Escalator Step Chain

When the use of an elevator would be impossible or impractical, the use of escalators is the best option. Escalators are widely used nowadays especially in main areas like department stores, shopping malls, transit systems, convention centres and large hotels.  The escalator is used as an alternative to the mundane staircase, elevators and the moving sidewalk seen mainly in airports.

In riding an escalator, you just got to take a step in and it will carry you to which direction you intend to go.  When an escalator does not function well, it simply becomes a normal staircase. This is the good thing about it because unlike other conveyances which become useless when they break down, escalator can still be used.

Escalators as a machine have essential parts and one of the most important parts is the escalator step chain.  The steps are where we land our feet while riding an escalator.  These are the steps which carries us to the next floor.  The escalator step chain continuously pulls the steps from the bottom platform and back to the top in an endless loop.

Instead of moving a flat surface, as in a conveyer belt, the chain loops move a series of steps. This is why passengers easily get on and off the escalator because it creates a flat platform.  The tracks are spaced apart in such a way that each step will always remain level. 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.

The escalator step chain is guided by the track system which is built into the truss.  There are two tracks: one is called the step-wheel track and the other is called the trailer-wheel track.  The first one is the track for the front wheels of the steps.  The later one is for the back wheels of the steps.

The relative positions of these tracks cause the steps to form a staircase as they move out from under the comb plate. Along the straight section of the truss the tracks are at their maximum distance apart. This configuration forces the back of one step to be at a 90-degree angle relative to the step behind it. This right angle bends the steps into a stair shape.

The two tracks converge in the top and bottom part so that the front and back wheels of the steps are almost in a straight line. This causes the stairs to lay in a flat sheet-like arrangement, one after another, so they can easily travel around the bend in the curved section of track. The tracks carry the steps down along the underside of the truss until they reach the bottom landing, where they pass through another curved section of track before exiting the bottom landing. At this point the tracks separate and the steps once again assume a stair case configuration. This cycle is repeated continually as the steps are pulled from bottom to top and back to the bottom again.

Escalator Cleaning

Escalators are one of the products of the developing technology of the world today.  It is very useful everywhere we go from main areas like department stores, shopping malls, airports, transit systems, convention centers and large hotels.  It is used in areas where elevators would be impossible or impractical.  These escalators use space as one might install a staircase.  No more waiting interval for those who wants to reach the next floor.  Less energy used coz you don’t need to lift a step up to elevate.  By remaining on one step, the escalator will carry you either up or down depending on the direction in which it is moving.

Yet, no matter how useful an escalator is, these would be all useless when the escalators used are not well cleaned.  Large numbers of people are moved through escalators day by day so it is a must to make sure that the escalators are well polished and cleaned to avoid negative impression from the customers.
Cleaning escalators requires specific cleaning products and machines for escalators are not flat surfaces like floors or countertops.  There are problems that might be encountered in cleaning escalators like the grooves in the tread area of the step are a magnet for impacted dirt and are hard to remove, facilities that have escalators of varying widths present unique problems for cleaning staff and also the timing of cleaning and downtime for an escalator.  The cost of cleaning depends on the strategy or the method used that is why it is important to develop a plan to avoid such problems.

Develop a cleaning schedule for your escalator.  Cleaning should be done during times when the building is closed to visitors or during slowest traffic time.  Before installing an escalator, make sure to develop a cleaning plan so that dirt won’t have time to build up and get impacted in stair treads, making it harder to remove later. The frequency for the escalator to be cleaned should be scheduled. The average cleaning cycle is more or twice a month.  But this depends on how high-traffic the escalator is.

Some escalator manufacturers recommend tearing the escalator down, bringing it outdoors and using a high-pressure washer to clean it which is costly and messy.  A better solution is using a specialized machine that has a “dry” cleaning method.  In this method, the machine is positioned on the escalator as it is running so that the movement of the escalator in combination with the cleaning machine helps create agitation to remove the ground-in dirt in the tread area that regular brushes and brooms alone can miss.

Consult the manufacturer in choosing the right cleaning solution.  The smallest amount of cleaning solution should be applied so that the escalator is not over-wetted and would dry.  Putting large amount of cleaning solution would also get into the “grease pit” area of the solution which is not advisable coz the lubrication can be lost and can cause potential damage to the system. Make sure that the cleaning solution is completely dry before using an escalator-cleaning machine.  A powerful vacuuming system that can pick up dust, dirt and grime easily should be used.

There are two types of brushes most commonly used in escalator cleaning — a nylon brush used for routine daily cleaning and a more aggressive tynex brush.  The tynex brush is made of nylon covered with carborundum, a material that can be more abrasive than sandpaper.  Tynex brushes are for occasional heavy-duty deep cleaning only, as overuse of these brushes can wear on the escalator over time.

You also need to evaluate how dirty the escalator is. If the escalator has never been cleaned or it has a lot of built-up dirt, expect the escalator cleaning time to be about four hours or more.  For monthly or weekly cleaning jobs, it should take only about an hour to an hour and a half to clean the entire escalator with the agitating-brush machines.

Always remember to consult your manufacturer before starting up the cleaning process to avoid damages.

Parts of an Escalator

Escalators are commonly seen in different establishments. Malls, business center and other commercial buildings have escalators to help people get from one floor to another. It is amazing how these automatic staircases work and it is interesting to find out how every part functions. If you always wonder how escalators work, here are the basic parts that you should know:

Escalators work like the human body. Each component is important to maintain a proper function. An escalator contains escalator handrails, handrail, step, drive, electric motor, guide chain, return wheel and the inner wheel. The terms may be too technical to hear but they actually work as simple as a couple of components pushing and pulling each other to move the stairs.

How It Works

The basic component of the escalator is the series of chains connected together to form gears. This is then being moved by a motor which works via an electrical source. This electric motor is the power house of the escalator so each of the component can work efficiently. The electric motor is just like the human heart that sends electrical impulses all over the body. The typical electric output of the electric motor is about 100 horsepower. That is 100 times greater than a regular air conditioning unit.

The escalator handrails works by moving people and items from one floor to the other. The angled movement is due to the chain loops that move series of steps to go upwards and downwards while keeping a steady level. At the end of the escalator, the steps collapse in order to achieve a flat platform. The flat platform is important so anyone can step and get out of it safely and easily.

Now, the every step is composed of two wheels. The upper wheels are connected to the chains and pulled at the top of the escalator. The other wheel glides in the track. This will allow a smooth movement while the elevator goes up or down. To better provide a safe ride, the escalator handrail is installed. This is where people hold on to as the elevator works. The hand rails are also moved by the electric motor so it can move in the same way with the steps. In order to provide a non-slip grip, the escalator handrails are made out of rubber.

It is good to know that the escalator cannot be used to transport heavy items. While it is good to carry multiple people and items, its capacity always have a weight limit. This is due to the escalator’s loading rate. In case you want to transport heavier items, it is best to check out the capacity of the escalator. There are cases where an elevator is more efficient in transporting heavy items.

These are the basic parts of an escalator. It is truly a great staircase where people can conveniently transfer from one floor to another.

Escalator Parts

Elevators are always expected to be present on buildings. In this era where high rise buildings are cropping up everywhere elevators are a must to be able to reach the top most floors. However, there are floors which is better to be accessed by stairs. This is to conserve energy as well as to practice walking which in return will help provide a healthy body. Since it’s the generation where less physical activity is being practiced climbing stairs is definitely good for everyone. Not many are aware that walking is the best exercise anybody could have without having to exert much effort. So, going up a flight of stairs or two would definitely be a welcome treat for our body. But to those who have a hard time climbing stairs for one reason or the other, there are always the ever present elevators or the multi functional escalators. Escalators can be used to access lower floors of a building.

Mostly, escalators are present on malls, train stations, subways and low rise buildings. However since it is built for convenience and is used by thousand of people every day it is not far from being over used which will result to its breakdown every now and then. So, a periodical maintenance is necessary to insure the escalator parts proper working condition. Since no one can predict where and when it would breakdown the maintenance company should always a have escalator parts on hand to be able to fix the problem that will arise as soon as possible.  Especially on places where escalators are use by thousands of people everyday and where no elevators are on hand to replace it when it breakdown. Hence, it is very much needed by those who have a hard time scaling the stairs, like person with disabilities, pregnant women, children and senior citizens.

For these people an access to escalators and elevators are very much needed. So it is the responsibility of the building maintenance to ensure that they are working properly by having the necessary experts and parts on hand to fix whatever problem might arise.  In some cases where the escalators and elevators have seen its better days, parts are very hard to find that causes extreme inconvenience to people who need to use them. It sometimes takes weeks and months to locate a part that is needed to repair the damage. Thought there are stairs to use, having access to escalators for a trip to the next floor is very much needed by people who need it the most.

An escalator could have a thousand different parts, how often a part needs to be replaced should not be a question on whether it should be part of the stock inventory or not. Parts that are often replaced should always be on hand while parts that are periodically maintained should have at least two or three stocks kept in case of emergency. Being ready is much better than being caught an aware and having to stress oneself on problems that can be avoided from the start.