Escalator having guide wheels and guide track with cooperative non-flat surfaces
First Claim
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1. An escalator, comprising:
- an endless belt having first and second sides,a plurality of steps attached to said endless belt,means for driving said endless belt in a loop which includes load bearing and return runs for said steps,a plurality of guide wheels rotatably mounted on the first side of said endless belt, said guide wheels each having a tread portion having a curved cross-sectional configuration,a plurality of support wheels rotatably mounted on the second side of said endless belt,a guide track on the first side of said endless belt, said guide track having a support portion having a curved cross-sectional configuration which supports the curved tread portions of said guide wheels, with the cross-sectional configurations of the non-flat portions of the guide wheel and guide track defining first and second different curves selected to promote substantially a line contact between each guide wheel and said guide track, wherein only a predetermined central portion of each guide wheel normally comes into contact with the guide track,a support track on the second side of said endless belt for supporting said support wheels,a plurality of guard wheels rotatably mounted on the first side of said endless belt with the rotational axis of each guard wheel being on a rotational axis of one of said guide wheels,and a guard track mounted to limit the lateral movement of the guide wheels, as well as movement perpendicular thereto, by contacting the guard wheels and rotating the guard wheels opposite to the rotational direction of the guide wheels.
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Abstract
An escalator including an endless belt and a plurality of steps attached thereto. The endless belt and steps are guided about a loop which includes load bearing and return runs for the steps, by guide wheels rotatably mounted on a common side of the endless belt, and a guide track. The guide wheels and guide track have cooperative, non-flat surfaces which guide the endless belt and steps about the loop, as well as provide the required support for the associated side of the endless belt.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An escalator, comprising:
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an endless belt having first and second sides, a plurality of steps attached to said endless belt, means for driving said endless belt in a loop which includes load bearing and return runs for said steps, a plurality of guide wheels rotatably mounted on the first side of said endless belt, said guide wheels each having a tread portion having a curved cross-sectional configuration, a plurality of support wheels rotatably mounted on the second side of said endless belt, a guide track on the first side of said endless belt, said guide track having a support portion having a curved cross-sectional configuration which supports the curved tread portions of said guide wheels, with the cross-sectional configurations of the non-flat portions of the guide wheel and guide track defining first and second different curves selected to promote substantially a line contact between each guide wheel and said guide track, wherein only a predetermined central portion of each guide wheel normally comes into contact with the guide track, a support track on the second side of said endless belt for supporting said support wheels, a plurality of guard wheels rotatably mounted on the first side of said endless belt with the rotational axis of each guard wheel being on a rotational axis of one of said guide wheels, and a guard track mounted to limit the lateral movement of the guide wheels, as well as movement perpendicular thereto, by contacting the guard wheels and rotating the guard wheels opposite to the rotational direction of the guide wheels.
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2. An escalator, comprising:
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an endless belt having first and second sides, a plurality of steps attached to said endless belt, means for driving said endless belt in a loop which includes load bearing and return runs for said steps, and means for guiding said belt about said loop including a plurality of guide wheels rotatably mounted on said first side of said endless belt on axes perpendicular to the travel direction of the endless belt, and a guide track adjacent to said first side, said guide wheels having a non-flat portion and said guide track having a cooperative non-flat portion, providing a curved interface which guides said guide wheels, with the cross-sectional configurations of the non-flat portions of the guide wheel and guide track defining first and second different curves selected to promote substantially a line contact between each guide wheel and said guide track, wherein only a predetermined central portion of each guide wheel normally comes into contact with the guide track. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification