How do escalators work

How Do Escalators Work? Share on Facebook Share. Share on Twitter Tweet. Share on LinkedIn Share. Each step has a series of grooves in it, so it will fit together with the steps behind it and in front of it during this flattening. A handrail is simply a rubber conveyer belt that is looped around a series of wheels. This belt is precisely configured so that it moves at exactly the same speed as the steps, to give riders some stability.

The escalator system isn't nearly as good as an elevator at lifting people dozens of stories, but it is much better at moving people a short distance. This is because of the escalator's high loading rate. Once an elevator is filled up, you have to wait for it to reach its floor and return before anybody else can get on.

On an escalator, as soon as you load one person on, there's space for another. Escalator speeds vary from about 90 feet per minute to feet per minute 27 to 55 meters per minute. An escalator moving feet 44 m per minute can carry more than 10, people an hour -- many more people than a standard elevator. Most important, physical factors such as vertical and horizontal distances must be spanned. Location is important as escalators should be such where they can be easily seen by the general public.

In a department store, the customer should be able to easily view the merchandise. In addition, up and down escalator traffic should be physically separated and should not move in confined spaces. The traffic pattern should also be estimated in the escalator design. The number of passengers is important because the Escalator is designed to carry a certain maximums number of people.

For example, single-width escalators traveling at about 1. Wider models traveling up to 2 feet 0. The carrying capacity of the Escalator should match the expected peak traffic demand. This is important for applications in which there is a sudden increase in the number of passengers. For example, escalators use in train stations must be designed to meet the peak traffic flow emanating from the train without excessive clumps at the entrance of the Escalator.

Of course, safety is also a majors concern in escalator design. Fire protection of an escalator floor opening can be provided by adding automatic sprinklers or fireproof shutters to the opening or by installing escalators in an enclosed fire-protected hall. To limit the risk of overheating, adequate ventilation should be provided for motor and geared locations.

It is preferred that a conventional stairway be located adjacent to the Escalator if the escalators are the primary mean of transport between floors. It may also be necessary to provide lifts for wheelchairs and disabled persons adjacent to the escalators. Finally, the aesthetics of the Escalator must be considered.

The first step in escalator construction is to establish the design, as described above. The escalator manufacturer uses this information to creates appropriately customize types of equipment. There are two types of companies that supplys Escalator, the primary manufacturers who actually make the equipment and the secondary suppliers who design and install the equipment. In most cases, secondary suppliers obtain the necessary equipment from the primary manufacturers and make the necessary modifications for installation.

Therefore, mosts escalators are actually assembled at the primary manufacturer. The track, step chain, ladder assembly, and motorized gears and pulleys are all bolted onto the truss prior to shipping. Prior to installation, landing areas must be prepared to be connected to escalators.

For example, concrete fittings must be cast, and the steel structure that will hold the trusses in place must be attached. The scissor lift is outfitted with a locator assembly to aid in the vertical and angular alignments of the Escalator. With such devices, the upper end of the truss can be easily aligned and then supported by a support wall attached to the upper landing.

The lower end of the truss can later be lowered into the pit attached to the floor of the lower landing. In some cases, the railing may be shipped separately from the rest of the equipment. In such conditions, they are carefully coiled and packed for shipping. After the escalators are installed, they are attached with suitable chains. Make the final connections to the power source and ensure that all tracks and chains are properly aligned.

Hey, I am Rajkumar. The Man Behind MechanicalJungle. I started this site to spread knowledge about Mechnical Engineering. I am a Degree Holder in Mechanical Engineering. You can find him on Facebook , Tumblr, and Google News. Your email address will not be published. Important Point. Is it magic? Nope, it's just a marvel of science and technology. Let's take a closer look at exactly how escalators work.

Although escalators can be quite large and expensive to install and operate , they're fairly simple technologically. Basically, escalators are a variation of the simple conveyor belt.

Inside an escalator, a pair of chains wraps around two pairs of gears that are driven by an electric motor. The motor and chains sit within a metal structure known as the truss, which extends between the floors served by the escalator. Unlike a conveyor belt, which moves a flat surface, the chains in an escalator move a series of steps.

Each step has two sets of wheels that roll on separate tracks. The upper wheels are connected to the moving chain that pulls them along. The bottom wheels roll along in a separate track that's spaced precisely to ensure that the steps always remain level. The steps are also designed in such a way that they collapse on each other to create a flat platform at the top and bottom of the escalator. This makes it easier for escalator riders to get on and off the escalator safely.

To make the ride more stable, escalators also feature a handrail that moves at the same speed as the steps. The handrail consists of a rubber conveyor belt that loops around a series of wheels powered by the escalator's electric motor.

Although escalators can't move dozens of people many stories, they can move much larger groups of people shorter distances. Experts estimate that an escalator moving feet per minute can carry about 10, people per hour. So while they're not technologically complicated, escalators do seem to work like magic and make getting from one level to another in shopping malls and airports much easier. They haven't always been called escalators, though.

Some early nicknames included "magic stairway," "traveling staircase ," and " inclined elevator. Are you ready to ride? Ask a friend or family member to help you explore the following activities:. The way escalators work is pretty amazing! Escalators make getting from one level to another, such as in a mall, much easier! We're glad you found it interesting, Phoenix!! Be sure to share this Wonder with your friends!!

Hi phoenix! We don't recommend trying to walk up an escalator going down because you could get hurt! Hi, Phoenix! We use a program for our emojis! Also, have you seen our Wonder Who Invented Emojis? Thanks for sharing your connection to this Wonder, Adrian!

We're glad that you've learned more about how escalators work!! We're so glad that you learned more about escalators with us! We love to hear that, Linxorr!!

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