Device for removing liquids and dirt

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (31) for removing fluids (99) and dirt from a moving handrail (15) of an escalator (1) or a travelator. The device (31) comprises a holder (33) and a scraper body (41) having a scraper lip (43), wherein the scraper lip (43) has a wedge-shaped cross-section (Q). In addition, a collecting channel (45) is formed in the scraper body (41) adjacent to the scraper lip (43).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for removing liquids and dirt from a movable handrail of an escalator or moving walkway.

[0002] Escalators and moving walkways are used to transport people and objects in buildings such as train stations, subway stations, airports, shopping centers, department stores, and the like. For transport, escalators and moving walkways have a continuously moving, walkable conveyor belt. To protect people from falls during travel, escalators and moving walkways have balustrades on both sides of the conveyor belt, each with a handrail. According to relevant standards, such as EN 115, both handrails must be driven at the same speed as the conveyor belt. Handrails typically have a C-shaped cross-section. Their leading edge is guided by a T-shaped guide profile rigidly attached to the balustrade, with the guide profile positioned within the inner cross-section of the handrail.The return of the retracting column is concealed from the people, within a balustrade base of the balustrade.

[0003] As disclosed, for example, in EP 2 931 645 B1, a handrail is driven by a handrail drive wheel located inside the escalator or moving walkway. This wheel transmits its drive torque and motion to the inside of the C-shaped handrail via friction. As long as the escalator or moving walkway is located indoors and protected from the elements, there are hardly any problems with traction between the handrail and the handrail drive wheel. However, in escalators and moving walkways installed wholly or partially outdoors, a significant amount of liquid, especially water, can accumulate on the inside of the C-shaped handrail during rainy weather, drastically altering the friction between the handrail drive wheel and the handrail. This can result in stick-slip effects, leading to uneven movement of the handrail that is uncomfortable for the user.Furthermore, most regulations, such as the EN115 standard, prohibit a handrail speed that is slower than the conveyor belt speed.

[0004] To solve this problem, JP H0439288 A discloses a displacement body in the form of a wedge plow, which pushes the water droplets aside on the surface of the handrail. However, this solution is ineffective with larger quantities of water on the inside of the handrail, as the water pushed aside immediately flows back onto the surface after passing the displacement body.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide reliable means to prevent larger quantities of liquid from getting between the handrail drive wheel and the surface of the handrail that is in contact with the handrail drive wheel.

[0006] This task is solved by a device for removing liquids and dirt from a movable handrail of an escalator or moving walkway. The device comprises a holder and a wiper body with a wiper lip. The wiper lip has a wedge-shaped cross-section. The wiper body can be made of one or more polymer materials, composite materials, or metal. The wiper lip can be formed integrally with the wiper body. Of course, the wiper lip can also be manufactured as a separate component and attached to the wiper body. If the wiper lip is to be made of a more elastic and softer material than the wiper body, manufacturing it as a multi-component injection-molded plastic part is a suitable option.

[0007] According to the invention, a collecting channel is formed adjacent to the wiper lip in the wiper body. This collects and channels the liquid wiped off by the wiper lip in the collecting channel, so that it no longer flows back onto the handrail surface.

[0008] In one design, the collecting channel empties into a drain line of the device to continuously remove the accumulated liquid from the area. Dirt or dirt particles scraped from the handrail surface by the wiper lip are largely carried into the drain line by the liquid. The wiper lip and the collecting channel may need to be cleaned periodically by maintenance personnel.

[0009] In an alternative design, the collecting channel empties into a connection spigot integrated into the scraper body. This connection spigot is designed to be connected to a drain pipe. Because the drain pipe can be detached from the device in this design, the device is easier to install and maintain, and the drain pipe can be replaced more easily if it becomes clogged.

[0010] In another embodiment of the device, it has at least one guide roller which is rotatably mounted on the scraper body. Depending on the arrangement of the at least one guide roller, it is in contact with an outer surface of the handrail or with a surface of the inner cross-section of the handrail when the device is ready for use.

[0011] In a further development of the device, the at least one guide roller is arranged on the wiper body such that its rolling surface partially protrudes from the wiper body. The projection of the rolling surface to the wiper body is less than two millimeters, preferably 1.5 mm to 0.1 mm, and particularly preferably 0.7 mm to 0.5 mm. The guide roller serves to position and guide the wiper body within the inner cross-section of the handrail, thereby maintaining the wiper lip at a constant, very small distance relative to the surface of the inner cross-section. This lip distance minimizes wear on the wiper lip and ensures that virtually all liquid is wiped from the surface within the inner cross-section. The lip distance can be 0.0 mm to 0.1 mm, preferably 0.001 mm to 0.05 mm.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the device, a first guide roller protrudes from a base surface of the wiper body, a second guide roller from a left side surface of the wiper body, and a third guide roller from a right side surface of the wiper body. The axes of rotation of the second and third guide rollers are parallel to each other and orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the first guide roller within the wiper body. This design allows the wiper body to be guided precisely and with minimal wear against all inner surfaces of the handrail's internal cross-section.

[0013] The device's mounting comprises a first mounting element designed for fixed attachment to a stationary component of an escalator or moving walkway. This stationary component could, for example, be a supporting structure of the escalator or moving walkway. The mounting also includes a second mounting element that is fixedly connected to the first mounting element, with limited movement within a plane and perpendicular to that plane. This plane is chosen such that, when the device is installed in the escalator, it extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and thus to the direction of movement of the handrail. The scraper element is attached to the second mounting element. In this document, the term "limited movement" means that the second mounting element can move within this plane and within fixed limits, without significant resistance relative to the first mounting element.Only minimal movements are possible perpendicular to this plane, determined by the necessary clearance between the first and second mounting parts. This floating connection minimizes the forces on the wiper lip or the previously described guide rollers, thereby drastically reducing their wear.

[0014] The device can be used in any escalator or moving walkway that has at least one continuously movable handrail with a C-shaped cross-section and a handrail drive with a handrail drive wheel. The handrail drive wheel is usually located in the area of ​​a return section of the handrail, and the handrail can be driven by the handrail drive wheel. The escalator or moving walkway preferably has at least one device for removing liquids and dirt for each of its handrails. The device is arranged in an inner cross-section of the handrail formed by the C-shaped cross-section and directly in front of the handrail drive wheel such that its scraper lip is directed against the intended direction of movement of the handrail.Due to a relative movement of the surface to the scraper body, liquid and dirt adhering to the handrail are scraped off the surface of the handrail by the scraper lip.

[0015] In one embodiment, the contour of the wiper lip is matched to the inner cross-section of the movable handrail. Depending on the product specifications, the handrails can have different inner cross-sections. If a device according to the invention is to be used in an escalator or moving walkway for removing liquids and dirt, a correspondingly adapted wiper element must be provided for the inner cross-section or inner contour of the handrail.

[0016] If the moving walkway or escalator is to be operated in two directions, a device of the aforementioned type can be arranged on each side of the handrail drive wheel. The two devices must be arranged so that a scraper lip faces in opposite directions for each of the two directions of movement.

[0017] The device for removing liquids and dirt, installed in an escalator or moving walkway, is preferably arranged so that the scraper lip of the scraper body is in contact with the same surface of the handrail as the motion-transmitting handrail drive wheel. This ensures optimal traction between the handrail drive wheel and the handrail.

[0018] The liquid scraped off by the device can, for example, be pumped away from the scraper lip. Preferably, however, the device is operated without additional equipment. To achieve this, the scraper body of the device is arranged in an inclined section of the handrail in such a way that, due to gravity, the liquid scraped from the handrail by the scraper lip flows from the lip into a collecting channel formed in the scraper body. The collecting channel also has a gravity-oriented incline, so that the liquid flows into a drain line connected to the collecting channel. The liquid is conveyed through the drain line into a collection container, which can be emptied periodically.

[0019] During installation, the device's mounting bracket is permanently attached to the balustrade base or supporting structure of the escalator or moving walkway. This can be done using standard fasteners such as screws or rivets. Alternatively, the bracket can be glued, soldered, or welded to fixed components of the escalator or moving walkway.

[0020] The removal of liquid and dirt is only sufficient if the wiper lip is intact. The escalator or moving walkway can be equipped with a monitoring sensor directed at the wiper lip to monitor its physical condition. This could be, for example, a camera, a time-of-flight (TOF) camera, a laser scanner, a LiDAR sensor, or similar device.

[0021] The measurement data from the monitoring sensor is transmitted continuously or periodically to the escalator or moving walkway control system. This data can be processed by the control system, which stores status criteria against which the processed measurement data is compared. The processing of measurement data to obtain data comparable to status criteria has been known for years, which is why it is not explained in detail in this document. Depending on the result of comparing the measurement data with the status criteria, stop commands, maintenance requests, and / or warning messages can be issued.

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein identical elements in all figures are provided with matching reference numerals. Neither the drawings nor the description are to be interpreted as limiting the invention. The drawings show: Figure 1: Schematic, cutaway side view of an escalator with a surrounding handrail and a device for removing liquids and dirt from this handrail; Figure 2: Enlarged, cutaway side view of the escalator in Figure 1 area designated «A» with the device according to the invention; Figure 3: one in the Figure 2 Top view of the area indicated by "B" in Figure 2 the device shown and the handrail; and Figure 4: a device in the Figure 2 The section marked «C - C» through the Figure 2 The device shown and the handrail.

[0023] The Figure 1Figure 1 schematically shows a cutaway side view of an escalator 1 with a support structure 3 in which a conveyor belt 5 with steps 7 (partially indicated) is arranged around the perimeter. Furthermore, a balustrade 11 (only one balustrade 11 is visible due to the cutaway side view) is attached to the support structure 3 on each side of the conveyor belt 5 by means of a balustrade base 12. A handrail 15 is arranged around each of these balustrades 11, with its leading section 13 moving in the same direction and at the same speed as the walkable section 9 of the conveyor belt 5. The returning sections 17 of the handrails 15 and the returning section 19 of the conveyor belt 5 are guided within the support structure 3, so that they are hidden from users. A drive unit 21 and a control unit 23 are also arranged in the support structure 3.Furthermore, a handrail drive 29 is housed in the supporting structure 3, which has a handrail drive wheel 25 for each handrail 15. The drive unit 21 is connected to the conveyor belt 5 and the respective handrail drive wheel 25 in a motion-transmitting manner.

[0024] To achieve sufficient traction between the handrail 15 and the handrail drive wheel 25, the handrail 15 is guided in a partial wrap around the handrail drive wheel 25. In the two sections 16 of the handrail 15 following the partial wrap, a device 31 for removing liquids 99 and dirt is provided in each (see Figure 2The provision of two devices 31 per handrail 15 means that the escalator 1 is designed to be operated in two opposing directions of movement Y and Z. If only one direction of movement Y is provided, the device 31 is arranged directly in front of the handrail drive wheel 25, taking into account the direction of movement Y of the handrail 15.

[0025] The Figure 2 shows in an enlarged, cutaway side view the in Figure 1 The area designated by "A" is equipped with the device 31 according to the invention. Figure 3 shows one in the Figure 2 Top view of the device 31 and the handrail 15, indicated by ‘B’; and the Figure 4 shows in the Figure 2 Section through the device 31 and the handrail 15, indicated by «C - C». These three figures are described together below.

[0026] The device 31 comprises a holder 33 and a wiper body 41 with a wiper lip 43. The wiper lip 43 has a wedge-shaped cross-section (see in particular Figure 2 ). As can be seen from the Figures 3 and 4 As can be seen, the contour 47 of the wiper lip 43 is aligned with an inner cross-section 51 of the movable handrail 15. Since the wiper lip 43 is in the Figure 4 The wiper lip 43 is shown by means of a dash-double-dotted line in front of the specified cutting plane C - C.

[0027] As can be seen particularly from the Figure 1 and 2 As can be seen, the scraper lip 43 of the scraper body 41 is in contact with the same surface 27 of the handrail 15, wiping it, as is the motion-transmitting handrail drive wheel 25.

[0028] The scraper body 41 has a collecting channel 45, which is directly adjacent to the scraper lip 43. The collecting channel 45 also opens into a connecting nozzle 48 formed in the scraper body 41. The connecting nozzle 48 is designed so that it can be connected to a drain line 97. Of course, the drain line 97 can also be permanently connected to the scraper body 41.

[0029] Furthermore, two first guide rollers 53 are rotatably mounted on or in the wiper body 41, projecting from a base surface 61 of the wiper body 41. Additionally, two second guide rollers 55 are rotatably mounted on or in the wiper body 41, projecting from a left side surface 63 of the wiper body 41. Similarly, two third guide rollers 57 are rotatably mounted on or in the wiper body 41, projecting from a right side surface 65 of the wiper body 41. As can be seen from the Figures 2 to 4As can be seen, the axes of rotation 67, 69 of the second and third guide rollers 55, 57 are arranged parallel to each other and orthogonal to the axes of rotation 59 of the first guide rollers 53 in the wiper body 41. The guide rollers 53, 55, 57 thus guide the wiper body 41 with their rolling surfaces 58 at defined intervals in the inner cross-section 51 of the handrail 15.

[0030] The bracket 33 has a first bracket part 35, which is fixedly attached to a stationary component, such as the support structure 3 shown in the present embodiment, by means of screws 39. As the Figure 2As shown, two brackets 33 are provided for improved guiding properties. Since the handrail 15 is only partially guided within the balustrade base 12, it can move laterally S and vertically R, orthogonally to the device 31. To prevent excessive forces on the guide rollers 53, 55, 57, the bracket 33 therefore has a second bracket part 37, which is floating in a plane E with limited movement and fixedly connected to the first bracket part 35, orthogonally to this plane E. The movement limitation in the plane E is achieved by a bore 34 and a pin 36 with a retaining plate 38, with ample play between the bore 34 and the pin 36. The wiper element 41 is attached to the second bracket part 37.

[0031] The device 31 is positioned at a location where the handrail 15 has a steep incline. In other words, the scraper body 41 of the device 31 is arranged in an inclined section 16 of the handrail 15 with respect to a direction of gravity G such that, as a result of gravity G, at least the liquid 99 scraped from the handrail 15 by the scraper lip 43 passes from the scraper lip 43 into the collecting channel 45 formed in the scraper body 41.

[0032] To monitor the physical condition of the wiper lip 43, the device 31 has a monitoring sensor 81 (only in Figure 2 (shown). Various sensor types, such as a camera, a TOF camera, a laser scanner, a LiDAR sensor and the like, can be used as a monitoring sensor 81 to detect the current state of the contour 47 of the wiper lip 43.

[0033] In this embodiment, the measurement data 83 from the monitoring sensor 81 are transmitted to the control unit 23 of the escalator 1 or moving walkway. The measurement data 83 are processed in the control unit 23 and compared with status criteria (not shown). If the detected state no longer corresponds to the defined status criteria, a stop command 85 can be sent to the drive 21 and / or maintenance requests 87 can be sent to a maintenance control center (not shown) and / or warning messages 91 can be sent to a communication unit 93, depending on the detected state.

[0034] Although the invention has been described by presenting specific embodiments, it is obvious that numerous further embodiments can be created with knowledge of the present invention, for example by additionally having a warm air blower in the device 31, by means of which the still moist surface 27 of the handrail 15 can be dried after the passage of the wiper body 41.

Claims

1. Device (31) for removing fluids (99) and dirt from a moving handrail (15) of an escalator (1) or a travelator, wherein the device (31) comprises a holder (33) and a scraper body (41) having a scraper lip (43), and the scraper lip (43) has a wedge-shaped cross-section (Q), characterized in that, adjacent to the scraper lip (43), a collecting channel (45) is formed in the scraper body (41).

2. Device (31) according to claim 1, wherein the collecting channel (45) opens into a drain line (97) of the device (31).

3. Device (31) according to claim 1, wherein the collecting channel (45) opens into a connecting piece (48) formed in the scraper body (41), which connecting piece (48) is suitably designed to be connected to a drain line (97).

4. Device (31) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein it has at least one guide roller (53, 55, 57) which is rotatably mounted on the scraper body (41).

5. Device (31) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one guide roller (53, 55, 57) is arranged on the scraper body (41) such that the guide roller's rolling surface (58) partially protrudes from the scraper body (41).

6. Device (31) according to claim 5, wherein a first guide roller (53) protrudes from a bottom surface (61) of the scraper body (41), a second guide roller (55) protrudes from a left-hand side surface (63) of the scraper body (41), and a third guide roller (57) protrudes from a right-hand side surface (65) of the scraper body (41), and wherein the axes of rotation (67, 69) of the second and third guide rollers (55, 57) are arranged parallel to one another and orthogonal to the axis of rotation (59) of the first guide roller (53) in the scraper body (41).

7. Device (31) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the holder (33) has a first holder part (35) which is designed to be fixedly attached to a stationary component of an escalator (1) or a travelator; the holder (33) has a second holder part (37) which is fixedly connected to the first holder part (35) in a plane (E), in a path-limited and floating manner and orthogonally to this plane (E), and wherein the scraper body (41) is attached to the second holder part (37).

8. Escalator (1) or travelator comprising at least one peripherally arranged, moving handrail (15) with a C-shaped cross-section and with a handrail drive (29) which has a handrail drive wheel (25) which is arranged in the region of a return run (17) of the handrail (15) and by which handrail drive wheel (25) the handrail (15) can be driven, characterized in that the escalator (1) or the travelator has, for each of its handrails (15), at least one device (31) for removing fluids (99) and dirt according to any of claims 1 to 7, which device (31) is arranged with its scraper lip (43) opposite to an intended direction of movement (Y) of the handrail (15), in an inner cross-section (51) of the handrail (15) provided by the C-shaped cross-section, and directly in front of the handrail drive wheel (25).

9. Escalator (1) or travelator according to claim 8, wherein a contour (47) of the scraper lip (43) is matched to the inner cross-section (51) of the moving handrail (15).

10. Escalator (1) or travelator according to claim 8 or 9, wherein one device (31) is arranged on each side of the handrail drive wheel (25) with respect to two possible directions of movement (Y, Z) of the handrail (15).

11. Escalator (1) or travelator according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the scraper lip (43) of the scraper body (41) is in scraping touching contact with the same surface (27) of the handrail (15) as the motion-transmitting handrail drive wheel (25).

12. Escalator (1) or travelator according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein, with respect to a direction of gravity (G), the scraper body (41) of the device (31) is arranged in an inclined portion (16) of the handrail (15) such that, as a result of gravity (G), at least the fluid (99) scraped from the handrail (15) by the scraper lip (43) passes from the scraper lip (43) into a collecting channel (45) formed in the scraper body (41).

13. Escalator (1) or travelator according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the holder (33) of the device (31) is arranged in a stationary manner in the balustrade base (12) of the escalator (1) or the travelator.

14. Escalator (1) or travelator according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein it has a monitoring sensor (81) directed towards the scraper lip (43) for monitoring the physical condition of the scraper lip (43).

15. Escalator (1) or travelator according to claim 14, wherein measurement data (83) from the monitoring sensor (81) can be transmitted to a controller (23) of the escalator (1) or travelator, and wherein the measurement data (83) can be processed in the controller (23) in order to output travel stop commands (85) and / or maintenance requests (87) and / or warning messages (91), depending upon a result of this processing.

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