US2714456A

US2714456A - Car parking system

Info

Publication number: US2714456A
Application number: US376152A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carlisle F Manaugh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-08-24
Filing date: 1953-08-24
Publication date: 1955-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 1972-08-02

Description

2, 1955 c. F. MANAUGH 2,714,456

CAR PARKING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 24, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Ciqez 151.5 A/WHNQUGH United States Patent CAR PARKING SYSTEM Carlisle F. Manaugh, Pacific Palisades, Calif. Application August 24, 1953, Serial No. 376,152 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-161) This invention relates to mechanical car parking systems and more particularly to a construction comprising spaced, multiple tier parking structures with suitable craneways for storing a large number of cars in a given area.

Mechanical parking systems in which cars are loaded in stalls arranged on multiple tiers by suitable crane mechanisms are well known. These systems, however, generally utilize a craneway running between two multiplestory parking structures having a row of stalls on each story to receive the cars from the elevators. The crane way usually extends parallel to the street, and the structure is relatively elongated parallel to the craneway, so as to accommodate a substantial number of cars on each story or tier. However, this type structure does not utilize the full depth of most commercial lots. Moreover, the limitation to a single craneway results in serious trafiic congestion, particularly during rush hours. Such a structure can also be erected with the craneway at right angles to the street, with multiple-story stall structures arranged on each side. This arrangement can make better use of the depth of the lot, but is inflexible as regards width. It also is subject to serious trailic congestion, particularly during rush hours. In addition, the cars cannot be driven straight into the elevator from the street, since their positioning on the elevator is at right angles to the street.

A general object of the invention is the provision of a mechanical car parking system which is inherently of greatly improved flexibility as regards its adaptability to various sizes of commercial lots, and which is especially adaptable to commercial downtown lots which are often relatively narrow, as sixty feet or even forty feet, and of a depth of approximately 120 feet.

The fact that trafiic congestion has remained a problem with prior mechanical parking systems has been mentioned. The number of cars a parking system will accommodate is set, in fact, not by the number of stalls provided, but by the tolerable trafiic congestion limit during rush hours.

A further object of the invention is accordingly the provision of a mechanical car parking system having unusually flexible loading and unloading facility, adaptable to use during rush times of either loading or unloading, in such a way as to increase the efficiency and permit handling of the largest possible number of cars per hour.

A still further disability of prior mechanical car parking systems is that breakdown of an elevator creates a situation wherein cars cannot be unloaded.

A further object is accordingly the provision of a multiple-story mechanical car parking system having improved facility for unloading in the event of breakdown of an elevator.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention are attained by providing a construction divided into a series of structural sections or units extending transversely across the parking lot and spaced longitudinally of the lot by suitable craneways. Each structural unit comprises a ground story and multiple tiers above the ground story, these units being of substantially rectangular shape as seen in plan view and including a longitudinal row of stalls. The stalls are disposed transversely of the length dimension of the rectangle. In the craneways are elevator mechanisms adapted to move both vertically and horizontally to service the various stalls. Also provided in the first craneway is an entrance conveyer means adapted to move cars from certain stalls of the ground story of the first unit, across the first craneway, and to the ground story of the second unit, so as to be adjacent the second craneway, in position to be serviced by the elevator in the latter. Similarly, exit conveyor means are provided in the second craneway to move cars from certain stalls of the ground floor of the second unit across the second craneway to the ground story of the third unit.

In order to accommodate the conveyer means, the craneways are constructed to support the elevating mechanism from one or more of the upper stories of the unit The elevator may thus be hoisted up to pass over the conveyer means when the elevator is moving in a horizontal direction.

It will be seen that in the arrangement as thus described, the elevator in the first craneway services the first storage unit, and also the second storage unit, while the elevator in the second craneway services both the second storage unit and the third storage unit. At times of peak loading, both elevators can be used for loading. When loading and unloading are about equal, the first craneway elevator can be used predominantly for loading and the second craneway elevator predominantly for un loading. During periods of peak unloading, both elevators can be used predominantly for unloading.

In the event of breakdown of one of the elevators, the other is still capable of unloading two of the storage units, so that a minimum of two-thirds of the cars stored can still be unloaded by the remaining elevator, and by use of a temporary bridge across the craneway corresponding to the broken-down elevator, the remaining cars can be gotten across to positions in the second unit where the remaining elevator can remove them.

A better understanding of the system will be had by referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic perspective view of a portion of an illustrative car parking system according to the in vention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view showing the manner of operation of the elevator mechanism in one of the craneways and also showing a traverse mechanism for moving the cars, in extended position. A simple bridge to be used in the event the craneway breaks down is also illustrated;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 disclose various arrangements for the entrance and exit conveyer means on the ground stories of the various units and craneways; and

Fig. 6 shows a plan schematic view of the second and subsequent stories or tiers.

The drawings show the parking system only diagrammatically since the structures involved may be constructed according to known building practice, and elevators or cranes, conveyers, and the like utilized in the system may be conventional as will readily be understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a parking lot bounded on its front by the boundary line 10 and at its rear by the boundary line 11. The sides of the lot are confined by the

boundary lines

12 and 13. By way of example only, the dimensions of the lot shown in Fig. 1 may be 60 feet by feet as indicated. This size lot is somewhat narrower than the conventional area employed in downtown sections for parking automobiles.

In a preferred layout, the parking system includes an open area or space S at the front entrance for manipulating cars. The construction itself is divided into three

structural units

14, 15, and 16 of general rectangular shape as seen in plan view, disposed transversely of the lot and spaced from one another longitudinally of the lot. Between the first or forward and second or

intermediate units

14 and 15 there is provided a first crane way 17 and between the second or intermediate and third or

rearward units

15 and 16 there is provided a second craneway 18. As shown in Fig. l, the craneway 17 accommodates an elevator mechanism E1 adapted to move vertically and horizontally within the craneway as indicated by the arrows. Craneway 13 accommodates a similar elevating mechanism E2.

The first unit 14 comprises a ground story 20 and multiple tiers, only one of which is shown at 21 for simplicity. Similarly, the second and third units, respectively, include a ground story 22, first tier 23, and other upper tiers, not shown, and a ground story 24, first tier 25, and other upper tiers, not shown. Thus, while only one tier has been shown above each of the ground stories 21 22, and 24, it is to be understood that any number of tiers may be provided on each unit. Also, it is to be understood that any number of units may be provided spaced by further craneways, three units being shown for the particular illustrative lot.

As shown in greater detail in Fig. 2, the elevating mechanism E-l in the craneway 1'7 is suspended from the first tiers or second stories of the first and

second units

14 and 15, the reason for which will become clear as the description proceeds.

Mounted on the elevator is a traverse mechanism T embodying a carriage C adapted, first, to reach under a car A, lift it up, and move it onto the elevator, and second, to reach out into a stall, lower the car onto the stall floor, and return. A preferred traverse mechanism for accomplishing this is fully described and disclosed in copending application Serial No. 376,153, filed August 24, 1953, by Donald E. Grove and titled Car Parking Apparatus. Another system is shown in United States Patent No. 2,626,065. Since the particular type of traverse mechanism employed constitutes no part of the pres ent invention, it is not deemed necessary to describe its operation in detail. Sufiice to say that the mechanism is such that an automobile as shown at A may be deposited into either a front stall F or a rear stall R in one or the other of the two units, and subsequently be retrieved from the stall by a reverse operation. It will also be evident that this traverse mechanism may be utilized to transport or convey a car across the craneway from a front stall F to an opposed rear stall R.

The elevating mechanism -1 with its traverse mechanism is adapted to ride vertically in a supporting frame 26, disposed in the craneway 17. Frame 26 is in turn movably mounted at its lower end on rails 27 extending longitudinally along the sides of the craneway at any level above the first story and rails 28 similarly longitudinally extending along the craneway at a higher level. The reason for mounting the frame above the first story will become clear as the description proceeds. The construction is such that the elevator E1 may be lowered from the frame 26 to service the first stories of the various units. It will be noted that the ground story of the craneway 17 as shown in Fig. 2 defines a sump or disposal area V designed to accommodate the elevator E1 when lowered to the first floor so that the top of the elevator will be even with opposed first story stalls.

In Fig. 2, there is also shown a temporary bridge B comprising a flat plate member 29 having extending end flanges 30 adapted to engage the edges of the floors of opposed parking stalls as shown. This bridge 13 may be temporarily placed in position to permit a car to cross from one section to the other in the event the elevator mechanism in the craneway breaks down.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the ground story 20 of the first unit 14 comprises six entrance stalls 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36. To accommodate conveyer means to be presently described, and also since cars may be driven directly into the stalls, these stalls are made somewhat larger than the stalls in the upper tiers, in order to permit the car doors to be opened and people to climb in and climb out. On the first tier 21 of the first section, however, there may be accommodated seven

stalls

41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47, since cars may be more closely packed as they are locked and there will be no occasion to open the doors.

in one type of layout (Fig. 3), there may be provided entrance conveyer means operating into the

stalls

31 and 32 for moving cars across the craneway 17 directly into the second unit 15 adjacent craneway 18. A suitable tunnel structure 51 may be provided housing these conveyers over which the elevating mechanism E-1 in craneway 17 may pass by simply raising the elevator to the second story. it is to permit this action that the frame 26 supporting the elevator mechanism is mounted on the second or higher stories.

The ground story of the last unit 16, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises six exit stalls 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, and 66, shown clearly in Fig. 3. Two exit stalls such as 65 and 66 may serve to accommodate exit conveyers running from a position within the ground story of the second unit 15, across the second craneway 18, and into the ground story of the third unit 16 (Fig. 3). As in the case of the first conveyer system, a suitable tunnel 52 may be provided in craneway 18 housing the exit conveyers.

A pedestrian passageway and housing H extending the full length of the construction may be provided along the left side to permit customers to'walk along the length of the construction. This passage may include a small enclosure for the cashier, as shown.

Fig. 3 shows in schematic plan view the ground stories of the

various units

14, 15, and 16 with the craneways 17 and 18 interposed therebetween. The elevating mechanisms E-1 and E-Z are omitted for purposes of clarity. As shown, the entrance conveyer means may comprise

raverse mechanisms

70 and 71 of the type described in the above referred to copending application and shown in Fig. 2 on the elevating mechanism E1. This type of conveyer is adapted to move a car from the ground story of the first unit 14, from the

stall

31 or 32, for example, and across the first craneway 17 into an

opposed stall

53 or 54 of the ground story of the second unit 15. Similarly, the exit conveyers may comprise traverse

mechanisms

72 and 73 for moving cars from the ground story of the second unit 15 across the second craneway 18 to the ground, story stalls 65 and 66 of the third unit 16. These traverse mechanisms may be identical to the type used on the elevator as previously described in connection with Fig. 2, except that they are stationarily mounted in the

craneways

17 and 18 as shown, their carriages being adapted to move between the

units

14 and 15, or 15 and 16, as the case may be.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 3, the operation of the car parking system will now be described:

Cars to be parked enter the lot across the front border 10 and are driven directly into any one of the stalls 31. 32, 33, 34, 35, or 36 in the ground story of the first unit 14. Any cars driven into the four

stalls

33, 34, 35, or 36 may be locked'and left there to he picked up by the traverse mechanism on the elevator E-1 of craneway 1'7 and deposited in any of the stalls on the tiers above the ground story in either

units

15 or 16.

After these cars have been removed, further cars may be driven up into the pickup stalls 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 and similarly disposed of by the elevators E-1 and E2 in the respective craneways 17 and 18.

To unload a car from any particular stallinany one of the tiers in the

units

14, 15, and 16, the appropriate elevator mechanism in

craneways

17 or 18 is employed to lower the car to the ground floor of the craneway. As an example, referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the elevating mechanism E-2 in craneway 18 may pick up a car from a stall in any one of the tiers in units or 16 and lower it to a position opposite the four exit stalls 61, 62, 63, or 64, depositing the car by lowering the traverse mechanism. The customer may then drive the car out the rear of the construction.

The elevating mechanism E-l in craneway 17, on the other hand, may deposit a car taken from any one of the stalls in

units

14 and 15 opposite any one of the entrance stalls 33, 34, 35, and 36 from which the cars may be driven out of the entrance. Preferably, however, the car is deposited opposite one of the exit stalls 55 or 56 where the

traverse mechanism

72 or 73 will remove the car from the ground story of the second unit 15, across the craneway 18, to the ground story of the third unit 16, from which the car will be driven out the rear of the construction.

Figs. 4 and 5 show alternative arrangements for the conveyer means. In Fig. 4, the entrance conveyors are disposed along one side of the first unit, first craneway, and second unit. Rather than traverse mechanism for conveying the cars, there is shown schematically in Fig. 4

simple conveyer belts

82 and 83. Similarly, exit

conveyers

84 and 85 are shown disposed adjacent the opposite wall of the second unit and the corresponding opposite walls of the second craneway and third unit. This arrangement permits the elevating mechanism to move in the craneway spaces designated 86 and 87 on the ground floor.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the entrance conveyers are designated 88 and 89 and, as shown, are adjaccnt one another and are centrally disposed so that two of the four entrance stalls are located on each side of the conveyer means. On the other hand, the exit conveyers 9t} and 91 are separated, a portion of each lying along an opposite side of the third unit whereby the four exit stalls are disposed therebetween as shown. In the embodiment of Fig. 5 there are shown traverse mechanisms for accomplishing the conveying, in various partially extending positions. Also in Fig. 5, the elevating mechanisms in the craneways are limited for movement on the ground floors to the spaces designated 92, 93, and 94.

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the

first tiers

21, 23, and 25 for the three units. As shown, each tier accommodates a row of seven stalls, the stalls in tier 21 being designated 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 as also shown clearly in Fig. l. The elevating mechanism in the

craneways

17 and 18 may move the full length of the units to service any one of the stalls in the adjacent tiers. As previously described, the horizontal movements of the elevators are only limited on the ground stories so that the entrance and exit conveyer means may be accommodated. Any number of additional tiers may be provided on each unit identical in plan view to the tier 21 shown in Fig. 6.

It will be evident at once that should either one of the craneway elevators break down, at least two units of the construction may be emptied by the other elevator. Further, by use of a temporary bridge, described in Fig. 2, across the craneway containing the broken down elevator, the remaining unit may be unloaded. It is also to be noted that the arrangement of the conveyers permits the use of two craneways despite the limited area provided by the parking lot.

The inherent flexibility of the system and its adaptability to peak loading or unloading periods should be noted. As an example, a peak loading time may be experienced at 11 a. m. At such time, both elevators will be used to load all three units, the larger loading preferably going into the second unit, and a substantial number into the rear unit, with the front unit taking cars as required. By 12 oclock or a little later, loading and un-' loading may have become approximately equalized. At such time, the front elevator E-l will be used predominantly for loading, being necessarily used, however, for unloading any cars called for from the front or first unit. The rear elevator E-2 will at such time be used predominantly for unloading, taking cars from the second and third units. Still later, at say 1:30 p. m., an unloading peak may be experienced, at which time the rear elcvator E-2 may be used predominantly or exclusively for unloading from the second and third units, while the front elevator E-1 can attend to any loading called for, but may largely or predominantly also be utilized for unloading from the first and second units. The usefulness of both elevators in loading and unloading, and the flexibility and variability of their use as trafilc conditions change, is thus demonstrated. By this system, the storage units can be either loaded or unloaded at a faster rate than with any prior system known to me.

It will be seen that the center or second storage unit 15 is serviceable by either elevator, and is thus easiest serviced during rush conditions. Most of the cars, to whatever extent is possible, will therefore preferably be loaded into the second storage unit. It may, in fact, very advantageously be constructed with more tiers than the first or third units.

It should also be noted that whereas the ground floor conveyors extending across the craneways 17 and 18 are preferred and constitute an important feature of the invention, in simple or inexpensive versions, one or both may be dispensed with. Thus cars may be driven straight through the entrance stalls of the first unit, across a level floor portion of the first craneway and into a ground floor stall of the second unit; also, from exit stalls of the second unit across level floor portions of the second craneway and through exit stalls of the third unit. This simplified form is of some considerable disadvantage, in that it necessitates personnel moving into and out of the second unit, and it is therefore generally preferred to use the conveyers as shown.

Further modifications of the arrangement and construction of the conveyers and stalls on the ground floor falling within the principles of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The construction is therefore not to be thought of as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed.

I claim:

1. In a multiple story mechanical car parking system for storing cars on a building lot area, the combination of: a plurality of at least three multiple story storage units extending transversely across said lot area in parallelism and in spaced relation to one another, including a front storage unit, an intermediate storage unit, and a rearward storage unit, craneways in the spaces between said storage units extending transversely of said lot area and extending vertically from the ground floor level upwards, each of said storage units having on its stories above the ground story thereof rows of adjacent storage stalls opening to adjacent craneways, with intermediate storage unit stalls being one-car-in-depth and being open at the two ends thereof to the adjacent craneways in front of and rearwardly thereof, an elevating mechanism including a supporting frame disposed entirely above the first story, rails extending longitudinally along the sides of each craneway above the first story and supporting said frame for movement longitudinally of the craneway, an elevator mounted for vertical movement in said supporting frame, and means carried by said elevator for moving a car therefrom into a storage stall positioned opposite thereto or retrieving it from such stall, each of said craneways being shorter longitudinally at the ground floor level than at upper story levels to afford a cross-over area for the forward passage of a car from one storage unit to an adjacent storage unit and at least one of said cross-over areas forming part of a passageway extending from the front storage unit to the craneway between the intermediate and rearward storage units, said elevators being lowerable from their supporting frames to the ground floor level only in the portions of the craneways not occupied by said cross-over areas and being movable vertically from the ground floor upwards and positionable opposite upper storage stalls flanking the respective craneways including the stalls directly above said cross-over areas, and means on which cars on the ground floor level may be moved through said cross-over areas of said craneways between the adjacent storage units, there being ground floor car entrance openings along the front of said front storage unit and car exit openings along the rear of said rearward storage unit.

2. In a multiple story mechanical car parking system for storing cars on a building lot area, the combination of: a plurality of at least three multiple story storage units extending transversely across said lot area in parallelism and in spaced relation to one another, including a front storage unit, an intermediate storage unit, and a rearward storage unit, craneways in the spaces between said storage units extending transversely of said lot area and extending vertically from the ground floor level upwards, each of said storage units having on its stories above the ground story thereof rows of adjacent storage stalls opening to adjacent craneways, with intermediate storage unit stalls being one-car-in-depth and being open at the two ends thereof to the adjacent craneways in front of and rearwardly thereof, an elevating mechanism disposed in each of said craneways, each elevating mechanism including a supporting frame disposed entirely above the first story, rails extending longitudinally along the sides of each craneway above the first story and supporting said frame for movement longitudinally of the craneway, an elevator mounted for vertical movement in said supporting frame and means carried by said elevator for moving a car therefrom into a storage stall positioned opposite thereto or retrieving it from such stall, each of said craneways being shorter longitudinally at the ground floor level than at upper story levels to afford a cross over area for the forward passage of a car from one storage unit to an adjacent storage unit and at least one of said cross-over areas forming part of a passageway extending from the front storage unit to the craneway between the intermediate and rearward storage units, said elevators being lowerable from their supporting frames to the ground floor level only in the portion of the craneways not occupied by said cross-over areas and being movable vertically from the ground floor upwards and positionable opposite upper storage stalls flanking the respective craneways including the stalls directly above said cross-over areas, and ground floor car conveyor means for conveying cars through said cross-over areas across said craneways between the adjacent storage units, there being ground floor car entrance openings along the front of said front storage unit and car exit openings along the rear of said rearward storage unit.

3. In a multiple story mechanical car parking system for storing cars on a building lot area, the combination of: a plurality of at least three multiple story storage units extending transversely across said lot area in parallelism and in spaced relation to one another, including a front storage unit, an intermediate storage unit, and a rearward storage unit, craneways in the spaces between said storage units extending transversely of said lot area and extending vertically from the ground floor level upwards, each of said storage units having on its stories above the ground story thereof rows of adjacent storage stalls opening to adjacent craneways, with intermediate storage unit stalls being one-car-in-depth and being open at the two ends thereof to the adjacent craneways in front of and rearwardly thereof, an elevating mechanism disposed in each of said' craneways, each elevating mechanism including a supporting frame disposed entirely above the first story, rails extending longitudinally along the sides of each craneway above the first story andsupporting said frame for movement longitudinally of the craneway, an elevator mounted for vertical movement in said supporting frame and means carried by said elevator for moving a car therefrom into a storage stall positioned opposite thereto or retrieving it from such stall, each of said craneways being shorter longitudinally at the ground floor level than at upper story levels to afford a cross over area for the forward passage of a car from one storage unit to an adjacent storage unit and at least one of said cross-over areas forming part of a passageway extending from the front storage unit to the craneway between the intermediate and rearward storage units, said elevators being lowerable from their supporting frames to the ground floor level only in the portions of the craneways not occupied by said cross-over areas and being movable vertically from the ground floor upwards and positionable opposite upper storage stalls flanking the respective craneways including the stalls directly above said cross-over areas, and means on which cars on the ground floor level may be transported through said crossover areas of said craneways between the adjacent storage units, the cross-over areas and car conveyer means for successive craneways being offset longitudinally of the craneways from one another, there being ground floor car entrance openings along the front of said front storage unit and car exit openings along the rear of said rearward storage unit.

4. In a multiple story mechanical car parking system for storing cars on a building lot area, the combination of: a plurality of at least three multiple story storage units extending transversely across said lot area in parallelism and in spaced relation to one another, including a front storage unit, an intermediate storage unit, and a rearward storage unit, craneways in the spaces between said storage units extending transversely of said lot area and extending vertically from the ground floor level upwards, each of said storage units having on its stories above the ground story thereof rows of adjacent storage stalls opening to adjacent craneways, with intermediate storage unit stalls being one-car-in-depth and being open at the two ends thereof to the adjacent craneways in front of and rearwardly thereof, an elevating mechanism disposed in each of said craneways, each elevating mechanism including a supporting frame disposed entirely above the first story, rails extending longitudinally along the sides of each craneway above the first story and supporting said frame for movement longitudinally of the craneway, an elevator mounted for vertical movement in said supporting frame and means carried by said elevator for moving a car therefrom into a storage stall positioned opposite thereto or retrieving it from such stall, each of said craneways being shorter longitudinally at the ground floor level than at upper story levels to afford a cross-over area for the forward passage of a car from one storage unit to an adjacent storage unit and at least one of said cross-over areas forming part of a passageway extending from the front storage unit to the craneway between the intermediate and rearward storage units, said elevators being lowerable from their supporting frames to the ground floor level only in the portions of the craneways not occupied by said cross-over areas and being movable vertically from the ground floor upwards and positionable opposite upper stalls flanking the respective craneways including the stalls directly above said cross-over areas, and means on which cars on the ground floor level may may be transported through said cross-over areas of said craneways between the adjacent storage units, there being ground floor car entrance openings along the front of said front storage unit and car exit openings along the rear of said rearward storage unit.

5. In a multiple story mechanical car parking system for storing cars on a building lot area, the combination of: a plurality of at least three multiple storystorage units extending transversely across said lot area in parallelism and in spaced relation to one another, including a front storage unit, an intermediate storage unit, and a rearward storage unit, craneways in the spaces between said storage units extending transversely of said lot area and extending vertically from the ground floor level upwards, each of said storage units having on its stories above the ground story thereof rows of adjacent car storage stalls opening to adjacent craneways, with intermediate storage unit stalls being one-car-in-depth and being open at the two ends thereof to the adjacent craneways in front of and rearwardly thereof, an elevating mechanism disposed in each of said craneways, each elevating mechanism disposed in each of said craneways, each elevating mechanism including a supporting frame disposed entirely above the first floor, rails extending longitudinally along the sides of each craneway above the first story and supporting said frame for movement longitudinally of the craneway, and an elevator mounted for vertical movement in said supporting frame, each of said craneways being shorter longitudinally at the ground fioor level than at upper story levels to afford a crossover area for the forward passage of car from one storage unit to an adjacent storage unit and at least one of said cross-over areas forming part of a passageway extending from the front storage unit to the craneway between the a intermediate and rearward storage units, said elevators being lowerable from their supporting frames to the ground floor level to service ground floor stalls only in the portions of the craneways not occupied by said crossover areas and being movable vertically from the ground floor upwards and positionable opposite upper storage stalls flanking the respective craneways including the stalls directly above said cross-over areas, there being ground floor car entrance openings along the front of said front storage unit and car exit openings along the rear of said rearward storage unit.

6. A parking system as defined in claim 5 in which a tunnel structure encloses the cross-over areas.

7. A parking system as defined in claim 5 including entrance conveyor means for moving cars from the ground story of the first unit, across the cross-over area of the first craneway, and to the ground story of the second unit adjacent said second craneway, and exit conveyor means for moving cars from the ground story of the second unit across the cross-over area of the second craneway and to the ground story of the third unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,288,567 Hall Dec. 24, 1918 1,584,080 Dinkelberg May 11, 1926 1,815,738 MacDonald July 21, 1931 1,938,658 Harnischfeger Dec. 12, 1933 1,998,290 Schraeder, Jr Apr. 16, 1935 2,663,436 Bowser Dec. 22, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 556,340 Germany Aug. 6, 1932 416,781 Great Britain Sept. 18, 1934 OTHER REFERENCES The Bowser Parking System, Sept. 4, 1952, pages 1-4.