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

Abstract

To provide an oil supply management device of a passenger conveyor and an oil supply management system of the passenger conveyor, capable of confirming the amount of lubricating oil remaining in a tank even in faraway places.SOLUTION: An oil supply device 100 includes a tank 102 to store lubricating oil, a first nozzle 104 to supply the lubricating oil to a footstep chain 28, a second nozzle 106 to supply the lubricating oil to a driving chain 22, a third nozzle 108 to supply the lubricating oil to a handrail chain 68, a pump 112 to send the lubricating oil to the first nozzle 104, the second nozzle 106, and the third nozzle 108, and a level gauge 114 to detect the amount of the lubricating oil remaining in the tank 102, wherein the remaining amount of the lubricating oil detected by the level gauge 114 is transmitted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fuel supply management device for a passenger conveyor and a fuel supply management system for a passenger conveyor.

Background Art

[0002] Drive chains, step chains, and handrail chains used in passenger conveyors such as moving walkways and escalators are lubricated with lubricating oil to ensure smooth movement. This lubrication structure supplies lubricating oil from a tank storing the lubricating oil to nozzles above each chain and drips it.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described above, when supplying lubricating oil from the tank, it is necessary to periodically check whether the lubricating oil in the tank is insufficient. As a method of this check, a maintenance worker goes to the site where the passenger conveyor is installed, raises the boarding and alighting platform, and visually checks the remaining amount of lubricating oil in the tank inside the machine room. Therefore, there is a problem that this check work is troublesome.

[0005] Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply management device for a passenger conveyor and a fuel supply management system for a passenger conveyor that can check the remaining amount of lubricating oil in the tank even from a distance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of left and right balustrades provided in the front-rear direction between one boarding and alighting opening and the other boarding and alighting opening, a step that moves in the front-rear direction between the pair of left and right balustrades, a pair of left and right handrail belts that travel in synchronization with the step at the upper part of the pair of left and right balustrades, a drive device that drives the step and the handrail belts, a control device that controls the drive device, a communication device for the control device to communicate with the outside, a step chain that moves a plurality of connected steps, a step sprocket that drives the step chain, a handrail sprocket that moves the handrail belt, a drive chain that connects the output sprocket of the drive device and the step sprocket, a handrail chain that connects 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 includes a 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 sends the lubricating oil from the 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 tank. The control device transmits the remaining amount of the lubricating oil measured by the sensor to the outside using the communication device. The oil supply management device for a passenger conveyor is characterized by this.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0008] The passenger conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In this embodiment, the escalator 10 will be described as the passenger conveyor. (1) Escalator 10 The overall structure of the escalator 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the escalator 10 seen from the left side. However, in order to make the internal structure of the escalator 10 easier to understand, the illustration of the members on the right side of the escalator 10 is omitted. When explaining the front-rear direction of the escalator 10, it is assumed that looking up from the lower floor to the upper floor, the upper floor is the front side and the lower floor is the rear side.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, a truss 12 which is a framework of the escalator 10 is supported across the upper and lower floors of the building 1 by using support angles 2 and 3.

[0010] Inside the upper floor side machine room 14 at the upper end of the truss 12, a drive device 18 for running 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 are provided. This drive device 18 has a motor 20, a speed reducer, an output sprocket 19 attached to the output shaft of this speed reducer, and a disk type electromagnetic brake 23 for stopping the rotation of the motor 20 and maintaining the stopped state. 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 this synchronous rotation will be described in detail later. Also, inside the upper floor side machine room 14, a control device 50 for controlling the drive device 18 including the motor 20 and the electromagnetic brake 23 is provided.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, in the lower floor mechanical room 16 at the lower end of the truss 12, a pair of left and right tread follower sprockets 26, 26 are provided. Between the pair of left and right tread sprockets 24, 24 on the upper floor side and the pair of left and right tread follower sprockets 26, 26 on the lower floor side, a pair of endless tread chains 28, 28 are spanned. A plurality of first wheels 301 of the treads 30 are attached to the pair of left and right tread chains 28, 28 at equal intervals. When the motor 20 rotates, the first wheel 301 of the tread 30 travels along a guide rail (not shown) fixed to the truss 12, and the second wheel 302 travels along the guide rail 25 fixed to the truss 12.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, on both the left and right sides of the truss 12, a pair of left and right handrails 36, 36 are erected. A handrail rail 39 is provided at the upper part of this handrail 36, and an endless handrail belt 38 moves along this handrail rail 39. An upper floor front skirt guard 40 is provided at the lower front part on the upper floor side of the handrail 36, and a lower floor front skirt guard 42 is provided at the lower front part on the lower floor side. Inlets 46, 48, which are the entrances and exits of the handrail belt 38, protrude from the front skirt guards 40, 42 respectively.

[0013] A skirt guard 44 is provided at the lower part of the side surface of the handrail 36, and the tread 30 travels between the pair of left and right skirt guards 44, 44.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, when the tread 30 is ascending, the pair of left and right handrail belts 38 respectively enter the front skirt guard 40 from the upper floor side inlets 46, are driven based on a belt driving device 70 driven by a first handrail sprocket 27, then move inside the skirt guard 44, and appear outside the front skirt guard 42 from the lower floor side inlets 48. The handrail belt 38 moves in synchronization with the tread 30 when the first handrail sprocket 27 rotates together with the tread sprocket 24. The belt driving device 70 will be described in detail later.

[0015] The boarding and alighting opening on the upper floor side, on the ceiling surface of the machine room 14, a boarding and alighting plate 32 on the upper floor side is horizontally provided. The boarding and alighting opening on the lower floor side, on the ceiling surface of the machine room 16, a boarding and alighting plate 34 on the lower floor side is horizontally provided. At the tip of the boarding and alighting plate 32 on the upper floor side, a comb-shaped rubber 60 is provided, and the step 30 enters this rubber 60. Also, at the tip of the boarding and alighting plate 34 on the lower floor side, a comb-shaped rubber 62 is provided. (2) Belt drive device 70 Next, the belt drive device 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The belt drive device 70 is provided corresponding to a pair of left and right handrail belts 38 respectively. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the belt drive device 70 on the left side as viewed from the lower floor will be described. In this case, the right side of the belt drive device 70 is on the side of the step 30. And assuming that the step 30 is ascending, the handrail belt 38 inside the skirt guard 44 is running horizontally from right to left in FIG. 2. Also, the belt drive device 70 on the right side has a structure symmetric to the left and right with the belt drive device 70 on the left side.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the belt drive device 70 is provided inside the skirt guard 44 and on the upper part of the truss 12. As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface of the truss 12, a substrate 78 is attached to the upper left part of the truss 12 in the vertical direction.

[0017] On the upper part of the substrate 78, as shown in the figure, four belt drive rollers 72 are arranged side by side in a horizontal row (a row in the front-rear direction) and are rotatably arranged. The handrail belt 38 with the top and bottom reversed runs below it.

[0018] Below the four belt drive rollers 72, as shown in FIG. 2 with the handrail belt 38 sandwiched therebetween, four belt driven rollers 74 are rotatably arranged. The belt drive rollers 72 and the belt driven rollers 74 are vertically paired and sandwich the handrail belt 38.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, a second handrail sprocket 76 is coaxially provided on each of the four belt drive rollers 72, and they are arranged in a horizontal row on the substrate 78. An auxiliary handrail sprocket 80 is rotatably provided on the substrate 78 between the second handrail sprocket 76 at the second position from the front and the second handrail sprocket 76 at the third position.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, a guide handrail sprocket 82 is rotatably provided between the first handrail sprocket 27 and the second handrail sprocket 76.

[0021] An endless second handrail chain 84 is spanned over the first handrail sprocket 27, the guide handrail sprocket 82, the upper parts of the first and second second handrail sprockets 76, the lower part of the auxiliary handrail sprocket 80, and the upper parts of the third and fourth second handrail sprockets 76. (3) Structure for moving the staircase 30 and the handrail belt 38 Next, the structure for moving the staircase 30 and the handrail belt 38 will be described.

[0022] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a drive sprocket 64 and a drive relay sprocket 65 are coaxially provided on the rotation shafts 86 of a pair of left and right staircase sprockets 24, 24 for moving the staircase 30. An endless drive chain 22 is provided between the drive sprocket 64 and the output sprocket 19. This drive chain 22 uses a double-chain with two rows of chains arranged side by side.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, a driven relay sprocket 66 is coaxially provided on the rotation shaft 88 of a pair of left and right first handrail sprockets 27. An endless first handrail chain 68 is spanned between the drive relay sprocket 65 provided on the staircase sprocket 24 and the driven relay sprocket 66. Thus, when the staircase sprocket 24 rotates, the first handrail chain 68 also rotates synchronously therewith.

[0024] Coaxial with the driven relay sprocket 66 over which the first hand-folding chain 68 is stretched, an endless second hand-folding chain 84 is stretched over the first hand-folding sprocket 27 as described above.

[0025] With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, when the output sprocket 19 rotates, the tread sprocket 24 rotates by the drive chain 22 and the tread 30 moves. Further, when the tread sprocket 24 rotates, the first hand-folding sprocket 27 rotates synchronously by the first hand-folding chain 68, whereby the second hand-folding chain 84 moves and the four second hand-folding sprockets 76 and the auxiliary hand-folding sprocket 80 rotate. When the four second hand-folding sprockets 76 rotate, the four belt drive rollers 72 also rotate and the handrail belt 38 moves. (4) Oil supply device 100 Next, an oil supply device 100 for supplying lubricating oil (hereinafter simply referred to as "oil") to the drive chain 22, the tread chain 28, the first hand-folding chain 68, and the second hand-folding chain 84 will be described.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, a tank 102 for storing oil is fixed to a truss 12 that constitutes the ceiling portion of the upper floor machine room 14. At this position, when the boarding and alighting plate 32 is lifted, the tank 102 appears and the oil can be easily replenished. As shown in FIG. 3, the tank 102 is provided with a pump 112 for sending the oil in the tank 102, and a water level gauge 114 which is a sensor for measuring the remaining amount of oil in the tank 102 is provided.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, two first nozzles 104, 104 are respectively provided above each of the pair of left and right tread chains 28, 28. As shown in FIG. 4(a), when oil is dripped from these two first nozzles 104, 104, it falls on both the left and right sides of the tread chain 28 below.

[0028] Above the drive chain 22, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two second nozzles 106, 106 are provided. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the oil from the first second nozzle 106 falls to the left side of the double drive chain 22, and the oil from the second second nozzle 106 falls to the central portion of the drive chain 22 in the left-right direction.

[0029] Above each of the pair of left and right first handrail chains 68, as shown in FIG. 2, one third nozzle 108 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4(c), the oil dripped from the third nozzle 108 falls to one side of the first handrail chain 68.

[0030] Above each of the pair of left and right second handrail chains 84, as shown in FIG. 2, one third nozzle 110 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4(c), the oil dripped from the third nozzle 110 falls to one side of the second handrail chain 84.

[0031] Next, the pipe structure through which the oil flows will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0032] A connecting pipe 116 extends from the pump 112, and the connecting pipe 116 is connected to the inlet of a first distributor 118 that distributes oil.

[0033] The first distributor 118 is a junction that distributes oil into six parts, and a connecting pipe 120 leading to the inlet of a second distributor 122 is connected to the first outlet.

[0034] Connecting pipes 128, 128 leading to the two second nozzles 106, 106 that supply oil to the drive chain 22 are respectively connected to the second outlet and the third outlet.

[0035] Connecting pipes 132, 132 leading to the two first nozzles 104, 104 that supply oil to the left side step chain 28 are respectively connected to the fourth outlet and the fifth outlet.

[0036] A connecting pipe 134 leading to the inlet of a third distributor 136 is connected to the sixth outlet.

[0037] The second dispenser 122 is a junction for distributing oil into two portions. A connecting pipe 126 leading to a third nozzle 108 for supplying oil to the left first handrail chain 68 is connected to the first outlet.

[0038] A connecting pipe 124 leading to a third nozzle 110 for supplying oil to the left second handrail chain 84 is connected to the second outlet.

[0039] The third dispenser 136 is a junction for distributing oil into three portions. Connecting pipes 142, 142 leading to first nozzles 104, 104 for supplying oil to the right tread chain are respectively connected to the first outlet and the second outlet.

[0040] A connecting pipe 138 leading to the inlet of the fourth dispenser 140 is connected to the third outlet.

[0041] The fourth dispenser 140 is a junction for distributing oil into two portions. A connecting pipe 144 leading to a third nozzle 108 for supplying oil to the right first handrail chain 68 is connected to the first outlet.

[0042] A connecting pipe 146 leading to a third nozzle 110 for supplying oil to the right second handrail chain 84 is connected to the second outlet.

[0043] With the above piping structure, as shown in FIG. 3, the oil stored in the tank 102 is sent by the pump 112 to a pair of left and right first nozzles 104, 104, second nozzles 106, 106, a pair of left and right third nozzles 108, and third nozzles 110, and is supplied to a pair of left and right tread chains 28, 28, the double-chain drive chain 22, a pair of left and right first handrail chains 68, 68, and a pair of left and right second handrail chains 84, 84.

[0044] And the remaining amount of the oil stored in the tank 102 can be measured by the water level gauge 114. (5) Electrical Configuration of the Escalator 10 Next, the electrical configuration of the escalator 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 5.

[0045] The control device 50 inside the machine room 14 on the upper floor side is formed of a computer or the like, and a drive circuit 92 is connected thereto. The motor 20 and the electromagnetic brake 23 are connected to this drive circuit 92, and the operation / stop, moving speed, and moving direction of the tread 30 can be controlled by the control from the control device 50.

[0046] Also, the pump 112 and the water level gauge 114 of the oil supply device 100 are connected to the control device 50.

[0047] Furthermore, a communication device 90 for communicating with the outside is connected to the control device 50. This communication device 90 is connected to the monitoring device 200 in the maintenance center that performs maintenance management of the escalator 10 through a public commercial line, and is also connected to a server (such as a cloud server) 202 outside the escalator 10. The server 202 can communicate with the portable terminal 204 owned by the maintenance staff, and can obtain information necessary for the management of the escalator 10 such as weather information.

[0048] The control device 50 can drive the pump 112 of the oil supply device 100 based on an oil supply signal from the monitoring device 200 or the server 202, and can drip oil onto each chain using the first nozzle 104 to the third nozzle 110, and can adjust the amount of oil dripped at one time and the interval between drippings. Also, the control device 50 can transmit the remaining amount from the water level gauge 114 that measures the oil level in the tank 102 to the monitoring device 200 and the server 202 via the communication device 90. (6) Control method of the oil supply management system of the escalator 10 Next, a control method of the oil supply management system including the control device 50, the oil supply device 100, the monitoring device 200, the server 202, and the portable terminal 204 of the maintenance staff in the escalator 10 will be described.

[0049] The first control method is that the control device 50 receives a fuel supply signal from the monitoring device 200 or the server 202 via the communication device 90, and sends out oil from the pump 112 of the fuel supply device 100 based on this fuel supply signal. In this case, the fuel supply signal includes the preset amount of drip per time (reference drip amount, for example, 1 milliliter) and the interval of dripping (for example, once a month) for the drive chain 22, the tread chain 28, the first handrail chain 68, and the second handrail chain 84. Therefore, dripping is performed based on this.

[0050] The second control method is that the control device 50 measures the remaining amount of oil in the tank 102 with the water level gauge 114, and regularly transmits the remaining amount to the monitoring device 200 or the server 202 via the communication device 90. The server 202 transfers the remaining amount to the mobile terminal 204 owned by the maintenance staff. When the remaining amount of oil in the tank 102 decreases compared to the reference remaining amount, the control device 50 transmits a remaining amount shortage signal to the monitoring device 200 or the server 202. When the remaining amount shortage signal is input, the server 202 warns the mobile terminal 204 owned by the maintenance staff. Also, as a modification example, the control device 50 may transmit the remaining amount shortage signal and the remaining amount to the monitoring device 200 or the server 202. When the remaining amount shortage signal is input, the server 202 warns the mobile terminal 204 owned by the maintenance staff and transmits the remaining amount.

[0051] The third control method is as follows. When the escalator 10 is installed outdoors, for example, the server 202 always receives weather information and constantly obtains the weather information at the installation location. Based on the weather information, after rain has fallen at that location, the server 202 transmits a refueling signal to the control device 50 to control it to drip more oil than a preset reference drip amount. The fueling device 100 drips an amount of oil more than the reference drip amount onto the drive chain 22, the step chain 28, the first handrail chain 68, and the second handrail chain 84 respectively based on this refueling signal. Note that during this control, regardless of the set dripping interval, it is carried out immediately after the rain has stopped. The reason for increasing the drip amount compared to the reference drip amount is that when the escalator 10 is installed outdoors, the oil adhering to the drive chain 22, the step chain 28, the first handrail chain 68, and the second handrail chain 84 is washed away by rainwater, causing elongation due to wear of each chain and increasing the frequency of chain adjustment / replacement. Also, it can prevent an increase in abnormal noises due to insufficient lubrication of the oil. (7) Effects According to the present embodiment, by measuring the remaining amount of oil in the tank 102 with the water level gauge 114 and transmitting the remaining amount to the monitoring device 200 and the server 202, the maintenance staff can confirm the remaining amount of oil even from a distance.

[0052] Also, when the remaining amount of oil in the tank 102 has decreased compared to the reference remaining amount, a warning or a warning along with the remaining amount reaches the maintenance staff's mobile terminal 204, so that the oil can be replenished immediately.

[0053] Furthermore, when the escalator 10 is installed outdoors, even if the oil on each chain is washed away by rain, since more oil than the reference drip amount is dripped, the lubrication of the chain will not become insufficient. Modification example

[0054] Next, a modification example of the above embodiment will be described.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the pump 112 of the tank 102 and each nozzle are connected via a plurality of distributors, but it is not limited to this, and all may be distributed to each nozzle by one distributor.

[0056] In the above embodiment, it is connected to the server 202. However, it is not limited to this, and it may be connected to a DX controller to control the fuel supply management system.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the drip rate was changed based on the information that it was raining. However, it is not limited to this, and the drip rate and the interval between drips may be changed based on temperature and humidity. For example, when the temperature has been higher than the set temperature for several days, the drip rate may be increased and the interval between drips may be shortened. Also, even when the escalator 10 is installed indoors, if the business hours of the building are extended, the drip rate may be increased according to the extended hours. The reason is that when the business hours are extended, the usage time of the escalator 10 also extends, and the amount of oil consumed increases.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the monitoring device 200 communicated directly with the communication device 90. However, instead of this, communication may be performed via the server 202.

[0059] In the above embodiment, it was described by applying it to the escalator 10. However, instead of this, it may be applied to a moving walkway. In a moving walkway, the steps are called "steps".

[0060] In the above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0061] 10... escalator, 18... drive device, 19... output sprocket, 20... motor, 22... drive chain, 24 step sprocket, 27... first handrail sprocket, 28... step chain, 30... step, 38... handrail belt, 64... drive sprocket, 65... drive relay sprocket, 66... driven relay sprocket, 68... first handrail chain, 70... belt drive device, 72... belt drive roller, 76... second handrail sprocket, 84... second handrail chain, 90... communication device, 100... lubrication device, 102... tank, 104... first nozzle, 112... pump, 114... water level gauge, 200... monitoring device, 202... server, 204... mobile terminal

Claims

1. A pair of left and right railings provided in the front - rear direction between one boarding and alighting opening and the other boarding and alighting opening; A step that moves in the front - rear direction between the pair of left and right railings; A pair of handrail belts that run in synchronization with the step at the upper part of the pair of left and right railings; A driving device for driving the step and the handrail belts; A control device for controlling the driving device; A communication device for the control device to communicate with the outside; A step chain for moving a plurality of connected steps; A step sprocket for driving the step chain; A handrail sprocket for moving the handrail belt; A drive chain connecting the output sprocket of the driving device and the step sprocket; A handrail chain connecting the step sprocket and the handrail sprocket; An oil - supply device for supplying lubricating oil to the step chain, the drive chain, and the handrail chain; It is an oil - supply management device for a passenger conveyor having the above, The oil - supply device includes: A tank for storing the lubricating oil; A first nozzle for supplying lubricating oil to the step chain; A second nozzle for supplying lubricating oil to the drive chain; A third nozzle for supplying lubricating oil to the handrail chain; A pump for sending the lubricating oil from the tank to the first nozzle, the second nozzle, and the third nozzle; A sensor for measuring the remaining amount of the lubricating oil in the tank; and has, The control device transmits the remaining amount of the lubricating oil measured by the sensor to the outside using the communication device. The oil - supply management device for a passenger conveyor is characterized by this.

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

3. The control device receives a fuel supply signal from the outside through the communication device, and controls the amount of each drop or the interval between drops of the lubricating oil by the pump based on the fuel supply signal. The fuel supply management device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1.

4. The fuel supply management device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, a server capable of communicating with the control device, and a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the server, wherein the server transfers the remaining amount of the lubricating oil transmitted from the control device to the mobile terminal. A fuel supply management system for a passenger conveyor, characterized in that.

5. When the passenger conveyor is installed outdoors, the server acquires weather information from the outside, and when the weather information indicates that it has rained, the server transmits a fuel supply signal to the control device to increase the amount of fuel supply by more than a preset reference amount per drop, and the control device increases the amount of each drop by the pump based on the fuel supply signal to be more than the reference amount per drop. The fuel supply management system for a passenger conveyor according to claim 4.

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