Modular passenger conveyor construction

Claim 2

A passenger conveyor system for transporting passengers from one terminal to another including an arTiculated endless belt comprising a series of pivotally connected rigid units, support means for supporting and guiding said endless belt along an upper load bearing run and a lower return run, said support means comprising a plurality of standard modules including two terminal modules, said terminal modules being vertically and horizontally separated so that at least a portion of said endless belt traverses an inclined path between the terminals, with the upper terminal module including means for supporting and guiding the endless belt from the inclined path to a horizontal path as it approaches the end of the run and a first drive unit inserted in the upper terminal module near the transition between the inclined and horizontal paths and coupled to the upper and lower runs of said endless belt for driving said belt in its endless path, whereby any number of modules some with and some without drive units can be assembled to meet the requirements of a particular installation.

Claim 3

The passenger conveyor of claim 1 wherein said support means includes at least one intermediate module and including a second drive unit, interchangeable with the first, inserted in one of the intermediate modules , said second drive unit being coupled to the upper and lower runs of the endless belt for assisting the first drive unit in driving said belt about its endless path.

Claim 4

The passenger conveyor of claim 1 including at least one intermediate module, wherein one of said modules includes a variable length section for providing a continuous selection of lengths for the assembled supporting structure.

Claim 5

The passenger conveyor of claim 1 wherein one of the terminal modules is provided with a variable length section, said variable length section being continuously variable up to the full length of an intermediate module.

Claim 6

A passenger conveyor system for transporting passengers from one terminal to another including an articulated endless belt comprising a series of pivotally connected rigid units, support means for supporting and guiding said endless belt along an upper load bearing run and a lower return run, said support means comprising a plurality of standard modules including two terminal modules and a plurality of straight intermediate modules, said terminal modules being horizontally and vertically separated so that at least a portion of the path traversed by said endless belt is inclined, said terminal modules supporting the endless belt on a portion of the inclined path and a horizontal path as the belt approaches the ends of the runs, and interchangeable drive units supported by selected ones of said intermediate modules , said drive units being coupled to both the upper and lower runs of said endless belt for driving said belt in its endless path, whereby any number of modules some with and some without drive units can be assembled to meet the requirements of a particular installation.

Claim 7

A passenger conveyor system for transporting passengers from one terminal to another including an articulated endless belt comprising a series of pivotally connected rigid units, support means for supporting and guiding said endless belt along an upper load bearing run and a lower return run, said support means comprising a plurality of standard modules including two terminal modules and a plurality of straight intermediate modules, said terminal modules being horizontally and vertically separated so that at least a portion of the path traversed by said endless belt is inclined, said terminal modules supporting the endless belt on a portion of the inclined path and a horizontal path as the belt approaches the ends of the runs, and interchangeable drive units supported by selected ones of said intermediate modules , said drive units being coupled to both the upper and lower runs of said endless belt for driving said belt in its endless path, whereby any number of modules some with and some without drive units can be assembled to meet the requirements of a particular installation.

Claim 8

A passenger conveyor comprising an endless belt, a plurality of rollers mounted for rotational movement at selected points along the edges of said endless belt and support means in the form of a plurality of serially connected standard modules for guiding and supporting said endless belt along an upper load bearing run and a lower return run, each of said modules including right and left half sections, said half sections comprising upper and lower track members for guiding and supporting the endless belt through the edge mounted rollers on the upper and lower runs of the endless belt respectively, templates rigidly fastened to the track members at spaced intervals with said track members held in precise alignment to form assemblies, truss members rigidly fastened to the assemblies to give structural rigidity to the half sections, boxing members for rigidly connecting the half sections of each module together with all of the track members in precise alignment and coupling members rigidly connected to the ends of the modules in a predetermined precise alignment with the track members for coupliNg adjacent modules together with the corresponding track members of the adjacent modules in precise alignment.

Claim 9

A passenger conveyor comprising an endless belt, a plurality of rollers mounted for rotational movement at selected points along the edges of said endless belt and support means in the form of a plurality of serially connected standard modules for guiding and supporting said endless belt along an upper load bearing run and a lower return run, each of said modules including right and left half sections, said half sections comprising upper and lower track members for guiding and supporting the endless belt through the edge mounted rollers on the upper and lower runs of the endless belt respectively, templates rigidly fastened to the track members at spaced intervals with said track members held in precise alignment to form assemblies, truss members rigidly fastened to the assemblies to give structural rigidity to the half sections, boxing members for rigidly connecting the half sections of each module together with all of the track members in precise alignment and coupling members rigidly connected to the ends of the modules in a predetermined precise alignment with the track members for coupliNg adjacent modules together with the corresponding track members of the adjacent modules in precise alignment.

Claim 10

The passenger conveyor of claim 6 wherein the coupling members include coupling means rigidly connected to the track members and precisely aligned with the ends of the track members for directly coupling the corresponding track members of adjacent modules.

Claim 11

The passenger conveyor of claim 7 wherein the track members of a module are no longer than the truss members and wherein said coupling means connected to the track members include tensioning means for stretching said track members to close any gaps left between corresponding track members of adjacent modules due to manufacturing tolerances.

Claim 12

The passenger conveyor of claim 6 including a modular drive unit having a driving element for engaging and driving said endless belt and mounting means for mounting said modular drive unit in a selected module with the driving element in precise predetermined alignment with respect to said track members.

Claim 13

The passenger conveyor of claim 9 wherein said mounting means comprises a frame for supporting the drive unit, said frame including a section of track member and coupling means for coupling the section of track member in precise longitudinal alignment with a track member of the module to form a portion of the guide for the edge mounted rollers.

Claim 14

The passenger conveyor of claim 10 wherein said frame includes upper and lower sections of track members and coupling means for coupling said upper and lower sections of track members to the corresponding track members in the module with the track sections in precise longitudinal alignment with the corresponding track members of the module.

Claim 15

The passenger conveyor of claim 11 wherein the driving element of the modular drive unit engages the endless belt on both the upper run and the lower run.

Claim 16

The passenger conveyor of claim 11 wherein said frame includes upper and lower sections of track members on each side of said frame, said sections of track members being precisely aligned with the upper and lower track members of both half sections of the modules.

Claim 17

In combination, a first conveyor for transporting load between a first terminal and a second terminal which is above the first terminal, and a second conveyor for transporting a load between a third terminal and a fourth terminal which is higher above the third terminal than the second terminal is above the first terminal, each of said conveyors comprising an endless belt having upper and lower runs, support means and drive means, said support means including standard upper and lower terminal modules and standard intermediate modules with the support means for said first conveyor comprising at least said standard upper and standard lower modules, and with said support means for said second conveyor comprising in addition to said standard upper and standard lower modules at least one standard intermediate module, said drive means comprising standard modular drive units with each of said first and second conveyors including a modular drive unit inserted in the upper terminal module but spaced from the end thereof, with the drive unit coupled to the upper and lower runs of the endless belt.

Claim 18

In combination, a first conveyor for transporting load between a first terminal and a second terminal which is above the first terminal, and a second conveyor for transporting a load between a third terminal and a fourth terminal which is higher above the third terminal than the second terminal is above the first terminal, each of said conveyors comprising an endless belt having upper and lower runs, support means and drive means, said support means including standard upper and lower terminal modules and standard intermediate modules with the support means for said first conveyor comprising at least said standard upper and standard lower modules, and with said support means for said second conveyor comprising in addition to said standard upper and standard lower modules at least one standard intermediate module, said drive means comprising standard modular drive units with each of said first and second conveyors including a modular drive unit inserted in the upper terminal module but spaced from the end thereof, with the drive unit coupled to the upper and lower runs of the endless belt.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 14 wherein one of the modules of at least one of the conveyors is an adjustable length module.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 15 wherein the second conveyor includes a plurality of intermediate modules and wherein the first conveyor utilizes one modular drive unit and the second conveyor utilizes a plurality of standard modular drive units.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 16 wherein the standard terminal modules guide said endless belts from an inclined to a horizontal path about a curved path having a predetermined fixed radius of curvature as the endless belt approaches the end of its run, said fixed radius of curvature being independent of the number of modules in the conveyor.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 17 whereIn said fixed radius is less than 100 inches.

Claim 23

In combination, a first conveyor for transporting load between a first terminal and a second terminal which is above the first terminal, and a second conveyor for transporting a load between a third terminal and a fourth terminal which is higher above the third terminal than the second terminal is above the first terminal, each of said conveyors comprising an endless belt, support means and drive means, said support means including standard upper and lower terminal modules and standard intermediate modules with the support means for said first conveyor comprising at least said standard upper and standard lower modules, and with said support means for said second conveyor comprising in addition to said standard upper and standard lower modules a plurality of standard intermediate modules, an adjustable length module, one of said conveyors including, in addition to the standard upper, lower and intermediate modules, said adjustable length module, said standard terminal modules guiding said endless belts from an inclined to a horizontal path about a curved path having a predetermined fixed radius of curvature as the endless belt approaches the end of its run, said fixed radius of curvature being independent of the number of modules in the conveyor, said drive means comprising standard modular drive units which may be inserted in selected modules, with the first conveyor utilizing one modular drive unit and the second conveyor utilizing a plurality of standard modular drive units, and one modular drive unit for the first conveyor and one of the plurality of drive units for the second conveyor being located just below said fixed radius of curvature.

Claim 24

In combination, a first conveyor for transporting load between a first terminal and a second terminal which is above the first terminal, and a second conveyor for transporting a load between a third terminal and a fourth terminal which is higher above the third terminal than the second terminal is above the first terminal, each of said conveyors comprising an endless belt, support means and drive means, said support means including standard upper and lower terminal modules and standard intermediate modules with the support means for said first conveyor comprising at least said standard upper and standard lower modules, and with said support means for said second conveyor comprising in addition to said standard upper and standard lower modules a plurality of standard intermediate modules, an adjustable length module, one of said conveyors including, in addition to the standard upper, lower and intermediate modules, said adjustable length module, said standard terminal modules guiding said endless belts from an inclined to a horizontal path about a curved path having a predetermined fixed radius of curvature as the endless belt approaches the end of its run, said fixed radius of curvature being independent of the number of modules in the conveyor, said drive means comprising standard modular drive units which may be inserted in selected modules, with the first conveyor utilizing one modular drive unit and the second conveyor utilizing a plurality of standard modular drive units, and one modular drive unit for the first conveyor and one of the plurality of drive units for the second conveyor being located just below said fixed radius of curvature.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 19 wherein said modular drives are mounted in said upper terminal modules just below said fixed radius of curvature and engage said endless belts on both the upper and lower run.