HK1117129B - Travelator and method for servicing the electrical apparatus of a travelator - Google Patents

Description

Moving walkway and method for repairing an electrical installation of a moving walkway

Technical Field

The invention relates to a moving sidewalk. In addition, the invention relates to a method for repairing an electrical installation of a travelator.

Background

The prior-art travelator disclosed in publication WO2005/042392 comprises a frame which is mounted on top of a fixed base, such as a floor or other support. A conveyor is supported on the support. The conveyor is driven by an electrically powered device. The entrance ramp and correspondingly the exit ramp forming the walking surface are arranged on top of a fixed base, such as a floor or other support, before and correspondingly after the conveyor in the transport direction of the conveyor. In addition, various electrical devices are generally present in the travelator. Such a travelator frame must be very shallow in its structure and therefore have little space in it. This space already contains mainly the components of the drive machinery of the conveyor, so it is a problem to place the electrical devices so that they are easily accessible for maintenance.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a travelator in which the electrical devices are easily accessible and maintainable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a travelator which can be serviced quickly and without long down-time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method which enables maintenance to be carried out with a down time which is as short as possible.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a travelator comprising a frame mounted on top of a fixed base, a conveyor supported on the frame, electrically powered equipment for driving the conveyor, an entry ramp and/or an exit ramp, and electrical means, the entrance ramp and/or departure ramp forming a walking surface and being provided on top of the fixed base, before and/or after the conveyor in the conveying direction of the conveyor, characterized in that the entry ramp and/or departure ramp comprises a frame casing having an empty interior space therein, in which empty interior space the electrical devices of the travelator are accommodated, and the entrance ramp forms a rising ramp from the fixed base toward the transport and the exit ramp forms a falling ramp from the transport toward the fixed base.

Preferably, the rack housing is a self-supporting module which is detachably connected to the rack.

Preferably, the frame comprises a first connector connected to an electrical equipment of the travelator; and the entry ramp and/or exit ramp comprises a second connector connected to the electrical device in the interior space of the ramp and arranged for connection to the first connector.

Preferably, the electrical means in the entry ramp and/or departure ramp comprise control means for controlling the functions of the travelator.

Preferably, the electrical device in the entry ramp and/or exit ramp comprises a frequency converter or at least an inverter.

Preferably, the electrical device in the entry ramp and/or exit ramp comprises a transformer.

Preferably, the rack housing includes a horizontal or inclined top surface forming a walking surface for passengers.

Preferably, the top surface includes an aperture through which the electrical device in the interior space is accessible; and a lid, the hole being closable and openable with the lid.

Preferably, the top surface is horizontal and the entrance ramp and/or exit ramp comprises at least one step.

Preferably, the travelator is modular, so that it comprises a substantially fixed-in-place centre module, which comprises the major part of the length of the conveyor; at least one end module removably connected to said central module, the end module comprising a length of conveyor shorter than said main section and various utilities; the entry ramp and/or departure ramp may be modularly detached from and attached to the end module and may be handled together with the end module or separately.

Preferably, the travelator comprises two end modules, which are modularly detachable from and attachable to the central module.

Preferably, the ramp extends from the height of the fixed base to the conveying height of the conveyor.

Preferably, the ramp forms an uphill device rising from the level of the fixed base to the transport level of the conveyor and/or a downhill device falling from the transport level of the conveyor to the level of the fixed base.

Preferably, the fixed base is a floor or other support.

Preferably, the electrical device is the electrically powered device.

According to the invention, there is provided a method for servicing an electric device of a travelator according to the first aspect of the invention, characterized in that,

-stopping the travelator and closing the passage;

-removing an entry ramp and/or an exit ramp comprising electrical devices requiring maintenance from the travelator;

-connecting a new or serviced entry ramp and/or departure ramp to the travelator;

-transporting an entry ramp and/or an exit ramp requiring servicing away from the travelator for servicing at a servicing site;

-starting the travelator and opening the traffic.

The travelator according to the invention comprises a frame mounted on top of a fixed base such as a floor or other support, a conveyor supported on the frame, an electric device for driving the conveyor, an entry ramp and/or an exit ramp or the like comprising a walking surface and being arranged on top of a fixed base such as a floor or other support, before or respectively after the conveyor in the transport direction of the conveyor, and electric means.

The entry ramp and/or exit ramp or the like comprises a rack housing having an empty interior space therein, in which the electrical device is accommodated.

From the point of view of space utilization and serviceability of the travelator it is advantageous to place the main electrical devices of the travelator in the ramp.

According to the method for repairing an electrical apparatus of the present invention, the travelator is stopped and traffic is closed; removing an entry ramp and/or an exit ramp comprising electrical equipment requiring servicing from the travelator; connecting a new or serviced entry ramp and/or departure ramp to the travelator; transporting an entry ramp and/or an exit ramp requiring servicing away from the travelator for servicing at a servicing site; the travelator is started and opened for traffic.

By means of the method according to the invention, the electrical devices of the travelator can be serviced as quickly and easily as possible, so that the down time is as short as possible. If the required maintenance procedure is so time-consuming that it is not suitable to be carried out in the working area of the travelator, the entry ramp and/or departure ramp to be maintained can simply be detached from the travelator and replaced with a new or repaired respective entry ramp and/or departure ramp. The ramps that need servicing are transported to the servicing site where they can be serviced to a workable state under ergonomic and safe conditions.

In one embodiment of the travelator the frame casing is a self-supporting module, which is detachably connected to the frame.

In one embodiment of the travelator the frame comprises a first connector to be connected to an electrical device of the travelator, such as the electrically powered device. The entry ramp and/or exit ramp includes a second connector connected to the electrical equipment in the interior space of the ramp and arranged to connect to the first connector.

In an embodiment of the travelator the electrical equipment in the entry ramp and/or departure ramp comprises control means for controlling the functions of the travelator.

In an embodiment of the travelator the electrical equipment in the entry ramp and/or departure ramp comprises a frequency converter or at least an inverter.

In an embodiment of the travelator the electrical equipment in the entry ramp and/or departure ramp comprises a transformer (transformer).

In one embodiment of the travelator the frame casing comprises a horizontal or inclined top surface, which forms the walking surface for the passengers.

In one embodiment of the travelator the walking surface comprises an aperture via which the electrical equipment in the interior space is accessible; and a lid which can be opened and closed, the hole being closed with a lid (16).

In an embodiment of the travelator in which the top surface is horizontal, the entry ramp and/or departure ramp comprise at least one step.

In one embodiment of the travelator is modular, so that the travelator comprises a substantially fixed in place centre module, which comprises the major part of the length of the conveyor; at least one end module removably connected to the central module, the end module comprising a length of conveyor shorter than the main section and various utilities. The entry ramp and/or departure ramp may be modularly detached from and attached to the end module and may be handled together with the end module or separately.

In one embodiment of the travelator, the travelator comprises two end modules, which are modularly detachable from and attachable to the central module.

Drawings

The invention is described in detail below by way of some examples of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a travelator according to the invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic side view of a part of a second embodiment of the travelator according to the invention;

fig. 3 is a top view of the travelator of fig. 1;

fig. 4 is a sectional view IV-IV of the travelator of fig. 3, the ramp being disassembled and the lid being opened; and

fig. 5, which corresponds to fig. 4, shows a part of a third embodiment of the travelator according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 5 show a travelator comprising a frame 2 mounted on a fixed base 1, such as a floor or other support. A conveyor 3 is supported on the frame 2, which conveyor 3 can be a pallet conveyor, for example of the kind described in publication WO 2005/042391 of the same applicant, in which successive pallets move along an endless track, in which there are an upper section, which serves as the actual track for transporting passengers from the beginning to the end of the travelator, and a lower section, which serves as the track for transporting pallets from the end back to the beginning.

The travelator also comprises an electrically powered device 4, preferably a flat permanent magnet synchronous motor, which is mounted in a small space on a frame 2 connected above the fixed base.

In the conveying direction of the conveyor of fig. 1 (from left to right), the entrance ramp 5 is before the conveyor 3 and correspondingly the exit ramp 6 is after the conveyor. The ramps 5 and 6 form a walking surface along which passengers can walk onto the conveyor 3. In the figure, the top surfaces 14 of the ramps 5 and 6 are inclined so that the wheelchair can also travel onto the conveyor 3. Fig. 2 illustrates a second alternative of the departure ramp 6, in which the top surface 14 is horizontal and comprises a step 17.

These figures show that the departure ramp 6 comprises a rack housing 10, in which an empty interior space 11 is present. The electrical devices 7, 8 and 9 of the travelator are placed in the interior space 11 of the frame casing 10.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the top surface 14 of the rack housing 10 includes a hole 15, via which hole 15 the electrical devices 7, 8 and 9 in the inner space 11 are easily accessible. The hole 15 is closed by a lid 16 that can be opened and closed. Fig. 5 shows another configuration of the rack housing 10 of the configuration of fig. 4, in which the cover 16 is not required, but the rack housing 10 including the top surface 14 can be removed from its position above the electrical devices 7, 8 and 9 which remain in its position, in which case the electrical devices are thus exposed for inspection and maintenance.

As shown in fig. 4, the bracket shell 10 of the ramp is preferably a self-supporting module which can be handled as a single unit and which is detachably connected to the bracket 2. For the purpose of making an electrical or data connection, the frame 2 of the travelator comprises a first connector 12, which first connector 12 is connected to an electrical device of the travelator, such as an electrically powered equipment 4. The entrance ramp and/or the departure ramp 5, 6 comprise a second connector 13, the second connector 13 being connected to the electrical devices 7, 8 and 9 in the ramp interior space 11 and being provided for connection to the first connector 12. Preferably, the electrical connection between the first and second connectors 12 and 13 is made while the ramp 6 is physically attached to the frame 2 of the travelator.

The electrical means in the entrance ramp and/or exit ramps 5 and 6 may comprise: a control device 7 for controlling the functions of the travelator, a frequency converter or inverter 8, a transformer 9 and other such electrical devices.

Fig. 1 also illustrates a preferred modular structure of the travelator. The travelator may comprise a central module 18 fixed substantially in its position, which central module 18 comprises a major part of the length of the conveyor 3. In addition, there are two end modules 19 and 20 that can be modularly removed from the central module 18 and connected to the central module 18. The end modules 19 and 20 comprise a section of the conveyor 3, both shorter than the main part, and various utilities. The entrance ramps and/or departure ramps 5 and 6 can be modularly detached from and connected to the end modules 19 and 20 and can be handled together with the end modules or separately.

If the electrical equipment contained in the entrance ramp 5 or the departure ramp 6 requires maintenance, it will take a lot of time if the maintenance procedure is carried out on site, and the travelator is stopped and closed. The access ramp 5 or 6 comprising said damaged electrical device is detached from the end module 19 or 20 and the electrical connection 12 and 13 between the ramp and the end module is broken. A new or serviced corresponding ramp is connected to the end module 19 or 20. The connectors 12 and 13 are connected to each other. The ramp 5 or 6 requiring servicing is transported away from the travelator for servicing at the site. Finally, the travelator is started and re-opened for traffic.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but many variations are possible within the framework of the inventive concept. For example, when applying the invention, the ramp used may be directed to incline in another direction than the length direction of the travelator. The inventive concept is also suitable to be applied in a casing instead of an inclined ramp, the casing having at least one step or forming at least one step between the floor level supporting the travelator and the conveyor of the travelator.

Claims (17)

1. Travelator comprising a frame (2) mounted on top of a fixed base (1), a conveyor (3) supported on the frame (2), an electric machine (4) for driving the conveyor, an entry and/or exit ramp (5, 6) and electric means (7, 8, 9), which entry and/or exit ramp (5, 6) forms a walking surface and is arranged on top of the fixed base, before and/or after the conveyor in the conveying direction of the conveyor, characterized in that the entry and/or exit ramp (5, 6) comprises a frame shell (10) with an empty inner space (11) in it, in which empty inner space (11) the electric means (7, 8, 9) of the travelator are placed, and the entrance ramp forms a rising ramp from the fixed base toward the transport and the exit ramp forms a falling ramp from the transport toward the fixed base.

2. A travelator according to claim 1, characteri zed in that the frame casing (10) is a self-supporting module, which is detachably connected to the frame (2).

3. A travelator according to claim 1 or 2, characteri zed in that the frame (2) comprises a first connector (12), which first connector (12) is connected to the travelator's electrical equipment; and the entry ramp and/or exit ramp (5, 6) comprises a second connector (13), which second connector (13) is connected to an electrical device (7, 8, 9) in the ramp interior (11) and is arranged to be connected to the first connector (12).

4. A travelator according to claim 1 or 2, characteri zed in that the electric devices in the entry ramp and/or departure ramp (5, 6) comprise control means (7) for controlling the functions of the travelator.

5. A travelator according to claim 1 or 2, characteri zed in that the electric devices in the entry ramp and/or departure ramp (5, 6) comprise frequency converters.

6. A travelator according to claim 1 or 2, characteri zed in that the electrical devices in the entry ramp and/or departure ramp (5, 6) comprise a transformer (9).

7. A travelator according to claim 1 or 2, characteri zed in that the frame casing (10) comprises a horizontal or inclined top surface (14), which top surface (14) forms the passenger's walking surface.

8. A travelator according to claim 7, characteri zed in that the roof (14) comprises a hole (15), and that the electric device (7, 8, 9) in the inner space (11) is accessible via the hole (15); and a lid (16), the hole (15) being closable and closable with the lid (16).

9. A travelator according to claim 7, characteri zed in that the top surface (14) is horizontal and the entry ramp and/or departure ramp (5, 6) comprises at least one step (17).

10. A travelator according to claim 1 or 2, characteri zed in that the travelator is modular, so that the travelator comprises a substantially fixed in place centre module (18), which centre module (18) comprises the major part of the length of the conveyor (3); at least one end module (19, 20) removably connected to said central module (18), the end module (19, 20) comprising a length of conveyor shorter than said main portion and various utilities in use; the entrance and/or departure ramps (5, 6) can be modularly detached from and connected to the end modules (19, 20) and can be handled together with or separately from the end modules (19, 20).

11. A travelator according to claim 10, characteri zed in that the travelator comprises two end modules (19, 20), which end modules (19, 20) are modularly detachable from and attachable to the central module (18).

12. A travelator according to claim 1 or 2, characteri zed in that the ramp (5, 6) extends from the height of the fixed base (1) to the conveying height of the conveyor (3).

13. A travelator according to claim 1 or 2, characteri zed in that the ramp forms an uphill means rising from the level of the fixed base (1) to the transport level of the conveyor (3) and/or a downhill means falling from the transport level of the conveyor (3) to the level of the fixed base (1).

14. A travelator according to claim 1, characteri zed in that the fixed base is a floor.

15. A travelator according to claim 3, characteri zed in that the electric equipment is the electrically powered equipment (4).

16. A travelator according to claim 1 or 2, characteri zed in that the electrical devices in the entry ramp and/or departure ramp (5, 6) comprise an inverter (8).

17. Method for servicing an electric installation of a travelator according to any one of claims 1-9,

-stopping the travelator and closing the passage;

-removing an entry ramp and/or an exit ramp comprising electrical devices requiring maintenance from the travelator;

-connecting a new or serviced entry ramp and/or departure ramp to the travelator;

-transporting an entry ramp and/or an exit ramp requiring servicing away from the travelator for servicing at a servicing site;

-starting the travelator and opening the traffic.