Escalator Step Roller Axle Resilient Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing escalators and moving walks face challenges in maintaining durability under changing loads and ensuring safety, as current attachment methods for drag rollers can lead to instability and increased risk of injury due to uneven loading and potential contact with balustrades.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a torsion-proof attachment of drag rollers to the escalator or moving walk steps using a plug-in connection with a resilient latching mechanism, which includes an adhesive connection and a clamping element, ensuring secure and cost-effective mounting that absorbs axial and radial forces, and allows for easy assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the roller axle is mounted flexibly in a silent block to dampen vibrations, then vibration damping is improved, but the step sinks under one-sided load and comes dangerously close to the balustrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a resilient element (spring or elastomeric material) as an intermediary between the roller axle and the step. This resilient element dampens vibrations and shocks while maintaining a stable, controlled position of the step relative to the balustrade, preventing the step from sinking dangerously close to the balustrade under one-sided load.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the gap between the step and balustrade is increased to prevent scraping, then the risk of scraping is reduced, but the danger of passenger injuries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a resilient mounting for the roller axle that allows dynamic adjustment of the step position. The resilient element enables the step to accommodate load variations and maintain an optimal gap distance from the balustrade, preventing both scraping and excessive gaps that could injure passengers.
3Strength
If the roller axle is cast into the light alloy body of the step, then mechanical strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the roller axle mounting from the step body by using a distinct resilient mounting component rather than casting the axle directly into the light alloy body. This segmentation maintains strong mechanical attachment while simplifying manufacturing, as the resilient element can be independently selected and installed without complex casting processes.
4Manufacturing precision
If bolted bearing journals are used to mount the roller axle, then lateral play is minimized, but the connection is subject to considerable moments under one-sided support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mounting parameters by replacing rigid bolted bearing journals with a resilient mounting system. This resilient mounting minimizes lateral play through precise positioning while absorbing mechanical moments and shocks, thereby protecting the connection from excessive stresses under one-sided support conditions.
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 solution enhances durability and safety by providing a secure, rattle-proof attachment that withstands large axial forces and allows for easy roller replacement, while simplifying production and assembly, reducing the risk of injury and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient element is designed to dampen shocks and vibrations
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive bond is formed between the roller axle and the body, by which the roller axle is held in a rotationally secure manner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to an escalator or moving walkway, having a step belt or pallet belt which consists of a multiplicity of steps or pallets guided on rails, wherein each step (10) or pallet has at least two idling rollers which are mounted on the step (10) or pallet and each run on rails, having a roller axle (16) which is held in a rotationally secure manner in the body (12) of the step (10) or pallet. Formed between the roller axle (16) and the body (12) is a plug connection via which the roller axle (16) is held by way of a resilient latching connection against an undercut in particular of the body (12) under pretensioning by the latching device (34).