Connecting gear of a passenger conveyor system designed as an escalator or moving walkway

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting gear of a passenger conveyor system, as well as a passenger conveyor system which is designed as an escalator or moving walkway.

[0002] Passenger conveyor systems such as escalators or moving walkways are often used to transport large crowds. Escalators and moving walkways are therefore often found in department stores, airports, train stations, or underground stations.

[0003] Passenger conveyor systems of the aforementioned type have a stable supporting structure in the form of a supporting framework in which conveying elements connected to form a circulating conveyor belt are movably arranged. In the case of an escalator, this conveyor belt is designed as a step belt, in the case of a moving walkway as a flat pallet belt. This circulating conveyor belt is driven by a drive arranged in the supporting framework, which has at least one motor, at least one connecting gear, and a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor via the connecting gear. The conveyor belt is usually guided at an angle of 180° around the drive shaft so that it can be deflected and driven by the drive shaft. Furthermore, balustrades with movable handrails are usually provided on both sides of the conveyor belt. These handrails are driven synchronously with the conveyor belt via a handrail drive.

[0004] Due to the limited space available and architectural requirements, the motors and gears used for the drive of escalators and moving walks should, if possible, be located in the space between and below the step belt or pallet belt in the supporting structure. This also applies to the handrail drive. Due to the high load forces that occur during the operation of an escalator or moving walk, particularly those acting on the drive shaft, the surrounding supporting structure must be particularly stable in order to absorb and support the large forces acting on the drive.

[0005] However, for extra-long escalators and moving walks, there is insufficient space in the supporting structure for the drive. RU 2 508 242 C2 therefore proposes a drive frame completely separate from the supporting structure, on which the drive shaft, connecting gear, and motor are mounted. The drive shaft is mounted on the drive frame so that the drive frame and the drive mounted on it do not have to be designed and built specifically for the system. Such system-specific designs are very expensive. However, the adaptation work is shifted to areas of the supporting structure that must be designed specifically for the system in order to install the passenger conveyor system described above.

[0006] DE 100 30 052 A1 also discloses a relevant connecting gear of a passenger conveyor system designed as an escalator or moving walkway.

[0007] For existing structures where an old passenger conveyor system is to be replaced with a new one, modifications to the structure may be necessary, or sections of the supporting structure and drive frame may need to be specifically designed to accommodate the previously described passenger conveyor system. Furthermore, the drive frame and supporting structure must be very well anchored in the structure, as the conveyor belt exerts enormous tensile forces between the two parts. Furthermore, the structure in this area must be designed to adequately support these tensile forces, which are part of the internal forces of the passenger conveyor system.

[0008] The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating a cost-effective drive construction, in particular for extra-long escalators with a high travel height and for very long moving walkways, which ensures a high degree of flexibility with regard to its installation in the structure and relieves the structure of internal forces of the passenger conveyor system.

[0009] This task is solved by a connecting gear for a passenger conveyor system designed as an escalator or moving walkway, as well as by a passenger conveyor system with such a connecting gear.

[0010] The passenger conveyor system is designed as an escalator or moving walkway and comprises a supporting structure, a circulating conveyor belt, and a drive for driving the conveyor belt. The drive comprises at least one motor, at least one connecting gear, and a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor via the connecting gear. The conveyor belt is guided over the drive shaft and can be moved or driven by the drive shaft. The conveyor belt is movably guided within the supporting structure. In the region of a first end of the supporting structure, the drive shaft is also rotatably mounted within the supporting structure. As a result, the internal forces of the conveyor belt described above (frictional forces due to movement as well as the mass of the conveyor belt and the load to be transported) are supported directly within the supporting structure. The motor is mounted on a drive frame separate from the supporting structure.

[0011] The connecting gear comprises a first section, a second section, and a connecting shaft with a connecting shaft rotation axis. An input shaft and a first gear set are operatively connected to one another in the first section. In the operational passenger conveyor system, the input shaft is directly or indirectly connected to a motor shaft of the motor, transmitting torque and rotational movement. The first section has a section transition for the connecting shaft, and the input shaft rotation axis and the connecting shaft rotation axis provided in the section transition are arranged in a first rotation axis plane.

[0012] In the second section, an output shaft for driving the drive shaft and a second gear set are operatively connected to each other. In the operational passenger conveyor system, the output shaft is directly connected to the drive shaft, transmitting torque and rotational movement. The second section has a section transition for the connecting shaft, and the output shaft rotation axis and the connecting shaft rotation axis provided in the section transition are arranged in a second rotation axis plane.

[0013] The first section is connected to the second section in the area of ​​their section transitions, with the connecting shaft extending through both section transitions in the connecting gear and connecting the first gear set to the second gear set, transmitting torque and rotational motion. The first rotational axis plane and the second rotational axis plane intersect along the connecting shaft rotation axis. The first section can be connected to the second section with respect to its first rotational axis plane at any selectable intermediate angle to the second rotational axis plane.

[0014] This design of the connecting gear allows a wide range of spatial distances between the drive frame and the drive shaft to be bridged using the same components, without having to adjust components of the drive frame or supporting structure. The shortest distance can be set with an interplane angle of 0°, and the longest distance with an interplane angle of 180°. Using the same components throughout, the connecting gear can be manufactured more cost-effectively in large quantities. This also reduces the required conformity tests that are required for "individual pieces."

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the first gear set, the second gear set, and the connecting shaft comprise spur gears. The use of spur gears allows for the construction of very narrow sections that are arranged side by side and connected to one another in the area of ​​the section transitions. For example, the first section can comprise a first housing section and the second section a second housing section, in which the gear sets and the shafts are rotatably arranged. The section transitions would then be housing openings through which the connecting shaft is arranged.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the first section and the second section have a complementary connecting contour in the area of ​​their section transitions. Analogous to a plug and a socket, a complementary connecting contour refers to contours that are not identical, but rather ideally matched to one another. By joining the two sections together using at least one connecting element, a continuous connecting gear can be created with regard to its transmission line.

[0017] Recesses for additional components such as sealing elements can also be provided in these contours. With reference to the aforementioned example, by joining the two housing sections together using at least one connecting element, a closed, fluid-tight gear housing of the connecting gear can be created in the area of ​​the housing openings. A screw connection, a rivet connection, a clamp connection, or a material-to-material connection can be used as the connecting element.

[0018] Material connections can be created by welding, soldering or gluing.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, one or each of the gear sets can have multiple increasing or decreasing stages, depending on the desired gear ratio. The connecting gear preferably has a gear ratio in the range of 1:1 to 1:200 from its output shaft to its input shaft.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, the output shaft of the connecting gear is designed as a hollow shaft. This allows the drive shaft to be arranged such that it extends through the hollow output shaft of the connecting gear and the second section of the connecting gear. As a result, the connecting gear is pivotally mounted in the supporting structure via the projecting drive shaft. This design ideally decouples the connecting gear or its connecting gear housing from external forces. In other words, the output shaft of the connecting gear has a bore through which the drive shaft can extend.If necessary, the output shaft with its output spur gear is split into two halves (the separation plane contains the output shaft's rotational axis and the output spur gear), and the connecting gear housing and the roller bearings are designed to be divisible in a similar manner in the area of ​​the output shaft. By opening the connecting gear housing at this point and dismantling the output spur gear, the connecting gear can be removed from the input shaft without removing the input shaft from the supporting structure. The input shaft can also have a shaft end protruding laterally from the supporting structure, onto which the output shaft, designed as a hollow shaft, and thus the connecting gear, can be inserted.

[0021] To prevent the connecting gear from rotating with the drive shaft, the connecting gear is supported by a torque arm on the supporting structure or drive frame. To relieve stress on the connection point at the section transitions, the torque arm is preferably positioned with one end on the second section.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the invention, the length of the torque support is adjustable. This has the advantage that the spatial position of the input shaft of the connecting gear relative to the drive frame can be precisely adjusted.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, an intermediate gear unit that transmits rotational motion and torque is arranged on the drive frame between the motor and the connecting gear unit. Thus, the motor and the intermediate gear unit are mounted on the drive frame. However, the motor can also be mounted on the drive frame via an intermediate gear unit housing. The intermediate gear unit housing also supports the weight and counter-torques of the motor on the drive frame. Since in both arrangement variants the intermediate gear unit and the motor are located outside the supporting structure, accessibility for maintenance work is very well ensured.

[0024] The intermediate gear is preferably a hypoid gear, a hypoid spur gear, or a worm gear. A hypoid spur gear is a gear with at least two stages, comprising a hypoid gear stage and a spur gear stage. Such gears allow a motor drive axis to be easily arranged along the longitudinal extension of the passenger conveyor system, so that, if necessary, two motors can be arranged side by side in terms of the width of the supporting structure. Furthermore, the design of the intermediate gear as a worm gear, hypoid spur gear, or hypoid gear enables a high transmission ratio in the range of 1:5 to 1:40 in the smallest possible space. The characteristic "longitudinal extension of the passenger conveyor system" defines a direction of extension of the passenger conveyor system that includes the two most distant physical points of the passenger conveyor system.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention, the connecting gear and the intermediate gear are connected to each other via a flexible coupling for torque transmission. This has the advantage of dampening vibrations in the drive train. Furthermore, the flexible coupling can also compensate for axial misalignments between the interconnected gear shafts of the two gears. A claw coupling or a pin coupling with flexible intermediate elements made of metal or plastic can be used as a flexible coupling, for example.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the invention, an auxiliary motor is mounted on the drive frame, which can be coupled to the input shaft of the intermediate gear or to a motor shaft of the motor by means of a clutch. The auxiliary motor is designed to move the conveyor belt at very low speed during maintenance work.

[0027] Multiple passenger transport systems can also be arranged side by side within a building, for example, connecting the same levels of the building. In such an arrangement, for example, two passenger conveyor systems of the aforementioned type are provided, with the supporting structures of both passenger conveyor systems arranged parallel to each other within the building and their drive frames offset from each other along the longitudinal extension of the passenger conveyor systems. This offset of the drive frames facilitates access to the drive components, and the connecting gear according to the invention can easily bridge the different distances between the drive shafts and the drive frames.

[0028] If, for reasons of accessibility during maintenance, an offset of the two drive shafts is necessary, an arrangement of two passenger conveyor systems of the aforementioned type can also be designed such that both the supporting structures of both passenger conveyor systems and their drive frames are arranged offset from each other in the longitudinal extension of the passenger conveyor systems within the structure. Different distances between the drive shafts and the drive frames, which may arise, for example, due to on-site deviations from the building's contour plan, can also be easily bridged by the connecting gear according to the invention.

[0029] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereby neither the drawings nor the description are to be interpreted as limiting the invention. Identical or equivalent features have the same reference numerals. They show: Figure 1: schematically shows a passenger conveyor system according to the invention in a side view, with a supporting structure, a drive frame and a drive, which drive has a drive shaft, a connecting gear, an intermediate gear and a motor; Figure 2: the drive from the Figure 1 in an enlarged, three-dimensional view, whereby for reasons of clarity the supporting structure and other components of the passenger conveyor system arranged thereon and in it are not shown; Figure 3: schematically in three-dimensional view of the inner movable components of the connecting gear from the Figure 2 and their spatial arrangement to each other; Figure 4: in enlarged side view a first end of the Figure 1 shown supporting structure, in the area of ​​which the drive and the drive frame are arranged; Figure 5: the Figure 4Detailed view of the connecting gear, marked "A"; Figure 6: a first possible arrangement of two adjacent passenger conveyor systems; Figure 7: a second possible arrangement of two adjacent passenger conveyor systems.

[0030] The figures are merely schematic and not to scale. The same reference numerals designate identical or equivalent features in the various figures.

[0031] Figure 1shows a schematic side view of a passenger conveyor system 1 designed as an escalator and connecting a first floor E1 with a second floor E2 of a building 3. The passenger conveyor system 1 has a supporting structure 11 composed of four serially connected supporting structure modules 13, 15, 17, 19. A first end 6 and a second end 8 of the supporting structure 11 are each supported on the floors E1, E2 via a support angle 16 arranged on the front side. Instead of via a support angle 16, the first end 6 and the second end 8 can also be supported on the floor 5 of the building 3 by means of a support 12 arranged on the floor side of the supporting structure 11.

[0032] The first supporting structure module 13, located on floor E2, has an access area 21. The fourth supporting structure module 19 also has an access area 23 and is located on floor E1. The second supporting structure module 15 and the third supporting structure module 17 are arranged between the first supporting structure module 13 and the fourth supporting structure module 19 and connect them. For the sake of clarity, only the outlines of the first and fourth supporting structure modules 13, 19 have been shown. The second and third supporting structure modules 15, 17 are shown in more detail and, in the present example, have an identical structure. The supporting structure modules 13, 15, 17, 19 are connected to one another via connection points 31. Detachable connecting elements such as high-strength screws are typically used for this purpose.

[0033] The passenger conveyor system 1 also has a drive frame 47 and a drive 41. The drive 41 comprises a drive shaft 67, a connecting gear 65, an intermediate gear 63 and a motor 61. The drive frame 47 is separated from the supporting structure 11, with anchor bolts 48 (see also Figure 4 ) is attached to the floor 5 of the structure 3. The drive 41 is arranged between the supporting structure 11 and the drive frame 47, wherein the drive shaft 67 is rotatably mounted in the supporting structure 11, the motor 61 and the intermediate gear 63 are attached to the drive frame 47, and the connecting gear 65 connects the intermediate gear 63 to the drive shaft 67 in a torque and rotational motion-transmitting manner.

[0034] The supporting structure 11 supports all other components of the passenger conveyor system 1 in a load-bearing manner and supports them on the structure 3. Such components include, for example, guide rails 43 and a control system 45 for controlling the drive 41. Furthermore, a conveyor belt 25 is arranged in the supporting structure 11. The conveyor belt 25 of the passenger conveyor system 1, which is designed as an escalator, has steps 27. In a moving walkway, the conveyor belt 25 would have pallets instead of steps 27. The conveyor belt 25 is guided for circumferential movement by the guide rails 43 and can be driven by the drive 41.

[0035] In other words, the drive shaft 67 is operatively connected to the motor 61 via the connecting gear 65 and the intermediate gear 63. The conveyor belt 25, which is movably arranged in the supporting structure 11, is guided over the drive shaft 67 and is driven and deflected by it.

[0036] Above the supporting structure 11, two balustrades 51 are mounted, which can be assembled from balustrade components 53, 55, 57 (due to the arrangement shown in the side view). Figure 1 only one of the two balustrades 51 is visible), with the balustrades 51 arranged on both sides of the conveyor belt 25 and fastened to the supporting structure 11 with fastening flanges 55. A handrail 29 is arranged on each of the two balustrades 51 so as to be movable in a circumferential direction. The two handrails 29 are driven synchronously with the conveyor belt 25. This can be done by means of a handrail drive (not shown) that is independent of the drive 41 or by means of a handrail drive wheel (not shown) that is connected to the drive 41 in a torque- and rotation-transmitting manner.

[0037] The Figure 2 shows the drive 41 from the Figure 1 in an enlarged, three-dimensional view. Its motor 61 and intermediate gear 63 are mounted on the drive frame 47. As already Figure 1 As explained, the drive shaft 67 of the drive 41 is rotatably mounted in the supporting structure 11, and the connecting gear 65 of the drive 41 connects the motor 61 via the intermediate gear 63 to the drive shaft 67, transmitting torque and rotational movement. For reasons of clarity, the supporting structure 11 and other components of the passenger conveyor system 1 arranged thereon and therein have not been shown. The conveyor belt 25 has also been omitted so that the two chain wheels 68 of the drive shaft 67 can be seen, which engage positively with the conveyor chains of the conveyor belt 25.

[0038] The Figure 3 shows schematically in three-dimensional view the drive shaft 67, as well as internal movable components of the connecting gear 65 from the Figure 2 and their spatial arrangement to each other. Figure 4 shows a sectioned, enlarged side view of the first end 6 of the Figure 1The supporting structure 11 shown in the drawing, in the area of ​​which the drive 41 and the drive frame 47 are arranged. Figures 2 to 4 described together.

[0039] As the Figure 4 As best shown, a motor shaft 96 of the motor 61 is connected via a service brake 97 to an input shaft 72 of the intermediate gear 63, transmitting torque and rotational movement. The intermediate gear 63 is a hypoid gear, hypoid spur gear, or worm gear and has a gear ratio of its output shaft 71 to its input shaft 72 that ranges from 1:5 to 1:40. The connecting gear 65 and the intermediate gear 63 are connected to one another via a flexible coupling 73, transmitting rotational movement and torque.

[0040] As the Figures 2 to 4As shown, the connecting gear 65 has a first section 64 in which an input shaft 74 and a first gear set 75 with two gears 76, 77 are operatively connected to one another. The connecting gear 65 also has a second section 66 in which an output shaft 78 and a second gear set 79 with three gears 81, 82, 83 are operatively connected to one another.

[0041] The first section 64 and the second section 66 are connected to each other at side surfaces 84, 85, preferably by means of detachable connecting elements 99 (see Figure 5) are firmly connected to one another. Each section 64, 66 has a section transition 86, 87 in these side surfaces 84, 85, wherein the two section transitions 86, 87 are arranged in alignment with one another when the two sections 64, 66 are assembled. The connecting gear 65 further comprises a connecting shaft 88 with a connecting shaft rotation axis 89, wherein the connecting shaft 88 is arranged in both sections 64, 66, penetrating the section transitions 86, 87. An input shaft rotation axis 90 of the input shaft 74 and the connecting shaft rotation axis 89 are arranged in a first rotation axis plane 91. In an analogous manner, an output shaft rotation axis 93 of the output shaft 78 and the connecting shaft rotation axis 89 are arranged in a second rotation axis plane 92. For better spatial orientation, both rotation axis planes 91, 92 are in both Figures 2 and 3 shown.

[0042] The connecting shaft 88 not only extends through both section transitions 86, 87, but also connects the first gear set 75 to the second gear set 79, transmitting torque and rotational movement. Since the connecting shaft rotation axis 89 is arranged in both rotational axis planes 91, 92, the two rotational axis planes 91, 92 of the assembled connecting gear 65 intersect along the connecting shaft rotation axis 89. As a result, the first section 64 can be connected to the second section 66 with respect to its first rotational axis plane 91 at any selectable intermediate plane angle α to the second rotational axis plane 92. By changing the intermediate plane angle α, for example, to the intermediate plane angle β (see Figure 4 ), the position of the drive shaft 67 relative to the input shaft 74 can be adjusted as required using one and the same transmission components. This is shown in the Figure 4exemplified by the indicated drive shaft 76'. The greatest possible distance between the input shaft 74 and the drive shaft 67 is achieved when the plane-intermediate angle β = 180° and the rotational axis 93 of the output shaft 78, the connecting shaft rotational axis 89, and the rotational axis 90 of the input shaft 74 lie in a common plane.

[0043] As in the Figure 3Symbolically represented by pitch circles, the first gear set 75 and the second gear set 79 have spur gears 76, 77, 81, 82, 83. These spur gears 76, 77, 81, 82, 83 can be straight-toothed, helical-toothed, or herringbone-toothed. The arrangement shown is merely exemplary; depending on the desired gear ratio, the first gear set 75 and / or the second gear set 79 can have multiple gear stages. The connecting gear 65 can therefore have a gear ratio in the range of 1:1 to 1:200 from its output shaft 78 to its input shaft 74.

[0044] In the Figure 3It is also evident how the connecting gear 65 and the drive shaft 67 are connected to each other to transmit torque and rotational motion. For this purpose, the output shaft 78 of the connecting gear 65 is designed as a hollow shaft, so that the drive shaft 67 can be arranged so that it extends through the output shaft 78 and the second section 66 of the connecting gear 65.

[0045] In other words, the output shaft 78 can be plugged onto the drive shaft 67. In order to transmit the high torque acting there from the output shaft 78 to the drive shaft 67, known elements such as gearing, wedges, flanges, pins, and the like are provided between the drive shaft 67 and the output shaft 78. Due to the arrangement described above, the connecting gear 65 is pivotally mounted in the supporting structure 11 via the projecting drive shaft 67. To ensure that no reaction forces act on the flexible coupling 73 during operation, the second section 66 has a fastening eye 95, between which and the drive frame 47 a torque arm 94 is arranged. The length of the torque arm 94 is adjustable so that the input shaft 74 can be adjusted so that it is aligned with the flexible coupling 73.

[0046] Also mounted on the drive frame 47 is an auxiliary motor 111, which can be coupled to the input shaft 72 of the intermediate gear 63 by means of a clutch 112. If necessary, the auxiliary motor 111 can also be coupled to the motor shaft 96 of the motor 61. The auxiliary motor 111 is intended to move the unloaded conveyor belt 25 at a very low speed during maintenance work.

[0047] The Figure 5 shows the Figure 4 Detailed view A of the connecting gear 65, and in particular a partial section through the two sections 64, 66 in the area of ​​the connecting shaft 88, or in the area of ​​the section transitions 86, 87. In addition to the connecting shaft 88, spur gears 76, 82, 83 of the first gear set 75 and the second gear set 79 can also be seen. The spur gear 82, which is not located in the section plane, has, for example, helical gearing.

[0048] As shown, the first section 64 and the second section 66 have a complementary connecting contour 101 in the region of their section transitions 86, 87. By joining the two sections 64, 66 together using at least one connecting element 99, a closed, fluid-tight housing of the connecting gear 65 can be produced in the region of the section transitions 86, 87. Of course, other complementary connecting contours 101 can also be provided, for example with an annular groove (not shown) surrounding the section transitions 86, 87, into which a sealing ring is inserted and can be clamped between sealing surfaces. A sealing agent such as a curing or non-curing silicone compound can also be used. The sealing agent can be introduced between the contact surfaces of the two sections 64, 66 during assembly. In the present exemplary embodiment, screws are used as connecting elements 99.Depending on the design of the complementary connection contour 101, a clamp connection or a material connection can also be used.

[0049] Further advantages of the connecting gear 65 according to the invention are shown in the Figures 6 and 7 described, whereby the Figure 6 a first possible arrangement 103 of two adjacent passenger conveyor systems 1 and the Figure 7 a second possible arrangement 105 of two adjacent passenger conveyor systems 1.

[0050] The first arrangement 103 already demonstrates the great advantage of the second section 66, which is very flat due to spur gears. This section is arranged outside the supporting structure 11 and requires only minimal additional space to the side in the area of ​​the drive 41. The first section 64 is arranged within a width B of the supporting structure 11, so that no additional space to the side of the structure is required here either. The supporting structures 11 of the two passenger conveyor systems 1 can already be arranged quite close to one another.

[0051] The second arrangement 105 shows an even smaller distance between the two adjacent support structures 11. Since the first section 64 can be arranged at any intermediate plane angle α, β to the second section 66, "mirror-inverted" connecting gears 65 can also be assembled using the same connecting gear components. Support structures 11 arranged closely to one another have the great advantage that, for example, when constructing subway stations, fewer wide tunnels or shafts need to be excavated for the passenger transport systems 1. This saves enormous costs. Furthermore, in an existing shaft, instead of three existing passenger transport systems (as disclosed, for example, in RU 2 508 242 C2), four new passenger transport systems 1 according to the second arrangement 105 can be installed without having to widen the shaft.

[0052] In the aforementioned arrangements 103, 105, the supporting structures 11 of both passenger conveyor systems 1 are arranged parallel to each other in the structure 3. However, their drive frames 47 can be offset from each other in the longitudinal extension of the passenger conveyor systems 1. This offset of the drive frames 47 facilitates access to the components of the drive 41, whereby the different distances between the drive shafts 67 and the drive frames 47 can be easily bridged by the connecting gear 65 according to the invention.

[0053] If, for reasons of accessibility during maintenance, an offset of the two drive shafts 67 is also required, an arrangement 103, 105 of two passenger conveyor systems 1 of the aforementioned type can also be designed such that both the supporting structures 11 of both passenger conveyor systems 1 and their drive frames 47 are arranged in the structure 3 offset from one another in the longitudinal extension of the passenger conveyor systems 1. Different distances between the drive shafts 67 and the drive frames 47, which arise, for example, from on-site deviations from the contour plan of the structure 3, can also be easily bridged by the connecting gear 65 according to the invention.

[0054] Although in the Figures 1 to 7Since passenger conveyor systems 1 designed exclusively as escalators are shown, it is obvious that the connecting gear 65 according to the invention and the drive 41 created thereby can equally well be used in moving walkways. Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "having," "comprising," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

1. A connecting gear mechanism (65) of a passenger-transporting system (1) designed as an escalator or moving walkway, by means of which connecting gear mechanism (65) a motor (61) can be operatively connected to a drive shaft (67) of the passenger-transporting system (1), wherein the connecting gear mechanism (65) comprises a connecting shaft (88) having a connecting shaft axis of rotation (89); wherein the connecting gear mechanism (65) has a first section (64) in which an input shaft (74) and a first gearwheel set (75) are arranged so as to be operatively connected to one another, the first section (64) having a section transition (87) for the connecting shaft (88), and an input shaft axis of rotation (90) of the input shaft (74) and the connecting shaft axis of rotation (89) provided in the section transition (87) being arranged in a first axis of rotation plane (91); wherein the connecting gear mechanism (65) has a second section (66) in which an output shaft (78) for driving the drive shaft (67) and a second gearwheel set (79) are arranged so as to be operatively connected to one another, the second section (66) having a section transition (86) for the connecting shaft (88), and an output shaft axis of rotation (93) of the output shaft (78) and the connecting shaft axis of rotation (89) provided in the section transition (86) being arranged in a second axis of rotation plane (92); and wherein in the region of their section transitions (86, 87), the first section (64) is connected to the second section (66), the connecting shaft (88) being arranged in the connecting gear mechanism (65) so as to protrude through both section transitions (86, 87) and connecting the first gearwheel set (75) to the second gearwheel set (79) so as to transmit torque and rotary motion, the first axis of rotation plane (91) intersecting the second axis of rotation plane (92) along the connecting shaft axis of rotation (89) and the first section (64) being connected to the second section (66) such that its first axis of rotation plane (91) is at any selectable plane intermediate angle (α, β) to the second section (92).

2. The connecting gear mechanism (65) according to claim 1, wherein the first gearwheel set (75) and the second gearwheel set (79) comprise spur gears (76, 77, 81, 82, 83).

3. The connecting gear mechanism (65) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first section (64) and the second section (66) have a complementary connecting contour (101) in the region of their section transitions (86, 87) and by joining the two sections (64, 66) together by means of at least one connecting element (99), a connecting gear mechanism (65) can be created which has a continuous transmission line.

4. The connecting gear mechanism (65) according to claim 3, wherein the connecting element (99) is a screw connection, a clamp connection or an integral bond.

5. The connecting gear mechanism (65) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connecting gear mechanism (65) has a gear ratio of its output shaft (78) to its input shaft (74) in the range of 1:1 to 1:200.

6. A passenger-transporting system (1) designed as an escalator or moving walkway; comprising a support structure (11), a circulating conveyor belt (25) and a drive (41) for driving the conveyor belt (25), wherein the drive (41) has at least one motor (61), at least one connecting gear mechanism (65) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a drive shaft (67) which is operatively connected to the motor (61) via the connecting gear mechanism (65), wherein the conveyor belt (25) is movably arranged in the support structure (11) and is guided via the drive shaft (67) and is movable by means of the drive shaft (67); wherein the drive shaft (67) is rotatably mounted in the support structure (11) and the motor (61) is arranged on a drive frame (47) separate from the support structure (11) in the region of a first end (6) of the support structure (11).

7. The passenger-transporting system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the output shaft (78) of the connecting gear mechanism (65) is designed as a hollow shaft and the drive shaft (67) protrudes through the output shaft (78) and the second section (66) of the connecting gear mechanism (65); the connecting gear mechanism (65) is pivotally mounted in the support structure (11) by the protruding drive shaft (67) and the connecting gear mechanism (65) is supported on the support structure (11) or on the drive frame (47) via a torque support (94).

8. The passenger-transporting system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the length of the torque support (94) is adjustable.

9. The passenger-transporting system (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a rotary motion- and torque-transmitting intermediate gear (63) is arranged on the drive frame (47) between the motor (61) and the connecting gear mechanism (65).

10. The passenger-transporting system (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the intermediate gear (63) is a hypoid gear, a hypoid spur gear or a worm gear and has a gear ratio of its output shaft (78) to its input shaft (74) in the range of 1:5 to 1:40.

11. The passenger-transporting system (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the connecting gear mechanism (65) and the intermediate gear (63) are connected to one another so as to transmit torque and rotary motion via a resilient coupling (73).

12. The passenger-transporting system (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein an auxiliary motor (111) is arranged on the drive frame (47), which can be coupled by means of a clutch gear (112) to the input shaft (74) of the intermediate gear (63) or to a motor shaft (96) of the motor (61).

13. An arrangement (103, 105) of two passenger-transporting systems (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the support structures (11) of the two passenger-transporting systems (1) are arranged in parallel with one another in the building structure (3) and their drive frames (47) are arranged offset from one another in the longitudinal extension of the passenger-transporting systems (1).

14. An arrangement (103, 105) of two passenger-transporting systems (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the support structures (11) of the two passenger-transporting systems (1) and their drive frames (47) are arranged in the building structure (3) offset from one another in the longitudinal extension of the passenger-transporting systems (1).