Accelerating and decelerating moving walkway

Abstract

A moving walkway having accelerating and decelerating regions whereat people and/or freight board and alight from the walkway, respectively, is disclosed. The walkway comprises a plurality of overlapping platforms with a pair of wheels or rollers affixed beneath one end of each platform. The platforms move in an oval, substantially planar, track having lengthy sides joined by curved ends. Users (people or freight) are moved in opposite directions along the lengthy sides and board and alight from the walkway at entry and exit regions located at both curved ends. Acceleration occurs immediately subsequent to the entry regions and deceleration occurs just prior to the exit regions. The platforms are interconnected by chains or cables movably attached to cam followers. The cam followers follow acceleration and deceleration cams located beneath the platforms. Through the chains or cables this cam action causes the amount of overlapping to increase or decrease to create platform acceleration and deceleration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.