US3011659A

US3011659A - Rotary storages

Info

Publication number: US3011659A
Application number: US512809A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dlouhy Dominik
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-06-02
Filing date: 1955-06-02
Publication date: 1961-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1978-12-05

Description

Dec. 5, 1961 D. DLoUHY 3,011,659

ROTARY sToRAGEs Filed June 2, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheetl 1 l: -E a Bzw r9 2 @Y l -35 2 5 La 9 .f i 0 1 i i2 5; 150

l "/40 7 303 2@ Y Q A 8 3g v 53; y 0&7 7 3% 2?3/ 3i Prg 3. y 119.4.

Dec. 5, 1961 D. DLOUHY 3,011,659

ROTARY STORAGES Filed June 2, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l- IgJZ O Gf.

O O Jig' 0 Dec. 5, 1961 D. DLoUHY 3,011,659

ROTARY STORAGES 'Filed June 2, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 EJHQZ. 9,8 26 P19-21- l i l l l l l l l l l l I l 1 United States Patent O M 3,011,659 ROTARY STORAGES Dominik Dlouhy, 5615 Beaucourt, Apt. 16, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed June 2, 1955, Ser. No. 512,309 18 Claims. (Cl. 214-16.!)

This invention relates to a new structure of mechanical storages for cars or other goods, new systems of elevators and new devices and combinations.

The general objects of the invention are: First, to help overcome the parking ditiiculties for cars and the lack of storage space for other goods; Second, to build storages providing the best possible utilization of space, low operating costs and fast storage processes.

It is common to build storages with iloors and ramps or lifts for cars and other goods and it is not a new idea to store the goods on endless belts. The conventional systems of storages are uneconomical because, on the average, half of the space available is lost lfor floors, ramps or lifts and, in the case of garages, between cars. They are, moreover, inetiicient as parking garages because they cannot handle a sufficiently large number of cars simultaneously.

As far as I know, the storages with endless belts found little, if any, application as parking garages, because the patented structures and devices would have not made possible their economical utilization. Too much space was Wasted between the cages and the structures made impossible the proper exploitation of the above and space below ground level and the full depth of the lot. The parking garages would have been, moreover, unsatisfactory and inefficient in operation because they would not have been capable of handling simultaneously a satisfactory number ot cars, they had no safety devices, no counterweights, no suitable space and facilities for washing and other services, they provided no possibility of removing cars from units with damaged machinery and the units could not be operated in both directions. It is probably due to these shortcomings that this very good idea remained without utilization.

I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by a new structure of storages and elevators, as well as by a large number of new devices and their appropriate combination with the devices known.

The capacity for the simultaneous handling of cars is dependent on the number of entrances and exits, rows of units loading levels, the number of elevators and their efficiency. The best solution would be to have parking garages consisting of elevators used for parking of cars, grouped according to the size and shape of the lots side by side and in several rows behind each other, utilizing the whole space above and below street level with entrances and exits at several loading levels along the whole fronts. On sites where land is too valuable, the garages can be built as integral part of other buildings so that the street fronts could be utilized lfor other purposes. Any new large city building can have its own parking garage, using for it only a few square :feet of the least valuable land.

The roofs of the larger storages can be used either for parking purposes or as landing space for helicopters.

The trafiic diiiiculties of modern cities can be overcome not only by the erection of suitable parking garages, but also by providing them with service station facilities; motorists would not lose time and add to traic by driving to the service station.

I submit herewith descriptions of storages which are, in my opinion, superior to those currently in use or patented.

3,011,659 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 ICC In drawings which illustrate the embodiments 0f the invention:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the rotary storage and elevators,

FIGURE 2 is the side view of same,

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the horseshoe wtih suppotring and safety devices and of the self-aligning device,

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the drive mechanism of units operated clockwise only, and guiding arches,

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the cage for the rotary Storage,

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the cage for rotary storages two bars,

FIGURE 7 is a side view of these cages,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary detail of the friction equipment for the cage,

FGURE-S 9-11 are the different types of the brackets,

FIGURE l2 is the fragmentary view of the wire rope attachments,

FIGURE 13 is a side view of a conveyor belt,

FIGURES 14 and l5 are the front views of anti slipping mechanism,

FIGURE 16 is a front view of the size-control device,

FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatical view of the rotary dial,

FIGURE 18 is a front view of the safety bolts mechamsm,

FIGURE 19 is a side View of this mechanism,

FIGURE 20 is a front view of the driving mechanism for units operated in both directions.

FIGURE 21 shows the driving mechanism for the utilization of the kinetic energy of the moving load in adjoining units. v

FIGURE 22 is a liront view of modied forms of the construction of the counter-weight, guiding arches and pusher chains.

FIGURE 23 is a side view of the rotary dial.

The rotary storage illustrated comprises twelve units, four side by side in three rows. Each unit will .accommodate twenty two cars or dollies with other goods. Twenty -four cars can be parked almost simultaneously and an uninterrupted ow can be maintained. .In most cases cars can be ready for delivery at the street level in a matter of seconds. The units can be built for as few as ten cars or as many as three hundred, on ground space of only approximately 350 square feet. Almost any required number of units can be grouped together.

The structure of the storage makes possible a very good utilization of space by the application of the following ideas and devices:

First, the main belts 1 are located beside the entrances and exits or" the cages and equipped with long brackets, thus allowing their loading, unloading and thoroughfare at any level except the top turn, two or more chains or wire ropes in a belt may be used;

Second, the brackets 2 as sh-own in FIGS. 1, 4, 9-11, 20 and 22 make possible not only the said placement of the main belts, ibut also the suspension of the cages closely together;

Third, in high units a plurality of supporting belts, see FIGS. l-4 and 20-22, provided with ratchet attachments 4, located on both sides of the cages, synchronized with the main belts, carry the main load in the vertical lines, keep the cages stable during loading and unloading, increase considerably the measure of the safety and facilitate the replacement of all the belts and wheels. In' middie sized units four belts 5 located in the corners of the cages and connected with supporting bars 6 along the lateral axis of the cages would be adequate, see FIG. 3;

Fourth, the pusher chain 7 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 22 synchronized with the main belts, carries the main load in the turns;

Fifth, two or more guiding arches 8, see FIGS. 1, 4, 20 and 22 prevent the rocking and pitching of the cages in the turns;

Sixth, the horseshoe structure 9 as shown in FIGS. 3 and l and 2 permits the cages to get over the top although small wheels are used;

Seventh, the structure, size and shape of the cage 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 7, 20 and 22 provided -with a plurality of wheels in two or more rows, enable good economy of space and grouping of units in several rows;

v Eighth, anti-slipping mechanism, see FIGS. 14 and l5, prevents the slippage of the wire ropes if these are used.

The safety andreticiency of the storage may be increased by the following additional devices:

First, safety devices as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 may be used if desired by the authorities or by the proprietors, although the large number of chains used and the closely together suspended cages provide suicient safety;-

Second, automatically levelling bottom axis and oors as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 prevent operating troubles and make possible the construction of sky-scraper storages;

Third, the main driving power is in small units the motor, in large units the counterweight 12 as shown in FIGS. 4, 2O and 22 pulled upwards by the full cages moving downwards or by an electric motor 13 or emergency diesel motor or winch. Using of counterweights affords cheaper and smoother operation and facilitates the motion of belts in either direction; Fourth, the rotary dial, see FIGS. 17 and 23, indicating the position of the cages and exercising some of the impulses, may be combined in large storages with either number indicators or the push-button system managed by. the Votce sta.

The storages can include further the following facilities: Entrances/ exits along the whole street vfront equipped with powered brushes for cleaning the bottom of cars; staircases and endless-belt elevators or ladders `for the staff; facilities for washing, lubrication, minor repairs, etc; on the roof of larger storages the landing space for helicopters or additional parking space for cars using some of the units as elevators.

Some of the units in the same line may be adapted for out-size cars.

The rotary elevators illustrated in FIGS. l, 2, are of two different types, the narrow type and the rectangular type as discussed under the combined storage. Both types comprise substantially the same machinery as the rotary storage and can have as many cages as required; if capital costs have to be kept low, only a few cages may be used. The cars or dollies are moved by conveyors into the adjoining storage space and receiving and delivery sections. The rectangular type diiers from the narrow type in the following points: First, the cages or dollies are carried either on rails suspended on the brackets and can be pushed sidewise on the rails, or the cages stay suspended on the brackets and the cars are moved in `or out sidewise by conveyors; Second, the elevators may be located not only one behind another but also one above another, so that the cars intended for washing or other services could be stored separately in the lower part, which will be provided with draw-ramps; Third, the cages can be grouped along the street entrances quite close together so that, if two elevators one above another are used, nearly three times as many cars could be received simultaneously as in the narrow type of elevators.

In comparison with the presently used systems of elevators both types of rotary elevators have the following advantages: First, they may be used as storages between rush hours; Second, the cages in the elevators may be suspended either at the same distances from each other as the oors in the storage or building, or as close as is convenient; Third, the cages `can be loaded or unloaded simultaneously on all floors; Fourth, the weight of the loads moving down is utilized as a counterweight; Fifth,

the capacity of handling cars is many times greater than that of the conventional systems of elevators; Sixth, people can get in and oir" their cars at their office doors.

The narrow elevators may be suspended and movable sidewise, can receive 6 cars simultaneously if in addition to the street level entrance two more loading levels are used, and make possible the utilization of the whole depth of the lots.

Both types Ycan be provided'with self-aligning device as shown in FIGS. l and 2 and with conveyors as shown in FIG. 13.

The structural framework 5G as shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3 consists of two pairs of inside columns and of any required number of outside columns. The location and the `shape of the outside columns may be arranged in such a way that no additional space will be occupied by the supporting belts and by the columns of adjoining units. The columns at the top of the units are reinforced by transverse girders S1. For small storages or single units, a transferable pipe/trivet structure would be very advantageous because it would enable a better utilization of parking lots in cities and of the space of service stations.

The horseshoe structure illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 comprises two pairs of frames 9 secured to the transverse girders 51 and reinforced by crossbars 19 for supporting the machinery of the unit. The higher outside frames are joined firmly together on top as well as on the bottom and support with the lower inside frames the pillow blocks in which both ends of the short shafts of the main belts 1 and of the pusher chains 7, further one end ofthe shafts of the supporting belts and of the Wheels 3S of the counterweight are inbedded. The guiding arches 8 and some other equipment are also mounted to the horseshoe frames.

The horseshoe Structure makes possible the passing of cages over the to-p wheels although both ends of all the shafts are supported yand small sprockets or pulleys are used, thus enabling much better utilization of space.

The main belts 1 consist of a pair of spaced endless belts, each comprising one or more members passing over the wheels 34, as shown in FIGS. l, 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 20 and 22, and equipped with long brackets 2.

The bracket 2 illustrated (FIGS. 9-1l) may be adapted according to the load to be carried and to the type of belts used. The bracket comprises one or two pairs of strips 41 which may be only a few inches longer than the half-Width of the cage. Their width and the thickness depends on the load to be carried. The strips, reinforced by crossbars 42 and arches 45 and supported by supporting strips 46, are provided on one end with holes and pivoted or iixed to the chain. The other ends of the strips are either pivoted, bolted or Welded together and provided with roller-bearings if desired, and with a round opening 43 for the bar of the cage, or with oblong openings 44 with notches on opposite sides (see FIG. 1l), or with two longer oblong openings provided with four sheaves 54, one pair of sheaves 54 carrying the bar 15 of the cage and the other pair carrying the supporting bars 33 for the pusher chains. These openings make possible the decrease'of the acceleration of the speed in the turns.

For wire ropes a pair of strips 47, bolted to a channel attachment 88 bent around the rope and yfastened to it by a wedged insertion 84, nuts and bolts or pivoted 4between two rings 48 with ball-bearings 49 (FIGS. l0 and l2), are used.

In rotary storages and elevators supporting devices as shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 20-22 are used, so lthat the brackets do not carry very much of the load.

The brackets make possible: first, a very good utilization of space because the cages may be suspended close one above another; second, very good eliciency, since the cars can be handled very fast in an uninterrupted stream and loaded at several levels; third, a great meas.

ure of safety because a plurality of chains or ropes may be used; fourth, cars can be transferred from a unit out of operation to a working one in the same line; fifth, very eflicient elevators bec-ause the cars can be loaded and unloaded or transferred simultaneously at all levels.

The supporting mechanism for rotary storages and elevators, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, 14, l5 and 20-22, consists of a combination of some of the following de- Vices:

First, a plurality of supporting belts located along the sides of the cages and provided with attachments 4 at distances corresponding with the channels or notches 52 on the sides of the cages (see FIGS. l, 2, 4, 14, 15 and 20-22). Two or more attachments may be joined together if considerable lengthening of the belts is probable. The pulleys or sprockets 53 of the inside supporting belts 3 in the middle of the unit are on a common shaft with the drive wheels 36, the shafts of the wheels 253 of the outside supporting belts 203 are synchronized with them by a gearing

chain

37, 137 and 237. The supporting belts have to carry the main weight of the loads in the straight lines and keep the cages stable during loading and unloading, and to prevent them from falling in case of a breakage of some belts. Moreover, they make possible a many times faster and cheaper exchange of the belts and do not occupy Iany space, being located inside or between the columns. The more cars to be parked or other goods stored in the unit, the more of the said belts will be used;

Second ,the supporting attachments 4, for engaging notches or channels 52 fixed to the cages, as shown in FIGS. 4, 14, 15 and 20-22, consist of a four edged or round channel of a trapezoid shape, or of a pair of plates xed or pivoted to the chain or to the Wire rope and provided with teeth, or of a chain link adapted for this purpose. For the inside use the channels are provided with teeth on the inner open side. The attachments with the teeth are used for either side of supporting belts and pusher chains;

Third, supporting 4bars 6 (see FIG. 3) instead of the said supporting belts may be used in small units. The bars are tixed to each pair of endless belts 5 passing over wheels 134 and support the bars of the cages. The wheels of these belts are located perpendicularly to the drive wheels 36 and are synchronized with them by bevel gears. The bars may be short if the full width of the entrances of the cages does not have to be kept free;

Fourth, the pusher chain mechanism 7 illustrated in FIGS. l, 3, 4, 14, l5 and 22, comprises one or more endless chains provided With ratchet attachments or double hooks or ribbed steel plates forV engaging the rings 140 of the cages and the bars 33 of the brackets, and supported by deiecting arches 129 (see FIG. 3), provided with ilanges and rollers if chains Without rollers are used, and passing over a plurality of sprockets 131 and of idlers 132. The pusher chains are used in the turns to support or carry in combination with guiding arches the main load of single cages or dollies;

Fifth: the guiding arches 8 illustrated in FIGS. l, 4,V

15, 20, 22, and 55 comprise two or more pairs of arched tracks according to the number of wheels on the cage or dolly, located one behind another or one above another in the turns of the rotary storages.

The arches on the top of the vertical units are hanged outside and provided with extended rounded ends inside and vice versa at -the bottom, and are provided with auxiliary tracks preventing the rocking and pitching of the cages. The arches at the bottom are larger than those on the top of the unit. If the arches are located one behind another, the inside arch has to be interrupted', if they are one above another, the cages are provided with one wheel on each end of the bars of the cage. The guiding arches can be combined with the pusher chains to shift in turns the single cages, suspended in the openings 44 of the brackets, towards and from the

wheels

34 and 53.

The more the speed of the cages is to be decreased, thel nearer to the said Wheels the tracks of the guiding arches and the pusher chains are located. The combination of the main belts with supporting belts and other supporting devices is the most important feature of rotary storages and elevators. The space can be utilized much better than in the systems of circuitous storages known since the units may be higher up to ten times and the units of the same capacity require less ground space because of the new placement of the belts: Moreover, the capacity is considerably increased by the elimination of the heavy stress on main belts, and, in case of a breakage of some belts, all the belts as well as the cages are prevented from falling.

The anti-slipping mechanism for the Wire rope in the turns of the rotary storages and elevators, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, comprises one or a combination of some of the following devices:

First, the pusher chains 7 as described above provided with ribbed surface, each chain passing over sprockets 159 keyed to each pair of adjacent shafts between the pulleys and supported between these shafts by channels S9. The said sprockets are of a little larger diameter than

pulleys

34, 53, 253 and 353. The said chains support the bars or strips with ribbed surface fixed to each pair of wire ropes. The larger the load to be carried by a pair of wire ropes, the wider the chains;

Second, guiding arches 8 as described above, provided either with a fine ribbed surface or with small teeth outside at the top and inside at the bottom. The wheels of the cage are in this case fixed to the bar of the cage and provided with either the said ne ribbed surface or with small notches or with asbestos driving plates or other suitable material;

Third, supporting wheels 58 provided with ribbed surface and mounted beside and/or between the pulleys to support the bars of the cages or brackets and supporting bars, provided with rings or wheels as said above. The supporting ybars are employed if two or more wire ropes in the belt are used. Additional wheels are keyed to the shafts of supporting belts 3 `and 263 between

pulleys

53 and 253 for supporting additional bars or strips. The larger the load to be carried, the Wider the wheels of this set. The application of the said bars or strips also prevents the broken single ropes from falling. This mechanism will compensate for any difference in the load of the two vertical lines.

The driving mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 20-22 comprises two or more electric motors 13 equipped with backstops and speedgears, for actuating, by means of chain gears, the drive wheel 36 and the wheels 3S of the counterweight mechanism. This mechanism consists of the said wheels 38 provided with

brakes

28 or 42, of .the weight 12 which actuates the drive wheel 36 by means of endless chains 49 passing over the said wheels 38, freewheels 41 mounted to the drive shafts, and idlers 39. The wheels ofthe main belts 1 are synchronized with the drive wheel 36 by chain gears 137 (see FIG. 3), the wheels of the outside supporting belts 203 by

chain gears

37 or 237. The wheels of the inside supporting belts 3 are keyed .to the shaft of the drive wheel 36. The wheels 131 of the pusher chain mechanism 7 which carries the load of single cages in both turns, lare actuated, according to the diameter of the wheels of main belts, directly by cages moving downwards by means of the counterweight and hydraulic cylinder 65 (FIG. 22) or indirectly by the wheels 34 of main belts by means of chain gears 133 (FIG. 3) or of spur gears (FIG. 4). Two lefthand freewheels and one wheel of the counterweight will be added, if the unit will be operated in both directionsv (FIG. 20). The freewheels are 'actuated either by clutches or by powerfull brakes. In high units two counterweights and four motors will be used, two of the motors actuating the drive wheel 136 provided with freewheel 241 of the outside supporting chains (FIG. 21). The counterweight is 'actuated mainly by the down-moving loads, the eXtra power required being supplied automatically by the electric motors, in emergency by a diesel motor or Winch. In very high units the counterweights and the weight of the down-moving loads of the adjoining units may be utilized (FIG. 21). All the bearings and devices of the driving mechanism are on the top of the unit supported by transverse `girders 51 of the structural framework 50 and by frames 9 and crossbars 19 of the horseshoe structure. The counterweight mechanism is the primary driving and braking force making a faster, safer, cheaper and smoother operation possible by utilizing the kinetic energy of the moving load. Referring now to thel operation of the unit, an examination of FIGS. 4 and 20-22 will disclose the nature of its action and its usefulness especially for parking garages. In the following is described the operation ofa parking unit for 50 cars, designed for operation in both directions and shown in FIG. 20. This unit has one loading level at street level and may utilize for parking as much space below the street level as required.

The motive power will be supplied'primarily bythe kinetic energy of the moving load and secondarily by two electric motors. The main object of the motors is to lift the counterweight 12.; the object of the counterweight mechanism is to reduce the power requirements, the starting stress on belts, brackets and motors and the stress on the brakes, and to speed up the operation of the unit. The parking will be arranged in such a way that the counterweight can, without assistance of the motors, balance the load.

After the first two cars are received and secured in their cages, the righthand freewheels 41, mounted on the shaft of the drive wheel 36, are connected and the brake of -the righthand wheel 38 of the counterweight mechanism and the general brake are released. Thus the drive wheel is actuated by the weight 12 by means of endless chains 40 passing over the Wheels of the counterewight mechanism and over the freewheels, and the cages move clockwise for about 30 feet, according to the impulses of the rotary dial. To stop the movement of the cages, the lefthand freewheel is connected and simultaneously the brake of the lefthand wheel 38 is released, then the righthand freewheel is disconnected and the brake of the righthand wheel 38 and the general brake are applied. If the weight 12 is not pulled up -to the top by the described action, the lefthand motor will be applied automatically. Parking of cars continues in this order until all cages are loaded, thus the unit being fully loaded after about five operating cycles.

If cars are unparked during the daytime, the empty cages are left at the loading level to be ready for receiving other cars. Y The other empty cages are called to the loading level as needed, but in such an order that the load remains balanced as much as possible. For this operation, only in a few cases the motor would be applied because by the alternate trafhc of cars in `and out of the cages, the counterweight would be mostly lifted by the down moving load.

For unparkin-g, the cages will be moved the shorter way and exceptionally only the easier way, according to the position of the counterweight which is lowered or left at the bottom in order to operate as a brake when pulled up. By the correct operation with counterweights, the unparking could be completed without any use of motors.

The motors will have a capacity only to lift the counterweight at a velocity of about 50 feet per minute.l 'Ihe operation of the unit will be facilitated by using a rotary dial mechanism described in the following part of this specification.

Parking of cars in the described unit Will take about 7 minutes, the unparking probably 13 minutes. A single movement will take, on the average, a few seconds only.

In high units, more loading levels will be installed. Each added loading level enables a simultaneous loading of two more cars at the same time.

The higher the unit, the heavier the counterweigh-ts and the more efficient motors will be used for increasing the velocity of cages and a faster lifting of counterweights.

The nature of the operation of smaller units provided with one freewheel only, or of large units utilizing the kinetic energy of adjoining units, will be in principle similar to the operation described above.

The usefulness of a combined drive, especially in units designed for parking garages, is evident from the following:

(1) The safety is considerably increased because the strain on motors, belts and brackets caused by too many starts in a day is much smaller by using counterweight mechanism instead of electric motors. The operation of a unit consists of at least as many movements as there are cars parked which means or more starts a day in a unit for 100 cars.

(2) The operating costs are considerably lower than in the case where electric motors only are used because the counterweight mechanism is the main driving and braking power and the weight of down moving loads is utilized for lifting the counterweight.

(3) The operation with counterweight mechanism is much faster because the speed of cages is'increased and reduced quicker. To stop the movement of cages, the momentum for lifting the counterweightvwill be used.

(4) Without the counterweight mechanism, it would not be possible to remove the cars in case of a current or motor failure. Should such a failure occur, the counterweight can be lifted by an emergency set in large units or by a winch in small units.

(5) The application of a counterweight mechanism makes possible the building of units of any required height and thus the most favourable utilization of space.

The self-aligning device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises four pairs of heavy vertical beams 60 mounted to the structural framework `or forming a part of it to which are mounted four pairs of heavy springs in middle sized units or four pairs of automatic double acting hydraulic cylinders 65 in high units, between which are located the ends of a heavy pair of heavy I irons 66 to which are fixed two pairs of frames consisting of several horizontal beams 61 and several vertical beams 64. These frames are suspended from the transverse girders 51 of the structural framework 50 by several cables 67 to which the connecting equipment on all floors is pivoted. The cables have the same stretching capacity as the belts of the unit. To these frames are mounted Pillow blocks for the wheels 34 of main belts 1 and of pusher chains V7, the guiding arches and the general brake, so that the frames slide up and down according to the changes in the length of main belts. The pillow blocks of the supporting belts and bars are provided with grooves and located between adjustable vertical T beams 138 so that'the position of each Ishaft is `aligned indepedently.

The object of this device is to adjust automatically the position of the bottom shafts, guiding arches, pusher chains, brakes and of the floors and connecting equipment to the length of the belts; to keep these belts sutilciently tense' and to ensure lthat the largest part of he Weight of the bottom shafts and other Vequipment is carried by the above said heavy I irons by means of springs or hydraulic cylinders and thus to utilize fully all the available space above the street level for parking or storing purposes.

The described device may be also used on the top of the unit and provided with supplementary hydraulic cylinders, connected by pipes provided with pressure valves, with the hydraulic cylinders on the bottom of the unit.

The cage 10 for a car or for a dolly with other goods, illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, comprises a floor equipped with troughs 76 and supported by a bar and suspended by a plurality of strips 77 pendulum-like on a second bar 15 protected by one or more pipes 84 and suspended in the openings of the brackets 2. Both bars are equipped with a plurality of wheels 78 for engaging with guiding arches and rings 140 engageable with pusher chains. The cage may further be equipped with an electrical sliding contact.

The troughs or the iioor are reinforced by one or more heavy beams or bars and crossbars, and rounded outwardly to facilitate the entering of cars, and are provided either with conveyor belts or with fastening mechanism as shown in FIGS. 7 and 13 or with a plurality'of strips of ribbed rubber fixed crosswise to prevent the shifting of the car, and if desired, with rubber grooves to drain water to gutters. Instead of these grooves and gutters, a tioor of Irving grating will be used in countries With heavy snowfalls. This floor will be supported by a pair of angles or T-irons provided with a lia-t tank equipped with automatic drain discharges. n

The strips 77 are reinforced according to the load to be carried and are provided either with channels or notches 52 corresponding with the attachments of the supporting chains, or with small rings 149, and if desired, with roller bearings and with raisable roof with small channels. The strips can consist of several parts assembled on the site. The said roller bearings would substitute the pipe 84 which can be provided with friction equipment as shown in FIG. 8.

The shafts for additional wheels 78 and rings 140 are fixed, according to the location of guiding arches and pusher chains, to the top, sides or lioor of the cage.

The structure, size and shape of the cages are of considerable importance for the economy of space. The cages described have no walls or doors so that the car or dolly with other goods could be driven through to another unit in -the same line and the driver car get out or into his car directly to or from the passage. The cages can be therefore only a few inches larger than the largest cars to be stored in them and relatively very light because they are supported by supporting belts at their bottom. yFor out-size cars, units with special cages could be built.

The friction equipment illustrated in FIG. 8 comprises two or more pairs of rings 83 with a rough surface, fixed to the end of the pipes 84 on which the cage is suspended, and to the bars on which the pipes are slipped. are not used, the second pair of rings is iixed either to the strips of the cage or to the attachments. Some of the rings are provided with thread for regulation and, if smoother resistance is desirable, with double rings, one of which is provided with a plurality of pegs 85, the other with corresponding openings and springs 86 in between. The rings prevent undue rocking of the cages.

The conveyor belt as illustrated in FIG. 13 comprises either a pair of endless belts 110 mounted in the troughs or on the door of the cage or dolly and provided with a plurality of wheel chocks 113, or mounted without wheel chocks crosswise on the floor, a plurality of rollers 111 and either an electrical slider contact and an electrical motor or ratchet rollers y105V conveying the power from adjoining belt. The wheel chocks consist of rubber, plastic or steel bars, or of a plurality of ribbed rubber strips fixed crosswise to the belts at appropriate distances or slidable in sashes, fixed to the belts and provided with springs. The conveyors in the cages or on dollies enable to push the cars either forwards or sidewards, and are combined with other conveyors located in the parking stalls and between the entrance and the exit.

The fastening device as shown in FIG. 7 comprises a pair of ratchet segments, two levers with catches 115 fixed to the shafts pivoted to the bottom of the troughs and provided between them with counterbalanced bent bars or reinforced strips, which are provided with a plurality of hooks 117. Instead of the -said mechanism a double-rack movement may be used, provided with ratchet bars. Instead of lever, an electric motor or worm-gear may be used.

The safety equipment is superfluous in View of the large number of chains or ropes used. If city authorities or the owner of the garage would desire further safety measures, a combination of some of the following devices, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 16, 18 and 19, could be applied:

First, the safety bolts: 'I'he main belts moving in flanged channels or in channels 89 to which two angles or small channels 90 are fixed. The channels are provided with a sufficient number of openings and pivots for strong bolts 91, provided with grooves below thefpivots, and with rubber pads on their inside bends. The other ends are fixed to a Wire rope 92, suspended from a bar 97v pivoted at'the top of the unit to the transverse girders of the structural framework and fixed at the bottom to a ratchet segment 93, actuated by a worm-gear 94, controlled by the general switch. If the unit is out of operation, t-he segment is horizontal and all the bol-ts are Vin a slanting position, thus 'blocking all the cages'and pr venting them from falling. If the belts are in motion, the segment is in a slanting position and half of the bolts are in a nearly vertical position, the other half in a nearly horizontal position, so that only half of the cages would be prevented from falling;

Second, the magnetic control, shown in FIG. 19. To

' prevent the second half of the cages from falling, a second set of bolts are hinged in the above said channels,

with their outside ends pivoted to a pair of wire ropesV 92 (fixed to a pair of wire ropes 92) lixed to a pair of levers 139. The levers are pivoted to the said channels and provided with sliding weights 96. Below each lever is mounted a solenoid 95 to the channel at a suitable distance, keeping the lever and all bolts in a nearly vertical position. Tlie solenoid is connected to the circuit by an electric double wire fixed to all brackets on which cages are suspended and rolled up on a reel located in the centre of the unit. 1n case one of the main belts or brackets breaks, the said double wire snaps, the circuit is interrupted, both weights loosen and all bolts of the second set move in a slanting position, thus preventing the cages and main belts from falling.

Third, safety bars 97, as illustrated in FIG. 3, are pivoted to crossbars 13) between the two arms of the vertical unit and connected by a wire rope 98 passing over idlers and a pulley 99 at the top, actuated by an electric motor which is controlled by the general switch. In some units the half size bars are pivoted lby one end to the structure and by the other to the said wire rope provided with a counterweight. As many safety bars can be used as there are cages on the vertical line. The bars, if in a slanting position, are leaning against the inside of the structure and can be connected with an alarm/ stopping wire which would stop the belts if one car became loosened and hit the bar;

Fourth, size measure, as shown in FIG. 16, comprises a frame 100 to which a plurality of bars 101 of different length are pivoted to form with their lower end the shape and size of the cage. Along the ends of the bars an alarm/stopping Wire 102 is mounted, which stops the conveyor belt and gives the alarm when one of the bars is moved out of its vertical position and contacts the wire.

The rotary dial illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 23 comprises a frame 120, a fixed dial 130 showing the numbers of the stops 123, and a rotating dial 126 provided with a miniature endless belt 122 in the shape of the main belt and actuated by it by means of a pinion 125 mounted on the shaft 143, and of a chain gear, and rotating in the same rotation cycles. Said belt passes over two sprockets 142 keyed on shafts 141 and over said pinion and carries small pivoted plates with the numbers of the cages 140, thus indicating the whereabouts of the desired cage, and

counter-clockwise operation.

provided, if desired, with small pockets or pins for the second half of the customers claim checks and with control sticks xed to their extended pivots. The pivot of said pinion is also extended and provided with a speedindicator 127 with an extended pin of hand equipped with a plurality of control sticks. Two or more of these endless chains are provided with freewheels -and with control sticks, at different distances on each chain. One chain of each pair controls the clockwise, the other the The auxiliary chains number one and three are equipped with as many control sticks as there are plates on the rotating dial. The auxiliary chains number two have as many control sticks only as many stops are required in one operating cycle for loading in a more or less empty unit. The number of these stops depends on the capacity of the counterweight and on the number of loading levels. The extended pivots of the plates as well as the extended pin of they hand of the speed indicator 127 are provided with additional control sticks. The dial of the speed indicator is equipped with a slider 149 connected with the automatic switch.

The frame of the rotary dial is provided `at appropriate points with switches for the motor, for the counterweight and for the brake, which are actuated by the control sticks. If the cars are to be parked or loaded into a more or less empty unit, the auxiliary chain with the control sticks at desired distances is used in order to keep the load in balance. The control sticks tixed to the pivots of the plates and the second auxiliary chain are applied if certain cages have to be loaded or unloaded, and the control sticks iixed to the pin of the hand of speed indicator are applied automatically the required speed is reached.

Y The electrical control attachedV to the rotary dial is actuated either by the motorist, or by the attendant, or by the oice stal. The motorist will switch on the motor yand/ or the counterweight automatically by shifting aside the said plates covering the push-button in order to get his claim check. The oce of a large parking garage will be equipped with a duplicate of the rotating dial and of some switches in order to call the desired cars and to iind out which cages are empty. In small garages, the oice will be equipped with pushbuttons for number indicators.

v The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are dened as follows:

`l. A rotary storage for parking cars on storing other goods, consisting of independent units grouped together according to the ground area and requirements one behind another and side by side, each unit acting as its own elevator and as elevator for adjacent storage space and comprising a combination of integrated devices supported by a structural framework to which at the top transverse girders of the horseshoe structure are mounted for supporting the pillow blocks for wheels of main and supporting endless belts, of driving mechanism and pusher chain mechanism combined with guiding arches, located in the upper turn, and the frames of the selfaligning device suspended by a plurality of cables from the said girders and located in the lower turn for supporting the pillow blocks for `wheels of main belts and of pusher chain mechanism with guiding arches, and the takeup for wheels of supporting belts consisting of two sets synchronized with the third set, the main belts, by chain gears, all the belts passing over the above mentioned wheels, rotating in both directions and supported by channels, the main belts located beside the entrances and exits of cages and provided with long brackets for supporting the bars provided with friction equipment, from which cages provided with fastening devices, notches, wheels and rings are suspended pendulum-like closely one above another, the insideV supporting belts located itsy between the cages and main belts and the outside supporting belts located alongside the cages, the supporting belts being equipped with ratchet attachments for engaging the said notches of cages, and all three sets actuated by above mentioned driving mechanism consisting of a combination of motors with counterweight mechanisms which are the primary driving and braking force, and assisted in turns by the said pusher chain mechanism, the unit comprising further a rotary dial mechanism for controlling the operation, a combination of safety devices consisting of safety bolts for preventing the broken main belts from falling, and of safety bars for holding the cars in moving cages, and of safety measure for preventing oversize'cars from entering the storage, and of an anti-slipping mechanism for preventing the slipping of the belts, further conveyor belts for moving vehicles or goods into and out of adjacent storage space, and finally rotary elevators for operating the attached storage space.

2. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the horseshoe structure comprises two pairs of frames mounted to the top of the structural framework, each pair consisting of onehigher and one lowerV frame, the outside higher frames being joined rmly together on their top, and each pair supporting the pillow blocks in which both ends of two short shafts for the main belts are imbedded so that large cages can pass over the upper tum between small wheels, and to these frames being further mounted pillow blocks for the Wheels of supporting belts, of counterweight mechanism, of pusher chain mechanism and of safety bars, `and the guiding arches, and the transferable structural framework consisting of a plurality of pipes joined by steel rods provided in their middle with rings of softer material and xed together by clamps provided with insertions and attachments for crossbars, and both rings and clamps provided with a plurality of openings and studs for keeping the pipes in the right position.

3. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the self-aligning device for compensating automatically for changes in belt lengths is a combination of a plurality of independent takeups for the shafts of supporting belts and bars with a common takeup for the shafts of main belts and of pusher chain mechanism, for guiding arches, brakes and other equipment, and consists of two pairs of double frames consisting of a plurality of vertical and horizontal beams, the upper horizontal I-beam in each pair being extended, to the said frames being mounted pillow blocks of main belts and of pusher chain mechanism, the guiding arches, general brake and some other equipment, further ball-bearing takeup-blocks for the supporting belts, and the frames being equipped with rollers and suspended from transverse girders of the horseshoe structure by a plurality of cables which stretch the same way as the main belts and on which also the crossbars for safety bars and connecting equipment at all floors are hinged, and sliding up and down, according to the elongation of main belts, between four pairs of vertical beams fixed to the bottom of the structural framework and provided with two pairs of hydraulic cylinders in large units and of heavy spiral springs in small units for supporting both ends of the said extended horizontal beams and thus carrying the larger part of the weight of the shafts, wheels and of other equipment, preventing undue movements of these shafts and keeping the connecting equipment in the right position, yet the belts suiciently tight.

4. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the main belts are located beside the entrances and exists of cages so that a plurality of cages can be simultaneously loaded and unloaded and vehicles can pass through the cages to and from adjacent units and storage space at any level except in turns, and consist of a pair of endless belts, each comprising one or more` members, according to the load to be carried, supported by channels and 13 passing over upper and lower wheels, and equipped with a plurality of brackets longer than the half-width of the cage, supporting the bars from which cages are suspended closely one above another,

5. A rotary storage of claim l, Ywherein the bracket attachments for main belts are longer than the halfwidth of the cage and of a narrow structure so that a plurality of cages can be simultaneously loaded and unloaded and vehicles can pass through the cages to and from adjacent units at all levels except in turns, each bracket consisting of a plurality of strips pivoted or fixed to the main belt or to bases iixed to it, according to the type of belts used, supported by a plurality of supporting arms and provided in units with main belt wheels of a smaller diameter than the width of the cage with oblong openings equipped with two sets of sheaves, one set supporting the bar of the cage and the other the bar of the bracket, both bars equipped with rings for engaging a pair of pusher chains which force the cage in turns, in a combined action with guiding arches, towards and from the wheels of main belts thus shortening its path of travel and reducing its speed and relieving these belts and the brackets of strain, in units using for main belts the wheels of about the same diameter as the width of the cage the said oblong openings being provided with notches, and in units with Awheels of a larger diameter than the width of the cage the said openings being round.

6. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the supporting belts consist of two sets of endless belts of the same specification as the main belts, synchronized With them by gearing chains and supported by channels fixed to the structural framework, and placed along both sides of cages without occupying any additional space, and provided with ratchet attachments for engaging the notches fixed to lboth sides of iioors of cages for carrying the larger part of the total load of the unit, for facilitating the replacement of all belts and Wheels and for preventing the cages from falling in case of a breakage of some belts or brackets, the number and eiiiciency of said belts depending on the load to be carried.

7. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein in small units or in storages for lighter goods than cars, instead of supporting belts, supporting bar mechanism is applied, comprising a plurality of endless belts of the same specication as the main belts, passing over upper and lower wheels located perpendicularly to the wheels of main belts and actuated by them by bevel gears, and connected by a plurality of bars provided with flexible pads.

8. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the driving mechanism is a combination of electric motors with counterweight mechanisms which give the primary driving and braking power using the kinetic energy of moving loads to liftthe counterweights, and comprises electric motors equipped with speedgears and backstops and provided with chain gears ,for the wheels of counterweight mechanism and for the drive wheel which is provided with chain gears for the wheels of main and outside supporting belts, and the counterweight mechanism consisting of above mentioned wheels equipped with brakes, of two endless chains supporting the counterweight and passing over these wheels and over freewheels mounted on the drive shaft and provided with clutches in large units and with power brakes in small units, the driving mechanism being in turns assisted by pusher chain mechanism combined with guiding arches, and in very large storages by two additional counterweight mechanisms for utilizing the kinetic energy of adjoining units, their counterweights being installed between units and each suspended on a pair of endless chains passing over two pairs of wheels of this mechanism, equipped with brakse, and over two pairs of 'eewheels mounted on drive wheel shafts of outside supporting belts, all these additional wheels being installed above the driving memhanism of units and actuated by two additional motors by means of chain gears, the said drive wheel shafts being connected with short shafts of main belts and these short shafts with the shaft of inside supporting belts by cha-in gears, and the said frewheels acting also as connecting members for conveying power from adjoining units.

9. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the pusher chain mechanism is combined with guiding arches for carrying in belt turns the larger part of the load of single cages, and `for shortening their path of travel and reducing their speed in units using small wheels for their main belts, and comprises a plurality of sprockets equipped with freewheels, a plurality of endless chains provided with rollers and with ratchet attachments for engaging the rings iixed to the bars and shafts of cages and to the bars of brackets, and passing over the said sprockets and over deiecting arches, and actuated in units using main belt wheels of a smaller diameter than is the width of cages by a counterweight, and in units with relatively larger wheels by a motor or by these wheels, the said guiding arches comprising a plurality of -arched single or double tracks for engaging the wheels pivoted to cages, which are interrupted if the wheels pivoted to cages are at the same level, and the said deflecting arches consisting of a plurality of double flanged channels for supporting the said endless chains and for determining their path.

10. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the cage for a car or other vehicle comprises a iioor adapted for the intended purpose, in countries with heavy snowfalls the fioor consisting of Irving grating equipped with halftroughs, supported by a pair of angles equipped with notches `for engaging the ratchet attachments of supporting belts, with two shafts provided with rings for engaging the pusher chains, with wheels engaging the guiding arches, with a flat tank located below the door and provided with automatic drain Water dischargers, and with a plurality of rubber strips or a fastening device for preventing the vehicles from shifting in moving cages, the latter being replaced in units with attached storage space by conveyor belts, and the floor being suspended by a plurality of strips consisting of several parts from a bar located on sheaves in the openings of brackets attached to main belts, the said bar being equipped with a plurality of Wheels engaging the guiding arches, with a plurality of rings engaging the pusher chains, and in units for very fast operation with friction equipment -for preventing the cages from shifting and rocking on the bar.

1l. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the friction equipment for preventing the shifting and undue rocking of cages in units built for very fast operation comprises a plurality of rings with a rough surface, half of them mounted to the bar froml which the cage is suspended, and the other half to the pipe in which this bar is slipped, or, where no pipe is used, to attachments fixed to the strips of the cage, some of the rings being provided with threads yfor adjustment, and, if ner operation is desirable, double rings with springs in between being applied, one ring in each pair provided with a plurality of pegs and the other with corresponding openings.

12. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein a fastening device preventing the cars in moving cages from shifting comprises a pair of counterbalanced bent bars equipped with a plurality of hooks, and each pair provided with a lever, a catch and a ratchet segment.

13. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt for moving cars or other vehicles into the cages and out of them to adjacent storage space and vice versa comprises a pair of endless belts equipped with a plurality of wheel chocks and supported by a plurality of rollers and actuated by a pair of ratchet rollers of the adjoining conveyor belts, a wheel chock consisting of a strip of suitable material and shape.

14. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein a combination of two sets of safety bolts for preventing the backward rotation of main belts and their falling if broken comprises a plurality of short bolts provided with grooves in their middle and equipped with rubber pads on their inside bends, and hinged in the openings of channels provided with anges or angles and supporting the main belts, the rst set of the bolts having their outside ends Xed to two pairs of wire ropes suspended from two bars pivoted at the top of the unit to the transverse girders of the structural framework and at its bottom to a pair of ratchet segments actuated by worm gears controlled by a general switch, and the outside ends of the second set of bolts being xed to other two pairs of wire ropes, each rope xed at the bottom of the Vunit to a lever pivoted to one of said channels and provided with a sliding weight, the lever and thus the bolts attached to said wire ropes being held in a nearly vertical position by a solenoid mounted to the channel below the lever as long as the electric wire, xed to all `brackets on which cages are suspended and rolled up on a reel located in the centre of the unit, is not snapped.

l5. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the safety bars for holding the cars in moving cages comprise a plurality of bars long as the width of the unit, pivoted to crossbars supported by cables by which the frames of self-aligning device are suspended, and equipped with sheaves for supporting wire ropes of drawbridges, and connected by a wire rope passing over a plurality of idlers and over a pulley mounted to the horseshoe structure, the pulley being actuated by an electric motor controlled by a progress switch which also controls an alarm wire connecting all said bars.

16. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the size measure is a device for preventing oversize vehicles from entering the cages, located at the entrance of the storage and consisting of a frame from which a number of bars of different lengths are `hinged forming by their lower ends an -arch of a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of a cage, and of an electric alarm wire mounted behind the lower ends of these bars, which gives the alarm if one of suspended bars is by a vehicle or its antenna moved out of its position towards the wire and contacts it.

17. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein rotary dial mechanism is an apparatus for indicating the position of cages with desired cars and of empty cages, and for controlling the operation of the unit, comprising a hame mounted at the main loading level to a pair of crossbars supported by a pair of cables from which the frames of self-aligning device are suspended, and sliding in sashes fixed to the channels supporting the main belts, and equipped at respective points with a plurality of switches controlling the starting yand stopping progress switches, and with a fixed dial marked with numbers of stops and provided with a rotating dial consisting of a pinion actuated by the main belt, of two sprockets and of 'a miniature endless chain of the same shape as the main belt, moving over said sprockets and pinion in the same rotation cycl, the pinion being equipped with a speed indicator comprising an extended pin with a hand, a control stick and a slider, and the miniature endless chain Ibeing equipped with small pivoted plates corresponding in number to the number of cages in the unit,

marked with numbers of cages and provided with control sticks for calling single cages, the shafts of said sprockets and pinion being for an additional control, extended and provided with additional sprockets equipped with freewheels supporting a plurality 0f pairs of auxiliary chains having the same specification as the said miniatureV chain, one chain in each pair controlling the clockwise and the other counter-clockwise operation of the unit, two pairs of them equipped with the same number of control sticks as there are plates on the rotating dial, and one pair provided with only about a fifth of them for controlling the parking in more or less empty unit with one loading level, and with accordingly smaller number in units with more loading levels, the ofiice of a large parking garage being provided with a duplicate of the rotating dial and with a duplicate of some switches in order to ca-ll desired cars to loading level and to find out empty cages, and the oiice of small garages with pushbuttons for number indicators.

18. 1A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the anti-slipping mechanism is a combination of pusher chains f andtof two sets of supporting wheels with guiding arches for preventing the slipping of wire ropes, comprising a plurality of sprockets mounted to each pair of adjacent shafts between the pulleys, the sprockets having a slightly larger diameter than pulleys, a plurality of endless chains provided with a ribbed surface and supported between said sprockets by channels and passing over lthese sprockets for supporting a plurality of bars or strips with a ribbed surface fixed to each pair of adjacent wire ropes, and two sets of supporting wheels with a ribbed surface, the first set consisting of a plurality of pairs of wheels of a considerably larger diameter than the pulleys of main belts, one pair of them mounted beside each pulley for supporting the bar of the bracket or of the cage, according to the size of pulleys, and the second set consisting of a pair of wheels of a slightly larger diameter than pulleys of supporting belts, mounted between each pair of these pulleys for supporting the above said bars or strips, and a plurality of guiding arches provided with line ribbed surface on their outside at the top ofthe unit and on their inside at the bottom for engaging the cage wheels correspondingly wide, the Width of said pusher chains, supporting wheels and guiding arches and the number of said bars depending on the load to be carried.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 465,587 Thorp Dec. 22, 1891 1,555,692 Morton n Sept. 29,V 1925 1,698,545 Hill 1 Jan. 8, 1929 1,857,431 Clark May 10, 1932 .1,905,229 James et al Apr. 25, 1933 1,972,258 Boyle Sept. 4, 1934 2,569,393 Walker Sept. 25, 1951 2,773,609 Holappa Dec. 11, 1956