Escalator hand rail manufacture, hand rail and use of a cord=reinforced sheet

摘要

A process for manufacturing a hand rail with a multi-layer construction for escalators, moving staircases or similar conveyers involves: (a) manufacturing a broad sheet (16) of rubberised textile fabric with a length (l) equal to that of the hand rail and reinforcing cords (18) at an angle ( beta ) to the length of the sheet; (b) cutting a length of sliding layer (14) of correct width from the broad sheet; (c) placing a fabric layer with longitudinal tensile load bearing elements onto the sliding layer and covering with further fabric layers; (d) placing an outer rubber cover layer onto the fabric layers; (e) vulcanising the prefabricated structure and forming to the final shape. The claimed hand rail has a constant thickness sliding layer (14) with no joints which extends the full length (l) of the hand rail on the inner side and has cords (18) at an angle ( beta ) to the length. A use is claimed for the angled cord reinforced single sheet (16) in the manufacture of a uniform thickness, joint-free sliding layer (14). Preferably the sheet (16) is a flat material, especially based on a mesh or non-woven cord material.