Cantilevered multifloor storage system

Abstract: A cantilevered multifloor storage system includes a pair of inverted L-shaped outer rails (1) each having a backwardly tilted elevation section (3) and a substantially horizontal pull-in section (7), and a curved section (5) between the elevation section and the pull-in section; a pair of inverted L-shaped inner rails (21) each having a backwardly tilted elevation section (3') which is shorter than that of the outer rails, a substantially horizontal pull-in section (7') which is longer than that of the outer rail, and a curved section (5) which is substantially equal to that of the outer rail; at least one pair of F-shaped intermediate rails (2) placed between the outer and inner rails and having a backwardly tilted elevation section (4), upper and lower pull-in sections (8, 8') which are substantially horizontal, and curved sections (6, 6') between the upper and lower pull-in sections and the elevation section, respectively; first and second cantilevered carriers (25) each having a pair of carrier frames (9) and a platform (13) connecting the carrier frames and extending forwardly from the carrier frames; the first carrier frames having an outer roller (10) running on an inner surface of the elevation section and a lower surface of the pull-in section of the outer rail and an inner roller (11) running on an outer surface of the elevation section and an upper surface of the upper pull-in section of the intermediate rail; and a unit for driving separately the first and second cantilevered carriers along the rails.

Description: The present invention relates to cantilevered multifloor storage structure for lifting and storing loads into several floors which are arranged one above another, as mentioned in the preamble of claim 1. Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 56-46066 (Patent No. 1,450,943) discloses a cantilevered multifloor storage structure which includes outer, intermediate, and inner guiding rails each consisting of a vertical elevation section, a horizontal pull-in section, and a curved section between them; carrier frames each having outer and inner rollers running on the guiding rails; and carrier platforms each joining a pair of the carrier frames together so as to form a carrier on which a load, such as a vehicle, is loaded and stored in a given floor. A similar cantilevered multifloor storage structure is disclosed in the US-A-2 765 932. However, the elevation sections of the guiding rails in the above storage structure are erected in a vertical direction so that the cantilevered platform projecting forwardly from the elevation sections tends to bring down the storage structure forwardly as it is elevated to high floor positions. In order to prevent this forward falling of the storage structure, the following countermeasures have been employed. (1) A pair of storage structure are erected on opposite sides of a street and the top portions of the guiding rails are joined together. (2) The base structure of a storage structure is made large and embedded deeply in the ground. However, the countermeasure (1) is often impossible to employ because of the space limitation. The countermeasure (2) requires more work and, therefore, is expensive. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention of the above-mentioned case to provide a cantilevered multifloor storage structure which is stable as the platform is elevated to store a load into a given floor. According with the present invention said object is obtained with the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are mentioned in the subclaim. With the cantilevered multifloor storage structure according to the invention it is possible to eliminate the need for a pair of storage structures erected back to back or on opposite sides of a street and connected to each other on the top edges, or a large base structure embedded deep in the ground, thereby making the working period shorter and the manufacturing costs lower than before. The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a cantilevered multifloor storage structure according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the cantilevered multifloor storage structure; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cantilevered multifloor storage strutures installed along a street. Description of the Preferred Embodiment In Figs. 1 and 2, a cantilevered 3-floor storage structure includes a pair of outer rails 1; a pair of first intermediate rails 2; a pair of second intermediate rails 21, and a pair of inner rails 22. The outer and inner rails 1 and 22 have an inverted L-shaped form while the intermediate rails 2 and 21 have an F-shaped form. The L-shaped outer or inner rails have an elevation section 3 or 3', a horizontal pull-in section 7 or 7', and a curved section 5 between them. The F-shaped rails have an elevation section 4, a pair of horizontal pull-in sections 8 and 8', and a pair of curved sections 6 and 6' between the elevation and pull-in sections. These rails are erected on the ground and supported by rear columns 23 such that the elevation sections of the rails are tilted backwardly defining an obtuse enclosed angle as described below in more detail. The distance between the inner rails 22 is set sufficiently large to store a vehicle. Three identical carriers 25 are mounted on the guiding rails 1, 2, 21, and 22. Each carrier 25 consists of a pair of carrier frames 9 joined together by the rear edge of a substantially rectangular carrier platform 13. Each carrier frame 9 has an outer roller 10 which runs along the outer rail 1 and an inner roller 11 which runs along the inner rail 2. The carrier 25 is elevated and then pulled into the horizontal storage position along the outer and intermediate rails 1 and 21 by a driving unit 14, such as a winch and rope mechanism via guide rollers 12. That is, as the driving unit 14 pulls the carrier 25, the outer roller .10 runs on the inner surface of the elevation section 3 and the lower surface of the pull-in section 7 of the outer rail 1 while the inner roller 11 runs on the outer surface of the elevation section 4 and the upper surface of the upper pull-in section 8 of the intermediate rail 21. In accordance with the invention, the elevation sections 3, and 4, 3' of the rails 1, 2, 21, and 22 are tilted backwardly by a predetermined angle from the normal line with respect to the ground so as to offset the lever effect of the cantilevered carrier which projects forwardly and tends to bring down the storage structure forwardly. The calculation and experiment showed that the preferred tilt angle was about 10 degrees from the normal line with respect to the ground. By tilting the elevation sections of guiding rails it is possible to eliminate the need for two storage structures connected at the top edges and a large base structure embedded deep in the ground, thereby making not only the storage system stable but the working period shorter and the manufacturing costs lower than before. In Fig. 3, a number of cantilevered multifloor storage structures according to the invention are installed over a sidewalk so that people can walk under the storage structures. In this way, the cantilevered multifloor storage structures according to the invention are suitable for installation in limited spaces.

Claims: A cantilevered multifloor storage structure for lifting and storing loads into several floors which are arranged one above another, comprising: a pair of outer inverted L-shaped rails (1) each having an elevation section (3) for lifting and storing loads into several floors which are arranged one above another and a substantially horizontal pull-in' section (7), and a curved section (5) between said elevation section and said pull-in section; a pair of inverted L-shaped inner rails (22) each having an elevation section (3') which is shorter than that of said outer rails, a substantially horizontal pull-in section (7') and a curved section (5) which is substantially equal to that of said outer rail; at least one pair of F-shaped intermediate rails (2; 21) placed between said outer and inner rails and having an elevation section (4), upper and lower pull-in sections (8, 8') which are substantially horizontal, and curved sections between said upper and lower pull-in sections and said elevation section, respectively; a first cantilevered carriers (25) having a pair of first carrier frames (9) and a first platform (13) connecting said carrier frames and extending forwardly from said first carrier frames; said first carrier frames having first rollers (10) running on said elevation section and said pull-in section of said outer rails and second rollers (11) running on said elevation section and of said upper pull-in section of said intermediate rail; a second cantilevered carrier having a pair of second carrier frames and a second platform connecting said second carrier frames and extending forwardly from said second carrier frames; said second carrier frames having a first roller running on said elevation section and said lower pull-in section of said intermediate rail and an inner roller running on said elevation section and said pull-in section of said inner rail; and means (14) for driving separtely said first and second cantilevered carriers along said rails; characterized in that said elevation sections (3, 3', 4, 4') are backwardly tilted defining an obtuse enclosed angle, so that said pull-in section (7') of said inner rails (22) is longer than that of said intermediate rails (2; 21) and that of said outer rails (1), and said first rollers (10) of said first carrier frames (9) are formed as outer rollers running on an inner surface of said elevation section (3) and a lower surface of said pull-in section (7) of said outer rails (1), and said second rollers (11) of said first carrier frames running on an outer surface of said elevation section and an upper surface of said upper pull-in section of said intermediate rail (2, 21). Cantilevered multifloor storage structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the tilt angle is about 10 degrees from the normal line.

Inventors: TANAKA KENJIRO, TANAKA KOUJI, TANAKA, KENJIRO, TANAKA, KOUJI
Applicants: CARTANCE JAPAN CO LTD, CARTANCE JAPAN CO., LTD.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E04H6
IPC codes: E04H6, B66F7, B65G1