Patent GB-668531-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in mechanical storage equipment
IPC: E04H6/36
Filed: 1948-08-23
Abstract: 668,531. Mechanical garages and storage systems. AUGER, H. Aug. 4, 1949. [Aug. 23, 1948; Aug. 23, 1948; March 16, 1949; March 16, 1949] Nos. 22150/48, 22151/48, 7171/49 and 7172/49. Classes 78 (iii) and 78 (iv). In a mechanical storage system of the type comprising circulating platforms moved along ranks, and moved from one rank to another by traversing means, jacks on the latter may be set while in a rank to engage with or disengage from a platform to be traversed to another rank. General arrangement.-In the mechanical garage for vehicles shown in plan in Fig. 1, plat- 'forms 1 to 7 for carrying automobiles are mounted by wheels 26, Fig. 18, to run on rails 100, a space being left in one of the two ranks to permit circulation of the platforms. From the position shown the platform at the N end of the W rank is raised by jacks on a cross-over carriage described below, carried over to the E rank and then lowered. The platforms in the W rank are then moved together along the rank and the platform at the S end of the F rank is raised, carried to the W rank and lowered. After move ment of the carriages in the E rank this sequence is then continued. Each platform comprises troughs 10, for receiving the wheels of an automobile. joined by bridges 20 of boxsection (Figs. 1, 17 and 18) which carry brackets 24 on which are mounted the axles 25 of the wheels 26. Pitching of the end platform in a rank when a vehicle is driven on is prevented by downwardly projecting members (which may carry wheels) on the platforms adapted to engage abutments on the floor near the ends of the ranks. The rails 100 are preferably substantially without interruptions even at the crossovers N and S and are provided with guiding flanges 104 which are interrupted at the crossovers. Alternatively, the wheels 26 may run on a floor provided with guiding rails such as 104 or may be flanged to run on unflanged rails 100: with the latter alternative the rails 100 must be interrupted at the cross-overs to permit the passage of the flanges on the wheels. Driving the platforms along the ranks.-The platforms are coupled for movement along the ranks by the means described in Specification 653,496 and are driven by collector carriages 250, Figs. 1 and 4, mounted between the ranks for reciprocation parallel to them. As shown in Fig. 7, the collector carriage 250 is guided by rollers 254, 255 engaging rails 211. The rails 211 also engage wheels 228, 229 on a carriage 220 between the rails 211. This carriage is reciprocated by cables 201, 202, Fig. 4, anchored at 201 A, 202A and passing around sheaves 227. 227 on the carriage 220, fixed sheaves 203, 204 and a driving drum 200. The collector carriage 250 is driven by a cable 230, passing around the sheaves 227, 227 on the carriage 220 and anchored at 230A, 230A, through a, link connection as described in Specifications 653,492 and 653,506 so that the carriage has small terminal acceleration and deceleration. Driving the cross-over carriages.-The carriages 400, Fig. 18, which carry the platforms over the cross-overs N and S are guided on the rails 100 by wheels 404, 406 and are driven by cables 357, 358, Fig. 4, connected to a carriage 350 driven similarly to the carriage 250, the carriages 400 being connected for conjoint operation by cables 269, 270 further described below. Coupling the platforms to the means for driving them along the ranks.-The cables 269, 270 are wrapped around a drum 266, Fig. 7, on the carriage 250 and serve, while the cross-over carriages are moving, to operate means for changing over the coupling between the carriage 250 and the ranks. When the carriages 400 move the cables 269, 270 rotate the drum 266 to move it along a screw 265 and so move a bolt 262 to engage in a window 14 in a platform in one rank and to disengage a window 14 in a platform in the other rank : thus whichever rank is to move next is coupled to the carriage 250. The windows 14 are preferably in parts of the troughs 10 extending outside the rails 100. To prevent movement of the bolt when the carriage 250 moves, a cable 275 anchored at 274A, 275A, Fig. 4, is adapted to turn a drum 274 on the screw 265 in the same direction as the drum 266. Alternatively, the cable 275 and drum 274 may be replaced by a suitably controlled electric motor or by a fixed rack engaging a pinion on the carriage 250, or both drums 274 and 266 and their associated cables may be replaced by fluid pressure or electric means or by means driven through a flexible shaft. Operating the jacks on the cross-over carriages.-The jacks on the cross-over carriages are raised and lowered during the motion of the ranks : thus as the W rank is moved the jacks on the cross-over carriage at the N end of the E rank are lowered and the jacks on the cross-over carriage at the S end of the E rack are raised. The jacks are operated from drums 440, Fig. 4, driven by cables 258 secured to the carriage 250. These drums are automatically coupled to shafts 410 on the cross-over carriages when the latter are at the ends of their travel. These shafts have left- and right-hand screwthreaded portions, Fig. 11, engaging nuts 414 of toggle linkages 415 to move bars 417, mounted on rolls 420 engaging rails 401 on the carriages 400, inwardly. The bars 417 are connected by links 428 pivoted at 429 so that on operation of the shaft 410 the members 425, 428 are moved to the position shown in Figure 18 to engage under the troughs 10 of the end platform of a rank. Ears 430 on the members 425 prevent the platforms from falling off the jacks 425, 428 while rollers 405 on the carriages 400 engage the bridges 20 to prevent the platforms from moving too far along the ranks. The toggles 415 and the members 425 preferably reach their dead centre at the same time as the completion of the lifting operation. As an alternative, synchronised or independent hydraulic jacks may be used. The necessary sequence of operations is controlled by limit switches operated by the movement of the carriages 250, 350. The several anchorages for the cables shown in Fig. 4 are preferably such that the tensions of the cables may be adjusted. In an alternative construction a space is left in each rank E, W, the two ranks being moved simultaneously by two carriages each similar to the carriage 250. The invention may be applied to the storage of other loads than automobiles, e.g. goods on pallets.