Detection of escalator safety circuit component operability

• US 5,601,178 A
• Filed: 03/16/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Zaharia, Vlad, Faup, John
• Primary Examiner(s): DAYOAN, DARRELL G
• Application Number:
  US08/405,475
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 198/322, 198/323
• US Class Current: 198/323
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 25/00 Control of escalators or moving walkways walkways of variable speed type B66B21/12; handrails of variable speed type B66B23/26; of general application G05
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 29/00 Safety devices of escalators or moving walkways walkways of variable speed type B66B21/12; handrails of variable speed type B66B23/26

Abstract

A start up check relay is energized whenever escalator motor motive power is interrupted. The start up check relay checks speed and non-speed-dependent safety circuit components to determine whether these safety circuit components have all come to an escalator start up state. When the start up condition of these safety circuit components has been verified the circuit allows power to be applied to the escalator motor. When power is applied to the escalator motor, a start up delay timer is energized and the start up check relay is de-energized. When speed-dependent components of the escalator have come to operating speeds, the start up delay timer will be de-energized, and the escalator will continue movement in its normal operating mode provided that all safety circuits are fully operational.

Claims

1. A passenger transporting assembly having a motor, a plurality of passenger safety circuits including at least one speed-dependent safety circuit, a master power switch, and a manually operated keyswitch, said transporting assembly comprising:

a) means for determining whether motor control circuit components in said assembly are in a start up state when said master power switch has been closed;

b) means for determining whether said passenger safety circuits are in a start up state when said master power switch has been closed;

c) means for delivering start up power to said motor when said keyswitch has been closed and said motor contact circuit components and said passenger safety circuits are all determined to be in a start up state;

d) means for delivering power to a start up delay timer means when start up power is applied to said motor;

e) means for determining whether said speed-dependent safety circuits are operating at full running speed;

f) means for determining whether said start up delay timer means is energized; and

g) means for interrupting power to said motor when said speed-dependent safety circuits are determined to be operating at less than full running speed during operation of said start up delay timer means, and when said keyswitch has been released after start up of the motor.

2. The passenger transporting assembly of claim 1 wherein said start up delay timer means further includes means for determining whether additional assembly circuits are operating in a full running state, and wherein said means for interrupting power is operable to interrupt power to said motor when said additional assembly circuits are determined to be operating in less than a full running state when said keyswitch has been released after start up of the motor.

3. The passenger transporting assembly of claim 1 further including means to de-energize both of said means for determining specified in parts a) and b) when start up power is delivered to said motor.

4. The passenger transporting assembly of claim 3 further including means to re-energize each of said means for determining specified in parts a) and b) when power to said motor is interrupted.

5. The passenger transporting assembly of claim 1 further comprising off-delay timer means including means for detecting less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit component;

means for supplying power to said motor during a preset delay period when less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit is detected; and

means for interrupting power to said motor when less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit component continues for a period of time which exceeds said preset delay period.

6. A passenger transporting assembly having a motor, a plurality of passenger safety circuits including at least one speed-dependent safety circuit, a master power switch, and a manually operated keyswitch, said transporting assembly comprising:

a) off-delay timer means including means for detecting less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit component;

b) means for supplying power to said motor during a preset delay period when less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit is detected; and

c) means for interrupting power to said motor when less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit component continues for a period of time which exceeds said preset delay period.

7. A method for operating a passenger transporting assembly having a motor, a plurality of passenger safety circuits including at least one speed-dependent safety circuit, a master power switch, and a manually operated keyswitch, said method comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether motor control circuit components in said assembly are in a start up state when said master power switch has been closed;

b) determining whether said passenger safety circuits are in a start up state when said master power switch has been closed;

c) delivering start up power to said motor when said keyswitch has been closed and said motor contact circuit components and said passenger safety circuits are all determined to be in a start up state;

d) delivering power to a start up delay timer means when start up power is applied to said motor, and thereafter determining whether speed-dependent safety circuits are operating at full running speed;

e) determining whether said start up delay timer means is energized; and

f) interrupting power to said motor when said speed-dependent safety circuits are determined to be operating at less than full running speed during operation of said start up delay timer means, and when said keyswitch has been released after start up of the motor.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of determining whether additional assembly circuits are operating in a full running state;

and interrupting power to said motor when said additional assembly circuits are determined to be operating in less than a full running state when said keyswitch has been released after start up of the motor.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of de-energizing both of said determining steps specified in parts a) and b) when start up power is delivered to said motor.

10. The method of claim 9 further including the step of re-energizing each of said determining steps specified in parts a) and b) when power to said motor is interrupted.

11. The method of claim 7 comprising the further steps of:

g) detecting less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit component;

h) supplying power to said motor during a preset delay period when less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit is detected; and

i) interrupting power to said motor when less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit component continues for a period of time which exceeds said preset delay period.

12. A method for operating a passenger transporting assembly having a motor, a plurality of passenger safety circuits including at least one speed-dependent safety circuit, a master power switch, and a manually operated keyswitch, said method comprising the steps of:

a) detecting less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit component;

b) supplying power to said motor during a preset delay period when less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit is detected; and

c) interrupting power to said motor when less than full speed operation of a speed-dependent safety circuit component continues for a period of time which exceeds said preset delay period.

13. A method for operating a passenger transporting assembly having a motor, a plurality of passenger safety circuits including at least one speed-dependent safety circuit, a master power switch, and a manually operated keyswitch, said method comprising the steps of simulating full speed operation of the assembly for a predetermined time period after the master power switch is initially turned on thereby disabling said manually operated keyswitch from being used to energize the motor during said predetermined time period.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said simulating step is accomplished by closing a switch which is normally closed by said speed-dependent safety circuit when the transporting assembly is operating at normal operating speeds.

15. A passenger transporting assembly having a motor, a plurality of passenger safety circuits including at least one speed-dependent safety circuit, a master power switch, and a manually operated keyswitch, said transporting assembly comprising delay timer means operable to simulate normal operating speeds for the transporting assembly for a preset period of time after said master power switch is initially turned on thereby disabling said manually operated keyswitch from delivering power to the motor for said preset period of time.

16. The passenger transporting assembly of claim 15 wherein said delay timer means closes a switch which is normally closed by a speed-dependent safety circuit when the transporting assembly is operating at normal speeds, and wherein said delayf timer means opens said switch after said preset period of time.