FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 8

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. ___

8

MOVING WALKWAY
MODULE OVERVIEW

In this module you will learn the basics on vertical transport systems like elevators, escalators, and moving
walks. We will learn some basic background about this vertical transport systems, their design and functions.
We will also study the major parts of each system and how they function. Aside from this we will look at the
different types and components of the systems. This module will specifically focus on moving walkway as a
vertical transport system so we will look at the styles of moving walk, applications, parts, components and
design.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module the student should be able to:

1. To learn basic component systems of moving walks.
2. To understand how moving walks work and function.

LEARNING CONTENTS (Moving Walkway)

A moving walkway or moving sidewalk, known in British English as a travellator or a travelator is a slow

moving conveyor mechanism that transports people across a horizontal or inclined plane over a short to
medium distance. Moving walkways can be used by standing or walking on them. They are often installed in
pairs, one for each direction.

 Speed range between 0.6 and 1.3 ms-1, limitations being imposed because of the difficulty in getting
off.
 Combine with walking, the overall pace could be about 2.5 ms-1.
 Materials for travelators must be flexible or elastic and include reinforced rubber or composites and
interlaced steel plates or trellised steel.
 The latter two have the facility to deviate from the conventional straight line.

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Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 8

History

A moving walkway is a simple variation of the conveyor belt,” according to Steve Showers, corporate archivist
for the Otis Elevator Company, and the concept of a machine to move people horizontally was first introduced
in 1893 at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

The first moving walkway debuted at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, in Chicago, Illinois, in the
United States and was designed by architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee. It had two different divisions: one where
passengers were seated, and one where riders could stand or walk. It ran in a loop down the length of a
lakefront pier to a casino. Six years later a moving walkway was also presented to the public at the Paris
Exposition Universelle in 1900. The walkway consisted of three elevated platforms, the first was stationary,
the second moved at a moderate speed, and the third at about ten kilometers per hour (six miles per hour).

The first commercial moving walkway in the United States was installed in 1954 in Jersey City, NJ, inside the
Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Erie station at the Pavonia Terminal. Named the "Speedwalk" and built by
Goodyear, it was 84.5 meters (277 feet) long and moved up a 10 percent grade at a speed of 2.4 km/h (1.5
mph). The walkway was removed a few years later when traffic patterns at the station changed.

The first moving walkway in an airport was installed in 1958 at Love Field in Dallas, Texas. On January 1,
1960.

Moving walkways are built in one of two basic styles:

Pallet type — a continuous series of flat metal plates join together to form a walkway - and are effectively
identical to escalators in their construction. Most have a metal surface, though some models have a rubber
surface for extra traction.

Moving belt — these are generally built with mesh metal belts or rubber walking surfaces over metal rollers.
The walking surface may have a solid feel or a "bouncy" feel.

Moving Walks

Inclination of 100, 110 and 120 are the common international standard for inclined moving walks. Users find that
a 100 inclination provides the most comfortable ride. A 12 0 inclination is used whenever the space available is
limited.

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Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 8

Horizontal moving walks can generally be provided for inclinations between 0 and 60.
0

For inclined moving walks (100 to 120), pallets are available in widths of 800 and 1000 mm. The most popular
width is 1000 mm. Since moving walks with this pallet width are also suitable for transporting shopping and
baggage carts, they are used mainly in shopping centers and railway stations.

A moving walk width of 1000 is generally recommended as the pallets should always be 400 mm wider than
the shopping carts when moving walks are operated with shopping carts.

For horizontal moving walks with an inclination of 0 0 to 60, pallets are available in widths of 800, 1000, 1200
and 1400 mm wide moving walks, since this width easily allows users to step around passengers with
baggage carts. Schindler also offers rubber belt moving walks specifically for this purpose. Belts are available
in widths of 1000, 1200 and 1400 mm.

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Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 8

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Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 8

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

ARNING ACTIVITY

SUMMARY

In this module we learned and studied the basic information on moving walks you need to know in integrating them in
your design. It includes the styles and design of moving walks.

REFERENCES

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