Escalator drive machine
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorsRichard Fargo, Charles Darling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An escalator drive machine includes a motor output sheave connected to a drive motor through a belt reduction assembly including a main output sheave. A drive belt extends from the belt reduction assembly and is guided along a plurality of guide sheaves to engage the step chain and propel the escalator tread plates. In addition, by locating a pinch roller adjacent the handrail, the drive belt and handrail can be pinched together to provide a motive force to the handrail. The drive belt thereby synchronously drives the handrail. In another embodiment the drive machine includes a counter-rotating motor to drive a drive belt on each side of the escalator system.
Claims9
A passenger conveyer system comprising:
- a plurality of tread plates connected by a step chain;
- a drive belt driveable by an output sheave that is driven by a drive machine;
- and
- a plurality of engagement sheaves, located in parallel with and spaced along a length of said step chain, said engagement sheaves engaging said drive belt to maintain said drive belt engaged with said length of said step chain in a substantially parallel relationship to propel said plurality of tread plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.