Otis Elevator Company

Alfons Von Herz

Hermann W Ahls

Helmut J Meyer

Dirk Winkelhake

Movement of the handrail on an escalator or moving walkway passenger conveyor is smoothed out by providing a totally elastomeric coupling between the conveyor step chain and the handrail drive mechanism. The handrail drive mechanism is a friction drive roller, or belt, which is driven by being connected to the step chain. The connection between the step chain and the handrail drive is provided by an elastomeric member which engages both a step chain-driven sprocket and the handrail drive mechanism. The elastomeric connection damps out jerks which are created by the chordal nature of the step chain and the main motor drive chain as the chains pass around chain return sprockets. The elastomeric connection therefore smooths out movement of the handrail.

Reduction of handrail vibration in passenger conveyors

A direct drive wheel to handrail contact drive assembly utilizes a pair of drive rollers which contact the handrail directly. The drive rollers are powered by a single drive shaft. A pair of pressure rollers oppose the drive rollers so as to press the handrail against the drive rollers. The pressure rollers are spring biased against the handrail. The drive assembly is used to drive the handrail of an escalator or moving walkway.

Linear wheel escalator handrail drive

A step chain is provided for a person conveying device having a first strand, a second strand, a plurality of connecting axles and an attachment apparatus for detachably attaching the connecting axles to the first and second strands.

Growing community of inventors

Stadthagen, Germany

Alfons Von Herz