Skirt Boarding Trigger Device for Escalator Entrapment Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Passenger conveying devices like escalators and moving walkways face safety issues due to gaps between the skirt boarding and step belts, where objects can get entrapped, leading to injuries and damage, and existing anti-clamping devices cannot trigger timely countermeasures to stop the movement.
Innovation Solution
A trigger device is placed along the truss-facing side of the skirt boarding, capable of producing an electrical short circuit if deformed beyond a predetermined threshold, which actuates a control mechanism to halt the conveying device, ensuring continuous monitoring and prevention of entrapments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If skirt board brushes are used as anti-clamping devices, then foreign matters are prevented from entering the gap, but the device cannot trigger countermeasures to stop movement in time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical skirt board brush with a hybrid system that incorporates an electrical trigger device. The trigger device consists of conductive elements positioned to detect when the skirt boarding deforms beyond a threshold, creating an electrical circuit break that immediately stops the conveyor. This substitution transforms the passive mechanical brush into an active safety system with detection and response capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger device acts as an intermediary between the mechanical deformation of the skirt boarding and the control system. When the skirt boarding deforms due to entrapment, it triggers the electrical circuit, which then signals the control system to stop the conveyor. This intermediary mechanism enables timely detection and response without requiring direct contact between the brush and the control system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between skirt boarding and step belt is reduced, then entrapment risk is decreased, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger device is pre-positioned along the entire length of the skirt boarding to detect deformations before they result in serious entrapment or damage. By having the detection mechanism in place beforehand, the system can respond immediately when the skirt boarding deforms, preventing the need for extremely tight gap tolerances while still maintaining safety.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring of skirt boarding deformation is implemented, then passenger safety is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger device is segmented into multiple independent sections, each with its own conductive elements. This segmentation allows the monitoring function to be distributed along the entire length of the skirt boarding without requiring a single complex centralized system. Each segment independently detects local deformations and can trigger a stop response.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger device utilizes the existing mechanical deformation of the skirt boarding as part of the detection mechanism. When the skirt boarding deforms due to entrapment, the deformation itself triggers the electrical circuit by moving conductive elements into contact or separation. This self-service approach reduces the need for additional active sensing components and simplifies the overall system.
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 increases passenger safety by promptly stopping the movement when an entrapment is detected, reducing the risk of injuries and damage, while allowing for harmless movements without unnecessary halts.
Implementation Method 1
the trigger device is configured to produce an electrical short circuit, if the skirt boarding is deformed above a predetermined threshold value
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a passenger conveying device (10), comprising a trigger device (16) disposed continuously along a truss (15) facing side of a skirt boarding (13) over a length of the passenger conveying device (10) as well as to a method (100) for safely operating a passenger conveying device (10).