Escalator Dividing Line
Escalators are an essential part of subways and train stations, shopping malls and other public facilities. However, they can cause injuries.
People stand in an unstable manner, push each other, fall on sharp edges and injure themselves. These accidents are dangerous and result in thousands of injuries each year.
Steps
The Escalator dividing line is the section of the steps that separates the upper and lower landing platforms. It is usually marked with yellow lines, though a fluorescent or LED light may be installed to improve the passengers’ awareness of this dividing line.
The escalator is a mechanical device consisting of two stationary top and bottom landing platforms, a metal truss that connects the two platforms, two pairs of tracks on which a collapsible staircase is pulled by a continuous chain that loops around two sets of gears (toothed wheels), and handrails that move with the stairs. They are also equipped with various safety devices to prevent accidents.
These devices include flat steps, step demarcation lights, and combplate impact switches. The latter switches will stop the escalator if something gets caught between the combplate on either end of the stairs.
Besides these, the escalator may have other safety devices to protect people. For example, a skirt brush runs along the sides of the escalator just above the step level to keep loose garments from falling into the gap between the moving stairs and the side panel. Skirt brushes can also help to ensure that people aren’t standing too close to the steps, as this can cause injuries or even death.
In addition, the front and sides of the steps are often colored a bright yellow as a warning to passengers. This can be done with a plastic insert that is placed between the step and its comb plate, or by having the front and sides of the steps painted a bright yellow.
Another safety feature is the anti-climbing device, which is a raised circular object that is sometimes called “hockey pucks” to prevent objects from sliding down the escalator balustrade. It is placed on both sides of the balustrade and must be installed at an authorized distance from the escalator.
Most escalators have solid, one-piece, die-cast aluminum steps that are designed to be nonslip. Rubber mats are often attached to the surfaces of the steps to reduce slippage. The edges of the steps are grooved to fit the comb plates on the top and bottom landing platforms.
Handrail
The handrail of an escalator serves as a means to secure a person’s balance and prevent them from falling down or being pushed off the steps. This is a vital safety feature on escalators, as the lack of a handrail can lead to passengers standing in an unstable manner, not holding on, and falling off the steps, leading to serious injuries or death.
The stairway handrails of an escalator are typically one piece, die-cast aluminium or steel. They are sometimes adorned with yellow demarcation lines that indicate their edges. The riser and tread of each step are cleated (given a ribbed appearance) with comb-like protrusions that mesh together with the bottom and top platform comb plates, as well as succeeding steps in the chain.
Most escalators also feature handrail stops that are made of a combination of raw rubber, vulcanized to form a Escalator dividing line strong bond with the step surface. These are typically located between the stepped ends, but can be anywhere along the handrail.
A unique feature of the escalator handrail is its flexible character, which is achieved through the lamellation of a “C” profile followed by a wave profile that allows thin walled arches to be formed. This design allows the compressive stresses of the rail to be transformed into bending stresses, which can help extend the life of the handrail.
Another advantage of this type of handrail is its ability to provide safe and secure handgrips. This is due to the fact that the curved portion of each side is laminated. This lamination creates a neutral zone in the vicinity of the steel wire inserts, which prevents the handrail from becoming too stiff or elongated.
Some models of escalators feature non-circular handrails, which are typically made of a composite material that is similar in physical characteristics to the escalator’s steps and rails. These are generally allowed under specific building codes, but must be able to provide a safe and secure grip for the user.
The escalator’s handrail is often installed in conjunction with the escalator’s skirt panels, which are placed parallel to the escalator’s path of travel. Where these are used, they must be secured with tamper-resistant fasteners. This is especially important for high-rise buildings, where the handrails are most likely to be subject to theft and vandalism.
Landing Platforms
The landing platforms of the Escalator dividing line have two plates – a floor plate and a comb plate. The floor plate provides a place for the passengers to stand before they step on the moving stairs. The comb plate has a comb-like structure that matches the combs on the moving stairs which helps to minimize the gap between the floor plate and the stairs.
The top platform has the motor assembly and the main drive gear while the bottom one holds the step return idler sprockets. These components are important because they allow the escalator to run smoothly and safely.
In addition, they also help keep the escalator from moving too fast or swerving off course. They are particularly useful for when the escalator is parked in front of a wall or other obstruction that could stop it.
Another notable feature of the landing platform is its swiveling ability. Its revolving motion makes it easy to load and unload passengers from the escalator.
It is also the only Escalator dividing line place that the escalator can be used to move around a confined area such as a tunnel or stairway. This is particularly useful in a busy airport or metro station.
The truss is a hollow metallic structure that bridges the upper and lower landings of the escalator. It is the main supporting structure of the escalator and it also carries all the straight track sections connecting the upper and lower modules. It also supports two handrails that move at the same speed as the escalator. The truss is a big deal because it is also responsible for the escalator’s sexiest looking exterior. It is a must have for any modern escalator.
Limit Switches
The dividing line of an escalator is the part of the machine that separates the escalator platform from the moving walk platform. This is a mechanical device that limits the movement of the escalator to ensure that passengers do not fall off.
The limit switches of the escalator dividing line are electromechanical devices that are designed to actuate a set of contacts to make or break an electrical connection. These devices are used in a wide range of applications and environments due to their ruggedness, simplicity of installation and operational reliability.
They are available in a variety of body styles, rotary arm types, actuator options and operation requirements. They can also be customized to meet your specific application requirements.
When a limit switch is activated, it causes an electric current to be passed between the contacts and a relay that is located within the unit. This current is then relayed to the escalator operator or safety control operator and an information message about the status of the escalator is displayed on the smartphone screen (Fig. 2).
A so-called signal status is generated if the situation on the escalator becomes dangerous and the passenger safety control operator receives this information. The escalator operator, or safety control operator in the case of an MMG assistance employee, can use this signal status to assess the danger level and take measures to prevent a threatening situation from occurring.
In order to protect passengers, an intelligent system should be able to recognize and predict dangerous situations. The system should be able to do this with a high degree of probability and be able to determine the most appropriate control actions.
To do this, the system should be able to process heterogeneous information from various sources. This includes data from sensors, as well as video surveillance and audio analysis.
These data are processed in the system using artificial intelligence methods and are interpreted with the help of a computer program. The software recognizes signals, objects, situations and forecasts potential consequences. This makes it possible to develop intelligent technical systems that are capable of controlling the security of escalators. This is an effective way to improve escalator security and ensure the safety of passengers.
