Storage structures

In a rotary parking structure for vehicles the improvement comprising:

• (a) a free standing support frame having a plurality of spaced vertical uprights defining two opposing sides, the uprights in each said opposing side being interconnected by crossbeams, said uprights including mounting faces;
• (b) a first pair of circular support tracks, and means for rigidly securing said first pair of tracks to said vertical uprights at both sides of the structure, said securing means being in abutting engagement with the adjacent faces of the uprights;
• (c) an independent rotatable outer subframe which includes
• a pair of outer rings, a separate outer ring concentric with a separate first support track, said outer rings defining tracks in opposing spaced relationship with said first support tracks, and
• a pair of inner rings, a separate inner ring concentric with a separate outer ring and first support track, said inner rings defining tracks;
• (d) a second pair of circular support tracks concentric with said first support tracks, each of said second support tracks having inner and outer track members, and means for securing said second support tracks to the uprights of said support frame, and securing means being in abutting engagement with the adjacent faces of the urights, the outer track member of each said second support track being in opposing spaced relationship with the track of a separate said inner ring;
• (e) an independent rotatable inner subframe concentric with and having a smaller diameter than said outer subframe and which includes a pair of rings, a separate inner subframe ring concentric with a separate second circular support track, said inner subframe rings defining tracks in opposing spaced relationship with the inner track members of said second support tracks;
• (f) bearing rollers mounted between said spaced opposing tracks for permitting rolling movement of said inner and outer subframes relative to said first and second circular support tracks, and thus said support frame, said rollers being mounted between said spaced opposing tracks without fixed bearing means so as to transfer the weight of said subframes and the vehicles parked in said parking structure directly to said first and second circular support tracks, and thereby to said support frame to which said support tracks are secured;
• (g) means for independently rotating said first and second subframes to bring each, independently, to a loading or unloading position;
• (h) a series of spaced, substantially cylindrical storage frames defining storage zones and positioned within said first and second subframes for rotation therewith;
• and
• (i) vehicle-supporting platform means freely positioned in each storage frame for rotation therewith and movement relative thereto, the free positioning permitting said support platform means to remain horizontal during rotation of the subframe in which it is positioned so as to horizontally support the vehicles at all times.