PASSENGER CONVEYER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a passenger conveyor, such as an escalator and a moving walk, and particularly relates to a structure of a frame body of the passenger conveyor.
(2) Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a structure of a conventional escalator. As shown in FIG. 1, an upper chord member 16, a lower chord member 17, and a vertical member 18 are formed from L-shaped steel, and welded to form a side frame 22S. It is noted that, although not shown, the same side frame is arranged also on the left side. The left and right side frames are connected using connection members 19, 30 by welding to form a frame body 4 of the escalator.
Here, a skirt guard bracket 31, an outward track bracket 32, and homeward track brackets 33, 34 are fixed to the side frame 22S by welding. A skirt guard 14 is mounted to the skirt guard bracket 31. An outward track 12a is mounted to the outward track bracket 32. Homeward tracks 12b, 12c are mounted to the homeward track brackets 33, 34, respectively. An oil sump 15 is fixed to the connection member 30 by welding.
As described above, in the frame body 4 of the related art, the following problem occurs. Since the
brackets for fixing, e.g., step travel tracks are joined by welding to the side frame formed from welding L-shaped steel, the brackets deform by welding heat. The frame body 4 inclines when the step travel tracks etc. are mounted to the frame body 4 while the brackets deform. Therefore, generally, by providing a liner between the step travel track etc. and brackets, adjustment is made for a long time to correct the inclination.
Additionally, as an example of a frame body of an escalator, as disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Publication No. S58-42373 (FIG. 5 and the like), a structure in which reinforcing members and an oil pan are joined to a formed steel plate by spot welding and an inside rib is arranged and welded between the reinforcing members is known.
Conventionally, members deform by a thermal effect when each member is welded by, e.g., spot welding to form a frame body. Liners are needed for adjustment when mounting handrails and step travel tracks, and thus assembly takes time. Additionally, since the members are integrated by welding, large-scale operation is needed for renewal. In case of disassembly, the members cannot be divided finely without heat of, e.g., a gas burner. Conventional Passenger conveyors have high environmental impact.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a passenger conveyor in which assembly is excellent and renewal and disassembly can be done easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A passenger conveyer includes: a frame body installed in a building; landings provided to both longitudinal ends of the frame body; steps connected endlessly to loop between the landings; a driving device for driving the steps; and handrails horizontally opposing to one another along the looping direction of the steps. The frame body includes a horizontal pair of steel plates and a horizontal pair of bases having at least a mounting surface for a step travel track. The steel plates and the bases are joined mechanically.
According to the present invention, a passenger conveyor in which assembly is excellent and renewal and disassembly can be done easily can be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a structure of a conventional escalator;
FIG. 2 shows a side of an escalator of this embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along I-I in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a connection portion of separate frames taken along II-II in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As an embodiment of the present invention, an escalator, which is a kind of a passenger conveyor, is explained using FIGs. 2 to 4 .
The escalator of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 showing a side of the escalator, includes a frame body 4 installed in a building, landings 71, 72 provided to both longitudinal ends of the frame body 4, steps 8 connected endlessly to loop between the landings 71, 72, a driving device for driving the steps 8, and handrails 6 horizontally opposing to one another along the looping direction of the steps 8. The frame body 4 of this embodiment is structured by connecting separate frames 21, 22, 23, and 24 formed from, e.g., thin steel plates by use of a joint member 3A, and is installed between an upper level 51 and a lower level 52.
Next, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along I-I in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the frame body 4 of the escalator of this embodiment includes a base 9 having mounting surfaces for handrail components and track components in addition to the separate frame 22, and is structured by joining the separate frame 22 and base 9 mechanically. Specifically, the separate frame 22 is fixed to the base 9 on an upper surface, side surface, and lower surface of the separate frame 22, Which are respectively in three directions, by use of bolts or rivets.
Here, the base 9 projects toward the steps 8 in the generally horizontal direction at a height near an upper portion of the steps 8 on the outward side. A skirt guard
mounting surface 9a is provided to a top of the projection of the base 9. A mounting surface 9b for a step travel track is provided near an intermediate height of the base 9. An oil sump mounting surface 9e is provided near a lower portion of the base 9. A skirt guard 14 is mechanically joined to the skirt guard mounting surface 9a of the base 9, e.g., by bolting and inserting. A step travel track is mechanically joined to a step track mounting surface of the base 9 by use of, e.g., bolts. An oil sump 15 is mechanically joined to the oil sump mounting surface 9e of the base 9 by use of, e.g., bolts. As described above, the step travel track etc. are integrally joined mechanically without welding. Accordingly, positioning of the track using a liner is unnecessary, reducing assembly time.
The step travel track includes an outward track 12a and homeward tracks 12b, 12c. Here, although the outward track 12a is provided to both front wheels and rear wheels of the steps 8, the homeward track 12b for the rear wheels of the steps 8 and the homeward track 12c for the front wheels of the steps 8 are installed separately. Therefore, the base 9 projects toward the steps 8 in the generally horizontal direction at a height near the lower portion of the steps 8 on the outward side. An outward track mounting surface 9b is provided to the projecting portion. Further, the base 9 projects toward the steps 8 in the generally horizontal direction at heights near the upper and intermediate portions of the steps 8 on the homeward side. Homeward track mounting surfaces 9c, 9d are provided'to the
projecting portions.
Although not shown, the separate frame 22 and the base 9 are also disposed on the left side of FIG. 3 symmetrically to those on the right side of FIG. 3. By using connecting members 10, 11, a horizontal pair of the separate frames 22 are mechanically joined by use of, e.g., bolts, and a horizontal pair of the bases 9 are also mechanically joined by use of, e.g., bolts. A handrail base 13 to which the handrail 6 is attached is provided to the upper surface of the separate frame 22. Covers 6a, 6b are mounted to the handrail base 13.
Next, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a connection portion of the separate frames 22, 23, taken along II-II in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the separate frame 22 and the separate frame 23 adjacent to the separate frame 22 are sandwiched by joint members 3A, 3B and fixed using bolts 60.
As described above, in this embodiment, since the separate frames 21 to 24, the base 9, etc. are mechanically fixed using, e.g., bolts without welding. As a result, precise assembly can be achieved, and even renewal and disassembly due to aging can be achieved easily. Additionally, since renewal and disassembly can be achieved without using fire, the danger of fire is also reduced. Further, since brackets for installing, e.g., step travel tracks are unnecessary, the number of the whole components can also be reduced.
It is noted that, instead of structuring the whole of the frame body 4 by use of the separate frames 21 to 24
formed from thin steel plates, only the intermediate inclination portion of the frame body 4 may include a face plate structure and the upper and lower portions of the frame.body 4 may include a truss structure having combination of normal L-shaped steel. An escalator, which has differences between adjacent steps, has been explained in this embodiment, but a moving walk, which has no difference, may include the structure of this embodiment.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A passenger conveyer comprising:
a frame body installed in a building;
landings provided to both longitudinal ends of the frame body;
steps connected endlessly to loop between the landings;
a driving device for driving the steps; and
handrails horizontally opposing to one another along a looping direction of the steps,
wherein the frame body includes a horizontal pair of steel plates and a horizontal pair of bases having at least a mounting surface for a step travel track, and the steel plates and the bases are joined mechanically.
2. The passenger conveyor of Claim 1, comprising a connection member for connecting the horizontal pair of steel plates, the connection member being mechanically joined to the horizontal pair of steel plates.
3. The passenger conveyor of Claim 1, comprising a connection member for connecting the horizontal pair of bases, the connection member being mechanically joined to the horizontal pair of bases.
4. The passenger conveyor of Claim 1, wherein a skirt guard is mechanically joined to tops of portions of the
horizontal pair of bases, the portions projecting toward
the steps.
5. The passenger conveyor of Claim 1, wherein an oil sump is mechanically joined to lower portions of the horizontal pair of bases.
6. The passenger conveyor of any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the mechanical joining uses bolts or rivets.