GB1010683A - Parking buildings having parking lots arranged for endless circulation - Google Patents

Abstract

1,010,683. Mechanical garages. HITACHI Ltd. March 25, 1964 [April 2, 1963], No. 12728/64. Heading B8E. Parking cages C 1 -C 16 are connected to an endless chain 3 which may be driven in either direction so as to bring a specific parking cage to a desired position in the shortest possible path. Fig. 3 shows a direction selection device comprising switches S 1 -S 16 of which eight are operable when a cam K engages rollers provided on the switch-actuating levers L 1 -L 16 . The cam rotates at a reduced rate proportional to the rotation of the chain 3, thus making one complete turn while the train of cages makes one circulation. In the present embodiment, the cam K rotates in a direction opposite to that of the endless chain 3. Switches S 9 -S 16 are shown actuated. Calling relays A 1 -A 16 are associated with push-button switches B r -B 16 (Fig. 5), and with the respective parking cages C 1 -C 16 , the relays being used to set a stopping position in response to a call. In Fig. 6, contactors 11, 12 for effecting normal and reverse rotation respectively of a three-phase driving motor M are energized via a contact of a leftward direction selecting relay L and via a contact Ra of a rightward direction selecting relay R. Fig. 7 shows contacts 11a, 12a of the contactors 11, 12 for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor M. Assuming it is desired to bring an empty cage C 2 down to the vehicle entrance and exit, the push-button B 2 is operated. The calling relay A 2 and the leftward direction selecting relay L are thus energized and contact La is closed. Contactor 11 becomes energized and contacts 11a 2 , 11a 3 (Fig. 7) are closed to cause the motor M to rotate in the normal direction. The cages then move counter-clockwise and a stoppage ordering contact SD is opened as the cage C 2 arrives at the vehicle exit. In the case when it is desired to bring the cage C 15 (not shown) to the exit, and the direction selection device is in the state as shown in Fig. 5, the switch S 15 is in its operative position due to the cam K. Thus the a contact of S 15 is closed and the rightward direction selecting relay R is energized when the pushbutton B 15 is operated. The cages move clockwise and the cage C 15 travels by the shortest path to the vehicle entrance/exit. At this stage the cam K will be positioned such that switches S 7 -S 14 are actuated and, upon operation of any one of push-buttons B 7 -B 14 , the shortest path rightward for the cages C 7 -C 14 is selected. For cages C 15 , C 16 and C 1 -C 6 the leftward path is selected. A modified direction selection device, Fig. 4 (not shown), comprises sixteen coaxially mounted cams corresponding to the cages C 1 -C 16 . The cams control switches S 1 -S 16 .