Escalator Diving Lines
Escalators, along with their cousins, moving walkways, are essential in subways and train stations, shopping malls, airports, transit systems, trade centers, hotels, and other public buildings.
They move at a constant speed of 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m) per second. Their maximum angle of inclination is 30 degrees with a standard rise up to 60 feet (18 meters).
Steps
The top of the line may be occupied by more than a few sweaty passengers, but it is still the throne for the most opulent of all the buildings in a skyscraper. The aforementioned hors ower features a bevy of high-tech elevators, including a state of the art elevator control system, a state of the art lighting system and a bevy of intelligent elevator attendants to boot. A large number of these unsung heroes are tasked with keeping the floor and the occupants of this venerable building safe from one another. The good news is there are more than enough of them to go around.
Handrails
The handrails of an elevator dividing line, or «split line», provide safety for passengers as well as an aesthetic touch. They help reduce the risk of claustrophobia, which can occur in elevators due to their small and confined spaces.
These rails are designed to be smooth and move smoothly on the tracks. They are made of four separate sections, namely: a «slider», which Escalator dividing line is a cotton or synthetic textile layer that allows the handrail to move along its track; a «tension member» that lies on the slider; a «flange» that serves as the support for the handrail; and a «pulley».
A dividing line is also necessary when an elevator is operating on the floor below, as is the case in some commercial buildings. The dividing line is often made of glass, metal or sandwich panel to add additional protection for the passengers and handrails while they are riding up the steps.
In addition to preventing people from falling off the sides of the stairs, the handrails of an elevator dividing line also protect the elevator’s interior finish such as mirrors and metals. Moreover, handrails are useful for people who need help with their balance or stability while in an elevator.
The handrails of an elevator car can be foldable in low overhead configurations, so that they occupy a very limited height, e.g. less than 10 cm high, and can be deployed when the elevator car is moving both in normal operation and in inspection operation. They are associated with a first safety switch and a second safety switch that close when the handrail is folded in a fully retracted position and unfolded in a fully deployed position.
Balustrades
The balustrades of an elevator dividing line are often used as a means to provide a physical barrier to prevent passengers or service personnel from falling off the car roof. They can be made of a variety of materials, including metal, sandwich panels, or glass.
The newest Lift Standard, EN 81-20: 2014, includes stricter strength and height requirements for the balustrades on elevator cars. These changes aim to reduce the risk of technicians and service personnel falling into the shaft while carrying out inspection and maintenance on an elevator’s car top.
Regardless of the material and design, the best balustrades will protect passengers from fall hazards and also be functional and attractive. This is especially important in a high-traffic environment such as an airport where the balustrades of an elevator dividing lines are exposed to heavy foot traffic from all sides.
A good balustrade will not only be safe to use, but it will also provide a pleasant place for passengers to rest their legs while waiting for the next train or for a shuttle ride. Some escalators even have direction arrows on the ends of their balustrades.
For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on the balustrades on the side of the elevator car, as well as the ones that connect the top and bottom of the escalator. These can be either straight or curved.
A sweeping curve is the best choice for this purpose. It should not be too abrupt and may be aided by a deflection device. Ideally, the curve should be the same as the angle Escalator dividing line of the handrails. It should also be clear, i.e., it has no sharp corners.
Tracks
Escalators are a type of moving staircase used in public buildings. They are usually used in areas where elevators would be impractical, such as shopping malls, airports, transit systems (railway stations), convention centers, hotels, and arenas.
Typically, an escalator has a truss that connects the top and bottom landing platforms. The truss is designed to force the steps into a shape that mimics a staircase as they travel from the top landing to the bottom. This right angle forces the front and back wheels of the steps to almost touch each other as they travel down along a curved section of track.
The truss has a track system built into it to guide the step chain as it pulls the steps from the top platform and back to the bottom in an endless loop. One track guides the front wheels of the steps (called the step-wheel track), and another tracks the back wheels of the steps (called the trailer-wheel track).
At each end of the truss are a pair of landing platforms, which are used to house the curved sections of the tracks, as well as the motors and gears that drive the steps. The curved sections of the tracks are anchored to the top and bottom landing platforms by two anchor plates, which are connected to the truss at each end of the truss.
When the escalator is installed, it is placed between the landing platforms and jockeyed into place with a scissors lift. The escalator’s top and bottom ends are also aligned with the support walls at each landing before being placed in the pits on either end of the truss.
After the escalator is installed, it must be checked to ensure that all parts are in good working order. If there are any problems, the escalator must be disassembled and repaired.
The escalator must also be fitted with automatic limit switches, which shut off the power in an emergency and automatically stop the escalator. These limit switches are activated when the riser end of a step is forced upward on the lower transition curve in excess of 5 mm (0.20 in). This prevents a person’s shoe or loose clothing from jamming into the comb bearer and stopping the escalator.