GB653507A - Improvements in mechanical storage equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

653,507. Marshalling and handling vehicles. AUGER, H. June 25, 1947, Nos. 16730, 16731 and 33091. [Class 78 (iv)] In mechanical storage equipment for motor cars and other large objects of the type in which the cars are carried on platforms arranged in ranks side-by-side and transferred between ranks by cross-overs, the cross-over traversing means is set by relatively shifting the traversing means with respect to the platform units, so that the platform units can be brought either on to and off the traversing means or on to and off non-traversing parts. The shifting is preferably longitudinally of the ranks. The equipment consists of two main ranks of platforms each consisting of two subordinate ranks. Each platform is provided with two outer pairs of rollers 16a, Figs. 4, 6a and 7a, the right-hand pair in Figs. 6a and 7a not being shown. Each platform has also two inner pairs of rollers 16b. The rollers run on the lower ledges of channel rails 14 secured to concrete sleepers 19 excepting at the ends of the ranks where cross-overs are placed. The crossovers each comprise a movable unit of rails 23 in a gap of which is secured a traversing runway 20a, while another runway 20b is secured at the ends of rails 23. The platform rollers now run on the upper ledge of rails 23 and lateral movement is prevented by means of guide-pieces 17 fixed to the platform frames 18, Figs. 4, 6a and 7a, alongside rollers 16a. The arrangement of rollers on the platforms enables the platforms to be supported by either roller 16a or 16b while one of them is in the runway gap at either end of the equipment if a crossover is included at both ends. The platforms are moved in unitary amounts equal to their length so that the end platform in each rank is always in the same position. Thus, the movable unit of the cross-over can be shifted either to place the runway gap between rollers 16a and 16b on the left-hand side (the second runway on the right, not shown, being then to the right of both rollers), so that a carriage 27 can freely traverse each runway, Fig. 6a, or to place the runway gaps in line with the axles of rollers 16a which, when the carriages are in place, sets them for traversing, Fig. 7a. The movable unit is mounted for shifting on rollers 24 journalled in fixed bearings in concrete blocks 25, and engaging the undersides of the upper ledges of rails 23. The innermost rails 23a are oppositely turned so that they are engaged by rollers 24a on centrally-disposed blocks 25a. Extra rails 23b and an associated block 25b and rollers 24b are placed on the opposite side of runway 20b, rails 23b being secured to runway 20b, for balance, although they are not otherwise necessary. The carriages 27 each comprise two inverted angle-irons 28, the depending flanges carrying the axles of pairs of rollers 29 which engage rails 21 of the runways. On the top of each carriage are fixed four blocks 30 so that when the carriage is at either end of its traverse these are in line with the upper ledges of four rails 23 forming a main rank. In operation, a pair of platforms in two subordinate ranks is moved into the end position on the cross-over and the cross carriages may then be brought underneath them, Fig. 6a. The movable unit is then shifted to the left, Fig. 7a causing rollers 16a to ride up blocks 30 which are suitably shaped to retain the rollers in position, the platforms then being clear of the rails 23 and so ready for traversing. The guide-pieces 17 engage blocks 30 laterally to prevent sideways movement during traversing. In single-space working, two cross-overs, one at either end, may be shifted always in the same direction, i.e. one extended while the other is drawn in, this being carried out by longitudinally extending connectors 46x from a centrally-disposed actuator. This same actuator is preferably used for platform shifting in the ranks. The traversing carriages are reciprocated simultaneously on both cross-overs from a centrally-disposed actuator by means of core and reaction sheath transmission cables 26a and 26b, which extend in a loop to cover the cross-over shifting and thence are carried in the interior of the connectors 46x. Specifications 653,492, 653,496 and 653,506 are referred to.