Escalator Access Module for Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high density of heat-generating components in escalators and moving walks leads to excessive heat buildup, reducing the service life of electrical and mechanical components and causing operating noise, which is exacerbated by sound-insulating materials used for noise reduction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an accessible access module with a cavity adjacent to the component room, allowing thermal energy to be transferred from the component space into the cavity through openings, where it can be dissipated using heat-conducting materials and airflow management, such as fans and flow guide plates, to create an efficient cooling system separate from the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If heat-generating components are densely packed in the component room below the walk-on cover, then the cabling effort is minimized and troubleshooting is easier, but excessive heat build-up occurs that shortens component service life and unsettles users
Solution Approach 1:
The component room is divided into two distinct spaces: a compact component space for housing electrical components and a separate cavity for heat dissipation. The walk-on cover is segmented to provide access to both the component space and the cavity, allowing independent management of component accessibility and thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation function is extracted from the component space and placed into a separate cavity. The cavity acts as a dedicated thermal management zone that receives and dissipates heat from components without compromising the operational accessibility of the component room.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sound-insulating materials are used to reduce operating noise from components, then noise is reduced, but heat insulation is also provided which exacerbates heat build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is segmented into acoustically insulated component spaces and thermally connected cavities. Sound-insulating materials are applied selectively to walls and surfaces facing the component spaces for noise reduction, while the cavity structures are designed with thermal connectivity to enable heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different surface properties are applied to different parts of the structure: sound-insulating materials are used on surfaces adjacent to noisy components, while heat-conducting surfaces are provided in the cavity to facilitate thermal energy transfer and dissipation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the moving walk is arranged on the level floor without a pit, then installation is simplified, but the access ramp becomes steep which hinders users with walking difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The access module utilizes the vertical dimension by creating a cavity beneath the walk-on surface. This allows the ramp to access the component space from the side while the cavity provides vertical clearance, enabling a gentler ramp gradient without requiring a deep pit installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cavity is nested within the overall structure of the moving walk, utilizing the space beneath the walk-on cover. This nested configuration allows the ramp to access the component room through the cavity without requiring external pit installation, maintaining installation simplicity while improving user accessibility.
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 configuration effectively dissipates heat without introducing dust or noise into the environment, prolongs the service life of components, and ensures a safer, more comfortable user experience by maintaining a cooler surface.
Implementation Method 1
Through which the thermal energy of the components that generate heat loss can be passed from the component space into the cavity
Implementation Method 2
enables efficient heat energy dissipation from the component room
Implementation Method 3
the accessible surface of the access module can have heat-conducting material, the accessible surface preferably being the ceiling of the cavity
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an escalator (31) or moving walkway (1, 21) with two entry regions (2, 32). The escalator (31) or the moving walkway (1, 21) has components (8, 9, 38, 39, 101) which generate lost heat and which are arranged in at least one of the entry regions (2, 32) in a component area (7, 37). The escalator (31) or the moving walkway (1, 21) comprises at least one accessible access module (18, 28, 48, 68, 78, 88) which is arranged adjacently to the component area (7, 37). The access module (18, 28, 48, 68, 78, 88) includes a cavity (15, 25, 45, 65, 75, 85), and at least one opening (14, 41, 42, 61, 62, 71, 72, 81, 82, 83) is provided between the component area (7, 37) and the cavity (15, 25, 45, 65, 75, 85). Thermal energy of the components (8, 9, 38, 39, 101) which generate lost heat can be conducted from the component area (7, 37) into the cavity (15, 25, 45, 65, 75, 85) through the opening.