SG189584A1

SG189584A1 - Aircraft carousel

Info

Publication number: SG189584A1
Application number: SG2011077849A
Authority: SG
Inventors: Schaetz Florian
Original assignee: Schaetz Florian
Priority date: 2011-10-21
Filing date: 2011-10-21
Publication date: 2013-05-31
Also published as: SG11201401644YA; WO2013057706A1

Abstract

AIRCRAFT CAROUSELThe application provides a multi-storey storage device. The multi-storey storage device comprises an upper storey for storing at least one upper aircraft and a lower storey forstoring at least one lower aircraft. The upper storey includes an upper rotatable disc for supporting the upper aircraft, aplurality of supporting elements supporting an outer portionof the upper rotatable disc, and an upper ring beam supporting the supporting elements. The upper rotatable disc, the sup porting elements, and the upper ring beam are arranged such that the upper rotatable disc is rotatable about a verticalaxis. The lower storey includes a doorframe structure for al lowing ingress into the storage device and egress from the storage device. The doorframe structure is connected to the upper ring beam for supporting the upper ring beam.[Fig. 1]

Description

2SDC 011 sG 1 EAU

DESCRIPTION Cee

AIRCRAFT CAROUSEL

The application relates to a multi-storey aircraft hangar with carousels.

Rotary hangars are disclosed in patents US 1,773,656, us 1,855,534, US 2,587,353, US 2,964,144, and US 3,075,654, which show a number of airplane stalls being provided in seg- mental areas of a rotary platform, which is confined within a substantially round house closure that is opened at one side for ingress and for egress of aircrafts from a common ramp or apron.

Us 3,599,809 shows independently rotatable storage platforms sectored into numbered spaces and having their peripheries ar- ranged for contiguous disposition adjacent to an elevator platform and controlled for operation by an indexer operable upon insertion of a coded card to position a particular stor- age space for receipt or discharge of an airplane from or to such elevator platform.

It is an object of the application to provide an improved mul- ti-storey storage device.

This application provides a multi-storey storage device. The multi-storey aspect of the storage device allows more air- crafts to be stored.

The storage device includes an upper storey for storing one or more upper aircrafts and a lower storey for storing one or more lower aircrafts. The storage device often has walls for protecting these aircrafts from the surrounding.

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2SDC 011 SG 2

Referring to the upper storey, it has an upper rotatable disc for supporting the upper aircrafts. The upper rotatable disc has stalls or sectors for supporting the upper aircrafts. Of- ten, tail ends of the aircrafts are placed on inner portions of the sectors while wings of the aircrafts are placed on out- er portions of the sectors. :

A plurality of supporting elements supports an outer portion of the upper rotatable disc while an upper ring beam supports the supporting elements. The upper rotatable disc, the sup- porting elements, and the upper ring beam are arranged such that the upper rotatable disc is rotatable about a vertical axis. The vertical axis is often positioned on a central por- tion of the upper rotatable disc.

Referring to the lower storey, it has a doorframe structure that is connected to the upper ring beam.

Often, the upper ring beam and the doorframe structure com- prise reinforced concrete or steel material while the upper rotatable disc and the lower rotatable disc comprise steel ma- terial.

In use, an aircraft elevator is used to lift to the upper air- craft to an entrance of the upper storey. The upper rotatable disc is then rotated such that an empty sector of the upper rotatable disc is positioned next to the second storey en- trance. The aircraft afterward taxis or moves from the en- trance onto the empty sector. To leave the storage device, the upper rotatable disc is rotated such that the desired aircraft on the upper rotatable disc is positioned next to the en- trance. The desired aircraft is later taxied out of the stor- age device and onto the elevator. This manner of storing air-

25DC 011 SG 3 craft allows the aircrafts to be placed closely next to each other.

Referring to the doorframe structure, it is wide enough to serve as an entrance for allowing the lower aircraft to in- gress into the lower storey of the storage device and to egress from the lower storey of the storage device. The door- frame structure also advantageously supports a portion of the weight of the upper ring beam.

Supporting pillars are often placed around the upper ring beam to bear the weight of the upper ring beam as well as weight of upper aircrafts that is bore by the upper ring beam. In short, the upper ring beam and the supporting pillars act as a weight bearing structure.

The supporting pillars are not placed around the doorframe structure in order not to block movement of aircraft into the storage device or movement of aircraft out of the storage de- vice. Here, the doorframe structure takes the place or role of the omitted support pillars to bear the weight of the upper ring beam. This is often an important role, as the weight of the aircrafts is usually large. In short, the doorframe struc- ture provides support for the upper ring beam while it allows leaving a pillar away where there should be a pillar.

The doorframe structure is often connected to the ground for allowing the ground to provide a supporting force from the ground, via the doorframe structure, to the upper ring beam.

For easy design, the doorframe structure can comprise a sub- stantially U-shaped structure. This structure includes a sub- stantially horizontal beam that is connected to the upper ring

2SDC 011 SG 4 beam and two substantially vertical beams that connect the horizontal beam to the vertical beam.

The lower storey can also include a lower rotatable disc for supporting the lower aircrafts and for providing a compact storage of the lower aircrafts.

The application provides a further multi-storey storage de- vice. The multi-storey storage device includes an upper storey for storing one or more upper aircrafts.

The upper storey has an upper rotatable disc for supporting the upper aircraft, a plurality of supporting elements sup- porting an outer portion of the upper rotatable disc, and an upper ring beam supporting the supporting elements. The upper rotatable disc, the supporting elements, and the upper ring beam are arranged such that the upper rotatable disc is rotat- able about a vertical axis.

The multi-storey storage device further comprises a motor and a torsional supporting structure. This torsional supporting structure connects the upper ring beam to the ground, prevent- ing it from rotating during operation, especially during ac- celerating or decelerating the rotatable disc.

In use, the motor is used for rotating the upper rotatable disc. Starting to move the upper rotatable disc generates a torsional force, which is exerted on the storage device. This torsional force is often large, especially when the upper ro- tatable disc is loaded with several aircrafts, due to the in- ertia of the rotated masses.

The torsional supporting structure is adapted for receiving this torsional force from the motor, via the upper ring beam

25DC 011 SG and for receiving a counter-torsional force from the ground to take up the said torsional force, thereby avoiding a bending of the supporting pillars. 5 In the absence of the torsional supporting structure, other structures of the storage device - such as the supporting pil- lars - would receive and take up the torsional forces. These other structures are often designed for other purposes and may not be able in taking up such torsional forces resulting in a damage of the storage device. This unlike the said torsional supporting structure, which is designed to effectively take up the torsional forces.

The torsional supporting structure can comprise a substantial- ly U-shaped structure for easy design and implementation. The

U-shaped structure can include a substantially horizontal beam that connects to the upper ring beam and substantially verti- cal beams that connect the horizontal beam to the ground.

The multi-storey storage device can include a lower storey for storing one or more aircrafts.

A plurality of vertical pillars is often provided for support- ing the upper ring beam and aircrafts that are supported by the upper ring beam. This arrangement allows the pillars to take up space at outer areas of the storage device without taking up space at inner areas of the storage device, which can then be used to store aircrafts.

The upper ring beam often has a circular shape for receiving easily the circular shape of the rotatable disc.

For stable coupling between the upper ring beam and the upper rotatable disc, the upper ring beam can include a step for re-

2SDC 011 sG 6 ceiving the supporting elements that supports the upper rotat- able disc.

The upper storey often comprises a plurality of central roll- ers being provided below a central portion of the upper rotat- able disc for supporting the weight of the central portion of the upper rotatable disc.

The supporting elements often comprise a plurality of periph- ery rollers being positioned at outer portion of the rotatable disc for easy design.

The application also provides a further multi-storey storage device. The storage device comprises an upper storey for stor- ing at least one upper aircraft. The upper storey comprises an upper rotatable disc, a plurality of supporting elements, an upper ring beam, and a disc rotation motor.

The upper rotatable disc is provided for supporting the upper aircraft while the supporting elements support an outer por- tion of the upper rotatable disc. The upper ring beam is posi- tioned below the supporting elements and it supports the sup- porting elements. The motor is provided for rotating the upper rotatable disc.

The upper rotatable disc, the supporting elements, and the up- per ring beam are arranged or are adapted such that the upper rotatable disc is rotatable about a vertical axis, which is placed in a central portion of the upper rotatable disc.

In addition, the storage device comprises a lower storey for storing at least one lower aircraft. The lower storey compris- es a doorframe structure. The doorframe structure acts an en- trance that allows the lower aircraft to ingress into the se-

25DC 011 sG 7 cond storey of the storage device and to egress from the se- cond storey of the storage device.

The doorframe structure is connected to the upper ring beam such that it supports the weight of the upper ring beam and takes up torsional forces generated by the motor. In short, the doorframe structure acts as a support pillar for the upper ring beam and as a torsional support structure for the upper rotatable disc. These are important functions as the aircrafts : have large structures, which are heavy and the generated tor- sional force can be large.

The doorframe structure is often connected to the ground for support. In this, the doorframe structure receives a stabilis- ing and supporting force from the ground.

For easy design and implementation, the doorframe structure can comprise a substantially U-shaped structure.

The lower storey can comprise a lower rotatable disc for sup- porting the lower aircrafts and thus allowing the storage de- vice to store more aircrafts.

The upper storey can include a plurality of pillars for sup- porting and bearing the weight of the upper ring beam as well as the weight of the aircrafts and of the upper rotatable disc, the aircrafts and the upper rotatable disc are supported by the upper ring beam.

For easy design, the supporting elements often comprise a plu- rality of periphery rollers being positioned at outer portion of the rotatable disc.

2SDC 011 SG 8

The application provides a method of operating a multi-storey storage device for reducing torsional stress.

The method includes a step of starting to rotate an upper ro- tating disc for supporting an aircraft in a first rotational direction, which generates a first torsional moment in one di- rection due to the inertia of the upper rotatable disc. In ad- dition, the method includes another step of rotating a lower rotatable disc for supporting an aircraft in an opposite rota- tional direction. This generates a second torsional moment in another direction, due to the inertia of the second rotatable disc.

The first torsional moment and the second torsional moment are exerted on the storage device and they are pointing in oppo- site directions because of different rotational directions of the upper and lower rotatable discs. Hence, the resultant tor- sional moment experienced by the storage device is reduced, by compensating the outer rotational moment within two neighbour- ing storeys. This allows for building storage devices with more than two storeys. This is of benefit to the storage de- vice as the torsional moment is often large and can damage the storage device, if not handled properly. Operating the storage device without synchronized compensating rotational moments would make it necessary to lead the torsional moment due to accelerate or decelerating the rotating disc through all sto- reys below into the ground.

Fig. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional top view of a multi- storey aircraft hangar,

Fig. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the multi-storey aircraft hangar of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the mul- ti-storey aircraft hangar of Fig. 1,

2SDC 011 SG 9

Fig. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a roller being connected with a motor of the multi-storey aircraft hangar of Fig. 1 taken along line A-A of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 illustrates a top view of the multi-storey aircraft hangar of Fig. 1 with an aircraft elevator,

Fig. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional top view of another multi-storey aircraft hangar, and

Fig. 7 illustrates torsional force-supporting frames for a three-storey aircraft hangar.

In the following description, details are provided to describe embodiments of the application. It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be prac- ticed without such details.

Some parts of the embodiments, which are shown in the Figs. below, have similar parts. The similar parts may have the same names or the similar part numbers. The description of such similar parts also applies by reference to other similar parts, where appropriate, thereby reducing repetition of text without limiting the disclosure.

Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show different views of a multi-storey air- craft hangar 10.

The hangar 10 comprises a two-storey building with a rotating disc-supporting doorframe 13 and with a torsional force- supporting frame 14, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The build- ing is omitted from Figs. 1, 2, and 3 for the sake of simplic- ity.

The building includes walls that enclose a horizontal upper rotatable disc 17 and a horizontal lower rotatable disc 18.

Referring to Fig. 3, the upper rotatable disc 17, which is lo-

28DC 011 SG 10 cated in a first storey of the building, is positioned verti- cally above the lower rotatable disc 18, which is located in a second storey of the building.

The lower rotatable disc 18 is positioned at ground level. It has a central hollow 19, an inner ring portion 20 that sur- rounds the central hollow 19, as well as a circular rim por- tion 21.

A lower ring-beam 23 and a pile cap 26 are positioned below the lower rotatable disc 18 and are rotatably connected to the lower rotatable disc 18. The lower ring-beam 23 and the pile cap 23 are also connected by a plurality of horizontal tie beams 34 with a drainage structure 35.

The lower ring-beam 23 has a circular step 24, which is locat- ed between an external surface and an internal surface of the lower ring-beam 23. A plurality of steel step rollers 25 is disposed on the circular step 24. The rim portion 21 of the lower rotatable disc 18 is positioned above the step rollers 25, wherein the step rollers 25 contact and support the rim portion 21. The bottom of the lower ring-beam 23 connected to top portions of a plurality of vertical foundation piles 32, which are placed inside the ground.

In contrast, a plurality of steel cap rollers 29 is disposed on the pile cap 26. The inner ring portion 20 of the lower ro- tatable disc 18 is positioned above the cap rollers 29, where- in the cap rollers 29 contact and support the inner ring por- tion 20. The bottom of the pile cap 26 is also connected to top portions of the vertical foundation piles 32, which are placed inside the ground.

25DC 011 SG 11

The step rollers 25, the cap rollers 29, and the lower rotata- ble disc 18 are arranged such that the lower rotatable disc 18 is rotatable about a vertical axis that passes through the central hollow 19 of the lower rotatable disc 18.

Referring to the upper rotatable disc 17, it is positioned at a distance above the lower rotatable disc 18, wherein the sep- aration between the upper rotatable disc 17 and the lower ro- tatable disc 18 allows an aircraft to be placed on the lower rotatable disc 18. The upper rotatable disc 17 has a central hollow 38, an inner ring portion 39 that surrounds the central hollow 38, as well as a circular rim portion 40. The upper ro- tatable disc 17 is placed above an upper ring-beam 43 and a column cap 50.

The upper ring-beam 43 has a circular step 45, which is posi- tioned between the said internal surface and the said external surface of the upper ring-beam 43. A plurality of steel step rollers 47 is disposed on the circular step 45. The rim por- tion 40 of the upper rotatable disc 17 is positioned above the step rollers 47, wherein the step rollers 47 contact and sup- port the rim portion 40.

A group of nine vertical pillars 55 connects a lower part of the lower ring-beam 23 to an upper part the upper ring-beam 43. The vertical pillars 55 are positioned around the upper ring-beam 43 such that two pillars 55, which are positioned nearest to the disc-supporting doorframe 13, are separated by a larger distance while the other pillars 55 are separated from their adjacent pillars by a smaller distance. The larger- separated two pillars 55 and the disc-supporting doorframe 13 are also adapted such that a wingspan of an aircraft can pass through the disc-supporting doorframe 13 and pass in-between these said two pillars 55.

2SDC 011 SG 12

In comparison, a plurality of steel cap rollers 52 is disposed on the column 50. The inner ring portion 39 of the upper ro- tatable disc 17 is positioned above the cap rollers 52, where- in the cap rollers 52 contact and support the inner ring por- tion 39. A vertical central column 57 connects a lower part of the pile cap 26 to a top part of the column cap 50.

The step rollers 47, the cap rollers 52, and the upper rotata- ble disc 17 are arranged such that the upper rotatable disc 17 is rotatable about a vertical axis that passes through the central hollow 38 of the upper rotatable disc 17.

The above-described placement of the vertical pillars 55 at the outer portion of the lower ring-beam 23 and the above- described placement of central column 57 allow space on the lower rotatable disc 18 for holding aircrafts.

Upper surfaces of the lower rotatable disc 18 and the upper rotatable disc 17 are each coated with a layer of intumescent paint while the upper rotatable disc 17 and the lower rotata- ble disc 18 comprise steel material. The upper ring-beam 43 and the lower ring-beam 23 comprise reinforced concrete.

The disc-supporting doorframe 13 comprises a U-shaped struc- ture being connected to the upper ring-beam 43. The U-shaped structure includes a horizontal beam 60. A central part of the horizontal beam 60 is connected to the upper ring-beam 43. A first end of the horizontal beam 60 is connected to an upper end of a first vertical beam 63 while a lower end of the first vertical beam 63 is connected to the ground. Likewise, a se- cond end of the horizontal beam 60 is connected to an upper end of a second vertical beam 66 while a lower end of the se- cond vertical beam 66 is connected to the ground. The first

2S8SDC 011 SG 13 vertical beam 63 and the second vertical beam 66 are separated by a gap 68, which is wide enough for a wingspan of an air- craft to pass through.

In a similar manner, the torsional force-supporting frame 14 includes a U-shaped structure being connected to the upper ring-beam 43. The U-shaped structure includes a horizontal beam 70. A central part of the horizontal beam 70 is connected to the upper ring-beam 43. A first end of the horizontal beam 70 is connected to an upper end of a first vertical beam 73 while a lower end of the first vertical beam 73 is connected to the ground. Likewise, a second end of the horizontal beam 70 is connected to an upper end of a second vertical beam 76 while a lower end of the second vertical beam 76 is connected to the ground.

Fig. 4 shows a roller 80 being connected to a disc motor 82.

The disc motor 82 is located near to the connection between the horizontal beam 70 of the torsional force-supporting frame 14 and the upper ring-beam 43. The disc motor 82 is attached to a bracket 86, which is mounted to the circular step 45 of the upper ring-beam 43. The roller 80 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 84 of the disc motor 82. An external surface of the roller 80 is engaged frictionally with a lower surface of the upper rotatable disc 17.

Fig. 5 shows the multi-storey aircraft hangar 10 with an air- craft elevator 90. The aircraft elevator 90 is positioned ad- jacent to the disc-supporting doorframe 13 of the aircraft hangar 10. A plurality of aircrafts 95 are placed on a rotata- ble disc of the aircraft hangar 10

In one implementation, the upper rotatable disc 17 is separat- ed from the lower rotatable disc 18 by a distance of about

2SDC 011 SG 14 5.71 meter, wherein the said distance provide clearance for the aircraft to be placed on the lower rotatable disc 18. The lower rotatable disc 18 has a diameter of about 22.0 meters the upper rotatable disc 17 has a diameter of about 22.5 me- ters. These dimensions allow pre-determined aircrafts to be placed on the rotatable discs 17 and 18. For allowing the up- per ring beam 43 to support the upper rotatable disc 17, the upper ring-beam 43 has an internal surface with a diameter of about 22.06 meters and an external surface with a diameter of about 22.86 meters.

In a general sense, the aircraft hangar 10 can have two or more storeys for storing aircrafts.

In use, the building of the hangar 10 is used for storing air- crafts. Walls and roof of the building protects these air- crafts from external environmental conditions.

An entrance at the first storey of the building allows the aircraft to enter inside the hangar 10. The lower rotatable disc 18 has stalls or sections for receiving these aircrafts and for supporting the aircrafts. The upper surface of the lower rotatable disc 18 is flush with the ground such that the aircraft can be rolled from the ground onto the lower rotata- ble disc 18. In most cases, the aircraft is placed on the sec- tion such that a tail end of the aircraft is positioned on an inner portion of the section while wings of the aircraft are positioned on an outer portion of the section.

A motor, which is not shown in the Fig., rotates the lower ro- tatable disc 18, according to commands of a user. The motor may rotate an empty section adjacent to the said building en- trance for receiving an aircraft or it may rotate a section, which supports an aircraft, such that the section is adjacent

28DC 011 sG 15 to the said building entrance for allowing the aircraft to leave the building.

The foundation piles 32 support and hold the weight of the lower ring-beam 23 and the pile cap 26 while the ground sup- ports the foundation piles 32. The lower ring-beam 23 then supports the step rollers 25, which in-turn support the rim portion 21 of the lower ring-beam 23. In contrast, the pile cap 26 supports the cap rollers 29, while the cap rollers 29 support the inner ring portion 20 of the lower rotatable disc 18. The step rollers 25 and the cap rollers 29 also enable the lower rotatable disc 18 to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about its central portion. The horizontal tie beams 34 keep the lower ring-beam 23 at a fixed distance from the pile cap 23.

Similarly, an entrance at the second storey of the building also allows the aircraft to enter the hangar 10. The aircraft elevator 90 provides a platform for receiving the aircraft and then for lifting the aircraft to a height that enable the air- craft to be taxied into the second storey entrance. The plat- form also enables the aircraft to be lowered from the second storey to the ground level.

The lower ring-beam 23 supports the vertical pillars 55 while the vertical pillars 55 support the upper ring-beam 43. The upper ring-beam 43 then supports the step rollers 47, which support the rim portion 40 of the upper rotatable disc 17. In contrast, the pile cap 26 Supports the vertical central column 57 while the vertical central column 57 supports the column cap 50. The column cap 50 supports the cap rollers 52, while the cap rollers 52 support the inner ring portion 39 of the upper rotatable disc 17. The step rollers 47 and the cap roll-

28DC 011 SG 16 ers 52 allow the upper rotatable disc 17 to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about its central portion.

The gap 68 of the U-shaped structure of the disc-supporting doorframe 13 provides an entrance that allows an aircraft to pass through into an interior of the building while the disc- supporting doorframe 13 together with the vertical pillars 55 supports the upper ring-beam 43. The supporting doorframe 13 supports the upper ring-beam 43 via the connection between the horizontal beam 60 of the disc-supporting doorframe 13 and the upper ring-beam 43. The disc-supporting doorframe 13 allows a supporting force to be transmitted from the ground, via the vertical beams 63 and 66, via the horizontal beam 60, to the upper ring-beam 43.

This disc-supporting doorframe 13 has advantages of providing a wide entrance that allows an aircraft to pass through while producing support for the weight of the upper ring-beam 43.

This allows the entrance to be free of other supporting pil- lars, which would have blocked the aircraft from passing through.

The torsional force-supporting frame 14 allows torsional forc- es, which are generated by the motor 82 during rotation of the upper rotatable disc 17, to be transmitted to the ground. The torsional forces exert a twisting force on the vertical pil- lars 55, as the torsional forces are transmitted, via the roller 80, via the motor 82, via the upper ring-beam 43, via the vertical pillars 55, to the ground. These twisting forces may damage the vertical pillars 55. The frame 14 prevents this damage by taking up a portion of the torsional forces away from the vertical pillars 55. The of the torsional force por- tion is transmitted from the upper rotatable disc 17, via the roller 80, via the motor 82, via the upper ring-beam 43, via

2SDC 011 SG 17 the horizontal beam 70, via the vertical beams 73 and 76, to the ground.

In a general sense, the torsional force-supporting frame 14 and the disc-supporting doorframe 13 can be integrated as a single structure, which is illustrated below.

Fig. 6 shows another multi-storey aircraft hangar 10’. The hangar 10 includes a frame 100 being connected to an upper ring beam 43. A disc motor 82 is located near to the connec- tion between the frame 100 and the upper ring beam 43. In use, the frame 100 serves as a torsional force-supporting frame and a disc-supporting doorframe.

Fig. 7 shows torsional force-supporting frames 14 and 14’ for a three-storey aircraft hangar, wherein the frame 14’ is con- nected to the frame 14, which is connected to ground. The three-storey aircraft hangar and the hangar 10 of Fig. 1 have similar parts. The similar parts have the same part number with a prime symbol.

The frame 14 includes a U-shaped structure being connected to a second-storey ring-beam with a second-storey rotatable disc for supporting aircrafts. The said ring-beam and the said ro- tatable disc are not shown in Fig. 7. The U-shaped structure includes a horizontal beam 70. A central part of the horizon- tal beam 70 is connected to the second-storey ring-beam via a second-storey disc motor 82. A first end of the horizontal beam 70 is connected to an upper end of a first vertical beam 73 while a lower end of the first vertical beam 73 is connect- ed to the ground. Likewise, a second end of the horizontal beam 70 is connected to an upper end of a second vertical beam 76 while a lower end of the second vertical beam 76 is con- nected to the ground.

2SDC 011 sG 18

Similarly, the frame 14’ includes a U-shaped structure being connected to a third-storey ring-beam with a third-storey ro- tatable disc for supporting aircrafts. The said ring-beam and the said rotatable disc are not shown in Fig. 7. The U-shaped structure includes a horizontal beam 70’. A central part of the horizontal beam 70’ is connected to the third-storey ring- beam via a third-storey disc motor 82’. A first end of the horizontal beam 70’ is connected to an upper end of a first vertical beam 73’ while a lower end of the first vertical beam 73" is connected to an upper end of the first vertical beam 73. Likewise, a second end of the horizontal beam 70’ is con- nected to the upper end of a second vertical beam 76’ while a lower end of the second vertical beam 76’ is connected to the upper end of the vertical beam 76.

A possible method of operating the third-storey rotatable disc is described below.

The method includes a step of activating the third-storey disc motor 82’ to rotate the third-storey rotatable disc in a first rotational direction. This rotation generates a torsional force F’, which is exerted on the frames 14’ and 14. The force

F’ is shown in Fig. 7.

At the same time, the second-storey disc motor 82 is activated to rotate the second-storey rotatable disc in a second rota- tional direction, which is opposite to the first rotational direction. This second rotation generates a torsional force F, which is also exerted in the frames 14’ and 14. The torsional forces F and F’ are pointing in opposite directions.

In effect, the torsional F’ acts to bend the frames 14’ and 14 while the torsional force F acts to reduce this destructive

25DC 011 sG 19 bending. In short, the resultant torsional force or the re- sultant bending force is reduced. This is especially important during starting and stopping phases of rotating the third- storey disc, when the bending force is large, due to the iner- tia of the rotating discs.

Although the above description contains much specificity, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodi- ments but merely providing illustration of the foreseeable em-

Dbodiments. The above stated advantages of the embodiments should not be construed especially as limiting the scope of the embodiments but merely to explain possible achievements if the described embodiments are put into practice. Thus, the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the claims and their equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

25DC 011 sG 20

REFERENCE NUMBER

10 aircraft hangar 10’ aircraft hangar 13 disc-supporting doorframe 14 torsional force-supporting frame 17 upper rotatable disc 18 lower rotatable disc 19 central hollow 20 inner ring portion 21 circular rim portion 23 lower ring-beam 24 circular step 25 step roller 26 pile cap 29 cap roller 32 foundation pile 34 tie beam 35 drainage structure 38 central hollow 39 inner ring portion 43 upper ring-beam 45 circular step 47 step roller 50 column cap 52 cap roller 55 vertical pillar 57 vertical central column 60 horizontal beam 63 first vertical beam 66 second vertical beam 68 gap 70 horizontal beam 73 first vertical beam

2SDC 011 SG 21 76 second vertical beam 80 roller 82 disc motor 90 aircraft elevator 95 aircraft 100 frame

Claims

2SDC 011 sG 22 CLAIMS

1. A multi-storey storage device comprising an upper storey for storing at least one upper air- craft, the upper storey comprising - an upper rotatable disc for supporting the up- per aircraft, - a plurality of supporting elements an outer portion of the upper rotatable disc, and - an upper ring beam supporting the supporting elements, wherein the upper rotatable disc, the support- ing elements, and the upper ring beam are ar- ranged such that the upper rotatable disc is rotatable about a vertical axis, and a lower storey for storing at least one lower air- craft, the lower storey comprising - a doorframe structure for allowing ingress into the storage device and egress from the storage device, wherein the doorframe structure is connected to the upper ring beam for supporting the upper ring beam.

2. The multi-storey storage device according to claim 1, wherein the doorframe structure is connected to the ground.

3. The multi-storey storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the doorframe structure comprises a substantially U- shaped structure.

4. The multi-storey storage device according to one of above-mentioned claims, wherein

28DC 011 SG 23 the lower storey further comprises a lower rotatable disc for supporting the lower aircraft.

5. A multi-storey storage device comprising an upper storey for storing at least one upper air- craft, the upper storey comprising - an upper rotatable disc for supporting the up- per aircraft, - - a plurality of supporting elements supporting an outer portion of the upper rotatable disc, and - an upper ring beam supporting the supporting elements, wherein the upper rotatable disc, the support- ing elements, and the upper ring beam are ar- ranged such that the upper rotatable disc is rotatable about a vertical axis, the multi-storey storage device further comprising - a motor for rotating the upper rotatable disc, and - a torsional supporting structure connecting the upper ring beam to the ground.

6. The multi-storey storage device according to claim 5, wherein the torsional supporting structure comprises a substan- tially U-shaped structure.

7. The multi-storey storage device according to one of above-mentioned claims further comprising a lower storey for storing at least one lower aircraft.

8. The multi-storey storage device according to one of above-mentioned claims, wherein

2SDC 011 SG 24 the upper storey further comprises a plurality of pillars for supporting the upper ring beam.

9. The multi-storey storage device according to one of above-mentioned claims, wherein the upper ring beam comprises a circular shape.

10. The multi-storey storage device according to one of above-mentioned claims, wherein the upper ring beam comprises a step for receiving the supporting elements.

11. The multi-storey storage device according to one of above-mentioned claims, wherein the upper storey further comprises a plurality of central rollers being provided below a central portion of the up- per rotatable disc.

12. The multi-storey storage device according to one of above-mentioned claims, wherein the supporting elements comprise a plurality of periphery rollers.

13. A multi-storey storage device comprising an upper storey for storing at least one upper air- craft, the upper storey comprising - an upper rotatable disc for supporting the up- per aircraft, - a plurality of supporting elements supporting an outer portion of the upper rotatable disc, - an upper ring beam being provided below the supporting elements, wherein the upper rotatable disc, the support- ing elements, and the upper ring beam are ar-

2SDC 011 SG 25 ranged such that the upper rotatable disc is rotatable about a vertical axis, and - a motor for rotating the upper rotatable disc, a lower storey for storing at least one lower air- craft, the lower storey comprising - a doorframe structure for allowing ingress into the storage device and egress from the storage device, wherein the doorframe structure is connected to the upper ring beam for supporting the upper ring beam and for taking up torsional forces generated by the motor.

14. The multi-storey storage device according to claim 13, wherein the doorframe structure is connected to the ground.

15. The multi-storey storage device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the doorframe structure comprises a substantially U- shaped structure.

16. The multi-storey storage device according to one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the lower storey further comprises a lower rotatable disc for supporting the lower aircraft.

17. The multi-storey storage device according to one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the upper storey further comprises a plurality of pillars for supporting the upper ring beam.

18. The multi-storey storage device according to one of claims 13 to 17, wherein

25DC 011 SG 26 the supporting elements comprise a plurality of periphery rollers.

19. A method of operating a multi-storey storage device for storing aircrafts comprising rotating an upper rotatable disc for supporting at least one upper aircraft in one rotational direction and rotating an lower rotatable disc for supporting at least one upper aircraft in opposite rotational direction such that these synchronized rotations cause a reduction of [com- bined] resultant torsional moment.