Patent GB-1081990-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to vehicle parking devices
IPC: E04H6/34
Filed: 1966-05-27
Abstract: 1,081,990. Mechanical garages; portable platforms. G. BOULADON and P. ZUPPIGER. May 27, 1966 [May 28, 1965], No. 24026/66. Headings B8E and B8H. [Also in Division F2] A device for closely parking vehicles of differing lengths end to end comprises a track on which are movably and removably mounted wheel-supporting elements, each element including means for releasably coupling it to an adjacent element whereby variable numbers of the elements may be coupled together to form a plurality of separate vehicle carrying platforms of differing lengths, the platforms forming a normally continuous parking lane, an elevator trolley movable along the track to raise a selected platform off the track, convey it to one end of the latter and lower it back on to the track, and means for moving the platforms to close the gap left by the selected platform, once raised, while the latter is being conveyed by the elevator trolley. Each wheel-supporting element comprises a cross-member (8), Fig. 5 (not shown), rigidly secured to which are wheel-supporting plates (2, 3) and on which is pivotally mounted a member (9). The plates (2,3)have flanges (4, 5, 6, 7) for guiding the vehicle wheels and the member (9) has retractable bolts (45 to 48) for coupling engagement with slots (35 to 38) in the flanges (5, 6) of an adjacent element. The bolts (45 to 48) are formed on plates (39, 40) pivotally connected to a rocking lever (41) which is connected by a rod (43) to a spring-loaded lever (12) the operation of which retracts the bolts (45 to 48) and pivots the member (9) to a vertical buffer position. The track comprises flanged rails (27, 28), Fig. 3 (not shown), the rail 28 having a further upwardly directed flange 34. The wheel-supporting elements are normally supported at one side thereof on rollers 17 carried by arms pivotally secured to the rail (27) and at the other side by an endless chain 16, Fig. 2, having rollers (33), Fig. 4 (not shown), for travelling on the flange 34. The chain 16 is driven by a wheel 18 and comprises upturned U-section links (31) interconnected by blades (311) carried by pins (32) each of which has rotatably mounted thereon a roller (33). The elevator trolley comprises a pair of spaced, rigidly-interconnected base members 19, a pair of upwardly extending posts 13 and a lifting frame 14 carried by and adapted to be moved up and down the posts by a pivoted arm 23 actuated by drive means 24. The members 19 are supported on the rails (27, 28) by rollers (25, 30), the roller (25) being driven by a motor (26). The base of the trolley has a pair of cams 20, 21 which depress the rollers 17 out of the path of the members 19, keep the rollers 17 depressed during passage of the trolley, and return the rollers 17 to their normal raised position. The trolley base has a row of rollers 22 which take over the supporting function of the rollers 17 when these are depressed. The frame 14 can be adjustably extended, Fig. 6 (not shown), to accommodate different platform lengths. The frame comprises hollow members (50, 51) in which slide rods (52 to 55) interconnected by plates (56, 57). The rods (52 to 55) are internally threaded and are engaged with threaded shafts (62 to 65) which are rotated by wheels (60, 61) driven through a worm shaft (58) by a motor (59, see also Fig. 7 (not shown). Each member (9) has a detector member (49) intended to co-operate with control means of the trolley. In operation, vehicles are driven up a ramp 15 and along the parking lane until they reach a raised member (9), whereupon the member (9) at the rear of the vehicle is pivoted to its vertical position. When a vehicle is to be retrieved the trolley is driven along the track, depressing rollers 17 on the way, until it reaches the selected vehicle. The trolley base is then adjusted to the length of the supporting platform, the latter is lifted off the track and the trolley returns to the tail end of the lane. The platforms positioned behind that raised are moved forward by the chain 16 to close the gap and provide a space at the tail end of the lane into which the selected platform is lowered by the trolley. The member (9) behind the selected vehicle is lowered and the latter is driven down the ramp 15. The chain 16 moves the platforms by friction between the links (31) and the platforms, the foremost of the platforms in the lane abutting against a stop (not shown). The chain 16 may be driven continuously or intermittently by a distance corresponding to the maximum span of the frame 14. Instead of the rollers 17 being mounted on the track rollers may be fitted on the wheel-supporting elements. The trolley may engage the elements from the side, in which case retractable rollers would not be provided. Control means may be provided for retrieving each vehicle automatically. A plurality of parking lanes may be provided.