London engineer develops curved escalator
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An engineer in London has developed and patented what is claimed to be the first major redesign of the escalator for 113 years.
Prof Jack Levy’s conveyance, dubbed the Levytator, can be designed into any shape, so architects can incorporate escalators in a continuous loop that follow curves rather than travel in straight lines. Potential sites for use include hotels, airports, museums and theme parks.
‘I’m a Londoner and I’ve been travelling on escalators all my life,’ said Levy, an Emeritus professor of mechanical engineering at City University London. ‘It occurred to me: ’Why are they all straight? Why can’t we go around corners on them?’ and I took it from there.’
Powered by what Levy described as a ‘fairly conventional powertrain’, the new design moves a continuous loop of curved steps, which can follow any path upwards, flatten and straighten, and descend again with passengers onboard.
This marks a departure from traditional escalator design where redundant steps move underneath those in use.
‘There are two issues here: it is a terrible waste of steps and maintenance is a nightmare,’ said Levy. ‘The Levytator is designed so that all the maintenance can be done from the top, so it is very much easier. Also, because it’s in a loop, the cost per useable step is much less than in a conventional escalator – you get twice the steps for your money.’
The Levytator’s handrail will move in the same way as those on conventional escalators.
‘The fact that it’s curved will not be a problem; Mitsubishi already uses a curved handrail so it’ll come from the market’ said Levy.
Levy conceded that the device’s curved movement may limit the radius of curvature but this presents an issue of consumer acceptance rather than a significant engineering challenge.
The Levytator has been granted patents in the UK, Europe, China and the US, and Levy is looking for an industrial partner who is prepared to back the production of a full-scale prototype.
The Levytator is the world's first escalator capable of following freeform curves. This video shows a working model and computer simulations.
Readers' comments (6)
Frank | 29 Sep 2010 2:15 pm
this is not new.
Google shows a curved escalator in a Sanfrancisco shopping mall installed in 2008. Another can be found in Canada.
Videos on U-tube show them going back to 2007
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Editor's comments | 29 Sep 2010 2:15 pm
There are many examples of escalators that follow a curve (or even claim to be 'spiral') but none that form the kind of continuous loop with no redundant steps, as described in the article.
Jerry Johnson | 30 Sep 2010 5:47 pm
One of the major hotel complexes in Las Vegas....I think it is The Forum...claims to have the only spiral escalator in the world...
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Rasheed | 4 Oct 2010 4:39 pm
videos of spiral escalators. But I have'nt come across continuous loop escalators
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Simon | 22 Oct 2010 2:42 am
As others have said its not exactly a new idea, although it is nice to see a working model of the idea...but how many moving parts make for efficiency?
Perhaps the Prof can design a light signal for the underground so that they can remove that of prepared excuses for lateness.
There is one designed and if i recall correctly patented in the early 1900's and was fitted to London Underground stations during this time. It was removed due to reliability issues. I understand that some it survives and is housed in the London Transport Museum.
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neil | 22 Nov 2010 4:46 pm
I have seen curved escalators machines in a loop and two machines in one truss. Although the idea looks good, I would like to see the detailed designs to ensure thay conform with EN115
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danny | 11 Feb 2011 6:30 pm
Nice theory, but if it breaks down / stops, then both sides stop, if like a busy train station you have 3 or 4 escalators side by side they can dependant on rush hour traffic allow more movement in one direction, when maintenance is carried out you have to stop the "loop" so any down time is twice the problem. In saying that i like the idea
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