FIELD AND BACKGRQtJKD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to escalators and, in particular, it concerns a monorail escalator system that is configured as a helical escalator.

Escalators have been in use for more than one hundred years and both straight and curved embodiments are known in the art.

The curved escalators of the prior art all follow the same general design, a series of continuously moving interconnected platforms which form individual steps while traversing a slope, with the platforms being supported on each side by a pair of tracks. The platforms move in a continuous loop around a support structure providing a motive transportation surface traversing a top surface of the support structure and a non-transportation surface during the return run of the loop.

While this design generally works well for straight embodiments, including moving sidewalks and the like, curved tracks present a problem. Curved tracks are presently limited to a path the follows a constant curve. This is particularly true for curved escalators that utilize drive mechanisms, typically drive chains, associated with both tracks located on the sides of the steps, since

the outer chain must travel at a faster speed than the inside chain, and the speed of each drive chain may not be varied, which would be necessary if the curve of the track were varied.

There is therefore a need for a monorail escalator system that is configured as a helical escalator. It would be particularly beneficial if the monorail escalator system were configured with a drive system associated with the single monorail track so as to allow for varied curvature of the path followed by the track.

SUMMARY QF THE INVENTION The present invention is a monorail escalator system that is configured as a helical escalator

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a continuous moving platform device comprising: (a) a monorail support structure having at least one guide configuration; (b) a plurality of interconnected moving platforms deployed on the monorail support structure so as to engage the at least one guide configuration; and (c) a drive system for propelling the plurality of interconnected moving platforms on the monorail support structure; wherein the plurality of interconnected moving platforms circumscribe the monorail support structure and move in a continuous loop around the monorail support structure providing a motive transportation surface traversing a top surface of the monorail support structure.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the monorail support structure is deployed so as to move the plurality of interconnected moving platforms along a substantially horizontal path.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the monorail support structure is deployed so as to move the plurality of interconnected moving platforms along a substantially sloped path.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the monorail support structure turns about an axis such that the continuous moving platform device is a helical escalator. According to a further teaching of the present invention, the monorail support structure turns at varying radii about the axis.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the monorail support structure turns sequentially about at least two different axes.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the monorail support structure spans multiple levels, the substantially sloped path having a substantially flat segment at each level.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a continuous moving platform support assembly comprising a monorail support structure having a platform attachment arrangement, the platform attachment arrangement configured for movable attachment of a plurality of interconnected moving platforms with the monorail support structure.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the monorail support structure is configured as a modular monorail support structure having at least one track section, a first terminal section deployed at a first end of the track section,_ancLa second terminal section deployed at a second end of the track section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at least one track section is configured as a sloping track section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the slope is a sloping curve. According to a further teaching of the present invention, the sloping curve is an upward helix.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the curve traverses an arc of at least 360°.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a continuous moving platform for deployment on a monorail support structure the platform comprising a platform element having first and second edges configured such that a length of the first edge contracts and a length of the second edge expands when the platform follows a path turning in a first direction and a length of the first edge expands and a length of the second edge contracts when the platform follows a path turning in a second direction.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is also provided a plurality of mechanically linked support surface slats, each support surface slat spanning a full width and a portion of a length of the platform.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is also provided a platform attachment arrangement configured for movable attachment of a plurality of the platforms to the monorail support structure wherein the monorail support sfπxcture provides a sloping path such that as the plurality of platforms traverses the sloping path, each platform is a separate step in a series of steps traversing the sloping path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an artist's rendition of a first preferred embodiment helical escalator constructed and operational according to the teachings of the present invention, deployed between two platforms of a railway station;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of major components of the embodiment of FIG. 1, including the platforms; FIG. 3 is an isometric view of major components of the embodiment of

FIG. 1, shown without the platforms;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the monorail support structure, mounting components and drive system of the embodiment of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the monorail support structure of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG.6 is an isometric view of the modular components of the monorail support structure of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown in a disassembled state;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a straight sloping track section constructed and operational according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a straight level track section constructed and operational according to the teachings of the present invention; FIGS. 9A-9E are a variety of views of the continuous moving platform of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the continuous moving platform of FIG. 1 deployed on the monorail support structure of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a second preferred embodiment of a continuous moving platform constructed and operational according to the teachings of the present invention, shown here is the platform attachment element deployed on the monorail support structure of FIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are a top elevation and side elevation respectively of the platform attachment element of FIG. 11 deployed on the monorail support structure of FIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 13A-13C are isometric views of a continuous moving platform for deployment of the platform attachment element of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a top elevation of the continuous moving platforms of FIG. 13 deployed on a monorail support structure that turns in two directions; FIGS 15A and 15B are a side elevation and a top elevation respectively of a helical monorail support structure constructed and operational according to the teachings of the present invention that turns about two different axes at different radii; and

FIGS. 16A-16C are isometric views of helical track sections of the monorail support structure of the present invention illustrating variant reinforcement configurations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERKED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a monorail escalator system that is configured as a helical escalator

The principles and operation of a helical escalator according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

By way of introduction, the helical escalator of the present invention includes monorail support structure which may be configured to follow an upward helical curve. A series of interconnected continuously moving platforms are deployed on the monorail support structure so as to extend laterally on either side of the monorail support structure. These interconnected continuously moving platforms move in a continuous loop around the monorail support structure providing a motive transportation surface traversing the top surface of the monorail support structure.

It will be understood that the phrase "continuously moving" as used herein refers to movement while the drive system of the escalator is operational.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the utility of a first preferred embodiment 10 of the helical escalator of the present invention for providing continuous motive transportation between two levels 2 and 4, while requiring a relatively small footprint. As better seen in Figures 2-5, the helical escalator of the present invention as illustrated in Figure 1, includes a monorail support structure 20, upon which moving platforms 40 move in a continuous loop, a handrail system 14, and a drive system 16 for driving the moving platforms 40.

It will be appreciated that handrail systems and drive systems that are compatible with the helical escalator of the present invention are already known in the art. For example, the escalator step or moving walkway plate drive system of US Patent Application No 2005/0023107 to Mrlheisl and the handrail systems described in US Patents Nos. 5,881,859 to Bianchi and 7,243,775 to Novacek et al., which specifically mentions spiral and curved moving walkway versions in column 8, lines 3-9. All three of these references are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. It should be noted that the above references are included herein only as examples of a drive system and handrail systems that are compatible with the system of the present invention so as to provide a fully enabled description of the present invention to the reader. However, it will be appreciated that substantially any suitable drive system and handrail system may be combined with the teaching of the present invention.

In the illustrative example shown here, the monorail support structure 20 is structurally attached to the floor of the lower level 2 by bracket 60 and is structurally attached to the floor of the upper level 4 by bracket 62. It will be understood that the structural attachment of the monorail support structure of the present invention to the structure in which it is being installed may be accomplished by substantially any suitable method and mechanism as will be determined by the architectural requirements of the instalation.

As seen best in Figure 5, the monorail support structure 20 includes a guide configuration that is illustrated here as outer guide grooves 22 a and 22 b and inner guide grooves 24a and 24b, which are configured to also act as the attachment arrangement for movable attachment of a plurality of interconnected moving platforms 40 to the monorail support structure 20, as will be discussed below with regard to Figure 10. It will be understood, that corresponding guide grooves are configured on the opposite, unseen side of monorail support structure 20.

As seen in Figure 5, the monorail support structure is configured with an upward helically sloping track section 26, a lower terminal section 28a deployed at the lower end of the sloping track section 26, and an upper terminal section 28b deployed at the upper end of track section 26. As illustrated herein, the upper and lower terminal sections 28a and 28b are configured as curved sections following an arc that has the same radius as track section 26. It will be appreciated, however, that either one or both of the terminal sections 28a and 28b may be configured on an arc that is different from that of the track section

26. Alternatively, either one or both of the terminal sections 28a and 28b may be configured as straight sections.

It will be appreciated that the design of the monorail support structure lends itself to modular fabrication as illustrated in Figure 6, where the terminal sections 28a and 28 b are fabricated as individual sections and the tack section 26 is fabricated as two sections 26a and 26b.

It will also be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art, that the unique monorail support structure may be easily adapted for use with a straight sloping track section 70, as illustrated in Figure 7, for use as a straight escalator. Additionally, the monorail support structure may be adapted for use with a horizontal track section 80, as illustrated in Figure 8, for use as a moving walkway, which may be either straight or curved and as seen in Figure 14, and it may be curved in two directions.

The first preferred continuously moving platforms illustrated in Figures 9A-9E are examples of moving platforms 40 that may be used as steps with helical monorail support structure 20 that turns about a single axis at a constant radius. Therefore, the tread 46 is shaped so as to correspond to the arc and the width of the platform 40 itself. Platform attachment elements 42 and 44 are configured for engagement with outer guide grooves 22a and 22b and inner guide grooves 24a and 24b, respectively. Therefore, platform attachment elements 42 traverse outer guide grooves 22 a on their motive transportation run, either upward or downward, and 22b on their return run. Similarly,

platform attachment elements 44 traverse inner guide grooves 24a on their motive transportation run and 24b on their return run.

As seen best in Figures 5 and 10, the outer and inner guide grooves are spaced apart at a greater distance on the terminal sections 28a and 28b, than on the track section 26. This configuration maintains tread 46 of the moving platforms 40 in a substantially horizontal orientation as the moving platforms

40 traverse the monorail support structure 20. As the moving platforms 40 traverse the terminal sections 28a and 28b, the treads 46 of each of the platforms are substantially co-planer. As the moving platforms 40 traverse the upward sloping helical track section 26, the treads 46 of each of the platforms becomes an individual step, as seen in Figure 1 and Figures 11-12B with regard to the second preferred embodiment of a moving platform.

Figures 11-14 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of a moving platform that includes a platform support element 140 and a moving platform tread element 146.

As illustrated in Figures ϊ 1-12B, similarly to the moving platforms 40 described above, each of the platform support elements 140 includes attachment elements 142 and 144 that are configured for engagement with outer guide grooves 22a and 22b and inner guide grooves 24a and 24b, respectively. Platform support elements 140 also include a rotation hub 148 upon which the support surface 150 is free to rotate.

As illustrated in Figures 13A- 14, the moving platform tread element 146 has first 160 and second 162 edges configured such that the length of the first

1 ]

edge 16θ contracts and the length of the second edge 162 expands when the platform follows a path turning in a first direction and the length of the first edge 160 expands and the length, of the second edge 162 contracts when the platform follows a path turning in a second direction. An exemplary way of fabricating such a moving platform tread element is with a plurality of mechanically linked upper support surface slats 164 and lower support surface slats 166 such that each support surface slat spans the full width and a portion of the length of the platform tread element 146. As illustrated here, each of the upper support surface slats 164 spans the gap between two lower support surface slats 166 and similarly each of the lower support surface slats 166 spans the gap between two upper support surface slats 164.

This allows the plurality of interconnected moving platforms resulting from the combination of platform support element 140 and a moving platform tread element 146 to traverse a varied path as illustrated by Figures 14, 15A and 15B.

Figures 11 and 12B also illustrate the transition of moving platforms 140 from the return run traversing the underside of the monorail support structure 20 to the motive transportation run traversing the top of the monorail support structure 20. Regarding varied paths, Figure 14 illustrates a varied path which turns about two different axes first in one direction and then in a second direction.

Figures 15A and 15B illustrates a varied path that turns about two different axes, however, the path turns in the same direction. Also illustrated

here in Figures 15A and 15B is a path that turns at varied radii. As seen here, the monorail support structure 120 follows a first upward helical curve 136 having a first axis 122 and a first radius 124 while extending between Level A and Level B and follows a second upward helical curve 138 having a second axis 126 and a second radius 128 while extending between Level B and Level C. There is also provided a lower terminal section 130 on Level A ₅ a mid-level transition section 132 on Level B and an upper terminal section 134 on Level C.

As illustrated herein, each helically curved path has a constant radius, such as a helix formed on a cylinder, however, it should be noted that a helically curved path having a constantly varying radius, such as a helix formed on the surface of a cone, is within the scope of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that the monorail support structure of the present invention may include a reinforcement configuration as illustrated by the helical track sections of Figures 16A-16C. The helical track section 180 illustrated in Figure 16A is substantially flat. The helical track section 184 illustrated in Figure 16B is configured with a tubular reinforcement 186 having a circular cross-sectional contour. The helical track section 190 illustrated in Figure 16C is configured with a tubular reinforcement 192 having a square cross-sectional contour. It will be understood that other reinforcement configurations are possible and are within the scope of the present inventioa

It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.