HK1146032B - Step for escalator, and escalator having a step of this type - Google Patents

Description

Step of an escalator and escalator with such a step

Technical Field

The invention relates to a step for an escalator, comprising a step framework made of sheet metal as a support for at least one tread and at least one riser, wherein the riser comprises a rib/groove profile made of deep-drawn sheet metal with ribs and grooves, each rib has a cavity when viewed from below the riser, and the riser extends in an arc-like manner.

Background

DE3605284A discloses a step for an escalator. The steps include a tread plate having a plurality of horizontally extending slats and a riser plate having a plurality of vertically extending slats. The slats of the tread plate engage with the slats of the riser plate of the adjacent step, wherein the width of the gap depends on the relative position of the adjacent steps.

US6978876B discloses a step of the aforementioned type, see in particular fig. 5 and 6. The use of a skeleton-like plate structure of the steps makes it possible to save weight and also to save costs significantly.

The steps move relative to each other in a vertical direction with respect to adjacent steps, particularly when transitioning from an inclined escalator section to a horizontal escalator section. Meanwhile, the step structure of the escalator is converted into a planar structure or a belt structure. Furthermore, the height difference between two adjacent steps continuously changes from a maximum value to zero. The relative movement is generated by a corresponding movement of the guide rails for the step roller and the chain roller. The steps have a substantially triangular cross-section, seen in the direction of travel. In order to keep the gap between the two steps small, the kickplate is not planar, but is a segment of the cylinder wall, i.e. its cross-section is circular-arc, so that the cross-section of the steps in the direction of travel is more like a circular-arc segment than a triangle.

Disclosure of Invention

It is concluded in the scope of the invention that the gap between two steps is not constant, but varies depending on the magnitude of the height difference between two adjacent steps.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this drawback. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a step of the aforementioned type in that the step has the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1. The effect of the step shaped in this way is that the step gap is kept constantly small, almost independently of the instantaneous height difference between two adjacent steps.

Advantageous developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the step gap between the tread plate and the adjacent riser plate always remains approximately the same size, irrespective of the position of the step gap. Because the risk of accidents or the risk of clothing corners, sharp objects, shoes, fingers of children, etc. getting caught is greatly reduced. In particular, when the escalator transitions from an inclined operation to a horizontal operation, the step gap no longer increases, but remains the same.

The use of a skeleton-like plate structure for the steps not only saves weight and considerable costs, but also has the particular advantage that it can be produced in virtually any shape without additional production effort and without the need for different cross sections to be taken into account for fastening. Such a step made of deep-drawn sheet is therefore just a very simple way of achieving different diameters of the kick plate.

Lighter steps also represent less drive power for the escalator drive. The main components of the steps, such as step cheeks, tread plates and kick plates, are produced from very thin deep-drawn metal sheets by means of deep-drawing. The steps according to the invention, although made of thin sheet metal, meet the specifications of the european standard EN115 and the american standard ASME a17.1, as well as the stress test, according to which the steps must meet both the static test and the dynamic test. In the static test, the steps are center-loaded with a force of 3000N acting perpendicular to the tread plate, wherein a deflection of a maximum of 4mm is allowed to occur. After the force has been applied, the step is not allowed to have a residual deformation. In a dynamic test, the steps are centrally loaded with a pulsating force, wherein the force varies between 500N and 3000N, has a frequency between 5Hz and 20Hz and at least 5 x 10⁶And (5) performing secondary circulation. After this test, the step is allowed to have a residual deformation of maximum 4 mm.

It is further advantageous that the component can be manufactured in an optimized manufacturing method starting from a sheet metal coil (referred to below as sheet metal coil) having a diameter of, for example, 2m to 4m, which is held and unfoldable by means of an unwinding device. The use of multiple flattening devices allows for uninterrupted workflow and further reduces manufacturing time.

Steps having a skeleton-like or frame-like metal plate structure are lighter and much cheaper than die-cast steps made of aluminium (especially in case of rising prices of aluminium). A 600mm wide step weighs approximately only 8.6kg, an 800mm wide step weighs approximately only 10.8kg and a 1000mm wide step also weighs approximately only 13.1 kg. In this embodiment, it is further advantageous that the step width or the reassembly process with a low number of parts does not require much effort. The steps optimized to the minimum weight and maximum load according to the standard EN115 mentioned above can be produced from thin deep-drawn sheet metal with a thickness of approximately 1.1 to 1.9mm, which achieves the greatest reinforcement of the load-bearing component by means of deep-drawing. Stamping or bending methods are also conceivable, but the steps produced can be much heavier, since thicker metal sheets (at least 4mm thick metal sheets) are required in these production methods.

The kick plate, which is made of a thin, deep-drawn metal sheet, for example, 0.25 to 1.25mm thick, deep-drawn to 10 to 15mm, has sufficient rigidity under extreme load by its rib/groove profile. Although the rigidity is improved, the weight of the pedal is kept small.

When the plate thickness is 0.4mm, the weight of the kick plate is 0.7kg when the step width is 600mm, 0.9kg when the step width is 800mm, and 1.1kg when the step width is 1000 mm.

The strength of the kick plate depends on the material. For a kick plate made of deep-drawn sheet metal with the designation H380, the limit of elasticity is 380 to 480N/mm². In this way, the material enters the plastic region. The breaking limit is 440 to 580N/mm². For a kick plate made of deep-drawn sheet metal, designated H400, the limit of elasticity is 400 to 520N/mm². In this way, the material enters the plastic region. The breaking limit is 470 to 590N/mm². For a riser made of deep-drawn sheet metal, designated H900, the elastic limit is 790N/mm². In this way, the material enters the plastic region. The breaking limit is 900N/mm². For a kick plate made of deep-drawn sheet metal, designated H1100, the limit of elasticity is 1020N/mm². In this way, the material enters the plastic region. The breaking limit is 1100N/mm²。

The kick plate according to the invention can also be applied to a step having a bridge-shaped cross member connecting the side cheeks instead of the middle cheeks.

In the deep drawing method, a punch presses a flat sheet metal blank into a prefabricated die, wherein the edge of the sheet metal blank is fixed by means of a clamping device. In the cold forming of the deep-drawn metal sheet by the punch and the die, a temporary plasticization and cold setting of the deep-drawn metal sheet is achieved below the clamp. From a two-dimensional sheet metal blank punched out of sheet metal strip or sheet metal, a three-dimensional body is formed with a base surface and an annular wall, wherein the wall thickness is slightly smaller than the original sheet metal thickness. The bottom surface can be deformed in a further processing step, for example by means of hydraulic deep-drawing, into a punch or die. The cheek apertures are thus produced in the examples set out below. After the deformation, the edge is separated from the wall by cutting, for example with a knife or punch or a water gun or a laser. The deep-drawn metal sheet must be able to adapt to the variants. In the exemplary embodiments described below, deep-drawn sheet metal is used, for example, with the reference numbers H380 and H400. The steel category is mainly based on the strength enhancing effect of microalloy blends such as niobium and/or titanium and/or manganese. The high yield limit of such steels relative to mild steel makes it possible to achieve cold forming with very low deformation stresses until very demanding and complex component deformations are required for forming. The type of steel is matched to the respective deformation conditions, so that the tendency of the deformed end faces to shrink, to buckle, to tear or to form inaccuracies is minimized by the elastic springback even at very small sheet thicknesses. Deep-drawing is distinguished in particular by a relatively large ratio of the thickness of the metal sheet to the height of the deep-drawn wall, and by the high load-bearing capacity, forming accuracy and stability that result therefrom.

In the rolling deformation process (also referred to as continuous bending process), the sheet metal strip is cold deformed from a coil of sheet metal by means of a plurality of successive pairs of rollers or rolls into a profile that can withstand high loads.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below with the aid of the figures. Wherein:

FIG. 1 is a framework of a ladder rung according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a step according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the step;

FIG. 4 is a tread plate engaged with a riser of an adjacent step;

fig. 5 transition of the escalator from an inclined operation to a horizontal operation; and

fig. 6-9 are step gaps between tread and riser of adjacent steps at different relative positions of the adjacent steps.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a step framework 2 of a step 1 according to the invention. The step framework 2 is composed of a first cheek 3, at least one intermediate cheek 4, and a second cheek 5. The first and second cheeks 3, 5 are also referred to as side cheeks and are arranged mirror-symmetrically. The cheeks 3, 4, 5 are arranged in the direction of travel. For each cheek 3, 4, 5, a sheet metal blank is stamped out of the sheet metal strip, which is subsequently formed into the cheek by means of deep drawing. The carrier 6, the bridge 7 and the bracket 8 extend transversely to the direction of travel and connect the cheeks 3, 4, 5, wherein the components are connected without bolts, for example by means of spot welding. The cheeks 3, 4, 5, the bracket 6, the bridge 7 and the cantilever 8 form the step framework 2. The components (support 6, bridge 7 and cantilever 8) are produced cyclically by means of a rolling deformation process, for example at a production speed of 10 to 20 m/min, starting from a coil of sheet metal, and are cut according to the step width. The components (support 6, bridge 7 and suspension arm 8) are provided with a stainless steel or galvanized or brass plate having a thickness of 1.8 to 3.3 mm. Other component materials such as synthetic plastics or natural fibre materials or CFK or GFK or plastics are also possible.

A step roller 9 and an emergency guide hook 10 are provided on the first cheek plate 3. A step roller 11 and an emergency guide hook 12 are provided on the second cheek plate 5. The step rollers 9, 11 guide the steps 1 along the guide rails of the escalator. The emergency guide hooks 10, 12 bring the escalator into emergency guidance and force the steps 1 back onto the guide rails in the event of a failure of the step rollers 9, 11.

The steps 1 are connected to the step framework of the escalator by means of step shafts 13. The step shaft 13 is composed of a plurality of parts. A shaft pin 14 made of circular material is rotatably supported in a bushing 15 of the center cheek 4 serving as a slide bearing. A bushing 16 is provided on the first cheek 3 as a slide bearing, wherein a first drive shaft 17 (mitnehmerache) is rotatably mounted at one end in the bushing 16 and at the other end is connected to the pivot pin 14 of the middle cheek 4 by means of a connecting element 18. A sleeve 19 is provided on the second cheek 5, which sleeve serves as a slide bearing, wherein a second drive shaft 20 is rotatably mounted at one end in the sleeve 19 and is connected at the other end to the pin 14 of the middle cheek 4 by means of a connecting element 21.

The drive shafts 17, 20 are produced starting from a sheet metal coil by means of a rolling deformation method and are cut according to the step width. With the links 18, 21 released, the drive shafts 17, 20 are pushed by the pins of the step chain on each side of the step 1 and the links 18, 21 are tightened again, thereby connecting the step 1 with the step chain that carries the step 1.

The step axle 13 forms together with the chain pins a through-going axle from one chain wheel to the opposite chain wheel. The steps 1 are thus supported at one end by the sprocket and at the other end by the step rollers 9, 11.

Fig. 2 shows a bottom view of the complete step 1, wherein the step framework 2 is supplemented with tread plates 22, step edges 23 and riser plates 24. The tread 22 and/or the kick plate 24 may also be comprised of more than one component. For example, the integral step 22 or the integral kick plate 24 can be divided, viewed in the direction of travel and/or viewed transversely to the direction of travel. Both the step 22 and the kick plate 24 are manufactured in two steps. In a first step, the metal sheet drawn out of the metal sheet coil is oriented and approximately 50% of the slots are preformed or pre-grooved (vorgewell) by means of a toothed shaft and subsequently cut according to the draw-off (Auftritt). The component preformed in the second step is formed into a final rib/groove profile with ribs and grooves by means of deep drawing. The segments BO1 of the kick plate 24 are produced in one go in the same deep drawing process. The tread plate 22 and the riser plate 24 can also be deep drawn in one step, wherein 3 to 10 ribs and grooves are deep drawn, followed by a further movement of the deep drawn metal plate, then again 3 to 10 ribs and grooves are deep drawn, and so on. The metal sheet is deep-drawn in total, for example to a thickness of 0.25 to 1.25mm to a thickness of 10 to 15 mm. The rib/groove profile of the tread plate 22 has a small toothing 25 on each second rib on the carrier side, which meshes with the rib/groove profile of the skirt plate 24 of the adjacent step. Whereby the gap between the steps is convex and concave.

The step edge 23, which is produced, for example, from ceramic or natural fibers or plastic in the casting process or from aluminum in the die-casting process, is placed on the bridge 7 and screwed or riveted or glued or snapped or plugged to the bridge 7 from below. Other materials such as natural fiber materials, synthetic fiber materials, GFK, CFK or NIRO as well as other colors such as yellow, red, black, blue or mixed colors may also be used. The step edge 23 is designed such that both the tread plate 22 and the riser plate 24 can be pushed into the step edge 23.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the step 1 as seen on the two cheeks 5. The foot plate 22 is connected to the bracket 6 and the bridge 7 without bolts, for example by means of spot welding. The riser 24 is pushed into the step edge 23 and connected to the bracket 8 without bolts, for example by means of spot welding or snap-on. The arc segment BO1 of the kick plate 24 has a first radius R1 in the upper region and a second radius R2 in the lower region, wherein the second radius R2 is smaller than the first radius R1. The arc segment BO1 can also have more than two different radii. The arc segment BO1 of the kick plate 24 is on-lineFrom one radius to another. ThreadIs determined by the minimum escalator inclination angle, e.g. 27 deg.. At this angle of inclination, the step gap SP1 is as small and almost identical as possible as at slightly larger escalator angles of inclination, for example 30 ° or 35 °. By means of the two radii R1, R2, the step gap SP1 between the tread plate 22 and the riser plate 24 of adjacent steps is always equally small, irrespective of the position of the step gap SP1 shown in fig. 6 to 9. The step gap SP1 may be slightly larger or smaller depending on the escalator slope angle.

R1 is, for example, 447.5mm and its origin is the point marked with 0P 1. R2 is, for example, 380mm and has the point marked with 0P2 as the origin. The radius is suitable for links of 133.33mm in length or for chain sections of 133mm in length. When the chain section is 200mm, R1 is, for example, 426mm and R2 is, for example, 380 mm. When the chain section is 400mm, R1 is for example 410mm and R2 is for example 380 mm. The exact position of the origin 0P1, 0P2 is given. The radii R1, R2 are empirical values derived by experiment and design. Further explanations for this are illustrated by fig. 5.

It is also contemplated that stainless steel, aluminum, synthetic/natural fiber composites, GFK, CFK, ceramic, copper, brass, manganese/titanium plates, etc. may be used for the tread plate 22 and/or the kick plate 24, depending on the needs of the customer.

Fig. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of the tread plate 22 and the riser plate made of the deep-drawn plate 83 of adjacent steps in the gap region, wherein the spacing between the tread plate 22 and the riser plate 24 forms the step gap SP 1. The step 1 as in figure 2 also shows a three-dimensional view from below. The teeth of the tread 22, designated 25, engage with the rib/groove profile 80 of the riser 24. The rib/groove profile 80 of the kick plate 24 consists of ribs 82 and grooves 81, wherein each rib 82, viewed from below (arrow direction P2), forms a cavity 84, which can be provided with a filler for reinforcing the kick plate 24. Each tooth 25 reaches the slot 81 of the adjacent kick plate 24. The step gap SP1 between the tread plate 22 and the riser plate 24 thus has a convex and concave shape. The deep-drawn sheet 61 deformed by means of deep-drawing forms a rib/groove profile 66 with ribs 62 and grooves 63 extending in the direction of travel. The ribs 62 and the grooves 63 form the tread 22, wherein the ribs 62 form a tread for a user of the step 1 or escalator. Each rib 62 forms a cavity 64 as seen from below (arrow direction P2).

Fig. 5 shows the transition of the escalator from an inclined operation to a horizontal operation. Here, the visible step height, viewed in the direction of travel P3, becomes smaller and is 0mm in horizontal travel. The step gap SP1 constantly changes its position relative to the kick plate 24 of the step 1 and migrates from bottom to top as indicated by arrow P4. The step gap SP1 is always almost the same size regardless of whether the escalator forms a visible step 1 or whether the escalator forms a plane. The step gap SP1 is very narrow, for example 2.8mm, at an inclination of 30 ° or 35 °. The step formation or the plane formation is realized by a running rail 71 guiding the step rollers 9, 11 and a running rail 72 guiding the caterpillar 73. The transition arc of the running rails 71, 72 is marked BO2 and the radius of the transition arc BO2 is marked R3 and is at least 1000mm long.

By offsetting the step chain from the running rail 72, the step gap SP1 in the transition segment BO2 is slightly smaller, since the step chain forms a bow chord of the transition segment BO2 with links that are, for example, 133.33mm or 200mm long. The radii R1, R2 of the kick plate 24 equalize the shortening caused on the step gap SP 1. The step gap SP1 is minimal due to the geometry of the steps and the small radius R3 of the transition segment BO2, for example, 1000mm to 1500 mm. When the tread 22 is raised rapidly, the step chain describes a distinct sector and forms the largest bowstring. By means of the transition segment BO2, the step gap SP1 is largely dependent on the design of the kick plate 24 and is variable. In order to achieve the smallest possible step gap SP1, the kick plate must be made very tall by means of a larger radius R1 (e.g. 447.5 mm). The other chain portions employ radii of the size previously described.

Fig. 6 to 9 show the sections a2 to a5 of fig. 5 with the same step gap SP1 between the riser 24 and the tread plate 22 of the adjacent step. Fig. 6 shows the step gap SP1 at full step height. Fig. 7 shows the step gap SP1 in the transition region at about half the step height. Fig. 8 shows the step height at the minimum step height. Fig. 9 shows the step gap SP1 when there is no step height in parallel operation.

Claims (12)

1. A step (1) for an escalator, having a step framework (2) made of sheet metal parts as a support for at least one tread (22) and at least one riser (24), wherein the riser (24) has a rib-and-groove profile (80) made of deep-drawn sheet metal (83) with ribs (82) and grooves (81), each rib (82) having a cavity (84) as seen from the riser underside (P2), and the riser (24) extends in an arc-like manner, characterized in that the arc (BO1) of the riser (24) has at least two different radii (R1, R2), wherein the regions with different radii (R1, R2) transition flat to one another and the concave sides of the two regions point to the inside of the step.

2. The step of claim 1, wherein the arc (BO1) has a first radius (R1) in an upper region, i.e. in a region adjacent to the tread plate, and a second radius (R2) in a lower region of the arc, wherein the second radius (R2) is smaller than the first radius (R1).

3. The step of claim 2, wherein the first radius (R1) is 447.5mm and the second radius (R2) is 380 mm.

4. The step of claim 2, wherein the first radius (R1) is 426mm and the second radius (R2) is 380 mm.

5. The step of claim 2, wherein the first radius (R1) is 410mm and the second radius (R2) is 380 mm.

6. The step according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the step gap (SP1) which remains constant between the steps (1) is at most 2.8 mm.

7. The step according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the deep drawn metal sheet (83) comprises micro alloy admixtures and that the profile of the grooves (80) is deep drawn to 10-15mm at a thickness of the metal sheet of 0.25-1.25 mm.

8. The step of claim 7, wherein the microalloyed blend is niobium or titanium or manganese or a mixture thereof.

9. The step according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that deep drawn metal sheet (83)) Has an elastic limit of 380N/mm²To 520N/mm²In the range of 440N/mm, the fracture limit of the deep drawn metal sheet is²To 590N/mm²Within the range of (1).

10. The step according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the elastic limit of the deep drawn metal sheet (83) is located at 790N/mm²To 1020N/mm²In the range of (1), the fracture limit of the deep drawn metal sheet is 900N/mm²To 1100N/mm²Within the range of (1).

11. The step according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the thickness of the deep drawn metal sheet is 0.4 mm.

12. An escalator having at least one step according to any one of claims 1 to 11.