HK1221450B - Varying speed transportation system - Google Patents

Description

Variable speed conveyor system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a drive system for a conveyor system for transporting passengers/goods, and more particularly to a system having a high speed zone located in an intermediate zone and a transition speed zone located between an entry/exit zone and the intermediate zone.

The invention is therefore suitable for mechanical walkways used in airports, stations and in various large-scale fields in general (where the user must pass through more or less long sections, with the aim of facilitating such passage).

Background

It is found to be common to find a mechanical corridor of the kind mentioned above in which several sections operating at different speeds are defined, so that, depending on the way the corridor is operating, it establishes a first entering zone with a low speed, an accelerating zone, an intermediate zone at maximum speed, a decelerating zone and an exiting zone at low speed.

In order to achieve the variable speed required for the acceleration and deceleration regions, there are a number of different solutions, including one proposed in document ES 2289955. Said document describes an acceleration channel having a moving surface constituted by an assembly of plate members, each formed by a plate to be drawn and a plate to be drawn articulated to each other along an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel. The channels comprise an entry and exit zone in which the plate members circulate at a low speed, a central zone in which the plate members circulate at a high speed, and two transition zones in which the plate members are accelerated and decelerated by using different traction systems for each zone. In the system described in said document ES2289955, power is transmitted via the roller chain and the screw is only responsible for changing the speed of the pallet, but never transmits power to the load carrying means that push the pallet.

Disclosure of Invention

The drive system object of the invention is mainly composed of two parts, namely an actuating device and a traction device.

The actuating means are constituted by a variable-pitch worm shaft or screw, while the traction means are formed by a supporting load-carrying means provided with a drive roller and a driven roller, and a chain is connected to said traction means, the properties of which chain can be varied depending on its use or application.

As for the variable-pitch worm shaft or the screw of the actuator, it is constituted by a double spiral portion such that one of the spiral portions (first spiral portion) serves as a guide for supporting the driving roller of the load-carrying device and the other serves as a guide for the driven roller.

As for the supporting load means as described above, it is formed of at least two rollers. The drive roller engages with the screw or worm shaft, while the other (driven roller) ensures the proper setting of the contact between the load carrying means and the screw.

In order to prevent the occurrence of slippage, which may occur at the highest speed between the drive roller and the screw, the construction of the load carrier roller is designed to optimize the contact between the spiral of the screw and the drive roller.

In particular, the invention relates to a drive system for a conveyor system, characterized in that:

1a) an actuation device 400 for transmitting actuation motions from at least one motor 410;

1b) a first pulling device 300, the first pulling device 300 configured to:

1b1) transmitting the traction movement from the actuating means 400 to each of the moving members 500, said moving members 500 forming a transmission system in the transition speed zone between the entry/exit zone and the intermediate zone,

1b2) and the driving is performed in the high-speed region,

1c) a second traction device 300 ', said second traction device 300' being configured to transmit the traction motion from the first traction device 300 to each of the mobile parts 500, said mobile parts 500 forming a conveying system located in a high-speed zone of the middle region of the conveying system,

wherein said actuating means 400 comprises a screw having a fixed pitch in the high speed zone and a variable pitch in the transition speed zone, said screw conveying the movement of the first traction means 300 by means of a first helix 401 engaging with the drive roller 301 with variable radius of the first traction means 300 and preventing the slack therebetween by means of a second helix 402 engaging with the driven roller 302 with variable radius of the first traction means 300.

That is, the invention relates to a drive system for a conveyor system, having an actuating device which transmits actuating movements from at least one motor and a first traction device; the first traction device is configured to transmit traction motion from the actuating device to each of the moving parts forming a transmission system in a transition speed zone between the entry/exit zone and the intermediate zone.

The moving part may refer to a pallet forming a ramp of a conveyor system, which pallet continuously forms a continuous passenger conveyor system with variable speed.

Likewise, the moving parts may also be referred to as grips that continuously constitute variable speed continuous handrails that are disposed on both sides of and higher up in the variable speed continuous passenger conveyor system, providing for maintaining synchronization with movement of the system's pallet.

These first traction devices may also be configured to drive a second traction device that transfers the tractive motion from the first traction device to each of the moving parts (pallets or handrails) that form the conveyor system in the high speed zone located in the middle region of the conveyor system.

The actuating means comprises a screw having a fixed pitch in the high speed region and a variable pitch in the transition speed region. The screw transmits movement of the first traction device through a first spiral portion engaged with a drive roller having a variable radius of the first traction device, and prevents slack therebetween through a second spiral portion engaged with a driven roller having a variable radius of the first traction device.

To improve contact with the surface of the screw, both the drive roller and the follower roller have variable radii.

Drawings

The following is a very brief description of a series of drawings that assist in a better understanding of the invention and in particular relate to embodiments of the invention that are presented as non-limiting examples of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a general view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the handrail acceleration screw, the handrail drive screw, and the pallet drive/acceleration screw.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the actuating device and the traction device of the pallet system.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an actuating device and a second traction device of the armrest system.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of the different spirals on the screw of the actuating device effective for the pallet and handrail system of the walkway and their respective rollers.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the contact between the drive roller and the trailing thread section in this region, furthest from the axis of the screw, with a relative speed derived from the contact.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the contact between the drive roller and the traction thread in the inner zone with a relative velocity derived from the contact.

Detailed Description

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a drive system for a conveyor system having an actuating device 400 for transmitting actuating motion from at least one motor 410. Also, the system has a first traction device 300, the first traction device 300 being configured to transmit traction motion from the actuating device 400 to each of the moving parts 500 (pallets or handrails) of the transport system (in the transition speed zone between the entry/exit zone and the intermediate zone). Furthermore, the system has a second traction device 300 ', which second traction device 300' is configured to transmit the traction motion from the first traction device 300 to a moving part 500 (pallet or handrail) of the conveyor system (which is located in the high speed zone of the middle zone of the conveyor system).

In particular, the actuating means 400 is a variable-pitch worm shaft or screw 400, which variable-pitch worm shaft or screw 400 is engaged with a first traction means 300 constituting a plurality of supporting load means 300, on which supporting load means 300 a chain is mounted, and which chain connects together different pallets 500 of a second traction means 300 ', which second traction means 300 ' transmits power along the entire path, and which pallets 500 are in turn located on said second traction means 300 '.

In addition, there is another separate variable-pitch worm shaft or screw 400 of the system, which variable-pitch worm shaft or screw 400 is synchronized with the previous screw (the screw 400 that actuates the pallet 500). These additional screws 400 actuate the armrests 500 on both the right and left hand sides of the user.

The screw 400 transmits the power required to move a series of supporting load-carrying means 300, changing their speed, and on said load-carrying means 300, the chain 300 ' (second traction means) circulates at a constant speed, said load-carrying means 300 transmitting power in engagement with said chain 300 ' according to the zone of the passage in which it is located, or being disengaged from said chain 300 ' so as to change the speed of said second traction means, without transmitting power.

The movement between the first pulling device 300 and the actuating device 400 is thus transmitted by the drive roller 301 of the pulling device 300, said drive roller 301 engaging with a first spiral 401 of special geometry on the screw of the actuating device 400. The geometry enables the contact between the first helix 401 and the drive roller 301 to be fully engaged, preventing any relative movement that might produce noise, wear and unnecessary loss of efficiency.

Fig. 5 provides a diagram of the starting positions from which the geometry and position of the drive roller 301 with variable radius is determined, which enables the transfer of motion with full engagement. For the outer diameter Rh of the first helical portion 401, contained in a plane tangential to the outer cylindrical surface of the screw 400, a circumference of known radius R1 is provided. At a distance "d" from the axis of the screw 400, an axis perpendicular to the tangential plane and passing through the center of the circumference is provided. The distance "d" is defined by the formula [ d ═ R1x sin α ], where [ α ═ atan (Ph/(2x pi xRh)) ], and where Ph is the pitch of the first screw 401 of the screw 400 in the drive zone. The axis perpendicular to the plane at a distance "d" from the axis of the screw 400 defines the axis of the drive roller 301. In this case, the speed Vh1 of the screw at the contact point a with the drive roller 301 is perpendicular to the axis of the screw 400, preventing contact friction caused by the relative speed in the axial direction. The speed of point "a" on the screw 400 can be broken down into two speeds: the forward speed of movement of the roller (Va1) and the rotational speed tangential to the roller (Vr 1). Fig. 6 provides a diagram of a method for defining the radius of the drive roller 301 in any plane parallel to the aforementioned plane and at a known distance (a) from it, thus defining the radius as [ R2 ═ d/sin β ], where [ β ═ atan (Ph/(2x pi x (Rh-a))) ]. In this case, the speed Vh2 of the screw at the contact point B with the drive roller 301 is perpendicular to the axis of the screw 400, preventing the same problem as in the case of the point "a".

Points a and B demonstrate identical forward motion speeds according to the following series of equations:

va2 ═ Vh2x tg β → due to [ β ═ atan (Ph/(2x pi x (Rh-a))) ] and [ Vh2 ═ Wh x (Rh-a) ], where Wh is the rotational speed of the screw → Va2 ═ Wh x (Rh-a) x Ph/(2x pi x (Rh-a)) ═ Wh Ph/(2x pi) ═ Va

Va1 ═ Vh1x tg α → due to [ α ═ atan (Ph/(2x pi xRh)) ] and [ Vh1 ═ Wh x Rh ], where Wh is the rotational speed of the screw → Va1 ═ Wh x Rh x Ph/(2x pi xRh) ═ Wh Ph/(2x pi) ═ Va ═ Rh ═ Va

It is demonstrated that points a and B produce exactly the same rotational speed (Wr) in the roll according to the following series of equations:

Vr2＝Va/sinβ＝Va/dxR2

Vr1＝Va/sinβ＝Va/dxR1

vr2/Vr1 ═ R2/R1 → Wr ═ Wr1 ═ Wr2, demonstrating that no friction is generated in any way in the contact between the screw and the drive roller.

Claims (4)

1. A drive system for a conveyor system, characterized by:

1a) an actuation device (400) for transmitting an actuation motion from at least one motor (410);

1b) a first traction device (300), the first traction device (300) configured to:

1b1) transmitting the traction motion from the actuating device (400) to each of the moving parts (500), said moving parts (500) forming a transmission system in a transition speed zone between the entry/exit zone and the intermediate zone,

1b2) and the driving is performed in the high-speed region,

1c) a second traction device (300 '), said second traction device (300') being configured to transmit the traction motion from the first traction device (300) to each of the moving parts (500), said moving parts (500) forming a conveying system located in a high speed zone of a middle region of the conveying system,

wherein the actuating means (400) comprises a screw having a fixed pitch in the high speed zone and a variable pitch in the transition speed zone, the screw conveying the movement of the first traction means (300) by means of a first helix (401) engaging with a drive roller (301) of variable radius of the first traction means (300) and preventing slack therebetween by means of a second helix (402) engaging with a driven roller (302) of variable radius of the first traction means (300).

2. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the drive system is characterized by

The axis of the drive roller (301) of the first pulling device (300) is located at a distance "d" from the screw, so that:

[d＝R1xsinα]，

wherein:

r1-the radius of the drive roller (301) lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the screw and tangential to the outer diameter of the screw,

[α＝atan(Ph/(2xπxRh))]，

ph-the pitch of the screw in the high-speed zone,

rh is the outer diameter of the screw,

the radius of the drive roller (301) at a different distance "a" from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the screw and tangential to the outer diameter of the screw is defined by [ R2 ═ d/sin β ],

wherein:

[β＝atan(Ph/(2xπx(Rh-a)))]，

the position of the axis of the driven roller (302) is at a distance "d" from the axis of the screw (400), opposite to the position of the axis of the drive roller (301).

3. Drive system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first traction means (300) is a load carrying means, each of said load carrying means (300) being coupled to a pallet, each of the moving parts (500) of the pallet forming system, said pallet continuously constituting a continuous passenger transportation system of variable speed.

4. Drive system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first traction means (300) are load carrying means, each of said load carrying means (300) being connected to a grip forming each of the moving parts (500) of the system, said grips consecutively constituting variable speed continuous handrails arranged on both sides and at a higher position of the variable speed continuous passenger transportation system providing to keep in synchronism with the movement of the pallet.