GB383109A - An improved load carrying and conveying system for garaging motor vehicles and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

383,109. Endless-chain elevators. BOUNEVIALLE, A. C., 94, King's Avenue, Clapham Park. London. Jan. 19, 1932, No. 1575. [Class 78 (i).] Relates to load-carrying devices for garages and the like, of the kind in which a pair of staggered endless travelling members are carried over upper and lower rotatably mounted supports and are connected to a plurality of platforms arranged to travel in a vertical well. According to the invention, each platform is supported at its four corners by the endless travelling members. In one form, the endless travelling members 3, 3a, Figs. 1 and 2, are mounted on and actuated by upper and lower sprocket wheels 1, 1a, 2, 2a, rotatably mounted in the vertical well W. Each member comprises a number of links interconnected by pins, of which the pins 5x. 5ax extend almost completely across the well. These pins are guided by guide rails 4 and are connected to the undersides of the platforms 6 by corner brackets 12, 12a. The pins may carry rollers which engage with additional guide rails 8. Two corners of each platform may be supported also by projections 21b, 22b, Fig. 5, of two auxiliary endless members 21, 22 carried respectively by upper and lower pairs of pulleys 21a, 22a. These members are moved at the same speed as the members 3 and the pulleys are arranged beyond the upper and lower limits of travel of the platforms. The arrangement is such that the projections 21b, 22b engage with and support the platforms during their upward movement only. In a modification, the rotatable supports are dispensed with and the travelling members 3, 3a each consists of links 26, 27, Fig. 10, having equally spaced laterally projecting rollers 25. Mechanically driven sprocket wheels in the well mesh with these rollers and thereby effect the raising and lowering of the platforms. The link pins 5x, 5ax are guided, as above, by the guides 4 and are fitted with a pinion 14 and coupling 15. As shown in plan in Fig. 3, the couplings connect the link pins to two shafts 11, 11a, journalled in the brackets 12, 12a, the two shafts being geared together by a laterally extending shaft 13a. The pinions 14, and pinions 17 on the shaft 11 mesh with external teeth of rack bars 16, 18, which are of similar shape to the guides 4. In operation, the pinions ride over the teeth of the rack bars as the platforms are raised or lowered, the engagement of the teeth constituting a support for each platform corner. An idler wheel 20 meshing with the pinion 17 engages with short auxiliary racks when the pinion 17 meets with an upper and lower gap in the rack bar. These gaps are provided to permit the passage of the link pins of the other travelling member.