Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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BACKGROUND: The mobility of wheel chaired
persons has become an important consideration, so
that their participation in society can be fulfilled.
In additlon to horizontal transport it is~necessary to
ascend to elevated levels, for example to the various
floors of building structures and the like; and for
this purpose escalators are employed. However,
escalators comprising an inclined or declined series
of treads or flights that are linked in an endless
belt have been devoid of features that will permit
the transport of wheel chairs thereon, it being a
general object of this invention to prov1de a wheel
chair and escalator combination whereby wheel chaired
persons can ascend and descend between structure
levels serviced thereby.
Wheel chairs are characteristically a
collapsible framework comprised of a pair of
complementary side frames that separate to form a
seat. Each frame has`a main supporting wheel of
large diameter and with a hand rim to be turned by
the person seated thereon, and has a secondary ;~
leveling wheel of small di~meter castered so as to
permit steering. It i5 an object of this invention
- to coordinate the smaller leveling wheel with the
inclination of the escalator stairs or flights in
order to maintain a level condition of said wheel
chair. In practice, the main supporting wheels
engage one escalator flight while the leveling wheels
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engage the next lower flight. It is also an object
to coordinate the leveling action of said leveling
wheel with the degree o~ ascension and descension
of the escalator flights as they depart from a
structure level for UP and DOWN transport as the
case may be.
~he s~de frames of wheel chairs are necessarily
narrow for collapsibility into a small space, there
being cross bracing or a scissors-type means (not
; 10 shown) to separate them in vertical alignment with
respect to a supporting surface. It is an object of
khis invention to maintain the narrow configuration
of the side frame and wheel assembly, while incorporating
therein means by which the level1ng wheels are controllably
depressed in order to preserve a horizontal condition of
the chair seat.
Heretofore, the wheeled carriage of wheel chairs
~` have maintained parallelism with respect to the supporting
surface. With the present invention it is an object to
maintain a horizontal sea-t dlsposition with respect to
offset supporting surfaces -that are parallel. Accordingly,
one wheeled support is controllably depressed with respect
to the other, and preferably the front castered wheels are
extended from the frames. In carrying out this invention,
a lever means responsive to a -track at the side wall of
the escalator controllably depresses the wheels so as to
; engage them with the lowered escalator flight.
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The wheeled support of a wheel chair upon
vertically dlsplaced fl1ghts of an escalator poses
a problem with respect to safety. That is, an
assurance that the wheel chair will remain positioned
upon said flight to move therewith, and without
rolling off and/or tumbling out of control. To this
end, it is an object of this invention to provide
reliable anchor means coordinated with the aforementioned
lever means to capture the wheel chair in position for
transport upon a pair of adjacent escalator flights.
The foregoing objectives are embodied in a
wheel chair of conventional design, and adapted to
manual operation by the person transported thereby.
The escalator is provided with cooperative tracking
means and anchor means, and mo-tion control means,
whereby anchored engagement of the wheel chair to
the escalator can be established. To this end, gate
positions are established where the wheel chair is
, engageable with a flight of the escalator, by slowlng
or stopping the escalator momentarily for coupling to
said anchor means. In practice, switch means are
provided for sequential stopping (slowing) and
startlng of the escalator in the reception of wheel
chaired persons for transport thereby. The release
of the wheel chair from ~he escalator flights is
` automatic, it being~an object herein to provide
means by which the anchor means releases at ~he
discharge end of the escalator.
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1 It is a general object of this invention to provide simple,
practical and durable means incorporated in a conventional
wheel chair to accomplish the aforesaid objectives, and to
provide complementary features in the escalator mechanism
which are safe and acceptable. The relationship of wheel
chair and escalator features is uncomplicated and character-
ized by direct and positive rules of action.
SUMMA~Y OF ~HE I~VE~TION
This invention relates to the transport of wheel chaired
persons via escalators to ascend and descend between the
floor levels of building structures and the li~e. The wheel
- chair is conventional in evsry respect except for the addit-
ional features herein disclosed. Likewise, the escalator is
conventional in every respect except for the additional
features applied thereto in order to complement the said
wheel chair features to be controlled thereby~
~ Accordin~ to the present invention an escalator for the
transport of a wheel chair having spaced side frames with
~- main wheel supports downwardly extensible wheel supports at
~ 20 the front of each side frame, and having control means with a
;~ track follower to depress said front wheel supports and
; ~ ~ thereby maintain the hori~ontal disposition of the wheel
chair during vertical displacement of escalator flights, and
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escalator including;
side walls spaced to closely pass the side frames of the
wheel chair,
;; an endless belt of flights extending between vertically
; spaced floor levels to move within the confines of the spaced
side walls,
~0 lower and upper platforms at said spaced floor levels
and means to maintain a hori~ontal disposition of the flights
~.
1 as they are vertically offset by means to form steps as they
ar~ propelled by motor means,
and a variably displaced track follower of the said
wheel chair control means operable in response to said vari-
able displacement of the track to maintain the horizontal
disposiion of the wheel chair with the main and front wheel
supports carried upon adjacent flights, is disclosed.
According to an aspect of the invention an escalator for
the transport of a wheel chair having spaced side frames with
spaced main and downwardly extensible front wheel æupports
and downwardly extensible anchor means and having control
means with a track follower to depress said anchor means into
engagement with escalator flights and to depress said front
wheel supports and thereby maintain the horizontal disposit-
ion of the wheel chair during vertical displacement of a
: riser at adjacent escalator flights, and including;
side walls spaced to clo~ely pa~ the side frame of the
. .
- wheel chair,
~:~ an endless belt of flights with risers extending between
~ 20 vertically spaced floor levels to move within the confines of
:~ the spaced side walls,
lower and upper platforms at said spaced floor levels
:~ and means to maintai~ a horizontal disposition of the flights
as they are vertically offset by means to form steps and ex-
pose the risers at adjacent flights as they are propelled by
motor means from one platform to the other,
and a variably displaced track e~tending between the
lower and upper platforms and engaged by the track follower
of the said wheel chair control means operable to extend the
anchor means of the wheel chair into engagement with a flight
and adjacent riser and operable in response to said variable
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l displacement of the track to maintain the horizontal dispos-
ition of the wheel chair with the main and front ~heel sup-
ports carried upon adjacent flights separated vertically by
said riser, is taught.
~ he escalator for transport of a wheel chPir has a vari-
ably displaced track independently cooperable with the track
follower of the said wheel chair control meanY at each side
of the e~calator.
.:
According to a further aspect, an escalator for the
lO transport of a wheel chair having spaced side frames with ~.
spaced main and downwardly e~tensible front wheel supports
and downwardly extensible anchor roller means and having con-
trol means with a track follower to depress said anchor
roller means into engagement with supporting surfaces and to
depre~s said front wheel supports and thereby maintain the
horizontal disposition of the whee:l chair during vertical
: displacemment of a ri3er at adjacent escalator flights, and
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including;
side walls spaced to closely pass the side frames of the :~
: 20 wheel chair,
: an endles3 belt of flights with risers e~tending between
vertically spaced floor Ievels to move within the confines of
~: the spaced ~ide walls and each riser having a supporti~g sur-
face comprised of longitudinally disposed upstanding ribY and
a pocket adapted to receive said anchor roller means and
:~ formed therein at the riser of the ne~t adjacent flight, ~ :
- lower and upper platformæ with longitudinal fingers dis- ;
~` posed between the said upstanding ries of the flights pa~3ing
beneath said platforms to intercept and diYcharge the anchor -~
; 30 roller means from the pocket at said spaced floor levels and ~.
means to maintain a hori30ntal disposition of the flight as
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1 they are vertically offset by means to form steps and expose
the risers at adjacent .flights as they are propelled by motor
means from one platform to the other,
and a variably displaced track extending betwesn the
lower and upper platforms and engaged by the track follower
of the said wheel chair control mean~ operable to extend the
anchor means of the wheel chair into engagement with a flight
and adjacent riser and operable in response to said variable
displacement of the track to maintain the horizontal dispos-
; 10 ition of the wheel chair with the main and front wheel sup-
port~ carried upon adjacent flights separated vertically by
eaid riser, i~ possible.
~ he escalator for transport of a wheel chair, wherein
the said fingers are pointed with an inclined plane extending
from the bottom of the pocket~ intercepted thereby.
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The foregoing and other various features
and objects of this invention will be apparent and
fully understood from the following detailed
~ description of the typical preferred forms and
; 5 applications thereof, throughout which description
reference is made to the accompanying drawings.
.Fig. 1 ls a side elevation view of a wheel
chair embodying the features of the present invention,
the chair belng conditioned for normal use. Fig. 2,
is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the whee~l chair
in combination with and received by the flights of
an escalator preliminary to ascent. Fig. 3 is a
view similar to Fig. 2 showing the ascending and/or
descending condition of the wheel chair in combination
lS with the ~lights of the èscalator. Fig. 4 is a view
similar to Fig. 1 showing the wheel chair in combination
~` with and received by the flights of an escalator
preliminary to descent. FigO 5 is a view similar to
Fig. 1 showing the wheel chair in combination with
and departing from the flights of the escalator.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the follower
and track engagement that controls depression of the
wheel support W2. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional
vlew of the wheel support W2, and Fig. 8 is an
enlarged detailed sectlonal view thereof taken as
indicated by line 8-8 on Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an
enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by
.,
~i line 9-9 on Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailed
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view of the first form of anchor means B
shown as it is engaged with the escalator.
Fig~ 11 is a perspective view of the control
handle release of the lever means A. Fig. 12
S is an exploded perspective view of the
control handle of the lever means A showing
its limit of rotation. Fig. 13 is an
exploded perspective view of the hub of
the lever means A showing its means of
separation. Fig. 14 is a view similar to
Fig. 4 showing a basic anchor means that
cooperates with a track follower to capture
the wheel chair in position on the escalator
~, fllghts. Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 3
~, 15 showing the anchor configuration of Fig. 14.
Figs. 16 and 17 are enlarged detailed views
of the anchor confiyurations, Fig. 16 being
that of the first form shown in Figs. 1-13,
Fig~ 17 being that of the second basic form
shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 18. Fig. 18 is
a view similar to Figs. 4 and 14 showiny
the basic anchor means and preferred
escalator flight and control relationships
preparatory to descending, and Fig. 19 is
a similar view preparatory to ascend ng.
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Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 1,
incorporating therein a transfer motion
between the collapsible side frames and
mechanisms involved herein. Fig. 21 is a
back view of the wheel chair taken as
indicated by line 21-21 on Fig. 20.
Fig. 22.is an enlarged detailed sectional
view similar to Fig. 9 ànd taken as
indicated by line 22-22 on Fig. 20, and
Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary view
taken as indicated by line 23-23 on
Fig. 22.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: The escalator
and wheel chair concept herein disclosed
involves additional features applied
to the wheel chair and to the escalator,
featulres which are complementary for
ascent and descent of wheel chairs
by escalators. Generally: the wheel
20~ ~ chair is comprised of side frames 10
~ with~a main wheel support Wl ~and a
.
front wheel support W2, and to whlch
is added the lever means A, anchor
. . .
`~ m-ans B, and lift means C, and the
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escalator is comprised of lower level and-upper
level platforms Pl and P2 between whlch treads or
flights F are transported by means of an endless
belt of articulated links (not shown). The escalator
S is conventional in every respect, except for the
horizontal disposition of several flights F in the
plane of the upper platform P2 preparatory to
descent. The escalator is driven by a motor M under
control of gate means as will be described. The
transport of the escalator is either UP or DOWN and
the descent or ascent thereby is between the
platforms Pl and P2 at separated floor levels. As
shown, the flights F ascend and descend between side
- walls 11 along which moving hand rails 12 are
associated with the flights. A feature of this
invention is the track T a-t the walls 11 to recelve
a follower 13 for operation of the lever means A.
; The gate means for escalator control is associated
with the track T.
2a Referring now to the wheel chair as it is
~` shown herein, there are two side frames 10 between
~- which a seat 1~ extends in a horizontal plane spaced
above the supporting surface. It is to be understood
that there is such a frame at each side of the wheel
chair and tha~ outside of each side frame there is a
main wheel support Wl positioned at the back 15 of
; the chair and aft of the center of gravity when a
~` person is seated therein. ~s shown, there is a
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vertical leg member 16 from which a supporting
axle 17 projects to carry the main wheel support Wl.
; Forward of the member 16 there is a vextical leg
member 18 from which the front wheel support W2
depends. The members 16 and 18 are rigidly connected
by an upper arm 19 and by a lower rail 20 that
extends rearward of the member 16 to terminate
I just within the perimeter of the wheel support W1.
- The bracing by which the two side frames 10 are held
in spaced vertical positions is not shown herein and
is conventional so as to position the two side
.` wheels Wl close to the walls 11 of the escalator
and for engagement of the two ollowers 13 in the
. two tracks T.
,
The front wheel support W2 is extensible
through operation of the :Lift means C, which in its
preferred form is a rack and pinion jack operable
along the caster axis a of a front wheel 25 carried
: by a swivally moI1nted fork 26, all of which is
disposed well forward of -the center of gravity and
;` ou-tside of the side frame 10. The rack 27 telescopes
: ~ into a cover tube 28 to mesh with the pinion 29 that
; operates wi-thin a case 30 (see Figs. 7-8). The
pinion shaft 31 carries a sprocket 32 inboard of
- 25 the case 30 and ou-tboard of the leg members 16 and
18. A drive chain 33 engages over sprocket 32 to
: lower and raise the rack 27, the lowermost end of
.; which carries the fork 26 on swival bearings 34.
The extreme positions of the extensible rack 27 of
:- 30 lift means C is shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
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The anchor means B as it is dlsclosed in
Figs. 1-13 and 16 is extensible through operation
of the lever means A to be releasibly engaged by
the flights F of the escalator, the flights being
provided with pockets 40 for the reception of said
anchor means A. In practice, there is an anchor
means A at each side frame 10 and comprised or an
arm 36 pivoted on a transverse horizontal axis from
the rear extremity of -the frame rail 20, to
retractably swing into engagement with -the escalator
fligh-t~s. A feature is the roller 37 at the terminal
end of arm 36, and the forwardly disposed hook 38
on the arm to engage in a flight pocket 40. As
shown in Fig. 10 the pocket 40 receives both the
roller 37 and hook 38, the roller being engageable
with next adjacent flight F and the hook 38 having
a face engageable with the opposing wall of the
pocket ~0. In carrying out this inven-tion, the
arm 36 is lowered 35 or more to a stop 35 and below
the horizontal of rail 20 ~or engagement in a
pocket 40, and the arm is alternately xaised 65 or
more àbove said horizontal when not in use (see
Figs. 3 and l for comparison).
; Referring now to the pocket or pockets 40,
there is such a pocket at each side of each flight F
at the innermost edge or corner of the tread defined
by the next adjacent flight riser 43. These spaced
pockets 40 are positioned to align with the spaced
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rails 20 of the side frames 10, and with the anchor
means arms 36 to receive hooks 38 and rollers 37
thereof. The conventional ribbed or grooved tread
of the escalator flights F is provlded with longitudinal
fins 41 of a height at least one half the roller
diameter (see FigsO 10 and 16), to form said anchor
pocket 40. The pocket 40 is formed or opened by
re-traction of a fin section 41', as shown in Fig. 10.
Accordingly, one or more fin sections 41' are retracted
to form the pocket with a face 42 to oppose the hook
face 38, while the roller 37 is engageable with the
riser 43 of the adjacent flight when it is raised as
shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 10. As best illustrated in
Fig.`10, rising of said adjacent flight F relative
to the next lower flight F establishes a convergence
that capturès the roller 37 and hook 38 configuration.
; Conversely, as shown in Flg. 5 the terminous fingers 44
continue from the fins 41 a-t the platforms Pl and P2,
as the case may be, and are inclined to operate
between the fins 41 so as to intercept the rollers 37
and withdraw them from the pockets 40 automatically.
As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the roller 37 has
, ~
been withdrawn from the pocket 40~and automatically
raised to the supporting plane of the lower floor
platform Pl at the terminous of a descending escalator.
Conversely, the roller 37 is au-tomatically raised to
-the supporting plane of the upper floor platform P2
.,
` at the termlnous of an ascending escalator.
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p~ ~
Referring now to the lever means A, the
purpose thereof is twofold. Firstly, lever means A
manually swings the arm 36 so as to engage the roller 37
and hook 38 into the escalator flight and to depress the
same into the pocke-t 40. Secondly, lever means A
follows the track T so as to operate the lift means C
to extend the front wheel support W2 commensurate with
the vertical displacement between adjacent supporting
flights. As shown for example in Figs. 1-5 of the
drawings, the wheel chair is maintained horizontal
over one or more supporting surfaces, and characteristically
when the wheel supports ~rl and W2 are supported by
vertically displaced flights F. Sequentially therefore,
the lever means A is manually operable to depress the
anchor means B into engagement with a flight F to enter
a pocket therein, and is then simultaneously separable
and engageable with the track T and operated thereby
to extend the front wheel support W2 accordlng to the
vertical displacement between fllghts F. As shown,
the aforementioned follower 13 is made part of the
lever means A~and is incorporated in an extensible
handle 45 thereof to be enga~eable in said track T.
The lever means A is comprised of a separable
first class lever that converts into a second class
leverO The first class condition thereof as shown
in Fig. 1 has its two arm members 46 and 47 locked
together as one, by means of the lock features of
Figs. 12 and 13. The second class condition thereof
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as shown in Figs. 2-S has said two members 46 and 47
unlocked, by virtue of turning the handle 45 outwardly
as shown. In carrying out this invention, the lever
means A has the axle 17 for its fulcrum, being
S disposed between the side frame 10 and maln wheel
support Wl. Refer to Fig. 9 wherein the arm members 46
and 47 are shown as rotatable on independent hubs 48
and 49, and wherein a drive sprocket S0 is adjacent
thereto and free to rotate on said axle 1~ immediately
outboard of the frame leg 16.
.
The first or second class conditlon of the
lever means A is determined by a manually operable
lock means L comprised of the handle 45 carried at
; the force applied end of arm member 46, and that
; 15 revolves from a retracted position as shown in Fig. 1
through 90 to a projected positlon as shown in
Figs. 2-5 (also Fig- 9)- Lock means L includes a
bolt 51 extending from the handle 45 and through the
member 46 to couple with the member 47, and also
includes a release means 52. ~s shown in Fig~. 12,
~.
the handle 45 is restricted to 90 rotation between
said extreme positions by a lug operable~withln a
notch, being held in the projected posltlon by a
manually releasable spring loc~ as shown in Fig. 11.
2S As shown in Fig. 13, the bolt Sl has a lug that~
projects from member 46 and into member ~7 to enter
a J-slot 53 therein for coupled engagement of the two
arm members. AccordlnlJLy, the two arm members 46 and
47 can operate as one first class lever and arm member 46
alone can operate alternately as a second class lever,
all as clrcumstances requlre.
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The arm member 47 o~ lever means A carries
a pressure exerting means coupled to the arm 36 of
the anchor means B through a link 54. The pressure
exerted by said means is compressive and so as to
depress the arm 36 in its extended position as shown
in Figs. 2-5, and is shown in Fig. 9 comprised of a
piston 55 biased by a spring 56 to limitedly extend
a rod 57 connected by link 54 to arm 36. In practice,
a stop 58 limits upward revolvement at an over-center
position where the arm member 47 is held as shown in
igs. 2-5~ However, a cam-detent S9 compresses the
spring 56 as shown in ~ig. 1 while the link 54
` retracts the arm 36 as shown. In practice therefore,
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the arm 36 is extended and/or retracted by lever
lS means A in its "first class lever" condition, and
alternately the lock means L is released so as to
separate the arm members 46 and 47 whereby the arm
member 46 is free to be operated by the track T as
` a "second class lever" as next described.
~he drive sprocket 50 is en~aged by the cha~n 33
to turn the sprocket 32 and has drive pins 60 and 61
t engageable wlth arm mem~er 46, providing lost motion
,
therebetween to permit -the first class lever operation
as above described to depress the anchor means arm 36.
However, upon release of lock means L separating arm
members 46 and 47, the drive sprocket 50 is driven by
pin 60 to operate the lift means C as described.
Alternately, -the sproc~et 50 is driven by pins 61 to
retract the anchor means B when recoupled as described.
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The follower 13 is rotatably and extensibly
carried by the handle 45 as best illustrated in Fiy. 9
wherein a compression spring 63 yieldingly retracts a
, spindle 64 that rotatably carries the follower 13 so
that it will turn free in the track T as shown
throughout the drawing and as it is detailed in
Fig. 6. A safety feature is the track T of dovetail
configuration having well rounded inside and outside
corners. In practice, the uppermost corner is shallow
and obtuse as compared with the lowermost corner tha~
is deep and sharp to guide and retain the roller
follower 13 to the track T. The follower 13 presents
a complementary knob form or configuration devoid of
any sharpness that might otherwise catch garments or
cause damage and/or injury.
Referring now to a more basic form of anchor
means B' as it is disclosed in Figs. 14, 15, 17 and 13
, of the drawings, extensibility thereof is by means ofthe lever means A the same as hereinabove described.
However in~ this formJ anchorage ~s by means of
cooperation with the follower 13 operable in the
track T all as hereinabove described, but devoid of
the flight pockets 40. From Figs. 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19
it will be observed that the roller 37' is lowered
and extended by arm 36 to rest upon the flight ribs~
or fins 41" and against the~adjacent flight rlser 43.
- The roller 37' is of small diameter and the fins 41"
~ are not deepened or as widely spaced as they are in
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the first form (see Fig. 16). Capture of the wheel
chair in riding position on the flights F is by
means of the acute angularity between the supporting
plane of the flight F and riser 43 simultaneously
engageable therewith when the adjacent flight raises
with respect to the wheel supporting flight (wheel Wl)
and by virtue of the converging angular relationship
of the track T with respect to the horizontal plane
of the wheel supporting flight F (wheels W1 and W2).
Figs. 14, 15 and 18 illustrate this angular convergence
of the track T and follower 13 relationship to the
acute engagement of roller 37', whereby the wheel
chair is captured in riding position on the two
vertically displaced flights F. -
The basic anchor roller of Figs. 14, 15, 17, 18
and 19 is inherently forced against a riser ~3 as
shown, for both UP and DOWN transport of the wheel
chair. The convergence of track T and the supporting
' planes of the flights F makes this a positive function
that maintains a proper rlding position with the wheel
supports Wl and W2 safely positioned upon their
respective flights F. Accordingly and as best
illustrated in the descent modes of Figs~ 14 and 18,
this first fully exposed flight F emanating from the
top platform P2 is lowered with respect to the
following flight F so that the riser 43 of the
latter is exposed to engage with the anchor roller 37'.
In practice, the planar offset of the first fully
exposed flight F from the emanating flight F is
substantially one roller diameter as shown, whereby
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a positive depression is realized by the riding
occupant when the roller 37' is depressed by
spring 56 into the acute corner established by said
riser 43. I-t is this roller depression onto the first
fully exposed flight F that operates the switch 68.
~ Concurrently with the foregoing engagement
; of the anchor roller 37' with the first fully exposed
flight F, the roller 13 has moved forwardly in the
, 1
`~ downwardly curved trac~ T as shown in Fig. 18,
whereby the llft means C depresses the wheel support W2
onto its supporting flight. The offset of the two
supporting fllghts F is severe in Fig. 14 and
moderate in the chair reception position thereof as
shown in Fig. 14, the supporting plane for wheel
` 15 support W2`being well below -the supporting plane
of wheel support Wl in Fis~. 14, and a roller 37'
diameter or less in Fig. :L8. Subsequently, the
flights are more rapidly offset into the down
' ; condltlon of Flg. 15 for example, according to
~ 20 ~conventional escalator operation.
; The wheel chair hèrein remains collapsible and
so that the laterally separable side frames 10 can be
moved~together and~apart. As thus far described, the
controlling means A, B end C and related par-ts are
incorporated individually in each side frame 10 so as
~to be independently operable.~ However, it may be
desired that the two sides of the wheel chair operate
in unison, dependently or independently as may be
required. Accordingly, collapsible motion transfer
~0 means D is provided as shown in Figs. 20-23 and which
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operates between the lever means A at opposite side
frames 10. The collapsible motion -transfer means D
involves an articulated torque transmitting bar 70, a
sectional bar coupled to transfer levers 71 revolved
by each arm member 46 outside of each side frame 10
The bar 70 embraces the spaced legs 16 of opposite
side framés 10, from the rear thereof (see Fig. 20).
In practice, the rotational limits of ar~ members 46
is within 180, so that it may be offset as shown to
clear the leg 16; and it is the spaced transfer levers 71
which establishes this offset 50 that the bar 70 can be
broken upwardly an~ dQw~wardly to.the rea~ and so
that it may be straightened (see Fig. 21). The bar 70
breaks at a center pivot 72 on an æis parallel with
axes of like pivots 73 at the spaced transfer levers 71.
Levers 71 are keyed to sleeves 74 common with arm.
members 46, and said bar is telescoped as shown in
Fig. 22 so as to.permit flexibility in track width of
, the wheel chair during its operationO
Operation of the wheel chair and control
of the escalator as disclosed herein is as follows:
~:~ The conventional wheel chair of Fig. 1 incorporates
the lever means A which manually holds the anchor
means B and lift means.C retracted with the
handle 45 positioned to lock the arm members 46
and 47 in the first class lever condition ready
~or operation.
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Preparatory to ascending, the wheel chair
is backed onto the pla-tform Pl of an UP escalator
with the lever means A manually operated as shown
in Fig. 2 so as to extend and lower the anchor
means A and to press the roller 37 (37') onto the
supporting surface and onto a flight F. The handle 45
is then rotated (see Fig. 9) to uncouple arm member 46
from arm member 47 and so as to laterally project the
follower 13 for its engagement into the track T.
Entry of the follower 13 into th~ track T is by
movement of the wheel chair into riding position
where there is a gate means represented by a switch 65,
the operation of which slows and/or stops the escalator.
In practice, the escalator is slowed so that its rate
of travel is minimized and accompanied by retraction
of the fin sections 41' through control means 66 and
retraction means 67 indicated as a solenoid or the
~ like. The control means 66 governs the speed of
P . motor M, and when anchor roller 37 and hook 38 drop
into pocket 40 a switch 68 is operated and through
control means 66 accelerates and restores motor M
to its normal speed so that the escalator resumes
its normal rate of ascent. In practice, 65 - 68 operate
sequentially at each side frame anchor means B and are
,:
in series or the like, so that simultaneous operation
thereof is required in order to restore the motor M
to its normal speed. ~scent of the wheel chaix on
vertically spaced flights F lS shown in Fig. 3.
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.
3~Si
Preparatory to descending with the rollers 37
and pockets 40, -the wheel chair is advanced forwardly
from the platform P2 a~d onto adjacent coplanar
flights F of a DOWN escalator with the lever means A
manually operated as shown in Fig. 4 so as to extend
and lower the anchor means A and to press the roller 37
onto the supporting surface and onto the rearmost
exposed fliyht F. The handle 45 is then rotated
(see Fig. 9) to uncouple arm mem~er 46 from arm
member 47 and so as to project the follower 13 for
its engagement into the track T. Initial entry of
the follower 13 into the track T is by movement of
the wheel chair toward riding position where there
is a gate means represented by a switch 65, the
operation of which slows and/or stops the escala-tor.
In practice, the escalator i9 slowed so that its
rate of travel is minimized and accompanied by
~` retraction of the fin sections 41' through the
control means 66 when a gate swi-tch~6~>is operated
for the actuation of the retraction means 67. The
~ ~ .
control means 66 governs the speed of motor M, and
when the anchor roller 37 and hook 38~drop into
the opened pocket 40 a switch 68 lS operated and
through control means 66 accelerates and restores
motor M to its normal speed so that the escalator
resumes its normal rate of descent. ~Descent of
the wheel chair on vertically spaced flights F
is shown in Fig. 3.
:;
~ 9~ 3 ~5
1 Preparatory to descending with the rollers 37'
and without pockets 40, the wheel chair is advanced
; forwardly through the gate switch or switches 65 and from
the platform P2 and onto a flight F substantially
coplanar therewith and with the lever means A manually
operated as shown in Fig. 14 so a~ to extend and lower
the anchor means A and to press the roller rollers 37'
onto the rearmost exposed flight ~. As is shown, when
the gate switch 65 is operated the escalator is stopped
; 10 so as to enable the occupant to place the wheel chair
into proper riding position with the anchor rollers 37' ;
engaging a riser ~3, whereby actuation of switches 68
through control means 66 restore~ motor M to its normal
speed and so that the escalator resumes its normal rate
of descent.
Preparatory to descending with the rollers 37'
and without gate switches 65, the wheel chair is advanced
forwardly through the gate switch or switches 65 and from
the platform P2 and onto a fully e~po~ed flight F offset
substantially one roller diameter below the next
emanating flight F, and with the lever means A manually
operated as shown in Fig. 18 so as to extend and lower
the anchor means A and to press the roller 37' onto the
- supporting surface and onto the rearmost exposed flight
P As is shown, when the gate switch 65 is operated the
escalator is slowed and/or stopped or pauses in the
position shown9 with the adjacent flight F - -
,
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3~S
beneath the front wheel support W2 offset ~oderately
and preferably about one roller 37' diameter below
the flight F beneath the main wheel support Wl.
This delay in transport of the escalator enables
the occupant to place the wheel chair into proper
riding position with the anchor rollers 37' engaging
a riser 43, whereby actuation of switches 68 through
control means 66 restores motor M to its normal speed
and so that the escalator resumes its normal rate
of descent.
Operation of the wheel chair and of the
escalator is the same with both forms of anchor
means A and A', and it is t,o be understood that the
means A, B, and C as they are disclosed herein are
applied to at least one and preferably to both the
. left and right side frames of the wheel chair and
.` to both the left and right rails of the escalator,
and independently operable as described and as
circumstances require.
Having described only the typical preferred
' forms and applications of my invention, I do not
wish to be limited or restricted to the specific
; : details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to
,, myself any modifications or variat.ions that may
' 25 appear to those skilled in the art as set forth
within the limits of -the following claims.
i:
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