JP6197848B2 - Chain lubrication system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a chain oil supply system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an oil supply device that supplies lubricating oil to various chains of a passenger conveyor is known. An example of such a fueling device is described in Patent Document 1 below.

Japanese Patent No. 4575081

  In the oil supply apparatus as described above, the oil supply time is set so that the entire circumference of the longest step chain among the various chains is supplied. The amount of oil supplied to the chain shorter than the step chain is adjusted by using a nozzle that limits the discharge amount. The lubricating oil discharged from the nozzle is dropped intermittently. For this reason, in the chain of passenger conveyors that are not step chains, there may be places where the lubrication is insufficient.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. The purpose is to provide a chain lubrication system that can evenly lubricate the entire circumference of a passenger conveyor chain that is not a step chain.

A chain oil supply system according to the present invention includes a pump unit that sends out lubricating oil, a first pipe that is connected to the pump unit and has a discharge hole facing a step chain in a passenger conveyor chain, and branches from the first pipe. A second pipe having a discharge hole facing a non-step chain of a chain of passenger conveyors, an electromagnetic valve provided in the second pipe and closed after a predetermined time since opening, and an electromagnetic in the second pipe A third pipe having a discharge hole that branches from the downstream side of the valve and that faces the storage container. The discharge hole of the second pipe is formed so that the lubricating oil flows out continuously, the pump unit, The pipe, the second pipe, the third pipe, and the storage container do not form a circulation path.

  In the chain oil supply system according to the present invention, the second pipe has a discharge hole facing a non-step chain of the passenger conveyor chains. The discharge hole of the second pipe is formed so that the lubricating oil flows out continuously. For this reason, according to this invention, although it is not a step chain among the chains of a passenger conveyor, it can supply oil uniformly over the perimeter.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an escalator. It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the truss of an escalator. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the chain oil supply system in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state in the middle of oil supply by the chain oil supply system in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the chain oil supply system in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the other example of the chain oil supply system in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a temperature-viscosity characteristic figure of the conventional lubricating oil and a novel lubricating oil. It is an oil supply characteristic figure of the chain oil supply system in Embodiment 1 of this invention.

  The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The overlapping description will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
In Embodiment 1, an escalator will be specifically described as an example of a passenger conveyor. Description of other passenger conveyors such as moving walkways is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of an escalator.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the escalator includes a truss 1. The truss 1 is spanned between the upper floor and the lower floor. Inside the truss 1, there are provided a driving machine 2, a main sprocket 3, a step lower sprocket 4, and a step upper sprocket (not shown). The driving machine 2, the main sprocket 3, and the step upper sprocket are arranged on the upper floor side. The step lower sprocket 4 is arranged on the lower floor side. The step upper sprocket is provided coaxially with the main sprocket 3.

  The drive machine 2 includes a drive sprocket 2a. An endless drive chain 5 is wound around the drive sprocket 2 a and the main sprocket 3. An endless step chain 6 is wound around the step upper sprocket and the step lower sprocket 4.

  The escalator includes a plurality of steps 7, a handrail 8, and a handrail driving device 9. The plurality of steps 7 are connected by a step chain 6 so as to line up from the lower floor to the upper floor. The handrail 8 is formed in an endless shape. The handrail 8 is provided on both the left and right sides of the step 7 along the direction in which the plurality of steps 7 are arranged. The handrail drive device 9 is provided inside the truss 1. At least one handrail driving device 9 is provided for one handrail 8.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the truss of the escalator. FIG. 2 shows an example in which two handrail driving devices 9 are provided for one handrail 8. In FIG. 2, the step chain 6 and the step 7 are not shown.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a handrail upper sprocket 10 is provided inside the truss 1. The handrail upper sprocket 10 is provided coaxially with the main sprocket 3 and the step upper sprocket. The handrail drive device 9 includes a plurality of handrail drive sprockets 9a and a plurality of handrail drive rollers (not shown). Each handrail drive roller is provided coaxially corresponding to each handrail drive sprocket 9a.

  An endless first transmission chain 11 is wound around the handrail upper sprocket 10 and the upper handrail driving device 9. An endless second transmission chain 12 is wound around the upper handrail driving device 9 and the lower handrail driving device 9. A handrail chain 13 is wound around the handrail drive sprocket 9a.

  Of the various chains of the escalator described above, the step chain 6 is the longest. The chain that is not the step chain 6 is shorter than the step chain 6. Examples of the chain that is not the step chain 6 include the drive chain 5, the first transmission chain 11, the second transmission chain 12, and the handrail chain 13. The difference in length between the chains other than the step chain 6 is sufficiently smaller than the difference in length between the step chain 6 and the other chains.

  The drive machine 2 rotates the drive sprocket 2a. Due to the rotation of the drive sprocket 2 a, the drive chain 5 moves so as to circulate between the drive sprocket 2 a and the main sprocket 3. The power of the driving machine 2 is transmitted from the driving sprocket 2a to the main sprocket 3 through the driving chain 5. The main sprocket 3, the step upper sprocket, and the handrail upper sprocket 10 rotate as the drive sprocket 2a rotates.

  As the step upper sprocket rotates, the step chain 6 circulates between the step upper sprocket and the step lower sprocket 4. That is, step 7 is cyclically moved between the upper floor and the lower floor.

  As the handrail upper sprocket 10 rotates, the first transmission chain 11 circulates between the handrail upper sprocket 10 and the upper handrail drive device 9. As the first transmission chain 11 circulates, the second transmission chain 12 circulates between the upper handrail driving device 9 and the lower handrail driving device 9. As the first transmission chain 11 circulates, the handrail chain 13 of the upper handrail drive device 9 circulates. As the second transmission chain 12 circulates, the handrail chain 13 of the lower handrail drive device 9 circulates.

  As the handrail chain 13 circulates, the handrail driving sprocket 9a and the handrail driving roller rotate. The handrail 8 circulates between the upper floor and the lower floor by the frictional force with the rotating handrail driving roller. The handrail 8 moves in the same direction as the moving direction of step 7.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a chain oil supply system according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the drive chain 5 and the handrail chain 13 are shown as examples of chains that are not the step chain 6. FIG. 3 shows a case where the handrail chain 13 is longer than the drive chain 5.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the chain oil supply system includes a pump unit 14, a first pipe 15, a check valve 16, a second pipe 17, a solenoid valve 18, a third pipe 19, and a storage container 20. The pump unit 14 is installed, for example, on the upper floor side inside the truss 1. The pump unit 14 is an oil supply device for supplying lubricating oil to various chains of the escalator. The solenoid valve 18 is formed so as to open for a certain time when energized, for example. The chain oil supply system includes a main timer and a solenoid valve timer (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first pipe 15 is connected to the pump unit 14. A check valve 16 is provided in the first pipe 15. The first pipe 15 has a discharge hole (not shown) downstream of the check valve 16. The discharge hole opens downward just above the path along which the step chain 6 circulates. That is, the discharge hole faces the step chain 6 from above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second pipe 17 branches from the first pipe 15. The second pipe 17 branches from the downstream side of the check valve 16 in the first pipe 15. The second pipe 17 branches from the upstream side of the discharge hole in the first pipe 15. That is, the branch point 21 from the first pipe 15 to the second pipe 17 is located downstream of the check valve 16 and upstream of the discharge hole facing the step chain 6.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second pipe 17 extends from the branch point 22 toward each of the chains that are not the step chains 6. The second pipe 17 is provided with an electromagnetic valve 18 upstream from the branch point 22. The second pipe 17 has a discharge hole (not shown) downstream from the branch point 22. The discharge hole opens downward directly above the path along which the chain other than the step chain 6 circulates. That is, the discharge hole faces a chain that is not the step chain 6 from above. The discharge holes are formed corresponding to the drive chain 5, the first transmission chain 11, the second transmission chain 12, the handrail chain 13, and the like, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the third pipe 19 branches from the second pipe 17. The third pipe 19 branches from the downstream side of the electromagnetic valve 18 in the second pipe 17. The third pipe 19 branches from upstream of the branch point 22 in the second pipe 17. That is, the branch point 23 from the second pipe 17 to the third pipe 19 is located downstream of the solenoid valve 18 and upstream of the branch point 22.

  The third pipe 19 has a discharge hole (not shown). The discharge hole opens downward just above the opening of the storage container 20. That is, the discharge hole faces the storage container 20 from above. The storage container 20 is detachably installed inside the truss 1, for example. The storage container 20 is a transparent container, for example.

  The discharge hole of the first pipe 15 and the discharge hole of the second pipe 17 are, for example, a nozzle or a simple opening that does not limit the discharge amount. The discharge hole of the 1st piping 15 and the discharge hole of the 2nd piping 17 should just be what flows out lubricating oil without resistance.

  The discharge hole of the third pipe 19 is, for example, a nozzle that limits the discharge amount. The discharge hole of the third pipe 19 may have a very small discharge amount as long as no lubricating oil is discharged.

  For example, the main timer is turned on every preset time or elapsed time. When the main timer is turned on, the pump unit 14 starts driving. The pump unit 14 sends lubricating oil into the first pipe 15. The solenoid valve timer is turned on simultaneously with the main timer. When the solenoid valve timer is turned on, the solenoid valve 18 is opened. When the solenoid valve 18 is opened, the lubricating oil is sent into the second pipe 17 and the third pipe 19.

  The lubricating oil inside the first pipe 15 is discharged from the discharge hole of the first pipe 15. Lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole is supplied to the step chain 6 that is circulating.

  The lubricating oil inside the second pipe 17 is discharged from the discharge hole of the second pipe 17. The lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole is supplied to a chain that is not the step chain 6 that is circulating.

  The lubricating oil inside the third pipe 19 is discharged from the discharge hole of the third pipe 19. The lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole is stored in the storage container 20. Note that the discharge amount from the discharge hole of the third pipe 19 and the capacity of the storage container 20 are set so that the lubricating oil does not overflow from the storage container 20 even if left for one year, for example. The lubricating oil stored in the storage container 20 is collected, for example, during maintenance work of the escalator.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state during refueling by the chain refueling system in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows cross sections of various chains.

  The lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole of the first pipe 15 and the discharge hole of the second pipe 17 flows out continuously, not dripping intermittently. That is, the lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole of the first pipe 15 and the discharge hole of the second pipe 17 has a thread shape as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole of the third pipe 19 is dropped intermittently, for example. That is, the lubricating oil discharged from the discharge hole of the third pipe 19 is in the form of a drip, for example.

  The main timer is turned off when a preset time has elapsed. When the main timer is turned off, the pump unit 14 stops. That is, the pump unit 14 stops after elapse of a preset time from the start of driving. The time set in advance in the main timer is, for example, the time required for the step chain 6 to circulate once.

  The solenoid valve timer is turned off when a preset time has elapsed. When the solenoid valve timer is turned off, the solenoid valve 18 is closed. That is, the electromagnetic valve 18 is closed after a preset time has elapsed since opening. The time preset in the solenoid valve timer is shorter than the time preset in the main timer. The time set in advance in the solenoid valve timer is, for example, the time required for the longest chain that is not the step chain 6 to circulate once. The time set for the solenoid valve timer can be arbitrarily changed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the chain oil supply system in the first embodiment.

  When the main timer and the solenoid valve timer are turned on (step S101), the pump unit 14 starts driving and the solenoid valve 18 is opened (step S102). Thereby, oil supply to the various chains of the escalator is started.

  After starting the refueling to the various chains, it is determined whether or not the solenoid valve timer is in the OFF state (step S103). If the solenoid valve timer is not in the OFF state, the process of step S103 is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S103 that the solenoid valve timer is OFF, the solenoid valve 18 is closed (step S104). That is, when a time set in advance in the solenoid valve timer has elapsed, the solenoid valve 18 is closed. Thereby, the oil supply to the chain which is not the step chain 6 is stopped.

  After the solenoid valve 18 is closed, it is determined whether or not the main timer is in an OFF state (step S105). If the main timer is not in the OFF state, the process of step S105 is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S105 that the main timer is OFF, the pump unit 14 is stopped (step S106). Thereby, the oil supply to the step chain 6 is stopped.

  In Embodiment 1, the 1st piping 15 is connected to the pump unit 14, and has the discharge hole which faced the step chain 6 from the upper part among the chains of a passenger conveyor. The second pipe 17 has a discharge hole that branches from the upstream side of the discharge hole in the first pipe 15 and faces the upper part of the passenger conveyor chain that is not the step chain 6. The electromagnetic valve 18 is provided upstream of the discharge hole in the second pipe 17 and is closed after a preset time has elapsed since opening. The discharge hole of the second pipe 17 is formed so that the lubricating oil flows out continuously when the pump unit is driven with the electromagnetic valve 18 open. That is, thread-like lubricating oil is discharged from the discharge hole of the second pipe 17 instead of drip. For this reason, according to Embodiment 1, it is possible to lubricate the entire circumference of the passenger conveyor chain that is not the step chain 6 evenly. As a result, it is possible to prevent partial wear on the chains other than the step chain 6 and to extend the service life of the chain of the passenger conveyor.

  In the first embodiment, the time from the start of driving of the pump unit 14 to the stop of the pump unit 14 is, for example, the time required for the step chain 6 to circulate once. The time from when the solenoid valve 18 is opened until it is closed is, for example, the time required for the longest chain that is not the step chain 6 to circulate once. That is, the refueling time for a chain that is not the step chain 6 is set regardless of the total length of the step chain 6. For this reason, according to Embodiment 1, excessive oil supply to the chain of a passenger conveyor can be suppressed, and scattering and leakage of lubricating oil can be prevented.

  In the first embodiment, the third pipe 19 branches from the downstream side of the electromagnetic valve 18 in the second pipe 17 and has a discharge hole facing the storage container 20 from above. If lubricating oil is stored in the storage container 20, it can be determined that the solenoid valve 18 is operating normally. For this reason, according to Embodiment 1, it is possible to easily determine whether or not refueling to a chain other than the step chain 6 is normally performed by checking the storage container 20.

  FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating another example of the chain oil supply system according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the example shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, the electromagnetic valve 18 is provided for each chain that is not the step chain 6 downstream from the branch point 22. The electromagnetic valve 18 is provided corresponding to each of the drive chain 5, the first transmission chain 11, the second transmission chain 12, the handrail chain 13, and the like, for example. That is, the solenoid valve 18 is individually provided in each part divided | segmented toward each of the chain which is not the step chain 6 among the 2nd piping 17. FIG. The third pipe 19 and the storage container 20 are provided for each electromagnetic valve 18. A branch point 23 from the second pipe 17 to the third pipe 19 is located downstream of the branch point 22 and the electromagnetic valve 18 and upstream of the discharge hole of the third pipe 19.

  With the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the time required for each chain to circulate once can be set individually as the time for opening the solenoid valve 18 corresponding to each chain that is not the step chain 6. In this case, it is possible to supply an appropriate amount of lubricating oil corresponding to the entire length of all the chains of the passenger conveyor.

  The chain oil supply system in Embodiment 1 realizes more effective oil supply by using a new lubricant. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the case where a new lubricating oil is used will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a temperature-viscosity characteristic diagram of a conventional lubricating oil and a novel lubricating oil.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the viscosity of the new lubricating oil is the same as that of the conventional lubricating oil at 40 ° C. However, the viscosity of the new lubricating oil is lower than that of the conventional lubricating oil at 0 ° C. Further, the viscosity of the new lubricating oil is higher than the viscosity of the conventional lubricating oil at 100 ° C. That is, the new lubricating oil has a higher viscosity index than the conventional lubricating oil.

  FIG. 8 is an oil supply characteristic diagram of the chain oil supply system in the first embodiment. The vertical axis in FIG. 8 represents the discharge amount from the discharge hole of the second pipe 17.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when a conventional lubricating oil is used, the discharge amount decreases as the temperature decreases. When the conventional lubricating oil is used, for example, the discharge amount at 0 ° C. is not more than half of the discharge amount at 20 ° C. On the other hand, when a new lubricating oil is used, the discharge amount is maintained even when the temperature is lowered. When a new lubricating oil is used, for example, the discharge amount at 0 ° C. is approximately the same as the discharge amount at 20 ° C.

  When the new lubricating oil as described above is used, since the viscosity of the lubricating oil does not easily increase even in a low temperature environment, the thread-like lubricating oil is discharged from the discharge hole of the second pipe 17. As a result, it is possible to refuel all over the circumference of the passenger conveyor chain that is not the step chain 6. In addition, when such a new lubricating oil is used, the viscosity of the lubricating oil is unlikely to decrease even in a high-temperature environment, so that scattering and leakage of the lubricating oil can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to realize a chain oil supply system that is not easily affected by temperature changes depending on the season and the place where the passenger conveyor is installed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Truss 2 Drive machine 2a Drive sprocket 3 Main sprocket 4 Step lower sprocket 5 Drive chain 6 Step chain 7 Step 8 Handrail 9 Handrail drive device 9a Handrail drive sprocket 10 Upper rail sprocket 11 First transmission chain 12 Second transmission chain 13 Handrail chain 14 Pump unit 15 First pipe 16 Check valve 17 Second pipe 18 Solenoid valve 19 Third pipe 20 Storage containers 21, 22, 23 Branch point

Claims (3)

A pump unit that delivers lubricating oil;
A first pipe connected to the pump unit and having a discharge hole facing the step chain of the passenger conveyor chain;
A second pipe branched from the first pipe and having a discharge hole facing a non-step chain of the passenger conveyor chain;
An electromagnetic valve that is provided in the second pipe and closes after a predetermined time has elapsed since opening;
A third pipe branched from the downstream side of the solenoid valve in the second pipe and having a discharge hole facing the storage container;
With
The discharge hole of the second pipe is formed so that the lubricating oil flows out continuously,
The pump unit , the first pipe, the second pipe, the third pipe, and the storage container are chain oil supply systems that do not form a circulation path .   The time from when the pump unit starts driving to when it stops is set to the time required for the step chain to circulate once,
  2. The chain oil supply system according to claim 1, wherein the time from when the solenoid valve is opened to when the solenoid valve is closed is set to a time required for the longest chain among the non-step chains to circulate once. The time before Symbol pump unit is stopped from the start of the drive, step chain is set to the time required to circularly moved once,
The solenoid valve is provided corresponding to each of the chains that are not step chains,
2. The chain oil supply system according to claim 1, wherein the time from when each of the electromagnetic valves is opened to when it is closed is set to a time required for each of the corresponding non-step chain chains to circulate once.

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