Melvin Simon & Associates, Inc.

C Christopher Brandt, Ii

Raymond J Cipra

Geoffrey S Fillingsness

A single endless series of steps for up and down flights has inboard end spacing control links, each operated by a gear arrangement at transitions between curved and straight paths of step travel. Steps are molded plastic cores with top mounted tread caps, both the cores and caps being of colors as desired, and with light transmission characteristics from opaque to transparent, as desired. Inter-engaging edges on treads and risers are of curved shape facilitating the transition from straight to curved runs of steps. Break-away stripper comb fingers at landings terminate escalator operation when an object becomes jammed between a step and a finger and breaks a finger. Spring-loaded skirt guards at the sides of steps, and step spacing monitors, include wear indicators. The ascending and descending flights of steps are supported by structural tubes extending between floors, with no other support for the flights. Stabilizer legs, rollers and tracks under the steps maintain the horizontal attitude of the steps. Escalator drive is by belt and rack through the links in one embodiment, and by individual motor-gear sets in the steps driving on stationary curved racks in the other embodiment.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

C Christopher Brandt, Ii