Assembly for cleaning the underside of an escalator handrail
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorJames A. Rivera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The underside of an escalator or moving walkway handrail is continuously cleaned by an assembly which includes rotating brushes associated with a vacuum nozzle which removes loosened debris from the handrail. The brushes are preferably driven so as to rotate in opposite directions to sweep debris toward the vacuum nozzle. The vacuum nozzle empties into a container which can be periodically emptied during normal servicing of the escalator or walkway.
Claims12
In an escalator or moving walkway having a moving handrail which slides over a guide rail mounted on a balustrade, and which handrail moves along a concealed return path, a handrail cleaning assembly for cleaning a guide rail-contacting surface of the handrail, said cleaning assembly comprising:
- a) at least one brush contacting said surface of said handrail for loosening debris therefrom;
- and
- b) a vacuum system including a vacuum nozzle overlying said surface of said handrail adjacent to said brush, said brush and said vacuum being mounted along said return path of said handrail.
In an escalator or moving walkway having a moving handrail which slides over a guide rail mounted on a balustrade, and which handrail moves along a concealed return path, a handrail cleaning assembly for cleaning a guide rail-contacting surface of the handrail, said cleaning assembly comprising:
- a) at least one generally cylindrical brush mounted adjacent to the handrail along said return path, said brush being mounted for rotation about its axis of symmetry, and being operable to sweep said surface of the handrail to loosen debris therefrom;
- b) a vacuum system including a vacuum nozzle overlying said handrail surface adjacent to said brush and operable to vacuum debris from said brush;
- and
- c) roller means contacting said handrail and said brush and operable to rotate said brush responsive to rectilinear movement of said handrail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.