Tension release for passenger conveyor
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorsWilly Adrian, Klaus Bruehl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The tension on the moving handrail drive and/or step chain of a passenger conveyor such as an escalator or moving walkway is automatically released when the conveyor is shut down; and is automatically reapplied when the conveyor is started up again. Undesirable compression and localized flattening of the elastomeric components of the conveyor are thus avoided.
Claims9
An escalator or moving walkway passenger conveyor comprising:
- a) a handrail;
- b) a handrail drive assembly including first spring means which applies a compressive force to the handrail;
- c) a step chain assembly including a step chain and a step chain sprocket;
- and second spring means operably connected to said sprocket for applying tension to said step chain;
- and
- d) first detensioning means connected to said first spring means and operable to disable the latter from applying said compressive force to the handrail during periods of time when motive power to the conveyor is interrupted.
An escalator or moving walkway passenger conveyor comprising:
- a) a handrail;
- b) a handrail drive assembly including first spring means which applies a compressive force to the handrail;
- c) a step chain assembly including a step chain and a step chain sprocket;
- and second spring means operably connected to said sprocket for applying tension to said step chain;
- and
- d) detensioning means connected to one of said first and second spring means and operable to disable said one of said spring means from performing its stated function during periods of time when motive power to the conveyor is interrupted.
A method for operating a moving passenger conveyor which conveyor includes a moving handrail and a moving step chain, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) compressing a moving elastomeric component of said conveyor against another component of the conveyor during periods of passenger-conveying operation of the conveyor;
- and
- b) decompressing said elastomeric component during periods of non-operation of said conveyor so as to prevent localized deformation of said elastomeric component when motion of the conveyor ceases during said periods of non-operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.