People Conveyor Motor Force Sensor for Load Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing people conveyor systems, such as escalators and moving walkways, require expensive and space-consuming dedicated equipment to measure motor power for estimating passenger load, which is essential for maintenance and safety but costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a force sensor between the motor and truss of the people conveyor to measure the force exerted by the motor, allowing for reliable and cost-effective determination of passenger load without altering existing installations or requiring extensive additional space, using a compact design and industry-standard compression-type load-cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dedicated equipment is used to measure motor power for estimating passenger load, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from complex dedicated power measurement equipment and implements it using a simple force sensor that measures force directly on the truss. This separates the measurement task from the motor control system and uses a standalone sensor that provides load information without requiring complex power analysis equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The force sensor acts as an intermediary element between the motor system and the measurement system. Instead of measuring motor power directly, the force sensor measures the mechanical force transmitted through the truss, providing an indirect but reliable measurement of passenger load that is simpler to implement than direct power measurement.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated equipment is used to measure motor power for estimating passenger load, then measurement reliability is improved, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor is integrated into the existing truss structure of the people conveyor system. The sensor becomes part of the mechanical framework rather than being a separate mounted device, thereby utilizing existing structural space and minimizing additional installation area requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If force sensor is used to measure force exerted by motor on truss, then cost is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs standard, commercially available force sensors that are inexpensive and widely produced. These sensors provide sufficient measurement precision for passenger load determination without requiring custom-designed high-precision instruments, achieving cost-effective measurement adequate for safety and operational monitoring purposes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a reliable and cost-efficient method to determine passenger load, minimizing additional costs and space requirements while ensuring safety by enabling real-time monitoring and preventing overload, thus reducing the risk of damage and enhancing maintenance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one force sensor, which is arranged at a position between the motor and the truss and which is configured for measuring a force exerted by the motor on the truss
Data Source
AI summary
A people conveyor (10) comprises a conveying band (12) including a plurality of conveying elements (13); a truss (8) supporting the conveying band (12); a motor (24), which is mounted to the truss (8) and which is configured for driving the conveying band (12); and a force sensor (26). The force sensor (26) is arranged between the motor (24) and the truss (8) and is configured for measuring a force which is exerted by the motor (24) on the truss (8).