Escalators and Elevators

ESCALATOR An escalator is a moving staircase - a conveyors transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consist of a motor-driven chain of individually linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal. Escalators are used around the world to move pedestrian traffic in places where elevators would be impractical. Escalators have the capacity to move large numbers of people, and they can be placed in the same physical space as a staircase.

TYPES PARALLEL CRISCROSS MULTIPLE PARALLEL up and down escalators “side by side or separated by a distance”, seen often in metro situations and multilevel motion picture theaters. CRISCROSS minimizes structural space requirements by “stacking” escalators that go in one direction, frequently used in department stores or shopping centers. MULTIPLE PARALLEL two or more escalators together that travel in one direction next to one one or two escalators in the same bank that travel in the other direction.

CHARACTERISTIC A number of factors affect escalator design, including physical requirements, location, traffic patterns, safety considerations, and aesthetic preferences. Foremost, physical factors like the vertical and horizontal distance to be spanned must be considered. These factors will determine the length and pitch of the escalator. The building infrastructure must be able to support the heavy components. The escalator should be located where it can be easily seen by the general public. Furthermore, up and down escalator traffic should be physically separated and should not lead into confined spaces.

Factors :- Most escalators are designed with 1000mm wide steps which allow passengers to move comfortably when carrying luggage and shopping bags. 600mm and 800mm wide steps are also available and generally used in low traffic areas. Standard transportation speed ranges between 0.5 to 0.6m/s For a speed of 0.5m/s the theoretical capacity is : 600mm step width -4500 persons per hour 800mm step width-6750 persons per hour 1000mm step width-9000 person/hour Whenever possible its best to install two or more parallel sets of escalator.

The Escalator consists of the following components:   1. Landing Platforms. 2. Truss. 3. Tracks. 4. Steps. 5. Handrail. 6. Escalator Exterior (Balustrade). 7. Drive system. 8. Auto-Lubrication System. 9. Braking system. 10. Safety devices. 11. Electrical & Control Systems.

Landing Platforms An escalator consists of top and bottom landing platforms connected by a metal truss. Top Platform : The top platform contains the motor assembly and the main drive gear. Bottom Platform : The bottom platform holds the step return idler sprockets.

Platforms contain floor plate and comb plate. The comb plate is the piece between the stationary floor plate and the moving step. It is so named because its edge has a series of cleats that resemble the teeth of a comb. These teeth mesh with matching cleats on the edges of the steps. This design is necessary to minimize the gap between the stair and the landing, which helps prevent objects from getting caught in the gap. Floor plate Comb plate The floor plate provides a place for the passengers to stand before they step onto the moving stairs. This plate is flush with the finished floor and is either hinged or removable to allow easy access to the machinery below. Floor plate

Truss The escalator truss is the structural frame of the escalator and consists of three major areas:  Lower section,  Incline section,  Upper section. Upper section It is a hollow metal structure that bridges the lower and upper landings. It is composed of two side sections joined together with cross braces across the bottom and just below the top.  The ends of the truss are attached to the top and bottom landing platforms via steel or concrete supports. The truss carries all the straight track sections connecting the upper and lower sections. The entire structure is rigid enough to maintain close operating tolerances but will allow for building shift and vibration because of a built-in system of shift- plates and Teflon pads.  lower section Incline section

Track step wheel track trailer-wheel track The track system is built into the truss to guide the step chain, which continuously pulls the steps from the bottom platform and back to the top in an endless loop. There are actually two tracks:  One for the front wheels of the steps (called the step wheel track). One for the back wheels of the steps (called the trailer-wheel track).  The relative positions of these tracks cause the steps to form a staircase as they move out from under the comb plate. Along the straight section of the truss, the tracks are at their maximum distance apart. The tracks carry the steps down along the underside of the truss until they reach the bottom landing, where they pass through another curved section of track before exiting the bottom landing. At this point, the tracks separate and the steps once again assume a staircase configuration. step wheel track trailer-wheel track

Steps Handrail The Handrail provides a convenient The steps are solid, one piece, die-cast aluminum or steel. The steps are linked by a continuous metal chain that forms a closed loop. The front and back edges of the steps are each connected to two wheels. The rear wheels are set further apart to fit into the back track and the front wheels have shorter axles to fit into the narrower front track. Handrail The Handrail provides a convenient handhold for passengers while they are riding the escalator. In an escalator, the handrail is pulled along its track by a chain that is connected to the main drive gear by a series of pulleys.

Balustrade The Balustrade consists of the handrail and the exterior supporting structure of the escalator. It is the escalator exterior components extending above the steps and it supports the handrail. It is either designed as Interior Low-deck or Interior High-deck.  The balustrade may also refer to the individual interior panels, skirt panels, and deck covers of the escalator. Each interior balustrade panel section is individually removable to allow easy access to the escalator interior for cleaning, maintenance, and component replacement.

Drive System An escalator drive system includes the following components : Drive Machine and Gear Reducer. -The Drive machine together with the gear reducer provides the torque to drive the step band at a constant speed The Step Drive System-The variation on how these two systems are combined is dependent upon the type of escalator. The Drive Machine used to drive the pinion gear or the main drive chain may directly or indirectly drive the Handrail Drive System The Handrail Drive System-The step motion is achieved by a direct step assembly connection to the step chain. 

Auto lubrication system The escalators have an Automatic Lubrication System that supplies oil to lubricate the main drive chain, step chain, and the handrail drive chains. Oil flow rate is adjustable by setting the automatic timer control “off” and “on” periods to supply more or less lubrication.

Braking system Safety device The braking systems on an escalator utilize three different braking methods as follows:  The Machine Brake. The drive shaft brake system. The Main Drive Shaft Brake. Safety device Escalator systems are provided with many safety devices that will automatically stop the escalator by cutting electrical power to the motor and applying the brake if a problem occurs. When a safety device stops the escalator, the problem must be corrected and the fault cleared before restarting the system. 

CONSIDERATIONS FOR ESCALATOR A NUMBER OF FACTORS MUST BE CONSIDERED: PHYSICAL FACTORS LOCATION TRAFFIC PATTERNS SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AESTHETIC PREFERENCES Foremost, physical factors like the vertical and horizontal distance to be spanned must be considered. These factors will determine the length and pitch of the escalator. The building infrastructure must be able to support the heavy components. The escalator should be located where it can be easily seen by the general public . In department stores, customers should be able to view the merchandise easily. Furthermore, up and down escalator traffic should be physically separated and should not lead into confined spaces. Traffic patterns must also be anticipated. In some buildings, the objective is simply to move people from one floor to another, but in others there may be a more specific requirement, such as funneling visitors towards a main exit or exhibit. The escalators must be designed to carry the required number of passengers.

DESIGN OBJECTIVES FOR ESCALATOR FREE FLOW OF PEOPLE AND GOODS . SAFE OPERATION,COMFORT AND SERVICE . OCCUPY MINIIMUM SPACE AND REQUIRE LESS COSTS. AESTHETICS ,DISABLED ACCESS,ETC ADVANTAGES IT HELPS A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN MOVING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER ,AT THE SAME TIME THEY REDUCE THE NEED OF ELEVATOR BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR ELEVATOR AND ESCALATOR CAN CARRY A LARGE NO OF PEOPLE. IT IS HELPFUL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PAIN IN THEIR LEGS .I.E PROVIDE COMFORT TO PEOPLE. ESCALATORS ARE EFFECTIVE WHEN USED AS A MEANS OF GUIDANCE AND CIRCUATION. THEIR SPEED CAN BE ADJUSTED WHICH IS HELPFUL IN MANAGING THE CROWD. THEY CAN BE USED AS STAIRCASE WHEN TURNED OFF. DISADVANTAGES: WASTE OF ENERGY WHEN NOT IN USE. POSSIBLE INJURIES WHEN STOPPED SUDDENLY . SOURCE OF FEAR FOR SMALL CHILDREN.

LIFTS A lift or an elevator is a type of vertical transportation that moves people or goods between levels of a building. Lifts are generally powered by electric motors that either drive traction cables or counterweight systems like a hoist, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston like a jack. Major components of lifts are: Car Cables Elevator machine Control equipment Counterweights Hoist-way Rails Pit

TRACTION ELEVATOR GEARED TRACTION ELEVATOR: Geared traction machines are driven by AC or DC electric motors. They use worm gears to control mechanical movement of elevator cars by “rolling” steel hoist ropes over a drive sheave which is attached to a gear box driven by a high speed motor. USE: For basement or overhead traction use for speeds upto 500 feet per minute.

TRACTION ELEVATOR GEARLESS TRACTION ELEVATOR: Low speed High torque electric motors powered either by AC or DC. In this case the drive sheave is directly attached to the end of the motor. They can reach speeds of upto 2000 feet per minute, or even higher.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF TRACTION ELEVATOR higher speed compared with the hydraulic variety can be used in tall, modern, 21st-century buildings. smoother ride more energy-efficient as the counterweight balances the car load. DISADVANTAGES: Cost. Installation can be 15 to 25 per cent more expensive that a hydraulic system. difficult to maintain- as the machine’s controls are located in the shaft headroom. This area could be difficult to access.

INSTALLATION OF LIFTS Equipment delivery and hoisting; Guide rail installation; Architrave, landing door, hall button and indicator installation; Machine room and machine-room-less devices installation; Electrical wiring; Assembly of cage, counterweight and roping; and Adjusting and testing BEFORE INSTALLING LIFT, CHECK THE FOLLOWING: Lift Location: Making sure adequate space is available Your lift requires a 220v, 30amp, single phase, grounded electrical source Overhead Area : The area where the lift will be located should be free of overhead obstructions such as heaters, building supports, electrical lines, doors, lights, etc. Floor Area: Visually inspect the site where the lift is to be installed and check for cracked or defective concrete Floor Requirements : A level floor is suggested for proper installation and level lifting. Small differences in floor slopes may be compensated.

Travelator A moving walkway or moving sidewalk , known in British English as a travelator or travolator is a slow moving conveyor mechanism that transports people across a horizontal or inclined plane over a short to medium distance. Moving walkways can be used by standing or walking on them. They are often installed in pairs, one for each direction.

Thank You Kirati Amin Hiral Jhadakia Ayushi Maheshwari Tithi Modi Jayna Panchal Dhwani Patel Dolly Patel Karishma Shah