Roller arrangement for a handrail guide profile of an escalator or a moving walkway

Abstract

The invention relates to a roller arrangement (25) which can be embedded in a groove (61, 63) of a handrail guide profile (19) of an escalator (11) or a moving walkway (21). The roller arrangement (25) comprises a bearing block (71) and at least one roller axis (81) with a roller (31), wherein the roller (31) is mounted rotatably in the bearing block (71) by means of the roller axis (81). In addition, the roller arrangement (25) has at least one locking element (83, 93, 96) and a clamping element (85), which are arranged interacting with one another on the bearing block (71) in such a way that, when a roller arrangement (25) is embedded in the groove (61, 63), the locking element (83, 93, 96) can be braced by means of the clamping element (85) between mutually opposed walls (65, 67) of the groove (61, 63).

Description

[0001] Roller arrangement for a handrail guide profile of an escalator or

[0002] Fahrsteiges

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a roller arrangement for a handrail guide profile, a handrail guide profile with a roller arrangement, and an escalator or a moving walkway with such a handrail guide profile.

[0004] Escalators and moving walkways feature handrails arranged around their balustrades, which move synchronously with the escalator's step belt or the moving walkway's pallet belt. These handrails are usually wire-strand-reinforced profile belts made of elastomer material and are guided by handrail guide profiles, often referred to as handrail guide rails. The handrail guide profiles are usually sheet metal profiles made of steel or stainless steel, or extruded profiles made of polymer material or aluminum, which have a roughly hat-shaped cross-section. The handrail guide profiles are generally not provided with a wear-reducing, low-friction structure. As a result, the handrail is in direct contact with the handrail guide profile. In escalators and moving walkways used outdoors, rainwater can penetrate between the handrail guide profiles and the handrails.This leads to varying frictional resistance, which can cause the handrail to exhibit erratic movements during operation. These not only cause an unpleasant ride for users, but also pose several hidden hazards and can even trigger a monitoring sensor and stop the escalator or moving walkway.

[0005] To reduce frictional resistance when the handrail is subject to significant deflection, DE 29500800 U1, for example, proposes using rollers instead of handrail guide profiles in these areas. EP 3 587 335 A2 discloses a roller arrangement with multiple rollers that are attached to the handrail guide profile by means of a sheet metal strip and fastening screws. For this purpose, the handrail guide profiles are provided with fastening holes on site, which entails considerable assembly effort. Furthermore, the individual sheet metal strips must be tailored to the areas to be fitted with rollers. The object of the present invention is to minimize the assembly effort for rollers in the handrail guide profiles and to make them more flexible.

[0006] This problem is solved by a roller assembly that is suitable for being embedded in a groove of a handrail guide profile of an escalator or moving walkway. Specifically, this means that the dimensions of the roller assembly are such that it can be inserted into the groove and fastened therein. The roller assembly comprises a bearing block and at least one roller axle with a roller. The roller is rotatably mounted in the bearing block by means of the roller axle. In addition, the roller assembly has at least one locking element and one tensioning element that are arranged on the bearing block so as to interact with one another such that, when the roller assembly is inserted into the groove, the locking element can be tensioned between opposing walls of the groove by means of the tensioning element.

[0007] In other words, the roller assembly has a locking element that can be moved by the tensioning element from an untensioned position, in which the roller assembly can be easily inserted into the groove, to a tensioned position in which the roller assembly can no longer be removed from the groove. This means that no changes to the handrail guide profiles are required to securely and permanently attach a roller assembly. In addition, this roller assembly is extremely flexible in its use, as individual rollers can be attached at freely selectable distances from one another in the groove of the handrail guide profile, eliminating the need to insert an entire strip of rollers. This saves considerable assembly effort and material costs, as a roller assembly is only mounted where appropriate support is required.

[0008] The locking element and the clamping element can have very different designs. Screw connections, for example, can be used as the clamping element. Of course, lever arrangements such as toggle levers or eccentric arrangements can also be used to apply a clamping force to the locking element. The clamping element preferably has a threaded bolt and a threaded nut. In a first embodiment of the roller arrangement, the locking element is a curved leaf spring element. A support surface on which the locking element is arranged is formed on the bearing block. The curvature of the leaf spring element spans the support surface. By means of the clamping element, the curvature of the locking element can be variably flattened on the support surface, thereby changing its lateral extent or width.This change in width is used to clamp the clamping element between opposing groove walls. Depending on the design of the locking element and the applied force of the clamping element, the roller assembly is secured in the groove by force (frictional engagement) and / or form (notch formation on the groove walls).

[0009] In a second embodiment of the roller arrangement, the locking element is designed as a wedge element. In addition, a wedge surface is formed on the bearing block, on which the locking element is arranged so as to be linearly displaceable. Due to the shape of the wedge surface and wedge element, the wedge element can be displaced orthogonally to the direction of the clamping force and relative to the bearing block as a result of a clamping force of the clamping element, analogous to the leaf spring element described above. This also changes the width of the roller arrangement until the wedge element, on the one hand, and the contours of the bearing block, on the other, rest against the opposite walls of the groove. The clamping force acting on the walls depends on the reduction ratio of the wedge element, or more precisely, on its wedge angle.

[0010] The third version of the locking element is very similar to the second version, except that it comprises two wedges. A support surface is formed on the bearing block, on which the two wedges are arranged, linearly movable and complementing each other in their inclination. Functionally, the third version differs from the second version only in that both wedges can be moved relative to each other and to the support surface.

[0011] To achieve even more secure fastening or anchoring of the roller assembly in the handrail guide profile, the areas of the locking element intended for contact with the walls of the groove can have a stamped edge. In principle, the clamping element and / or the locking element can be designed so that once clamped between the walls of the groove, a locking element can no longer be released. For this purpose, the clamping element and / or the locking element can have interlocking structures, plastically deformable areas, snap-in elements, or securing means such as anaerobic adhesives, securing elements, and the like.

[0012] The bearing block of the roller assembly has two side walls with mounts for the roller axle. The two side walls are connected to each other by a base structure of the bearing block, so that the bearing block has a U-shaped cross-section formed by the side walls and the base structure. The locking element and at least one clamping element associated with the locking element are arranged, for example, on the base structure.

[0013] To allow for roller replacement without having to remove the bearing block from the groove of the handrail guide profile, the recesses in the side walls are preferably designed as U-shaped recesses. Their open areas are oriented away from the floor structure. The roller spindle can be inserted into these recesses. The handrail, which is guided over the rollers, secures the roller spindle against falling out of the bearing block.

[0014] To prevent relative movements and thus wear between the bearing block and the roller axis, complementary form-fitting structures can be formed between the roller axis and at least one of the recesses to prevent rotation.

[0015] The aforementioned handrail guide profile can be equipped with at least one of the roller assemblies described above before it is installed in the balustrade of an elevator staircase or elevator walkway. Of course, handrail guide profiles of existing elevator staircases or elevator walkways can also be equipped with these roller assemblies, provided that these handrail guide profiles have at least one suitable groove. In principle, the groove only needs to have two opposing walls, the spacing of which is coordinated with the locking element in the intended area. The cross-section of the groove can be designed as desired, although a trapezoidal cross-section of the groove should not widen too much towards the open side of the groove, as a tight locking element could become loose due to vibrations during operation.The design of the groove base located between the walls is largely irrelevant; it can be a concave surface, a surface positioned at an angle to the walls, etc. However, grooves with a rectangular cross-section are particularly suitable.

[0016] 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:

[0017] Figure 1: schematically, a section of a balustrade of an escalator or moving walkway in side view with a handrail which is movable all the way around and guided by a handrail guide profile, with roller arrangements embedded in the handrail guide profile being indicated;

[0018] Figure 2: enlarged, the cross section A - A shown in Figure 1 through the handrail and the handrail guide profile with two roller arrangements arranged side by side in a first embodiment;

[0019] Figure 3: a roller arrangement shown in Figure 2 in three-dimensional view;

[0020] Figure 4: enlarged, the cross section A - A shown in Figure 1 through the handrail and the handrail guide profile, with a roller arrangement in a second embodiment and with a roller arrangement in a third embodiment.

[0021] The figures are merely schematic and not to scale. Like reference numerals designate like or equivalent features in the different figures. Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a section of a balustrade 3 of an escalator 11 or a moving walkway 21. The balustrade 3 has several balustrade panels 5, 7, 9, which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal extension of the escalator 11 or the moving walkway 21. The balustrade panels 5, 7, 9 are firmly connected at their lower edge 13 to the other static components of the escalator 11 or the moving walkway 21 by fastening means (not shown) within a balustrade base 15. A handrail guide profile 19, which guides a circumferentially movable handrail 23, is arranged on further edges 17 of the balustrade panels 5, 7, 9.Furthermore, Figure 1 shows a number of roller assemblies 25, which are distributed along a guide path S of the handrail guide profile 19 and embedded in the handrail guide profile 19. For clarity, only the rollers 31 of the roller assemblies 25 (see Figures 2 and 3) are shown in normal line thickness. Strictly speaking, these parts, invisible from the outside, should be shown with a thin, dashed line.

[0022] Figure 1 also shows that the roller assemblies 25 can be arranged at different distances B, C, D from one another in the handrail guide profile 19. For example, where changes in the direction of the handrail 23 and thus high compressive forces on the handrail guide profile must be supported, the roller assemblies 25 are arranged closer to one another.

[0023] Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross-section A-A shown in Figure 1 through the handrail 23 and the handrail guide profile 19. The handrail 23 has a C-shaped cross-section and is made of an elastic polymer material. The lateral guide grooves 51, 53 of the handrail 19, created by the C-shaped cross-section, surround laterally projecting strips 55, 57 of the handrail guide profile 19 and thus form a sliding guide for the handrail 23, which can be moved relative to the handrail guide profile 19.

[0024] The handrail guide profile 19 has three parallel grooves 59, 61, 63 that extend in the longitudinal direction of the handrail guide profile 19. The middle groove 59, designed as a plug-in connection, serves to attach the handrail guide profile 19 to the edge regions 17 of the balustrade panels 5, 7, 9. Roller assemblies 25 can be embedded in the other two grooves 61, 63. "Embedded" in this document means that the roller assembly 25 is inserted into the groove 61, 63 and securely fastened therein. The roller 31 protrudes from the groove 61, 63 and distances an inner surface 33 of the handrail 23 resting on the rollers 31 from the strips 55, 57 of the handrail guide profile 19.

[0025] In cross-section AA of Figure 2, a roller assembly 25 is embedded side by side in each of the two outer grooves 61, 63. Such a paired arrangement is advantageous so that the handrail 23 is also supported across its width (orthogonal to the guide path S) by the roller assemblies 25.

[0026] One of the two roller arrangements 25 shown in Figure 2 is also shown in three-dimensional view in Figure 3, which is why Figures 2 and 3 are described together below.

[0027] The roller assembly 25 in a first embodiment essentially comprises a bearing block 71, a roller axle 81, a roller 31, two locking elements 83, and two clamping elements 85. In the present embodiment, a commercially available steel ball bearing is used as the roller 31. Of course, other rollers 31 can also be used, for example, having a plain bearing bushing matched to the roller axle 81. The rotational axis R of the roller 31 is arranged orthogonally to the guide path S of the handrail guide profile 19 (see also Figure 1).

[0028] The bearing block 71 is designed as a bent sheet metal part and comprises two side cheeks 73, 74 with receptacles 77 for the roller axle 81 and a base structure 75 connecting the two side cheeks 73, 74. The bearing block 71 has a U-shaped cross-section formed by the side cheeks 73, 74 and the base structure 75, so that the roller 31 can be arranged between the two side cheeks 73, 74. The distance W between the two side cheeks 73, 74 is also coordinated with a groove width T of the opposing walls 65, 67 of the two outer grooves 61, 63, so that the bearing block 71 can be inserted into the groove 61, 63 with sufficient play.

[0029] The receptacles 77 formed in the side walls 73, 74 are U-shaped recesses. This allows the roller axle 81, together with the roller 31, to be easily inserted into or removed from the receptacles 77. This is possible even if the bearing block 71 is embedded in a groove 61, 63.

[0030] The locking elements 83 and the tensioning elements 85 serve to fasten the roller assembly 25 in the groove 61, 63 of the handrail guide profile 19. For each locking element 83, a support surface 79 is formed on the base structure 75 of the bearing block 71. The locking element 83 is arranged on this support surface 79. The locking element 83 is a curved leaf spring element, with the curvature of the leaf spring element spanning the support surface 79. Also arranged on the support surface 79 is a threaded bolt 86, which protrudes vertically from the support surface 79 and passes through a bore 84 of the locking element 83. Furthermore, a self-locking threaded nut 87 is arranged on the threaded bolt 86, with the locking element 83 being arranged between the support surface 79 and the threaded nut 87. If the threaded nut 87 is now screwed against the support surface 79, the locking element 83 is increasingly flattened.This changes the width of the locking element 83 relative to the opposing walls 65, 67 of the groove 61, 63, until the areas of the locking element 83 intended to engage the walls 65, 67 of the groove 61, 63 are in contact with them. By further tightening the threaded nut 87, these areas are clamped with increasing force against the walls 65, 67 of the groove 61, 63. The threaded bolt 86 and the threaded nut 87 thus form a clamping element 85 for the locking element 83.

[0031] To prevent the roller axis 81 from rotating in the receptacles 77, complementary structures 91, 92 in the form of surfaces are formed on the roller axis 81 and on the recesses 77. These together provide a positive fit with respect to a rotational movement about the rotation axis R and thus form an anti-rotation device between the roller axis 81 and at least one recess 77.

[0032] Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the cross-section A - A shown in Figure 1 through the handrail 23 and the handrail guide profile 19, as well as a roller arrangement 25 in a second embodiment and a roller arrangement 25 in a third embodiment. The basic structure of the second and third embodiments essentially corresponds to the first embodiment. The two differ from the first embodiment only in the differently designed locking elements 93, 96. The roller arrangement 25 of the second embodiment has a wedge-shaped locking element 96. Instead of a support surface 79, a wedge surface 97 is formed on the bearing block 71, on which the wedge-shaped locking element 96 is arranged so as to be linearly displaceable. As can be seen from Figure 4, a wedge angle α of the locking element 96 and the wedge surface 97 complement each other, so that the threaded nut 87 of the clamping element 85 can act flatly on the wedge-shaped locking element 96.The wedge angle a should be greater than a resulting solid friction angle, which depends on the friction coefficients between the threaded nut 87, the locking element 96, and the wedge surface 97. When the threaded nut 87 is tightened, the locking element 96 moves against one of the two walls 67 of the groove 61 and presses the opposite side of the bearing block 71 against the opposite wall 65 of the groove 61. As a result, the roller assembly 25 is not embedded centrally in the groove 61.

[0033] To centrally embed the roller assembly 25, the third embodiment has a locking element 93 with two wedges 94, 95. As with the first embodiment, a support surface 79 is formed on the bearing block 71, on which the two wedges 94, 95 are arranged, complementing each other's inclinations and linearly displaceable relative to each other. When the threaded nut 87 is tightened, one wedge 94 of the locking element 93 moves against one of the two walls 67 of the groove 63, and the other wedge 95 of the locking element 93 moves against the opposite wall 65 of the groove 63.

[0034] The areas of the previously described locking elements 83, 93, 96 intended for engagement with the walls 65, 67 of the groove 61, 63 can have a stamped edge 99 (see Figure 3). This stamped edge 99 partially digs into the material of the handrail guide profile 19 when the clamping element 85 is tightened, thereby creating a positive fit that further secures the roller assembly 25 against detachment from the groove 61, 63 and / or against displacement within the groove 61, 63 along the guide path S.

[0035] Although a screw is always shown as the clamping element 85 in Figures 2 to 4, it is obvious that other clamping elements 85, such as toggle clamping devices, eccentric clamping devices, and the like, can be used for the present invention to apply a force to the locking element 83, 93, 96 and to clamp it in the groove of the handrail guide profile 19. Furthermore, a roller arrangement 25 can also have more than one roller 31, which are rotatably mounted side by side on the same roller axis 81 or one behind the other on several roller axis 81 in the same bearing block 71.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising," "having," 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 limiting.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Roller arrangement (25) which is suitable for being embedded in a groove (61, 63) of a handrail guide profile (19) of an escalator (11) or a moving walkway (21), wherein the roller arrangement (25) comprises a bearing block (71) and at least one roller axle (81) with a roller (31), and the roller (31) is rotatably mounted in the bearing block (71) by means of the roller axle (81), characterized in that the roller arrangement (25) has at least one locking element (83, 93, 96) and a tensioning element (85), which are arranged on the bearing block (71) in such a way that they interact with one another that, when the roller arrangement (25) is inserted into the groove (61, 63), the locking element (83, 93, 96) can be tensioned between opposite walls (65, 67) of the groove (61, 63) by means of the tensioning element (85).

2. Roller arrangement (25) according to claim 1, wherein the locking element (83) is a curved leaf spring element and a support surface (79) is formed on the bearing block (71), on which support surface the locking element (83) is arranged, wherein the curvature of the leaf spring element spans the support surface (79).

3. Roller arrangement (25) according to claim 1, wherein the locking element (96) is designed as a wedge element and a wedge surface (97) is formed on the bearing block (71), on which wedge surface the locking element (96) is arranged so as to be linearly displaceable.

4. Roller arrangement (25) according to claim 1, wherein the locking element (93) comprises two wedges (94, 95) and a support surface (79) is formed on the bearing block (71), on which support surface the two wedges (94, 95) are arranged so as to complement each other in terms of inclination and to be linearly displaceable.

5. Roller arrangement (25) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the clamping element (85) has a threaded bolt (86) and a threaded nut (87).

6. Roller arrangement (25) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the regions of the locking element (83, 93, 96) intended to engage with the walls (65, 67) of the groove (61, 63) have an embossed edge (99).

7. Roller arrangement (25) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bearing block (71) comprises two side cheeks (73, 74) with receptacles (77) for the roller axis (81) and a base structure (75) connecting the two side cheeks (73, 74), and wherein the bearing block (71) has a U-shaped cross-section formed by the side cheeks (73, 74) and the base structure (75).

8. Roller arrangement (25) according to claim 7, wherein the receptacles (77) formed in the side cheeks (73, 74) are U-shaped recesses.

9. Roller arrangement (25) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein complementary form-fitting structures (91, 92) are formed as anti-twist devices between the roller axis (81) and at least one recess.

10. Roller arrangement (25) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein at least one locking element (83, 93, 96) and at least one tensioning element (85) associated with the locking element (83, 93, 96) are arranged on the floor structure (75).

11. Handrail guide profile (19) with at least one roller arrangement (25) according to one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Escalator (11) or moving walkway (21) with at least one handrail guide profile (19) according to claim 11.

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