US3713549A

US3713549A - Building for parking motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: US3713549A
Application number: US00119264A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Routhier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-02-26
Filing date: 1971-02-26
Publication date: 1973-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-30

Abstract

A building for parking motor vehicles at least one of the parking levels of which supports an annulus mounted for rotation with respect to that level, the building including vehicle raising and lowering means serving each level and located interior to the annulus, and two motive systems associated with the annulus to effect the rotation thereof. The first of the motive systems comprises at least one fluid operated piston connected to a foot releasably engageable with the periphery of the annulus and the second comprising means continuously engaged with the annulus, the first motive system being employed solely to initiate rotation of the annulus from a stationary condition and including a release device which disengages it from the annulus after a rotation of less than 45*.

Description

Unite States atnt Routhier [451 Jan. 30, 1973 [54] BUILDING FOR PARKRNG MOTOR 662,896 5/1963 Canada .52/65 VEHICLES [76] Inventor: Joseph Philip Routhier, 60 Com- Examu ler-Fmnk Abbott Assistant Examiner-Henry E. Raduazo monwealth Avenue, Boston, Mass. 02116 Attorney-Gordon R. Williamson [22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1971 57 ABSTRACT 1 1 pp 119,264 A building for parking motor vehicles at least one of the parking levels of which supports an annulus 521 U.S.Cl ..2l4/16.1 A, 104/37, 52/65 mounted for rotation with respect to that level. the [51] Int. Cl. ..E04b 1/346 ng i ing v hi l raising and lowering means [58] Field of Search .....54/l74, 65; 60/6; 104/36, 37, serving each level and located interior to the annulus, 104/38; 214/l6.l A and two motive systems associated with the annulus to effect the rotation thereof. The first of the motive [56] References Cited systems comprises at least one fluid operated piston UNITED STATES PATENTS connected to a foot releasably engageable Wlth. the periphery of the annulus and the second comprising 933,637 9/1909 Farrell ..l04/37 means continuously engaged with the annulus, the first 1,528,893 3/1925 Rother.... ..2l4/l6.l A motive System being employed solely to initiate rota 1568384 1/1926 Pungs "214/161 A tion of the annulus from a stationary condition and in- 2,186,311 1/1940 Laabs i i i ..60/6 I 2676714 4/1954 Baranem h I v 52/174 cludmg a release device which dlsengages it from the 2,949 742 8/1960 Williamson... ..60/6 immilus after a rotation of less than 3,382,990 5/1968 Salloum ..214/16.l

, EORElQN RAIENTS QRAPPLICATIQNS 4,,Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 517,249 2/1955 ltaly ..2l4/16.1 A

50 M Q o t L PATENTEU JAN 3 W SHEET 1 [IF 4 PATENTEDJAM 30 1% sum 2 [1F 4.

BUILDING FOR PARKING MOTOR VEHICLES This invention relates to buildings for parking motor vehicles.

There have been a large number of proposed designs for parking garages employing a circular parking arrangement. The existence of these designs indicates that there is a broad range of agreement as to the efficiency of a circular parking garage.

Despite this state of affairs, these types of parking garages have not gained general acceptance. A primary reason for this is the difficulty encountered in devising a circular rotary parking mechanism for the garage which is both inexpensive and rugged enough so as to be competitive with more conventional forms of parking garages.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a building for parking motor vehicles having a rotary parking mechanism which overcomes the aforementioned difficulties.

A parking garage according to the invention comprises a plurality of parking levels each having a plurality of parking locations thereupon. An annulus is mounted on at least one of the parking levels for rotation with respect to that level. The upper surface of the annulus is at approximately the same height as the parking locations on the level. Vehicle raising and lowering means is provided which services eaCh of the levels of the building and which is located interior to the annulus. The annulus is provided with two motive systems to effect rotation thereof. The first of the motive systems comprises at least one fluid operated piston having a foot portion releasably engageable with the periphery of the annulus. The second motive system comprises means continuously engaged with the annulus. The first motive system is employed solely to initiate rotation of the annulus from a stationary condition and includes a release device which disengages it from the annulus aftera rotation of less than 45. In preferred embodiments of the invention the first motive system comprises two fluid operated pistons located on diametrically opposite sides of the annulus and so disposed to cooperate in initiating rotation of the annulus in a given sense. A second pair'of such pistons may be located symmetrically with respect to the first pair of pistons and be disposed so as to cooperate in initiating rotation of the annulus in the opposite sense.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment, taken together with the attached drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic transverse sec tion of a parking garage constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken at 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken at 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of an alternative annulus construction; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken at 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a building for parking motor vehicles 12 which includes a plurality of parking levels 14. The building includes a central elevator shaft 16 and an elevator 18 which provides means for raising and lowering the motor vehicles between the various levels. It is preferred that the elevator 18 have two

levels

20, 22 so that, in situations where it would be efficient, vehicles may be accepted from or discharged to two levels simultaneously. Furthermore, the elevator 18 is preferably deep enough to carry two vehicles of standard size, or even a small firetruck, on each

level

20, 22.

Vehicles may enter or leave the building 10 by means of entryways 24 at the ground level and ramps 26 which lead to the street.

The building 10 may be provided with one or more passenger elevators 28 which are preferably located at the comers of the building. One or more stairwells 30 may also be provided at corners of the building.

Each level 14 is provided with an annulus 32 mounted for rotation with respect to the level. The annulus 32 is itself of a width such that it can accommodate vehicles radially aligned thereupon and is symmetrically disposed about the elevator shaft 16 at a distance such that radially aligned vehicles may be accommodated between the annulus 32 and the elevator shaft 16 (e.g., vehicle 12a).

As described in detail below, two separate motive systems are associated with the annulus on each level. In FIG. 1, portions of the first and second motive systems associated with the annulus at the uppermost parking level are indicated generally at 34 and 36 respectively.

FIG. 2 illustrates in plan view portions of the first and second levels of the parking building of FIG. 1. There may be provided a plurality of individual elevators 18 each of the type described above. At the first level, areas 38 are provided at the periphery of the building which may serve as waiting rooms, cashiers offices, etc. On the levels above the first level, however, it is preferred that the peripheral area at the building corners be employed as parking spaces (especially suitable for vehicles intended to be parked for a period which is long relative to the customary residence time of a vehicle in the building). These parking areas have been indicated generally at 40 in FIG. 2.

As best seen in FIG. 2, each level above the first level is effectively divided into three portions. The area of the annulus 32 itself, the parking spaces outside of the annulus 32 and the area between the annulus 32 and the elevators 18. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, this arrangement of space, along with the provision of movable annulus 32, permits the transit of a vehicle between an elevator door and any parking space without the need for any ramps or driveways as long as there is at least one vacant space on the annulus 32 itself. While the spaces immediately in front of the elevators in the area within the annulus must remain vacant for access to the elevators, spaces 42 are available for parking.

The motive systems for producing rotation of an annulus 32 are best described with reference to FIG. 3. The annulus 32 rotates on bearings 44 for motion with respect to the level 14. The outer periphery of the annulus 32 is provided with teeth 46 (only a portion of which have been illustrated in FIG. 3).

The first motive system for the annulus 32 comprises four fluid-operated cylinders and

pistons

48a, 48b, 48c, 48d, each of which is mounted within the level 14 and is supplied by a fluid supply line 50. A shaft 52 extends between the piston enclosed within the cylinder and a foot 54 which is located for engagement with the teeth 46 on the periphery annulus 32. The shaft 52 is pivotally connected to both the piston and the foot 54. The foot 54 is provided with teeth for positive engagement with the teeth 46 on annulus 32.

A release device is provided in association with each shaft 52foot 54 pair to effect disengagement of the foot from the annulus after a predetermined rotation of the annulus. The release device comprises an articulated arm 56 connected at opposite ends to a structural portion of the building and to the foot 54. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, after a predetermined travel of the piston and shaft 52 inwardly (with respect to the building as a whole) the release device will force the foot 54 away from the annulus thereby disengaging its teeth from those of the annulus. At that point a conventional piston-return system (not shown) returns the piston, shaft 52, and foot 54 to their retracted position (with teeth still not engaged).

As shown in FIG. 3 pistons 48a and 48c cooperate to initiate rotation of annulus 32 in a counterclockwise sense while

pistons

48b and 48d cooperate to initiate rotation of annulus 32 in a clockwise sense.

Four

toothed wheels

58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d are symmetrically disposed with respect to the pistons 48a-48d with their teeth engaging teeth 46 of the annulus 32. Each of the wheels 58 is rotated by means of a motor (indicated at 36 of FIG. 1). Wheels 580 and 580 cooperate to produce rotation of the annulus 32 in a counterclockwise sense and

wheels

58b and 58d cooperate to produce rotation of annulus 32 in a clockwise sense.

In operation of the motive systems, the inertia of the initially stationary annulus 32 is overcome by one of the pairs of cooperating fluid-operated pistons 48 which comprise a first motive system, after which the respective feet 54 are retracted from the teeth 46 of the annulus and a pair of the toothed wheels (the second motive system) produce continued rotation of the annulus 32 through whatever angle desired.

The provision of two separate motive systems for each annulus will be understood to be an important feature of the invention. While wheels 58 of an economical size (and driven by motors of economical size) may sustain rotation of the annulus 32, they are inadequate to overcome the initial inertia of the stationary annulus. Thus, the provision of the first motive system in the form of large, rugged, yet inexpensive fluid-operated pistons 48 to overcome the inertia and then immediately disengage from the annulus permits the use of wheels 58 and associated motors of reasonable size and cost.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate in somewhat diagrammatic fashion a fragmentary view of the under side, and a cross-sectional view, of an alternative embodiment of an annulus 32a. The annulus comprises an interconnected structure of support members 60 which underlie the vehicle-supporting surface 62. Downward-extending support wheels 64 are mounted in the members 60 for rotation and ride in bevelled tracks or channels 66. The periphery of the annulus is once again provided with teeth 46 for engagement with the teeth on a foot portion 54 of the first motive system, as described above. The second motive system, however, includes one or more motors 68 supported by members 60 and drivingly connected to a toothed bevelled wheel 70 which rides in track 2. The motor may be engaged with the shaft of wheel 70 by any conventional means, including the bevel gear arrangement 74 shown in FIG. 5. The innermost rim 76 of channel 72 is provided with teeth which mate with the teeth of wheel 70.

In operation, the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is very similar to that of the preceding figures. After disengagement of the first motive system, the motors 68 are activated and drive wheels 70 for rotation of the annulus 32a due to the engagement of the teeth on wheel 70 with the teeth in the channel 72.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A building for parking motor vehicles comprising a plurality of parking levels each having a plurality of parking locations thereon, at least one of said parking levels supporting an annulus mounted for rotation with respect to said level and having an upper surface approximately at the same height as the parking locations of said level, vehicle raising and lowering means serving each said level and located interior to said annulus and two motive systems associated with said annulus to effect the rotation thereof; the first of said motive systems comprising at least one fluid operated piston connected to a foot releasably engagable with the periphery of said annulus, the second of said motive systems comprising means continuously engaged with the annulus, said first motive system being employed solely to initiate rotation of said annulus from a stationary condition and including a release device which disengages said first motive system from said annulus after rotation thereof of less than 45.

2. The building as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first motive system comprises two fluid operated pistons located on diametrically opposite sides of said annulus and disposed so as to cooperate in initiating rotation of said annulus in a given sense.

3. The building as claimed in claim 2 including a second pair of pistons located symmetrically with respect to the other pistons at diametrically opposite sides of said annulus and disposed so as to cooperate in initiating rotation of said annulus in a sense opposite said annulus in a sense opposite said given sense.

4. The building as claimed in claim 2 wherein said annulus has teeth disposed around its periphery and said first and second motive systems each include teeth disposed for engagement with said teeth of said annulus.

Claims

1. A building for parking motor vehicles comprising a plurality of parking levels each having a plurality of parking locations thereon, at least one of said parking levels supporting an annulus mounted for rotation with respect to said level and having an upper surface approximately at the same height as the parking locations of said level, vehicle raising and lowering means serving each said level and located interior to said annulus and two motive systems associated with said annulus to effect the rotation thereof; the first of said motive systems comprising at least one fluid operated piston connected to a foot releasably engagable with the periphery of said annulus, the second of said motive systems comprising means continuously engaged with the annulus, said first motive system being employed solely to initiate rotation of said annulus from a stationary condition and including a release device which disengages said first motive system from said annulus after rotation thereof of less than 45*.