Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – With transporting feature
Patent
1992-07-01
1994-07-26
Lindsey, Rodney M.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
With transporting feature
52174, 414253, E04H 642, E04H 600
Patent
active
053317815
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to storage apparatus.
This invention has particular but not exclusive application to automated car parks, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as for the storage of large objects such as boats or containers or small objects such as component parts stored in a predetermined location to facilitate automatic retrieval of selected stored parts.
Conventional multi-story car parks or garages are predominately permanent structures of concrete construction. Such car parks are extremely inefficient in terms of the cost of building materials and space required to store cars. The most efficient car parks require approximately 26 square meters of floor for every car space provided. This figure includes the actual car space of approximately 14 square meters plus a percentage for the ramps, aisles and walkways needed to accommodate the movement of both vehicles and pedestrians.
In addition, such car parks often require the installation of lifts and fire escapes which occupy space which may otherwise be used to store additional vehicles and require lighting, signage and mechanical ventilation which contribute to the overall installation and running costs of the car park. Furthermore, whilst driving within such car parks there always exists the possibility of accidents occurring which may involve other vehicles or pedestrians.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide storage apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in storage apparatus including: locations, and arranged in respective vertically spaced levels which may be constituted by respective locations in a demountable structure or a fixed structure as desired. In such an arrangement it is preferred that each level be provided with guide means for guiding a carriage assembly from any selected storage location to lifting means for lifting the carriage assembly or the article thereon from any selected level to or from a datum level or to any selected level from which articles may be discharged. Of course any desired number of lifting means may be provided to service all or selected ones of the levels.
If desired a respective carriage assembly or a plurality of carriage assemblies may be provided on a particular level and transfer means may be provided to transfer the articles from the carriage assemblies to selected storage locations. Alternatively the guide means may be a rail assembly having branch rails associated with each storage location whereby the carriage assembly may travel to or from the lifting means into selected storage locations. Separate transfer means may be provided at each storage location but preferably the transfer means is associated with the carriage assembly.
The articles may be stored on a separate carriage assembly at each storage location but preferably the articles are stored on pallets which together with the article may be transferred to a carriage assembly by the transfer means. The latter may include article lifting means for this purpose.
Suitably the storage locations in the various levels are arranged in vertical and horizontal rows but of course such alignment is not essential and for example the storage locations may be of different sizes and arranged in an irregular manner. In one embodiment, the storage locations form part of a building comprising at least one floor and wherein each storage location is defined by a particular location on a respective floor. Each storage location may be further defined by one or more side walls and/or an entrance which may include closure means such as a door or gate. In an alternative embodiment, the storage locations may include a plurality of adjacent box like structure
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Lindsey Rodney M.
Ultrapark Australia Pty. Ltd.
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