Drive chain replacement aid
By designing a drive chain replacement tool and utilizing the cooperation of inserts and trays, a single person can efficiently replace the drive chain of a passenger conveyor, solving the problem of low efficiency in existing technologies where multiple people operate the machine.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC BUILDING SOLUTIONS CORP
- Filing Date
- 2021-04-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, replacing drive chains requires at least three operators, which is inefficient.
A drive chain replacement tool was designed, comprising an insert and a tray. The insert engages with the main sprocket via multiple straight plates to lift the old chain and guide the installation of the new chain. The tray is used to recycle the old chain, simplifying single-person operation.
This technology enables a single person to efficiently change the drive chain of the passenger conveyor, thus improving operational efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN117412917B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a drive chain replacement tool used when replacing the drive chain wound on the main sprocket of a passenger conveyor. Background Technology
[0002] In escalators, which are passenger conveyors, a drive chain is wound around a drive sprocket and a main sprocket. The drive sprocket is located on the output shaft of the drive unit, and the main sprocket is located on the main shaft that rotates the step chain connected to the steps (e.g., Patent Document 1).
[0003] During the maintenance and repair of escalators, the aforementioned drive chain is replaced with a new chain. In this replacement process, the new chain is connected to the old chain, the drive unit is manually operated, the new chain is fed into the main sprocket, the new chain is wound onto the main sprocket, and the old chain is retrieved from the main sprocket.
[0004] Existing technical documents
[0005] Patent documents
[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-143677 Summary of the Invention
[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve
[0008] However, the aforementioned drive chain replacement operation involves replacing a large chain in a confined workspace, and is performed by an operator who feeds in the new chain, an operator who retrieves the old chain, and an operator who manually operates the drive mechanism. In other words, the drive chain replacement operation requires at least three operators, resulting in poor work efficiency.
[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a drive chain replacement tool that allows one operator to efficiently replace the drive chain of a passenger conveyor.
[0010] Methods for solving problems
[0011] The drive chain replacement tool of the present invention is used when replacing the drive chain wound on the main sprocket of a passenger conveyor. The drive chain replacement tool includes an insert that is inserted between the main sprocket and the drive chain to lift the drive chain off the main sprocket. The insert has a plurality of consecutive straight plates that are configured to form an arc along the periphery of the main sprocket by forming a predetermined angle between adjacent straight plates. The straight plates have a length spanning a plurality of teeth of the main sprocket and have: an upper recess provided on the upper surface side of the straight plate, through which the drive chain can slide; and a lower recess provided on the bottom surface side of the straight plate, through which the teeth of the main sprocket can slide.
[0012] In the drive chain replacement accessory of the present invention, it is preferred that the drive chain replacement accessory further comprises a tray having: a recovery section placed on the ground below the main sprocket to recover the drive chain removed from the main sprocket and having an elongated shape along the drive chain; and a guide section disposed at one end of the recovery section and guiding the drive chain to the recovery section.
[0013] In the drive chain replacement accessory of the present invention, it is preferable that the end side of the insertion member in the insertion direction is formed such that the lower recess protrudes more than the upper recess, and the end portion of the lower recess is formed at an acute angle relative to the arc-shaped radial direction of the insertion member.
[0014] Invention Effects
[0015] According to the drive chain replacement tool of the present invention, the drive chain of a passenger conveyor can be replaced efficiently by one operator. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an escalator implementation method.
[0017] Figure 2 This is a side view showing a drive chain replacement accessory as an example of an implementation method.
[0018] Figure 3 This is a side view showing the insert.
[0019] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 AA sectional view.
[0020] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional representation of the tray.
[0021] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the drive chain replacement operation using a drive chain replacement tool as an example of an implementation method.
[0022] Figure 7 This is an explanation Figure 6 The following image.
[0023] Figure 8 This is an explanation Figure 7 The following image. Detailed Implementation
[0024] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the following description, specific shapes, materials, orientations, values, etc., are examples for easy understanding of the present invention and can be appropriately changed according to the use, purpose, specifications, etc.
[0025] use Figure 1The escalator 10, which is a passenger transport according to the embodiment, will be described. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram representing the escalator 10.
[0026] The escalator 10, serving as a passenger transport, is a stepped lifting device that allows passengers to move to different floors of a building. The escalator 10 includes: a main frame 11, which is erected between adjacent upper and lower floors to support the weight of the escalator 10 and the load it carries; an upper machine room 13, which is located under the floor of the upper passenger entrance 12 on the upper side of the main frame 11; and a lower machine room 15, which is located under the floor of the lower passenger entrance 14 on the lower side of the main frame 11.
[0027] In the escalator 10, the driving force of the drive unit 16 housed in the upper machine room 13 is transmitted to the main shaft 17 and the main sprocket 22 through the drive chain 18. The main shaft 17 causes the step chain 19 to rotate, thereby causing the step 20 to move (rise and fall) between the upper boarding and alighting point 12 and the lower boarding and alighting point 14.
[0028] A drive sprocket 21 is mounted on the output shaft of the drive unit 16. A main shaft 17 is rotatably mounted within the upper machine room 13, with its axial direction aligned along the width of the main frame 11. A main sprocket 22 is mounted on the main shaft 17 and rotates in conjunction with it. A drive chain 18 is wound around the drive sprocket 21 and the main sprocket 22, transmitting the driving force of the drive unit 16 to the main shaft 17 via the main sprocket 22.
[0029] The main shaft 17 is also equipped with an upper step sprocket 23 that rotates in conjunction with the main shaft 17. The step chain 19 is wound around the upper step sprocket 23 and the lower step sprocket 24 housed in the lower machine room 15, and is a ring-shaped chain driven by the driving force of the drive device 16. The steps 20 are provided on each step shaft (not shown) installed at regular intervals on the step chain 19, and move cyclically between the upper passenger / passage 12 and the lower passenger / passage 14 by the movement of the step chain 19.
[0030] The escalator 10 also includes: handrails 25, which are erected on both sides of the main frame 11; a ring-shaped movable handrail 26, which is supported by the handrails 25 and moves cyclically between the upper boarding / alighting point 12 and the lower boarding / alighting point 14; a movable handrail drive device 27, which drives the movable handrail 26 using the driving force of the drive device 16; and a control panel 28, which is housed in the upper machine room 13 and controls the various devices of the escalator 10.
[0031] use Figure 2 The drive chain replacement accessory 30, which is one example of an implementation method, will be described. Figure 2 This is a side view of the drive chain replacement tool 30 during the replacement of drive chain 18.
[0032] In the escalator 10, as described above, the drive chain 18 is wound around the drive sprocket 21, which is mounted on the output shaft of the drive unit 16, and the main sprocket 22, which is mounted on the main shaft 17. During maintenance and repair work on the escalator 10, the drive chain 18 is replaced using the drive chain replacement tool 30.
[0033] As described above, the drive chain replacement tool 30 is an auxiliary tool used when replacing an old drive chain 18 (hereinafter referred to as the old chain 18) with a new drive chain 118 (hereinafter referred to as the new chain 118). According to the drive chain replacement tool 30, the old chain 18 can be efficiently replaced with the new chain 118 by one operator, as detailed below.
[0034] The drive chain replacement tool 30 includes: an insert 40 that is inserted between the main sprocket 22 and the old chain 18 to lift the old chain 18 from the main sprocket 22; a tray 50 that is placed on the ground below the main sprocket 22; and a guide rope 60 that connects one end of the cut old chain 18 to the other end of the new chain 118.
[0035] use Figure 3 and Figure 4 The insert 40 will be described. Figure 3 This is a side view of insert 40. Figure 4 yes Figure 3 AA sectional view.
[0036] As described above, the insert 40 is an auxiliary device that lifts the old chain 18 from the main sprocket 22 by being inserted between the main sprocket 22 and the old chain 18 when the old chain 18 is replaced with the new chain 118.
[0037] Furthermore, the insert 40 is an auxiliary device that allows the main sprocket 22 and the old chain 18 to slide separately after the old chain 18 is lifted from the main sprocket 22. Moreover, the insert 40 is an auxiliary device that allows the main sprocket 22 and the new chain 118 to slide separately after the old chain 18 is retrieved from the main sprocket 22 in order to feed the new chain 118 into the main sprocket 22.
[0038] The old chain 18 can be easily removed from the main sprocket 22 using the insert 40. Furthermore, after the old chain 18 is removed from the main sprocket 22, it can be smoothly retrieved and a new chain 118 can be smoothly fed in.
[0039] The insert 40 has a plurality of consecutive straight plates 41. The insert 40 is configured to be an arc along the periphery of the main sprocket 22 by forming a predetermined angle between adjacent straight plates 41. The length of the insert 40 is preferably about 1 / 3 of the full circumference of the main sprocket 22.
[0040] The straight plate 41 has a length along the periphery of the main sprocket 22, spanning a plurality of teeth 22A (three teeth 22A in this example) of the main sprocket 22. The straight plate 41 has an upper recess 42 provided on the upper surface side for sliding of the old chain 18, and a lower recess 43 provided on the bottom surface side for sliding of the teeth 22A of the main sprocket 22.
[0041] When viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of the insertion member 40 (hereinafter referred to as the insertion direction), the upper recess 42 is formed as an upper recess. In this example, the multiple upper recesses 42 are a continuous single component, formed by bending an aluminum plate. The multiple upper recesses 42 are not limited to this example; they can also be a structure in which separate components are rotatably connected by hinges.
[0042] When viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the insertion direction, the lower recess 43 is formed as a concave shape with a downward depression. In this example, the multiple lower recesses 43 are separately separated components, formed of resin.
[0043] In the straight piece 41 at the end of the insertion direction, viewed axially, the lower recess 43 protrudes more than the upper recess 42, and the end of the lower recess 43 in the insertion direction forms an acute angle relative to the arc-shaped radial direction of the insert 40. Therefore, when the insert 40 is inserted between the main sprocket 22 and the old chain 18, the lower recess 43 inserts before the upper recess 42, allowing the insert 40 to be inserted smoothly without requiring a strong force.
[0044] In the straight section 41 on the base end side in the insertion direction, a fixing part 44 is provided to fix the insert 40 to the main sprocket 22. In this example, the fixing part 44 is configured such that a wing bolt is screwed in axially, and the end of the wing bolt presses against the main sprocket 22, thereby fixing the insert 40 to the main sprocket 22.
[0045] use Figure 5 The tray 50 is described below. Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional diagram representing tray 50.
[0046] The pallet 50 is placed on the ground (truss oil pan) below the main sprocket 22 when the old chain 18 is replaced with the new chain 118, and the components of the old chain 18 removed from the main sprocket 22 are recycled.
[0047] The tray 50 has: a container-shaped recycling section 51 that is elongated along the old chain 18; and a guide section 52 disposed at the end of the recycling section 51 to guide the old chain 18 removed from the main sprocket 22 to the recycling section 51.
[0048] The size of the insertion direction of the recycling section 51 is preferably sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the main sprocket 22. Furthermore, the size of the width direction (axial direction) of the recycling section 51 is preferably large enough to bundle and recycle the old chain 18. The recycling section 51 is preferably surrounded by a wall portion 51A.
[0049] According to the recycling unit 51, the old chain 18 removed from the main sprocket 22 can be recycled. Furthermore, when installing the new chain 118 onto the main sprocket 22, the new chain 118 is fed into the main sprocket 22, and after the new chain 118 passes through the insert 40, it is prevented from falling onto the truss oil pan (see reference). Figure 8 (A)). This prevents oil, dust, etc. from adhering to the truss oil pan on the new chain 118.
[0050] The guide section 52 is formed to extend upward toward the end side in the insertion direction of the collection section 51. According to the guide section 52, the old chain 18 removed from the main sprocket 22 can be guided to slide down on the aforementioned insert 40 and be collected in the collection section 51.
[0051] use Figures 6 to 8 The replacement operation of changing the drive chain 18 from the old chain 18 to the new chain 118 using the drive chain replacement tool 30 will be described below. The following description is based on the near front and inner sides when viewing the main sprocket 22 from the drive sprocket 21.
[0052] First, the joint of the old chain 18 (the joint that can separate the ring chain) is moved to the upper part between the main sprocket 22 and the drive sprocket 21. Then, the drive unit 16 and the drive sprocket 21 are moved slightly toward the main sprocket 22 to ease the tension of the old chain 18.
[0053] like Figure 6 As shown in (A), the joint of the old chain 18 is separated, and a guide rope 60 is connected to one end of the old chain 18. Additionally, the tray 50 is placed on the ground below the main sprocket 22. At this time, the tray 50 is placed such that the guide portion 52 of the tray 50 is located below the inner end of the main sprocket 22.
[0054] like Figure 6 As shown in (B), the other end of the old chain 18 wound around the drive sprocket 21 is manually removed. Next, the tray 50, from which the other end of the old chain 18 has been recovered, is moved further inward toward the main sprocket 22. At this point, the engagement of the old chain 18 at the lower part of the main sprocket 22 is disengaged, and the old chain 18 is recovered into the tray 50.
[0055] like Figure 7 As shown in (A), an insert 40 is inserted from the front side between the main sprocket 22 and the old chain 18 relative to the old chain 18 that meshes with the upper part of the main sprocket 22.
[0056] like Figure 7 As shown in (B), the insert 40, which is inserted between the main sprocket 22 and the old chain 18, is advanced until the end of the insert 40 is located inside the main sprocket 22, and the insert 40 is fixed to the main sprocket 22 by the fixing part 44. As a result, the old chain 18, which was engaged with the upper part of the main sprocket 22, is removed from the main sprocket 22.
[0057] Next, the tray 50 is moved forward until the guide 52 is positioned below the inner end of the main sprocket 22 and comes into contact with the old chain 18 hanging from the main sprocket 22. As a result, the old chain 18, disengaged from the main sprocket 22, falls due to its own weight, slides on the upper recess 42 of the insert 40, and is guided by the guide 52 into the tray 50. At this time, the guide rope 60 connected to the old chain 18 is guided by the old chain 18 and moves to the upper recess 42 of the insert 40.
[0058] like Figure 8 As shown in (A), the old chain 18 is completely retrieved, and a new chain 118 is connected to the other end of the guide rope 60, which is moved to the upper recess 42 of the insert 40. The new chain 118 is then fed into the main sprocket 22 along the upper recess 42 of the insert 40. At this time, the guide rope 60 is pressed in by the new chain 118 and moves from the inner end of the main sprocket 22 downwards. Then, the end of the new chain 118 is brought to the tray 50, and the guide rope 60 is pulled forward from below the main sprocket 22, thereby pulling the new chain 118 forward.
[0059] like Figure 8 As shown in (B), the insert 40 is pulled forward to engage the new chain 118 with the main sprocket 22. Next, the guide rope 60 is removed from the new chain 118, engaging it with the drive sprocket 21, with an upper connecting joint between the main sprocket 22 and the drive sprocket 21. Then, the tray 50 is removed, allowing the drive unit 16 and drive sprocket 21 to move away from the main sprocket 22, tensioning the new chain 118 and completing the replacement operation.
[0060] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and their variations, and various changes and improvements can be made within the scope of the claims of this application.
[0061] Label Explanation
[0062] 10: Escalator; 11: Main frame; 12: Upper boarding / alighting point; 13: Upper machine room; 14: Lower boarding / alighting point; 15: Lower machine room; 16: Drive unit; 17: Main shaft; 18: Drive chain (old chain); 19: Step chain; 20: Step; 21: Drive sprocket; 22: Main sprocket; 22A: Toothed part; 23: Upper step sprocket; 24: Lower step sprocket; 25: Handrail; 26: Moving handrail; 27: Moving handrail drive unit; 28: Control panel; 30: Drive chain replacement accessory; 40: Insert; 41: Straight piece; 42: Upper recess; 43: Lower recess; 44: Fixing part; 50: Tray; 51: Retraction part; 52: Guide part; 60: Guide rope; 118: Drive chain (new chain).
Claims
1. A drive chain replacement tool used when replacing a drive chain wound on the main sprocket of a passenger conveyor. The drive chain replacement tool includes an insert that is inserted between the main sprocket and the drive chain to lift the drive chain off the main sprocket. The insert has a plurality of continuous straight plates, which are configured to form an arc shape along the periphery of the main sprocket by making adjacent straight plates form a predetermined angle with each other. The straight plate has a length spanning multiple teeth of the main sprocket and has: an upper recess disposed on the upper surface of the straight plate, through which the drive chain can slide; and a lower recess disposed on the bottom surface of the straight plate, through which the teeth of the main sprocket can slide. The end side of the insert in the insertion direction is formed such that the lower recess protrudes more than the upper recess. The end portion of the lower recess is formed at an acute angle relative to the radial arc of the insert.
2. The drive chain replacement accessory according to claim 1, wherein, The drive chain replacement tool also includes a tray having: a recovery section placed on the ground below the main sprocket to recover the drive chain removed from the main sprocket, having an elongated shape along the drive chain; and a guide section disposed at one end of the recovery section to guide the drive chain to the recovery section.