Multistory multicolumn storing installation

A garage for storing vehicles, the garage including:

• a structure defining a plurality of storage spaces, said structure configured to have four columns wherein a second column is adjacent a first column, a third column is adjacent said second column, a fourth column is adjacent said third column, said columns are arranged to have a base level and at least two storage levels that are horizontally spaced from said base level, and said storage spaces are located on said storage levels of said first, second, and fourth columns;
• a plurality of pallets disposed in said structure for holding vehicles in said storage spaces, each said pallet being positioned to hold a vehicle in a separate one of said storage spaces;
• a horizontal transport mechanism for laterally moving said pallets between said columns, wherein said horizontal transport mechanism is capable of simultaneously moving all said pallets located in one column to an adjacent column, thereby clearing a column of pallets so that it may be used to vertically move pallets;
• a first lift mechanism attached to said structure for vertically moving a pallet positioned in said third column between said structure base level and a position adjacent said second and fourth column storage spaces;
• and
• a second lift mechanism attached to said structure for vertically moving a pallet positioned in said second column between said structure base level and a position adjacent said first and third column storage spaces.

A storage assembly capable of storing a multiple number of articles, the assembly comprising:

• a structure defining a plurality of storage spaces, said structure configured to have at least four vertically oriented columns, each said column having a base level, and at least two storage levels separate from said base level;
• a plurality of movable pallets disposed in said structure for holding articles in said storage spaces, said pallets being positioned in said structure so that at least one storage column is normally free of said pallets;
• a horizontal transport mechanism for laterally moving said pallets between said columns, including into and out of said column normally free of said pallets, said horizontal transport mechanism capable of simultaneously moving all of the pallets in one column to an adjacent column, thereby clearing a column of pallets so that it may be used to vertically move pallets;
• and
• a plurality of lift mechanisms attached to said structures for moving said pallets through different said columns between said structure base level and said structure storage levels, two said lift mechanisms being positioned to move said pallets through two different said columns, one of said lift mechanism is positioned to move said pallets through a column adjacent said column that is normally free of said pallets, and said lift mechanisms being positioned so that each said pallet is a maximum of a single column away from one of said lift mechanisms.