Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha

Masaru Asano

Matsuhiko Ishida

Shigeru Goto

Takeshi Sakurai

Shosaku Inoue

Teruo Kamioka

An escalator comprising four kinds of steps is disclosed. The first steps are ordinary steps, and the second step is disposed between the first steps and has a retractable support device for supporting a vertically movable step of the third step. The movable step supported by the support device lifts from the third step as the steps ascend to provide a deeper effective tread together with the tread of the second step. The fourth step includes a drop-down step which can be moved into a sloped position which also provides a space for safely accommodating a wheelchair or the like on the deep effective tread thus provided by the second, third, and fourth steps.

Escalator

A moving staircase is disclosed wherein along the circulating path of a number of conventional tread boards thereof which are articulated together in an endless fashion at least one pair of specifically constituted tread boards are disposed between any two conventional tread boards so as to be articulated thereto. The specifically constituted tread boards each have substantially the same configuration as that of the conventional tread board and are articulated one behind the other in the circulating direction of the conventional tread boards. The rear one is provided with a movable footboard so as to be moved up and down relative thereto, the movable footboard being adapted to be normally locked to the rear one of the specifically constituted tread boards by a lock means provided therein. When required, the movable footboard is made free to move by the release of the lock means and is supported by the front one of the specifically constituted tread boards through forks or bars which are provided in the front one so as not to normally interfere with the movement of the rear one. When the lock means of the rear one is released, the forks or bars are simultaneously protruded toward the rear one to support its footboard, and the footboard is moved together with the front one of the specifically constituted tread boards with their upper surfaces being flush with each other.

Moving staircase

The disclosed safety devices are disposed at either of the edges of each stair of an escalator. Each device includes a sensor dovetailed to a bracket for the individual stair treads and risers to abut against and be horizontally aligned with a displacement element screwed to the bracket. The sensor of each device projects beyond a corresponding riser. If a passenger's calf or the like contacts the sensor, the latter retrogrades to displace the abutting end portion of the displacement element toward the adjacent skirt plate of the escalator to narrow a space formed between the displacement element and the skirt plate. The sensor may be disposed in a vertically aligned, abutting relationship upon the displacement element to somewhat project beyond the cleats on a tread.

Growing community of inventors

Inazawa, Japan

Masaru Asano