Autowalk

Claim 2

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap between one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course under said upper course, the step plates in the upper course being substantially at a comb mesh level in one horizontal plane, an elastic bridge respectively arranged between every two adjacent of said step segments bridging said gaps between said step plates respectively, each said bridge being below the comb mesh level when respective adjacent steps are in said upper course, said elastic bridge having means on said bridge and adjacent each lateral side thereof to prevent debris from spilling out sidewise, said bridge and said means forming a debris-catching pocket opening into said gap for catching the debris when it is in said upper course and said pocket being positioned so as to discharge the debris from said pocket at a predetermined position substantially where said upper course and said pocket turn upside down into said lower course.

Claim 3

The autowalk according to claim 1, defining a comb meshing level, and wherein said bridge comprises a sealing member mounted on each adjacent edge of said step plates of said step segments below the comb meshing level.

Claim 4

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, an elastic bridge respectively arranged between every two adjacent of said step segments bridging said gaps between said step plates respectively, said bridge comprises a sealing member mounted on each adjacent edge of said step plates of said step segments below the comb meshing level, a separate of said sealing members are mounted on said each adjacent edge of said step plates, adjacent said separate sealing members elastically press against each other at least in said upper course.

Claim 5

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, an elastic bridge respectively arranged between every two adjacent of said step segments bridging said gaps between said step plates respectively, said bridge comprises a sealing member mounted on each adjacent edge of said step plates of said step segments below the comb meshing level, a separate of said sealing members are mounted on said each adjacent edge of said step plates, adjacent said separate sealing members elastically press against each other at least in said upper course.

Claim 6

The autowalk according to claim 3, wherein said sealing members have a substantially circular cross-section.

Claim 7

The autowalk according to claim 3, wherein said sealing members have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Claim 8

The autowalk according to claim 1, wherein said step segments further include step plate carriers, said step plates are respectively mounted on said step plate carriers, every two said adjacent step plates have edges facing each other defining said gap therebetween, said bridge comprises a sealing member mounted on said step plate carriers, respectively, below each of said edges of each said step plates.

Claim 9

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, the step plates in the upper course being substantially at a comb mesh level, an elastic bridge respectively arranged between every two adjacent of said step segments bridging said gaps between said step plates respectively, each said bridge being below the comb mesh level when respective adjacent steps are in said upper course and comprising a debris-catching pocket opening into said gap for catching debris when it is in said upper course and said pocket being positioned so as to discharge the debris from said pocket at a predetermined position when said upper course of said pocket turns into said lower course, said step segments further include step plate carriers, said step plates are respectively mounted on said step plate carriers, every two said adjacent step plates have edges facing each other defining said gap therebetween, said bridge comprises a sealing member mounted on said step plate carriers, respectively, below each of said edges of each said step plates, a separate respective one of said sealing members is mounted on a facing edge of each said step plate carriers, and adjacent ones of said sealing members elastically press against each other at least in said upper course.

Claim 10

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, the step plates in the upper course being substantially at a comb mesh level, an elastic bridge respectively arranged between every two adjacent of said step segments bridging said gaps between said step plates respectively, each said bridge being below the comb mesh level when respective adjacent steps are in said upper course and comprising a debris-catching pocket opening into said gap for catching debris when it is in said upper course and said pocket being positioned so as to discharge the debris from said pocket at a predetermined position when said upper course of said pocket turns into said lower course, said step segments further include step plate carriers, said step plates are respectively mounted on said step plate carriers, every two said adjacent step plates have edges facing each other defining said gap therebetween, said bridge comprises a sealing member mounted on said step plate carriers, respectively, below each of said edges of each said step plates, a separate respective one of said sealing members is mounted on a facing edge of each said step plate carriers, and adjacent ones of said sealing members elastically press against each other at least in said upper course.

Claim 11

The autowalk according to claim 7, wherein said sealing members have a substantially circular cross-section.

Claim 12

The autowalk according to claim 7, wherein said sealing members have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Claim 13

The autowalk according to claim 1, wherein said bridge comprises an elastic dirt collection loop respectively connecting said every two adjacent step segments together.

Claim 14

The autowalk according to claim 10, wherein said dirt collection loop is an elastic foil.

Claim 15

The autowalk according to claim 10, wherein said dirt collection loop has ends, each of said ends is firmly attached at a respective attachment position of said adjacent step segments.

Claim 16

The autowalk according to claim 12, wherein said step segments further include step plate carriers, said step plates are respectively mounted on said step plate carriers, said ends are attached to said step plate carriers at said attachment positions.

Claim 17

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, an elastic bridge respectively arranged between every two adjacent of said step segments bridging said gaps between said step plates respectively, said bridge comprises an elastic dirt collection loop respectively connecting said every two adjacent step segments together, said dirt collection loop has ends, each of said ends is firmly attached at attachment positions to one of said adjacent step segments, a dirt guide shield is mounted on each said step plate and extends therefrom in a direction of said dirt collection loop, said dirt guide shield covers each said attachment position of a corresponding said end of said dirt collection loop.

Claim 18

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, an elastic bridge respectively arranged between every two adjacent of said step segments bridging said gaps between said step plates respectively, said bridge comprises an elastic dirt collection loop respectively connecting said every two adjacent step segments together, said dirt collection loop has ends, each of said ends is firmly attached at attachment positions to one of said adjacent step segments, a dirt guide shield is mounted on each said step plate and extends therefrom in a direction of said dirt collection loop, said dirt guide shield covers each said attachment position of a corresponding said end of said dirt collection loop.

Claim 19

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, an elastic bridge respectively arranged between every two adjacent of said step segments bridging said gaps between said step plates respectively, said bridge comprises an elastic dirt collection loop respectively connecting said every two adjacent step segments together, said dirt collection loop has ends, each of said ends is firmly attached at attachment positions to one of said adjacent step segments, said step segments further include step plate carriers, said step plates are respectively mounted on said step plate carriers, said ends are attached to said step plate carriers at said attachment positions, and a dirt guide shield is mounted on each said step plate and extends therefrom in a direction of said dirt collection loop, said dirt guide shield covers each said attachment position of a corresponding said end of said dirt collection loop.

Claim 20

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, an elastic bridge respectively arranged between every two adjacent of said step segments bridging said gaps between said step plates respectively, said bridge comprises an elastic dirt collection loop respectively connecting said every two adjacent step segments together, said dirt collection loop has ends, each of said ends is firmly attached at attachment positions to one of said adjacent step segments, said step segments further include step plate carriers, said step plates are respectively mounted on said step plate carriers, said ends are attached to said step plate carriers at said attachment positions, and a dirt guide shield is mounted on each said step plate and extends therefrom in a direction of said dirt collection loop, said dirt guide shield covers each said attachment position of a corresponding said end of said dirt collection loop.

Claim 21

The autowalk according to claim 14, wherein said dirt collection loop extends transversely across the entire width of said step plates.

Claim 22

The autowalk according to claim 14, wherein said dirt collection loop has beads on lateral sides edges thereof, said beads extend from said dirt collection loop in a direction towards said gap.

Claim 23

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, an elastic dirt collection loop respectively connects every two adjacent said step segments together, said dirt collection loop has ends, each of said ends is firmly attached at an attachment position to one of said adjacent step segments respectively, a dirt guide shield is mounted on each said step plate and extends therefrom in a direction of said dirt collection loop, said dirt guide shield covers each said attachment position of a corresponding said end of said dirt collection loop.

Claim 24

An autowalk comprising a plurality of individual step segments including step plates disposed with a gap adjacent one another in a continuous arrangement defining an upper course adapted to carry people and a lower return travel course, an elastic dirt collection loop respectively connects every two adjacent said step segments together, said dirt collection loop has ends, each of said ends is firmly attached at an attachment position to one of said adjacent step segments respectively, a dirt guide shield is mounted on each said step plate and extends therefrom in a direction of said dirt collection loop, said dirt guide shield covers each said attachment position of a corresponding said end of said dirt collection loop.

Claim 25

The autowalk according to claim 18, wherein said elastic bridge is made of refractory material.

Claim 26

The autowalk according to claim 18, wherein said step segments further include step plate carriers, said step plates are respectively mounted on said step plate carriers, said ends are attached to said step plate carriers at said attachment position.

Claim 27

The autowalk according to claim 18, wherein said dirt collection loop extends transversely across the entire width of said step plates.

Claim 28

The autowalk according to claim 18, wherein said dirt collection loop has beads on lateral side edges thereof, said beads extend from said dirt collection loop in a direction towards said gap.

Claim 29

The autowalk according to claim 18, wherein each said collection loop and the associated said shields extend below said step plates when the latter is in said upper course, said shields have lower ends, the latter being spaced from each other forming a mouth opening into said collection loop, the latter defining a hollow trough between said adjacent step segments.