ESCALATOR

INTRODUCTION
An escalator is a type of vertical transportation in the form of a
moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people
between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven
COMPONENTS
chain of individually linked steps that move up or down on tracks,
allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.
WORKING
SYSTEM

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COMPARISON

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 The Escalator consists of the following
INTRODUCTION components:
• Landing
Platforms.
COMPONENTS
• Truss.
• Tracks.
WORKING • Steps.
SYSTEM
• Handrail.
• Escalator
TYPES Exterior
(Balustrade).
• Drive system.
USES
• Auto-
Lubrication
System.
COMPARISON
• Braking system.
• Safety devices.
MARKET • Electrical &
SURVEY
Control Systems.
 Landing Platforms.
INTRODUCTION

• In addition, the platforms contain a floor plate and a

comb plate. The floor plate provides a place for the
COMPONENTS passengers to stand before they step onto the moving
stairs.

WORKING This plate is flush with the finished floor and is either
SYSTEM hinged or removable to allow easy access to the
machinery below. The combplate is the piece between
the stationary floor plate and the moving step. It is so
TYPES 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
USES the landing, which helps prevent objects from getting
caught in the gap.

COMPARISON

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 Major components of Landing
INTRODUCTION
Platforms are:
COMPONENTS • Comb plates also known as walk-on plates are an entrance and exit for the
passengers to the steps. It provides mounting for the comb segments and comb
plate (comb impact) switch actuator.
WORKING • Comb Segments are replaceable sections, usually between 6” to 8” in width or
SYSTEM maybe narrower, with teeth that mesh (comb) into the step treads. Comb segment
may also be called a comb plate by non-standard noun name. A left hand, a right
TYPES
hand, or a middle section comb segment can be identified by the pattern of the
combs on their sides and by the width or number of combs.
• Access Covers used as an access to the pit area for inspection, maintenance, and
USES repairs. The lower landing access cover plates provide access to the reversing
station and step removal. The upper access cover plates may provide an access to
the driving machine, bull gear, and sometimes the controller.
COMPARISON • Comb Lights are an optional safety device used to illuminate the area where steps
and comb segments meet, mounted at the upper and lower landing above the
comb segments. They are from a different power source that stays on always even
MARKET if the unit is not running.
SURVEY
 Truss
• It is a hollow metal structure that bridges the lower and upper landings. It is
INTRODUCTION
composed of two side sections joined together with cross braces across the bottom
and just below the top.
• The escalator truss is the structural frame of the escalator and consists of three
COMPONENTS
major areas:
• The lower section,
WORKING • Incline section,
SYSTEM
• Upper section.

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INTRODUCTION
TRACKS
• 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
COMPONENTS
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).
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INTRODUCTION
Steps
• The steps are solid, one piece, die-cast aluminum or steel. Yellow demarcation lines may be added
to clearly indicate their edges.
COMPONENTS • Steps Major Components
The Step Plate (Tread) is the surface area of the step people step on.
• The Step Riser is the vertical cleat cast into the front of a step, designed to pass between the cleats
WORKING of adjacent step, thus creating a combing action with minimum clearance for safety.
SYSTEM • The Demarcations are yellow strips or may be in bold color around the step tread but mostly
located at the front and at the rear ends of the tread.
• Frame/Yoke - main support for riser, step tread, and step wheels
TYPES
• Trail Wheels are used to guide the step and support its load on the track and prevent it from being
out of plane.
• Step Hook normally attached to the end of the yoke by the step wheel used to activate the step up
USES thrust safety device when the steps are not on their plane of travel at the top and bottom inclines.

COMPARISON

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INTRODUCTION
Handrail
The Handrail provides a convenient handhold
COMPONENTS 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
WORKING the main drive gear by a series of pulleys.
SYSTEM

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Handrail Components

COMPARISON

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 Escalator Exterior (Balustrade)
The Balustrade consists of the handrail and the exterior supporting structure of the escalator. It is the escalator exterior
INTRODUCTION 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
COMPONENTS interior balustrade panel section is individually removable to allow easy access to the escalator interior for cleaning,
maintenance, and component replacement.

Escalator Exterior (Balustrade) Components:

WORKING
SYSTEM 1. Interior Low-deck has interior or side panels that are usually glass panels that support the handrail base.

2. Interior High-deck is the side panel and is usually aluminum or steel alloy sheets, sometimes called solid panels. The
TYPES major components of interior high-deck are:

a. Skirt Panel - commonly called a “Skirt." It is the interior covering of the balustrade located alongside the steps. It
houses the actuator for the skirt safety switch. Side Safety Brushes are installed slightly above the step level on the skirt
panel to provide passenger safety between the side of the steps and the skirt.
USES
b. Interior Panel - commonly called “side panel" by mechanics. The central point of the balustrade that supports the
handrail base and sets the proper elevation for handrails on a glass balustrade. It provides access to the handrail; driver,
idlers, sheaves, skirt switches in interior high-deck balustrades, and various components.
COMPARISON
c. Handrail Stand - the handrail tracks or guides located above the side panels or maybe the upper deck.

d. High-deck Interior - the top most, inner part of the balustrade that supports the handrail track or guide.
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e. High-deck Exterior - top most outer covering of the balustrade outside and above the side panels. Supports the outer
side of the handrail guide. If the outer edge of the deck is greater than 12 inches from centerline of the handrail, an anti-
slide device or sometimes called baggage stops (like a hockey puck) must be installed.
 f. Low-deck Interior or Inner Decks - the inner covering of the balustrade located between the glass panels and the skirts.
Provide access to the handrail drivers and skirt switches in interior low-deck balustrades.

g. Low-deck Exterior or Outer Decks - the outer covering of the balustrade located outside the glass panels.
INTRODUCTION
h. Exterior Panel is an outer covering below the high-deck exterior.

i. Newel - is the balustrade termination at the upper and the lower landing of the escalator in a semi-circle shape. It
normally houses the following switches; emergency stop, on/off, up/down or directional indicator lighting, Entry to and
COMPONENTS exit from the escalator normally occurs at one of the newels and several important features are conveniently located at
each.

WORKING j. Newel Base or Front Plates - supports the newel stand and it may house the Handrail Inlet (Guard) Safety Device.
SYSTEM
k. Emergency Stop Button is the most important feature at each Newel. The Emergency Buttons are located so that
anyone can stop the escalator if there is a need. These switches have a lift cover that will sound an audible alarm when
lifted. When either button is pushed, power to the electrical drive motor is shut off and the escalator brake is applied.
TYPES
l. Key Operated Switches are located on each Newel and they are used to control the “ON” and “OFF” operation and the
direction of escalator travel. These switches are intended for the use of authorized personnel only.

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 DRIVE SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION

COMPONENTS

WORKING
SYSTEM •Each step has two sets of wheels, which roll
along two separate tracks.
•The upper set (the wheels near the top of
TYPES the step) are connected to the rotating
chains.
•The other set simply glides, following
USES behind the first set.
•Each step has a series of grooves in it,
so it will fit together with the steps
COMPARISON behind the tracks.

•the electric motor also moves the handrail, a

MARKET rubber conveyer belt, moves at exactly the
SURVEY same speed as the steps, to give riders some
stability.
 Working system
An escalator is really just like a conveyor belt. The stairs are pulled around in a loop by
INTRODUCTION a pair of chains. Escalator steps have two sets of wheels. One set is at the top of each
stair, and is pulled by the chains. At the bottom of the step is another set of wheels
that runs along a metal pathway (like train tracks). The pathway is sloped between
floors, but at the top and bottom of the rise, the track becomes flat before going
COMPONENTS
around and back down, below the floor. When the steps are coming up the slope,
each one is higher than the one before, like stairs, but when they reach the level part,
they flatten out.
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 WORKING SYSTEM OF ESCALATOR
INTRODUCTION

• Escalator is one of the most

COMPONENTS
expensive machines we use in
everyday life, yet its mechanism is
the simplest.
WORKING • It works on the principle of
SYSTEM
conveyer belt.
• The core of the escalator is a pair
TYPES of chains looped around the pair
of gears.
• Then the electric motor rotates
USES
the chain loop.
• Motor and chain system are kept
inside the truss system.
COMPARISON
• The chain loop moves the series
of step.
MARKET
SURVEY
 How the steps move?
• Each step in escalator has
INTRODUCTION two different wheels which
roll on separate track.
• The upper set are connected
COMPONENTS to the rotating chains, and
so are pulled by the drive
WORKING
gear at the top of the
SYSTEM escalator. The other set of
wheels simply glides along
TYPES
its track, following behind
the first set
• The grooves of the step are
USES attached to the steps behind
so the steps stay in place
and does not move.
COMPARISON • When the steps are coming
up the slope, each one is
higher than the one before,
MARKET
SURVEY like stairs, but when they
reach the level part, they
flatten out.
INTRODUCTION
PLAN AND SECTION
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 Travellator
High speed
INTRODUCTION walkways
Horizontal
COMPONENTS
Escalators Inclined
WORKING
Vertical
SYSTEM

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COMPARISON

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 Moving walkways – Travellator
INTRODUCTION
•a slow moving conveyor mechanism that transports people across a horizontal or
inclined plane over a short to medium distance.
COMPONENTS
•can be used by standing or walking on them. They are often installed in pairs, one for
each direction.
WORKING •are built in one of two basic styles:
SYSTEM
Pallet type — a continuous series of flat metal
plates join together to form a walkway. Most
TYPES have a metal surface.

Moving belt — these are generally built with

USES
mesh metal belts or rubber walking surfaces over
metal rollers.

COMPARISON

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 High speed walkways
INTRODUCTION
•Using the high-speed walkway is like using any other moving walkway, except that for
safety there are special procedures to follow when joining or leaving.

•riders must have at least one hand free to hold the handrail, those carrying bags, shopping,
COMPONENTS
etc., or must use the ordinary walkway nearby.

WORKING •On entering, there is a 10-metre acceleration zone where the 'ground' is a series of metal
SYSTEM rollers. Riders stand still with both feet on these rollers and let it pull them so that they glide
over the rollers.

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COMPARISON

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 Inclined moving walkways
INTRODUCTION •is used to move people to another floor so that people can take along their suitcase
trolley or shopping cart, or baby carriage.

COMPONENTS

WORKING
SYSTEM

TYPES

USES

•The carts have either a brake that is automatically applied, strong magnets in
COMPARISON
the wheels to stay adhered to the floor, or specially designed wheels that secure
the cart within the grooves of the ramp, so that wheeled items travel alongside
MARKET
the riders and do not slip away.
SURVEY
TRAVELLATORS SECTION
INTRODUCTION
USES
• The benefits of escalators are many:
They have the capacity to move large numbers of people.
COMPONENTS
• They can be placed in the same physical space as one might install a
staircase.
WORKING • They have no waiting interval (except during very heavy traffic).
SYSTEM
• They can be used to guide people toward main exits or special exhibits‫ز‬
• They may be weatherproofed for outdoor use.
TYPES • They can help in controlling the traffic flow of people For example, an
escalator to an exit effectively discourages most people from using it as
an entrance, and may reduce security concerns.
USES

COMPARISON

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 Applications
INTRODUCTION

Airport
COMPONENTS

Zoo
WORKING
SYSTEM

TYPES Theatre

USES
Museum

COMPARISON
Malls
MARKET
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Theme
park
 COMPARISON
INTRODUCTION Lifts Escalators
•closed cabins inside vertical shafts that are •moving stairways that allow people to
COMPONENTS used to transport people between different move between floors in busy places such as
floors in high rise buildings. shopping malls, airports, and railway
stations.
WORKING
SYSTEM

•Lifts are fast and can move up or down at •These are slow moving.
TYPES great speeds.

•move up or down using counterweights or •The steps of are fixed and linked together
USES traction cables. and move up but come down from behind
on a conveyor belt that is driven by a
motor.
COMPARISON

•Less space is used for its construction as •Space used is same as the staircases &
the elevator is limited to the shaft & connects 2 floors .
MARKET
SURVEY machine room, which connects all the
floors.
 Lifts Escalators
INTRODUCTION •Limited number of people can •There is no waiting period as one can
accommodate at a time. set foot anytime to climb up or come
down.
COMPONENTS
•If there is electricity cut-outs then it •Its very versatile, if there is electric
doesn’t work. cut-outs then one can climb those
WORKING steps, which acts like a staircase.
SYSTEM

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COMPARISON

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 MARKET SURVEY
INTRODUCTION

COMPONENTS

WORKING
SYSTEM

TYPES

USES
•Schindler
•Otis
COMPARISON •Fujitec Different
•Kinetic Companies
MARKET •Express
SURVEY
•Noble
•Omega