ESCALATORS.

BY: IRENE JEREZ LÓPEZ 1BACH B.

INFORMATION. An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport

device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.

Escalators are used around the world ,the principal areas of usage include department stores, shopping malls, airports...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zirp59zm1qE

HISTORY.

Nathan Ames invented something he called Revolving Stairs, recognise as the world’s first escalator. But Ames was unable to put the invention into practical use; he died in 1860, and in fact the thing was never built.

Reno and Otis would emerge as the two driving forces behind escalator development.

Reno and Otis would emerge as the two driving forces behind escalator development. In 1900 Reno , and succeeded in the practical installation of cleat-type moving stairway in an elevated station in New York City. In that same year the Otis Company exhibited a step-type moving stairway at the Paris Exposition, and later brought them back to the US and installed them in a department store in Philadelphia.

In 1911, Otis absorbed Reno and became the sole manufacturer. The company sold both step-type and cleat-type escalators and between 1900 and 1920 installed some 350 units, mainly at department stores and public transport institutions.

COMPONENTS.

The truss is a hollow metal structure that bridges the lower and upper landings. It is composed of two side sections joined together with cross braces across the bottom and just below the top.

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 an endless loop. There are two tracks: one for the front wheels of the steps and one for the back wheels of the steps.

The steps themselves are solid, one piece, die-cast aluminum or steel. Yellow demarcation lines may be added to clearly indicate their edges.

The handrail provides a convenient handhold for passengers while they are riding the escalator.

FUTURE ESCALATORS

THE NEXT TO BE BUILT STAIRS MECHANICAL BE SPIRAL. THIS MAKES LESS SPACE TO OCCUPY THE EXISTING ESCALATORS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qZWOyFCLfw

EXTERNAL LINKS

A videoclip: escalators with transparent sides showing the mechanism in operation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNiTbP8Vp4g

Winchester, Clarence, ed. (1936), "How escalators work", Railway Wonders of the World, pp. 343–348 illustrated description of escalators on the London Underground and their advantages over lifts.

http://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/escalators.html