US1186550A - Flexible hand-rail for escalators. - Google Patents

Description

H. 2. COBB.

FLEXIBLE HAND RAIL FOR ESCALATORS APPLICATION FILED FEB, 8, 5915- Tm WU M mu m fi/S ATTORNEY HENRY. Z. CUB-B, OF WINCHESTER, TKASSACHUSETTS, AELSIGNOR TO REVERE RUBBER- GOMPANY, A COBPGR-ATI N 01? RHODE Its-LANE.

FLEXIBLE HAND-BAIL FOR ESGiiliLATORS.

Specification of I E-otters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1316.

'lpplication filed February 8', 12316.. Serial EJ077077.

which passengers maycling to steady thenn selves when lacking confidence or certainty 1n their footing.

The function and operation of my improved hand rail is similar to those well known in the art, the present improvement therein being in its construction whereby greater durability is attained andthe danger arising from distortion, cracking and breakingv is eliminated.

The type of escalator rail to which this form of my invention particularly applies is that in which, the flexible portion, to be grasped by the hands of the passengers is carried upon and propelled by a sprocket chain which passes over suitable sprocket wheels to which power is applied.

Hcretofore in the manufacture of these flexible hand rails they have been molded in the form of solid rubber strips having an in ner recessed or channeled portion provided with internal sockets into which the lat cral. projections from the sprocket chain are adapted to fit to lock the rail and chain together. This form of rail necessarily makes the central portion of the rail much thinnerthan the marginal portions, consequently the said central portion was subjected to much more stretching and contraction than the marginal portions which are thicker and contain much. more rubber. This continual stretching and'contraction often causes the rubber to crack or lreak acrossthe outside surface forming fissures or cracks which open and close as the rail passes over a curved portion of its support. ously endangers the hands, fingers, and per sons of passengers and may catch thecloth ing, thereby ca using more-serious bodily injury or even death.

The object of my invention therefore is to overcome these defects and, to improve the construction of such hand rails whereby This obvi greater durability and elliciency are ob-. tained.

l? or a detailed description of one enibodi' ment of my invention reference may be had; to the following specification andtbtheaccompanying drawingforming; a part; thereof in whicht Figure 1. is a vertical transverse sectionof myim proved hand rail. shown inplace upon a connnon. form of support therefor; Fig; 2' a plan view thereof, part of, theouter-sur face being shown cut: away to diSGlOSetllG reinforcing member; and F 3 is a horizontal sectional, view of the hand. rail alone taken substantially upon. the line33,.l ig,.1. Referringto the drawing; the numeral 1 indicates the topol? the partition or side-Wall of an escalator, the numeral. Qacharinel iron mounted thereon in which thesprocketg chain 3 is seated, thereby forminga. track or g uidc. The numeral 4 indicates the top of the rail,

forming with the sides 5 a channel (iihaving' internal lateral recesses or sockets 7, in o which the projections 8 from the links 3 are seated, 9 is a. strip of braided fabric placed just under the outer surface of the hand rail.

lily in'iproved hand rail is molded in the usual manner in a vulcanizing mold, the tab ric 9 being placed in position before the rubbcr is inclosed in the mold and a surface rev-- that point transfers the bending line: to'the thicker portions of the rail so that the tendcircy of the surface of the rail to crack or.

separate is eliminated. l urtherinore, the fabric reinforces the rail transversely, so that the rubber has less tendency to stretch transversely and become separated from the projections on the sprocket chain. The diagonal direction of the braided strands causes all of the strands to strengthen the rubber without interfering with its flexibility.

Thus all the functions and actions of the hand. rail are improved and all danger to life and limb of passengers is eliminated by my improved construction.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

LA hand rail or similar article, comprising a channeled memberof flexible niaterial, means for attaching the same to a driving member in said channel, and a reticulated reinforcing member located adjacent the outer surface of said rail, said reinforcing member being elastic in all directions up to a certain limit and preventin'g rupture of said flexible material at or beyond such limit.

2. A hand rail or similar article, comprising a channeled member of rubber, means for attaching the same to a driving member in said channel, and a reinforcing member of fabric having diagonally inter- February, 1916.

HENRY Z. COBB.

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