WO2018078525A1

WO2018078525A1 - Self-sustaining support structure of an escalator

Info

Publication number: WO2018078525A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/056593
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Hoerler
Original assignee: Imh Energy S.A.
Priority date: 2016-10-27
Filing date: 2017-10-24
Publication date: 2018-05-03
Also published as: IT201600108869A1

Abstract

A self-sustaining support structure of an escalator (1) comprising a plurality of modular structure units (10); wherein each of said modular units (10) comprises a main modular unit element (50), said main modular unit element (50) comprising a base panel (51) and two lateral panels (52), which extend from two opposite connection sides (53) of the base panel (51) and which face each other, the base panel (51) defining two opposite free end sides of base panels (54, 54' ), and the lateral panels (52) defining free end edges of lateral panel (55, 56, 57), said free end edges of lateral panel (55, 56, 57) and said two free end edges of base panel (54, 54') forming a closed border (60) as a whole; wherein said main modular unit element (50) is formed by a folded sheet; wherein said folded sheet forms a continuous tubular portion of the folded sheet (61) in one piece which extends along said closed border (60); the modular structure units (10) being fixed to one another in succession at respective parts of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61) of adjacent main modular unit elements (50).

Description

DESCRIPTION

SELF-SUSTAINING SUPPORT STRUCTURE OF AN ESCALATOR

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the industrial field of escalators, and, in particular, it relates to a self- sustaining support structure of an escalator and to a method for making such structure.

Prior art

[0002] In the field of escalators, it is known to make a support structure, mounted inclined between a first level and a second level, adapted to support, and in some cases contain, a plurality of steps rotationally connected in sequence as a closed chain, means for guiding, supporting and sliding such steps, collection channels for any liquid, sometimes motor means, etc.

[0003] The support structure is often self-sustaining because it is fixed/resting on the ends only.

[0004] Such support structure of escalator, of the self- sustaining type, must be able to sustain heavy weights, part of which stationary and part of which in motion. Consequently, such structure must be designed to guarantee excellent features of both static and dynamic mechanical strength, with a dynamic behavior which is very far from resonance frequencies.

[0005] The prior art, generally, deals with this need by providing robust truss structures.

[0006] Some attempts to make the support structure by means of welded or folded sheets are also known. However, such prior art requires associating robust reinforcement beams with the sheets because of the greater flexibility of the sheet. For these reasons, the aforesaid known attempts are not particularly advantageous with respect to the truss structures both from the point of view of costs and production times.

[0007] Such known structures have the further disadvantage of needing to be redesigned and built on a case-by-case basis as a function of the length of the structure itself between its two ends fixed to the levels to be connected. Such solution is economically not convenient if the structure comprises many components, such as sheets and reinforcement beams, because they must be dimensioned again and made for each new specific application.

[0008] None of these solutions suggests a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator, capable of being easily designed, made and installed while guaranteeing a very high mechanical strength, both static and dynamic.

Summary of the invention

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to devise and make available a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator which makes it possible to satisfy the aforesaid needs and to at least partially overcome the drawbacks described above with reference to the prior art.

[0010] In particular, it is a task of the present invention to make available a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator which makes it possible to completely eliminate a heavy and complex truss structure, and at the same time to guarantee an adequate both static and dynamic mechanical strength.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator capable of being easily designed and assembled, thus avoiding the need to fully redesign the structure as the length of the escalator varies.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator which is robust and solid, and light-weight at the same time.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator which allows handling or surface treating, such as immersing in zinc-coating bath or painting, only singular portions, avoiding the need to do so for the entire support structure.

[0014] These and other objects are achieved by means of a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator, as well as a by method for making said structure, according to the independent claims.

[0015] Further objects, solutions and advantages are present in the embodiments described below and claimed in the dependent claims.

[0016] According to a general embodiment of the invention, a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator is provided comprising a plurality of modular structure units, wherein each of said modular units comprises a main modular unit element comprising a base panel and two lateral panels which extend from two opposite connection sides of the base panel and which face each other in substantially parallel manner, the base panel defining two opposite free end edges of base panel, and the lateral panels defining lateral panel free end edges, said free end edges of lateral panel and said two free end edges of base panel forming as a whole a closed border, or closed contour, or closed periphery or boundary, or closed border line .

[0017] The main modular unit element is formed by a folded sheet and the folded sheet forms along said closed border a continuous tubular portion of folded sheet, or tubular border, which extends along said closed border. In other words, the continuous tubular portion extends with continuity along the length, preferably along the entire length, of the closed border or of the closed border line.

[0018] Furthermore, the modular structure units are fixed to each other in succession at respective parts of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet of adjacent main modular unit elements.

[0019] Advantageously, providing the folded sheet so as to form along the closed border a continuous tubular portion of folded sheet which extends along said closed border, makes it possible to replace any applied reinforcement structure, e.g. a welded or fixed beam, with a robust tubular portion formed in one piece with the sheet, formed by folding the sheet itself, which forms the main modular unit element.

[0020] In such a manner, the tubular portion thus obtained makes it possible to confer a mechanical strength greater than that of a welded or fixed beam to the structure.

[0021] Providing that the tubular portion is obtained in one piece with the sheet of the main modular unit element, provides a structural continuity which is impossible to obtain by any fixing of separate reinforcement material, whereby guaranteeing greater structural strength.

[0022] Furthermore, advantageously, the provision that the folded sheet forms in one piece a continuous tubular portion of folded sheet which extends along said closed border, makes it possible to supply a main modular unit element free from any welding between sheet and reinforcement structure or between sheet and sheet, whereby avoiding the need for any successive protection treatment of welding, such as a zinc-coating bath or painting operations.

[0023] Furthermore, the provision of the extension of the tubular portion along the closed border, and thus along the free end edges of lateral panel and the free end edges of base panel, makes it possible to reinforce the main modular unit element precisely in zones of greatest mechanical stress.

[0024] The provision of mutual fixing of modular structure units in succession at respective parts of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet of adjacent main modular unit elements, advantageously makes it possible to simplify the fixing process itself, whereby limiting the fixing to such tubular portions only, e.g. by threaded connections or by means of rivets.

[0025] Furthermore, in such manner the self-sustaining support structure has a succession of pairs of parts of continuous tubular portion of folded sheet of adjacent main modular unit elements, in which such parts of continuous tubular portion are side-by-side and fixed to one another, and arranged transversally to a main direction of extension of the escalator structure. This configuration provides a very high mechanical strength. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] The invention will be illustrated below by describing some embodiments by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0027] - figure 1 shows an example of self-sustaining support structure of an escalator according to the invention comprising a plurality of modular structure units fixed to each other in succession, and two end structure units;

[0028] - figure 2 shows a perspective view of a modular unit of a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator in figure 1 ;

[0029] - figure 3 shows a section view of the modular structure in figure 2, by means of a section plane orthogonal to a main direction of extension of the structure of an escalator;

[0030] - figure 4 shows a perspective view of a main element of the modular unit in figure 2;

[0031] - figure 5 shows a perspective view of a pair of adjacent main modular unit elements in figure 2, side-by- side and fixed to one another at respective parts of continuous tubular portion of folded sheet;

[0032] - figure 6 shows a pair of main elements in figure 5 to which spacer profiles are fixed; [0033] - figure 7 shows the pair of main elements in figure 6, in which each lateral panel of the main element is fixed to an upper bulwark panel at a part of the continuous tubular portion of folded sheet as continuation of such lateral panel on an opposite part with respect to the base panel;

[0034] - figure 8 shows the pair of main elements in figure 7 wherein main element inner coating sheets are mounted arranged along respective inner faces of the main modular unit element forming a gap between the main modular unit element and such inner coating sheets;

[0035] - figure 9 shows a pair of main elements of figure 8, wherein each modular unit is fixed to a cross bar having a first bar end and a second bar end fixed respectively to the lateral panels at a part of the continuous tubular portion of folded sheet on the opposite side with respect to the base panel;

[0036] - figure 10 shows the pair of main elements in figure

9 wherein an bulwark inner coating sheet is applied to each upper bulwark;

[0037] - figure 11 shows a pair of main elements of figure

10 wherein a connection sheet is applied on the main element inner coating sheets and on the bulwark inner coating sheet, straddling two adjacent modular units.

Description of the preferred embodiments [0038] With reference to the figures, a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator according to the invention is indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole.

[0039] The support structure 1 comprises a plurality of modular structure units 10 fixed to one another in succession .

[0040] Such structure 1 defines a main direction of development A-A along which the modular structure units 10 are arranged in succession and fixed to one another.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the structure 1 further comprises two end units fixed to the free ends of such plurality of modular units 10.

[0042] Such end units are configured to adapt to the levels or floors that the support structure for escalator is adapted to connect.

[0043] Each of the aforesaid modular units 10 comprises a main modular unit element 50, which comprises a base panel 51 and two lateral panels 52, which extend from two opposite connection sides 53 of the base panel 51 which face each other, preferably in substantially parallel manner .

[0044] According to an embodiment, the connection sides 53 are straight and substantially parallel to one another.

[0045] The base panel 51 further defines two opposite free end edges of base panel 54, 54', which mutually connect connection sides 53 to the respective ends, more in detail, a base panel front free end edge 54 and a base panel rear free end edge 54' .

[0046] According to an embodiment, the base panel 51 is substantially flat, preferably quadrilateral, even more preferably rectangular, e.g. having the connection sides 53 as greater sides.

[0047] The lateral panels 52 define free end edges of lateral panel 55, 56, 57.

[0048] According to an embodiment, the free end edges of lateral panel comprise a lateral panel free end front edge 55 transversal to the connection side 53, lateral panel free end rear edge 57 transversal to the connection side 53, and a lateral panel free end upper edge 56, which connects the respective front edge upper end 55 and rear edge 57 to one another.

[0049] According to an embodiment, the free end edges of lateral panel 55, 56, 57 are straight edges.

[0050] According to an embodiment, the front edge 55 and/or the rear edge 57 are orthogonal to the connection side 53. Preferably, the upper edge 56 is parallel to the connection side 53.

[0051] According to an embodiment, the lateral panels 52 are quadrilateral, having the free end edges of lateral panel 55, 56, 57 and one of said connection sides 53, as sides. Preferably, the lateral panels 52 are rectangular, preferably having a greater side along the connection side 53.

[0052] According to an embodiment, adjacent main modular unit elements 50 are connected to one another so that the lateral panel front free end edges 55 and the base panel front free end edge 54 of a successive main modular unit element 50 are fixed to the lateral panel rear free end edges 57 and the base panel rear free end edge 54' of a preceding main modular unit element 50 of said adjacent main modular unit elements 50.

[0053] The main modular unit element 50 is advantageously formed by a folded sheet, preferably metallic.

[0054] The free end edges of lateral panel 55, 56, 57 and the two free end edges of base panel 54, 54' form, as a whole, a closed border 60, or closed contour, or closed periphery or boundary, or closed border line.

[0055] The aforesaid folded sheet forms, in one piece, a continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61, or tubular border 61, which extends along the closed border 60.

[0056] In other words, as shown in the figures from 4 to 6, the continuous tubular portion 61, or tubular edge 61, extends with continuity along the length of the closed border 60, or closed border line 60, preferably along the entire length of the closed border 60, or the closed border line 60.

[0057] The modular structure units 10 are fixed to each other in succession at respective parts of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61 of adjacent main modular unit elements 50, preferably limited to such respective parts of continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61.

[0058] According to an embodiment, the modular structure units 10 are fixed to each other in a manner chosen among: crimping, riveting, welding, gluing.

[0059] According to an embodiment, the continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61 has closed transversal section, e.g. has quadrilateral transversal section, e.g. has square transversal section.

[0060] The thickness of the folded sheet 61 is preferably comprised between 1 mm and 3 mm, even more preferably is about 2 mm.

[0061] The folded sheet which forms the main modular unit element 50, at the base panel 51, forms a closed containing bottom of the escalator structure 1. This makes it possible to avoid use of any additional panel for connecting objects of liquids to prevent them from falling into the escalator structure 1.

[0062] Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the folded sheet which forms the main modular unit element 50 remains exposed to the outside of the escalator structure in use. In such manner, the need to apply external coating layers for appearance purposes is avoided.

[0063] An example of a main modular unit element of this kind is shown in figure 4, while an example of assembly of two adjacent main modular unit elements 50 fixed to each other is shown in figure 5.

[0064] According to an embodiment, the support structure 1 comprises at least one main element inner coating sheet 71, 72 arranged along respective inner faces of said two lateral panels 52 and of said base panel 51 forming a gap 58 between the main modular unit element 50 and the at least one inner coating sheet 71, 72.

[0065] The at least one main element inner coating sheet 71, 72 may be formed by a single continuous folded sheet or by separated sheets adapted to be applied to the lateral panels 52 and to the base panel 51, respectively.

[0066] The at least one main element inner coating sheet 71, 72 is preferably metallic, or made of polymeric material. For example, the thickness of the metallic coating sheet is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, preferably about 1 mm.

[0067] According to an embodiment, the at least one inner coating sheet 71, 72 is fixed, e.g. is directly fixed, to the main modular unit element 50 along the continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61. [0068] According to an embodiment, the at least one inner coating sheet 71, 72 is fixed to the main modular unit element 50 limitedly to the continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61.

[0069] According to an embodiment, at least one inner coating sheet 71, 72 is fixed to the main modular unit element 50 by means of at least one technique chosen among crimping, riveting, welding, gluing.

[0070] The provision of fixing the at least one inner coating sheet confers greater mechanical strength to folding to the escalator structure.

[0071] According to an embodiment, the gap 58 is filled with a filling layer. For example, such filling layer is glued to the folded sheet of said main modular unit element 50 or to said inner coating sheet, or to both. For example, the filling layer comprise a honeycomb layer, or a polystyrene layer, or a polyurethane foam layer, e.g. inserted by injection.

[0072] The provision of a filling layer confers a greater rigidity to the load-bearing structure of an escalator.

[0073] According to an embodiment, the structure 1 comprises spacer profiles 81, 82, interposed between said main modular unit element 50 and said at least one inner coating metal sheet 71, 72 to form the gap 58.

[0074] The spacer profiles 81, 82 may be fixed to the main modular unit element 50 and/or to the at least one inner coating sheet 71, 72.

[0075] According to an embodiment, the spacer profiles 81, 82 are arranged near the connection sides 53 and/or in a central portion of the base panel 51, preferably along directions parallel to the main direction of development of the support structure A-A.

[0076] According to a preferred embodiment, the spacer profiles 81, 82 comprise or are made of folded sheet, preferably metallic.

[0077] According to an embodiment, at least one modular unit 10 of said plurality comprises at least one cross bar 90 having a first bar end 91 and a second bar end 92 fixed respectively to said two lateral panels 52 at a part of said continuous tubular portion of folded metal sheet 61 which extends along said closed border 60 on the opposite side with respect to said base panel 51.

[0078] Preferably, the cross bar 90 is connected to each part of continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61 in central position with respect to the length of the lateral panel 52 measured along the main direction of development of the support structure A-A.

[0079] Preferably, such part of continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61 is arranged along the aforesaid lateral panel free end upper edge 56. [0080] According to an embodiment, the traversal bar is made of folded sheet, preferably metallic.

[0081] The aforesaid cross bar 90 is preferably arranged orthogonally with respect to the main direction of development of the support structure A-A of an escalator.

[0082] According to an embodiment, at least one modular unit 10 of the plurality of modular units comprises at least one upper bulwark 95 fixed to a respective of said two lateral panels 52 at a part of said continuous tubular portion of folded metal sheet 61, as continuation of said respective lateral panel 52 on the opposite side with respect to said base panel 51.

[0083] According to an embodiment, said at least one upper bulwark 95 has a bulwark lower edge 96 adapted to be fixed to a free end upper edge 56 of the lateral panel.

[0084] According to an embodiment, the bulwark lower edge 96 comprises an engagement portion of folded sheet, preferably in one piece with the bulwark, configured in order to at least partially envelop the upper free end edge 56 of the lateral panel, preferably at a respective part of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61. In a preferred embodiment, a cross-section of the engagement portion of folded sheet is C-shaped. Preferably, the engagement portion of folded sheet is configured to be attached to said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61 at the upper free end edge 56 of the lateral panel, by shape-coupling.

[0085] According to an embodiment, said at least one upper bulwark 95 is formed by a folded sheet, preferably metallic, preferably wherein said folded sheet forms in one piece a continuous tubular portion of folded sheet of upper bulwark 97 which extends along the edges of said upper bulwark 95, preferably along all the sides of said upper bulwark 95.

[0086] According to an embodiment, the support structure 1 of an escalator comprises an upper bulwark coating sheet 98, preferably metallic, applied to an inner face of said upper bulwark 98, forming a gap 99 between the upper bulwark 95 and the inner coating sheet of upper bulwark 98.

[0087] Such gap 99 may be filled with a filling layer, e.g. as described above.

[0088] According to an embodiment, the support structure 1 of an escalator comprises a connection metal sheet 101, preferably metallic, applied onto the main element inner coating sheets 71, 72 and onto the bulwark inner coating sheet 98, straddling two adjacent modular units 10.

[0089] According to another aspect of the present invention, a manufacturing method is described here for manufacturing a self-sustaining support structure 1 of an escalator, as described above.

[0090] In particular, the aforesaid method comprises a step of providing a plurality of modular structure units 10, wherein each of said modular units 10 comprises a main modular unit element 50, and a step of fixing to one another in succession the modular structure units 10 of said plurality at respective parts of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61 of adjacent main modular unit elements 50.

[0091] According to an embodiment, the step of fixing the modular structure units 10 of said plurality to each other is carried out in a manner chosen from: crimping, riveting, welding, gluing.

[0092] As described above, the main modular unit element 50 comprises a base panel 51 and two lateral panels 52, which extend from two opposite connection sides 53 of the base panel and which face each other, the base panel defining two opposite base panel free sides 54, 54', and the lateral panels 52 defining free end edges of lateral panel 55, 56, 57, said free end edges of lateral panel 55, 56, 57 and said two free end edges of base panel 54, 54', forming a closed border 60 as a whole, wherein said main modular unit element 50 is formed by a folded sheet, wherein said folded sheet forms a continuous tubular portion of folded sheet 61 which extends along said closed border 60.

[0093] According to an embodiment, the step of providing a plurality of modular structure units 10 comprises a step of making the modular structure units 10 of said plurality .

[0094] Said step of making comprises the steps of providing a flat sheet, cutting the flat sheet according to a predetermined contour adapted to obtain the main modular element 50; folding the sheet at the two opposite connection sides of the base panel 53; folding the sheet along the closed border 60 to form the continuous tubular portion of the folded metal sheet 61 which extends along the closed border 60.

[0095] According to an embodiment, the step of cutting said flat sheet is performed by punching by means of a punching machine .

[0096] According to an embodiment, by means of this step of punching, through holes are also obtained through the sheet .

[0097] Alternatively, the step of cutting the sheet could be performed by laser cutting.

[0098] According to an embodiment, the step of folding the sheet at said two opposite connections sides of the base panel 53 and the step of folding said sheet along the closed border 60 to form the continuous tubular portion of folded metal sheet 61 are made by means of a paneling machine and/or by means of a press-folding machine.

[0099] The step of folding by means of press-folding machine requires repositioning the sheet on the worktable of the machine for each folding operation to be performed.

[00100] The step of folding by means of paneling machine requires a single positioning of the sheet on the worktable, after which the blades of the machine move with respect to the worktable to different positions to perform various folding operations.

[00101] According to an embodiment, the method comprises a step of arranging spacer profiles 81, 82, preferably made of folded sheet, inside the main modular unit element 50, preferably by fixing such spacer profiles to the main modular unit element 50.

[00102] Such spacer profiles 81, 82 are described above.

[00103] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of fixing a main element inner coating sheet 71, 72 along respective inner faces of the aforesaid two lateral panels 52 and of said base panel 51 forming a gap 58 between the main modular unit element 50 and the at least one inner coating sheet 71, 72.

[00104] The spacer profiles 81, 82 are configured to remain interposed between said main modular unit element 50 and said at least one inner coating metal sheet 71, 72 to form said gap 58.

[00105] According to an embodiment, the at least one inner coating sheet 71, 72 is resting on said spacer profiles 81, 82, preferably fixed to it.

[00106] According to an embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of providing at least one upper bulwark 95 and of fixing said upper lateral panel 95 to a respective one of said two lateral panels 52 at a part of said continuous tubular portion of folded metal sheet 61, as continuation of said respective lateral panel 52 on the opposite side with respect to said base panel 51.

[00107] According to an embodiment, the step of providing at least one upper bulwark 95 comprises a step of making the first modular structure units 95.

[00108] Said step of making comprises the steps of providing a flat sheet; cutting said flat metal sheet according to a predetermined contour adapted to obtain said upper bulwark 95; folding said metal sheet which is cut along the edges of said upper bulwark 95, forming in one piece a continuous tubular portion of folded metal 97 of the upper bulwark which extends along the edges of said upper bulwark 95.

[00109] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of applying an upper bulwark coating sheet 98, to an inner face of said upper bulwark 98, forming a gap 99 between the upper bulwark 95 and the inner coating sheet of upper bulwark 98.

[00110] According to an embodiment, the method comprises a step of applying a connection sheet 101 onto the main element inner coating sheets 71, 72 and onto the bulwark inner coating sheet 98, straddling two adjacent modular units 10.

[00111] A skilled person may make changes, adaptations and substitutions to the embodiments to the device described above or can replace elements with others which are functionally equivalent to satisfy contingent needs without departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims. All the features described above as belonging to one possible embodiment may be implemented independently from the other described embodiments. It is further worth noting that the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps and that the article "a" does not exclude a plurality.

[00112] Furthermore, the figures are not in scale.

[00113] All the features described here, including any claim, abstract or drawing, and/or any step of the method described herein may be combined in any combination, except for the combinations in which at least some of such features and/or phases mutually exclude one another.

Claims

1. A Self-sustaining support structure of an escalator (1) comprising a plurality of modular structure units (10); wherein each of said modular units (10) comprises a main modular unit element (50),

said main modular unit element (50) comprising a base panel (51) and two lateral panels (52) extending from two opposite connection sides (53) of the base panel (51) and that face one another, the base panel (51) defining two opposite free end sides of base panels (54, 54' ) , and the lateral panels (52) defining free end edges of lateral panel (55, 56, 57), said free end edges of lateral panel (55, 56, 57) and said two free end edges of base panel (54, 54') forming a closed border (60) as a whole;

- wherein said main modular unit element (50) is formed by a folded sheet;

- wherein said folded sheet forms a continuous tubular portion of the folded sheet (61) in one piece extending along said closed border (60);

the modular structure units (10) being fixed to one another in succession at respective parts of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61) of ad acent main modular unit elements (50) .

2. The support structure (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one main element inner coating sheet (71, 72) arranged along respective inner faces of said two lateral panels (52) and said base panel (51) forming a gap

(58) between said main modular unit element (50) and said at least one inner coating sheet (71, 72) .

3. The support structure (1) according to claim 2, wherein said at least one inner coating sheet (71, 72) is fixed to said main modular unit element (50) along said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61) .

4. The support structure (1) according to claim 3, comprising spacer profiles (81, 82) arranged between said main modular unit element (50) and said at least one inner coating sheet (71, 72) to form said gap (58) .

5. The support structure (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one modular unit (10) of said plurality comprises at least one cross bar (90) having a first bar end (91) and a second bar end (92) fixed respectively to said two lateral panels (52) at a part of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61) which extends along said closed border (60) on the opposite side with respect to said base panel (51) .

6. The support structure (1) according to at least one previous claim, wherein at least one modular unit (10) of said plurality comprises at least one upper bulwark panel (95) fixed to a respective one of said two lateral panels (52) at a part of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61) as a continuation of said respective lateral panel (52) on the opposite side with respect to the base panel.

7. A manufacturing method for producing a self-sustaining support structure of an escalator (1), comprising the steps of:

- providing a plurality of modular structure units (10), wherein each of said modular units (10) comprises a main modular unit element (50), said main modular unit element (50) comprising a base panel (51) and two lateral panels (52), that extend from two opposite connection sides (53) of the base panel and that face one another, the base panel defining two opposite free end sides of base panels (54, 54') , and the lateral panels (52) defining free end edges of lateral panel (55, 56, 57), said free end edges of lateral panel (55, 56, 57) and said two free end edges of base panel (54, 54') forming a closed border (60) as a whole, wherein said main modular unit element (50) is formed by a folded sheet, wherein said folded sheet forms a continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61) in one piece, which extends along said closed border (60);

fixing to one another in succession the modular structure units (10) of said plurality at respective parts of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61) of ad acent main modular unit elements (50) .

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of providing a plurality of modular structure elements (10) comprises a step of making the first modular structure units (10) of said plurality, said step of making comprising the steps of:

- providing a flat sheet;

- cutting said flat sheet according to a predetermined contour suitable for obtaining said main modular unit element ( 50 ) ;

- folding said sheet at said two opposite connection sides of the base panel (53);

- folding said sheet along said closed border (60) to form said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61) which extends along said closed border (60) .

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of cutting said flat sheet is performed by punching by means of a punching machine.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the step of folding the sheet at said two opposite connections sides of the base panel (53) and the step of folding said sheet along said closed border (60) to form said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61) are made by means of a paneling machine and/or by means of a press- folding machine.

11. The method according to at least one claim 7 to 10, comprising a step of fixing a main element inner coating sheet (71, 72) along respective inner faces of the aforesaid two lateral panels (52) and of the base panel (51) forming a gap (58) between the main modular unit element (50) and the at least one inner coating sheet (71, 72) .

12. The method according to at least one claim 7 to 11, comprising the steps of:

- providing at least one upper bulwark panel (95);

- fixing said upper bulwark panel (95) to a respective one of said two lateral panels (52) at a part of said continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (61), as a continuation of said respective lateral panel (52) on the opposite side with respect to said base panel (51) .

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of providing at least one upper bulwark panel (95) comprises a step of making said upper bulwark panel (95), said step of making said bulwark panel (95) comprising the steps of:

- providing a flat sheet;

- cutting said flat sheet according to a predetermined contour adapted to obtain said upper bulwark panel (95);

- folding said cut sheet along the edges of said upper bulwark panel (95) forming, in one piece, a continuous tubular portion of folded sheet (97) which extends along the edges of said upper bulwark panel (95) .