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An escalator that gets its swerve on

By Rain Noe - September 28, 2010

in Tech | Object Culture

The escalator was invented over a hundred years ago (in the late 1800s, believe it or not) and since then they've always gone in a straight line; but now, thanks to Jack Levy, an aesthetic upgrade has been developed.

Levy, City University London Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has patented the Levytator, an escalator that can follow curves by means of specially-designed steps that recall the sections of conveyor belt you see at airport baggage claims.

In this economic climate a new, swoopy aesthetic alone might not be enough to promote uptake, but Levy points out that his system has other benefits:

"As all of the steps can be accessed from above, maintenance can be carried out much more easily," says Levy. "It also means that no excavation is required when installing the Levytator. This could be particularly useful in the heritage sector, where the system could be placed on top of a grand staircase in a listed stately home, providing better access for elderly and disabled visitors, but not destroying the fabric of the building."

via dvice

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designobot

14 years ago

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The point of difference;

The ones posted in the videos you have referenced work like a traditional escalator where the stairs cycle over and under - so the unused stairs are revolving under the stairs that people are standing on.

This patent, like explained in the article, works like the luggage conveyor belt at an airport.

However, both can curve...
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Chris Carter

14 years ago

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So what's the patent covering then? This one in Japan looks pretty similar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn7vZG5J49U&feature=related
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Tom Hillman

14 years ago

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"has always gone in a straight line"?

What about this curved one in San Francisco?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVpaiQGmDCI
Its been there at least 15 years!
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BenW

14 years ago

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I've seen spiral ones http://ansoncfit.com/wp-content/uploads/20081101_833.jpg
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amelia

14 years ago

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Westfield Mall, SF
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ameliavmendez/3915288987/in/set-72157621261431911/

They always have a linear climb in elevation, but I'm pretty sure there are plenty more that curve horizontally.
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Alex C

14 years ago

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Looks really cool, especially for landscapes, but I wonder about the weight limits. I know that sometimes during holiday rushes at the mall, the escalators can't take the crush of people on them. Also, I think the entry/exit points would need to be further apart to avoid jams. Very cool, nonetheless.
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Gabe

14 years ago

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It also means that when one side of the elevator stops working for whatever reason, they both do.
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Ehsan

14 years ago

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FYI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escalator#Spiral_escalators:_from_Reno_to_Mitsubishi
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