EP1208279B1

EP1208279B1 - Multi-tier parking lot for vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP1208279B1
Application number: EP00946245A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arkadi Vainchtein; Michael Grenader
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-14
Filing date: 2000-07-12
Publication date: 2003-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-12
Also published as: DE19932814A1; AU6011500A; WO2001004439B1; EP1208279A1; DE19932814B4; WO2001004439A1

Description

Area of engineering.

This invention relates to parking lots for vehicles, in particular - to parking lots with mechanized means for movement of vehicles in horizontal and vertical directions.

Preceding level of engineering.

There is well known multi-tier parking lot for vehicles (EP-0547552), which contains the rows of the parking platforms, located on each tier, inter-tier elevator with load-receiving platform located between mentioned rows of parking platforms, and a device for horizontal movement of vehicles with the aim of placing them on the parking platforms and removing from them.
However an availability in such parking lot of long transportation passages makes it uneconomical because of small efficiency of area use on each of tiers, and also reduces its traffic capacity due to the additional time expenses for horizontal movements along these transportation passages.
There is a well known multi-tier parking lot for vehicles (RU-C-2117744), containing inter-tier elevator with two-sectional load-receiving platform located in a shaft, and main and additional parking platforms, located on each tier, that communicate to load-receiving platform from mutually perpendicular directions.
However such system has some drawbacks followed by the fact that all parking platforms are located only in radial directions from load-receiving platform and the area between mutually perpendicular ledges is not used. It reduces the efficiency of area use of such parking lot, limits the number of parking platforms on each tier and makes it not economically feasible enough. In addition, such system can be applied only for such parking systems where vehicles to park are direct perpendicular to serving side of load-receiving platform.
There is a known parking lot (US-A-1966155), containing a inter-tier elevator with load-receiving platform located in shaft, parking platforms located on each tier radially relative to each shaft and communicating with load-receiving platform, and device for changing the direction of horizontal movements of vehicles accomplished in the form of a turntable.
However such system also does not ensure sufficient efficiency of area use for parking due to big area losses both in the zones between adjacent parking platforms and on the turntable itself. Besides that, such parking lot has limited functionality because there is only one sections for vehicle accommodation on the load-receiving platform and limited number of parking platforms can be located on each tier.
Insufficient efficiency in the area usage in such systems, limited number of vehicles to be located and their limited functionality make such systems not enough economical in the process of production and utilization.

Disclosure of the applied invention.

It is the object of the present invention to create a multi-tier facility for vehicle parking wherein a load-receiving platform and parking platforms would have such shape and such relative dimensions and would be placed relative to one another in such a way, that would raise the efficiency of using the facility area and to expand its functionality and, in so doing, make it more economical in production and in the course of utilization.
The set task is solved by the multi-tier parking lot for vehicles according to claim 1 that contains inter-tier elevator with load-receiving platform located in shaft and containing two rectangular sections, main parking platforms, located on each tier and adjoining to adjacent sides of the shaft, and additional parking platforms communicating with load-receiving platform from mutually perpendicular directions through main parking platforms, and the device for horizontal movements of vehicles with the purpose of placing them on the parking platforms and removing them from the platforms, where at least one additional parking platform is located between two main parking platforms adjacent to neighboring sides of elevator shaft, and the means for horizontal movements of vehicles is made as driven truck that contains wheels set to provide movement of this truck in one of mutually perpendicular directions, the truck is located, at least, on one section of the load-receiving platform, and the load-receiving platform is located on the turntable, each section of load-receiving platform is located eccentrically relative to turn center of mentioned turntable and is equipped by guides for the truck, and each main parking platform, through which the truck can move not in radial directions from load-receiving platform to additional parking platform is equipped by mutually perpendicular guides.
Placement of additional parking platforms between pairs of main parking platforms of the rectangular elongated form adjoining to the adjacent sides of load-receiving platform provides a capability to serve, in each position of load-receiving platform more than four parking platforms, that reduces losses of the area in zones between mutually perpendicular ledges, which can completely be used for accommodation of additional vehicles, that increases efficiency of use of the being available area for parking lot.
Placement of two-sectional load-receiving platform on the turntable and using of the truck with wheels set for movement in mutually perpendicular directions provides better area usage of the system. It allows, from one hand, to use area of all parking platforms more efficient , and from the other hand, expands functionality of the system because allows to change an orientation of parking platforms.
It also provides saving of area when merging several offer systems into one parking.
The different versions of the accomplishing of the proposed facility are possible.
So, in one version the parking lot contains main parking platforms and/or platform for vehicles reception and issue, which adjoin some sides of elevator shaft by their long sides, in this case the guides on each section of load-receiving platform are set mutually perpendicular.
In this version of the system, the capability of direct service of parking platforms adjoined to load-receiving platform, both by short and long sides is provided. It expands functionality of the system, because allows moving vehicles both along and across their central axis. The accommodation of additional parking platforms between two main parking platforms adjoined to the adjacent sides of load-receiving platforms provides a maximum effective area use of the system, that further increases the number of served parking platforms. It allows also even more to reduce the specific cost of the equipment per one parking place.
The parking lot can contain in each of the mentioned versions not less than two inter-tier elevators with load-receiving platforms and relating to a them parking platforms, upon this on each tier between, at least, one pair neighboring additional parking platforms relating to one load-receiving platforms, the additional parking platform similarly oriented and relating to adjacent load-receiving platform is placed.
This version of the system allows complete using of sections between parking platforms communicating with the adjacent sides of each load-receiving platform. It provides an increase of efficiency of system area use.
It is possible also block version of the parking lot with mentioned main and additional parking platforms, which contains four inter-tier elevators with load-receiving platforms; the shaft portions on each tier and parking platform, relating to these portions, represent square and rectangular cells; these cells are established, at least, on one tier in adjacent to each other mutually perpendicular rows jointly forming the unit with a ratio of the sides, close to 4:7; at a center of each row located on a perimeter of the block, the square cell being a shaft portion is placed and cells with main and additional parking platforms relating to said shaft are located symmetrically on both sides from the shaft in each said row.
This version of the system with provides further increase of efficiency and profitability of such block system. Upon it, on the one hand, such structure of the block allows to increase to the maximum the number of parking platforms served by one load-receiving platform and to achieve high specific profitability, and on the other hand, the same indications provide the most efficient area use of the rectangular block with four shafts.

The brief description of drawings.

The essence of the invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig.1 - is a schematic general view of the facility according to the invention, top view;
Fig.2 - is schematically a section II-II in Figure 1;
Fig.3 - is schematically a section III-III in Figure 1;
Fig.4 - is schematically one of the versions of the facility, as the unit with four load-receiving platforms;

The multi-tier parking lot contains main 1 (Fig.1) and additional 2 parking platforms located on each tier, and inter-tier elevator 3 (Fig.2) for delivering a vehicle to a required tier. The elevator has in its upper portion load-receiving platform 4.
Load-receiving platform 4 is divided into two sections: 4a and 4b. The lower portion of elevator 3 is secured on turntable 5, fitted with drive 6.
Turntable 5 is a means for changing the direction of vehicle movement while placing them on radially located parking platforms 1 and 2 or removing them from these platforms. Each of platforms 1 and 2 as well as sections 4a and 4b are of rectangular shape with the side lengths ratio of 2:1 (close to the shape of a vehicle). Two main parking platforms 1a adjoin with its short sides to each of the two opposite sides of load-receiving platform 4, and one main parking platforms 1b adjoins with its long side to each of other sides of load-receiving platform 4.
Additional parking platforms 2a adjoin with their short sides to free short sides of the main parking platforms 1a, and the other additional parking platforms 2b are placed between main parking platforms 1a and 1b adjoining to them by their long and short sides respectively. Mutually perpendicular horizontal guides 7 are installed on each of sections 4a and 4b. At certain turn angles of turntable 5 the guides 7 coincide with horizontal guides 8, installed on parking platforms 1 and 2. Additional parking platforms 2b also have guides 8 linking them to main parking platforms 1a and 1b. The guides 8 on these main parking platforms, adjacent to platforms 2b, are set mutually perpendicular. Each of platforms 1, 2 carries its bottom plate 9 for a vehicle. On the each of sections 4a and 4b the truck 10 in guides 7 is installed. The truck is fitted with the bottom plate hoist unit (not shown) and the unit (not shown) of setting of the truck's wheels into the one of the mutually perpendicular positions. Guides 7 and 8 together with trucks 10 form a facility for horizontal movements of vehicles from load-receiving platform 4 to all parking platforms 1 and 2 and vice versa. One of the tiers on one side of load-receiving platform 4 carries, instead of a parking platform, a platform 11 with bottom plate 9 intended for receiving vehicles to the facility and delivering from it.
There are different possible versions of accomplishing the proposed facility and its separate parts differing from the one described above. For example, one truck 10 can be applied instead of two, another known means for horizontal movements of vehicles and for changing the direction of these movements can be used in the facility; vehicles can be placed directly on parking platforms without using bottom plates etc.
The versions of the facility with another schemes of accommodation of the main and additional parking platforms are possible also, as well as versions with several load-receiving platforms.
Fig. 4 show the version of fulfillment of the offered system as the unit 12 with four load-receiving platforms 4 and relating to them parking platforms 1 and 2 . On each tier pairs of parking platforms 1a and 2a and the shaft portions of inter-tier represent square cells, and parking platforms 1b and 2b represent rectangular cells. All cells on each tier of the block are established in five adjoined to each other mutually perpendicular rows by seven cells in each row. Upon it the rows of cells placed along the short side of the unit represent interleaved square and rectangular cells. At center of each row located on a perimeter of the block 12, the square cell being a shaft portion is placed. The indicated arrangement of cells in the unit 12 is optimal from the point of view of a peak efficiency of area use; upon this a delivery of vehicles to any of load-receiving platforms 4 is provided.
The platform 11, intended for a reception of vehicles to and issue from the system, is placed on one of tiers of the block 12. Two versions of accommodation of platforms 11 are shown on Fig. 4. In one version, the platform 11a is placed within the limits of a of shaft portion, that provides longitudinal placing on it of the pallet 9 and input of the vehicle to it in a direction, perpendicular to an exterior of the block 12. Such solution is expedient to use on availability of broad entrances to the system.
In the other version the platform 11b is located on a place of main parking platform 1b, that provides transverse placing on it of the pallet 9, and input of the vehicle to it in a direction parallel to an exterior of the block 12. Such solution is expedient to use on availability of narrow entrances to the system.

The description of preferable versions of the invention.

The facility shown in figures 1-3 works in the following way. A vehicle to be parked is placed on one of bottom plates 9, installed on the platform 11 and moved to one of sections 4a or 4b of load-receiving platform 4 with the aid of truck 10. After this the truck with the vehicle is elevated to a required tier with the aid of elevator 3. Then turntable 5 is turned to such an angle, at which guide 7 of load-receiving platform 4 coincides with guide 8 of the parking platform on which the vehicle is to be placed (e.g. 1b).
Then with the aid of truck 10 the vehicle with the bottom plate 9 is moved to the required parking platform 1b, removed from the truck and left on this parking platform. If a vehicle is to be installed to different parking platform (e.g. 1a) then the wheels of truck 10 should be previously installed to position providing its movement in longitudinal direction. The delivery of the vehicle from the parking lot is performed in a reverse order.
In the case, when there is need to install the vehicle located on one of the sections, for example 4a, of the load-receiving platform, on the additional parking platform (e.g. 2a), and the parking platform 1a located before it is occupied, then the parked vehicle is temporarily transferred from this parking platform 1a to free section 4b. Then turntable 5 is turned through the angle of 180° until the coincidence of guides 7 on section 4a with guides 8 on emptied platform 1a, the vehicle to be parked is moved through this platform to additional parking platform 2a, after which the turntable is turned through 180° and the parked vehicle is moved back to its initial place.
In the case, when there is need to install a vehicle on the additional parking platform (e.g. 2b), located between neighboring main parking platform, the parked vehicle is temporarily transferred from one of the parking platforms 1a to free section 4b. Then, after turn of the turntable 5 on 180°, the vehicle is transferred first to this freed platform 1a. After setting of the truck's 10 wheels in the second position, the vehicle is transferred to the required additional parking platform 2a; then the truck 10 is moved back to its initial place on the section 4a.
In the case, when there is need to install the vehicle on one of two additional parking platforms 2a and the main parking platform 1b, adjoining to them by its long side, is occupied, act in the following way. First, the parked vehicle is temporarily transferred to of free section 4b. Then, after turntable 5 is turned through the angle of 90 degrees, the vehicle to be parked is moved through platform 1b to additional parking platform 2a. After that, the turntable is turned through 90 degrees back and the parked vehicle is moved back to main parking platform 1b.
In block version of the system shown on Fig. 4, the rectangular area of a site is effectively used, and also the capability of simultaneous service of several vehicles. All this provides compactness of all structure and high throughput. With the purposes of reduction of overload operations cycle time, two trucks are placed on load-receiving platform. In the remaining activity of this unit system is similar to activity of the system circumscribed earlier.

Areas of use of the invention.

The offered design of multi-tier parking lot allows to reduce essentially the specific costs of the equipment per one parking place, to increase an efficiency of area use of a structure and, thereby, to increase profitability of the system on a comparison with known designs.
The modular character of a design of the offered system allows creating compact parking places of a various capacity in a broad range.
The main area of application of the system is the parking lots in cities, where there are many vehicles and where the areas under parking are limited.
Complementary area of application - multi-tier storage of the piece loads, in which the limited warehouse areas do not provide necessary capacity.

Claims

The multi-tier parking lot for vehicles that contains:
- inter-tier elevator (3), located in a shaft, with turntable (5) and two-sectional load-receiving platform (4), wherein

- each section (4a and 4b) of load-receiving platform contains for placing a vehicle, has rectangular shape and is equipped with a driven truck (10) for horizontal movements of vehicles,

- main parking platforms (1a), located on each tier, adjacent to the elevator shaft, and additional parking platforms (2a), located on the sides of main parking platforms (1a), opposite to elevator (3), and communicating with load-receiving platform (4) through mentioned main parking platforms (1a), wherein

- each parking platform has the rectangular shape with sides ratio close to 1:2, and, at least, two main parking platforms adjoin to one of sides of the shaft by their short sides,

- the load-receiving platform (4) has such sizes that, at least, in one position of the mentioned load-receiving platform (4), its sides coincide over their entire length with the sides of the main parking platform (1a)
characterised in that,
- at least one additional parking platform (2b) is placed between two main parking platforms adjoined to the adjacent sides of the shaft perpendicularly to each other,

- at least one main parking platform (1b) and/or one rectangular platform (11) for reception and issue of vehicles adjoins to the shaft of elevator (3) by its long side,

- the driven truck (10) is equipped with a set of wheels for movement of this truck into mutually perpendicular directions and each main parking platform, through which vehicles are moved between additional parking platform (2b) and load-receiving platform (4), is equipped by mutually perpendicular guides (8).
The parking lot according to claim 1, characterised in that, at least one pair of additional parking platforms (2a) adjoin by their short sides to a long side of one main parking platform (1b) or to one platform (11) for reception and issue of vehicles.
The parking lot according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, it contains not less than two elevator shafts with load-receiving platforms (4) and parking platforms, relating to these shafts, and on each tier an additional parking platform (2b) of one shaft is neighboring with additional parking platform (2b) of adjacent shaft, both mentioned additional parking platforms (2b) are oriented in the same manner and adjoin to each other by their sides.
The parking lot according to claim 3, containing four elevator shafts with load-receiving platforms (4), characterised in that, the shafts cross-sections on each tier and parking platforms, relating to these shafts, are established in adjacent to each other mutually perpendicular rows jointly forming the block (12) with a ratio of the sides, close to 4:7, and the shaft is located at a center of each row located on a perimeter of the block (12), and the main (1b) and additional (2a) parking platforms are symmetrically placed on the both sides from the shaft in each mentioned row, located along the short side of the block (12).