Sprockets for people conveyors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10532913-B1
Application number	US-201916293945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2019
Priority date	Mar 6, 2019
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

People conveyors and components for people conveyors are described. The components include a toothed surface having at least one tooth. The at least one tooth having an engagement surface and a surface pattern comprising pattern channels formed into the engagement surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A component for a people conveyor, the component comprising:
a toothed surface having at least one tooth; and
wherein the at least one tooth comprises:
an engagement surface;
a surface pattern comprising pattern channels formed into the engagement surface; and
at least one internal feature formed within the pattern channels wherein the pattern channels include a channel base and the at least one internal feature is recessed from the channel base.

2. The component of claim 1 , wherein the toothed surface is a surface of at least one of a sprocket and a belt of a people conveyor.

3. The component of claim 2 , wherein the people conveyor is one of a moving walkway and an escalator.

4. The component of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal feature further comprises at least one feature extending from the channel base.

5. The component of claim 1 , wherein the surface pattern comprises a chevron pattern.

6. The component of claim 1 , wherein the surface pattern comprises a superimposed bi-direction chevron pattern.

7. The component of claim 1 , wherein the pattern channels include a channel base that is recessed a depth D from the engagement surface.

8. The component of claim 7 , wherein the depth D is between 10-2 mm and 100 mm.

9. The component of claim 1 , further comprising a coating applied to at least one of the engagement surface and the pattern channels.

10. The component of claim 9 , wherein the coating comprises at least one of a diamond-like carbon coating and a nano-composite coating.

11. The component of claim 1 , wherein the surface pattern comprises at least one debris escape channel.

12. A people conveyor comprising:
a conveyance band having a plurality of conveyance elements attached to a belt; and
a sprocket configured to drive movement of the belt, wherein at least one of the belt and the sprocket comprise:
a toothed surface having at least one tooth; and
wherein the at least one tooth comprises:
an engagement surface; and
a surface pattern comprising pattern channels formed into the engagement surface, wherein the surface pattern comprises one of a chevron pattern and a superimposed bi-direction chevron pattern.

13. The people conveyor of claim 12 , wherein the people conveyor is one of a moving walkway and an escalator.

14. The people conveyor of claim 12 , further comprising at least one internal feature formed within the pattern channels.

15. The people conveyor of claim 12 , wherein the pattern channels include a channel base that is recessed a depth D from the engagement surface.

16. The people conveyor of claim 12 , further comprising a coating applied to at least one of the engagement surface and the pattern channels.

17. The people conveyor of claim 14 , wherein the at least one internal feature is recessed from the channel base.

18. The people conveyor of claim 14 , wherein the at least one internal feature extends from the channel base.

19. The people conveyor of claim 12 , further comprising a sweeper brush configured to contact the engagement surface of the at least one tooth.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Zhang Huan
• Wesson John P

Classifications

• B66B23/024

  Chains therefor · CPC title

• B66B23/02 Primary

  Driving gear · CPC title

• B66B21/10

  Moving walkways · CPC title

• B66B31/00

  Accessories for escalators, or moving walkways, e.g. for sterilising or cleaning (for safety B66B29/00) · CPC title

• B66B23/026 Primary

  with a drive or carrying sprocket wheel located at end portions · CPC title