Noise reduced step chain sprocket
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorsHans-Jurgen Langer, Martin Mehlert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a drive sprocket of a passenger conveyer, such as an escalator, having a step chain, the sprocket is provided with an overlay attached to the side of the drive sprocket. The overlay cushions the chain as it engages the drive sprocket teeth to thereby minimize the noise generated by the engagement of the drive sprocket and the step chain. In a particular embodiment, a drive sprocket further includes a plate that provides lateral support of the overlay during engagement with the step chain.
Claims16
A drive sprocket for propelling a chain, the drive sprocket having a plurality of teeth with root areas between adjacent teeth, an overlay made of a flexible material attached to a side of the drive sprocket, and a plate, the overlay extending across adjacent sprocket teeth and extending radially outward from the root area such that the chain engages the overlay prior to engaging the drive sprocket, wherein the plate is aligned with the contour of the root areas between adjacent teeth and attached to the side of the drive sprocket to support the overlay during engagement with the chain, and wherein the plate has a channel along its rim adapted to receive the deformed overlay.
An overlay for a step chain drive sprocket of a passenger conveying system, the passenger conveying system having a step chain, the drive sprocket having a plurality of teeth with root areas between adjacent teeth to engage the step chain and a plate aligned with the contour of the drive sprocket teeth and attached to the side of the drive sprocket to support the overlay during engagement with the chain, wherein the plate has a channel along its rim adapted to receive the deformed overlay, the overlay being made of a flexible material and attached to a side of the step chain drive sprocket, the overlay extending across adjacent sprocket teeth and extending radially outward from the root area, such that the step chain engages the overlay prior to engaging the step chain drive sprocket.
A passenger conveyor comprising:
- a step chain drive sprocket having a plurality of teeth with root areas between adjacent teeth;
- an overlay made of flexible material that is attached to a side of the step chain drive sprocket, the overlay extending across adjacent sprocket teeth and extending radially outward of the root area, such that the step chain engages the overlay prior to engaging the step chain drive sprocket;
- and
- a plate aligned with the contour of the drive sprocket teeth and removably attached through the overlay to the side of the drive sprocket to support the overlay during engagement with the chain, wherein the plate has a channel along its rim adapted to receive the deformed overlay.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.