HK1114597B - People conveyor glass bastustrade lighting - Google Patents

Description

Glass railing of manned conveyor shines

The invention relates to a people conveyor with an endless people conveyor and an endless handrail, a glass balustrade arranged laterally of the conveyor and supporting the handrail, and a profile (profile) for engaging the glass balustrade and comprising an illumination cavity.

People carriers of this type are known, for example, from DE 4209505C 1 and WO02/20378A 1. In particular, the people conveyor may be an escalator or a moving walkway. Thus, the endless people conveyor may comprise a plurality of individual steps or pallets arranged one after the other so as to form an endless running conveyor. Alternatively, the endless elastic belt may form a conveyor belt. The handrail preferably moves with the endless people conveyor.

The illumination of the glass balustrade is advantageous for safety reasons as well as for aesthetic reasons. By "glass balustrade" in the context of the present application is meant a balustrade made of a transparent or translucent material which does not have to be glass. It is particularly advantageous to illuminate the conveyor belt and in particular the steps in the case of escalators. Currently, standard escalators have a tubular lighting device for illuminating the glass balustrade. However, the tubular lighting device requires considerable space and does not easily enable a slim attractive balustrade design, especially if it is desired to illuminate the glass balustrade from above, i.e. from below the handrail. The above-mentioned prior art document and similar US-A-6,129,442 suggest the use of A light guide for guiding light from A light source onto A profile at the top of the balustrade. Furthermore, these prior art documents suggest the use of transparent materials as profiles, especially if it is desired to illuminate the glass balustrade from a small periphery or upper front side, since separate illumination cavities are provided within the profiles in order to keep the light guide within the profiles. These two features, i.e. the transparent profile and the separate required illumination cavity, are not normally present in existing people conveyor installations, so that re-installation of the under handrail illumination for existing people conveyors is virtually impossible.

Furthermore, existing systems do not allow for separate switching of the portions or points along the glass balustrade to be illuminated, which is desirable in order to highlight information provided on the glass balustrade or for aesthetic reasons.

Another point is that such light guide systems require very strong illumination sources in order to provide sufficient light intensity along the entire glass balustrade. Such light sources are typically arranged within the upper or lower platform and consume a large amount of space, which may not be available in certain applications. Typically, they also consume a considerable amount of energy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a people conveyor of the type described above which has a high illumination intensity, requires a minimum amount of space for the light source, particularly in the area of the upper or lower platform, provides a durable and low energy consuming light source, and provides the option of separately switching the illumination portions or points along the glass balustrade.

This object is solved according to an embodiment of the invention by a people conveyor as described above, wherein a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) are arranged in the illumination cavity.

The LEDs are configured to direct light to the edge or peripheral face of the glass balustrade and/or into one or both side faces thereof. The LEDs are individual light sources that are separately switched and, because they are distributed along the length of the profile, it is possible to illuminate selected portions of the glass balustrade. The LEDs require only a very compact and convenient power source to be placed in the people conveyor. Furthermore, LEDs may have a high illumination intensity. The LEDs consume much less space than the light emitting tubes, making it possible to retrofit existing profiles with LED glass balustrade lighting. Due to the fact that the LEDs are arranged separately, it is easy to also illuminate the newel bow of the handrail. It is further possible to use LEDs of different colors or to be able to produce LEDs of different colors depending on how they are controlled. Thus, it is possible to produce different light and color effects for aesthetic and warning purposes. The very small voltage required to supply the LED is also another advantage of using LEDs. Even if, for any reason, the passenger comes into contact with the conductors supplying the LEDs, the voltage will not cause harm to them. Another advantage is that the power consumption of the LED is small and the heating of the LED is relatively small.

Preferably, the profile comprises a U-shaped channel and the illumination cavity is an extension of the U-shaped channel. Alternatively, the profile is made of a transparent or translucent material and the illumination cavity is provided separately from the U-shaped channel engaging the glass balustrade. However, if the illumination cavity is an extension of the U-shaped channel, such that the LEDs are in direct optical contact with the glass balustrade, the profile may be made of a material with good thermal conductivity, such as a metallic material, and preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Despite the fact that LEDs generate only a small amount of heat, they also generate heat that needs to be dissipated. The transparent profile as mentioned above is made of a resin material which is not usually a good thermal conductor. If LEDs are used in the illumination cavity of such a resin profile, and if no mechanism for dissipating heat energy is provided, the LEDs must be operated at high temperatures that may cause premature failure of the LEDs. The use of LEDs in combination with profiles made of materials with good thermal conductivity ensures good heat dissipation and reasonable operating temperatures of the LEDs.

Preferably, a potting material is used to mount the LEDs within the illumination cavity. In general, since this facilitates assembly of the people conveyor, it is an advantage of the potting material to securely position the LEDs in the illumination cavity. Furthermore, by using potting material, the LEDs are fixed in position so that their illumination direction is maintained. Preferably, the potting material is any type of plastic material. It may be a flexible material in the hardened state that allows easy mounting of the poured LED to the profile and facilitates flexing of the profile at e.g. the newel portion. For example, epoxy resins may be used.

It is possible to pour the LEDs into the potting material outside the light profile body and only thereafter assemble such a potted illumination strip into the body. In this case, a flexible potting material is particularly preferable. It is also possible to provide a support, such as a U-shaped channel made of metal, aluminum, plastic material or the like, supporting the LEDs and the potting material, together with which the illumination strip is formed. Such an illumination strip may be fitted into the light profile.

Preferably, the potting material is clear, transparent or translucent like glass or water. By using a transparent potting material it is possible to completely enclose the LEDs within the potting material. It is also preferred that the LEDs are not completely enclosed within the potting material but that only the illuminating side of the LEDs extend outside the potting material. In this case, the use of a transparent potting material is not required.

Preferably, the potting material has a good thermal conductivity. This potting material ensures that the heat generated by the LEDs is well dissipated to the profile material and away from the LEDs and the lighting cavity.

Preferably, the LEDs are electrically connected with the power source such that individual LEDs and/or groups of LEDs can be switched separately. A controller, such as a conventional microprocessor or the like, may be used to control such separate switches. It is also possible to produce not only static illumination but also moving or timely varying illumination. Thus, the moving illumination may show the transport direction of the people conveyor, for example by moving bars or arrows.

It is also possible to dim and/or change the color of all or some of the LEDs and have a dimming effect and/or a color change effect that changes or moves in time.

Preferably, a bus system is provided for separately switching the LEDs. The bus system may substantially reduce the wiring of the LEDs and thus reduce the space consumption within the profile.

Preferably, the U-shaped channel has a depth direction defined parallel to the side walls of the U-shaped channel in the direction of the opening to the bottom of the U-shape, wherein the illumination cavity is an extension of the U-shaped channel in the depth direction. With this profile shape, the LEDs can be placed and poured separately into the profile with their illuminated side opposite the peripheral front face of the glass balustrade. Furthermore, the manufacture of such a lighting is very simple, since the LEDs can easily be mounted in such an enlarged channel.

Preferably, the U-shaped channel has a depth direction defined parallel to the side walls of the U-shaped channel in the direction of the opening to the bottom of the U-shape, wherein the illumination cavity is an extension of the U-shaped channel within one of its side walls and perpendicular to the depth direction. This configuration places the illuminated side of the LED in a position opposite one lateral surface of the glass panel. It is possible to angle the LEDs and the illumination cavity with respect to the depth direction of the U-shaped channel and the plane of the glass balustrade, respectively, in order to let the LEDs radiate into the glass panel at an angle of between 0 ° and 90 °, preferably between 10 ° and 80 °, and more preferably between 30 ° and 60 °, with respect to the plane of the glass panel.

Preferably, an elastic interlayer is provided along the U-shaped channel side walls between the profile and the glass balustrade, and preferably such an interlayer is also provided between the walls of the illumination cavity and the LEDs. By using such a structure, the mounting of the LEDs into the lighting cavity and in particular the potting of the LEDs therein may be used to secure such a resilient sandwich into the profile. Translucent or transparent elastic interlayers are possible. Such an interlayer need not be provided between the wall of the lighting cavity and the LEDs, but may be provided between the LEDs and the glass balustrade.

Preferably, the profile is screwed to the glass profile by means of a plurality of screws. With existing arrangements, the profile is secured to the balustrade by a spring mechanism that is biased against the glass balustrade to secure the profile thereto. Spring mechanisms are not easy to manufacture and install. Typically, such spring mechanisms must be customized for the particular application, making the components relatively expensive. The screws are available from inventory and are relatively inexpensive compared to such spring mechanisms.

Preferably, the profile is attached to the top of the glass balustrade and forms a guide support for the handrail.

Preferably, the profile is attached to a base structure of the people conveyor and supports the glass balustrade. By using the profile according to the invention to support the glass balustrade and to support the handrail, the illumination of the glass balustrade can be provided from the top and from the bottom, so that a very high illumination intensity and the same intensity distribution are achieved on the glass balustrade.

Preferably, a mechanism for electrostatic grounding of the handrail is provided. The moving handrail is typically made of an elastomeric material that is subjected to its electrostatic charging (charging). As a result, very high voltages are generated which can damage the LEDs. To ensure an extended lifetime of the LED, electrostatic grounding is preferred together with LED illumination.

Preferably, at least a portion of the LEDs are supported on a common printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is preferably flexible. In particular, the LEDs may be surface mounted to a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may comprise conductors for feeding the LEDs. It further comprises data lines, for example a data bus of a bus system, and may further comprise logic elements for individual LEDs or groups of individual LEDs together with the bus.

Preferably, the profile of the people conveyor is formed by a plurality of profile segments which engage each other in the longitudinal direction of the profile and preferably have electrical connectors arranged at the longitudinal ends of the profile segments in order to electrically connect the profile segments to each other. Preferably, the LEDs of one profile section are mounted on a common printed circuit board.

Preferably, the profile and the profile section each comprise fins or ribs to increase heat dissipation. Such fins or ribs may be provided on the outside, i.e. the side facing the outside, of the profile. They may also be provided in the illumination channel in order to increase the heat dissipation from the LED into the profile material. Even if a thermally conductive potting material is used, such internal fins or ribs may be provided to improve the heat transfer from the potting material to the profile material.

In one embodiment the invention also relates to a profile section for an escalator according to the invention, comprising a U-shaped channel for engaging a glass balustrade and an illumination cavity, preferably an extension of the U-shaped channel, in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged. It is to be mentioned that generally all features described above for the people conveyor and also relating to the profile apply to the profile section.

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a people conveyor with glass balustrade illumination according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a handrail supporting the people conveyor in an inclined area of the people conveyor and a profile of a part of the glass balustrade; and

fig. 3 shows the cross-sectional view of fig. 2 of a profile-like shape in the bow of a center pillar of the people conveyor.

Fig. 1 shows a people conveyor 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. In particular the people conveyor 2 of fig. 1 is an escalator, but the invention can also be implemented by a moving walkway or the like. The people conveyor 2 has an endless people conveyor 4 consisting of a number of steps arranged one after the other. People conveyor 2 further comprises an endless handrail 6 which moves parallel to people conveyor 4. The glass balustrade 8 is arranged laterally to the conveyor 4 and supports the handrail 6. In particular, the handrail 6 is supported by a profile 10 mounted on top of the glass balustrade. Similar to the profile 10, there is another profile 12 which is supported by the base structure 14 of the people conveyor 2 and supports the glass balustrade.

As discussed in detail below, the glass balustrade 8 is illuminated by an illumination arrangement provided within the profile 10 and/or the profile 12. The glass balustrade 8 is constructed in such a way that light is scattered out of the volume of the glass balustrade 8 in order to illuminate the conveyor belt 4 or to display information or for decorative purposes. It is possible to have such a structure only in a specific area, for example in the form of an image or text to be displayed. It is also possible to have such a structure on the entire side or both sides of the glass balustrade 8. The structure may be made by various techniques, such as shot blasting techniques like grid blasting or sand blasting. It is also possible to print such a structure on a surface. At present, screen printing and especially screen printing of ceramic materials is most preferred.

As can be seen in fig. 1, the handrail follows a circular path through the inclined region 16, the transition region 18, the newel region 20 where the handrail is guided around a newel arch 22 and then passes through a return path 24. In the return path, the handrail drive 26 is configured. A power source 28 for providing power for illuminating the glass balustrade 8 is positioned in a space 30 below the upper platform or in any other location in the people conveyor 2 or even outside thereof.

The profile 10 supporting the handrail 6 and the profile 12 supporting the balustrade 8 are formed by a plurality of profile sections 32 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the profile 10.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the handrail arrangement 34 at any location of the handrail arrangement other than the newel area 20 and the return path 24. As can be seen in fig. 2, the handrail arrangement 34 comprises a handrail 6, which is made of an elastic rubber material as is conventional, a sliding guide 36 supported by the profile 10. The profile 10 has a U-shaped channel 38 comprising sidewalls 40. In the representation of fig. 2, the U-shape of the U-shaped channel 38 is open downwards and has a bottom 42.

It is to be mentioned that the profile 12 also comprises a U-shaped channel and is similar in some respects to the profile 10. The profile 12 does not have to have any mechanism for guiding the handrail 6. The profiles 10 and 12 are preferably made of a material with good thermal conductivity, such as metal or the like. Preferably, the profiles 10, 12 are extruded aluminum or aluminum alloy profiles. An illumination cavity 44 is provided within the extension of the U-shaped profile 38. A plurality of LEDs 45 are disposed within the illumination cavity 44. The LED is preferably an LED sold under the name LBE67C POWER TOPLED or LT E67C by the company German of Osram. Potting material 43 is used to mount LED 45 within the illumination cavity. An elastic interlayer 46 is provided between the profile 10 and the glass balustrade 8. As can be seen in fig. 2, the resilient interlayer 46 is provided along the side walls 40 of the U-shaped channel 38, and also along the walls of the illumination cavity. In order to provide a good thermal contact between the LEDs and the profile 10, and in particular between the potting material and the profile 10, it is possible to provide openings in the resilient interlayer 46 at least in the area of the illumination cavity, in order to ensure that any heat formed by the LEDs etc. is dissipated through the interlayer 44 and into the profile 10.

Another option for reducing the temperature generated by illumination in the light emitting profile is that a conductor with a relatively large cross-sectional area is used to power the individual LEDs 45. Lapp can type wiring oelfiid 191, 3G 1, 5mm/16AWG has been found suitable. A power supply may be provided to power the LEDs 45 and for controlling the illumination color, intensity, etc. of the LEDs 45. If it is desired to control multiple steps, for example in line with a building, one power supply may be configured as the main controller. The main controller or other power supply may control the color statically or dynamically by preset values or a PC program.

In the representation of fig. 2, the light generated by the LEDs is directed through the edge or peripheral front surface 48 of the balustrade 8 into the volume of the balustrade 8.

A typical width of the glass balustrade is 10 mm. Preferably, the illumination strip formed by the LEDs has substantially the same width as the glass balustrade.

The profile 10 is fixed to the glass balustrade 8 by means of screws 50, and preferably by means of self-cutting headless screws 50. The screw opening may be covered by a cover 52.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to fig. 2 but taken in the area of the newel bow 22. To reduce friction between handrail 6 and newel bow 22, rollers 54 are journalled (jounaled) within profile 10. In particular, such rollers may be made of a metallic material, such as copper, and it is also possible to ground such rollers in order to avoid electrostatic charging of the handrail 6. A roller bearing 56 is schematically shown within the envelope of the roller 54.

The LEDs 45 are preferably mounted to a flexible printed circuit board 57 that extends along the length of the illumination cavity 44. A data bus may be provided on the printed circuit board 57 or separately, in addition to conductors for supplying power to the LEDs 45. The data bus is connected with individual LEDs 45 and/or groups of LEDs 45 in order to illuminate these individual LEDs 45 or groups of LEDs 45 separately. For this purpose, a data decoder is provided for each individual LED 45 or for each group of LEDs 45. The data decoder is integrally formed on the printed circuit board or may be integrally formed with the LED 45, but may also be surface mounted to the printed circuit board or separately connected to the data bus and the LED 45. In association with the data decoder, a switching mechanism may be provided to switch the power of the corresponding LED 45 or group of LEDs 45 if the information on the data bus requires its illumination. Any other circuit or conductor configuration may be used to turn the LEDs 45 on and off individually or in groups.

By using individual or group controls of the LEDs 45, it is possible to have local illumination on the glass balustrade 8 or illumination that moves along the glass balustrade 8 (e.g. in line with passengers standing on the conveyor 4).

Claims (13)

1. People conveyor (2) with an endless people conveyor (4) and an endless handrail (6), a glass balustrade (8) arranged laterally to the conveyor (4) and supporting the handrail (6), and a profile (10, 12) for engaging the glass balustrade (8) and comprising an illumination cavity (44), wherein a plurality of LEDs (45) are arranged in the illumination cavity (44);

the profile (10, 12) comprises a U-shaped channel (38) for engaging the glass balustrade (8) and the illumination cavity (44) is an extension of the U-shaped channel (38);

-a potting material (43) for mounting the LED (45) in the illumination cavity (44), and the potting material (43) having a good thermal conductivity;

the U-shaped channel (38) has a depth direction defined parallel to side walls (40) of the U-shaped channel (38) in a direction from an opening to a bottom (42) of the U-shape, and wherein the illumination cavity (44) is an extension of the U-shaped channel (38) within one of the side walls (40) thereof and perpendicular to the depth direction.

2. The people conveyor (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: the LED (45) is configured to project light through an edge (48) of the glass balustrade (8).

3. The people conveyor (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: the potting material (43) is transparent.

4. People conveyor (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the LEDs (45) are electrically connected to the power source (28) such that individual LEDs and/or groups of LEDs can be separately switched.

5. The people conveyor (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that: a bus system is provided for separately switching the LEDs (45).

6. People conveyor (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the U-shaped channel has a depth direction defined parallel to the side walls (40) of the U-shaped channel (38) in a direction from the opening to the bottom (42) of the U-shape, and wherein the illumination cavity (44) is an extension of the U-shaped channel in the depth direction.

7. People conveyor (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: an elastic interlayer (46) is provided between the profile (10, 12) and the glass balustrade (8) along the side wall (40) of the U-shaped channel (38), and wherein this interlayer (46) is also provided between the wall of the illumination cavity (44) and the LEDs.

8. People conveyor (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the profile (10) is screwed to the glass balustrade (8) by means of a plurality of screws (50).

9. People conveyor (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the profile (10) is attached to the top of the glass balustrade (8) and forms a guiding support for the handrail (6).

10. People conveyor (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the profile (12) is attached to a base structure (14) of the people conveyor (2) and supports the glass balustrade (8).

11. The people conveyor (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that: a mechanism (54) for electrostatically grounding the handrail (6) is provided.

12. People conveyor (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: a portion of the LEDs is supported on a common printed circuit board.

13. People conveyor (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the profiles (10, 12) are formed by a plurality of profile segments (32) adjoining each other in the longitudinal direction of the profiles (10, 12), and wherein electrical connectors are provided at longitudinal ends of the profile segments (32) in order to electrically connect the profile segments (32) to each other.