AN APPARATUS TO INCREASE THE STORAGE CAPACITY OF A ROOM AND IN PARTICULAR OF A MOTOR CAR GARAGE

Abstract: The object of the present invention is an apparatus to increase the storage capacity of rooms, in particular of motor car garages, composed of a lift device, supported by a framework (1), formed by a frame (50) supporting two plates (51, 53), a front one (51) and a rear one (53), having such a size that they hold the front wheels and the rear wheels of a vehicle, in which the rear plate (53) is provided with inclined oscillating planes 54) which position themselves by gravity, thus facilitating the entrance of the vehicle, when the frame (50) rests on the ground, while they are lifted when the frame (50) is hanging, thus leaving free space for the lower vehicle, said frame (50) having side beams (57) partially offset in a vertical plane, in order to facilitate or allow the access to the vehicle placed below, even with a limited lifting of the frame (50).

Description: This invention concerns an apparatus for lifting loads, mainly motor cars, so that use can be made of a greater volume, for example in a garage, particularly a small one, or a parking area. There already exist hydraulic lifts to superimpose two cars in a single garage. Such lifts are generally produced in standard models, they require a greater height than that normally available, they often have an inclination that is pre-set, even if in different positions, at the time of manufacture (in some cases this restricts rational use of volumes) and lastly their bases take up wide floor space and also the central area where free access should be left for the second vehicle. There are also hydraulic or mechanical lifts, commonly known as auto lifts, for vehicle repair shops. These have a high loading capacity, but for precisely this reason their size and cost are so great that they are not suitable for general parking use in garages. DE-A-2644022 describes a lift apparatus for garages in which the upper platform, is provided with side beams having offset central portions and with pivotable ramps which make it easier for the vehicle to mount. However said document does not describe an inclined position of the upper platform, so that the internal capacity of a room cannot be exploited to the full. The aim of this invention is to improve use of the volume of rooms with an economical lift apparatus capable of taking a car or the like and leaving the floor area of the room completely free, so that it can be used for a second car or the like. The aim is achieved with an apparatus according to claim 1. The apparatus comprises a framework and a lift device capable to lift a supporting means, said supporting means consisting of a frame supporting two plates, a front one and a rear one, of such dimensions that they hold the front wheels and the rear wheels of the vehicle, respectively; the rear plate being provided with oscillating planes which position themselves by gravity, thus facilitating the entrance of the vehicle, when the frame rests on the ground, and they are lifted when the frame is hanging, thus leaving free space for the lower vehicle, said frame having side beams which are built with a vertical offset. The frame side beams are also of use as side guide for the tyres, while the front plate, besides supporting the front wheels, is a drip guard for the engine area. The particular configuration of the frame side beams, with vertical offset, allows or facilitates the access to the doors of the lower vehicle, even when the frame is lifted to such height, that it interferes with the trajectory of the head of whom enters the lower vehicle. Preferably the lifting device comprises a geared motor, with relative driving and braking system, driving cables connected with the frame. The word "cable" used above and hereinafter indicates any flexible, traction-resisting element, such as a rope, a cable, a chain, a belt or the like. Preferably steel cables are used. As an alternative, the lift device can consist of hydraulic rams with a direct action or an indirect one by means of levers. The framework is preferably made up of four steel uprights that are set at the corners of the garage and a plurality of connecting beams to support the geared motor and the lift pulleys. One of the uprights or beams, set up as the "main" beam, is placed at the back of the room or on one of the top edges. The uprights and beams have a limited cross-section (generally 30 × 30 cm for the main element and 10 × 10 cm for the pillars). Anchorage to the ground can be provided by means of screws and Fischer plugs or other fixing systems. The framework can be totally or partially incorporated into the structure of the building itself. If necessary, the frame may be engaged by ratchet gears, which prevent its movement in the horizontal plane when it is resting on the ground. The framework can if necessary be held by safety hooks to prevent it from falling, in the uppermost position or at different heights if required by law, irrespective of the lift system. The geared motor with the related drive system is preferably set on the main pillar or beam in a raised position (it is more economical to put it at ground level, but floor space is lost in this way, albeit in a corner). The control panel, near the entrance, has raising, lowering and emergency stop controls, electrical power connecting switch and the limit switches are linked to this panel. The control push-button panel may be safely placed outside of the structure volume. The geared motor has an output shaft provided with a coiler, which may have two different coil diameters, one of which affects the cable or the cables lifting the front portion of the frame, while the other one affects the rear portion of the frame, said frame being thus capable to be lifted inclined with respect to the horizontal floor. The geared motor drives chains, preferably roller chains, by means of sprocket wheels. Cables are joined to the chain before passing over the first snub pulley. The cable passes around successive pulleys till it reaches the position in which it is needed for lifting. In order to achieve the best inclination for stowing motor cars the tackle system can be used in addition to varying the diameter of the sprocket wheel or of the coilers. In an alternative way the cables can be operated by drums which are directly keyed on the reduction gear shaft. Preferably, the support rear plate is solubly fixed to the frame, so that it can be moved to and fro adapting it to different types and sizes of vehicles. Preferably, the rear plate consists of three joists joined in a single block, to take the rear wheels, the outermost joist having a pin supporting a swinging joist which projects upwards, so that a rear stop for the wheels is obtained, said joist positioning itself in order to take, in a balanced way, the stop push of the rear wheels, which orientation is useful in case the vehicle is not parallel to the framework axis. The rear plate is preferably secured to the frame by means of bolts. The plate can move by 60 mm steps, for example, it being possible to obtain intermediate positionings by means of shims, wooden ones for example, fixed to the rear beam. The plate for the front wheels and the rear plate are preferably inclined towards the rear of the garage so that whether the frame is horizontal or being inclined, the vehicle rests by sheer gravity against the rear cross-piece of the rear block. Preferably, the positioning of the rear plate is also provided in correspondence with the raised zone of the side beams, thus adapting the supporting means to one axle trucks, for example for boats, with relevant load. Preferably, a complementary plate is provided, which is made to form a continuous platform when it rests on the front and on the rear plate. In this way the zone above the supporting means can be used to store pieces of furniture, rubber boats, trunks, etc. The arrangement of the frame lifting cables can be obtained in different ways, avoiding however having cables hanging down in the area where the driver's head might be when he looks out of the window while parking. To this end a bar crossing the two lateral beams of the frame and projecting to the hoisting cable is generally provided. If due to the limited height of the garage this bar were to cause an obstruction to the access of the driver to the lower vehicle, a bar could be provided which is hinged to an end of the framework and has at least an external projection, shaped so as to position itself in a plane which is: horizontal, parallel to the ground, when the support is on the ground so that it can be passed over; vertical, when the support is raised, so that it is easy to pass under it. The swinging inclined planes can be, for example, moved by a cable fixed to the structure and by a series of snub pulleys or possibly by a counterweight keyed on the same shaft and placed outside of the frame, having at its stop the bottom of the vehicle, with a light pressure so as not to damage the vehicle and if necessary providing protective elastomers on the edge of the planes. The equipment according to the present invention has the advantage of being lastingly reliable, easy to install, occupying, in the case of lifting by means of cables, limited floor space, above all restricted to the corners of the room only, thus allowing easy access to the lower vehicle. It also makes it possible to modify the supporting means to equip it for different aims, as well as prearranging its inclination, so that the position of the items is optimized, according to varying needs. This invention will now be better explained on the basis of exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a supporting means with two possible variants for the cable attachment; Fig. 1a shows a plan view of the particular of the rear block of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 shows an axonometric view of a framework installed in a garage and without the load-bearing means; Fig. 3 shows an axonometric view of the garage with the load-bearing means raised so that it is horizontal; Fig. 4 shows a similar view to Fig. 2, but with the load-bearing means raised inclined; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a garage with the cable arrangement; Fig. 6 is section along 6-6 in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section along 7-7 in Fig. 5; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show similar views to those in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, but with a second type of cable arrangement; Fig. 11 shows an alternative to Fig. 4. Figure 1 shows a support that can be positioned as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, comprising a frame 50 which, as well as being a supporting structure, serves as a guide for the vehicle tyres. The frame 50 supports, at the front end (on the left in the drawing), a fixed plate 51 of such a size as to hold the front wheels of the vehicles and constitute an engine guard from fluids dropping on the vehicle parked beneath the support. The front 55 and rear 55′ sides of the plate 51 are shaped like an inclined plane to allow easy access for the vehicles. In the rear area of the frame are fixed, by means of bolts, three beams joined into a block 53 to take the rear wheels of the vehicle (shown also in plan view of Fig. 1a). The outermost beam 58 has a pin 59, on which a swinging joist 52 is pivoted (as indicated by double arrows in Fig. 1a), which beam projects upwards so that it forms an orientable rear stop for the wheels, in order to limit pressures to tyres when the vehicle is raised. As shown in the drawing, the swinging joist 52 is disposed inclined with respect to beam 58, so that a plan face is turned to the tyre surface. Two oscillating inclined planes 54 are connected to the innermost beam, serving to make it easier for the tyres to mount the block 53. When the support is resting on the ground the planes 54 position themselves by gravity so that they make it easier for the vehicle to mount; when the support is in the upper position, said planes 54 are raised (hatched in the figure) by means of a system (not shown) having at its stop the bottom of the motor car, with a light pressure so as not to damage the vehicle. The block 53 can be moved longitudinally so that the support can be adapted to the type (to be precise, to the length) of the motor car it is to accommodate. The side beams 56 of the frame have a raised part 57 that allows easier access to the doors of the vehicle parked underneath. The block 53 can also be positioned in correspondence of such raised part 57 (as shown in Fig. 11). On lifting by means of cables, the support can be completed by a bar 60a, supported so that it projects through holes provided in the frame 50, cooperating in the cable arrangement (position AA′). If the garage height is not sufficient, and then the bar A-A′ is not sufficiently raised for an easy access to the lower vehicle, a Z-shaped bar 60b can be provided (shown separately from the support in Fig. 1) supported so that it can swing round; when the support is raised the bar 60b is in position B₁B₁′, the projecting part being set at a higher level than that of the support, while when the support is resting on the ground the bar 60b is in position B₀B₀′ (hatched), i.e. lying horizontally to facilitate the passage. Figure 2 shows the metal framework 1 of the type provided for lifting by means of cables, whose component elements are the uprights 4 and 5 and the beams 6 and 7, located along the sides of a parallelepiped, parallel to the edges of the garage. The framework 1 is thus positioned in such a way as to take up floor space only in the corners of the room. The upright 4 is made in the form of a main pillar: it is situated on the opposite side to the entrance and supports the geared motor 2 with the possibility of inserting the control lever 3 for emergency manual release of the brake. The transverse beams 6 and the longitudinal beams 7 complete the framework 1 with the uprights. In Fig. 3 the support 8 can be seen, schematized as a single platform, positioned at ground level and in its uppermost position (position 8′). In Fig. 4 the same support in Fig. 3 is shown in a horizontal position at ground level and inclined in position 8″. The angle of inclination can be determined according to requirements. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a first possible type of cable arrangement. The cables 10, 20, 30 and 40 connected to each chain 9 take the following path: first they are wound on snub pulleys 11, 21, 31 and 41 respectively, idly mounted on the same shaft A (Fig. 7). Cable 10 winds onto pulley 11, then onto pulley 12 located on the main upright, thus passing onto pulleys 13 and 14 that form a tackle (which can be eliminated if necessary). The end of cable 10 is secured to the framework 1 at 15. In the same way cable 20 passes on pulleys 21, 22, 23 and 24 and is then secured to the framework at 25. In the same way cables 30 and 40 pass on pulleys 31, 32, 33, 34; 41, 42, 43, 44 respectively (Figs. 5 and 6) then they are secured to the platform 8 at P3 and P4 as shown in Fig. 4. For greater clarity, the pulley shafts are designated by the same number as the pulleys preceded by an "A". The two tackles 14 and 24 of cables 10 and 20 are connected to points P1 and P2 of the support 8, as can be seen in Fig. 4. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show a second possible type of cable arrangement, which is particularly advantageous, because the longitudinal obstruction is eliminated. In these figures cables, pulleys and shafts corresponding to those in Figs. 5, 6, 7 are indicated with the same numbers followed by an apex. In Fig. 11 the support of Fig. 1 is shown with the rear block 53 fixed on the raised part 57 of the side beams 56. Such positioning of the rear block 53 is particularly useful when the support is to be adapted to one axle trucks, for example trucks for boats or the like.

Claims: 1. Apparatus for increasing to the full the storage capacity of a garage for vehicles, comprising a framework (1) and a lift device made to lift a supporting means (8) said supporting means consisting of a frame (50) supporting two plates ― a front one (51) and a rear one (53) ― of such sizes that they hold the front wheels and the rear wheels of a first vehicle respectively, the rear plate (53) being provided at its innermost edge with pivotable ramps or planes (54) which position themselves by gravity, making easier for said vehicle to mount the rear plate, when the frame rests on the ground, means for raising the ramps when the frame is suspended, thus leaving free space for a second or lower vehicle, the supporting means being provided with a swinging joist (52) which projects upwards so that an orientable rear stop for the vehicle is obtained, said frame having side beams (57) which have upwardly offset central portions, in order to allow an easier access to the vehicle disposed beneath, even in a raised position of the frame, which would otherwise create difficulties for the access. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a frame end is raised by means of a bar (60b) which is hinged to said end and has at least one external projection shaped so as to position itself in a plane, which is: horizontal (B₀), parallel to the ground, when the support is on the ground so that it can be passed over; vertical (B₁), when the support is raised, so that it is easy to pass under it. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lift device is driven by a geared motor (2) which lifts the frame (50) by means of steel cables (10, 20, 30, 40). 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the lift device of the supporting means (8) consists of hydraulic rams with a direct action or through levers or cables. 5. An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the geared motor (2) has an output shaft provided with a coiler having two different coil diameters, one of which drives the cable or cables (30, 40), in order to lift the frame front portion, while the other one drives the cable or cables (10, 20) which lift the frame rear portion, said frame being thus capable to be lifted, forming different angles with respect to the horizontal floor. 6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the framework (1) is totally or partially incorporated into the structure itself of the building in which it is to be installed. 7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front plate (51) is fixed to the frame (50), while the rear plate (53) is solubly fixed to the frame (50) so that it can be moved longitudinally, in order to be adapted to the type of vehicle. 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the positioning of the rear plate (53) is also provided in correspondence with the raised zone (57) of the side beams (56) of the frame (50). 9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a complementary plate is provided, which is made to form a continuous platform while resting on both front and rear plates (51, 53).

Inventors: SALGHETTI DRIOLI, CARLO
Applicants: SALGHETTI DRIOLI, CARLO
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E04H6
IPC codes: B66F7, E04H6