JP7564138B2 - Passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a passenger conveyor that transports passengers using an endless transport body that moves in a circular motion along a passageway.

Passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways may have attachments such as brushes or long plastic shapes attached to the skirt guard (Patent Document 1). This is to prevent passengers from getting caught in the gap between the side edge of the endless conveyor and the bottom of the parapet (skirt guard) when boarding the endless conveyor or while being transported by the endless conveyor.

JP 2019-210098 A

However, some passengers are concerned about hygiene and getting their clothes dirty, and feel uncomfortable with their skirts or trouser hems touching the attachments. The same can be said for passengers whose skirts or trouser hems come into contact with the bottom of the parapet, regardless of whether an attachment is present or not.

Therefore, the present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a passenger conveyor that makes it difficult for passengers to come into contact with the handrail.

The passenger conveyor according to the present invention comprises:
an endless conveyor arranged in the truss along the longitudinal direction of the truss and circulating along the passage;
A balustrade is disposed along the passage on the side of the endless conveyor and supports the handrail so as to be circulatively movable;
An air conditioning device disposed within the truss;
The air outlet for conditioned air generated by an air conditioning device is arranged side by side at the center and the end or at a location close to the end in the width direction of the endless transport body, and each of the air outlets is formed long in the width direction of the endless transport body and is formed at a predetermined interval over the entire length of the endless transport body, and the air outlet is configured to collect the conditioned air in the center of the endless transport body in the width direction by having an air direction part that directs the air direction of the air outlet at the end or the location close to the end toward the center in the width direction of the endless transport body, so that the conditioned air is denser in the center than at the end of the endless transport body in the width direction.
It is a passenger conveyor.

In addition, as another aspect of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention,
The endless conveyor is configured by connecting a plurality of steps in an endless manner,
The air outlet may be formed in a riser portion of the step.

In addition, as yet another aspect of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention,
The air conditioning device may be fixedly disposed within the truss and may include a blower section that blows conditioned air toward the rear side of the endless transport body.

Also, in this case,
The endless transport body may have a duct on the back side thereof for taking in conditioned air and directing it to the air outlet.
Also, in these cases,
The wind direction portion is a wind direction plate disposed on the rear side of the endless transport body.
The above configuration can be adopted.

In addition, as yet another aspect of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention,
The air conditioning unit is fixedly mounted within the truss.
The endless transport body may be provided with a blower section on the rear side thereof for blowing conditioned air toward the air outlet.
Also, in this case,
The airflow direction unit is a blower unit that is arranged obliquely so that its axis faces the center of the endless transport body in the width direction.
The above configuration can be adopted.

In addition, as yet another aspect of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention,
The air conditioning device may be arranged in the truss at a location adjacent to the passenger receiving portion of the endless transport vehicle.

According to the present invention, passengers standing on the endless conveyor sense the conditioned air at their feet and, in an attempt to feel more comfortable, move closer to the center of the width of the endless conveyor where the conditioned air is dense. This causes passengers to stand away from the balustrade and closer to the center of the aisle. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a passenger conveyor that makes it difficult for passengers to come into contact with the balustrade.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an escalator according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the vicinity of the boarding entrance of FIG. Fig. 3(a) is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the vicinity of the air conditioning device of the escalator according to embodiment 1. Fig. 3(b) is a perspective view of the vicinity of the entrance of the escalator according to embodiment 1. Fig. 4(a) is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the vicinity of an air conditioning device of an escalator according to embodiment 2. Fig. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 4(a). Fig. 5(a) is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an escalator near an air conditioning device according to embodiment 3. Fig. 5(b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of Fig. 5(a). Fig. 6(a) is a perspective view of the vicinity of the entrance of an escalator according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 6(b) is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the escalator according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1, which corresponds to line AA in Fig. 4(a). Fig. 7(a) is a cross-sectional view of an escalator according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 2, taken along line A-A in Fig. 4(a). Fig. 7(b) is a cross-sectional view of an escalator according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 3, taken along line A-A in Fig. 4(a). Fig. 8(a) is a perspective view of the vicinity of the entrance of an escalator according to Modification 2 of the first to third embodiments. Fig. 8(b) is a plan view of steps of an escalator according to Modification 2 of the first to third embodiments.

<Overall composition>
Hereinafter, as embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of an escalator, which is one type of passenger conveyor, will be described. Prior to this, however, the overall configuration of the escalator will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the escalator 1 includes a truss 2, a boarding/alighting entrance 3, a conveying section 4, and a handrail section 5. The truss 2 is a structure that supports the weight of the escalator 1 and the load of the load. The boarding/alighting entrance 3 is provided at the top of both ends of the truss 2. The conveying section 4 is supported by the truss 2, and the tread of the conveying section 4 moves along the passage, so that passengers are conveyed while standing in that position without having to walk. The handrail section 5 is also supported by the truss 2, and is provided along the passage on both sides. In this embodiment, the escalator 1 is set to convey passengers from left to right (from the lower floor to the upper floor). Therefore, the escalator 1 includes, from left to right, a boarding entrance 3A, a conveying section 4, and an alighting entrance 3B. When the setting is switched in reverse, the boarding entrance 3A becomes an alighting entrance, and the alighting entrance 3B becomes a boarding entrance.

The truss 2 is a framework structure that appropriately combines upper chord members 20, lower chord members 21, vertical members 22, diagonal members 23, and cross beams (not shown) made of equal angle steel (equal angles), unequal angle steel (unequal angles), square steel pipes (square pipes), flat steel, channel steel, I-beams, H-beams, or a combination of these.

The truss 2 has two horizontal ends 2a, 2a and an inclined portion 2b. The horizontal end 2a has a support member 24 made of an angle along its upper end. The support member 24 of the horizontal end 2a on the upper end side is hung on a support frame on an upper floor of the building, and the support member 24 of the horizontal end 2a on the lower end side is hung on a support frame on a lower floor. In this way, the truss 2, and thus the escalator 1, are installed in the building.

The boarding/alighting entrance 3 is provided above the horizontal end 2a of the truss 2. The boarding/alighting entrance 3 includes a floor plate 30. The floor plate 30 constitutes the floor of the boarding/alighting entrance 3 and constitutes the ends (starting end and ending end) of the passage. The tip of the floor plate 30 defines the boundary between the boarding/alighting entrance 3 and the transport section 4.

The conveying section 4 includes an endless conveying body 40. The endless conveying body 40 is arranged within the truss 2 so that it can move in a circular manner along the longitudinal direction of the truss 2. The endless conveying body 40 is driven in a circular manner, with multiple steps 41, ... connected in an endless manner via a step chain 42. The endless conveying body 40 is driven in a circular manner in one direction or the opposite direction by the step chain 42 being driven in a circular manner in conjunction with the drive of the drive motor 43.

The handrail section 5 comprises a handrail 50 and a balustrade 51. The handrail 50, also called a moving handrail, is flexible and endless, and is driven in a circular motion in conjunction with the endless transport body 40. The balustrade 51 is arranged on the side of the endless transport body 40 along the longitudinal direction of the endless transport body 40. The balustrade 51 has its lower edge supported by the truss 2, and supports the handrail 50 so that it can move in a circular motion. A pair of handrails 50 and balustrades 51 are provided along the passage on both sides of the passage.

By the way, both sides and the bottom of the truss 2 are surrounded by exterior materials (exterior panels) that are placed along both sides and the bottom of the truss 2. Alternatively, when the escalator 1 is installed in a concrete pit, both sides and the bottom of the truss 2 are surrounded by the walls of the pit, as the walls of the pit are positioned along both sides and the bottom of the truss 2. In addition, the top of the truss 2 is blocked by the endless conveyor 40 (the outgoing part). Therefore, the inside of the truss 2 is an enclosed space.

In this enclosed space, the truss 2, the air conditioning units 6, which are the main components of the air conditioning system, are placed. The air conditioning units 6 are placed in three locations. One air conditioning unit 6A is fixedly placed at the lower end of the truss 2. The other air conditioning unit 6B is fixedly placed at the upper end of the truss 2. The other air conditioning unit 6C is additionally provided and is fixedly placed in the middle of the truss 2. Multiple air conditioning units 6C may be installed at appropriate intervals depending on the length of the escalator 1, i.e., depending on the capacity of the enclosed space inside the truss 2. Alternatively, the air conditioning unit 6C may not be required. The air conditioning units 6A to 6C are placed at an angle depending on the angle of the inclined portion of the endless conveyor 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioner 6A is disposed in the truss 2 near the passenger reception section (the end area connected to the entrance 3A) of the endless conveyor 40. More specifically, as the endless conveyor 40 moves from the horizontal end 2a of the truss 2 to the inclined section 2b, a step occurs between the front and rear steps 41, 41, but the air conditioner 6A is disposed corresponding to the position of several steps 41, ... (three steps 41, ... in this embodiment) that have moved from horizontal movement to inclination movement. Although not shown, the air conditioner 6B is also disposed in the same manner, corresponding to the position of several steps 41, ... (three steps 41, ... in this embodiment) before moving from inclination movement to horizontal movement. Note that when the escalator 1 is set to the down position, the air conditioner 6B is disposed corresponding to the position of several steps 41, ... that have moved from horizontal movement to inclination movement.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, an escalator 1 equipped with an air conditioning system according to the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioner 6 includes a housing 60, a main body 61, and a blower fan 62 as a blower. The housing 60 is a box-shaped body with a bottom and an open top that serves as an outlet. The main body 61 is disposed on the bottom side of the housing 60, has a heat exchange function, and generates conditioned air (warm air or cold air). The blower fan 62 blows the conditioned air from the outlet of the housing 60. The outlet of the housing 60 faces the above-mentioned several steps 41, .... As a result, the conditioned air is blown toward the back side of these several steps 41, .... Although not shown, the air conditioner 6 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and the outlet of the housing 60 also has a rectangular shape. As an example, the rectangular shape is a square shape. In addition, the cold air or warm air generated by the heat exchange is exhausted to the outside from the sealed space in the truss 2.

The step 41 is formed with an air outlet 41c. More specifically, the step 41 includes a step portion 41a and a riser portion (vertical plate portion) 41b. The step portion 41a is a plate-like shape along a horizontal plane, with the upper surface being the step surface, and the riser portion 41b is a plate-like shape that hangs down from the rear end of the step portion 41a and extends downward while curving in an arc shape, and the air outlet 41c is formed in the riser portion 41b. More specifically, the air outlet 41c is formed in a portion of the riser portion 41b close to the step portion 41a. The air outlet 41c is formed penetrating the inside and outside of the riser portion 41b, and is an outlet for the conditioned air (conditioned wind) generated by the air conditioning device 6, and constitutes an air conditioning system together with the air conditioning device 6.

The air outlet 41c has a rectangular shape with a long length and a predetermined width along the width direction of the step 41. The width of the air outlet 41c is sufficiently larger than the gap between the side edge of the step 41 and the lower part of the balustrade 51 (skirt guard). Therefore, the air outlet 41c has a small flow resistance and becomes a local opening of the sealed space in the truss 2. As a result, the conditioned air generated by the air conditioning unit 6 fills the truss 2, becomes positive pressure inside the truss 2, and a part of it is discharged to the outside from the multiple air outlets 41c, .... In particular, the air pressure from the air conditioning unit 6 acts on the air outlets 41c, ... of the above-mentioned several steps 41, ... that face the air outlet of the air conditioning unit 6, and the amount of air blown out increases.

The air outlet 41c is formed in the center of the width of the step 41. More specifically, the air outlet 41c is formed in the center of the width of the riser portion 41b. As a result, the conditioned air is denser in the center above the step portion 41a of the following step 41 than at the ends of the step portion 41a in the width direction.

When this happens, passengers who step onto the steps 41 from the entrance 3A will sense the conditioned air at their feet and, in an attempt to feel more comfortable, will move closer to the center of the width of the step 41a where the conditioned air is dense. This will cause passengers to stand away from the balustrade 51 and closer to the center of the passage. Therefore, the escalator 1 according to this embodiment can provide an escalator that makes it difficult for passengers to come into contact with the balustrade 51. As a result, the escalator 1 according to this embodiment can prevent (clothing, shoelaces, etc.) from getting caught in the gap between the side edge of the step 41 and the bottom of the balustrade 51 (skirt guard), and can eliminate the discomfort caused by the bottom of the passenger's skirt or trousers coming into contact with the bottom of the balustrade 51.

Furthermore, with the escalator 1 according to this embodiment, conditioned air is blown to the feet of passengers standing on the steps 41 from the air outlet 41c of the step 41 one or two steps ahead, and to the lower body from the air outlet 41c of the step 41 two or three steps ahead. The conditioned air also spreads throughout the entire passageway. Therefore, with the escalator 1 according to this embodiment, passengers can stay comfortable even in winter and summer. This is particularly effective when the escalator 1 is an outdoor or semi-outdoor type.

The air conditioning system of the escalator 1 according to this embodiment is composed of an air conditioning device 6 that is arranged at least near the passenger receiving section of the endless conveyor 40, near the passenger sending-off section of the endless conveyor 40, and near the intermediate section of the endless conveyor 40, and an air outlet 41c formed in each step 41. Therefore, the escalator 1 according to this embodiment can provide an air conditioning system at low cost.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, an escalator 1 equipped with an air conditioning system according to embodiment 2 will be described. Note that, hereinafter, only differences from embodiment 1 will be described, and descriptions of the same points as those in embodiment 1 will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the step 41 is provided with a blower fan 63 as an air blowing section. The blower fan 63 is arranged on the back side of the step 41. More specifically, the blower fan 63 is arranged on the back side of the step plate section 41a, on or near the center line of the air outlet 41c. This causes the conditioned air to be blown towards the air outlet 41c. Because the blower fan 63 is provided on the step 41, the blower fan 62 of the air conditioning unit 6 does not have to be provided.

The blower fan 63 is placed on the step 41, which is a movable part. The method of powering the blower fan 63 can be wireless power supply, sliding power supply, a battery, a generator (dynamo), or the like. In wireless power supply, a power transmitting coil is placed on the truss 2 side, and a power receiving coil is placed on the step 41. In sliding power supply, a power supply line is placed on the truss 2 side along the movement direction of the step 41, and a power receiving body that slides against the power supply line is placed on the step 41. A battery is placed on the step 41. The generator generates power by, for example, rotating the rear wheels of the step 41, and is placed on the step 41.

In this way, the escalator 1 according to the second embodiment also provides the same effects as those provided by the escalator 1 according to the first embodiment.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, an escalator 1 equipped with an air conditioning system according to embodiment 3 will be described. The air conditioning system according to embodiment 3 is a modified example of the air conditioning system according to embodiment 1. Note that, in the following, differences from embodiment 1 will be described, and descriptions of the same points as those in embodiment 1 will be omitted, since they are the same as those in embodiment 1.

As shown in FIG. 5, the step 41 is provided with a duct 64. The duct 64 is disposed on the back side of the step 41. More specifically, the duct 64 is disposed on the back side of the step 41a, on or near the center line of the air outlet 41c, and bends diagonally downward or downward along the way, with an inlet facing diagonally downward or downward and an outlet connected to the air outlet 41c. Although not shown, the duct 64 has the same horizontally elongated rectangular cross-sectional shape as the air outlet 41c. The inlet side of the duct 64 is tapered so that the opening area is large. As a result, conditioned air is taken in from the inlet of the duct 64 and guided to the air outlet 41c.

The air conditioner 6 includes a hood 65. The hood 65 is formed so as to extend from the air outlet of the housing 60 to the inlet of the duct 64, allowing the duct 64 to take in more conditioned air, and thus increasing the volume of air blown out from the air outlet 41c. The duct 64 also moves with the movement of the steps 41, but the edge shape of the air outlet of the hood 65 is appropriately set so that the inlet of the duct 64 and the air outlet of the hood 65 do not interfere with each other. In other words, the duct 64 moves with the movement of the steps 41 so that the inlet of the duct 64 brushes against the air outlet of the hood 65 (the air outlet of the air conditioner 6). Although not shown, the air outlet of the hood 65 also has a rectangular shape. As an example, the rectangular shape is a square shape.

In this way, the escalator 1 according to the third embodiment also provides the same effects as those provided by the escalator 1 according to the first embodiment.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the above embodiments 1 to 3, the air outlet 41c is formed only in the center of the endless transport body 40 in the width direction, so that the conditioned air is denser in the center than at the ends of the endless transport body 40 in the width direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the air outlet 41d may be formed at or near the ends of the endless transport body 40 in the width direction.

In this case, unlike the central air outlet 41c, the air outlet 41d at or near the end needs to be directed toward the center of the width of the endless transport body 40. Therefore, in the configuration according to the above-mentioned embodiment 1, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the air outlet 41d at or near the end is provided with one or more air direction plates 66 as air direction sections. The air direction plate 66 is disposed on the back side of the step 41. More specifically, the air direction plate 66 is attached on the back side of the step section 41a, with a portion of it being rotatable, allowing the air direction to be adjusted.

In the configuration according to the above-mentioned embodiment 2, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the blower fan 63 corresponding to the end or end-side air outlet 41d is arranged at an angle so that its axis faces the widthwise center of the endless transport body 40. In the configuration according to the above-mentioned embodiment 3, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the end or end-side air outlet 41d is provided with one or more similar air direction plates 66 as air direction parts. The air direction plates 66 are arranged in the part of the duct 64 corresponding to the end or end-side air outlet 41d.

It is optional whether the end or end-nearby air outlets 41d are provided at or near both ends or at one end or near the end, and whether both the central air outlet 41c and the end or end-nearby air outlets 41d are provided or only one of them is provided.

In addition, in the above embodiments 1 to 3, the air outlet 41c is formed in the riser portion 41b of the step 41. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the air outlet 41c may be formed in the step portion 41a of the step 41 (at the center in the width direction). As an example, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the air outlet 41c is a plurality of holes that penetrate the inside and outside of the step portion 41a and are formed in a two-dimensional array. The air conditioning system may be any of the above embodiments 1 to 3.

In addition, in the above embodiments 1 to 3, the air conditioning unit 6 is fixedly disposed within the truss 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the air conditioning unit may be provided on each step 41 and disposed on the back side of each step 41. In this case, too, since the steps 41 are disposed within the truss 2, the air conditioning unit disposed on the back side of each step 41 is also disposed within the truss 2.

In the above embodiments 1 to 3, the air conditioner 6 is disposed within the truss 2, and the air outlet 41c is formed in the step 41. However, in another invention, the air conditioner may be disposed in a ceiling location above the center of the width of the passenger receiving section of the endless conveyor, and conditioned air may be blown from there toward the center of the width of the endless conveyor.

In the above embodiments 1 to 3, the passenger conveyor is an escalator. However, as shown in FIG. 8, it goes without saying that the passenger conveyor can also be applied to a moving walkway if the air outlet 41c is formed on the tread surface. Note that there are moving walkways that have either step-type endless conveyors or belt-type endless conveyors (endless belt-like conveyors).

Furthermore, as long as there is no physical interference, it is naturally possible to apply the technical elements described above to other embodiments or examples, to replace the technical elements described above with technical elements related to other embodiments or examples, and to combine the technical elements described above with each other, and this is naturally intended by the present invention.

1...escalator, 2...truss, 2a...horizontal end, 2b...inclined portion, 20...upper chord, 21...lower chord, 22...vertical member, 23...diagonal member, 24...support member, 3...entrance, 3A...entrance, 3B...exit, 30...floor plate, 4...transportation section, 40...endless transport body, 41...step, 41a...step section, 41b...riser section, 41c, 41d...air outlet, 42...step chain, 43...driving motor, 5...handrail section, 50...handrail, 51...balustrade, 6...air conditioner, 6A...lower end air conditioner, 6B...upper end air conditioner, 6C...middle air conditioner, 60...casing, 61...main body, 62...blower fan (blower section), 63...blower fan (blower section), 64...duct, 65...hood, 66...air deflector

Claims (8)

an endless conveyor arranged in the truss along the longitudinal direction of the truss and circulating along the passage;
A balustrade is disposed along the passage on the side of the endless conveyor and supports the handrail so as to be circulatively movable;
An air conditioning device disposed within the truss;
The air outlet for conditioned air generated by an air conditioning device is arranged side by side at the center and the end or at a location close to the end in the width direction of the endless transport body, and each of the air outlets is formed long in the width direction of the endless transport body and is formed at a predetermined interval over the entire length of the endless transport body, and the air outlet is configured to collect the conditioned air in the center of the endless transport body in the width direction by having an air direction part that directs the air direction of the air outlet at the end or the location close to the end toward the center in the width direction of the endless transport body, so that the conditioned air is denser in the center than at the end of the endless transport body in the width direction.
Passenger conveyor. The endless conveyor is configured by connecting a plurality of steps in an endless manner,
The passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is formed in a riser portion of the step. The passenger conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air conditioning device is fixedly disposed within the truss and includes a blower that blows conditioned air toward a rear side of the endless transport body. The passenger conveyor according to claim 3, wherein the endless transport body is provided on a rear side with a duct that takes in conditioned air and guides it to the air outlet. The passenger conveyor according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the airflow direction portion is an airflow direction plate disposed on the rear side of the endless transport body. The air conditioning unit is fixedly mounted within the truss.
The passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the endless transport body is provided, on a rear side thereof, with an air blowing section that blows conditioned air toward the air outlet. The passenger conveyor according to claim 6, wherein the airflow direction section is an air blowing section that is disposed obliquely so that an axis of the air blowing section faces a widthwise center of the endless transport body. The passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the air conditioning device is disposed in the truss at a location in the vicinity of the passenger receiving portion of the endless transport body.

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