EP4438542A1 - Dispositif de freinage pour un système d'escalier roulant - Google Patents

Dispositif de freinage pour un système d'escalier roulant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4438542A1
EP4438542A1 EP23382317.8A EP23382317A EP4438542A1 EP 4438542 A1 EP4438542 A1 EP 4438542A1 EP 23382317 A EP23382317 A EP 23382317A EP 4438542 A1 EP4438542 A1 EP 4438542A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
escalator
breaking
drive
actuator
drive shaft
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23382317.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Aurelio Castano Lantero
Alberto Pello Garcia
Jose Ojeda Arenas
Abdon Muniz Camblor
Carlos GARCIA FERNANDEZ
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TK Escalator Norte SA
Original Assignee
TK Escalator Norte SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TK Escalator Norte SA filed Critical TK Escalator Norte SA
Priority to EP23382317.8A priority Critical patent/EP4438542A1/fr
Publication of EP4438542A1 publication Critical patent/EP4438542A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B29/00—Safety devices of escalators or moving walkways

Definitions

  • the present disclosure generally relates to escalator systems having a number of escalator steps being moveable along an escalator path. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a breaking device for breaking the escalator steps, in particular in an emergency situation. The invention is further directed to the escalator drive and the entire escalator system.
  • Escalators for transporting people and goods are an integral part of modern residential and commercial buildings.
  • a typical escalator system includes a path which is usually formed by a frame and along which escalator steps can move. The steps may therefore be connected to travel rails or at least to each other and be deflected by two shafts at the ends of the path. At least one of the shafts may be a drive shaft or may be connected to a drive shaft.
  • An escalator may have a path running horizontal and vertical or may also run only horizontal to form a moving walk, which may be included within the term escalator.
  • breaking devices In escalator systems, two types of breaking devices are common located at the escalator drive. On the one hand, a breaking device for stopping or breaking the escalator system during normal operation, e.g. when the escalator is stopped for changing operation direction. On the other hand, auxiliary breaking devices are common, which hold fast the escalator steps in case of an emergency, e.g. breakage of a drive chain connecting the drive unit to a chain rim on the drive shaft, which would lead to an uncontrolled acceleration of the steps due to gravity.
  • auxiliary breaking devices comprise means being connected to the drive shaft and means to engage with these means.
  • a ratchet wheel is connected to the drive shaft and a pawl is configured to engage with the ratchet wheel, holding fast the escalator steps in one rotational direction associated to gravity direction while allowing rotation in the other rotational direction.
  • actuation is usually generated mechanically due to a certain type of failure, e.g. upon breakage of the drive chain.
  • This kind of actuation does not lead to actuation of the auxiliary breaking device due to different types of failure.
  • actuation when a connection between a drive device and a gearbox fails, this may lead to free-wheeling of the drive shaft although the drive chain is intact and therefore does not actuate the auxiliary breaking device.
  • a braking device for escalator steps of an escalator system comprising a first breaking element configured to be in connection with a drive shaft of the escalator system, a second breaking element configured to engage with the first breaking element for breaking the escalator steps and a first actuating system for moving the second breaking element between a disengaged state and an engaged state
  • the first actuating system comprises: at least one sensor for detecting the rotational speed of the drive shaft of the escalator system, a first actuator for actuating the second breaking element and a control unit which is configured to activate the first actuator in case of a certain rotational speed of the drive shaft being detected by the at least one sensor.
  • first component As far as elements are designated with the aid of numbering, for example "first component”, “second component” and “third component”, this numbering is provided purely for differentiation in the designation and does not represent any dependence of the elements on one another or a compulsory sequence of the elements.
  • the device can also comprise a "first element” and a “third element” without necessarily having a "second element”.
  • the first breaking element is preferably fitted to the drive shaft in a torsionally rigid manner, e.g. due to form fit or frictional contact.
  • the first breaking element may alternatively be formed as an integral part of the drive shaft, e.g. as a shoulder of the drive shaft.
  • the second breaking element is preferably mounted next to the first breaking element, e.g. on a part of a housing or another stationary element of the escalator system and is moveable between a disengaged state and an engaged state, e.g. by being pivotably or linearly displaceable.
  • the first breaking element in the engaged state, the first breaking element is hold fast to the stationary element of the escalator system via the second breaking element.
  • a form fit is provided between the two breaking elements.
  • the at least one sensor may be a sensor, which detects the rotational speed of the drive shaft exclusively for the first actuating system, which is particularly advantageous in a case, where the breaking device is retrofitted to an existing escalator system.
  • the sensor may however also be a sensor of the escalator system, wherein the rotational speed information is used for further operation of the escalator system as well, e.g. via an escalator control unit.
  • the control unit of the first actuating system may be a control unit exclusively for controlling the first actuator or the control unit may be an escalator control unit, which also controls further operation of the escalator system.
  • the described breaking device has the advantage, that it is actuated upon free-wheeling of the drive shaft no matter what the reason for the free-wheeling is, that is no matter of the actual failure that occurs. While the breakage of a drive chain is safely detected by the breaking device, also a disconnection between a drive unit and a gearbox or other failures can safely be detected. In particular, any difference between the rotational speed of the drive shaft and a rotational speed of a drive unit indicating any kind of failure, e.g. a disconnection between the drive unit and the drive shaft, may be detected. As the breaking device is further designed electromechanically, the actuation system may be of a simple and failsafe design.
  • the breaking device can be provided to existing escalator system via retrofitting to increase the safety of the operation of the existing system, in particular, if the system is built to an outdated standard.
  • the rotational speed, upon which the first actuator is activated may considered in relation to the rotational speed of a drive unit.
  • the first actuator is then activated upon a certain difference between the rotational speed of the drive shaft and the rotational speed of the drive unit.
  • the rotational speed, upon which the first actuator is activated is an absolute rotational speed, above which the escalator is considered to be overspeeding. This speed may also be called critical velocity.
  • the critical velocity is defined due to regulations of what speed of the escalator steps a passenger may tolerate.
  • the first actuator comprises at least one solenoid for actuating the second breaking element, when electric current is passed through the solenoid.
  • the first actuator comprises at least one spring to keep the solenoid in an unactuated state, when no electric current is passed through the solenoid.
  • the solenoid is thus associated to the disengaged state of the second breaking element in a currentless state and is therefore particularly energy-saving.
  • a spring may advantageously be designed to provide a sufficient holding force, to keep the actuator unactuated when no electric current is passed through the solenoid, while the force of the spring may also easily be exceeded by the force provided by the solenoid.
  • the control unit is configured to provide electric current passing through the solenoid for activating the first actuator to provide a simple, safe and low-cost actuating system.
  • the at least one sensor is an inductive sensor.
  • inductive sensors can safely and reliable detect the speed of an element associated with the drive shaft and are of low cost.
  • at least two sensors, in particular two inductive sensors, are provided within the first actuating system for redundancy.
  • the at least one sensor is configured to detect the movement of teeth of a chain rim attached to the drive shaft of the escalator system.
  • an inductive sensor this may simply be done by locating the sensors close to the outer circumference of the chain rim, while being oriented in a radial direction of the chain rim. The teeth then pass along the sensor alternately with the interspaced between the teeth, wherein periodic signals are detected by the inductive sensor.
  • the first breaking element is a ratchet wheel configured to be mounted on the drive shaft
  • the second breaking element is a pawl configured to engage with the ratchet wheel, in particular a pivotable pawl.
  • a ratchet wheel is preferably formed as a ring having an inner surface, e.g. a circular or non-circular inner surface, for abutting with an outer surface of the drive shaft and an outer surface with ratchet teeth along the circumferential direction for interaction with the pawl.
  • a pawl preferably is a moveable lever and most preferably spring-loaded, wherein the spring force is directed to an engaged state of the pawl at the ratchet wheel.
  • the ratchet wheel teeth preferably have a first surface on one side being steep, which interacts with a first surface of the pawl and cannot pass the pawl, so that the ratchet wheel is locked in a corresponding first rotational direction.
  • the ratchet wheel teeth preferably further have a less steep second surface which, when moved against the pawl, is able to displace the pawl against the spring-load and ultimately pass the pawl, so that the tension wheel is unlocked in a corresponding second rotational direction. Due to this arrangement, an escalator steps may be hold in the direction, gravity acts on it and/or on a passenger standing on the steps.
  • the pawl is preferably configured to be attached to any stationary element around the drive shaft, e.g. a housing, rack or frame, against which it holds the ratchet wheel. According to the before said, the ratchet wheel in the engaged state of the pawl may be locked in a first rotational direction and unlocked in a second rotational direction.
  • the breaking device comprises a second actuating system for moving the second breaking element between the disengaged state and the engaged state
  • the second actuating system comprises: a second actuator for actuating the second breaking element, wherein the second actuator is configured to be mechanically activated by a drive chain of the escalator system upon breakage of the drive chain. Due to this mechanically actuated actuating system, which is associated to the drive chain with drive chain breakage being the most common type of failure, a further safety aspect is added to the escalator system, in particular being partly redundant to the first actuating system. As being actuated mechanically only, the second actuating system is in particular reliable also in case of a power breakdown.
  • the breaking device further comprises a lever system, wherein the first actuator and/or the second actuator are configured for actuating the second breaking element via the lever system.
  • the first actuating system and/or the second actuating system may be placed remotely from the breaking elements in favor of utilizing the available space in the proximity of the drive shaft.
  • the actuating systems can both act on the same lever in connection with the second breaking element without affecting, e.g. hindering or blocking, each other.
  • an actuator for a predescribed breaking device comprising at least one solenoid for actuating the second breaking element, when electric current is passed through the solenoid and at least one spring to keep the solenoid in an unactuated state, when no electric current is passed through the solenoid.
  • an escalator drive for moving escalator steps along an escalator path, comprising at least one drive unit, at least one drive shaft for transmitting a drive torque from the drive unit to the escalator steps and at least one breaking device as described before-hand, wherein the first breaking element is in connection with the drive shaft.
  • the drive unit comprises a drive device which is an electric motor/generator.
  • the drive unit comprises a drive device, at least one gearbox in connection with the drive device and at least one drive chain for transmitting the drive torque from the gearbox to a chain rim mounted on the drive shaft.
  • the drive device is an electric motor/generator.
  • an escalator system comprising an escalator path, a number of escalator steps being moveable along the escalator path and an escalator drive as described before-hand.
  • Figure 1 shows a view of a breaking device 100 and corresponding parts of an escalator drive 47 within an escalator system 300.
  • the escalator drive 47 comprises a chain rim 2 mounted to a not shown drive shaft 48 and a drive chain 3 connecting the chain rim 2 with a drive unit not shown.
  • the breaking device 100 comprises a first breaking element 4 formed as a ratchet wheel, which is mounted to the same not shown drive shaft 48 the chain rim 2 is mounted to, and a second breaking element 5 formed as a pawl, which is pivotable around a pivot point 5.1 fixed to a stationary element of the escalator system 300.
  • the breaking device 100 further comprises a first actuating system 6 having a first actuator 7 comprising a solenoid 7.1 and a spring 7.2. In an unactuated state, no electric current is passed through the solenoid 7.1 and it is kept in its position according to figure 1 by the spring 7.2.
  • the solenoid 7.1 is moved to the left side against the spring 7.2 and actuates the second breaking element 5 as will be described in the following.
  • the breaking device 100 further comprises a lever system 9, wherein a first lever 9.1 is in connection with the first breaking element 5 at the pivot point 5.1 and may therefore pivot the second breaking element 5 around the pivot point 5.1.
  • the lever system 9 further comprises a second lever 9.2 which is in connection with a third lever 9.3 at a pivot point 9.4.
  • the first solenoid 7.1 moves rightwards and pivots the third lever 9.3 around the pivot point 9.4 via a push rod 8.
  • the second lever 9.2 is pivoted around the pivot point 9.4 as well and actuates the first lever 9.1 via a latch 9.5 and a push rod 10.
  • the second breaking element 5 is pivoted around the pivot point 5.1 and engages with the first breaking element 4.
  • the breaking device 100 further comprises a second actuating system 11, which has a second actuator 12 formed as a shoe in connection with a pull rod 13.
  • the second actuator 12 is hold upwards by an intact drive chain 3, while it is pushed downwards by a spring 14 in case the drive chain 3 breaks and is not positioned below the second actuator 12 any longer.
  • the pull rod 13 pulls down the first lever 9.1 and thereby actuates the second breaking element 5 to engage with the first breaking element 4.
  • the first actuating system 6 is activated, the first lever 9.1 moves without affecting the pull rod 13 and thus, the second actuating system 11 is not affected by an activation of the first actuating system 6.
  • the push rod 10 moves downwards without affecting the latch 9.5 and thus, the first actuating system 6 is not affected by an activation of the second actuating system 11.
  • the first actuating system 6 is activated upon detection of a certain rotational speed of the drive shaft 48, in particular a relative rotational speed of the drive shaft 48 in comparison with a rotational speed of a drive unit of the escalator system 300, which may be detected by any sensor means of the escalator system 300.
  • the detected rotational speed is processed by a control unit not shown in the figures, e.g. an escalator control unit, which controls the operation of the escalator system 300, or a control unit of the breaking device 100, which exclusively controls the first actuation system 6.
  • the breaking device 100 may comprise at least one sensor 15.1, 15.2.
  • Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a breaking device 100 which comprises the same elements as the breaking device 100 in figure 1 , but further comprises a first sensor 15.1 and a second sensor 15.2 being redundant to each other.
  • the sensors 15.1, 15.2 are inductive sensors and are placed adjacent to teeth 2.1 of the chain rim 2. Thus, the teeth 2.1 and intermediate spaces between the teeth 2.1 are passing along the sensors 15.1, 15.2 alternately, thereby giving a measure for the rotational speed of the drive shaft 48, which can be detected by the sensors 15.1, 15.2.
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic and simplified view of an escalator system 300 comprising travel rails 40, which form a path 41, along which steps 42 are pulled. Only a small number of steps 42 is shown in figure 4, yet steps 42 are attached to the travel rails 40 all along the path 41.
  • the travel rails 40 are deflected on an upper end 43 by a shaft 44, wherein the travel rails 40 engage with gears 45, which are attached to the shaft 44.
  • the travel rails 40 are further also deflected on an lower end 43 by a drive shaft 48, wherein the travel rails 40 engage with gears 46, which are attached to the drive shaft 48.
  • the drive shaft 48 forms an escalator drive 47 together with a drive unit not shown.
  • a first breaking element 4 of a breaking device 100 analogous to figures 1 and 2 is mounted on the drive shaft 48 without the breaking device 100 being shown in further detail.

Landscapes

  • Escalators And Moving Walkways (AREA)
EP23382317.8A 2023-03-31 2023-03-31 Dispositif de freinage pour un système d'escalier roulant Pending EP4438542A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23382317.8A EP4438542A1 (fr) 2023-03-31 2023-03-31 Dispositif de freinage pour un système d'escalier roulant

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23382317.8A EP4438542A1 (fr) 2023-03-31 2023-03-31 Dispositif de freinage pour un système d'escalier roulant

Publications (1)

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EP4438542A1 true EP4438542A1 (fr) 2024-10-02

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EP23382317.8A Pending EP4438542A1 (fr) 2023-03-31 2023-03-31 Dispositif de freinage pour un système d'escalier roulant

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Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2211809A (en) * 1987-11-02 1989-07-12 Hitachi Ltd A braking apparatus for a passenger conveyor
CN1117939A (zh) * 1994-08-26 1996-03-06 株式会社日立制作所 倾斜式载客电梯
JP2012153496A (ja) * 2011-01-27 2012-08-16 Mitsubishi Electric Corp マンコンベアの制動装置
JP2013147299A (ja) * 2012-01-17 2013-08-01 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 乗客コンベヤの補助制動装置、及び乗客コンベヤ
WO2016093582A1 (fr) * 2014-12-08 2016-06-16 (주) 미주하이텍 Dispositif et procédé pour empêcher un escalier mécanique de partir en sens inverse
CN108584661A (zh) * 2018-04-19 2018-09-28 永大电梯设备（中国）有限公司 自动扶梯附加制动器装置
EP3730445A1 (fr) * 2019-04-23 2020-10-28 KONE Corporation Procédé et dispositif de transport de passagers
JP2022177367A (ja) * 2021-05-18 2022-12-01 三菱電機株式会社 乗客コンベアの補助ブレーキ

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2211809A (en) * 1987-11-02 1989-07-12 Hitachi Ltd A braking apparatus for a passenger conveyor
CN1117939A (zh) * 1994-08-26 1996-03-06 株式会社日立制作所 倾斜式载客电梯
JP2012153496A (ja) * 2011-01-27 2012-08-16 Mitsubishi Electric Corp マンコンベアの制動装置
JP2013147299A (ja) * 2012-01-17 2013-08-01 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 乗客コンベヤの補助制動装置、及び乗客コンベヤ
WO2016093582A1 (fr) * 2014-12-08 2016-06-16 (주) 미주하이텍 Dispositif et procédé pour empêcher un escalier mécanique de partir en sens inverse
CN108584661A (zh) * 2018-04-19 2018-09-28 永大电梯设备（中国）有限公司 自动扶梯附加制动器装置
EP3730445A1 (fr) * 2019-04-23 2020-10-28 KONE Corporation Procédé et dispositif de transport de passagers
JP2022177367A (ja) * 2021-05-18 2022-12-01 三菱電機株式会社 乗客コンベアの補助ブレーキ

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