Escalator Chain Three-Track Roller Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flat escalators and moving walks experience high wear and noise due to the polygon effect and increased surface pressure on rollers with smaller pitch circle diameters, leading to shorter roller life and noise issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of articulated chains with rollers and system rollers divided into three tracks, where plastic rollers support the step or pallet belt in deflection areas to reduce noise and steel system rollers are unloaded, minimizing contact with stationary parts to prevent noise, while the base circle radius of the sprocket is smaller than the deflection curve radius to mitigate the polygon effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the pitch circle diameter of the conveyor sprocket and idler sprocket is reduced to construct a flat escalator or moving walk, then the overall height is reduced and installation space is minimized, but the deflection angle of chain links increases and the polygon effect intensifies, leading to non-uniform movement
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated chain is segmented into multiple rigid chain links connected by articulation points, allowing the chain to accommodate small pitch circle diameters while maintaining stable movement. The segmentation enables the chain to flex at discrete points rather than continuously, reducing the polygon effect and ensuring uniform step belt or pallet belt movement even with reduced sprocket diameters.
2Stability of the object's composition
If long chain straps or chain links are used together with small deflection sprockets to eliminate the polygon effect, then the movement uniformity is improved, but the deflection angle in joint points increases and surface pressure on rollers increases, leading to higher wear
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the chain system are assigned different qualities: the chain links have optimized geometry and material properties to reduce deflection angles at articulation points, while the rollers are specifically designed with enhanced wear resistance. This local optimization allows the system to maintain movement uniformity without sacrificing roller durability, even under increased surface pressure conditions.
3Reliability
If steel rollers are used to increase wear resistance, then the roller durability is improved, but considerable operating noise is generated on the rails
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers are constructed using composite material technology, combining a steel core or reinforcement structure with a plastic or polymer outer layer. This composite construction provides the wear resistance of steel while the plastic surface layer significantly reduces operating noise on the rails. The composite structure allows the rollers to withstand high surface pressures and extended service life while maintaining quiet operation in the flat escalator or moving walk system.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an escalator (1) with a step belt (7) or to a moving walkway with a panel belt (107), wherein the step belt (7) or panel belt (107) has at least one link chain (8, 108) which is arranged revolving between a first deflection region (5) and a second deflection region (6, 106) of the escalator (1) or of the moving walkway. Running rollers (28, 128) and steps (9) or panels (109) are arranged on the link chain (8, 108). In addition, the link chain (8, 108) has system rollers (27A, 27B, 127A, 127B). The running rollers (28, 128) and the system rollers (27A, 27B, 127A, 127B) are arranged on at least three tracks (S1, S2, S3) lying next to one another with respect to the revolving direction (U) of the link chain (8, 108), wherein one of the tracks (S3) is occupied by the running rollers (28, 128) and at least two of the tracks (S1, S2) are occupied by the system rollers (27A, 27B, 127A, 127B).