Car park

Abstract

A car park (or other storage facility), comprising: a plurality of annular parking levels; an outer structure and a central core for supporting the parking levels; and a hoisting mechanism; wherein each of the plurality of parking levels comprises a plurality of parking compartments located between the outer structure and the inner core, each of the levels is rotatable to bring a respective compartment into alignment with the hoisting mechanism so that the respective compartment can be detached from the respective level and raised or lowered by the hoisting mechanism. In one embodiment, the plurality of annular parking levels constitutes a first parking circuit and the car park includes at least one additional parking circuit comprising a further plurality of annular parking levels, wherein the first parking circuit and the additional parking circuit are coaxial.

1 . A car park, comprising: 
 a plurality of annular parking levels;    an outer structure and a central core for supporting said parking levels; and    a hoisting mechanism;    wherein each of said plurality of parking levels comprises a plurality of parking compartments located between said outer structure and said inner core, each of said levels is rotatable to bring a respective compartment into alignment with said hoisting mechanism so that said respective compartment can be detached from said respective level and raised or lowered by said hoisting mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hoisting mechanism is arranged to raise or lower said compartments vertically.  
     
     
         3 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hoisting mechanism is arranged to raise or lower the parking compartments in a spiral shaped lift well.  
     
     
         4 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one entrance level at which cars may enter said car park and park on an available one of said parking compartments, whereby said respective one of said parking compartments is movable to a parking location.  
     
     
         5 . A car park as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said respective one of said parking compartments is movable to a parking location by means of either or both: rotation to engage said hoisting mechanism, and vertical movement by means of said hoisting mechanism.  
     
     
         6 . A car park as claimed in either  claim 4 , wherein said entry level is at ground level at the bottom of said car park being above ground, at ground level at the top of said car park being substantially underground, or at an intermediate level of said car park.  
     
     
         7 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said car park is incorporated into another structure.  
     
     
         8 . A car park as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said car park has an outer structure that comprises or includes portions of that other structure.  
     
     
         9 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of entrance levels so that cars can enter said car park more quickly.  
     
     
         10 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an entrance and an exit that are separate from each other, wherein said entrance and exit are either at different points on a single level or on different levels.  
     
     
         11 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of hoisting mechanisms.  
     
     
         12 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the parking compartments are adapted to receive more than one vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one drive segment is provided at each level for rotating said plurality of parking compartments.  
     
     
         14 . A car park as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of annular parking levels constitutes a first parking circuit and said car park includes at least one additional parking circuit comprising a further plurality of annular parking levels, wherein said first parking circuit and said additional parking circuit are coaxial.  
     
     
         15 . A storage facility, comprising: 
 a plurality of annular storage levels;    an outer structure and a central core for supporting said storage levels; and    a hoisting mechanism;    wherein each of said plurality of storage levels comprises a plurality of storage compartments located between said outer structure and said inner core, each of said levels is rotatable to bring a respective compartment into alignment with said hoisting mechanism so that said respective compartment can be detached from said respective level and raised or lowered by said hoisting mechanism.    
     
     
         16 . A storage facility as clamed in  claim 15 , wherein each of said storage compartments includes or comprises a container adapted for the intended stored type of article or articles.  
     
     
         17 . A storage facility as clamed in  claim 15 , wherein at least one drive segment is provided at each level for rotating said plurality of storage compartments.  
     
     
         18 . A storage facility as clamed in  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of annular storage levels constitutes a first storage circuit and said storage facility includes at least one additional storage circuit comprising a further plurality of annular storage levels, wherein said first storage circuit and said additional storage circuit are coaxial.