Patent ID: 7419342
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a lower tier vehicle support structure adapted to support one or more vehicles in a lower tier of vehicles; an upper tier vehicle support structure adapted to support one or more vehicles in an upper tier of vehicles above and over the lower tier of vehicles; said upper tier vehicle support structure comprising one or more elevated movable platforms capable of supporting vehicles and configured to move relative to each other; and an upper tier lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the elevated movable platforms relative to the lower tier vehicle support structure; wherein the upper tier lifting mechanism consists of screw-driven devices, each screw-driven device comprising a rotatable screw and a motor drivingly coupled to rotate the screw, the screw-driven devices being arranged to raise or lower the elevated movable platforms relative to the lower tier vehicle support structure upon rotation of the screws; wherein each of said screw-driven devices is self-locking; wherein at least two of the screw-driven devices comprise first and second, variable-length screw actuators positioned on opposite sides of the apparatus, each screw actuator comprising first and second elongate members that are telescopingly extensible and retractable relative to each other, an internal screw, and a motor drivingly connected to the internal screw, wherein rotation of said screw forces the elongate members to slide relative to each other to change a length of the actuator.