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rubseb t1_jaci2o3 wrote

Reply to comment by Phage0070 in Eli5 why do stairwells need to be have two flights in a spiral to go up one floor when escalators can just use the one flight going straight up for the same distance? by exmxn

You could do the same thing with an escalator by having a landing in the middle, and this does happen at times.

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Phage0070 t1_jaci5kx wrote

Technically that is two escalators which increases the cost.

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rubseb t1_jacics6 wrote

Yep.

(Of course two flights of stairs are also two flights of stairs. But yeah, the cost thing.)

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cmlobue t1_jacn1lr wrote

Two flights of 10 steps are not significantly more expensive than one flight of 20 - all you're adding is the landing. Two escalators means twice the mechanical equipment.

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amor__fati___ t1_jacnes4 wrote

Not correct. If you look at how escalators work (eg 3D animations), the step height is a variable that can be completely varied through the length of the escalator. So it can start flat, go up a flight, go flat again, go up again etc very easily and still be the same escalator. It works so simply it is amazing.

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