US2013482A - Parking apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1935. E. s. TAYLOR PARKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 3l, 1934 Sept. 3, 1935. E. s. TAYLOR PARKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 31, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 3, 1935. E. s. TAYLOR PARKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3l, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w .:w..|`..H,I:.-mHH i mm mw Sept 3, 1935. E. s. TAYLoR 2,013,482

PARKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3l, 1954 4 Sheets-Shes?I 4 Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED v'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PARKING APPARATUS Eugene S. Taylor, Chicago, Ill. Application October 31, 1934, Serial No. 750,894

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in storage apparatus and, more especially, such apparatus adapted for Astoring vehicles, for example, motor vehicles and the like.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of improved apparatus for storing vehicles in a. confined space or area on a substantially horizontal floor or support, making very effective use of the space at hand While at the same time providing ample space for the movement to and fro of vehicles.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown the same employed in connection 1 with a unit area having certain dimensions. It

is obvious, however, that the principles of the invention may be embodied in larger or smaller areas.

By the use of my invention, a large proportion of any given space may be effectively utilized for the storage of vehicles and, at the same time, any individual vehicle can be placed in storage or removed therefrom with a relatively small amount of movement of other stored vehicles and by way of paths or driving lanes wider than otherwise would be possible.

Another new and novel feature of my invention is the development of the vehicle carriers or parkers in two separate, distinct and unconnected sections; one section to support the front wheels of a vehicle and the other section to support its rear wheels.

An important feature is the connection of the carriers in each rank into a train which can be opened or disconnected at any place, permitting the two portions of the train to be separated, thus opening a driving lane for entry or removal of a car. In connection with this arrangement, I arrange the vehicle carriers in rank and ille formation substantially filling the unit area, with the exception of one le (except in the last rank). In addition to the one file thus left, I also find it desirable to leave a little extra space on each side so that when it is desired to separate the carriers in any rank to produce a driving lane, the vacant file, plus the extra spaces on the sides, will permit the formation of a lane wider than otherwise would be possible. In connection with this arrangement, I also provide means for separating one or more trains and means for moving the two portions away from each other to leave such an unobstructed lane between said portions.

The apparatus consists of a combination of movable carriers capable of supporting automobiles or other vehicles, these carriers being so low and flat and so disposed with relation to the .floor or supporting surface as to oier no material obstruction to the movement of automobiles over either the carriers or the floor in any direction. The apparatus includes rollers on the floor for supporting the carriers; guide strips on the floor for guiding the carriers; means for connecting and disconnecting the carriers; and the use of fiat plates to form the carriers with separate sections if desired for the front and rear wheels of the automobile.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawingsl Figure 1 is a top plan view; Fig. 2 is a similar fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing some of the carriers removed; Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by the line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view taken as indicated by the line 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view taken as indicated by the line 5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the construction of Fig. 5 showing portions broken away.

As shown in the drawings, Fig. 1 indicates a unit of storage space or area, for example, a single fioor of a building of sufiicient size to accommodate substantially twenty-eight vehicles (when filled to its maximum capacity) inA rank and file formation, seven vehicles to each rank and four to each file. This unit of floor area or space I have indicated in general by III, the walls of the same being indicated by II, I I, IIb.

Numerals I2, I2 may indicate doors or openings affording access to the floor I0. In the event that the floor III is above the ground level, I3, |33, I3b may indicate elevators.

For convenience, I shall designate the seven files A, B, C, D, E, F, G and the ranks I, 2, 3, 4. Each of the doors I2 furnishes access to the floor area and a vehicle may be moved on its ownA wheels anywhere over the oor area, thus having unimpeded access from any door to any rank` and file storage position. My storage apparatus is so constructed as to permit vehicles to movek about the storage area substantially as freely as if the apparatus was not there. This free movement is a decided improvement on other mechanical storage apparatus that does not permit this.

As stated, the unit area I have shown will accommodate twenty-eight vehicles when lled to its maximum capacity. In normal operation, however, I prefer t'o keep one le (with the exception of one vehicle in the last rank) vacant.

With this arrangement, by mere sidewise shifting of certain vehicles, any vehicle can be driven straight ahead through an unobstructed lane to a door and onto an elevator. Although this vacant ille represents a loss in storage space, it is evident that as the number of illes is increased, the percentage of loss caused by a single vacant file is reduced.

In order to utilize a relatively large proportion of the storage space and still permit any particular vehicle to be removed from the same quickly and conveniently, it is necessary or desirable to provide means for effecting lateral movement or shifting of stored vehicles from one ille to another in any rank. One of the features of my invention is the provision of such means so constructed as not substantially to interfere with the free movement of stored vehicles on their own` wheels from rank to rank in any ille.

This means, permitting such lateral shifting, includes transverse guides on the floor, suiciently low to afford no material obstacle to the movement of automobiles over them. The vehicle carriers move transversely across the i'loor between these guides. Since the construction and operation of these guides are substantially the same in each rank, it is necessary to describe in detail but one. 'I'hese are shown, for example, in Fig. 3. where such guides are in the form of square tubes suitably fastened to the floor III. The tubes I4, I4 accommodate the carrier which supports the back wheels of a vehicle and the guides I5, I5n guide the carrier which supports the front wheels.

All the carriers, including those for both the front and back wheels, lare similar in construction and operation, except that those for the front wheels are somewhat longerifrom front to back). lConsequently, I shall describe but one in detail. The carriers for the front wheels are indicated by 25, and those for the back wheels, by 24. Obviously, if desired, the vehicles may be reversed on the carriers. It is obvious also that the two carriers for one vehicle may be made integral, and that the two carriers, as shown, for the front and rear wheels, respectively, of one vehicle may be considered as the two sections of a single carrier. Hereafter, therefore, I may use the term vehicle carrier to cover meansto carry one vehicle, whether such carrier consists of one or two sections. I

The carriers 24 and 25 are primarily formed of thin plates, such plates being thin enough and close enough to the oor so that they do not substantially interfere with the movement of vehicles on their'own wheels over the carriers or the floor or supporting surface. 'Ihat is, a vehicle may be easily driven or otherwise moved in any and every direction on its own wheels, anywhere on the floor, regardless of the presence or absence of the carriers.

In the operation of the apparatus, vehicles may be driven into any le and located in any rank shaft.

mobiles on the same (if such automobiles be of maximum width) be separated by only three or four inches. For example, the carriers may be 6 6" wide. If these are occupied by cars 6' 3" Wide, the cars will be separated by three inches when the carriers are hooked together in trains.

Adjacent the wall II, however, I provide an extra space of nine inches, as indicated by 50, and a similar space of nine inches adjacent the wall I I, as indicated by 5I In order to provide a driving lane of adequate width in any ille, the vacant ille at the side may be temporarily utilized and the spaces 50 and 5I closed up. By this means, ready access is afforded to any carrier in any rank. For example, to locate or remove the car in rank 3, ille D, the cars in ranks I and 2, files A, B and C, are shifted toward the wall II to close the vspace 50. 'I'he oars in ranks I and 2, files D, E

` about nine inches beyond in order to close the space 5I. 'I'his permits the car in rank 3, i'lle D to be rolled on its own wheels straight onto the elevator I3.

The vehicle carriers roll laterallysidewise on rollers 52 suitably mounted on the floor I0. The lateral shifting may be accomplished in any suitable mann'er. If desired, the cars can be shifted manually. I prefer, however, to provide mechanical means for shifting the carriers and will now describe such means.

Vehicles are shifted by shifting the carriers upon` which such vehicles are stored. I have here shown mechanical means for laterally shifting the carriers, said means comprising racks 28 attached to the two endj carriers in each rank, and pinions 29 in mesh with such racks, said pinions being mounted on driving shafts 30 (see Figs. 3 and 4) countersunk in the oor.

Customary means, such as an electric motor 3l, is provided for the operation of each driving I provide a separate driving means at each end of each rank (except rank 4). The usual means are provided for reversing the motors. When any train is disconnected at any place, the two portions of the train may readily be separated to provide a lane between them.

I provide means for connecting and disconnecting the carriers at any point. The coupling means may be of any suitable form. As here shown, I provide one carrier with holes adapted to be engaged by vertically movable bolts 6I carried by projecting portions 62 of the adjacent carrier. The bolts carry coils of wire 63. In the floor I0 are a plurality of coils 64. These coils are so located that when the carriers are located in their respective files from A vto F, inclusive, as the carriers in rank 3 are shown located in Fig. 1, there is such a coil 64 under each bolt 6I. that when the coil 64 is energized by a direct electric current, another current is induced in the coil 63. These coils are so wound that there will thus be produced like poles at the top of 'the coil 64 and at the lower end of the bolt 6I.

This will repel the bolt 6I upwardly into the dotted position shown in Fig. 5, to release the latch. When the current is shut off, the bolt 6I will drop by gravity into the hole'60, provided' such bolt and hole are properly alined. The coil '64 in each row between the les are preferably al1 connected by wires 65 in a conduit 66 so that all the coils 64 in each row between two illes can be energized simultaneously. This will raise all the bolts 6I in suchrow, thus disconnecting The coils 63 and 64 are so wound' the train in each rank (except rank 4). By this construction, the formation of a driving lane isgreatly facilitated. For example, to open the lane, as shown in Fig. 1, for the removal of the car in rank 3, le D, all the latches between files C and D areraised. This'disconnects the trains in ranks l, 2 and 3. The motors at each end of ranks I and 2 are then operated to separate the trains in ranks I and 2, as shown'. After the car is removed, these trains are brought together and the bolts allowed to drop into eny gagement. It will be seen that the bolts in rank -3 were also raised, thus disconnecting the train in this rank, but the portions of this train were notseparated and,- consequently, the bolts just dropped back into place again when the current was released.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Apparatus for storing vehicles, including; a iloor of unit area; a plurality of vehicle carriers in rank and iile formation substantially lling said area with the exception of one file, said carriers being sufliciently close to the floor to permit free passage of vehicles thereover on their own Wheels; means for connecting .the carriers in any rank (except the last) into train foi'- mation, said means permitting disconnection of said train at any point into two portions; and means for moving the two portions of any such train when disconnected to separate the same.

2. Apparatus for storing vehicles, including; a oor of unit area; a plurality of vehicle carriers in rank and file formation, substantially filling said area with the exception of one vacant file 'and extra spaces at the sides, said carriers being sufiiciently close to the iioor to permit free passage of vehicles thereover on their own wheels; means for connecting the carriers in any rank (except the last) into train formation, said means permitting disconnection of said train into two portions; and means for moving the two portions of any such train when disconnected to separate the same and cause said portions to utilize the vacant lile and the extra spaces at the sides.

3. Apparatus for storing vehicles, including; a floor of unit, area; a plurality of vehicle carriers in rank and le formation substantially lling said area with the exception of one le, said carriers being suillciently close to the floor to permit free passage of vehicles thereover on their own wheels; means for connecting the carriers in any rank (except the last) into train formation; simultaneously operating means for disconnecting the trains in each rank on a line adjacent any ille; and means for separating the disconnected portions of any trains.

4. Apparatus for storing vehicles, including; a floor of unit area; a plurality of vehicle carriers in rank and le formation substantially lling said area with the exception of one le, said carriers being suiiiciently close to the floor to permit free passage of vehicles thereover on their own wheels; means for' connecting the carriers in any rank (except the last) into train formation, said means permitting disconnection of any train at any point; and means adjacent each end of each rank for moving the end carriers.

lthe vehicle carriers comprise substantially flat lplates.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the floor is provided with rollers and in which the vehicle carriers include at plates resting on said rollers.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in whlch the floor is provided with rollers and in which the vehicle carriers include at plates resting on said rollers.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the floor is provided with rollers and in which the vehicle carriers include flat plates resting on said rollers.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the floor is provided with rollers and in which the vehicle carriers include flat plates resting on said rollers.

13. Apparatus for storing vehicles, including; a oor of unit area; a plurality of vehicle carriers in rank and le formation substantially filling said area with the exception of one vacant le and extra spaces at the sides, said carriers being sulciently close to the floor to permit free passage of vehicles thereover on their own wheels; means for connecting the carriers in any rank (except the last) into train formation; and means for separating any train at any point and moving the two portions thereof in opposite di-- rections away from each other to leave an unobstructed lane between said portions.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the carriers comprise flat plates.

EUGENE S. TAYLOR.

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