Regenerative power capture system for endless track escalators and moving walkways

摘要

Power is recovered from an escalator or a moving walkway as the step orbits an endless track on rollers. A generator is connected to a roller orbiting the track. A battery backup is provided. The power is used for emergency lighting on the step, and for data transmission. Advertising and messages are displayed on a dynamic video screen mounted on the step. The apparatus is mostly contained within the escalator step. Information is communicated wirelessly to a remotely located central control station and back to the step, so as to display information in real time and to update advertising while the escalator is in operation. The central control station also monitors performance parameters. The visual display can include LED lighting.

主权项

1. A regenerative power capture system for endless track escalators and moving walkways, the system comprising:
a plurality of steps, each step having a tread extending generally horizontally from a front edge to an opposite rear edge, the step extending between opposite right and left ends, the step being adapted for orbital mounting on an endless track; a plurality of rollers attached to said plurality of steps and adapted for rolling movement on the track; an electrical generator operatively connected to at least one of the rollers, for generating electrical power as the step orbits the track; a power converter operatively electrically connected to the generator for regulating electrical power; a battery operatively electrically connected to the power converter for backup electrical power in the event of power failure; a step control disposed on at least one of said plurality of steps, for processing data; a power supply comprising the generator, the power converter, and the battery, the power supply being mounted on at least one of said plurality of steps and operatively electrically connected to the step control, for supplying electrical power; a visual display disposed on at least one of said plurality of steps for displaying data; a central control located remotely from the step, the central control being adapted for transferring data to the step control and receiving data from the step control, the central control comprising a central processor unit, the central control being adapted to monitor parameters of the step control and the visual display; a step communicator mounted on at least one of said plurality of steps and operatively electrically connected to the step control for data transfer, the step communicator being a wireless transceiver; and a central communicator operatively electrically connected to the central control for transferring data from the central communicator to the step communicator, and for receiving data in the central communicator from the step communicator, the central communicator being a wireless transceiver.