But have you seen this view? Or this view?

但你有看過這個景象嗎？或是這個景象？

In today's video, I'd like to show you how an escalator works.

在今天的影片中，我將會向你展示電扶梯的運作方式。

It's hard to imagine the modern world without the escalator.

很難想像出一個沒有電扶梯的現代世界。

It was initially called the revolving stairs.

它最初被稱為旋轉樓梯。

The first idea can be traced back to 1859.

這樣的發想最早可以追溯到 1859 年。

But it was a few more decades until we had our first working escalator.

但要到了幾十年之後，我們才能真正看到運作順暢的電扶梯。

Since then, society has come to heavily depend on these machines.

而自從那時開始，我們的社會便高度仰賴這些機器。

The escalator is most useful in places where there are large amounts of people to move, such as airports, shopping malls, and subway systems.

電扶梯在有著大量人流量的地方最為管用，例如機場、購物中心與地鐵等等。

Elevators can only move so many people, even if there are several of them.

就算放置了好幾台，電梯一次還是只能載少量的人。

But if the same space is used for escalators, we can move a lot more people through.

然而在同樣的空間中若是運用了電扶梯，便能運送更多的人。

Of course there's usually an elevator nearby for those that can't use the escalator.

當然，附近通常還是會設置電梯，供無法乘坐電扶梯的人使用。

You'll usually find at least two escalators alongside each other.

通常你會看到至少有兩台電扶梯並排在一起。

One going up and the other going down.

一台往上，一台往下。

They can extend from multiple levels.

它們可以被擴展到多個樓層之間。

Sometimes to save space, they'll be arranged in a crisscross pattern.

有時為了節省空間，它們會以交錯的方式設置。

But the layout will change depending on the needs of the place.

但是整體的布局取決於該地的需求。

Some escalators might need to be longer or shorter depending on the height of the next floor.

取決於樓層間的高度，電扶梯的長度有長有短。

Maybe they'll need to be wider to fit more people, or several escalators might need to be right next to each other.

它們或許會被打造得更寬以容納更多的人，或是有數個電扶梯並排在一起。

Sometimes stairs are in the middle for those that want to walk.

有時中間也會有一般的樓梯，供想要走路的人使用。

And on some occasions, the escalators will all be pointed in the same direction.

在某些情況下，電扶梯會全都朝向同一個方向移動。

This helps when you want to direct the flow of traffic towards the exit.

這能夠用來將人流引導至出口的方向。

Let's not forget the variations, such as the moving sidewalks or even the spiral escalators.

別忘了還有其他的特殊種類，例如平面電扶梯，甚至還有旋轉電扶梯。

Yes, they really do have these.

沒錯，這是真實存在的設計。

But for this video, let's take a look inside of a regular escalator.

但單就這部影片來說，我們來看看一台一般電扶梯的內部構造吧。

There's a series of individual steps that make up the moving stairs.

電扶梯由一連串單獨的階梯組合成可移動的踏階。

They have ridges on the top and are sometimes made out of rubber so that they have better grip.

它們的表面上有著凹痕，有時踏階會以橡膠製成，讓走上去時的抓地力更好。

The steps are painted yellow around the edge to encourage passengers not to stand too close to the edge.

這些踏階的邊緣處被漆成了黃色，藉此來警示乘客不要站得離邊緣太近。

These steps stay flat while they're on top and it's a good thing, too.

這些踏階到了頂部時會保持平整，而這也是個好事。

Each step has two wheels on the bottom to guide it as it moves along.

每個踏階的底部都有兩個輪子來引導它前進。

Then we have what's called the step chain.

接著是所謂的踏階鏈。

This attaches to the top of each step.

踏階鏈會連接到每個踏階的頂面。

Now all we need is a track system to guide these wheels.

接著我們需要一條軌道系統來引導這些輪子。

The step chain rolls along the top here, and the bottom wheels roll along this track.

踏階鏈會在這裡沿著頂部滾動，而底部的輪子則沿著軌道滾動。

The positioning of these tracks is what keeps the steps level.

這些軌道的位置是讓踏階能保持水平的原因。

Let's just focus on one of the steps as it comes down.

讓我們專注觀察一個踏階下降時的狀況吧。

You can see what would happened at this bottom wheel was just a little bit higher, the step would no longer be flat.

你可以看到哪怕底部的輪子只高出了一點點，踏階便不會保持平整。

Once we get to the end, the steps flip over and come around the other side.

在抵達終點後，踏階便會翻轉過去並前往另一側。

The same thing happens once we get back to the top here.

同樣的狀況也會在頂部這裡再次發生。

The escalator motor is usually up at the top, it has to move this axle and two big gears that pull the step chain.

電扶梯的馬達通常被設置在頂部，而它負責轉動輪軸以及其上的兩個大齒輪，藉此來轉動踏階鏈。

Now we just connect it with more gears and a roller chain.

接著我們只要連接上更多的齒輪以及一條鏈條即可。

Now comes a few more gears.

然後再加上一些齒輪。

These are connected by another small chain underneath.

這些齒輪則由下面更小的鏈條連接。

This is what moves the handrail.

這就是移動扶手的組件。

It's really important that the handrail move at the exact same speed as the steps.

讓扶手用跟扶梯一樣的速度移動是非常重要的。

All of these parts are placed inside a strong metal frame which is called the truss.

這些零件全都被放置在一個被稱為桁架的紮實金屬框架中。

At the top and bottom of the escalator is what we call the comb plate.

在電扶梯的頂部與底部有著稱為櫛板的地板。

The steps go right underneath as their ridges fit close together.

踏階會貼合著凹凸處直接移動到櫛板之下。

If the ridges weren't there, it would be much easier for something to get stuck.

如果沒有這些凹凸處，電扶梯會變得相當容易卡住。

But either way, just remember that it's never a good idea to play around an escalator.

無論如何，請記得不要把電扶梯用來玩耍。

My name is Jared and I love 3D animation.

我叫 Jared，我非常喜歡製作 3D 動畫。

Hit that subscribe button if you want to see more videos just like this one.

如果你想觀賞到更多這種影片，就請點擊訂閱按鈕吧。