Device for the Parking of Automobile Vehicles

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for parking automobile vehicles in vertical spaced relationship.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the specification of my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 437,020, filed Oct. 27, 1982, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,140, there is described a device for parking automobile vehicles comprising two interconnected platforms, one disposed above the other, and means for lifting and tilting the platforms, this means comprising fixed rail trackways and guide elements, for example, rollers disposed laterally of the platforms; the trackways which are substantially rectilinear and arranged side-by-side are disposed at an acute angle between them. By virture of the features of this prior invention there is a substantial simplification in the fabrication of the parking device and it is possible to reduce the structural height so that practically all parts of the trackways and their associated devices can be accommodated in a pit when the platforms are lowered. The rectilinear trackways can be made without difficulty. Consequently, it is possible to induce in the platforms the requisite inclinational movements during the lifting. In the construction of the prior invention, to avoid any jamming phenomena the two trackways are disposed relatively closely to one another at each side of the platforms. The lever arm required for adequate guidance of the platforms during the lifting movement is thus maintained so that the guide bodies, which co-operate with the fixed trackways, have an appropriate vertical spacing. The degree of this vertical spacing is however limited if one is to avoid the trackways or the parts associated therewith having a relatively large vertical height which prevents them from being accommodated in the pit.

The object of the present invention is to modify the structure of the above mentioned prior device in such a way that, whilst retaining the advantages of the construction thereof, the operative lever arms between the co-operating guide elements are improved.

In pursuance of this object the present invention proposes that of the two co-operating trackways one only shall be fixed whilst the other rail is connected to the platforms and co-operates with a fixed guide body.

Thus, according to the invention one of the trackways at each side of the platform is lifted with the platform and the associated guide elements, for example a roller which engages in a U-form rail of the trackway is arranged at an appropriate level. When the platforms are lowered and when the movable guide bodies for the lower platform have assumed the lowered position, a very much greater spacing occurs between the two guide elements thereby providing a mmore favorable lever arm. A very good guidance of the platforms is achieved in the lowermost position. Admittedly the spacing between the guide bodies, and thus of the rollers is less during the lifting movement. At the end of the lifting movement however the effective spacing between the guide bodies is always as great as in the earlier construction, because in the end position of the platforms further supporting elements come into effect, for example the hydraulic lifting means in the end position holds the platforms additionally secure and a substantial improvement of the guidance of the movable platforms is achieved.

A further advantageous feature of the invention is that simple rollers can be used as the guide elements and these engage in the U-form trackways. These U-form trackways present a relatively simple constructional element which can readily be used for other functions, for example as supporting means and so on.

Thus the invention proposes in particular that the trackway connected to the platforms may form a means for connecting the platforms together. The trackway which is movable with the platforms may thus also fulfil the function of connecting the platforms together or support their functioning.

It is of advantage if the fixed guide body is arranged in the area of the upper end of the fixed trackway which may be upright.

An embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partly in cross section of a parking device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section on an enlarged scale through the device of FIG. 1.

Mounted in the pit 34 is the base frame 20 which supports a lifting cylinder 19, such as a hydraulic lifting cylinder for example, and in addition the bearers 24. Also mounted on the base frame 20 is a link 16. This link 16 co-operates with a further link 39 and the two links 16 and 39 form an assembly which is disposed at both sides of the platforms 7 and 8 and are connected by a torsion-resistant shaft 40 which is mounted on the upper platform 7. This provides for a rectilinear guidance for the platforms.

The bearer 24 holds the fixed trackway 1 which is inclined to the vertical to a predetermined extent. The fixed trackway 1 is constituted by a U-profile iron which is open towards the platforms 7 and 8. This U-iron engages the roller 41 which serves as the guide element and is secured by means of the part 42 to the longitudinal section 43 of the lower platform 8.

Mounted at the upper end of the bearer 24, that is to say in the region of the upper end 37 of the trackway 1, is the fixed roller 36 which cooperates as a guide element with the trackway 2.

In the embodiment illustrated the trackway 2 is mounted on a strut 12 which connects the two platforms 7 and 8 together. It is also possible however to dispense entirely with the strut 12 and in this area to provide a connection between the platforms 7 and 8 by means of the trackway 2 only. The other connecting strut is indicated at 13. The trackway 2 is formed by an outwardly open U-profile iron having the roller 36 engaged therein.

In the lowered condition of the platforms which is indicated in FIG. 1 with dotted lines, the spacing between the two rollers 41 and 36 is of comparably large size. In the lifted condition, which is indicated by full lines in FIG. 1, this spacing is certainly less but is still wholly adequate. An additional stabilization of the lifted position can be obtained, if required, by the design of the ends of the trackways 1 or 2 in placing the guide elements close to these, when raised under the influence of the lifting cylinder.

In the operation of the device, with the platform lowered as shown in phantom in FIG. 1 the lifing cylinder 19 is activated to raise the platform whereby rollers 41 roll upwardly along fixed trackway 1 and movable trackway 2 moves upwardly guided by fixed roller 36 engaging within it. Since trackway 1 is slightly inclined to the vertical, as roller 41 moves upwardly, its axis of rotation gradually shifts to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 with respect to roller 36 thereby causing platform 8 to shift to the right which tilts the entire platform assembly counterclockwise about fixed roller 36. Thus roller 36 functions not only as a guide element but also as a pivot element. During lowering the operation is reversed and inclined trackway 1 causes the platform assembly to gradually tilt clockwise until it reaches the fully lowered position.

The parking device according to the invention may be modified in various ways. For example the fixed trackway 1 may be replaced by appropriately dimensioning the bearers 24, and also the manner of constructing the fixed trackway may be modified as is described by way of example in my co-pending application.