Track system for an escalator or moving walkway

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9988244-B2
Application number	US-201314432085-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2013
Priority date	Sep 27, 2012
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A track module of an escalator or a moving walkway comprises at least two support structures and at least one guide rail. Each support structure includes at least two supports and at least one cross strut, wherein the cross strut is arranged between the at least two supports and connects these together. Each support has a foot fastening region which, in the installed state, is fastened to a carrying structure. Moreover, a balustrade fastening region, to which in the installed state at least a part of a balustrade is fastened, is formed at each support, so that static and dynamic loads acting on the balustrade are transmissible directly to the carrying structure by way of the supports.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A track module of an escalator or moving walkway for forming a system of interconnected modules extending the track of the escalator or moving walkway between deflecting regions, the module comprising two support structures and parallel unitary one-piece guide rails supported by and connecting the support structures, each support structure consisting essentially of two vertical supports and a cross strut extending orthogonal to the guide rails joining the vertical supports, each vertical support having a foot fastening region for fastening to a carrying structure and a balustrade fastening region for supporting a balustrade and transmitting forces from the balustrade directly through the vertical support to the carrying structure, each unitary guide rail comprising an integral upper guide track for a forward run of a step/plate belt and an integral lower guide track for a return run of the step/plate belt and transverse passages between the upper and lower guide tracks, the support structure cross strut extending through the transverse passages for connection to the vertical supports, each guide rail being fastened directly to a rail fastening region of the vertical supports at a guide rail location between the upper and lower guide tracks, the module further being adapted for interconnection with at least one other module at adjacent ends thereof by fasteners between aligned adjacent ends of the guide rails of the modules to form a unitary extended guide rail assembly between the deflecting regions, the track module providing for increased ease and efficiency in assembling a escalators or moving walkway at the intended installation location by providing simplified interconnection between one or more of such modules and the deflecting regions.

2. The track module of claim 1 , wherein the guide rails are C-shaped in cross-section, the guide tracks being formed by upper and lower legs of the C-shape.

3. The track module of claim 2 , wherein lugs for suspension of a guide rail are formed at the vertical supports in the rail fastening region.

4. The track module according to claim 1 , wherein the rail fastening region of the vertical supports is located at the cross struts.

5. The track module of claim 1 , wherein the vertical supports have at least one base fastening region for the fastening of a base plate.

6. The track module of claim 1 , wherein the vertical supports have at least one handrail-guide fastening region for the fastening of a handrail guide.

7. The track module of claim 1 , wherein the foot fastening region comprises a height adjusting device.

8. An escalator having a step belt and balustrades arranged laterally of the step belt in a length direction of the escalator and with first and second deflecting regions with the step belt arranged between the first and second deflecting regions to circulate, wherein the escalator further comprises at least one track module according to claim 2 arranged between the deflecting regions, wherein the deflecting regions are connected together by the at least one of the track modules and the at least one guide rail of the at least one track module guides the step belt between the deflecting regions.

9. A moving walkway having a plate belt and balustrades arranged laterally of the plate belt in a length direction of the moving walkway and with first and second deflecting regions with the plate belt arranged between the deflecting regions to circulate, the moving walkway further comprising at least one track module according to claim 2 arranged between the deflecting regions, wherein the deflecting regions are connected together by the at least one track module and the at least one guide rail of the at least one track module guides the plate belt between the deflecting regions.

10. The escalator of claim 8 wherein the first deflecting region, the second deflecting region and at least one foot fastening region of at least one track module arranged between the two deflecting regions are fastened to associated mounts arranged in distribution over a length of a carrying structure erected at a building.

11. A method of assembling an escalator of claim 8 , comprising the steps of:
fastening the first and second deflecting regions to a carrying structure;
fastening the at least one track module through the foot fastening regions thereof to the carrying structure between the two deflecting regions;
connecting the two deflecting regions together by the at least one guide rail of the at least one track module; and
introducing the step belt between the deflecting regions for movement in circulation and guidance by the at least one guide rail and fastening the balustrades to the vertical supports of at least one of the support structures.

12. A method of modernizing an escalator in which an existing escalator is removed to leave an emptied framework to serve as a carrying structure, comprising the steps of:
providing the emptied framework in a region of a bottom chord thereof with mounts to which foot fastening regions of supports of track modules can be fastened; and
fastening first and second deflecting regions and at least one track module of claim 1 to the emptied framework such that the foot fastening regions of the supports connect with the mounts.

13. A moving walkway of claim 9 , wherein the first and second deflecting regions and at least one foot fastening region of at least one track module arranged between the two deflecting regions are fastened to associated mounts arranged in distribution over a length of a carrying structure erected at a building.

14. A method of assembling a moving walkway of claim 13 , comprising the steps of:
fastening the first and second deflecting regions to a carrying structure;
fastening the at least one track module through the foot fastening regions thereof to the carrying structure between the two deflecting regions;
connecting the two deflecting regions together by the at least one guide rail of the at least one track module;
introducing the plate belt between the deflecting regions for movement in circulation and guidance by the at least one guide rail; and
fastening the balustrades to the vertical supports of at least one of the support structures.

15. A method of modernizing a moving walkway wherein an existing moving walkway is removed to leave an emptied framework to serve as a carrying structure, comprising the steps of:
providing the emptied framework in a region of a bottom chord thereof with mounts to which foot fastening regions of supports of a track module can be fastened, and
fastening first and second deflecting regions and at least one track module of claim 1 to the emptied framework such that the foot fastening regions of the supports connect with the mounts.

Assignees

• Inventio Ag

Inventors

• Makovec Christoph
• Matheisl Michael
• Schulz Robert
• Illedits Thomas
• Novacek Thomas
• Hauer Uwe
• Burri Jürg

Classifications

• B66B19/007

  method for modernisation of elevators · CPC title

• Y10T29/49716

  Converting · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B66B23/14 Primary

  Guiding means for carrying surfaces · CPC title

• B66B21/02

  Escalators · CPC title