519,126. Handling and Storing vehicles. AUGUR, H., and NICHOLSON, N. P. [Representative of PEARSON, W. E.]. Sept. 15, 1938, No. 27003. [Class 78 (iv)] Relates to controlling-means for car-storing equipment in which the cars move step-by-step in a closed cycle to bring any particular car or vacant space opposite to an entrance or exit. Fig. 5 shows pairs of platforms 1, one for each pair of wheels, running on rails 3 along' two parallel ranks and moved' by forked rods 7 engaging downwardly-projecting pillars 4 on the platforms on the forward stroke. The rods are rotated out of register with the pillars on the return stroke. and are reciprocated by the sprocket chain 10 driven from the shaft'9. To transfer the end platforms from. one rank to the other in the movement in the cycle, the platforms first are lowered until the pillars 4 rest on wheeled carriages 25, 25', Fig. 6, which are traversed on rails 28 by the motor 29 and sprocket chains 31. Fig. 10 shows one platform 1 supported on the table 34. By moving the rotated rod 39 axially, rollers 36 moverelatively to earn surfaces 35 and thus lower the table 34 until the pillars 4 rest ,on the carriages 25. Fig. 15 shows the hydraulic lay-out for actuating the cylinders 18, 18<1> at. both ends of the apparatus by the movement of the traversing carriages 25, 25<1>, The 'cylinders 18, 18' are connected across the hydraulic pipes 43, 44 for simultaneous operations, and are used to rotate the rods 7 out of register with the pillars 4 on the platforms. The two motors EM and WM for moving the carriages 25, 25<1> transversely at the ends of the ranks, are geared to shafts 30 which drive the platform-propelling chains and also are coupled through a free-wheel drive to pumps 45 charging the pipes 43, 44. Since the car-platforms may be traversed round the system in either direction, it is necessary to provide means for reversing the action of the pumps 45 on the, motors 18, 18<1>. This is done by fitting changeover valves 46 in the system and energizing electromagnets 47 to change over the valves. when the cars move in one direction round the system. In Fig. 18, showing electric controlapparatus for effecting automatic operation of the plant, 51 shows three-phase alternating current supply mains, while EL and WL show motors for elevating the platforms after lateral transfer, which are of the alternating-current induction type with a high starting torque fed directly from the mains through reversing contactors. The motor RM for effecting rank movement is compound-wound with series and separately-excited windings and is connected through a contactor 51a with a generator G mechanically coupled with a motor M fed from the mains 51. This motor M also drives an exciter EX supplying low-voltage direct current for the various field windings and control apparatus. Two motors EM and WM for lateral traversing of the carriages are similar to the motor RM and are connected to the generator G by contactors 53a, 52a respectively. Resistances included in series with the separatelyexcited windings are cut-out when the motors are started by contacts 51c, 52c, and 53c respectively. The generator G is also compound-wound with a series field GS and a separately - excited field GF. Figs. 19a and 19b show the control circuits employed in connection with the controlling-apparatus of Fig. 18. SD is the selector drum with nine positions, one for each platform position in the series. Turning the drum so that the fingers occupy, for example, position 5, rotates the system until the car on platform 5 occupies the entrance or exit sector and so on. The drum is rotated by the motor SDM. A pilot drum PD controls the sequence of platform movements. This drum is moved forward one step by the motor PDM at the conclusion of each movement of the platforms in the cycle by limit switches and thus initiates a further stepby-step movement of the platforms. At the end of each movement the selector drum is moved back one step. To select a platform for loading or unloading, the push-button PB is' operated, which energizes the relay 68 and the coil 69. Holding contacts 68a then maintain 68. energized so long as contacts 61 and 62 are on their respective segments on the selector drum, and holding contacts 69a maintain the circuit through coil 69. The energizing of coil 69 also closes the contacts 69b which closes the contacts 70a of Fig. 18 and starts the motor EL to raise the platforms at one end of the apparatus to the level of the ranks. A limit switch breaks the circuit through the coil 69 to stop the motor at the completion of the operation. The closing of contacts 69c at this stage connects the positive main through the contacts 68d with the pilot drum contact 71. This renders the lower half. of the pilot drum operative to move the platforms one step in their closed cycle.. At the same time the field winding 102 of the pilot drum motor is connected across the. bus bars through contacts 68c, 83 and 84. This drum will then rotate until the circuit is broken by the contacts 83, 84 leaving the segment 89. When the pilot drum comes to rest, the relay coil 72<1> is energized which initiates movements connecting the motor EM to the generator to move one of the carriages transversely across the end of the ranks until, the limit switch TN breaks the circuit and again 'connects up the pilot drum motor for a further step in their cycle of movements. When the selected platform arrives at the entrance or exit, the relay 68 is broken and by opening the circuit of the field winding 102 prevents further operation of the pilot drum motor. Specifications 502,966, 502,967 and 513,923 are referred to.