EP3099617B1 - Pallet for a moving walkway or step for an escalator - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a step for an escalator or a pallet for a moving walkway, which stage or pallet comprises a support body and a tread element.

Passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walks are well-known and efficient means of transporting people. Escalators are typically used for transporting people in a vertical direction, for example, from one floor of a building to another, while moving walkways are mostly used for transporting people in a horizontal or slight incline up to 12 degrees from one point to another become. The length and width of the passenger conveyor are selected depending on the expected passenger traffic in the particular application.

Escalator steps and pallets are designed as one-piece or multi-part components and usually produced by a casting, extrusion or forging process. The upper side of the tread elements of steps and pallets have a tread pattern in the form of a series of parallel ribs or webs extending from the front to the rear side of the tread element. The ribs thus extend in the intended direction of movement of the step or pallet. In escalator stages also have their setting elements ribs, which usually connect to the ribs of the tread elements. Furthermore, the ribs are dimensioned for engagement with the comb structures arranged at the entrance areas of the escalator or the moving walkway.

Several steps are connected by means of at least one traction means to a step band of an escalator. In the same way, several pallets are joined together to form a pallet band. A moving walkway or an escalator usually has a supporting structure or truss with two deflection areas, between which the pallet belt or the step belt is guided circumferentially.

If the pallets or steps are made of cast or die-cast aluminum or If another suitable metal or metal alloy is produced in one piece, an extensive set of molds, machining jig set and tool set must be available since each width of the pallet band or step band requires its own molding tool. The molds for pallets and steps are very expensive. Furthermore, the size of these moldings, in particular the tread element with its ribs, can lead to casting-technical problems, namely to blowholes, so that a costly tempering of the molds is required to avoid them.
To solve this problem proposes the EP 1 755 999 B1 a modular structure of pallets, so that the different widths of the pallets can be produced by means of fewer and smaller molds. The pallet essentially consists of an extruded aluminum support body and several tread elements. The tread elements are fastened by means of fastening projections protruding into the supporting body and a locking element on the supporting body. A first disadvantage of this solution is that, despite the spring element arranged between the tread elements and the support body, the tread elements can be subject to unpleasant noises due to relative movements between the tread elements and the support body as a result of relative movements between the tread elements and the support body as soon as the vibrations in the region of the Resonant frequency of this vibration system of spring element and tread elements are. Furthermore, the spring element may have settling phenomena after a certain period of use, since the users load it again when entering. Also proposed as an alternative to the spring element and arranged between the foot plates and the support body damping element has disadvantages. As a result of repeated loading of the tread plates by the user and the existing vibrations, these plastic damping elements between the tread plate and the support body can be crushed. Lubricants present on escalators and moving walks, which are used in particular in the area of the pallet band or step band, can also decompose these plastic damping elements.
Furthermore, the mounting of the tread elements on the support body in the presence of a spring element or damping element is quite complex, since at a multi-part tread simultaneously all tread elements must be pressed against the support body, thus a lateral insertion of the bolt or a rotation of the eccentric is possible at all.

The documents JP 2001 316064 A and JP H06 16374 A each show tread elements with threaded projections, which protrude through openings formed in the support body. The tread elements are fixed by nuts.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a step or pallet with a support body and with a tread element, which is simple and inexpensive to produce, which is quick and easy to install and which, despite its simple structure allows a quiet running of the step belt or the pallet band ,

This object is achieved by a step of an escalator or pallet of a moving walkway, which have a supporting body with a base, at least one fixing element and at least one tread element with a tread surface. The at least one tread element has at least one fastening projection on an underside facing away from the tread surface. In the mounted state, the at least one fastening projection projects through an opening formed in the base and assigned to this fastening projection. The fastening projection also has at least one recess which extends parallel to the tread surface and in which recess the fixing element is at least partially inserted, so that in the assembled state, the fixing element is at least partially disposed between the base and the fastening projection and the tread element by the fixing against the base is fixed biased.

Due to this design, the tread is fixed biased in its loading direction (the direction of gravity of a user) against the base, whereby no elastic intermediate layer between the base of the support body and the tread is necessary, as for example in the EP 1 755 999 B1 is proposed. The lack of an elastic intermediate layer significantly increases the reliability of the pallet or step, since an elastic intermediate layer carries the risk of settling or decomposition phenomena in itself, which could lead to loose tread elements. Furthermore, loose tread plates may destroy the comb structures arranged in the entry areas of the escalator or moving walk. Because of the retractable fixing and no vertical screw connections for fixing the Trittelements necessary whose preload is relieved when entering the Trittelements and which can be solved by too much biasing force loss.

The fastening projection may for example have a conical, frusto-conical, cylindrical or cuboid basic shape.

The support body may be an extruded forming tube or mold profile, a molded part cut and bent from a sheet metal or a multi-part composite step skeleton or pallet skeleton.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the tread element on the support body, the at least one fastening projection preferably extends perpendicularly to the tread surface. Preferably, a plurality of fastening projections are provided on the tread element, which are distributed over its areal extent. Ideally, a fastening projection is arranged at least at each corner of the tread element.

The step or pallet can be mounted in such a way that first the tread element can be placed on the base of the support body, so that its fastening projection projects through the associated opening. Thereafter, the fixing element on the side facing away from the tread element of the base can be arranged and inserted or driven into the recess of the fastening projection, so that in the assembled state, the fixing element is at least partially disposed between the base and the fastening projection.

In order to ensure the simplest possible structure of the step or pallet, the tread element is in its planar extent preferably by at least two parallel, extending in the intended direction of movement of the step or pallet end faces and at least two orthogonal to the end faces, in the width of the step or pallet bordering edge sides.

Further, due to its ribs or webs difficult to produce tread element may have a width which corresponds to only a portion of the width of the step or pallet, so that the support body must be equipped with a plurality of tread elements to a continuous tread surface over the entire width of the step or palette. Such tread elements of lesser width can be produced, for example, by means of smaller, higher clock frequency die casting machines. Due to the division into smaller tread elements, all common step widths or pallet widths can be produced using the same tread element size or tread element dimension. The narrowest pallet or step, for example, has a tread element, which by means of a fixing element on Supporting body is secured. A step or pallet with a greater width can then have, for example, a plurality of identical-shape tread elements, which are fixed in a biased manner, for example, by means of a common fixing element on the support body.

The division into a support body and in one or more tread elements has not only manufacturing advantages. By dividing different materials can be used, which complement each other optimally. For example, a support body made of steel has a much higher fatigue strength with respect to swelling and alternating load than a comparable support body made of aluminum. In particular, for higher transport widths or pallet widths or step widths above 1100mm, an aluminum support body with compact cross-sections can hardly be used because its life of the oscillating load changes would be too low.

The side facing away from the tread element of the base can also serve as an assembly aid when the fixing element is slidably applied parallel to the base of this page.

A particularly time-saving and efficient assembly of the step or pallet can be achieved if all mounting projections of all arranged on the basis of a support body tread elements are biased by a common fixing against the base fixed to the support body.

In order to produce a bias, contours can be provided on the attachment projection or on the support body, which contours must pass through the fixing element during insertion. These contours could bring about a lifting of the fixing element from the opposite side of the base, if they are, for example, ramp-shaped. But it is particularly advantageous if the fixing element for generating a biasing force has at least one V-tongue, since the fixing can be made for example as a sheet metal part and a V-tongue on this sheet metal part is very easy to shape. By the wedge-shaped V-shaped tongue, which is driven or driven in between a protruding contour of the fastening projection and the opposite side of the base, a biasing force can be generated in dependence on the wedge angle of the V-tongue. A loss of preload force is not expected if the wedge angle of the V-tongue can be kept so low that due to the frictional forces self-assurance is present. Due to the bias of Trittelements against the base of the support body this is in operation occurring shocks and vibrations or vibrations permanently and securely attached to the support body.

A particular advantage of the attachment according to the invention by means of fixing is also that a faulty assembly is immediately recognizable, since the tread element or if the step or pallet has multiple tread elements, one or more tread elements fall off or not incorrectly mounted fixing of an inverted support body, still before the passenger transport device is put into operation. If the fixing element has only been inserted but not driven in, then the steps or pallets rattle and the fixing element protrudes visibly. Of course, by means of at least one monitoring sensor arranged in the escalator or moving pavement, a correct seating of the at least one fixing element of a step or pallet can be monitored by scanning the position of one of its ends optically or mechanically, for example. The number of monitoring sensors depends on the number of rows of fixing elements per stage of a step belt or per pallet of a pallet belt. Also colored markings on the tread elements can be used to check the correct assembly.

The at least one Veilzunge can also be designed to be elastic or resilient. The elastic tongue has the advantage that production-related tolerances between the fastening projection and the base do not lead to different end positions of the fixing element in the assembled state. Namely, if the fixing member has a rigid Veilzunge, this can be driven only as far between the fastening projection and the base, as permitted by the existing distance between a lug contour or nose of the fastening projection and the base. Through the elastic V-tongue, the fixing element can adapt to the existing distance and fix the tread element biased on the tag body.

As a securing means may be formed on the fixing at least one catch. This can engage in the base or on the fastening projection after insertion of the fixing element. The catch is then positively on the mounting projection or on a suitable contour of the base and thereby keeps the fixing permanently in position. The catch can also be attached to at least one elastic Vertex be formed. Of course, can be formed on all elastic Keilzungen notches, in the embodiment of the elastic splitting tongues must be paid to a sufficiently remaining biasing force of the same in the assembled state.

In order to prevent displacements of the tread element relative to the support body in a plane containing the base, at least one positioning element may be formed on the tread element, which protrudes when the tread element is in an accurately positioned positioning breakthrough of the base. Preferably, the positioning element is formed frusto-conical and the precisely fitting positioning breakthrough a cylindrical bore, so that when placing the Trittelements on the base, the conical surface of the positioning element is slightly deformed by the positioning breakthrough and adapts to this.

The base may also have recesses in addition to the openings for the fastening projections, in order to reduce the weight of the pallet or step. By introducing an adhesive, for example in the region of these recesses and openings, a vibration and / or sound attenuation and a particularly rigid attachment of the Trittelements can be further achieved on the support body. Particularly suitable are pasty or liquid one-component adhesives / sealants based on silane-modified polymers which crosslink by atmospheric moisture to form an elastic product. These are used, for example, in body and vehicle construction, wagon construction and container construction and in metal and apparatus engineering. All of these solutions have the advantage that they can reduce or prevent the formation of contact corrosion between the support body and the tread element when the material of the tread element differs from the material of the support body.

A step or pallet must have a certain dimensional stability when loaded with the intended load or payload. Furthermore, the widthwise extending cross-section of the pallet or step is limited by adjacent steps or pallets and existing spaces in the deflection areas. If the support body of the step or pallet is tubular and has a triangular or trapezoidal cross-section, it can be easily deflected in the deflection and has a high moment of resistance to bending and torsional.

A plurality of the pallets described above is arranged on at least one traction means, whereby a pallet band for a moving walk can be created. In the same way, a step band of an escalator is constructed, wherein instead of pallets, a plurality of steps are arranged on at least one traction means. Usually, however, two traction means are used for a pallet belt or step belt, wherein the pallets or steps are arranged between the traction means. As traction means, for example, articulated chains, ropes, or belts can be used. Furthermore, low-friction guide elements such as rollers or sliding bodies can be arranged on the support body or on the traction means.

Of course, the invention can not only be used in new escalators or moving walks. For example, an existing moving walkway can be modernized by replacing the existing pallet band with a pallet band according to the invention or an escalator by replacing the existing step band with a step band according to the invention.

Figur 1:

in schematischer Darstellung eine Fahrtreppe mit einem Tragwerk beziehungsweise Fachwerk und zwei Umlenkbereichen, wobei im Tragwerk Laufschienen und zwischen den Umlenkbereichen ein umlaufendes Stufenband angeordnet sind;

Figur 2:

in schematischer Darstellung einen Fahrsteig mit einem Tragwerk und zwei Umlenkbereichen, wobei im Tragwerk Laufschienen und zwischen den Umlenkbereichen ein umlaufendes Palettenband angeordnet sind;

Figur 3:

eine Explosionszeichnung eines Paletten- Abschnitts, wobei zwei Trittelemente, ein Tragkörper und ein Fixierelement dargestellt sind;

Figur 4:

in dreidimensionaler Darstellung ein Abschnitt eines Fixierelements mit mehreren möglichen Ausgestaltungen von Montagedurchbrüchen;

Figur 5:

in dreidimensionaler Darstellung eine teilweise Unteransicht der in Figur 3 dargestellten Palette;

Figur 6:

in geschnitten dargestellter Seitenansicht eine Stufe einer Fahrtreppe, welche einen rohrförmigen Stufenkörper aufweist.

The at least one tread element and its mounting on a supporting body of a step or pallet by means of at least one fixing element are explained in more detail below by means of examples and with reference to the drawings. Show:

FIG. 1:

a schematic representation of an escalator with a supporting structure or framework and two deflection areas, wherein in the supporting structure rails and between the deflection areas a circumferential step band are arranged;

FIG. 2:

a schematic representation of a moving walkway with a supporting structure and two deflection areas, wherein in the supporting structure rails and between the deflection areas a circumferential pallet strip are arranged;

FIG. 3:

an exploded view of a pallet section, wherein two tread elements, a support body and a fixing element are shown;

FIG. 4:

in three-dimensional representation, a portion of a fixing element with several possible embodiments of mounting openings;

FIG. 5:

in a three-dimensional representation a partial bottom view of the in FIG. 3 illustrated pallet;

FIG. 6:

in section shown side view of a step of an escalator, which has a tubular step body.

FIG. 1 shows schematically in side view an escalator 1, which connects a first floor E1 with a second floor E2. The escalator 1 has a supporting structure 6 or truss 6 with two deflection areas 7, 8, between which a step belt 5 is guided circumferentially. The stepped belt has traction means 9, on which steps 4 are arranged. A handrail 3 is arranged on a balustrade 2. The balustrade 2 is connected at the lower end by means of a balustrade base to the supporting structure 6.

Built up in an analogous way, shows FIG. 2 schematically in side view a moving walkway 11, which also has a balustrade 12 with balustrade base and handrail 13, a supporting structure 16, and two deflection regions 17, 18 has. In contrast to the escalator 1 from the FIG. 1 , Between the deflection areas 17, 18 of the moving walk 11 is not a stepped belt, but a pallet belt 15 arranged circumferentially. The pallet band 15 has traction means 19, on which pallets 14 are arranged. The moving walk 11 connects for example a third floor E3 with a fourth floor E4.

The FIGS. 3 to 5 are described together below, since in these figures the same pallet 14 or parts of this pallet 14 are shown. Consequently, for the corresponding features in the FIGS. 3 to 5 the same reference numerals used.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a portion of one of the in FIG. 2 The pallet 14 has a partially illustrated support body 30 which is approximately tubular and whose triangular pipe cross-section extends along a width B of the pallet 14. The support body 30 may be made of metal, for example aluminum, brass, steel, high-alloy chromium steel, bronze, or copper, but also of plastic, in particular of glass fiber reinforced and / or carbon fiber reinforced composite materials. The support body 30 has a plurality of recesses 32, 33 in order to reduce its weight. The Recess 33 extends over the entire width of the support body 30. Due to the triangular cross section, a base 31 on the support body 30 is present, on which at least one tread element 40 can be attached.

The tread elements 40 of steps and pallets 14 have on their tread 41 a tread pattern in the form of a series of parallel, extending from the front to the rear of the tread element 40 ribs 49. The ribs 49 and webs 49 extend in the intended direction of movement X (forward and backward) of the step or pallet 14. Each of the tread elements 40 is in its planar extent by two parallel, extending in the intended direction of movement X of the step or pallet 14 end faces 45, 46 and two to the end faces 45, 46 orthogonally arranged edge sides 47, 48 limited. For better clarity, the end faces 45, 46 and edge sides 47, 48 are provided with reference numerals only on one of the tread elements 40.

In most cases, a tread element 40 has different zones with regard to the configuration of its accessible area. The major part of the accessible area of the tread elements 40 is provided with the ribs 49. Depending on the configuration of the pallets 14, but the two front ends of a pallet 14 may each have a narrow edge portion 51 without ribs 49. If the accessible area of a pallet 14 should have such edge portions 51, the tread elements 40 can be designed differently. For example, tread elements 40 with molded-on edge sections 51 and tread elements 40 without edge sections 51 can be combined with one another.

Each of the tread elements 40 has in each case six fastening projections 43, which are formed on an underside 42 of the tread element 40. The fastening projection 43 may, for example, have a conical, frustoconical, cylindrical or cuboid basic shape. When the tread element 40 is placed on the base 31 of the support body 30, the attachment projections 43 project through openings 34 in the base. Each of the fastening projections 43 has a recess 44. The position of the recess 44 on the mounting projection 43 is matched to the material thickness of the support body 30, so that when placed on the base 31 tread element 40 of the mounting projection 43 and the recess 44 at least partially on the side facing away from the tread element 40 side 35 of the base 31 of the assigned Breakthrough 34 protrudes.

Below the support body 30, a fixing element 60 is shown. In the assembled state, the fixing element 60, as in the FIG. 5 shown within the support body 30 on the opposite side 35 of the base 31 fitting, arranged. The fixing element 60 in the present embodiment has the same number of mounting openings 61, as all tread elements 40 of a pallet 14 together fastening projections 43 have.

Each of the mounting apertures 61 includes an insertion portion 62 and a fixing portion 63. The cross section of the insertion portion 62 correlates with the cross section of the attachment projection 43 so that the attachment projection 43 can be inserted through the insertion portion 62 in the direction of its longitudinal extent. The cross section of the fixing region 63 correlates with the reduced cross section of the fastening projection 43 around the recess 44. The recesses 44 of the fastening projections 43 are aligned such that the fixing element 60 is parallel to the planar extent of the tread element 40 or to the opposite side 35 of the base 31 in the provided Displacement direction V is pushed. After insertion of the fixing element 60, the fixation regions 63 come into contact with the fastening projections 43 and thus regions of the fixing element 60 between the base 31 and the fastening projections 43 as a result of the subsequent displacement thereof.

In the base 31, a positioning breakthrough 36 is further formed with a circular hole cross-section. A positioning projection 53 arranged on the tread element 40 fits precisely into this positioning opening 36.

The FIG. 4 shows in a three-dimensional, larger representation of a section of the in the FIG. 3 illustrated fixing element 60 with a selection of possible embodiments of mounting apertures 61. In order to distinguish the different versions of the mounting apertures 61 from each other, their reference numerals are supplemented with letters.

The first embodiment of a mounting aperture 61A has only an insertion portion 62A and a fixing portion 63A. This mounting aperture 61A is not able, without further means, to bias the tread element 40 against the base 31 of the support body 30. If the fixing element 60 exclusively Mounting apertures 61A of this first embodiment, at least one other element must be present, which generates the biasing force. In order to generate the bias, the fixing element 60 has, for example, a spring tab 65 which protrudes against the remote side 35 of the base 31 and pushes the fixing element 60 away from the opposite side of the base 31 after assembly. As a result, in the assembled state, the fixing regions 63A resting in the recesses 44 on the fastening projections 43 and thus the tread element 40 pull against the base 31.

The second embodiment of a mounting aperture 61B has a rigid Vertex 64B in the fixation region 63B. When moving the fixing element 60 in the intended mounting direction V, the rigid V-tongue 64B is applied to a contour of the recess 44 and pulls the tread element 40 against the base 31. When using rigid splines 64B thus no spring element such as the formation of a spring tab 65 is necessary , However, such a spring tab can still be formed on the fixing and serve as a detent 65, for example, if the base 31 has a suitable Einrastausnehmung. Due to manufacturing tolerances, however, it is likely that not all the mounting projections 43 are subjected to the same biasing force after assembly, although the driving of the rigid V-tongues 64 B into the recesses 44, the material of the mounting projection 43 is slightly deformed. Depending on the slope or wedge angle of the rigid Vertex tongue 64 B, the fixing element 60 may be performed self-locking in the assembled state due to the friction conditions.

The third embodiment of a mounting aperture 61C does not have a rigid but flexible tongue 64C. The elastic Veilzunge 64C is also disposed in the fixing portion 63C and can, for example, as shown, by means of bending along an angle α to the longitudinal extent of the fixing member 60 obliquely arranged bending line 66C are generated. The elastic Veilzunge 64C has the advantage that they can adapt to the production engineering, different installation conditions between a created by the recess 44 approach contour of the mounting projection 43 and the base 31 opposite side 35, when the fixing member 60 is moved and the mounting projection 43 passes from the insertion portion 62C in the fixing portion 63C. If each mounting opening 61 of a fixing element 60 has at least one elastic Veilzunge 64 C, then all securing projections 43 secured therewith a pallet 14 subjected to approximately the same biasing force and thus the tread element 40 is uniformly biased over its planar extension biased against the base 31 of the support body 30, as shown in the FIG. 5 is shown.
The fourth embodiment of a mounting aperture 61D, like the embodiment described above, has an elastic or resilient Vertex 64D. This elastic vertex 64D is further provided with a detent 67D. The elastic vertex 64D with detent 67D has the same functions as the elastic vertex 64C of the third embodiment. However, as soon as, when the fixing element 60 is moved in the mounting direction V, the fixing region 63D is arranged far enough in the recess 44 of the fastening projection 43 so that the detent 67D leaves the recess 44, the elastic tongue 64D springs back with the detent 67D. If now the fixing element 60 is to be pushed back in the opposite direction to the mounting direction V, the detent 64D is positively on the mounting projection 43 and prevents further pushing back of the fixing element 60th
Of course, a fixing element 60 may comprise all types of mounting apertures 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D. Preferably, however, all mounting apertures 61 are the same or at most two different embodiments in a fixing element 60 is formed.
FIG. 5 shows in three-dimensional view a partial bottom view of the in FIG. 3 shown pallet 14 with already applied tread element 40 and mounted fixing 60. In FIG. 5 It is readily apparent how the resilient V-tongue 64C of a mounting aperture 61C of the third embodiment engages in the recess 44 of the fastening projection 43 and thereby fixes the tread element 40 prestressed against the base 31 at this point. In order to better show the position of the resilient Vertex 64C, the fixing element 60 is not yet fully inserted in the mounting direction V, so that a part of the fixing region 63C is still recognizable.
As in FIG. 6 shown, the elements described above can also be used for mounting steps 4 of escalators 1. FIG. 6 shows in a sectional side view a step 4 with a tubular support body 130, which also has a base 131. The support body 130 is for example made of a Made of extruded aluminum. At the bottom 138 of the support body 130, a step roller receptacle 180 for receiving a stepped roller 181 is arranged. Even at the level 4 are limited by end faces and in the width extending edge sides 147, 148 tread elements 140 with its bottom 142 on the base 131 of the support body 130 resting. These are attached to the support body 130 in an analogous manner to the pallet described above, wherein a number of fastening projections 143 are visible in the sectional representation. In deviation to those in the FIGS. 3 to 5 shown mounting projections 43, have the in the FIG. 6 shown mounting projections 143, two recesses 144 A, 144 B, which are arranged on opposite sides of the mounting projection 143. The fixing element 160 accordingly has mounting openings 161, the fixing areas of which engage in both recesses 144A, 144B of a fastening projection 143.

The step 4 further comprises a setting member 190 which has lower hook projections 193 and upper fastening projections 194 disposed in the widthwise extending edge portions 191, 192. The upper attachment projections 194 arranged in the region of the base 131 are formed like the mounting projections 143 of the tread element 140 and protrude into the openings 134 formed in the base. The lower hook projections 193 arranged near the stepped roller receptacle 180 project into lower assembly openings 136 and undercut a front wall 139 of the Supporting body 130. Securing the setting element 190 by means of the fixing element 160 takes place analogously to the securing of the tread element 140. During assembly, first the setting element 190 and the tread element 140 can be placed on the support body 130. Subsequently, the tread element 140 and the setting element 190 are fixed to the support body 130 by pushing or driving in the fixing element 160 on the side 135 of the base 131 facing away from the tread element 140. The setting element 190 can of course also be fixedly connected to the support body 130 by welding, soldering, riveting clinching, gluing or by screwing. The setting element 190 likewise has ribs 198 which connect the ribs 149 arranged on the tread surface 141 of the tread element 140.

Although the invention has been described by way of illustrating specific embodiments, it will be apparent that numerous other embodiments are provided with the knowledge of the present invention can be used, for example, in pallets or stages in place of a tubular support body pallet or stepped skeletons, as for example in the US 8,322,508 B2 are disclosed. Further, the tubular support body may have a cross section which differs from the trapezoidal or triangular cross-sectional shape, for example by means of further folds a polygonal cross-sectional shape is created. Of course, one or more tread elements with the fastening concept according to the invention can also be used in a step with a step skeleton. In addition, the tread elements do not necessarily have to be an aluminum casting. The tread elements can also be worked out of a blank or produced by means of a die as forging. Of course, the tread elements may consist of sheet metal parts, in particular deep-drawn sheet metal parts. In addition, the tread elements may be made of a glass fiber reinforced and / or carbon fiber reinforced plastic or of another composite material. Furthermore, the tread elements may at least partially be made of a natural stone such as granite or marble or of an amorphous material such as glass.

Claims (14)

1. Step (4) of an escalator (1), or pallet (14) of a moving walk (11), having a supporting body (30, 130) with a base (31, 131), at least one fixing element (60, 160) and at least one tread-element (40, 140) with a tread-surface (41, 141), wherein the at-least one tread-element (40, 140), on an underside (42, 142) that faces away from the tread-surface (41, 141), has at least one fastening protrusion (43, 143) and, in the assembled state, the at-least one fastening protrusion (43, 143) protrudes through an opening (34, 134) embodied in the base (31, 131) which is assigned to this fastening protrusion (43, 143), characterized in that the fastening protrusion (43, 143) has at least one slot (44, 144A, 144B) which extends parallel to the tread-surface (41, 141) and into which slot (44 , 144A, 144B) the fixing element (60, 160) can be at least partly inserted so that, in assembled state, the fixing element (60, 160) is arranged at least partly between the base (31, 131) and the fastening protrusion (43, 143) and the tread-element (40, 140) is fixed by the fixing element (60, 160) against the base (31, 131) in pretensioned manner.
2. Step (4) or pallet (14) according to Claim 1, wherein the at-least one fastening protrusion (43, 143) extends perpendicular to the tread-surface (41, 141).
3. Step (4) or pallet (14) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tread-element (40, 140) in its planar extent is bounded by at least two parallel end-faces (45, 46) which extend in the foreseen direction of movement (X) of the step or pallet (14) and at least two side-edges (47, 48, 147, 148) which are arranged perpendicular to the end-faces (45, 46).
4. Step (4) or pallet (14) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing element (60, 160) is displaceable parallel to the base (31, 131).
5. Step (4) or pallet (14) according to one of claims 1 to 4 wherein, through a common fixing element (60, 160), all fastening protrusions (43, 143) of all tread-elements (40, 140) that are arranged on the base (31, 131) of a supporting body (30, 130) can be fixed on the supporting body (30, 130) in pretensioned manner against the base (31, 131).
6. Step (4) or pallet (14) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, for the purpose of generating a pretension force, the at-least one fixing element (60, 160) has at least one wedge-tongue (64B, 64C, 64D).
7. Step (4) or pallet (14) according to Claim 6, wherein the at-least one wedge-tongue (64C, 64D) is embodied elastically.
8. Step (4) or pallet (14) according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein, embodied on the fixing element (60, 160), is at least one catch (65, 67D).
9. Step (4) or pallet (14) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, embodied on the tread-element (40, 140), is at least one positioning element (53) which protrudes into an exactly-fitting positioning opening (36) of the base (31, 131) when the tread-element (40, 140) is mounted thereupon.
10. Step (4) or pallet (14) according to one of claims 1 or 9, wherein the supporting body (30, 130) is embodied in tubular form and has a triangular or trapezoidal cross-section.
11. Pallet-band (15) of a moving walk (11) with at least one traction means (19) and with a plurality of pallets (14) arranged on the traction means (19) according to one of claims 1 to 10.
12. Step-band (5) of an escalator (1) with at least one traction means (9) and with a plurality of steps (4) arranged on the traction means (9) according to one of claims 1 to 10.
13. Moving walk (11) with a pallet-band (15) arranged in circulating manner according to Claim 11 or escalator (1) with a step-band (5) arranged in circulating manner according to Claim 12.
14. Method for modernization of a moving walk (11) by replacing the existing pallet-band with a pallet-band (15) according to Claim 11, or of an escalator (1) by replacing the existing step-band with a step-band (5) according to Claim 12.

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