Oil supply management device of passenger conveyor and oil supply management system of passenger conveyor

Abstract

The invention provides an oil supply management device of a passenger conveyor and an oil supply management system of the passenger conveyor. The invention provides an oil supply management device of a passenger conveyor and an oil supply management system of the passenger conveyor, which can confirm the residual amount of lubricating oil in an oil tank remotely. The oil supply device is provided with an oil tank for storing lubricating oil, a first nozzle for supplying the lubricating oil to the step chain, a second nozzle for supplying the lubricating oil to the driving chain, a third nozzle for supplying the lubricating oil to the handrail chain (68), a pump for conveying the lubricating oil to each nozzle and a water level gauge for detecting the residual amount of the lubricating oil in the oil tank; and the oil supply device sends the residual amount of the lubricating oil detected by the water level gauge.

Description

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-204358 (filing date: December 4, 2023) and claims priority from the aforementioned application. The present application incorporates the entire contents of the aforementioned application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an oil supply management device for a passenger conveyor and an oil supply management system for a passenger conveyor. Background Art

[0003] The drive chain, step chain, and handrail chain used in passenger conveyors such as moving walkways and escalators are supplied with lubricating oil to make the movement smooth. The oil supply structure supplies lubricating oil from the oil tank storing the lubricating oil to the nozzle located above each chain and drips it. Summary of the invention

[0004] As described above, when oil is supplied from an oil tank, it is necessary to regularly check whether the lubricating oil in the oil tank is insufficient. In this confirmation method, maintenance personnel go to the site where the passenger conveyor is installed, lift the boarding and landing platform, and visually check the remaining amount of lubricating oil in the oil tank located inside the machine room. Therefore, there is a problem that this confirmation operation is troublesome.

[0005] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, an embodiment of the present invention aims to provide an oil supply management device for a passenger conveyor and an oil supply management system for a passenger conveyor, which can confirm the remaining amount of lubricating oil in the oil tank even from a distance.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oil supply management device of the passenger conveyor is characterized in that it comprises: a pair of left and right handrails, which are arranged in the front-to-back direction between the entrance and exit of one side and the entrance and exit of the other side; steps, which move in the front-to-back direction between the pair of left and right handrails; a pair of left and right handrails, which move synchronously with the steps on the upper part of the pair of left and right handrails; a driving device, which drives the steps and the handrails; a control device, which controls the driving device; a communication device, which is used for the control device to communicate with the outside; a step chain, which moves the connected multiple steps; a step sprocket, which drives the step chain; a handrail sprocket, which moves the handrail; a driving chain connecting the driving device An output sprocket and the step sprocket; a handrail chain connecting the step sprocket and the handrail sprocket; and an oil supply device that supplies lubricating oil to the step chain, the drive chain and the handrail chain, the oil supply device comprising: an oil tank that stores the lubricating oil; a first nozzle that supplies lubricating oil to the step chain; a second nozzle that supplies lubricating oil to the drive chain; a third nozzle that supplies lubricating oil to the handrail chain; a pump that transports the lubricating oil from the oil tank to the first nozzle, the second nozzle and the third nozzle; and a sensor that measures the remaining amount of the lubricating oil in the oil tank, the control device uses the communication device to send the remaining amount of the lubricating oil measured by the sensor to the outside.

[0007] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the remaining amount of lubricating oil in the oil tank can be checked even at a remote location. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 It is an explanatory diagram showing an escalator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 It is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship among the drive device, the step sprocket, the first handrail sprocket, and the second handrail sprocket.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the state of oil piping.

[0011] Figure 4 (a) is an illustration of dripping lubricating oil from two first nozzles to the step chain. Figure 4 (b) is an illustration of dripping lubricating oil from two second nozzles to the drive chain. Figure 4 (c) is an explanatory diagram of dripping lubricating oil from the third nozzle onto the handrail chain.

[0012] Figure 5 is a block diagram of an escalator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Reference Figure 1 to Figure 5A passenger conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, an escalator 10 will be described as a passenger conveyor.

[0014] (1) Escalator 10

[0015] Reference Figure 1 The overall structure of the escalator 10 will be described. Figure 1 This is an explanatory diagram of the escalator 10 viewed from the left side. However, in order to facilitate understanding of the internal structure of the escalator 10, the components on the right side of the escalator 10 are omitted. In addition, when describing the front and rear directions of the escalator 10, when looking up at the upper layer from the lower layer, the upper layer is the front side and the lower layer is the rear side.

[0016] like Figure 1 As shown, a truss 12 as a frame of an escalator 10 spans over the upper and lower floors of a building 1 and is supported using support angles 2 and 3 .

[0017] Inside the machine room 14 on the upper side of the upper end of the truss 12, there are provided a drive device 18 for moving the steps 30, a pair of left and right step sprockets 24, 24, and a pair of left and right first handrail sprockets 27, 27. The drive device 18 has a motor 20, a reducer, an output sprocket 19 mounted on the output shaft of the reducer, and a disc electromagnetic brake 23 that stops the rotation of the motor 20 and keeps it stopped. The pair of left and right step sprockets 24 and the pair of left and right first handrail sprockets 27, 27 rotate synchronously by the rotation of the output sprocket 19. The structure of synchronous rotation will be described in detail later. In addition, inside the machine room 14 on the upper side, there is provided a control device 50 for controlling the drive device 18 composed of the motor 20, the electromagnetic brake 23, etc.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, a pair of left and right step driven sprockets 26, 26 are provided in the machine room 16 on the lower layer side of the lower end of the truss 12. A pair of left and right endless step chains 28, 28 are laid between the pair of left and right step sprockets 24, 24 on the upper layer side and the pair of left and right step driven sprockets 26, 26 on the lower layer side. A plurality of first wheels 301 of the steps 30 are mounted at equal intervals on the pair of left and right step chains 28, 28. When the motor 20 rotates, the first wheels 301 of the steps 30 travel on a guide rail (not shown) fixed to the truss 12, and the second wheels 302 travel on the guide rail 25 fixed to the truss 12.

[0019] like Figure 1As shown, a pair of left and right handrails 36, 36 are erected on the left and right sides of the truss 12. A handrail track 39 is provided on the upper part of the handrail 36, and a ring-shaped handrail belt 38 moves along the handrail track 39. An upper layer side front apron plate 40 is provided at the lower front part of the upper layer side of the handrail 36, and a lower layer side front apron plate 42 is provided at the lower front part of the lower layer side, and entrances 46, 48 as the entrance and exit of the handrail belt 38 protrude from the front apron plates 40, 42, respectively.

[0020] An apron plate 44 is provided at a lower portion of a side surface of the handrail 36 , and the step 30 runs between a pair of left and right apron plates 44 , 44 .

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, when the steps 30 are raised, the left and right handrail belts 38 enter the front apron plate 40 from the entrance portion 46 on the upper layer side, are driven by the belt drive device 70 driven by the first handrail sprocket 27, and then move in the apron plate 44 and are exposed to the outside of the front apron plate 42 from the entrance portion 48 on the lower layer side. In addition, the handrail belts 38 rotate together with the step sprocket 24 through the first handrail sprocket 27, and move synchronously with the steps 30. The belt drive device 70 will be described in detail later.

[0022] The upper-level boarding and landing board 32 is horizontally arranged on the top surface of the machine room 14 at the entrance and exit of the upper level. The lower-level boarding and landing board 34 is horizontally arranged on the top surface of the machine room 16 at the entrance and exit of the lower level. A comb-tooth-shaped comb-tooth portion 60 is provided at the top end of the upper-level boarding and landing board 32, and the steps 30 enter the comb-tooth portion 60. In addition, a comb-tooth-shaped comb-tooth portion 62 is also provided at the top end of the lower-level boarding and landing board 34.

[0023] (2) Belt drive device 70

[0024] Below, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The belt drive device 70 is described. In addition, the belt drive device 70 is respectively provided corresponding to the left and right pair of handrail belts 38, as follows Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the belt drive device 70 on the left side when viewed from the lower floor will be described. In this case, the right side of the belt drive device 70 is the step 30 side. And, when the step 30 is raised, the handrail 38 inside the apron plate 44 is Figure 2 In addition, the belt drive device 70 on the right side has a structure that is symmetrical with the belt drive device 70 on the left side.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, the belt drive device 70 is disposed inside the skirt plate 44 and on the upper portion of the truss 12. Figure 2 As shown, on the upper surface of the truss 12, the base plate 78 is installed on the upper left part of the truss 12 along the up-down direction.

[0026] In the figure, four belt drive rollers 72 are arranged rotatably in a horizontal row (a row in the front-rear direction) on the upper part of the base plate 78. The handrail belt 38 inverted up and down runs below them.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, four belt driven rollers 74 are rotatably arranged below the four belt driving rollers 72 , sandwiching the handrail belt 38 . The belt driving rollers 72 and the belt driven rollers 74 form an upper and lower pair, sandwiching the handrail belt 38 .

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, on each of the four belt drive rollers 72, a second handrail sprocket 76 is coaxially arranged in a row on a base plate 78. An auxiliary handrail sprocket 80 is rotatably arranged on the base plate 78 between the second handrail sprocket 76 and the third second handrail sprocket 76 from the front.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the guide handrail sprocket 82 is rotatably provided between the first handrail sprocket 27 and the second handrail sprocket 76 .

[0030] The endless second handrail chain 84 is laid over the first handrail sprocket 27 , the guide handrail sprocket 82 , the upper portions of the first and second second handrail sprockets 76 , the lower portion of the auxiliary handrail sprocket 80 , and the upper portions of the third and fourth second handrail sprockets 76 .

[0031] (3) Structure for moving the steps 30 and the handrail 38

[0032] Next, the structure for moving the steps 30 and the handrail belt 38 will be described.

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a drive sprocket 64 and a drive relay sprocket 65 are coaxially provided on the rotating shaft 86 of a pair of left and right step sprockets 24, 24 that move the step 30. An endless drive chain 22 is provided between the drive sprocket 64 and the output sprocket 19. The drive chain 22 uses a double chain with chains arranged in two rows.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, a driven relay sprocket 66 is coaxially provided on the rotation shaft 88 of the left and right pair of first handrail sprockets 27. An annular first handrail chain 68 is provided between the driving relay sprocket 65 and the driven relay sprocket 66 provided on the step sprocket 24. Thus, when the step sprocket 24 rotates, the first handrail chain 68 also rotates synchronously therewith.

[0035] As described above, the endless second handrail chain 84 is laid over the first handrail sprocket 27 coaxially with the driven relay sprocket 66 on which the first handrail chain 68 is laid.

[0036] Through the above composition, such as Figure 2 As shown, when the output sprocket 19 rotates, the step sprocket 24 rotates through the drive chain 22, and the step 30 moves. In addition, when the step sprocket 24 rotates, the first handrail sprocket 27 rotates synchronously through the first handrail chain 68, thereby moving the second handrail chain 84, and rotating the four second handrail sprockets 76 and the auxiliary handrail sprocket 80. When the four second handrail sprockets 76 rotate, the four belt drive rollers 72 also rotate, and the handrail belt 38 moves.

[0037] (4) Oil supply device 100

[0038] Next, the oil supply device 100 that supplies lubricating oil (hereinafter simply referred to as “oil”) to the drive chain 22 , the step chain 28 , the first handrail chain 68 , and the second handrail chain 84 will be described.

[0039] like Figure 2 As shown, the oil tank 102 for storing oil is fixed to the truss 12 constituting the ceiling portion of the machine room 14 on the upper layer side. When in this position, if the boarding and landing platform 32 is lifted, the oil tank 102 is exposed, and oil can be easily replenished. Figure 3 As shown, the oil tank 102 is provided with a pump 112 for delivering the oil in the oil tank 102 , and also provided with a water level gauge 114 as a sensor for measuring the remaining amount of oil in the oil tank 102 .

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, two first nozzles 104, 104 are provided above each of the left and right pair of step chains 28, 28. Figure 4 As shown in (a) of FIG. 1 , when oil is dripped from the two first nozzles 104 , 104 , it falls on the left and right sides of the step chain 28 located therebelow.

[0041] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, two second nozzles 106, 106 are provided above the drive chain 22. Figure 4 As shown in (b), the oil from the first second nozzle 106 falls on the left side of the double drive chain 22, and the oil from the second second nozzle 106 falls on the center part of the drive chain 22 in the left-right direction.

[0042] like Figure 2 As shown, a third nozzle 108 is provided above each of the left and right first handrail chains 68. Figure 4 As shown in (c) , the oil dripped from the third nozzle 108 falls on one side of the first handrail chain 68 .

[0043] like Figure 2 As shown, a third nozzle 110 is provided above each of the left and right second handrail chains 84. Figure 4 As shown in (c) , the oil dripped from the third nozzle 110 falls on one side of the second handrail chain 84 .

[0044] Below, refer to Figure 3 The piping structure through which the oil flows is described.

[0045] Extending from the pump 112 is a connecting pipe 116 which is connected to an inlet of a first distributor 118 which distributes oil.

[0046] The first distributor 118 is a joint for distributing the oil 6 , and a connecting pipe 120 communicating with an inlet of a second distributor 122 is connected to a first outlet.

[0047] The second outlet and the third outlet are respectively connected to connecting pipes 128 , 128 communicating with the two second nozzles 106 , 106 supplying oil to the drive chain 22 .

[0048] The fourth outlet and the fifth outlet are connected to connection pipes 132 and 132 communicating with the two first nozzles 104 and 104 for supplying oil to the step chain 28 on the left side, respectively.

[0049] The sixth outlet is connected to a connection pipe 134 that communicates with an inlet of a third distributor 136 .

[0050] The second distributor 122 is a joint that distributes the oil into two portions, and a connecting pipe 126 that communicates with the third nozzle 108 that supplies oil to the first handrail chain 68 on the left side is connected to a first outlet.

[0051] The second outlet is connected to a connection pipe 124 that communicates with a third nozzle 110 that supplies oil to the second handrail chain 84 on the left side.

[0052] The third distributor 136 is a joint that distributes the oil into three portions, and connecting pipes 142 , 142 communicating with the first nozzles 104 , 104 supplying oil to the right step chain are respectively connected to the first outlet and the second outlet.

[0053] The connecting pipe 138 communicating with the inlet of the fourth distributor 140 is connected to the third outlet.

[0054] The fourth distributor 140 is a joint that distributes the oil into two portions, and a connecting pipe 144 that communicates with the third nozzle 108 that supplies oil to the first handrail chain 68 on the right side is connected to a first outlet.

[0055] The second outlet is connected to a connection pipe 146 that communicates with a third nozzle 110 that supplies oil to the second handrail chain 84 on the right side.

[0056] Through the above piping structure, such as Figure 3As shown, the oil stored in the oil tank 102 is transported to a left and right pair of first nozzles 104, 104, a second nozzle 106, 106, a left and right pair of third nozzles 108 and a third nozzle 110 through a pump 112, thereby supplying oil to a left and right pair of step chains 28, 28, a double-linked drive chain 22, a left and right pair of first handrail chains 68, 68, and a left and right pair of second handrail chains 84, 84.

[0057] Also, the remaining amount of oil stored in the oil tank 102 may be measured by the water level gauge 114 .

[0058] (5) Electrical structure of escalator 10

[0059] Below, refer to Figure 5 The electrical structure of the escalator 10 is described with reference to the block diagram.

[0060] The control device 50 located in the machine room 14 on the upper layer is formed by a computer or the like and is connected to the drive circuit 92. The drive circuit 92 is connected to the motor 20 and the electromagnetic brake 23, and the control from the control device 50 can control the operation / stop, movement speed, and movement direction of the step 30.

[0061] Furthermore, the pump 112 and the water level gauge 114 of the oil supply device 100 are connected to the control device 50 .

[0062] Furthermore, a communication device 90 for communicating with the outside is connected to the control device 50. The communication device 90 is connected to a monitoring device 200 located in a maintenance center that performs maintenance management of the escalator 10 through a public commercial line, and is also connected to a server (cloud server, etc.) 202 located outside the escalator 10. The server 202 can communicate with a mobile terminal 204 owned by a maintenance personnel, and can obtain information required for the management of the escalator 10, such as weather information.

[0063] The control device 50 drives the pump 112 of the oil supply device 100 according to the oil supply signal from the monitoring device 200 and the server 202, and can drip oil to each chain using the first nozzle 104 to the third nozzle 110, and can adjust the dripping amount and the dripping interval. In addition, the control device 50 can send the remaining amount from the water level gauge 114 that measures the water level of the oil in the oil tank 102 to the monitoring device 200 or the server 202 via the communication device 90.

[0064] (6) Control method of the oil supply management system of the escalator 10

[0065] Next, a control method of the oil supply management system composed of the control device 50, the oil supply device 100, the monitoring device 200, the server 202, and the mobile terminal 204 of the maintenance personnel in the escalator 10 will be described.

[0066] The first control method is that the control device 50 receives an oil supply signal from the monitoring device 200 and the server 202 via the communication device 90, and delivers oil from the pump 112 of the oil supply device 100 according to the oil supply signal. In this case, the oil supply signal includes a pre-set dripping amount (reference dripping amount, for example, 1 ml) for the drive chain 22, the step chain 28, the first handrail chain 68, and the second handrail chain 84, and the dripping interval (for example, once a month), so dripping is performed based on this.

[0067] The second control method is that the control device 50 measures the remaining amount of oil in the oil tank 102 using the water level meter 114, and periodically sends the remaining amount to the monitoring device 200 and the server 202 via the communication device 90, and the server 202 transmits the remaining amount to the mobile terminal 204 owned by the maintenance personnel. In addition, when the remaining amount of oil in the oil tank 102 is less than the reference remaining amount, the control device 50 sends a remaining amount shortage signal to the monitoring device 200 and the server 202. When the remaining amount shortage signal is input, the server 202 warns the mobile terminal 204 owned by the maintenance personnel. In addition, as a modification example, the control device 50 may also send a remaining amount shortage signal and the remaining amount to the monitoring device 200 and the server 202, and when the remaining amount shortage signal is input, the server 202 warns the mobile terminal 204 owned by the maintenance personnel and sends the remaining amount.

[0068] The third control method is that when the escalator 10 is set outdoors, for example, the server 202 always receives weather information and always obtains weather information of the setting location. According to the weather information, after it rains at the location, the server 202 sends an oil supply signal to the control device 50 to drip more oil than the preset reference dripping amount. According to the oil supply signal, the oil supply device 100 drips more oil than the reference dripping amount onto the drive chain 22, the step chain 28, the first handrail chain 68, and the second handrail chain 84. In addition, during this control, it is implemented immediately after the rain ends, regardless of the set dripping interval. The reason for increasing the dripping amount compared to the reference dripping amount is as follows: when the escalator 10 is set outdoors, the oil attached to the drive chain 22, the step chain 28, the first handrail chain 68, and the second handrail chain 84 is lost due to rainwater, and the chain is elongated due to wear and tear, and the frequency of chain adjustment / replacement increases. In addition, it is possible to prevent the increase of abnormal noise caused by insufficient lubrication of the oil.

[0069] (7) Effect

[0070] According to the present embodiment, by measuring the remaining amount of oil in the oil tank 102 using the water level gauge 114 and transmitting the remaining amount to the monitoring device 200 and the server 202, maintenance personnel can check the remaining amount of oil even at a remote location.

[0071] Furthermore, when the remaining amount of oil in the oil tank 102 is less than the reference remaining amount, a warning or a warning and the remaining amount are transmitted to the mobile terminal 204 of the maintenance personnel, so that the oil can be replenished immediately.

[0072] Furthermore, when the escalator 10 is installed outdoors, even if it rains and the oil of each chain is lost, more oil than the reference dripping amount is dripped, so that the lubrication of the chain will not be insufficient.

[0073] [Example of Change]

[0074] Next, modified examples of the above-described embodiment will be described.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the pump 112 of the oil tank 102 and the nozzles are connected via a plurality of distributors, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and all the oil can be distributed to the nozzles by a single distributor.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the system is connected to the server 202, but the present invention is not limited thereto and the system may be connected to the DX controller to control the fuel supply management system.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the dripping amount is changed according to the information of rain, but it is not limited to this. The dripping amount and the dripping interval can also be changed according to the temperature and humidity. For example, when the temperature is higher than the set temperature for a long time, the dripping amount can be increased and the dripping interval can be shortened. In addition, even if the escalator 10 is set indoors, when the business hours of the building are extended, the dripping amount can be increased according to the extended time. The reason is that if the business hours are extended, the use time of the escalator 10 is also extended, and the amount of oil consumption increases.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the monitoring device 200 communicates directly with the communication device 90 , but they may communicate via the server 202 instead.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the invention is applied to the escalator 10, but it can also be applied to a moving walkway instead. In addition, in a moving walkway, the steps are called "steps".

[0080] The above describes an embodiment of the present invention, but the embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter of the invention. These embodiments or their variations are included in the scope and subject matter of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the scope of their equivalents.

Claims

1. An oil supply management device for a passenger conveyor, the passenger conveyor comprising: A pair of left and right railings, which are arranged in the front-to-back direction between the entrance and exit of one side and the entrance and exit of the other side; a step that moves in a front-rear direction between a pair of left and right rails; A pair of left and right handrails, which travel synchronously with the steps on the upper parts of the left and right pair of handrails; A driving device that drives the steps and handrails; a control device for controlling the driving device; A communication device, used for the control device to communicate with the outside; a step chain that moves the linked plurality of said steps; a step sprocket that drives the step chain; a handrail sprocket that moves the handrail belt; a drive chain connecting the output sprocket of the drive device and the step sprocket; A handrail chain connecting the step sprocket and the handrail sprocket; as well as an oil supply device for supplying lubricating oil to the step chain, the drive chain, and the handrail chain, The oil supply management device for the passenger conveyor is characterized in that: The oil supply device comprises: an oil tank storing the lubricating oil; a first nozzle that supplies lubricating oil to the step chain; a second nozzle that supplies lubricating oil to the drive chain; a third nozzle for supplying lubricating oil to the handrail chain; a pump that delivers the lubricating oil from the oil tank to the first nozzle, the second nozzle, and the third nozzle; and a sensor for measuring the remaining amount of the lubricating oil in the oil tank, The control device transmits the remaining amount of the lubricating oil measured by the sensor to the outside using the communication device.

2. The oil supply management device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control device transmits a remaining amount insufficient signal to the outside using the communication device when the remaining amount of the lubricating oil measured by the sensor is less than a reference remaining amount.

3. The oil supply management device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control device receives an external oil supply signal through the communication device. The pump controls the dripping amount or the dripping interval of the lubricating oil at one time according to the oil supply signal.

4. A fuel supply management system for a passenger conveyor, characterized in that: include: The oil supply management device for the passenger conveyor according to claim 1; a server capable of communicating with the control device; as well as a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the server, The server transmits the remaining amount of the lubricating oil sent from the control device to the mobile terminal.

5. The oil supply management system for a passenger conveyor according to claim 4, characterized in that: In the case where the passenger conveyor is installed outdoors, The server acquires weather information from the outside, and when the weather information indicates rain, sends a fuel supply signal to the control device that is increased from a preset reference dripping amount per time. The control device increases a dripping amount of the pump at one time compared to the reference dripping amount according to the oil supply signal.

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