Drive Belt Support Member for Hole-Free Passenger Conveyor Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive belts for passenger conveyors, such as escalators and moving walkways, require wide cordless portions and through-holes for coupling, which increases the belt width and reduces efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and introduces weaknesses at belt joints.
Innovation Solution
A support member that extends across the entire width of the drive belt, providing structural support and clamping action to secure the belt without the need for through-holes, allowing cords to be embedded across the entire width and enhancing joint security by acting as a secondary holding mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If through-holes are made in the drive belt for coupling conveyance elements, then coupling is enabled, but the belt width must be increased to include cordless portions
Solution Approach 1:
A support member is introduced as an intermediary component between the drive belt and the conveyance element. The support member extends across the full width of the drive belt and includes coupling elements that mate with the conveyance element, eliminating the need for through-holes in the belt itself. This mediator enables coupling while preserving the continuous cord structure across the belt width.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling function is segmented from the drive belt structure. Instead of integrating coupling through-holes directly into the belt, the coupling function is separated and implemented through discrete coupling elements on the support member that interface with the conveyance element. This segmentation allows the belt to maintain its continuous cord structure while still achieving coupling functionality.
2Ease of operation
If cordless portions are included in the drive belt for through-holes, then coupling is enabled, but the belt must be wider to accommodate both cords and cordless portions
Solution Approach 1:
The support member serves as a mediator that performs the coupling function without requiring modifications to the drive belt's cord structure. By placing coupling elements on the support member rather than in the belt, the belt can maintain its full width with continuous cords, eliminating the need for cordless portions and reducing the overall cross-sectional area required.
3Ease of operation
If conventional coupling with through-holes is used, then conveyance elements can be attached, but structural support during bending is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support member performs multiple functions: it provides coupling elements for attaching conveyance elements, it extends across the full width of the drive belt to distribute loads, and it provides structural support during bending operations. This multi-functional component eliminates the need for through-holes while enhancing structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member provides localized structural reinforcement at critical locations where conveyance elements are attached and where bending occurs. By concentrating support functionality in the support member rather than relying on through-holes that create weak points, the belt maintains strength during bending while still enabling coupling.
4Ease of operation
If wider drive belts are used to accommodate through-holes, then coupling is enabled, but cost-effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support member as an intermediary component enables coupling functionality without requiring an increase in belt width. This allows the use of narrower, more cost-effective belts while still achieving the necessary coupling capability through the support member's coupling elements.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 5
AI summary
There is provided a support member (60, 160, 260) for a drive belt (30, 130, 230) of a passenger conveyor (10, 10a, 10b), comprising at least one engagement portion (62, 162, 262) having a length (L) substantially equal to the width (w) of the drive belt (30, 130, 230), and a coupling element (65, 165, 265) provided at each end of the at least one engagement portion (62, 162, 262). Each coupling element (65, 165, 265) is configured to engage with a corresponding coupling element (56) of a conveyance element (14, 14a, 14b) of the passenger conveyor (10, 10a, 10b).