Truss of the Escalator Dividing Line
In many ways, escalators represent one of humanity’s major dividing lines. Some of us stand calmly in place, waiting for the escalator to do its job; others march up and down the steps, feeling the rush.
Escalators are power-driven, continuous moving stairways used in airports, transit systems, trade centers and public buildings. They can move large numbers of people in short vertical distances and can also be used to funnel visitors towards main exits or special exhibits.
Steps
Escalators are a type of moving staircase that transports passengers between floors in buildings and structures. They are used in shopping malls, airports, transit systems (railway stations), convention centers, hotels and public buildings throughout the world.
There are several different types of escalators, including those that move at a fixed speed and those that change direction. The latter are more common in the United States and Europe, while the former are most commonly found in Asia.
Most escalators have a set of stationary top and bottom platforms, as well as a metal truss that connects the two platforms. The escalator also has tracks on which the moving staircase travels, and handrails that keep the stair tread from falling off the track.
Each platform on an escalator also has a floor plate that is flush with the floor. This plate is fitted with a series of grooves resembling the teeth of a comb to help the passenger’s feet stay on the steps.
The comb plates are covered by a series of cleats on the leading and trailing edges of each step that mesh with the same grooves on the comb plates on the platform above or below them. The cleats are a safety feature because they prevent the stair tread from falling off the steps and causing injury to a passenger.
In addition, the escalator has a number of sensors located in various places. These sensors are either optical or a physical switch and can detect whether an unlevel step is approaching the comb plate, so that the escalator will stop before the step crashes into the comb plate and possibly injure a passenger.
Another important safety feature on escalators is handrail speed sensors. These sensors are usually optical and will detect a difference in handrail speed from the normal speed of the steps. If the handrail is traveling too fast for the steps, the escalator will sound an alarm and wait for a few seconds before stopping.
Other safety features on escalators include antislide devices, which are raised circular objects that stud the balustrade of an escalator. These devices prevent the escalator from slipping down the railing, and they are often called “hockey pucks” because of their appearance.
Handrail
In most escalators, the handrail is a rubber belt that moves with the steps. The handrail is required by the majority of code jurisdictions, and it helps riders maintain a steady grip when stepping on or off the escalator.
Handrails come in a variety of sizes, shapes and materials. Some are made from a rubber bellows that coils around metal rings called “bracelets.” These are old-fashioned, but others feature fabric or metal cladding.
Most escalators have a yellow demarcation line at the edge Escalator dividing line of each step that indicates where it ends and meets the skirt panels. This demarcation is important for safety reasons, and it can look different from escalator to escalator, but most are made with this delineation.
Escalator handrails can be moved with the steps, permanently set, or controllable manually depending on crowd flow. This allows passengers to keep a steady grip when descending the stairs and prevents slippage.
Many escalators also have pulse sensors that indicate when a load is exceeded on each step. These can be used to detect overloads, such as heavy people or luggage, and then switch on the braking system.
Some escalators have a device that shuts off the motor and brake when an object becomes caught between a step and a skirt panel, so that the escalator can stop before it crashes. This is a great way to avoid accidents and injuries.
Another type of escalator handrail is an endless handrail. These railings are made from a flat woven fabric that is bonded to an inner surface of the thermoplastic resin member. This is done by a process known as extrusion molding.
According to the present invention, the joint section of the endless handrail can be suppressed compared to that of the flat portion in order to extend the life of the handrail. This is achieved by the fact that a patch cloth, bonded to an inner surface of the thermoplastic member, is placed on a first curved portion side in the joint section. The stiffness of the joint section can be changed gradually in the longitudinal direction, without a steep change starting from the bonding interface of the patch cloth in a cross section.
Truss
The truss of the Escalator dividing line is one of the main structures that support and carry the escalator steps and tracks. It is a hollow metal structure that bridges the upper and lower landing platforms, composed of two side sections joined together with cross braces across the bottom and just below the top.
The escalator truss is manufactured according to the standards-specified criteria. It is designed in accordance with the inclined area of the escalator steps, and it also supports the escalator tracks to ensure smooth and safe operation.
As the truss is the main structure of an escalator, it must be durable and reliable. Its performance and life span are determined by its design.
There are many different types of trusses. They range from simple trusses that are made Escalator dividing line from one piece of steel to large trusses that include multiple sections and support a great deal of weight.
A truss can be analyzed by the method of joints or by the method of section, in which the equilibrium of isolated joints is used to calculate internal forces in members. In the case of large trusses, analysis by the method of sections is often preferable since it allows for more accurate and precise calculations.
In the case of the truss of the Escalator, it must be designed to withstand all of the loads that passengers place on the escalator during use. This requires a detailed analysis of the truss in order to ensure that it is designed correctly and can support the loads.
The truss of an escalator must be designed with the following safety considerations in mind:
At floor intersections or criss-cross escalator arrangement where there is a risk of passenger entrapment, an Anti-Colliding Device must be installed to prevent a person from slipping on the escalator steps and falling off the escalator divider. Moreover, an Access Restriction Device must be installed at spaces between parallel escalators and when the lower outer decking width is more than 125 millimeters.
Typically, the escalator truss is made of hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel. The truss is welded together to ensure that it is strong enough to support the escalator steps and tracks. The truss is then painted to provide a shiny and durable finish.
Balustrade
The balustrade is a panel of metal, sandwich panels or glass that supports the handrails and protects the escalator from passengers. It also contains the escalator’s on/off buttons and direction arrows.
Escalators are often used in department stores, shopping malls, airports, transit systems (railway/railroad stations), convention centers, hotels, arenas, stadiums and public buildings. They are especially useful when lifts would be impractical or impossible.
In order to keep the steps from sliding or falling off of their tracks, the tracks on an escalator converge at both the top and bottom so that the front and back wheels of each step are almost in a straight line. The steps then assume a staircase configuration that allows them to travel around the curved sections of track, such as at the end of the escalator where they exit the truss.
Each step has a yellow demarcation line, which is a guide to help people keep an appropriate distance from one another as they move down the escalator. Some escalators are also equipped with weight sensors that estimate how much weight is placed on the steps, and pulse sensors that detect when they are wearing down.
During sensor-controlled operation, the escalator plays an announcement encouraging users to maintain a safe distance from one another. This can be a valuable infection risk mitigation measure because it minimizes the likelihood of riders stumbling or falling and spreading COVID-19, a bacteria that can cause respiratory illness.
On both TX and VX Series escalators, surface dirt and scratches are removed from the handrails and then an antimicrobial coating is applied. This prevents the spread of COVID-19 by inhibiting microbial growth.
The handrails are designed to have a minimalist design that accentuates the steps, and this is reflected in both the stainless-steel EP type and the L and EN types with their glass panels. The same cross-sectional profile is used for the paneling on both these escalators, and it is also available on the outdoor models of the VX Series.
LED lighting is embedded all along the skirt mold, providing a new style of foot lighting that has never before been seen on an escalator. This not only serves a functional purpose, but it also provides aesthetic benefits as the LEDs provide a soft, warm glow.