Otis Elevator Company

Martin Mehlert

Willy Adrian

Hermann W Ahls

Michael Kruse

Oliver Stoxen

Dietmar Kruger

Hans-Jurgen Langer

Hans Erich Engel

Reiner Wallbaum

Jan G Harbers

Dietmar Berkhan

Wolfgang Michalik

A monitoring device for a handrail of a passenger conveyor includes a plurality of electrical conductors extending through the handrail, a device for inducing a current within the conductors, and a device for monitoring the induced current. In a particular embodiment, tension carriers within the handrail are electrically spliced together to form the electrical conductors. The level of current detected within the handrail is compared to an acceptable range and, if the monitored level is not acceptable, the passage conveyor is stopped.

Handrail monitoring system

In a drive sprocket of a passenger conveyer, such as an escalator, having a step chain, the sprocket is provided with an overlay attached to the side of the drive sprocket. The overlay cushions the chain as it engages the drive sprocket teeth to thereby minimize the noise generated by the engagement of the drive sprocket and the step chain. In a particular embodiment, a drive sprocket further includes a plate that provides lateral support of the overlay during engagement with the step chain.

Noise reduced step chain sprocket

An information display and control device for a passenger conveyor includes a housing and a post. The device is separate from the passenger conveyor and is positioned at a desirable location that is viewable by passengers approaching the passenger conveyor. The housing is mounted on the post at a predetermined height to avoid inadvertent tampering with the components of the housing. In one particular embodiment, the components of the housing include a traffic light, a control panel and an emergency switch.

Information display and control device for a passenger conveyor

The emergency brake for a passenger conveyor such as an escalator or moving walkway is provided with a brake force adjustment assembly which will supply a braking force that is proportional to the passenger load imposed on the main drive motor of the conveyor at any point in time. Thus, if the conveyor is lightly or heavily loaded with passengers, the emergency brake force will be automatically proportionally decreased or increased so that, in the event of an emergency stop condition, the braking force applied to the drive sprocket axle will be sufficient to stop movement of the conveyor within the predetermined time period that is preprogrammed into the conveyor controller.

Assembly and method for adjusting brake force for passenger conveyor

An apparatus for supporting the step chain of an escalator having a frame with a first and a second landing, an inclined section attached therebetween, and roller tracks fixed thereto, is provided and includes a pair of arcuated ramps for supporting the step chain in a transition area between either of the landings and the inclined section, inboard of the roller tracks, each of the ramps is made of a first bushing, a second bushing, and an elastomeric center section attached to the bushings.

Escalator step chain support apparatus

An escalator is provided with a caliper disc brake for stopping movement of the steps in cases of emergency. The disc is mounted on the main drive sprocket shaft, and the caliper is normally held away from the disc. When power is removed from the drive, the caliper is set on the disc to stop further movement of the steps. The braking torque of the brake assembly is adjustable to allow use of one basic assembly with escalators having different rises. The adjustment is accomplished by moving the center of gravity of the brake pads toward or away from the pivot axis of the brake lever. The brake can also be finely tuned at installation to provide an optimum stopping distance and time so that a too abrupt stop is avoided.

Escalator caliper brake assembly with adjustable braking torque

A safety brake for stopping an escalator in the event of a malfunction or the like, includes a locking pawl to prevent disengagement of the brake until the latter is intentionally released. Over the locking pawl reach a reinforcement of the brake. The brake is released by energizing a solenoid which displaces the locking pawl to an inoperative position. Once the locking pawl is disabled, the brake shoes are released from engagement with the escalator drive shaft brake disk. Locking and release of the brake shoes are initiated by springs and solenoid.

Safety brake for escalators

A guide for supporting a moving handrail or an escalator or moving walk is formed from a sheet of rolled spring steel or the like. The guide fits onto the top edge of a glass balustrade on the escalator or walk. The guide is secured to the glass balustrade solely by means of a spring clamping action which results from stressing the guide when it is forced down over the glass. The guide is formed with opposed planar clamping surfaces which flank the glass balustrade and are biased inwardly thereagainst by outer radiused edges of the guide which are stressed when the guide is pressed onto the glass. The radiused edges, when stressed, act as hairpin or torsion springs to force the clamp surfaces toward the glass. A gasket of paper or plastic is mounted directly on the glass for engagement by the clamping surfaces to provide increased protection for the glass.

Guide for moving handrail

The balustrade decking profile (14), or handrail guide, for an escalator clips, or 'self-fastens' to the top edge of a glass balustrade (10), and presents a minimal yet sufficient sliding area to the handrail (12). This is accomplished by folding or molding a single rigid strip of material (20) as disclosed herein. The profile (14) itself and a method of forming it are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Nienstaedt, Germany

Martin Mehlert