Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor or accessory therefor specialized to convey people – By stairway having steps forming an endless member
Patent
1996-04-08
1998-07-28
Bidwell, James R.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor or accessory therefor specialized to convey people
By stairway having steps forming an endless member
198326, B65G 2302
Patent
active
057851662
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a drive system for the steps and carriage pallets of escalators and moving sidewalks, comprising respectively a conveyor chain arranged beside the steps or carriage pallets, with the conveyor chain including a plurality of link pins of different axial lengths cooperating with bushes, wherein the link pins which are axially longer and respectively fitted with a running roller are provided in the region of the steps or carriage pallets and are connected with these, if desired, via further components, further including a plurality of plates cooperating also by way of running rollers, if desired, with the axially shorter link pins and bushes, which plates are connected in a manner fixed against relative rotation as inner plates to the bushes and as outer plates to the link pins, wherein sealing elements are provided in the region of both faces of the bushes.
EP-A 94 110 relates to a conveyor chain, particularly for moving staircases or people movers, which includes link pins having at least one lubricating surface, with the link pins supporting two outer plates and bushes arranged in-between the outer plates, wherein a running wheel is arranged on each of the bushes and one inner plate each on both sides of the running wheel. On both sides of the lubricating surfaces and within the bushes, a circumferential groove provided with a sealing ring is arranged on each link pin and respectively one sealing washer is arranged between the bush ends and the oppositely disposed outer plate. The sealing ring is embodied as rubber O-ring, while the sealing washer is comprised of a wear-free material. The lubricating surface of the link pins has at least one hole which is perpendicular to the lubricating surface and arranged in the axis of the link pin. By way of this prior art, a conveyor chain is to be formed which is suitable for use in a humid atmosphere and where soiling occurs and which does not require relubrication for the joints. But since here a bush chain of conventional design is employed and relubrication facilities also are and must be provided, this can merely be referred to as a less maintenance-intensive conveyor chain, especially since only measures were taken which are designed to limit the unavoidable leakage of lubricant to the outside and to reduce the passage of dirt from the outside to the inside. With regard to the still constant friction between the seals and the corresponding components, it cannot be excluded that, over the service life of the conveyor chain, wear will lead to a further undesirable lubricant leakage, which ultimately will again lead to undesirable soiling of not only the chain but also of the other components of the escalators or moving sidewalks. A further drawback that must be mentioned is that the use of conventional steel components for the link pins and the bushes surrounding them generates considerable running noise which becomes particularly noticeable if the chain is insufficiently lubricated.
It is the object of the invention to modify a drive system as it is described in the generic part of the first patent claim in the sense that the individual components of the drive system are configured to be maintenance-free to the greatest possible extent, thus increasing the safety of escalators and moving sidewalks while simultaneously reducing the noise pollution.
This object is accomplished by the combination of the following features: are electroplated, which is formed of a thin-walled plastic bush of homogeneous design and is comprised of thermoplastic materials.
Advantageous modifications of the subject matter of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims.
A maintenance-free drive system is formed which complies with environmental demands and simultaneously contributes to a considerable noise reduction by using the listed mating of materials, namely for the link pins with a nickel coating applied without external current with embedded solid lubricants, if desired, made of PTFE, graphite or the like, in combination with a bush which is also
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Hauser Henrik
Hoefling Peter
Wilke Hermann
Bidwell James R.
Ketten Wulf GmbH Gelenkketten- Und Kettenraderfabrik of Eslohe-K
O&K Rolltreppen GmbH of Hattingen
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