Patent GB-502966-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to storage and like equipments
IPC: E04H6/18
Filed: 1937-09-25
Abstract: 502,966. Handling vehicles and merchandise in garages and storehouses ; hooks. AUGER, H:, and PEARSON, W. E. Sept. 25, 1937, No. 26057. [Class 78 (iv)] [Also in Group XXV] In a garage or storehouse for crates &c. wheeled platforms carrying the cars or crates move in a closed cycle comprising upper and lower floors and lifts at each end of the floors. Thus in Fig. 1, the lift 4 carrying the platform E has just been raised, and the lift 3 carrying the platform F lowered simultaneously. At the next stage, the column on the top floor is moved towards the left so that platform A moves over supports in the shaft of lift 3 and E leaves lift 4. Simultaneously platform F leaves lift 3 and platform J is moved on to support in shaft of lift 4. The lifts then make an up and down movement, lift 4 passing downward beneath the platform J and lifting it on the next up stroke, and lift 3 rising to pick up the platform A and lower the latter on the next down stroke at which stage the lifts are positioned for the commencement of a fresh cycle of operations. The operation is continued until the platform carrying the W@ated car or crate is opposite the exit. The apparatus is fitted, however, so that 3 can be used as the car-lifting lift and 4 the lowering lift, when desirable. Figs. 4 and 12 shows the general arrangement of the hoisting-gear for the lifts. Each lift comprises four corner brackets 20, roller-guided in channelled members and connected by chains 33 to the pistons of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 35, one serving each side of the lift. Two of the chains at opposite sides of the lift are crossconnected by sprockets 38 on a common shaft to ensure even working. Each cylinder 35 controls one side of both lifts so that one lift balances the other and is raised while the other is lowered arid vice versa. The lower floor has fixed rails fitted with anti-friction rollers projecting across the lift space to receive the platforms, while the upper floor has hinged, turn-down counterweighted extensions 17 that can be raised automatically by the ascending cages and moved out of the way. The wheeled platforms are formed at one end with projections 21, Fig. 18, and at the other with holes 24, Fig. 15. As the lifts rise and fall, the coupling and uncoupling of the end platforms of the series on each floor takes place automatically. Fig. 3 shows in elevation the means on one side of the structure for moving the platforms over the floors. Retracting- hooks 40, which operate in one direction only, are connected on the upper floor by a rod 43 and on the lower floor by rods 42 to the piston of a cylinder 41. Chains 44 connect the rods 42 and 43 so that the one cylinder operates the four hooks. Similar apparatus at the other side of the structure is cross-connected by one of the sprocket shafts 45 or 46 to ensure even working, Figs. 19, 20 and 22 show the construction of the hooks which are rollerguided in two directions at right-angles in channels 47 and are spring-pivoted so that their beaks 40 project beyond the guides in the acting position only. The action of projecting and retracting the beaks consists in transferring the pivot 56 of the spring 57 to opposite sides of the hook pivot 53. A pull on one or other of the rods 66, 68 causes members 62, 63 to swing a member 61, Fig. 22 in one direction or the other. This member 61 is connected to the hub carrying the spring and rotates the latter to project or retract the hooks as the case may be. A control station is indicated at which the operation of a single lever controls all the hooks on both floors simultaneously. Controls also are indicated whereby the operation in sequence of levers placed in close proximity can (1) move the platforms one stage in cither direction and bring them to rest, (2) lower or retract the pivoted supports in the lift shafts and (3) operate the lifts for a single journey; each lever being operated and brought back to the " off " position before the next is operated.