Escalator Handrail Drive Decoupling for Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional passenger transport devices, such as escalators and moving walkways, face inefficiencies in energy consumption and user-friendliness due to rigid coupling of handrails with the belt drive, leading to high power usage and reduced service life, as well as difficulties in indicating operational status to users.
Innovation Solution
A passenger transport device with a coupling mechanism that allows the handrail drive to be decoupled from the belt drive, using a single drive for the segmented belt and allowing the handrail to be coupled only when needed, featuring a continuously variable transmission and controlled by sensors for energy efficiency and user signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the handrail is rigidly coupled to the pallet belt drive, then the handrail moves in unison with the pallet belt, but energy consumption increases significantly (80% of total power)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamic coupling mechanism that allows the handrail drive to be selectively engaged or disengaged from the pallet belt drive. The coupling device can transition between coupled and decoupled states, enabling the system to adapt its power transmission based on operational requirements. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining synchronization when needed while allowing energy savings when the handrail can operate independently or remain stationary.
2Reliability
If the handrail is rigidly coupled to the pallet belt drive, then the handrail moves continuously, but the service life of the handrail decreases due to excessive revolutions
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic coupling mechanism enables selective engagement of the handrail drive, allowing the system to reduce the number of handrail revolutions by decoupling when full synchronization is not required. This extends handrail service life while maintaining the capability for synchronized operation when reliability is critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device can be engaged and disengaged periodically based on operational demands, creating a rhythmic pattern of coupled and decoupled states. This periodic action reduces cumulative wear on the handrail while ensuring synchronization is available when needed for safety and operational reliability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the pallet belt moves without the handrail, then energy is saved, but approaching users cannot recognize the device is ready for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drive system into independent pallet belt drive and handrail drive components, controlled by a coupling device. This segmentation allows the pallet belt to operate independently to signal readiness to users, while the handrail can remain stationary to save energy. The coupling device enables seamless transition between segmented independent operation and integrated synchronized operation based on detected user presence.
4Use of energy by moving object
If a separate drive is used for the handrail, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coupling device as an intermediary mechanism between the pallet belt drive and the handrail drive. This intermediary allows a single pallet belt drive to control both the pallet belt and handrail when coupled, or to allow independent handrail operation when decoupled. The coupling device acts as a mediator that enables flexible power transmission without requiring completely separate drive systems, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining energy efficiency benefits.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a passenger transport device with a segmented belt and a handrail, wherein a belt drive is provided for driving or moving the segmented belt, with a coupling device (222, 222'; 322; 422, 422'; 512, 522) connected to the belt drive, by means of which a mechanism (116, 118, 120, 122) for moving the handrail can be selectively coupled to the belt drive.