Moving handrail drive

US5307920A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Helmut Meyer · Bückeburg, DE
• Hermann W. Ahls · Premnitz, DE
• Klous Blaseck · Burgdorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 14, 1993
• Grant date: May 3, 1994
• Expiry date: Sep 14, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B66B23/04
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An escalator handrail drive system includes a powered drive belt which engages the underneath surface of the handrail along the return path of travel of the latter. A series of pressure rollers engage the outer surface of the handrail to press the latter against the drive belt. The pressure rollers are all biased against the handrail by a single spring. The drive belt is pretensioned by an adjustable pretension spring assembly which can apply a fixed pretensioning force to the drive belt which will not substantially change irrespective of whether the handrail is being driven in the "up" direction or in the "down" direction on the escalator.