No_4_1955 — Page 73

A New Horizontal Transportation System

traffic

conditions and other factors will deter mine ultimate speeds in actual use.

The name "TRAV-O-LATOR”-sugg- slopes six degrees. To test passengers' of normal walking velocity-safe and com- ests the functions of the Otis Elevator reactions to getting on and off under dif- fortable. Passenger preferences, Company's latest product and hints at its ferent conditions, the exit (or entrance- origin. The TRAV-O-LATOR has been the equipment is reversible) at one end designed to move people from place to is level, and at the other end slopes six

This equipment has been in the process place in a more or less horizontal direc- degrees.

of evolution for many years. But certain tion, within a distance too great for con-

The TRAV-O-LATOR is approached at conditions had to arise to make its use venient walking and too short for other,

a normal walking speed. At the entry feasible. Increased population, new at. more conventional, facilities. It resembles point, the moving platforms have the cus- titudes in architecture. the continual an escalator, at first sight, and has many tomary ribbed treads of aluminium, and climb in the standard of living, all have features of an escalator, including a mov- the treads emerge from a "comb" for combined to make the movement of ing handrail. But it has no steps. In-

easy and safe transition from walking human traffic a bigger problem, or at stead, passengers ride on a series of plat- to riding motion, or from riding to walk least a new one in many respects. People'«< form sections which in motion look and

attitudes have changed, too: the man feel pretty much like a continuous metal

whose ancestors trekked West beside а carpet a carpet flowing smoothly over a flat surface, on an incline, or "up and

covered wagon doesn't want to haul his luggage from an airport terminal to an airliner 300 feet away. He has been look- ing forward to something like the TRAV. O-LATOR for a long time.

down-hill" to clear obstacles.

ing as the passenger gets off.

detect any motion from side to side in this equipment.

The ride itself is comfortable. There is the security of moving handrails, and the surface on which passengers stand is com- posed of a series of cleated, articulated The TRAV-O-LATOR must not be con- metal platforms travelling on a wheel and fused with the multitude of materials track system. It's a smooth ride, because conveyors of the "endless belt" principle every platform making up the riding sur- in use by factories, warehouses and stores face moves on ball bearing wheels. Sen- would be needed to today. When you create something to sitive instruments move people, it must be designed with the characteristics of the human form and mind as a guide. So the equipment in-

Surfaces all along the line of travel have corporates all the safety devices common- been designed with an eye to safety. The ly associated with Otis escalators, and skirt extends below the top of the tread reflects the specialized knowledge Otis nas ribs, and minimum clearance is maintained added safety feature, the gained in more

half century of here. experience with escalators under all traffic moving platforms are connected to chains for positive driving, and broken chain and conditions.

overspeed devices are right on the job to stop the machinery if an emergency should ever arise.

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A prototype of the new product has been built and this is a working repre- sentation of all that knowledge and ex- perience. It also illustrates dramatically how well Otis people are handling some brand-new problems.

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The new system can provide a direct link between transportation centres, and simplify traffic problems at steamship piers as well as at airports, or move peo- ple over or under street intersections and obstacles. At a shopping centre, it can connect with a parking lot, making pos sible two entrances at different elevations, thereby permitting the development of two main floors instead of one. Dozens of

duct profitable right now, as would many sports areas would probably find this prɔ. exhibition halls and areas.

In the hands of architects, designers and builders, the TRAV-O-LATOR be- comes a new functional tool. Its use will remove many present restrictions on the spacing and location of groups of build- ings, inviting entirely new approaches_to The men who create office

The TRAV-O-LATOR prototype can be at any practicable speed, althougn most of its tests have been made at 135 and 180 feet-per-minute. For comparison, The prototype has a total travel of 95 escalators in the U.S. normally operate at feet. Within that distance it rises six ver- go and, in some cases, 120 feet-per-minute planning.

tical feet. To test different degrees of The great majority of the employees who buildings and railroad stations and schools incline, one approach to that six-foot tested the new product have found a 180 will swell the list of applications in the

hill slopes 14 degrees, while the other feet-per-minute speed--or about two-thirds years ahead.

How TRAV-O-LATOR May Be Used

TRAFFIC CROSSINGS

AIRPORTS

CITY CENTERS

STEAMSHIP PIERS

SHOPPING CENTERS

SPORT STADIUMS

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RAILROAD STATIONS

SCHOOLS