US3712448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable speed sidewalk
Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
•
Filing: 1971-04-09
•
Granted: 1973-01-23
•
Expires: 1991-04-09
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a moving sidewalk or article conveyor comprising a continuous belt capable of differential speeds along a portion of the surface of the belt. Discrete arcuate units forming the continuous belt tilt relative to the plane of the belt and mutually overlap in interdigitating fashion over a variable portion of the surface areas of the units to provide a level surface, the end portions of which surface travel at a constant first rate of speed while the intermediate portions therebetween accelerate to and decelerate from a second, more rapid constant rate of speed.
Inventors
- 👤 R Burson
- 👤 W Avery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:38
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66B; B66B21/00; B66B21/10; B66B21/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A variable speed sidewalk comprising a plurality of tiltable discrete transverse members, the members forming an exposed surface on which a user may stand and which surface is movable at differing speeds at various points thereon, each member having an upper surface which is variably exposed on tilting movement of the member to alter the proportional contribution of the upper surface of the member to the total exposed surface area of the sidewalk, means for tilting the members from a substantially vertical position toward a substantially horizontal position to increase said proportional contribution of each member to the total area of the exposed surface, thereby to form an accelerating portion thereof, the means subsequently further tilting the members back toward a substantially vertical position to form a decelerating portion of the exposed surface, and power means for driving the member at differing speeds as said members undergo tilting movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A variable speed sidewalk comprising a plurality of tiltable discrete transverse members, the members forming an exposed surface on which a user may stand and which surface is movable at differing speeds at various points thereon, each member having an upper surface which is variably exposed on tilting movement of the member to alter the proportional contribution of the upper surface of the member to the total exposed surface area of the sidewalk, means for tilting the members from a substantially vertical position toward a substantially horizontal position to increase said proportional contribution of each member to the total area of the exposed surface, thereby to form an accelerating portion thereof, the means subsequently further tilting the members back toward a substantially vertical position to form a decelerating portion of the exposed surface, and power means for driving the member at differing speeds as said members undergo tilting movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The variable speed sidewalk of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of each member has a comb thereon, the combs of the members forming a transverse surface exposable on tilting movement of saiD members to increase the exposed surface area provided by the members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The variable speed sidewalk of claim 1, wherein the power means comprise at least one variable pitch screw, the screw having a thread so pitched that the members will be accelerated during tilting thereof away from the vertical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
The variable speed sidewalk of claim 1 wherein said means for tilting the members comprises inner and outer tracks and upper and lower rollers respectively engageable with the inner and outer tracks, the outer track sloping at a first point along the sidewalk toward the inner track to cause each member to tilt away from the vertical and to expose an increasing portion of the transverse surface thereof for use, thereby forming an acceleratory portion of the sidewalk, the outer track at a second point along the sidewalk sloping away from the inner track to cause each member to tilt back toward the vertical, thereby decreasing the contribution of each member to the exposed surface of the sidewalk and thus forming a deceleratory portion of the sidewalk.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The variable speed sidewalk of claim 4 wherein said track means are formed in a continuous loop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
A continuous belt having portions of its surface movable at differing speeds, the belt comprising a plurality of discrete, tiltable transverse members, each member being of arcuate contour and having a transversely extending comb on its upper surface, the comb having a flat transverse surface which is exposed on tilting movement of the member to alter the proportional contribution of the member to the surface area of the belt, the members further being mutually separable at both predetermined temporal and physical intervals, means for tilting the members away from the vertical during relative movement therebetween at a predetermined position of the belt to form an accelerating portion, and power means for driving the belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A continuous belt having portions of its surface movable at differing speeds, the belt comprising a plurality of discrete, tiltable transverse members, each member being of arcuate contour and having a transversely extending comb on its upper surface, the comb having a flat transverse surface which is exposed on tilting movement of the member to alter the proportional contribution of the member to the surface area of the belt, the members further being mutually separable at both predetermined temporal and physical intervals, means for tilting the members away from the vertical during relative movement therebetween at a predetermined position of the belt to form an accelerating portion, and power means for driving the belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The continuous belt of claim 6, including additionally means connected between the members and said power means for driving said members at different speeds at predetermined positions of said belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
The continuous belt of claim 6, wherein successive members are closely spaced at loci on the surface of the belt traveling at a constant relatively low speed, said members tilting away from the vertical during acceleration thereof by the power means to expose increasing portions of the upper surfaces of said members, the teeth of each member of the belt following the arcuate contour of the upper surface of the next rearward member and interdigitatably meshing with the teeth of the comb of said next rearward member to expose the transverse surface formed by said teeth and said comb.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The continuous belt of claim 6, wherein the members discontinue tilting movement on full exposure of the transverse surface formed by the combs and the teeth of the members, being driven in the full exposure position at a constant relatively high speed by the power means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The continuous belt of claim 9, wherein the members are tilted toward the vertical following travel at the constant relatively high speed to decrease the proportional surface area provided by each member and simultaneously decelerated by the power means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The belt of claim 10, including additionally a continuous chain, said members being connected to said chain at spaced points therealong.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The continuous belt of claim 5 wherein each member has a trailing edge which includes a transversely extending series of teeth, the teeth interdigitating between the elements of the comb on the upper surface of the rearwardly adjacent member, said teeth following the curvature of the upper surface of said rearwardly adjacent member on tilting movement of the members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |