyor chain;
• a drive configured to rotate the conveyor wheel;
• wherein a plurality of catch structures for cooperating with the conveyor chain and for conveying the conveyor chain in the tensile direction by rotating the conveyor wheel are arranged on the conveyor wheel, close to an outer periphery of the conveyor wheel;
• and
• wherein at least one support structure is arranged on the conveyor wheel, close to the outer periphery, the support structure is arranged, at least in the peripheral direction, between two neighboring catch structures and is designed to support loops of the conveyor chain from radially inside in a region between the chain link connector receiving regions thereof, and to thereby bend said loops radially outwards during rotation of the conveyor wheel.

A lift system, comprising:

• at least one lift car,
• at least one conveyor chain comprising:
• a plurality of chain links, each chain link comprising:
• two chain link connector receiving regions that are arranged at opposing ends of the chain link and are each for receiving one chain link connector that mechanically interconnects two neighboring chain links in such a way that a tensile force can be transmitted in the tensile direction from one chain link to the neighboring chain link;
• a loop that is closed in a ring shape and surrounds the two chain link connector receiving regions, the loop being formed by a fiber composite material,
• wherein the fiber composite material forming the loop comprises fibers that are embedded in an elastomer matrix material and that extend longitudinally along the ring-shaped loop, the elastomer matrix material configured to allow the chain link to be bent in a reversible manner in a direction transverse to the tensile direction, in radii of curvature of less than 500 mm, without occurring plastic deformation of the fiber composite material;
• and
• a plurality of chain link connectors, wherein neighboring chain links of the plurality of chain links are in each case interconnected, so as to be resistant to tension, with chain link connectors that engage in the chain link connector receiving regions of said chain links, and
• at least one drive for driving the conveyor chain, wherein the drive comprises a conveyor wheel on which a plurality of catch structures for cooperating with the conveyor chain and for conveying the conveyor chain in the tensile direction by rotating the conveyor wheel are arranged close to an outer periphery of the conveyor wheel;
• wherein at least one support structure is furthermore arranged on the conveyor wheel, close to the outer periphery, the support structure is arranged, at least in the peripheral direction in each case, between two neighboring catch structures and is designed to support loops of the conveyor chain from radially inside in a region between the chain link connector receiving regions thereof, and to thereby bend said loops radially outwards during rotation of the conveyor wheel.