Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor or accessory therefor specialized to convey people – By stairway having steps forming an endless member
Patent
1992-07-28
1994-03-22
Gastineau, Cheryl L.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor or accessory therefor specialized to convey people
By stairway having steps forming an endless member
B66B 2312
Patent
active
052955699
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an escalator device capable of loading a wheelchair, a long object or the like, and in particular, to an escalator device characterized by a simple structure and easy operation.
BACKGROUND ART
Various inventions have been made concerning escalator devices for loading a wheelchair or long objects. According to such inventions, however, a level tread is formed with two identical step treads, which are joined to each other using a means such as a fork, jack, screw or the like. Further, when there is enough space to load the wheelchair or the like, a method characterized by inclining a third step tread is adopted. Except in the case of a fixed coupling method, according to a method in which a step tread can be kept in the same state as that of a common step which travels under a normal condition, the structure and operation thereof are complicated and expensive. In addition, according to the fixed coupling method, the structure can be made simple, but travelling under the normal condition is not so comfortable. Besides, the radius of rotation becomes large at the rotating portion. As a result, there is such a disadvantage that the size of the device increases.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a escalator device, which travels in the same state as that of a usual steps when travelling for ordinary purpose and forms step having a level tread for loading the wheelchair or the like on the three steps adjacent to each other when loading the wheelchair, long object or the like on the escalator device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an escalator device, which is capable of loading the wheelchair or the like without inviting complication of structure and increase in the size.
In order to achieve the objects mentioned above, the escalator device according to the present invention comprises a set of three serial steps consisting of an intermediate step, a front step and a rear step, of which each of the front step and the rear step is divided into a fixed step and a floating step; a first coupling means for coupling the intermediate step to each of the floating steps; a second coupling means for coupling the floating steps and the corresponding fixed steps; and a means for associating the first coupling means and the second coupling means with each other, wherein the second coupling means functions as a changing means for releasing the coupling of the respective floating steps and the corresponding fixed steps when the intermediate step is coupled with the respective floating steps by the first coupling means.
Preferably, the first coupling means includes reciprocating supporting members for coupling the intermediate step and each of the floating steps, which can be extended in front and rear directions and horizontal or upward inclined directions from the intermediate step but also can be inserted in each of the front and rear floating steps, whereas the second coupling means includes transverse direction supporting members which can be inserted in each of fixed steps corresponding to each of the floating steps.
Preferably, the changing means includes a pinion arranged in the intermediate step, a rack positioned for being movable to a position for engaging with the pinion on a floor where steps of the escalator device become level, a crank mechanism for moving the reciprocating supporting members by a rotation of the pinion, a mechanism for starting and stopping the rotation of a crankshaft by a rotational angle of 180.degree. in association with engagement of the rack and pinion, and a pinion and rack mechanism for moving the transverse supporting members in association with movement of the reciprocating supporting members.
More preferably, a car stop mechanism for preventing the wheelchair or the like from falling is provided in the steps for loading the wheelchair or the like, having the level tread formed by coupling the intermediate step and the front and rear floating steps. The car stop mech
REFERENCES:
patent: 4557369 (1985-12-01), Ishida et al.
patent: 4569433 (1986-02-01), Ishida et al.
patent: 4681207 (1987-07-01), Goto et al.
patent: 5024314 (1991-06-01), Kitamura et al.
patent: 5062519 (1991-11-01), Haruta
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 14, No. 152, (M-0953), Mar. 23, 1990.
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