GB2169575A

GB2169575A - Conveyor for transporting a load-carrying compartment

Info

Publication number: GB2169575A
Application number: GB08529178A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Hofling
Original assignee: O&K Orenstein and Koppel GmbH
Current assignee: CNH Industrial Baumaschinen GmbH
Priority date: 1984-11-29
Filing date: 1985-11-27
Publication date: 1986-07-16
Also published as: GB2169575B; GB8529178D0; DE3443425A1

Abstract

A conveyor installation is described for transporting a load-carrying compartment (1) between two levels for use, especially, in carrying passengers in wheel chairs. One end (2) of the compartment (1) is joined to a segment (4) of a conventional escalator conveyor (5) or moving pavement belt and the other end (3) is supported by rollers (6) on tracks (7) adjacent the conveyor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveyor for transporting a load-carrying compartment The invention relates to a conveyor for transporting a load-carrying compartment between different levels.

In order to cope in particular with inner city mass transportation, there has been an increasing development of high-speed means of transport, partly laid underground. To gain access to the platform levels, escalators or moving pavements have been installed for the users in addition to stairways but this has resulted in handicapped persons, especially wheel-chair users, being excluded from public high-speed transport systems. In recognition of the need to contribute to an improvement in the quality of life for this group of persons, the transport operators (especially local authority concerns) are now faced with the problem of providing appropriate access facilities at stations that have already been built.

The problem is one of changing the function of some of the escalators already installed so that they are able to carry handicapped persons, especially wheelchair users. Alterations or additions have to be incorporated into the existing spaces reserved for escalators and moving pavements, or into those spaces provided by the builders but, because the construction has already been fully finished, structural alterations are only possible to a limited extent and often only at considerable expense.

The object of the invention is to enable escalators or moving pavements already installed in stations to be inexpensively converted such that they are able to provide a conveyor for wheel-chair users.

The present invention provides a conveyor installation for transporting a load-carrying compartment between different levels, in which the compartment is supported at one end on the conveyor and, at the other end, on tracks which are provided adjacent the conveyor and run parallel thereto but at a different height.

The conveyor can be an escalator or moving pavement each balustrade understructure of which is modified to provide a track for a supporting roller of the load-carrying compartment.

To enable wheel-chair users in particular to travel in the load-carrying compartment, the ends of the compartment may be formed by barriers that may be opened and closed. In addition, for the transport of wheel-chair users, the conveyor is operable to transport the load-carrying compartment between an upper and a lower end position.

By way of example, an embodiment of the invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a load-carrying compartment being transported on a conveyor, and Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the same arrangement.

Figure 1 shows a load-carrying compartment 1 being conveyed between two different levels on a modified version of a conventional escalator. The compartment 1 is generally rectangular with the narrower sides 2, 3 of the rectangle forming the front and backends of the compartment. The end 2 (located towards the upper level of the escalator) is rigidly joined to a step segment 4 of the conventional escalator conveyor 5, while the end 3 (located towards the lower level) is supported by rollers 6 on tracks 7 provided one on each side of the conveyor.

Figure 1 shows the load-carrying compartment 1 occupied by a wheel-chair and also, in broken lines, shows the compartment in the upper and lower end positions of the conveyor 5.

Figure 2 illustrates how each balustrade understructure of the escalator has been converted to provide a track 7 for a supporting roller 6 of the compartment 1. The join 8 between the end 2 of the compartment 1 and the segment 4 of the escalator conveyor 5 can also be seen. For safety reasons, the conveyor can be separated by a protecting wall 9, for example a glass balustrade, from the area of an adjacent stairway 10.

It will be understood that, to arrive at the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the customary balustrade construction of the escalator already installed is removed and the tracks 7, which are the width of the original balustrade understructure, are installed in its place. The lines of travel of the escalator conveyor 5 and the tracks 7, which run parallel to each other but at different heights, guarantee that the compartment 1 is held horizontal at all times.

The installation is a "self-drive" one, being operated by the user of the compartment 1 pushing a button; in particular, a dead man circuit known per se may be provided to control movement of the conveyor 5 which, in use, is guided backwards and forwards between the upper and lower end positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Similarly, access to and from the compartment 1 in its end positions (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) is controlled by push-button operation by the user, the ends 2, 3 of the compartment being formed as barriers which can be opened and closed and locked. The approach to and exit from the escalator remains clear.

Although the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 is based on a conventional escalator, the conveyor track could alternatively be a moving pavement conveyor belt.

1. A conveyor installation for transporting a load-carrying compartment between different levels, in which the compartment is supported at one end on the conveyor and, at the other end, on tracks which are provided adjacent the conveyor and run parallel thereto but at a different height.

2. An installation according to claim 1, in which the conveyor is an escalator or moving pavement each balustrade understructure of which is modi

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Conveyor for transporting a load-carrying compartment The invention relates to a conveyor for transporting a load-carrying compartment between different levels. In order to cope in particular with inner city mass transportation, there has been an increasing development of high-speed means of transport, partly laid underground. To gain access to the platform levels, escalators or moving pavements have been installed for the users in addition to stairways but this has resulted in handicapped persons, especially wheel-chair users, being excluded from public high-speed transport systems. In recognition of the need to contribute to an improvement in the quality of life for this group of persons, the transport operators (especially local authority concerns) are now faced with the problem of providing appropriate access facilities at stations that have already been built. The problem is one of changing the function of some of the escalators already installed so that they are able to carry handicapped persons, especially wheelchair users. Alterations or additions have to be incorporated into the existing spaces reserved for escalators and moving pavements, or into those spaces provided by the builders but, because the construction has already been fully finished, structural alterations are only possible to a limited extent and often only at considerable expense. The object of the invention is to enable escalators or moving pavements already installed in stations to be inexpensively converted such that they are able to provide a conveyor for wheel-chair users. The present invention provides a conveyor installation for transporting a load-carrying compartment between different levels, in which the compartment is supported at one end on the conveyor and, at the other end, on tracks which are provided adjacent the conveyor and run parallel thereto but at a different height. The conveyor can be an escalator or moving pavement each balustrade understructure of which is modified to provide a track for a supporting roller of the load-carrying compartment. To enable wheel-chair users in particular to travel in the load-carrying compartment, the ends of the compartment may be formed by barriers that may be opened and closed. In addition, for the transport of wheel-chair users, the conveyor is operable to transport the load-carrying compartment between an upper and a lower end position. By way of example, an embodiment of the invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a load-carrying compartment being transported on a conveyor, and Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the same arrangement. Figure 1 shows a load-carrying compartment 1 being conveyed between two different levels on a modified version of a conventional escalator. The compartment 1 is generally rectangular with the narrower sides 2, 3 of the rectangle forming the front and backends of the compartment. The end 2 (located towards the upper level of the escalator) is rigidly joined to a step segment 4 of the conventional escalator conveyor 5, while the end 3 (located towards the lower level) is supported by rollers 6 on tracks 7 provided one on each side of the conveyor. Figure 1 shows the load-carrying compartment 1 occupied by a wheel-chair and also, in broken lines, shows the compartment in the upper and lower end positions of the conveyor 5. Figure 2 illustrates how each balustrade understructure of the escalator has been converted to provide a track 7 for a supporting roller 6 of the compartment 1. The join 8 between the end 2 of the compartment 1 and the segment 4 of the escalator conveyor 5 can also be seen. For safety reasons, the conveyor can be separated by a protecting wall 9, for example a glass balustrade, from the area of an adjacent stairway 10. It will be understood that, to arrive at the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the customary balustrade construction of the escalator already installed is removed and the tracks 7, which are the width of the original balustrade understructure, are installed in its place. The lines of travel of the escalator conveyor 5 and the tracks 7, which run parallel to each other but at different heights, guarantee that the compartment 1 is held horizontal at all times. The installation is a "self-drive" one, being operated by the user of the compartment 1 pushing a button; in particular, a dead man circuit known per se may be provided to control movement of the conveyor 5 which, in use, is guided backwards and forwards between the upper and lower end positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Similarly, access to and from the compartment 1 in its end positions (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) is controlled by push-button operation by the user, the ends 2, 3 of the compartment being formed as barriers which can be opened and closed and locked. The approach to and exit from the escalator remains clear. Although the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 is based on a conventional escalator, the conveyor track could alternatively be a moving pavement conveyor belt. CLAIMS

2. An installation according to claim 1, in which the conveyor is an escalator or moving pavement each balustrade understructure of which is modi fied to provide a track for a supporting roller of the load-carrying compartment.

3. An installation according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the ends of the load carrying compart ment are formed by barriers that may be opened and closed.

4. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the conveyor is opera ble to transport the load carrying compartment be tween an upper and a lower end position.

5. A conveyor installation substantially as de scribed herein with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.