Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H6/00—Buildings for parking cars, rolling-stock, aircraft, vessels or like vehicles, e.g. garages
  • E04H6/08—Garages for many vehicles
  • E04H6/12—Garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for shifting or lifting vehicles
  • E04H6/18—Garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for shifting or lifting vehicles with means for transport in vertical direction only or independently in vertical and horizontal directions
  • E04H6/22—Garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for shifting or lifting vehicles with means for transport in vertical direction only or independently in vertical and horizontal directions characterised by use of movable platforms for horizontal transport, i.e. cars being permanently parked on palettes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a storage installation for automated storage of objects of different kinds, such as cars or pallets.
• the installation comprises one or more autonomous basic installations or modules, which are arranged side by side to form installations with very high space exploitation.
• the storage installation according to the invention comprises, for each module, a lift serving, for each level, up to four boxes disposed in a cross-shape.
• the load displacement takes place by means of trolleys, which are translated from and towards the lift platform according to mutually perpendicular directions along suitable guides, for instance rails, which intersect on the platform itself.
• trolley translation relative to the platform is obtained by means of chain and sprocket wheel systems located below the lift platform.
• all members for moving the trolleys are grouped at the platform of each lift, with consequent advantages from the autonomy standpoint.
• Mutual independence of the basic installations or modules allows a complete mutual isolation thereof, so that damages caused by fire or explosions concerning one or more modules can be considerably reduced.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a basic installation or module according to the invention
• Fig. 2 is a top view of the module shown in Fig. 1;
• - Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of a multi-module storage installation according to the invention
• - Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of a platform
• FIG. 5 is a front view of the platform shown in Fig. 4, in a first position (idle position);
• - Fig. 6 is a front view of the platform shown in Fig. 4, in a second position (operating position);
• - Fig. 7 is a partial cross- sectional view t.aken along line A- A of the platform shown in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 8 is a side view of a detail of Fig. 7;
• - Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of the lift
• FIG. 10 is a top view of the lift shown in Fig. 9.
• storage installation 1 according to the invention consists of a multi-storey modular structure comprising a lift 50, vertically moved by suitable means in a shaft 12 located centrally of the module, and a plurality of boxes 13, with shape and surface corresponding to the plan of shaft 12, located at the various levels Li, L2...Ln of installation 1-
• the boxes are preferably provided at each level.
• the boxes have quadrangular, preferably rectangular, shape and are located in a cross-shaped arrangement around lift 50, in such a manner that one side of each box 13 is adjacent to one side of shaft 12 in which lift 50 moves.
• installation 1 comprises first modules 2a having cross- shaped plan, and second modules 2b having T- shaped plan.
• First modules 2a will be located centrally of the structure and second modules 2b will be located along the structure perimeter.
• Fig. 3 relates %o a car park and shows the rational arrangement of thirty-three modules 2a, 2b in an area of about 1800 m 2 (24 m x 75 m).
• the structure provides more than 600 parking places by using five-storey modules, which require an excavation about 11 m deep in case of underground installation.
• Modules 2a, 2b are arranged side by side so that in each first module 2a three consecutive sides out of the twelve sides of the cross perimeter are contiguous with three sides of each adjoining module.
• Such an arrangement allows a rational exploitation of the available space and moreover allows reserving a specific level, for instance the ground level, for entering each lift 50 and leaving same through the oblique running lanes (dashed lines in Fig. 3).
• a specific level for instance the ground level
• the structure can also be built overground, without need of ramps, light coverings against bad weather being provided on top each lift 50.
• Each lift 50 in each module 2a, 2b is equipped with a rectangular platform 11 that can reach the various levels Li, L2...L1- of installation 1.
• Each box 13 may house a trolley 14 onto which the object(s) to be stored is (are) placed.
• Each trolley 14 will be moreover equipped with wheels or bearings 15 and will preferably serve a single box 13 exclusively.
• each level Li, L2...Ln of installation 1 may comprise one to four boxes 13, so as to adapt the structure to the ground shape, in case of underground installation, or to the particular aesthetic shape to be attained, in case of overground installation.
• Each storage module 2a, 2b forms an independent unit, and this makes the storage installation advantageously versatile: actually, it will be possible, by combining a convenient number of modules, to store from a small number of cars, as is required for small apartment buildings, to thousands of cars for the car parks of trading or industrial centres.
• platform 11 suitably has rectangular shape, as disclosed above, sized so as to house a single car 10.
• the invention may however be built also by using platforms with different shapes, e.g. with square plan, and suitably sized depending on the objects to be stored. Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6, platform 11 has a base 11a from which a set of uprights 1 lb projects upwards.
• Uprights 1 lb are arranged to support a plane l ie having hollow rails 16 intended to guide wheels 15 of trolleys 14 while the latter are being loaded onto and unloaded from platform 11.
• Wheels 15 of trolleys 14 are oriented depending on the mutually perpendicular directions along which trolleys 14 can be moved from and towards platform 11 and are arranged in parallel rows so as to correspond with hollow rails 16 provided on platform 11.
• Corresponding rails are also provided in boxes 13 to guide trolleys 14 and keep wheels 15 thereof in alignment with respect to the rails of platform 11.
• Rails 16 on platform 11 are oriented according to two perpendicular directions to allow displacing any trolley 14 both longitudinally and transversally relative to platform 11.
• the trolley translating means allowing loading and unloading trolleys 14 onto and from platform 11, are located between plane l ie and base 1 la of platform 11.
• Such means for translating trolleys 14 comprise chains or belts 30a, 30b, which are arranged along mutually perpendicular axes parallel to the sides of platform 11 and which cooperate with pairs of sprocket wheels or ring gears or pulleys 31, driven by motors (not shown) also located in the base of platform 11.
• At least six chains 30a, 30b are provided, arranged in an H-shaped pattern.
• Four chains 30a are arranged near to the minor sides of platform 11 and parallel thereto, whereas two other chains 30b are arranged perpendicularly to the first ones along the central platform line, as shown in Fig. 4.
• Chains 30a, 30b are further provided with a set of engagement members 40 arranged to be coupled with trolleys 14 to move them from platform 11 to boxes 13 and vice versa.
• Members 40 project from platform plane l ie through corresponding slots 17 formed in plane l ie.
• chains 30a, 30b and corresponding slots 17 have such a length and such an arrangement that they do not mutually interfere.
• Sprocket wheels 31, with which chains 30a, 30b mesh, are arranged in pairs on oscillating arms 32', 32".
• Arms 32' may be rotated by known means, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder (not shown), towards the outside of platform 11, while arms 32" follow the movements of arms 32' and are resiliently retained by a device acting as a tightener.
• each chain 30a, 30b may take two positions: a first position, or idle position, in which each chain 30a, 30b lies within the perimeter of platform 11 thereby allowing vertical displacement of the platform along shaft 12, ad a second position, or operating position, in which a portion of each chain 30a, 30b projects beyond the edge of platform 11 and engages, through one of members 40, trolley 14 inside the corresponding box 13.
• the H-shaped pattern with six chains 30a, 30b allows having two chains 30a projecting from each major side of platform 11 and one chain 30b projecting from each minor side of the platform.
• each chain 30a, 30b projects from platform 11 and member 40 is in suitable position for being coupled with trolley 14, arm 32' is braked so that corresponding chain 30a, 30b can safely translate trolley 14.
• Three engagement members 40 are preferably provided and are so configured that they successively enter corresponding seats 19 formed in the lower surface of trolley 14, whereby the trolleys .are displaced from and onto platform 11 depending on the direction of rotation of the corresponding chain.
• Trolley 14 is locked onto platform 11 by stopping means (not shown), e.g. a brake/clamp, projecting from platform 11 itself.
• stopping means e.g. a brake/clamp
• Platform 11 can therefore displace along shaft 12 and bring trolley 14 to the level for loading/unloading the objects to be stored.
• platform 11 After having received a new load, platform 11 is displaced as far as it attains the level corresponding to the starting box.
• the same trolley 14, with its load is placed again into the box by engagement members 40 thanks to the rotation of the chain, after trolley 14 has been released from the stopping means and .after oscillating arms 32', 32" have been rotated towards the outside of platform 11.
• Platform 11 will be displaced along shaft 12 depending on the needs, that is it will be moved to take an empty trolley from a corresponding box 13 to start the loading operation, or to take a loaded trolley for unloading the stored object(s).
• each engagement member 40 comprises a roller 41, preferably made of a non-rigid material, supported by a pair of double forks 42.
• Said double forks 42 are secured at one end, through pins 46, to a corresponding chain 30a, 30b, at two suitably spaced links 33 of said chain 30a, 30b.
• said forks 42 are moreover pivotally connected in correspondence of said roller 41 through a pivot pin 44, about which said roller 41 is rotatable.
• Pins 46 slide (with or without the help of coaxial bearings or bushes) within guides 47 located at both sides of each chain 30a, 30b and secured below plane l ie, along slots 17, so as to stabilise double forks 42 during movement of chain 30a, 30b when engagement members 40 are engaged in seats 19.
• Each double fork 42 is made of two brackets 43 shaped so as to define, when contacting each other, a seat for roller 41, a rectilinear portion passing through slot 17 and a seat for link 33 of chain 30a, 30b.
• brackets 43 are soldered along contacting sections 43a.
• engagement members 40 have been disclosed with reference to the preferred embodiment, engagement members of different shape can be manufactured, provided they suitably project so as to engage suitable seats or projections, e.g. in the shape of a tooth or a baffle, provided in trolleys 14. Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, lifting device or lift 50 for vertically moving platform 11 along shaft 12 is disclosed.
• Said lift 50 comprises four chains 51 fastened to the comers of platform 11 and turning about corresponding sprocket wheels 52 secured to two shafts 55 located on top the lift, which shafts are mutually parallel and adjacent to the minor sides of platform 11.
• a motor 58 is provided to rotate shafts 55, and hence to allow up and down movements of platform 11 of lift 50.
• the motor drives shafts 55 through a driving gear 59, a secondary shaft 56 and a pair of worm reducers 57.
• Each chain 51 is further provided at its free end with a counterweight 53 that is slidable in a proper seat 54 provided beside shaft 12 of lift 50.
• the counterweights slide in tubular members with square or rectangular cross section, which are located at the corners of shaft 12 and serve moreover as structural members of the module.
• Said advantageous mechanical solution is compatible also with using four cables, in place of the four chains, each cable having one end anchored to a platform corner and the other end anchored to a corresponding drum, provided with a helical groove, in a winch replacing each sprocket wheel.
• This arrangement requires no counterweights.
• balustrade that is lowered down to the floor level when the platform is about to move.
• Said balustrade will advantageously comprise a suitably supported and driven rectangular frame along the shaft perimeter, which frame has fastened thereto chains anchored to the floor, slightly below the plane of site.
• Said chains which preferably mutually cross, can easily become extended while the frame is being lifted and be gathered below the frame when the latter is being lowered, without need for suitable and cumbersome guiding means.
• Use of metal chains allows also a high voltage electrifying, suitable to keep off animals.
• Electronic and electromechanical devices are also provided for automatically lifting lift 50, for the proper positioning thereof at the various levels and for actuating the translation of trolleys 14.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
• Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
• Liquid Crystal (AREA)
• Window Of Vehicle (AREA)
• Water Treatment By Sorption (AREA)
• Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
• Iron Core Of Rotating Electric Machines (AREA)
• Soundproofing, Sound Blocking, And Sound Damping (AREA)
• Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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• 2002
  • 2002-04-22 SM SM200200008A patent/SM200200008A/it unknown
• 2003
  • 2003-04-15 AT AT03712526T patent/ATE345429T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-04-15 AU AU2003216616A patent/AU2003216616A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-04-15 RU RU2004133890/03A patent/RU2311518C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-04-15 ES ES03712526T patent/ES2276051T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-04-15 CN CNB038091011A patent/CN1300432C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-04-15 EP EP03712526A patent/EP1497516B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-04-15 DE DE60309688T patent/DE60309688T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-04-15 WO PCT/IB2003/001402 patent/WO2003089737A1/fr not_active Ceased

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