Nonlinear braking system for escalators - has brake pads swinging through arc as force is applied to vary braking torque minimising initial braking

摘要

A disc breaking system for moving staircase escalators has a shaped characteristic such that deceleration is gradual at first and increases towards the end of the cycle. The brake pads (7) are mounted on an arm (6) tied to a support (5) pivotted on a main bearing block (3). The support is cranked (8) to provide a coupling (10) to a hydraulic damper (9). When activated the braking pads contact the surface of the disc (2) coupled to the main shaft (1) of the escalator. The friction force between pads and disc results in the pads moving in an arc about the bearing block centre (3) until a point of equilibrium is attained. The resulting braking characteristic ensures that a sharp initial checking action is avoided and the total braking time is reduced compared with a linear braking characteristic.