Enhancement method and apparatus for escalator or moving walkway
OwnerRex John Sutherlandinventor
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Abstract
An apparatus is used to enhance the standing-surfaces of platform-components of an escalator or a moving walkway which moves in a continuous loop. The apparatus is maintained in a constant position relative to the moving parts of the escalator or walkway such that, while in that constant position, all the standing-surfaces continually pass under the apparatus as a result of the continuous loop of the escalator. When the escalator is in operation, an applicator-means of the apparatus applies a flowable enhancement-material, in situ, to the standing-surfaces of the moving platform-components. The material solidifies thereon to enhance the surface characteristics of the standing-surfaces of the escalator, or moving walkway as the case may be.
Claims16
A method of enhancing standing-surfaces of platform-components of an escalator or a moving walkway which, in operation, is able to move in a continuous loop of a plurality of mutually connected platform-components,
- and in which the standing-surface of each platform-component has an alternating series of elongate, parallel valleys and peaks that generally align axially with the travel direction of the platform-components,
- the method comprising:
- using position-maintenance-means of an enhancement apparatus to maintain the enhancement apparatus in a constant position relative to the escalator or moving walkway such that all the standing-surfaces of the platform-components are able to pass under the enhancement apparatus one followed by another as a result of movement of the continuous loop of the mutually connected platform-components;
- and
- using applicator-means of the enhancement apparatus, when the escalator or moving walkway is in operation in situ, to apply a flowable enhancement-material to one or more peaks of the standing-surfaces of the moving platform-components at which location on the one or more peaks the flowable enhancement-material solidifies in order to enhance surface characteristics of the peaks of the standing-surfaces.
An enhancement apparatus adapted to enhance standing-surfaces of platform-components of an escalator or a moving walkway which, in operation, is able to move in a continuous loop of a plurality of mutually connected platform-components,
- and in which the standing-surface of each platform-component has an alternating series of elongate, parallel valleys and peaks that generally align axially with the travel direction of the platform-components,
- wherein the apparatus comprises:
- position-maintenance-means adapted to maintain the enhancement apparatus in a constant position relative to the escalator or moving walkway such that, in use, all the standing-surfaces of the platform-components are able to pass under the enhancement apparatus one followed by another as a result of movement of the continuous loop of the mutually connected platform-components;
- and
- applicator-means adapted to apply a flowable enhancement-material, when the escalator or moving walkway is in operation in situ, to one or more peaks of the standing-surfaces of the moving platform-components at which location on the one or more peaks the flowable enhancement-material solidifies in order to enhance surface characteristics of the peaks of the standing-surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.