Combplate load and obstruction sensor apparatus

The present invention relates to a new and improved escalator combplate load and obstruction sensor capable of monitoring and indicating both horizontal and vertical force and load components. An escalator combplate load and obstruction sensor is capable of monitoring and indicating both horizontal and vertical force and loads. The combplate is mounted for limited horizontal and vertical travel in response to corresponding horizontal and vertical loads. Both the horizontal and vertical travel are resolved into a displacement at an angle to both the horizontal and vertical, and the displacement is applied to a sensing portion of a loadcell which generates an electrical output proportional to the applied displacement and force. An indicator is coupled to the loadcell to indicate a relationship between the displacement applied to the loadcell and at least one reference value, whereby the horizontal and vertical loads applied to the combplate can be monitored and improper load levels determined. By proper choice of the displacement angle differing vertical and horizontal forces can be resolved into the same displacement, allowing a single indicator to simultaneously display both vertical and horizontal loading status.