Escalator Floor Cover Coupling Element Resilient Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floor coverings for passenger conveyor systems, such as escalators, can unintentionally lift or open due to upward forces from shoes catching in transverse grooves, compromising safety and maintenance access.
Innovation Solution
A floor covering system comprising plate-shaped elements coupled with a coupling element featuring a coupling area and a resilient restoring area, which counteracts lifting forces by generating a restoring force that returns the cover elements to their desired configuration, preventing unintentional opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If transverse grooves are added to the tread surface to prevent slipping, then slip resistance is improved, but objects can become lodged in the grooves causing unintentional lifting of the floor covering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coupling element as an intermediary component between adjacent cover elements. This coupling element includes a resilient return section that acts as a mediator to counteract lifting forces. When objects lodge in the transverse grooves and create upward lifting forces, the resilient return section of the coupling element generates a counteracting force that prevents unintentional opening, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining slip resistance and preventing harmful lifting effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient return section of the coupling element is designed to generate a counteracting force in advance against potential lifting forces. Before unintentional lifting can occur, the coupling element is already positioned to provide resistance through its resilient properties. This preliminary anti-action ensures that even when objects become lodged in the grooves, the floor covering remains securely closed.
2Ease of operation
If the floor covering is designed to be easily removable for maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but the structure becomes more vulnerable to unintentional opening
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element incorporates a resilient return section that provides dynamic response to lifting forces. This dynamic component allows the floor covering to maintain secure closed position during normal operation while enabling controlled opening when needed for maintenance. The resilient properties allow the coupling to flex and return to its original position, providing both security and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in the physical parameters of the coupling element, specifically its resilient properties and force characteristics. By designing the return section with appropriate elasticity and force generation capabilities, the system achieves a balance between maintaining secure closure during operation and allowing easy removal for maintenance when deliberately actuated.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple cover elements are coupled together to form a segmented floor covering, then ease of manufacture and maintenance are improved, but the complexity of preventing unintentional lifting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor covering is divided into multiple plate-shaped cover elements that can be manufactured and assembled separately. Each cover element can be produced independently and then coupled together using the coupling element with the resilient return section. This segmentation facilitates easier manufacturing and maintenance while the standardized coupling mechanism maintains relative simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it connects adjacent cover elements together, allows for easy removal and reattachment during maintenance, and most importantly, provides the resilient return force to prevent unintentional lifting. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby managing complexity while achieving multiple objectives.
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
The solution effectively prevents unintentional lifting of the floor covering, ensuring safety and ease of maintenance while maintaining slip resistance through the design of the coupling and restoring areas, which are integrated into a single polymer component for efficient production.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling element has at least one resilient return section, which is arranged vertically below the coupling pivot point between the first and second cover elements. This resilient return section generates a return force acting on the adjacent end faces and deflected by the coupling pivot point as soon as one of the cover elements is lifted upwards from its intended position.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a floor cover (5) of a passenger-conveying device such as an escalator or a moving walkway, by means of which floor cover an underfloor space (3) can be covered. The floor cover (5) has a plurality of planar cover elements (9) and at least one coupling element (17). Each cover element (9) has a stepping surface (7) directed upward and an end face (11, 13) at each of opposite ends. In a desired configuration, a first and a second cover element (9) are arranged one behind the other in such a way that a first end face (11) of the first cover element (9) faces a second end face (13) of the second cover element (9). The coupling element (17) is interposed between the first end face (11) of the first cover element (9) and the second end face (13) of the second cover element (9). The coupling element (17) has at least one coupling region (27), which is designed to couple the first cover element (9) to the second cover element (9) in such a way that the first cover element (9) and the second cover element (9) are connected to each other for loading in tension and for angling relative to each other. The coupling element (17) also has at least one restoring region (29), which is designed for causing a restoring force between the first cover element (9) and the second cover element (9) as soon as one of the cover elements (9) is raised upward in deviation from the desired configuration, the restoring force being directed in such a way that the raised cover element (9) is acted upon toward the desired configuration. By means of the coupling element (17) specially provided with the restoring region (29), unintentional raising of the floor cover (5) can be avoided or at least impeded.