System for emergency stopping of escalator handrail

US5295567A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Vlad Zaharia · Rocky Hill, US
• Gerald E. Johnson · Farmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 30, 1992
• Grant date: Mar 22, 1994
• Expiry date: Dec 30, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B66B29/04
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Motion of the moving handrail of an escalator or moving walkway is interrupted in the event that a foreign object is carried into the handrail reentry housing area on the handrail. Handrail movement stops independently of movement of the conveyor steps, so that the handrail will stop even as the steps are still decelerating as a result of an appropriate signal from a reentry housing foreign object sensor. The handrail will be reset for further motion after the steps stop but will not commence further movement until the steps are intentionally restarted.