An escalator is a moving staircase used to transport people in subways, shopping malls and other large public spaces. It consists of steps with flat treads and smooth risers, linked by metal chains.

Safety features include a stop button posted on the balustrade at each end (often covered by a transparent plastic guard plate to prevent it being pressed accidentally or for fun by children and casual vandals). Antislide devices stud the stairs' edges.

Steps

Whether you're riding up or down, the steps of the Escalator are a key part of the entire machine. They're solid, one-piece, die cast aluminum and feature a skirt brush that runs along the sides to reduce passenger slippage.

The first flat step at the landing is designed to give passengers time to adjust their feet position safely. Longer escalators may have up to five flat steps.

Step demarcation lighting gives passengers clear borders of green light around the gap between the steps and skirt guard, reducing tripping hazards. Some escalators also include handrail inlet switches that detect foreign objects within the opening, shutting off the system.

Many people believe that escalator steps can reach out and grab them as they ride, but this is simply a myth. However, it is important to keep loose clothing, untied shoelaces, and high heels away from moving parts so that they don't get caught on anything. It is also recommended to stay close to the handrail while on an escalator.

Handrails

The handrails are crucial to the safety of the escalator. Every year, countless people fall off of escalators because they fail to hold on to the handrails. These accidents could have been prevented if the handrails were kept clean.

The escalator handrail belt consists of an already having preliminary shape heating raw material which is molded by injection moulding with polyurethane, tensile steel wire layer and special adhesion layer on surface. The inserted steel wires are fixed in the strap by means of metal joints.

This solution allows a prefabricated escalator handrail with built-in metal joints to be joined together on site to obtain any required length. The end of the escalator handrails is provided with inner indentations, knurls or letters for better recognition by users. These elements are cleaned on a weekly basis using GBAC registered microfiber and disinfecting solutions. Additionally, the return roller system is cleaned with a specially designed sprayer to prevent contamination swapping from the combs to the handrails.

Drives

Escalators are popular in many shopping malls, supermarkets, airports and public transportation facilities because they are efficient, economical, and offer a wide range of passenger safety features. However, these escalators are not without their dangers. Escalators have a high risk of accidents due to their high travel speed and the gap between metal steps. It is possible for passengers to grind or hang clothes into these gaps which can result in serious injuries.

Traditionally, an escalator’s drive system uses a toothed wheel. This type of wheel has a large torque requirement and requires multiple stages of gearing and chain reduction, which leads to energy loss.

Our escalator integrated drive and controller is designed with closed loop vector control technology, new PWM dead time compensation technology and dynamic PWM carrier modulation to reduce motor operation noise and power loss. It also offers multiple escalator operation control functions to meet different demands, and helps save energy by changing the operating speed according to passenger flow.

Safety

Escalators are common in many public places and provide a convenient way to move between floors without having to take the stairs. However, they can be dangerous if people are not careful while using them. Fortunately, most accidents caused by escalators are avoidable.

While the majority of accidents on escalators occur when getting on or off, it's important to follow some simple safety measures while using them. Never walk against the direction of the moving steps, and always hold on to the handrail while riding. Also, make sure to step on and off with care and do not stand or play near the sides of the escalator. Loose shoe laces, drawstrings, and scarves can become entangled in the machinery, so it is advisable to wear fitted clothing when riding escalators.

Escalators should be thoroughly inspected at intervals not to exceed one year by designated persons. Additionally, routine cleaning is important to prevent fire, slip, trip, or breakdown hazards.