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Escalator steps feature grooved cleats that interlock with end plates

Interlocking step grooves sweep debris away at landing terminals for rider safety

The metal treads of escalator steps are deeply grooved with parallel ridges called cleats. At each landing terminal, these grooves mesh with fixed comb plates to prevent footwear, clothing, and foreign debris from slipping into the internal drive gear mechanism underneath.

Where this comes from

Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Tags: escalators, transport, safety

Escalator steps feature grooved cleats that interlock with end plates: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?
Interlocking step grooves sweep debris away at landing terminals for rider safety. The figure is taken from Encyclopaedia Britannica, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
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