USRE18493E - Appabattjs and method fob handling and stobing automobiles - Google Patents

Description

F. -P. DINKELBERG June 14, 1 932.

APPARATUS AND METHOD. FORWHANDLING AND STORING AUTOMOBILES Original Filed Aug. 12. 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet' 1 June 14, 1932. D'NKELBERG Re. 18,493

APPARATUS AND METHODFOR HANDLING .AND STORING AUTOMOBILES Original FileclAugl 12. 1922 '8 Sheets-Sheet 2 v F'. P. DINKELBERG June 14, I932.

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING AND STORING AUTOMOBILES Original Filed Aug. 12. 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 14, 1932.

F: P'. DINKELBERG APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING AND STORING AUTOMOBILES Original Filed Aug. 12. 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 J 14 1932 F. P. DINKELBERG APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING A ND STORING AUTOMOBILES Original File d Aug. 12. 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jay/6772?? dGrWZ 50564 56 -F. P. DINKELBERG June 14, 1932. Re. 18,493

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING AND STORING AUTUMOBILES Original Filed Aug. 12. 1922 a Sheets-Sheet 6 June 14, 1932 DNKELBERG Re 18,493

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING AND STORING AUTOMOBILES cifiginal Filed Aug. 12. 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jun 14 19.32. v F. P. DINKELBERG (3718:2193

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING AND STORINGAUTOMOBILES Original Filed Aug. 12. 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet s- OUT OUT

.Reiasued June 14, 12932 UNITEDST ATES PATENT orFicE- FREDERICK I. DINKELBERG, or EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, YASSIGNOB, BY mnsms: ASSIGN- .MEN TS, TO GROSS PARKING SYSTEMS, INC, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS 'APPARKTOS'AND. METHOD FOR HANnLmo AND s'ronme AUTOMOBILES Original No. 1,584,080, dated May 11, 1926, Serial No. 581,548, filed August 12, 1922. Application for reissue filedFebruary 16,

The question of handling and storing automobiles within' a building and with profit *to the owner of the building has become quite k a serious proposition because it has heretofore been necessary to provide not only space for storage purposes but an entrance and an exit passage must also be provided to enable the driver to drive in and out and also manipulate the car so as to drive in or back into the allotted space. Such an operation not only requires skillful manipulation on the part of the driver, but to turn the automobile around, which is sometimes necessary, espe- I cially when the entrance is also used as the exit. or for other reasons. any driver other than an expert requires a space of a radius at least greater than twice the length of the car.

If a driveway is employed extending around the inside of the building, considerable valuable space is lost for storage purposes.

Heretofore with the prior methods of storing automobiles it is impossible to place two or more rows of cars side by side or in front of I each other by moving the cars sidewise, but to store them necessitates turning or switching the cars and gradually working them into the allotted space. This operation requires time and labor with the attendant possibility of scratching and marring the adjacent cars. Furthermore to remove an inner car under the prior modes of storage necessitates the removal or shifting of a number of the surrounding cars to permit access to the desired car.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome these dii'liculties and objections and to provide an improved method of storing automobiles in a building, so that A0 a large number of automobiles may be kept in a given floor area, and toprovide an improved apparatus for storing them by means of the use of which the car or automobile may be moved into any position desired. either forward or backward or laterally without turnin; the car, thereby not only cconomizing in spare but the heretofore necessary wide driveways and turning spaces will be dispensed with. at the same time the car may be placed in the allotted space and can be re- 1928. Serial No. 254,919.

moved expeditiously and with a minimum amount of labor.

A further object is to provide an improved method of storing automobiles by means of the employment of which method the automobiles or cars may be compactly arranged and any car maybe readily and bodily removed without interfering with the other cars and without necessitating the turningof the car which is being removed or stored and during such removal or during the placing of the car in storage position.

The invention has other objects which are more particularly pointed out in the followin description.

l teferring, now, to the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of truck to be used in handling the automobiles;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the truck in position under the automobile and before being brought into engagement therewith;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the engaging ends of the truck moved under the wheels of the automobile so as to lift it;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the truck showing the wheel-engaging parts moved outwardly;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a. sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 101() of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a sectional View 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 1212 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged plan view of the track intersections showing the turntable;

Fig. 1-1 is a first floor plan of one form of building in which the automobiles are stored;

Fig. 15 is a typical upper story plan of the building of Fig. ll;

on line 9-9 taken on line Fig. 16 is a. View showing the handle and indicator.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In carrying out my invention Iprovide a truck which can be placed under the automobile, the ends of the truck then being moved outwardly to engage the wheels and as a result of a further pressure ofthe wheel engaging portions of the truck against the peripheries of the automobile wheels, the automobile will be lifted from the ground or the surface upon which its wheels rest, whereupon the automobile can then be easily and quickly moved to any point desired either forward or backward or sidewise.

Referring now to the drawings, I have shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, one form of truck for this purpose. This truck must be low so as to go under the automobile, and must also be strong and capable of easy handling. In the construction shown the truck is provided with a main frame or body portion 1, upon which is mounted the movable end portions 2. These end portions have wheel-engaging parts 3 and means is provided for moving these wheel-engaging parts under the wheels after the truck is placed under the automobile. The wheel-engaging parts preferably have inclined upper faces, and I also prefer to provide them with pivoted wheelengaging parts 3 pivoted at 3 (see Fig. 7). These parts may then move down when they engage the wheels, so as not to injure the tires as the wheel-en gaging parts are pushed un dc r the wheels. These pivoted parts are desirable because of the fact that the wheel-engaging parts 3 must be above the floor so as to lift the automobile a sufficient height to clear the floor. In the construction shown, the movable end portions are provided with the supporting and controlling arms 4 and 5, which are supported upon the main frame 1 so as to slide therealong. This main frame 1 may be made up in any desired form or shape. As herein shown, it has the two side members 6 and 7. These side members have suitable receiving spaces in which are received the supporting and controlling arms 4 and 5. Some suitable mechanism is provided for moving these arms in and out as desired, said arms moving on the friction rollers 4" 5.

As herein shown, the arms 4 are provided I with racks 8 and the arms 5 with racks 9.

linions 1O engage the teeth 8 of supports 4, and the pinions 11 engage the teeth 9 of supports These pinions mesh with a gear 12 arranged so that, as the gear 12 is rotated, the pinions 10 and 11 will be rotated in opposite directions, so as to move the arms 4 and 5 in opposite directions (see Figs. 1 and 5). The gears 12 are operatively connected with the gears 13 (see Figs. 1 and 5). The gears 13 mesh with a central gear 14,

which is operatively connected with La. motor 15. In the construction shown, the gear 14 has internal teeth 16 forming an internal gear, and this internal gear engages the pinion 17 (see Figs. 1 and 9). The pinion 17 is adapted to be connected to a shaft 18 operativelyconnected with the motor shaft in any suitable manner, as by means of the worm wheel 19 and the worm 20. The worm wheel 19 is feathered to the shaft 18 by the keys 30' which work in grooves in the hub of the worm wheel so that the shaft 18 may be slid longitudinally with relation to the worm wheel 19 without disconnecting the worm wheel from the shaft'18.

Some suitable means is provided for connccting and disconnecting the mechanism,

which moves the movable end pieces in and out, from the motor. In the construction herein shown thisis accomplished by making the shaft 18 longitudinally movable with relation to the gear 17. such shaft being provided with an engagingprojection or projections '31 (see Figs. 9 and 11). which it into a suitable recess or recesses in the gear 17. hen the shaft 18 is moved into-the position shown in Figure 9, the projection or projections 21 will be disconnected from the L'car 17 and the movable end or wheel engaging portions will be disconnected from the motor 15. If the shaft 18 is moved upwardly from the position shown in Figure 9 the projection or projections 21 will engage in the recesses of the gear 17 and thereby connect the movable end or vehicle wheel engaging portion of the truck with the motor.

The shaft 18 may be moved still further upwardly to cause the projection or projections 21 to again pass out of engagement with and into a position above the gear 17. at which time the beveled gear 31. to 'be hereinafter dscribed, will be connected with the motor 15.

The shaft 18 may be controlled in any desired manner. As herein shown, this'shaft is rotating whenever the motor is rotating, and is feathered to the worm wheel 19 so that it may be slid back andforth in the hub of such worm wheel while both the worm wheel and the shaft 18 are rotating. shown in Fig. 9, there is a grooved collar 22 connected to the shaft. 18. This grooved collar is engaged by a forked arm 23 (see Figs. 1 and 9). The forked arm is conncct ed with a shaft 24, which carries a beveled gear 25 (see Fig. 1). This beveled gear engages a beveled gear 26 loosely mounted at the top of the motor and preferably at the vertical central axis of the gear 14. The beveled pinion 27 also engages the pinion 26 and is connected by a shaft 28 with a handle 29 placed at some accessible point. as at the side of themachine (see Figs. 1 and It will be noted that when the handle 29 is rotated in one direction the shaft 28 will be rotated, and this will rotate the pinion 27 and the pinion 26 and the pinion 25, thus rotating the shaft 24, thereby moving the forked arm 23 up or down, depending on the direction of the movement of the handle, and this moves the shaft 18 up or down. hen the shaft 18 is moved upwardly from the position shown in Figure 9 theprojections 21 connect with the pinions 17, and if the motor is in operation this moves the movable end portions outwardly so as to cause them to be pushed under the wheels and lift the automobile, as shown in Fig. 3. After the automobile has been lifted, the handle 29 is rotated in a direction to move the shaft 18 still further upwardly so as to disconnect the projections 21 from the pinion 17, which latter movement will seat the projection or projections 30 on the shaft 18 (see Fig. 9) in the recess or recesses in the beveled pinion 31 loosely mounted on said shaft.

( connects the motor with the driving mechanism, which moves the truck back and forth.

this driving mechanism being as follows:

The beveled gear 31 engages a beveled gear 32 on the shaft 33 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 9). The shaft 33 has at its other end a beveled gear 34 which engages a beveled gear 35. The beveled gear 35 is connected with a shaft or axle 37 carrying a tooth or rack wheel 38, which engages a tooth part or rack 39 011 the surface along which the truck is to be moved. I prefer, also, to provide another tooth or rack wheel 40 and a shaft or axle 41, which is con nected by a suitable belt 42 with the axle 37. I prefer to use sprocket Wheels on the axles and a chain belt, although any other form of driving connection can be used. It will thus be seen that when the shaft 18 is moved a suflicient distance upwardly (see Fig. 9) so as to engage the'projection or projections 30 j with the gear wheel 31, when the motor is in operation, there will be a driving connection to the tooth or rack wheels 38 and 40, such connection being through the gears 31 and 32, shaft 33, gears 34 and 35, axle 37 belt 42 and axle or shaft 41. Under these conditions the truck will be moved along the surface.

I prefer to provide the truck with wheels or rotatable parts so that it may r-oll easily along the surface. These may be wheels or of any other desired construction. In order to permit the truck to run easily in different directions, say forward and back and crosswise or laterally, I prefer to provide the truck at each corner with the balls 43, 44, 45 and .46. These balls are mounted in suitable sockets and are preferably provided with ball bearings 47. The halls are held in place by the holding pieces 48 (see Fig. 8), which preferably provide a snug lit and which also act to scrape off any material that may adhere to the balls. I also prefer to provide tracks 48 and 49 for the wheels of the truck, these tracks crossing each other at proper This ring the truck from one track to another at an angle thereto without changing the relative position of the automobile, as it is important, in properly placing the automobiles in the building, to have them all in the same position. In the construction herein shown I secure this result by the following means; I provide in proximity to the intersection of the tracks a turntable 50. It will be noted that this turntable is smaller than the truck and that the truck itself is not placed upon the. turntable. The turntable has the racks upon it, and when the truck is brought to the .intersection of two tracks the rack wheels of the truck engage oneof these racks. The

motor 15 and associated parts of the truck are mounted upon a rotatable frame 51 (see Fig. 5), which is rotatably mounted in the main frame. The rotatable frame 51 is provided with recesses into,which the supporting projection 52 on the stationary frame piece 53 projects. It will thus be seen that the frame- 51, carrying the motor and associated mechanism, can be rotated on the stationary piece 53. This rotation may be produced in any desired n1anncr, but I prefer to use the motor for this purpose and I have shown one mechanism for doing this. In this construction I provide a toothed part or wheel 54 (see Figs. 1, 5 and 6). This -toothed part is located beneath the gear 14 and is connected with the rotating frame 51. The gear 14 preferably has guides 14 which engage projections 14" on the frame at intervals, and within these projections are preferably pro vided ball bearings 14. Thetoothed part 54 is engaged by a pinion (see Figs. 5 and 9). This pinion is loosely mounted on the shaft 18'and is provided with an opening or openings for the projections 21 on the shaft 18. \Vlien it is desired to rotate theturntablc, the handle 29 is turned until the shaft 18 is lowered so that the projections 21 engage the recesses in the pinion as shown in Fig. 9, and the shaft 18 will be disconnected with respect to the gears 17 and 31. If. now, the motor is operated, the shaft 18 will be turned and this will turn the pinion 55, which by its engagement with the toothed part or wheel '54 Will turn this part and also the rot atable frame 5L The engagen'ient of the, rack wheels with the racks will cause the turntable to be turned with the rotatable frame 51. I prefer to provide the racks with upwardly projecting parts at the side to insure this turn, as shown in Figs. 5 and (3. It will thus be seen that when it is desired to transfer the truck from one track to a track at an will be opposite the tracks at an angle, and then move the handle 29 soas to connect the shaft 18 with the pinion 55, whereupon the frame with the motor and also the turntable will be rotated until the rack in engagement with the rack wheels is in alignment with the rack on the track at an angle. The pinion 55 can then be disconnected from the shaft by moving the handle 29 and. the rotation of the parts stopped. In view of the fact that balls are used for wheels, it will be seen that when the motor is then started up to move the truck these balls will move along the track at an angle without the necessity of turning them for this purpose, the balls having, as it wercua universal movement.

The parts are preferably arranged so that the handle 29 can he moved to a position where neither the pinions 17 and 55 nor gear 31 will be connected with the shaft 18. I prefer. also. to provide an indicator 56 for the handle :29. which will be marked with the various positions into which the handle is to he moved. as shown, for example, in Fig. 16. This indicator, for example, would have marked on it the various positions of the handle. one being the position wherein the end pieces are moved outwardly to engage the wheels of the truck. another being the position of the handle when the truck is to be inoved along the track, and another being the position of the handle when the turntable is to be rotated. It will thus be seen that when the turntable is rotated the motor and the rotatable frame will be rotated but the main frame of the truck will remain stationary. and the automobile. being supported upon the main frame. will also remain stationary and will always be in the same relative position regardless of the track upon which the truck moves. this position being parallel with the track upon which the truck rests when the automobile is placed upon it.

I have shown one means of driving the truck for purposes of illustration. but it is, of course, evident that any other suitable means may he used. I prefer, however. to use the racks and tracks, as this obviates the necessity of guiding the truck and insures the automobile always being moved safely and to the proper position.

It. now, it is desired to store automobiles in a high building with a number of floors. this can he done in various ways. I have shown in Figs. 14 and 15 one particular construction for this purpose. in order to show the ease and accuracy with which the automobiles may be handled. In this construction I have shown a building having units of 25 feet, and in this particular construction there are three of these units. The building can be any desired width. In this construction there are driveways 58. 59 and 60. into which the automobiles are driven. At the side of these driveways are passenger landing ditions.

platforms 61. At suitable intervals there are provided elevators 62. These elevators, in the particular construction shown, are ,arranged so that the automobiles may be bodily moved laterally or sidewise in and out both sides and also endwise out of one end of the elevator, the other ends of the adjacent elevators being. preferably placed together so as to provide lietween them room for the counterweights of the elevators. It will be noted that while on the ground floor a certain portion of the floor is-taken up by driveways and platforms, the upper floors, shown in Fig. 15,-are free from any such driveways. There are, however, on the upper floors hetween the elevators, lengthwise of the building. the rum 'ays (i3. \Vhen a machine is driven into the building on the lower floor it is run opposite one of the elevators and one of the trucks is then placed under it and the movable end portions moved out under the wheels to lift the automobile. The truck is then run onto the elevator. the elevator raised to the desired floor, and the truck then run oti' either endwise or sidewise, as the case may be. and the automobile moved to its proper storage place, the turntable being used whenever necessary for this purpose, there preterably being a turntable adjacent each intersection of the tracks. The truck is then removed from under it and moved back upon the elevator. and can then be again used. The automobiles may be placed upon the trueks at any point desired and the truck then run off the elevator, and the elevators and storage arrangements may be arranged to suit the con- It will be seen by examining Figs. 14 and 15 that any automobile, 64, in the building can be taken out and taken down the elevator without interfering with any of the other automobiles, and this regardless of the time when it is placed in its receiving space. This is due to the fact that although the automobiles are placed in the storage spaces side by side and also one in front of the other. the particular automobile desired inay be removed by mounting the same upon the truck and moving the automobile sidewise, thereby dispensing with the necessity of turning the car and working the same out of the storage space.

T he pivoted wheel-engaging parts on the movable end pieces have their pivots near the outer end, so that when the outer ends engage the automobile wheels they will tip down but when the wheels are in position upon them they will tip back so as to be in equilibrium, as shown in Fig. 3.

l have described in detail a particular construction embodying my invention, but it is, of course. evident that the parts may be varied in many particulars without departing from the spirit of my invention as embodied in the claims hereto appended, and I therefore do not limit myself to the particular construction shown.

It will be noted that by my method of storing automobiles I first take the automobiles and place them all in the same general position with their longitudinal center lines runnin in the same direction with relation to the uilding and then I transfer them to the various storage spaces on the various floors so that when they reach the storage space this longitudinal center line of all the automobiles is in the same relative position and in the same position as it was when thestorage movement began.

I claim 1. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a truck, wheel engaging pieces connected with said truck, and bodily movable with relation to said truck, and

means for moving the pieces outwardly so as' to cause them to project under the wheels of the automobile and lift it free of the surface on which it rests.

2. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a truck, movable members connected with said truck, and means for moving the said members outwardly so as to cause them to project under the Wheels of the autotmobile and lift it free of the surface on which it rests, said members provided with freely movable wheel-engaging parts adapted to move with relation-to the said members so as to freely pass under the wheels of the automobile. Y 1 a 3. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a truck, movable members connected with said truck, and means for moving the said members outwardly so as to cause them to project under the wheels of the automobile and lift it free of the surface on which it rests, said members having pivoted wheelengaging parts by which they are connected to the said members, the pivots being near the outer ends of the wheel-engaging parts.

4. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a truck, provided with a frame, movable members connected with said frame, means for moving the said members outwardly so as to cause them to project under the Wheels of the automobile and lift it free of the surface on which it rests, means for driving the truck and means for changing the direction of movement of the truck while the relative position of the automobile upon it remains the same.

5. An apparatus for'handling automobiles, comprising a supporting frame, wheels upon which it is supported, movable members I connected to said frame, a rotatable frame mounted upon the supporting frame, a motor on the rotatable frame, and an operative connection between said motor and said members.

6. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a supporting frame, wheels upon which it is supported, movable members connected to said frame, a rotatable frame mounted upon the supporting frame, a motor on the rotatable frame, an operative connection between said motor and'said members, and means for rotating said rotatable frame while the motor and the movable members remain connected.

7. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a supporting frame, wheels upon which it is supported, movable members connected to said frame, a rotatable frame mounted upon the supporting frame, a motor on the rotatable frame, an operative connection between said motor and said members, means for rotating said rotatable frame while the motor and the movable members remain connected, intersecting tracks upon which the truck runs, a turntable at the inter section of the tracks, and means for rotating the turntable and the rotating frame independently of the truck.

8. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a supporting frame, wheels upon which it is supported, movable members connected to said frame, a rotatable frame mounted upon the supporting frame, a motor on the rotatable frame, an operative connection between said motor and said members, means for rotating said rotatable frame while the motor and the movable members remain connected, intersecting tracks upon which the truck runs, a turntable at the intersection of the tracks, racks associated with said tracks and said turn-table, a rack wheel engaging said rack on the turntable when the truck is over it, and means for rotating the rotating frame upon the supporting frame so as to rotate the turntable to transfer" the truck from one track to the other.

9. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a truck adapted to be moved under the automobile, means associated with the truck for lifting theautomobile from the ground and supporting it on the truck, said means embodying wheel engaging surfaces adjustable with relation to the truck, means for simultaneously adjusting a plurality of said surfaces with respect to the truck, and means for moving said truck to the storage place for the automobile and then disconnecting the automobile therefrom.

V 10. Apparatus for handling and storing automobiles, comprising a building, elevators for said building, intersecting tracks on the various floors of the building, tracks on said elevators registering with the tracks on the floor, turntables at the intersection of the intersecting tracks, racks extending along said tracks and across said turntables, a truck upon which the automobile is received working on said tracks and provided with driving means connected with said racks, the turntables being smaller than the trucks so as not to be engaged by the supporting wheels thereture adapted to be on, and means for rotating any given turntable when the truck is in proper relation thereto so as to transfer the truck from one track to another.

11. Means for handling and storing automobiles, comprising a building having a floor divided into storage spaces, a truck ada ted to be moved under the automobile and aving a frame, laterally moving members connected with said frame and adapted to be moved into engagement with the automobile wheels to lift them, and means for transferring said truck to any one of said storage spaces. 1

12. An apparatus for handling vehicles, said apparatus embodying a truck like structure adapted to be positioned under the vehicle, means including mechanism on said structure for moving it under a vehicle while the vehicle is maintained in substantially the same general horizontal plane as the structure wheel engaging portions carried by the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto, and means for movin the said wheel engaging portions with relation to the truck and into engagement with the ,vehicle wheels for elevating the vehicle and supporting the same by means of 'saidtruck.

13. apparatus for handling vehicles, said apparatus embodying a wheel supported truck like structure adapted to be positioned under the vehicle, means including mechanism on said structure for moving it under a vehicle while the vehicle is maintained in substantially the same general horizontal plane as the structure wheel engaging portions carried by the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto, and means for moving the said wheel engaging portions with relation to the truck andinto engagement with the vehicle wheels for elevating the vehicle and supporting the same by means of said truck. a

14. An apparatus for handling vehicles, said apparatus embodying a truck like strucositioned underthe vehicle, means inclu ing mechanism on said structure for moving it under a vehicle while the vehicle is maintained in substantially the same general horizontal plane as the structure wheel engaging portions carried by the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto, means for moving the said wheel engaging portions with relation to the truck an into engagement with the vehicle wheels for. elevating the vehicle and support-- ing the same b means of said truck, and drivm mechamsm for propelling the truck.

15. n apparatus for handling vehicles, said apparatus embodying a truck like structure adapted to be positioned underv the vehicle, wheel engaging portions carried b the truck for movement therewith and wit respect thereto, means for moving the said wheel engaging portions horizontally with relation to the truck and into engagement with the vehicle wheels for elevating the vehicle and supporting the same by means of said truck, drivingv mechanism for propelling the truck and means for changing the direction ol movement of the truck while the directions of movement of the said wheel engaging portions with respect to the truck remain constant.

16. An apparatus for handling vehicles, said apparatus embodying a truck like structure, operating mechanism for propelling the truck, vehicle wheel engaging portions movable with and with respect to the truck, operating mechanism for. moving the said wheel engaging portions horizontally into engagement with the vehicle wheels for raising the vehicle and supporting the same by means of the truck, power mechanism common to both of the said operating mechanisms for actuating them, and means for selectively controllin the said operating mechanisms.

1%. A portable apparatus for handling vehicles embodying a truck like structure, propelling means for the truck, means carried by the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto and adapted to engage the peripheries of the vehicle wheels for elevating the vehicle and supporting the same from the truck, and means for changing the direction of movement of the truck, the last recited means embodying provisions adapting a portion of the truck for rotation about its own axis.

18. A portable apparatus for handling vehicles embodying a truck like structure, propelling means for the truck, means carried by the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto and adapted to engage the peripheries of the vehicle wheels for elevating the vehicle and supporting the same from the truck, means for changing the direction of movement of the truck, the last recited means embodying provisions adapting a portion of the truck for rotation about its own axis, and means for selectively controlling the said propelling means and the direction of movement changing means.

19. A portable apparatus for handling vehicles embodying a'truck like structure, propelling means for the truck, means carried by the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto and adapted to engage the peripheries of the vehicle wheels for elevating the vehicle and supporting the same from the truck, means for changing the direction of movement of the truck, the last recited means embodying provisions adapting a portion of the truck for rotation about its own axis, and mechanism embodying means common to all of the aforesaid means for selectively controlling them.

20. A portable apparatus for handling ve hicles embodying a truck like structure, propelling means for the truck, means carried by the truck for movement there-with and with respect thereto and adapted to engage the peripheries of thevehicle wheels for elevating the vehicle and supporting the same from the truck, means for changing the direction of movement ofthe truck, the last recited means embodying provisions adapting a portion of the true for rotation about its own axis,power mechanism mounted upon the truck, and means for selectively connecting all of the aforesaid means with the said power mechanism.

21. An apparatus forhandling vehicles embodying a truck like structure, opposed pairs of vehicle wheel engaging means connected with the-truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto, and means operatin to separate the wheel enga ing means oi the respective pairs and force t em into contact with the peripheries of the re-- spective Wheels of the vehicle Wheels and thereby elevate the vehicle from the supporting surface and support the vehicle from the truck. v

22. An apparatus for handling vehicles embodying a truck like structure, opposed pairs of vehicle wheels engaging means connected with the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto, means operating to separate the wheel engaging means of the respective pairs and force them into contact with the peripheries of the respective wheels of the vehicle wheels and thereby elevate the vehicle from the supporting surface and support the vehicle from the truck, power mechanism for propelling the truck, and means for operatively connecting the said power mechanism with the said vehicle wheel engaging means at will.

23. In an apparatus for handling automobiles and like vehicles, a power driven truck like structure movable to a position under an automobile, mechanism for moving said structure toa position beneath an automobile while the automobile is maintained in the same general horizontal plane as the structure, and an automobile wheel engaging member movable with said truck like structure and with respect thereto, and means for moving a member independent of the structure to engage a wheel of the automobile. v

24. In an apparatus for handling automobiles and like vehicles, a power driven truck like structure adapted to he moved under a ve-,

hicle mechanism for moving said truck like structure under a vehicle while the vehicle is J'naintained in substantially the same general horizontal plane as the structure, a vehicle wheel engaging member carried by said Y structure adapted to contact one of the wheels of the vehicle to adapt said vehicle to move with said truck and mechanism for operating said member.

25. In an automobile storage structure, a

including a rack and plurality of automobile storage spaces facmg "each other and spaced apart to form a runway between, a pair of tracks extending along said runway, an automobile carrier resting on said tracks, means for moving said carrier along said tracks, said means comprising a rack member and a pinion member, one of said members being mounted on said carrier and the other of said members bein placed in said runway, and means on sai carrier operative to associate an automobile with the carrier to carry it from a stall and along said trackway.

26. In an automobile storage structure, a plurality of automobile storage spaces spaced apart and rising tier-on-tier with an elevator hatchway between, an elevator movable in said hatchway, a trackway in said storage places, trackways on said elevator, an automobile carrier adapted to rest on said trackway, means for moving said carrier along said trackways to place an automobile in a storage stall, the last mentioned means the carrier.

27. In an automobile storage structure, a plurality of automobile storage spaces spaced apart and rising tier-on-tier with an elevator hatchway between, an elevator movable in said hatchway, a trackway extending across the elevator, a second trackway at substantially'right angles to the first trackway, an automobile carrier, and means for moving the carrier along either trackway.

28. In a vehicle storage system, the combination of a plurality of vehicle storage stalls arranged tie on tier, an elevator hatchway exrespective tiers, a vehicle carrier movable along any of said trackways, mechanism for propelling said carrier, extensible means on said carrier for rendering a vehicle movable with said carrier, means for operating said propelling mechanism and said extensible pinion for propelling tending between the tiers, an elevator travel- I means and said elevator to move a vehicle from the loading station to any one of said stalls over said trackways, and for depositing the vehicle in said stall.

29. In a vehicle storage system, the combination of a plurality of vehicle storage stalls arranged tier on tier, an elevator hatchway extending between the tiers, an elevator travelling in said hatchway, a track on said elevator, a loading station adjacent the elevator hatehway on one of the tiers, a trackway extending 'l'rom'the hatchway to said delivery station adapted to coincide with the trackwav on said elevator when the elevator is level with the tier on which is located the de-' liverv station, other traekways extending into the iehicle storage stalls in each tier and adapted to coincide with the trackways on said elevator when it is leveled at the respective tiers, a Vehicle carrier movable along any of said trackways, mechanism for propelling said carrier from said elevator into a Vehicle storage stall on any iioor at which the elevator is leveled along the trackway extending thereto, extensible means on said carrier for rendering a vehicle in the. storage stall 1nov able with said carrier, mechanism for operating said extensible means, said propelling mechanism being operable to move said carrier and vehicle onto said elevator along the stall and elevator trackway, said elevator being then operative to move said carrier in a vertical direction to the tier at which is located the discharge station, said propelling mechanism being then operable to move said carrier from the elevator to the discharge station along the trackway extending thereto, means 'l' or then operating the extensible mechanism to retract said extensible means to leave said vehicle. at said discharge station, and said propelling means being then operable to move said carrier to said elevator along said discharge station and elevator trackways. i

30. In a vehicle storage system, a plurality of vehicle storage stalls arranged tier on tier, a receiving tier, an elevator travelling between said tiers, a vehicle carrier mounted in said elevator, mechanism for propelling said carrier from the elevator on said receiving tier. an automobile driveway adjacent to and (XllOlltllllQ' past said elevator hatchway at said receiving tier, means for operating the carrier propelling mechanism to move said carrier from the elevator to the driveway of the receiving tier, extensible mechanism mounted on said carrier operative to associate an automobile with the carrier, said propelling mechanism being then operable to move said carrier back on said elevator in a direction at substantially right angles to the lengthwise position of the car.

31. In a vehicle storage system, the combination of a plurality of vehicle storage stalls arranged tier on tier, an elevator hatchway extending between the tiers, an elevator travelling in said hatchway, a trackway on said elevator, a loading station adjacent the elevator 11 atchwa y on one of the tiers, a trackway extending from the elevator hatchway to said loading station adapted to coincide with the trackway on said elevator when the elevator is level with the tier on which is located the loading station, other trackways extending into the vehicle storage stalls in each tier and adapted to coincide with the trackways on said elevator when it is levelled at the respective tiers, a truck-like structure movable along any of said trackways, mechanism for propelling said structure, extensible means on said structure for rendering a vehicle movable with said structure, means for operating said propelling mechanism and said extensible means and said elevator to move a vehicle from the loading station to any one of said stalls over said trackways, and for depositing the vehicle in said stall.

32-111 a vehicle storage system, the combination of a plurality of vehicle storage stalls arranged tier on tier, an elevator hatch- Way extending between the tiers, an elevator travelling in said hatchway, a track on said elevator, a loading station adjacent the elevator hatchway on one of the tiers, a trackway extending from the hatchway to said delivery station adapted to coincide with the trackway on said elevator when the elevator is level with the tier on which is located the delivery station, other trackways extending into the vehicle storage stalls in each tier and adapted to coincide with the trackways on said elevator when it is leveled at the respective tiers, a truck-like structure movable along any of said trackways, mechanism for propelling said structure from said elevator into a vehicle storage stall on any floor at Which the elevator is leveled along the trackway extending thereto, extensible means on said structure for rendering a vehicle in the storage stall movable with said structure, mechanism for operating said extensible means, said propelling mechanism being operable to move said structure and vehicle onto said elevator along the stall and elevator trackway, said elevator being then operative to move said structure in a vertical direction to the tier at which is located the discharge station, said propelling mechanism being then operable to move said structure from the elevator to the discharge station along the trackway extending thereto, means for then operating the extensible mechanism to retract said extensible means to leave said vehicle at said discharge station, and said propelling means being then operable to move said structure to said elevator along said discharge station and elevator trackways.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 15th day of February, 1928.

FREDERICK P. DINKELBERG.

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