WO2017217920A1

WO2017217920A1 - Car park for vehicles and proceeding at car park

Info

Publication number: WO2017217920A1
Application number: PCT/SE2017/050637
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kjell TALLBERG; Henrik VON BAHR
Original assignee: Aaqplus AB; Th Von Bahr Consulting AB
Current assignee: Aaqplus AB; Th Von Bahr Consulting AB
Priority date: 2016-06-15
Filing date: 2017-06-14
Publication date: 2017-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-15
Also published as: SE1650844A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a car park (1) which enables compact, automatic parking of vehicles (2). A vehicle (2) is arranged to be driven/transported into, and out from, respectively, a container (3) in order to be received in the container (3) for the time during which said vehicle (2) is parked. The container (3) is arranged to be positioned outside/inside said car park (1), and a computer system is arranged to register leaving and desired fetching of the respective vehicle (2) by the customers (4). An overhead crane installation (5) is arranged to handle fetching, transportation, stacking on free ground/floor surface in the car park (1), and rearrangement of containers (3) in the car park (1) as well as deposit of containers (3) with contained vehicles (2) when it is time for the customers (4) to fetch the respective vehicle after reaching desired fetching time. The invention also concerns a proceeding for parking vehicles (2) in a car park (1) according to the invention.

Description

Car park for vehicles and proceeding at car park.

The present invention concerns a car park for vehicles and which enables compact, automatic parking of vehicles in the car park in question as well as a proceeding at such car parks for deposit and collection, respectively, of the vehicles in question.

Car parks for automatic deposit and collection, respectively, of the vehicles at the car parks as well as automatic handling of the vehicles inside the car parks are previously known, for instance, by EP

0351374 Al, wherein the vehicles are loaded onto pallets (17) which in turn are driven into intended garage spaces (3) by means of a low-bed trolley (11) , lift (5) , and transverse running shuttle (9) to and from, respectively, parking places. This is a complicated solution and which requires much space to house everything.

Similar solutions are known by

WO 2008/123985 Al but with triple lift. However, it is enabled to send information about, e.g., leaving and fetching of the vehicles via mobile telephone and the internet. However, here also pallets are utilized for supporting the vehicles in a building which is provided with walls and floors between the vehicles, which occupies much space and is expensive to construct.

Other such car parks are disclosed in;

DE 203 21 192 Ul ,

DE 20 2011 003 734 Ul ,

US 5,176,484 A wherein the garage is built of modules (5), US 5,893,696 A,

US 5,281,069 A, and

US 2, 846, 186 A.

All known solutions utilize pallets for driving up the vehicles onto as well as lift in the garage for driving the pallets with vehicles carried thereon to and from, respectively, intended parking space in the car park. Thus, no one discloses the presence of handling of the vehicles in containers which are loaded by means of overhead crane in all directions and which comprise intelligent computer system for the handling of the containers for being able to stack the containers

efficiently and smart as well as also enable quick and efficient deposit and collection, respectively, of the vehicles in question at a car park in question for

vehicles .

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is primarily to solve said problems in an efficient and cost-saving way.

Said object is enabled by means of a car park and a proceeding, respectively, according to the present invention, which is characterized in

that vehicle is arranged to be

transported/driven into, and out from, respectively, a container in order to be received in the container for the time during which the vehicle in question is parked in said car park, that the container for the receipt of the vehicle in question is arranged to be positioned

outside/inside said car park, that a computer system is arranged to register leaving and desired fetching of the respective vehicle by the customers, that an overhead crane installation is arranged to handle fetching, transportation, stacking, and rearrangement of containers in the car park as well as deposit of containers with contained vehicles when it is time for the customers to fetch the vehicles in question after reaching desired fetching time,

as well as that the vehicle in question is either left outside the car park onto a conveyor, which

transports the vehicle to a location where a handling trolley can go in under the vehicle to convey the vehicle into a container which is situated inside the car park, or the vehicle is driven into a container which is situated outside the car park and which after that is transported into the car park with received vehicle therein, whereupon the containers in question are lifted in place in the car park by means of an overhead crane, and that fetching of the vehicle in question takes place in the opposite, alternative order,

wherein room for the stacking of

containers 3 is arranged on free ground or floor surface in said car park 1. Alternatively, the container may be placed inside the car park after which the customer drives the vehicle into the container in the car park before the container in question is lifted in place in the car park by means of an overhead crane .

Within the scope of this application, with container reference is made to, for instance, a load carrier which is adapted to receive a vehicle and which can be transferred by means of an overhead crane. The container may be closed by openable end portions or have one or more open end portions or long sides.

The present invention is described in more detail below, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which;

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment example of a car park with displayed vehicle arrival and deposit of vehicles outside at the car park,

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment example of a similar car park but with different vehicle deposit at said car park, viz. driving- in into parking containers which are transportable between sites outside the car park and in the interior of the car park according to said second embodiment example,

Fig. 3 shows an example of parking

container which is utilized in the car park upon manual deposit and fetching of vehicles in and from,

respectively, a said container outside the car park and with a vehicle shown received in a said container,

Fig. 4 shows a detail according to the second embodiment example of a plurality of parking containers disposed outside openings to said car park ready for vehicle driving-in into said containers,

Figs. 5-6 show the first embodiment example with, in that connection, utilized vehicle

driving-in through driving- in openings to the car park and containers received therein,

Fig. 7 shows a further example of vehicle deposit but outside the car park to conveyor for the conveyance of the vehicles to a container disposed in the car park at the ground level, and

Fig. 8 shows an example of how a utilized overhead crane is working with container picking inside the car park,

Fig. 9 shows a conveyor for vehicles without vehicle thereon as well as a trolley for the transportation of vehicles between the conveyor to the interior reception space of a container according to the first embodiment example for deposit and collection, respectively, of vehicles,

Fig. 10 shows a planar view of the trolley in a position with fully lowered lifting arms, Fig. 11 shows the opposite side of the car park having driving-out openings from the car park,

Fig. 12 shows a bird's eye view of the car park with illustrated driving- in and driving-out,

respectively, locations for the vehicles,

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a car park according to an alternative embodiment,

Fig. 14 shows a container according to a first, alternative embodiment,

Fig. 15 shows a container according to a second, alternative embodiment wherein the posts of the container are situated in a lower position,

Fig. 16 shows a container according to a second, alternative embodiment wherein the posts of the container are situated in an upper position.

A compact, mechanical vehicle car park 1 arranged according to the present invention which is adapted to and intended to enable compact and automatic parking of vehicles 2 in a car park 1 comprises the following features:

I: Vehicle 2 is arranged to be

driven/transported into, and out from, respectively, a vehicle-adapted container 3 for being receivable in a said container 3 for the time during which the vehicle 2 in question is parked in said car park 1,

II: The container 3 for the receipt of the vehicle 2 in question is arranged, according to

alternative one and according to alternative two,

respectively, to be positioned inside and outside, respectively, said car park depending on parking

alternatives with deposit and collection of vehicles 2 to and from, respectively, the car park 1, outside placement of containers being a possibility in alternative two for the receipt of vehicles 2 at self-driving-in of vehicles 2 operating outside the car park 1 into a container 3 before inward transportation of the container 3 with driven-in vehicle 2 therein, and according to alternative one, respectively, the vehicle 2 is parked onto a conveyor

(Fig. 7) that brings the vehicle 2 up to a location where a handling trolley 15 can go in under the vehicle 2 and lift the same. The trolley 15 then pulls the vehicle 2 into the container 3. The reverse takes place when the vehicle 2 is fetched by the customer 4. Then, the trolley 15 enters into the container 3, under the vehicle 2, lifts the vehicle 2 and pulls/carries the vehicle 2 out to the conveyor, which in turn brings the vehicle 2 further out from the car park 1.

According to alternative three, the vehicle 2 is left by the vehicle 2 being driven into an intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ where an empty container 3 is standing ready to receive the vehicle 2. The vehicle 2 is driven into the container 3 , the customer 4 and

passengers, if any, leaving the vehicle 2. Upon fetching, the vehicle 2 is standing ready in one of the intakes 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ, which then works as outlet. The customer 4 then walks into the intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ where the vehicle 2 is standing ready and then drives away. The overhead crane installation 5 can reverse the vehicle 2 before fetching so that the vehicle 2 is directed so that the customer 4 can drive forward out of the intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ without needing to back out.

Ill: A computer system is arranged to register leaving and desired fetching of the respective vehicle by the customers 4.

IV: An overhead crane installation 5 is arranged to automatically handle fetching, transportation, stacking, and rearrangement of containers 3 in the car park 1 as well as deposit of containers 3 with contained parked vehicle 2 when it is time for the customers 4 to fetch the vehicles 2 in question after reaching desired fetching time.

V: Room for the stacking of containers 3 is arranged on free ground or floor surface in said car park 1.

The containers 3 in question are open with an opening 6, 7 situated at least in the end portions 8, 9 of the containers 3 opposite each other to enable simple handling so that vehicles 2 can drive through the

container 3 in question.

In order to enable departure for the customers 4 from a container 3 after parking therein or for entrance into the vehicle 2 upon collection, i.e., driver/passenger of the vehicle 2, the containers in question are open, also at least to a major extent along side walls, 10, 11 opposite each other in the containers 3. However, it is ensured that the containers 3 have such strength of the remaining walls 10, 11 that a plurality of containers 3 with contained vehicles 2 resist to be stacked with one container 3 on top of another container 3. A conveyor 12 to enable inward transportation of deposited vehicle 2 for parking in the car park 1 is situated at the intake/intakes 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ, and/or that a conveyor 14 is arranged for inward transportation and outward transportation, respectively, of set-out container 3 with driven- in vehicle 2 therein as well as for the outward transportation of a container with parked vehicle 2 therein from the car park 1 for the collection of the vehicle 2 in question by the customer 4. In that connection, a trolley 15 may be arranged, which may be arranged to be driven along a said conveyor 12 on tracks, for instance, U-girds or other possible guidings, 16 via wheels 19 of the trolley 15 outside a container 3 and also inside the container 3, for instance as is shown in Fig. 9. Said trolley 15 is provided with pivotably mounted lifting arms 17 and is drivable under vehicles 2 for lifting up vehicles 2 onto the trolley 15 and for inward and outward transportation of vehicles 2 to and from, respectively, the interior reception space 18 of a container for at least one vehicle 2 at a time.

In an alternative embodiment, the

container 3 consists of an upper frame 33 and a lower plate 34. Between the upper frame 33 and the lower plate 34, turnable hooks 35 are running. Each hook 35 comprises an upper and a lower horizontal end piece 36, 37, which are connected by a horizontal post 38. The hooks 35 are arranged so that rotation devices 39 on the upper side of the container are rotatably connected with the respective upper end piece 36 and are rotatable by a tool belonging to the loading yoke 26 of the overhead crane. The tool belonging to the yoke 26 of this load carrier has a movable device which hooks into the rotation devices 39 and turns the posts 38 in place. The lower end pieces 37 are rotatably fitted on the lower plate 34. This is shown in Figure 14 wherein the dashed lines correspond to the posts 38 being in their innermost position and wherein the solid line on the post 38 corresponds to the posts being rotated to their outermost position. In the present example, four hooks 35 are running placed against the respective corner of the upper frame 33 and the lower plate 34. The hooks 35 do not have to be placed in the corners but may be fitted a distance in from the corners. The upper frame 33 and the hooks 38 are, for instance, made of a metal profile and the lower plate 34 is, for instance, a metal plate identical to or like the one that today is present in the bottom of a shipping container.

When the container 3 is placed in an intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ and is standing ready to receive a vehicle 2 to be deposited, the hooks 35 are rotated by the loading yoke 26 of the overhead crane so that the end pieces 36, 37 project perpendicularly to the long side of the upper frame 33 and the long side of the lower plate 34. This entails that the outer edge of the posts 38 ends up at a distance L outside the outer edges on the long side of the upper frame 33 and the long side of the lower plate 34. The distance L may be adapted according to the type of vehicles 2 that is widest to be placed in the container. The result is that it is experienced by a customer 4 who is to deposit a vehicle 2 that there is more space than if the posts 38 had been arranged directly on the long side of the upper frame 33 and the long side of the lower plate 34. When the customer 4 has left the vehicle 2 and the container 3 should be fetched for transportation into the car park 1, the loading yoke 26 of the overhead crane will rotate the hooks 35 to a position shown in Figure 14 by dashed lines before the container 3 is lifted. In this position, the end pieces 36, 37 are located along the long side of the upper frame 33 and the long side of the lower plate 34. This makes that the posts 38 end up in the same vertical plane as the long side of the upper frame 33 and the long side of the lower plate

34. This results in the container 3 recovering its normal size and can be stacked as usual. In Figure 14, there is shown that the post 38 rotates in counter-clockwise direction as seen in the longitudinal direction of the container. The post 38 may naturally be arranged so that it can be rotated clockwise as seen in the longitudinal direction of the container 3. In this embodiment, lifting of the container 3 is carried out by means of a coning or the like device 42, which is located directly above the posts 38 when these are folded- in according to the dashed lines in Figure 14.

In a further, alternative embodiment, the container 3 consists of a lower plate 34 on which posts 38 are arranged so that they can move vertically between an upper and a lower position. When the container 3 is standing in an intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ, the posts 38 are in a lower position. In this position, the posts 38 project downward below the lower plate 34. In this embodiment, each intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ has a cavity 40 on top of which the lower plate 34 is situated. In the cavity 40, a lifting device 41 is placed, which can lift the posts 38 to an upper position. The lifting device 41 may, for instance, be a lifting platform placed on a scissor lift or on vertical pistons that transfer the lifting platform upward and downward in the cavity 40. In the upper

position, the posts 38 are in a position where they project upward above the lower plate 34. In this position, the overhead crane installation 5 can grasp the posts 38 to lift the container 3. This is illustrated in Figures 15 and 16. In this embodiment, the posts 38 of the containers 3 are arranged so that when a container 3 is placed on another container 3 or on ground surface, the posts 38 are kept in their upper position.

For reliable securing of vehicles 2 in the containers 3 , in the bottom of the containers 3 , there are arranged recesses, not shown, intended for the receipt of the lower part of the front and/or rear wheel 20 of a vehicle and which recesses are arranged to widen when the containers 3 are lifted. This applies to all embodiments.

Furthermore, a payment machine 21, which is provided with device for the registration of time of arrival, desired time of collection, etc., is coupled to the computer system in question to facilitate receipt issuing ticket 22 and with fetching code. This is no necessity if the customer 4 is invoice customer or uses an app for the registration. The possibility of taking out a receipt is however always available.

For enabling safe deposit and fetching of vehicles 2, arrival and departure to and from,

respectively, the car park 1 are camera monitored as well as that announcements with information about deposit of vehicles 2 are arranged. In alternative three above, the cameras are placed inside the respective intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ. The cameras may be used to ensure that the vehicle is correctly placed in the container 3 so that a reliable handling of the container 3 can be made. This may, for instance, be effected by photos or video being compared with reference pictures or reference video where the vehicle 2 is correctly placed in the container 3. The cameras monitoring deposit and fetching, respectively, may also be used to establish the state of the car upon deposit and fetching, respectively, for establishing that the vehicle 2 has not got any damage during the handling of the vehicle 2 in the car park 1. The cameras are, for instance, placed so that the fields of view of the cameras for photographing or video filming overlap so that all parts of a vehicle 2 are photographed or video filmed. One camera outside the respective intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ is used for the registration of the registration (or license) number of the vehicle.

Also markings and guidings, not shown, for the guidance of the vehicles 2 at least upon entering into the car park 1 are arranged on ground 24, e.g., in the form of tracks in the form of U-girds or other profiles. Side fence 23 is arranged to limit the area for driving- in of the vehicles 2 into the car park 1 at the respective entrance .

A proceeding at defined car park 1 for the parking and storage of vehicles 2 therein takes place in such a way that the vehicle 2 in question is either left outside the car park 1 onto a conveyor 12, which

transports the vehicle 2 into a container 3 which is situated inside the car park 1, or the vehicle 2 is driven into a container 3 which is situated outside the car park 1 and which after that is transported into the car park 1 with received vehicle 2 therein, whereupon the containers 3 in question are lifted in place in the car park 1 by means of an overhead crane 5, and that fetching of the vehicle 2 in question takes place in the opposite, alternative order. A further, alternative proceeding takes place in such a way that the vehicle 2 is driven into the container 3, which is placed inside an intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ of the car park 1. The container 3 in question is lifted in place in the car park 1 by means of an overhead crane 5, fetching of the vehicle 2 in question takes place in the opposite, alternative order.

Upon deposit of the vehicle 2, the

customer 4 registers themselves with intended point of time of collection in a payment machine 21 and obtains a delivery ticket 22 having collection code and possibly mobile telephone number for option to continued communication with the office and computer of the car park, for instance via an app and/or via website, etc., for, for instance, continued parking or with request of earlier fetching of the vehicle 2. By means of conveyor 12, 14 and/or overhead crane installation 5 it is seen to transport and lift the container 3 to intended estimated location in the car park 1 according to how long the vehicle 2 is intended to desirably be parked, i.e., the longer the vehicle 2 is desired to be parked, in a more remote location in the car park 1 the container 3 is stored. As complement to the above registration, one or more of the cameras found in or at the car park 1 may register the registration number of the vehicle 2 after which confirmation of parking as well as registration of intended point of time of collection can be given directly via an app and/or via website.

The containers 3 containing vehicles 2 that are estimated to be returned in a short time are stored, e.g., in an upper layer 25 of containers easily accessible for the overhead crane 5.

The computer system is arranged to order the overhead crane 5 to fetch the intended container 3 in question which is intended to be transported by coupling together the cornered load dogs, known per se, of a loading yoke 26 with openings in the upper corners of the container for the subsequent downward guiding of conical cornered guide pins situated underneath onto the upper cornered upper openings of the stored container to provide vertical alignment in rows of the stack 27 of containers 3.

The computer system is arranged to

estimate new placing of a vehicle-provided container 3 in question upon prolonged parking time, so that the container 3 will come in correct estimated order for later unloading. In the absence of fetching of vehicles 2 or lack of information during the parking time from the customer 4 to the reception department of the car park for messages, said reception department dispatches request "if intended indicated fetching time remains" or "if the fetching time is desired to be changed" .

To sum up and described in more detail, the car park 1 in question, which naturally comprises walls 28 and roof 29, and preferably double overhead crane installations 5 in case one of the overhead cranes would break down, consists of a building having means that enables to compactly place the vehicles 2 in containers 3 and then stack the containers 3 on a free ground surface or floor surface in the car park 1 to high stacks 27 densely packed also laterally 30 and longitudinally 31.

In one embodiment, the car park 1 has an extension in a longitudinal direction X and a width direction Y and comprises a plurality of intakes 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ placed beside each other in the longitudinal direction X. The intakes are used upon deposit and

fetching of a vehicle 2. The computer system ensures that at least one of the intakes 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ for most of the time contains an empty container 3 for being able to receive a vehicle 2 for deposit. During the time when a container 3 with a vehicle 2 is entered into the car park 1, the car park 1 may be without an intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ having an empty container 3. After the vehicle 2 that recently has been placed in the car park 1 is placed in right order in the car park 1, an empty container 3 is placed in the intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ that is intended for deposit of a vehicle 2. Alternatively, an empty container 3 is placed in the intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ that is intended for deposit of a vehicle 2 directly after a container 3 with a vehicle 2 has been entered into the car park, but before it is placed in right order in the car park 1. In the remaining intakes 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ, containers 3 with the vehicles 2 that are next in line to be fetched may be placed. The order in which the vehicles 2 are placed in the intakes 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ is determined by the fetching time for the respective vehicle 2. If the customer 4 changes the fetching time of their vehicle 2 and it means that the vehicle 2 no longer belongs to one of the

vehicles 2 being first in line to be fetched, the

container 3 containing this vehicle 2 will be moved back into the car park 1 by the overhead crane installation 5 and the container 3 with the vehicle 2 being next in line to be fetched is moved to the now empty intake 13, 13¹,

13²-13ⁿ. The overhead crane installation 5 is arranged so that it can place and fetch vehicle 2 in all intakes 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ. In greater car parks, a plurality of overhead crane installations 5 can place and fetch vehicle 2 in a subset of all intakes 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ. An overhead crane installation 5 handles, for instance, 2, 3, 4, or 5 intakes, preferably 2 intakes. It is also feasible that an overhead crane handles more than 5 intakes. Also in this case, each individual overhead crane installation 5 may have double overhead cranes for redundancy. Alternatively, two nearby overhead cranes 5 may be adapted to have overlapping working ranges to constitute redundancies for each other.

In the present example, there is room to stack vehicles 2 in a free surface between the respective intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ.

The car park 1 is arranged so that it is easy to move. This is made, for instance, by using modules for walls 28 and roof 29 that easily can be assembled and disassembled. The overhead crane installation 5 is prior art per se and also this is easily movable and

implementable in the car park 1. The mobility makes that the car park 1 can be applied temporary at, for instance, reconstructions of existing premises or be used as

surface-efficient parking at new constructions without too large a surface needing to be occupied.

Everything is entirely unmanned and therefore should no human being reside in the car park. The computer system communicates with the customer 4 via the payment machine 21 by the website or by an app and with all included items that should move. The computer system is the intelligence of the entire proceeding. The containers 3 are handled by overhead cranes 5 which in turn are controlled by the computer system, which

continuously has complete control of where the respective container is by an X, Y and Z system of coordinates. The entire proceeding is monitored by cameras and therefore support can be carried out remotely.

When the customer approaches the car park 1, the same is correctly guided by means of information about to which entrance gate the customer 4 should

approach. For the last part, the customer is assisted to arrive at correct gate with the vehicle by, for instance, digital guidance on, e.g., the wall 28 of the car park 1 above the respective intake 13-13ⁿ or by other markings and/or by means of guiding on the ground 24 in the form of guidings in the form of beams, e.g. U-girds, or by fence.

When the customer 4 arrives to park their vehicle 2, there is different solutions of how the

customer 4 can leave their vehicle 2. Alternative 1 is that the customer leaves their car onto a conveyor 12, for instance, a conveyer belt 12 outside or inside the car park 1.

Alternative 2 is that the container 3 in which the vehicle 2 is to be parked has been transported out outside the car park 1 and that the customer 4 drives the vehicle 2 directly into the container 3 and leaves their vehicle there and steps out and takes their receipt 22 as evidence of the vehicle 2 having been parked in the car park 1.

Alternative 3 is that the vehicle 2 is left by the vehicle 2 being driven into an intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ wherein a container 3 is standing ready to receive the vehicle 2. The vehicle 2 is driven onto the container 3, the customer 4 and passengers, if any, leaving the vehicle 2. Upon fetching, the vehicle 2 is standing ready in one of the intakes 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ, which then works as outlet. The customer 4 then walks into the intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ where the vehicle 2 is standing ready and then drives away. The overhead crane installation 5 can reverse the vehicle 2 so that the vehicle is directed so that the customer 4 can drive forward out of the intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ.

In all cases, the customer 4 steps out and registers themselves and pays in a payment machine 21.

Therein, the customer 4 specifies how long the vehicle 2 is intended to be parked. This time indication constitutes the basis for where in the car park 1 exactly this

specific container 3 with the vehicle 2 of the customer is put to start with. If the customer 4 registers their mobile number, continued communication about fetching time can be effected via an app. The customer 4 gets a deposit receipt 22 with a code constituting a fetching ticket, a receipt, e.g. a physical note 22. The code of said ticket 22 may be used by communicating with the car park 1 via, e.g., the website. The website is continuously updated with the number of free parking places .

The information from the payment machine

21 is forwarded to the computer system which has a

coupling vehicle 2 - container 3 - (possibly mobile number) - payment - code.

A customer 4 who has registered their vehicle by website or app can, by the cameras that are placed in or at the car park 1, be registered upon

entrance. The customer 4 then receives a deposit receipt

22 alternatively a confirmation via email and/or in the app.

According to alternative 1, containers 3 which are to be loaded should stand in the reloading area of the overhead crane. The computer system initiates so that the handling trolley 15 pulls the vehicle 2 into the container 3.

The handling trolley 15 receives a signal from the computer system about the fact that there is a vehicle 2, the car of the customer, to fetch. The handling trolley 15 drives in under the vehicle, lowers the wings/lif ers 17 and lifts up the vehicle 2 about 2 cm. On the outer part of the wings/lifting arms 17, wheels 19 are located which are running along the handling trolley 15 and carry forces. Said wheels 19 roll on the floor, on the ground surface, in/on profiles and in a container 3.

Steering of the handling trolley 15 may be effected by means of a central guide rail. The handling trolley 15 goes back and further into container 3 where the vehicle 2 becomes deposited. In the container 3 in its floor 32, there are located smaller indentations for the front wheels 20 which, when the container 3 is lifted, becomes a small pothole which is deep enough to hold the vehicle in place. Alternative 2: The transfer of containers 3 from the reloading area of the overhead crane to customer zone and back is carried out by a conveyor system. The computer system initiates so that the conveyor 14 transfers the container 3 to present, desired positions.

In alternative 3, the container 3 to be loaded is standing ready in an intake 13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ to receive a vehicle 2.

The computer system orders the overhead crane 5 to fetch container 3. This takes place by the overhead crane 5 positioning itself above the reloading area. The overhead crane 5 lets down its loading yoke 26 which attaches at each corner of the container 3. The yoke 26 in question is of the same type as those that are used in most docks and in other places where containers are handled.

A dog in each corner of the yoke 26 locks the yoke 26 to the container 3. The overhead crane 5 receives a go-ahead signal when all dogs are in locked position.

Each container 3 has conical guide pins on the upper side which fit in corresponding holes in the under side of the other containers. This is made for the containers 3 to end up in the correct spot and for the stacks 27 with containers 3 to be vertical. This

facilitates for the overhead crane 5 when it later should fetch the containers 3.

In the meantime, the computer system has, by means of the desired time that the customer 4 wants to have the vehicle 2 standing in the car park 1, calculated where it should stand. The principle is "the longer the parking time, the further away and as far down in the stack 27 as possible" . The top layer of containers 3 is reserved for the containers 3 that are to be put out first. The lowermost layer is those vehicles 2 that in relation to the others should stand the longest time in the car park 1.

If the customer 4 changes their desired parking time, the computer system calculates a new placing of the specific container 3. Entirely automatically, the overhead crane 5 then re-sorts the containers 3 so that they are standing in right order in relation to the parking time.

If there is no news from the customer 4 during the parking time, an automatic SMS, e.g., is transmitted to those who have a registered mobile

telephone, when, e.g., there is 15 min left of the parking time, with the question if the customer 4 desires to fetch the vehicle 2 according to the time specified upon leaving the vehicle 2. The customer 4 may then confirm or change the time. Alternatively, an automatic SMS is always transmitted to those having a registered mobile telephone, when, e.g., there is 15 min left of the parking time, with the question if the customer 4 desires to fetch the vehicle 2 according to the time specified upon leaving the vehicle 2. The customer 4 may then confirm or change the time .

When the time, when a customer 4 wants to have their vehicle 2 taken out, is near, the specific container 3 is moved closest to the unloading to be able to serve the customer 4 as fast as possible. When the customer 4 has reported to the parking meter 21 on the outside of the building or confirms via the app that the customer 4 is standing outside the car park 1, the

computer system initiates that the overhead crane 5 should lift down the container 3 to the unloading station. From this station, the vehicle 2 is transported out by the conveyor 12 in alternative 1 or the container 3 by the conveyor 14 in alternative 2 from the car park 1.

The customer 4 then takes the vehicle 2 and drives away.

Alternatively, the computer system can, when it has received a confirmation by the customer 4 what time the vehicle 2 is desired to be fetched, reply to the car driver in which intake 13, 13¹, 13² ... 13ⁿ and at which exact time the vehicle 2 is available. Should the customer become delayed compared with indicated time, the computer system will instruct the overhead crane installation 5 to lift in the vehicle 2 into the car park 1 again, to give room for other vehicles that are fetched on time. The computer system can be adapted according to the traffic situation for the respective car park to indicate how long time an indicated time is allowed to be run over before it is counted as a delay. In one example, a lateness of two minutes is counted as a delay. In a second example, a lateness of three minutes is counted as a delay. It is considered obvious that other times than those mentioned may be counted as a delay. The customer 4 will be informed about the vehicle 2 having been lifted back into the car park 1. Upon arrival to the car park 1 , the customer has to again request to get out their vehicle 2. The computer system initiates the overhead crane 5 to lift down the container 3 with the vehicle 2 of the customer to an empty intake 13, 13¹, 13² ... 13ⁿ. The customer 4 then takes the vehicle 2 and drives away. The proceeding also works with statistics for how to handle the peak flows better. If there are long-term leasing places, it is possible to statistically tell when these places could be utilized.

A carpool wherein pool vehicles are booked through the system may also be present. The system knows exactly when the vehicle is fetched and left and can, therefore, invoice correct amount automatically. However, a local person has to be responsible for the work around of taking care of the vehicle in the form of, e.g., service and wash. The cameras monitoring fetching and deposit of the pool vehicle may be used to ensure that the vehicle is deposited in the same condition as it was fetched. An imaging system compares images taken in connection with fetching and deposit, respectively, of the pool vehicle and examines if damage has arisen to the pool vehicle during use. Should damage be detected, the user of the pool vehicle can be debited the cost of repair, if any .

The empty parking places which are long- term leased can now be efficiently utilized by the fact that it is not a specific parking place dedicated to a certain vehicle 2. The only criterion present is that the vehicle 2 should be possible to be stored in the car park 1. Thereby, such a parking place can be utilized during the peak flows during the day. Alternatively, the owner of a long-term leased parking place may via the website convey to others that the parking place is available for certain times and in such a way increase the utilization degree of the car park.

The function and nature of the invention should have been clearly understood from the above- mentioned and also with knowledge of what is shown in the drawings but the invention is naturally not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible, particularly as for the nature of the different parts, or by using an

equivalent technique, without departing from the

protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims.

Standby power supply for power generation for the car park 1 with computers and conveyors included therein is also included in a said car park for possible power failures of the public mains.

Claims

U27 P1PCT UJI/KOE C l a i m s

1. Car park (1) for vehicles (2) and which enables compact, automatic parking of vehicles (2) in the car park (1) , characterized in that vehicle (2) is arranged to be transported/driven into, and out from, respectively, a container (3) in order to be received in the container (3) for the time during which the vehicle (2) in question is parked in said car park (1) ,

that the container (3) for the receipt of the vehicle (2) in question is arranged to be positioned outside/inside said car park (1) ,

that a computer system is arranged to register leaving and desired fetching of the respective vehicle (2) by the customers (4) ,

that an overhead crane installation (5) is arranged to handle fetching, transportation, stacking, and rearrangement of containers (3) in the car park (1) as well as deposit of containers (3) with contained vehicles (2) when it is time for the customers (4) to fetch the vehicles (2) in question after reaching desired fetching time ,

that room for the stacking of containers (3) is arranged on free ground or floor surface in said car park (1) ,

the car park comprising a plurality of intakes (13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ) placed beside each other in a longitudinal direction X.

2. Car park according to claim 1,

characterized in that the computer system ensures that at least one of the intakes (13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ) for most of the time contains an empty container (3) for being able to receive a vehicle (2) for deposit.

3. Car park according to claim 1 or 2 ,

characterized in that the overhead crane installation (5) can reverse the vehicle (2) before fetching so that the vehicle (2) is directed so that the customer (4) can drive forward out of the intake (13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ) without needing to reverse out .

4. Car park according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the containers (3) in question are open at least in the end portions (8, 9) thereof opposite each other to enable drive through of vehicles (2) .

5. Car park according to claim 4,

characterized in that the containers (3) in question are open, at least to a major extent along side walls (10, 11) opposite each other, to enable departure from the

container (3) of driver/passenger.

6. Car park according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the containers (3) in question comprise an upper frame (33) and a lower plate (34) with turnable hooks (35) being running between the upper frame (33) and the lower plate (34), wherein each hook (35) comprises an upper and a lower horizontal end piece (36, 37) , which are connected by a horizontal post (38) .

7. Car park according to claim 6,

characterized in that the hooks (35) are arranged so that pins (39) on the upper side of the container (3) are rotatably connected with the respective upper end piece (36) and are rotatable by the loading yoke (26) of an overhead crane (5) , wherein the lower end pieces (37) are rotatably fitted on the lower plate (34) .

8. Car park according to any one of claims 1- 5, characterized in that the containers (3) in question comprise a lower plate (34) on which posts (38) are arranged so that they can move vertically between an upper and a lower position, wherein each intake (13, 13¹, 13²- 13ⁿ) has a cavity (40) on top of which the lower plate (34) is situated, in which cavity (40) a lifting device (41) is placed, which can lift the posts (38) between the lower and the upper position.

9. Car park according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that a conveyor (12) for the inward transportation of deposited vehicle (2) for parking is situated at the intake/intakes (13, 13¹, 13² ... 13ⁿ) for the respective vehicle (2) and deposit in

intended container (3) in the interior of the car park (1) , and/or that a conveyor (14) is arranged for inward transportation and outward transportation, respectively, of a set-out container (3) with driven-in vehicle (2) therein as well as for the outward transportation of a container with parked vehicle (2) therein for the

collection of the vehicle in question.

10. Car park according to claim 9,

characterized in that a trolley (15) having pivotably mounted lifting arms (17) is drivable under vehicles (2) for lifting up vehicles (2) onto the trolley (15) and inward and outward transportation of vehicles (2) to and from, respectively, the interior reception space (18) of a container.

11. Car park according to claim 10,

characterized in that the trolley (15) for vehicle

transportation to and from, respectively, containers (3) has wheels (19) which are running along the handling trolley (15) and carries the force as well as which can be steered to/from containers (3), for instance on the floor, on the ground surface, and/or in the container (3) , by means of a central guide rail (16) .

12. Car park according to any one of claims 10-11, characterized in that, in the bottom of the

containers (3) , recesses are arranged for front and/or rear wheels (20) of a vehicle and which recesses are arranged to widen upon hoisting of the container (3) .

13. Car park according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that a payment machine (21) having a registering device is coupled to the computer system and having receipt issuing with fetching code.

14. Car park according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that arrival and departure to and from, respectively, the car park (1) for deposit and fetching, respectively, of vehicles (2) are camera

monitored, as well as that announcements with information about deposit gate (13-13ⁿ) are arranged, and that

markings and guidings (23) for guiding are present on the ground (24), e.g. in the form of guiding grooves.

15. Proceeding at car park (1) for vehicles

(2) and which enables compact, automatic parking of vehicles (2) in the car park (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the vehicle (2) in question is either left outside the car park (1) onto a conveyor (12) , which transports the vehicle (2) to a location where a handling trolley (15) can go in under the vehicle (2) to convey the vehicle (2) into a container (3) which is situated inside the car park (1) , or the vehicle (2) is driven into a container (3) which is situated outside the car park (1) and which after that is

transported into the car park (1) with received vehicle (2) therein, or the vehicle (2) is driven into a container 3 placed inside an intake (13, 13¹, 13²-13ⁿ) , whereupon the containers (3) in question are lifted in place in the car park (1) by means of an overhead crane (5) , and that fetching of the vehicle (2) in question takes place in the opposite, alternative order.

16. Proceeding according to claim 15,

characterized in that, upon deposit of vehicles (2) , the customer (4) registers themselves with intended point of time of collection in a payment machine (21) and obtains a delivery ticket (22) having collection code and possibly mobile telephone number for option to continued

communication, for instance via an app and/or via website, etc., for, for instance, continued parking.

17. Proceeding according to any one of claims 15-16, characterized in that the container (3) is

transported and lifted to intended estimated location in the car park (1) according to how long the vehicle (2) is intended to desirably be parked, i.e., the longer the vehicle (2) is desired to be parked, in a more remote location in the car park (1) the container (3) is stored, while the containers (3) containing vehicles (2) that are estimated to be returned in a short time are stored, e.g., in an upper layer (25) easily accessible for the overhead crane (5) .

18. Proceeding according to any one of claims

15-17, characterized in that the computer system orders the overhead crane (5) to fetch the intended container (3) in question which is intended to be transported by

coupling together the cornered load dogs, known per se, of a loading yoke (26) with openings in the upper corners of the container for the subsequent downward guiding of conical cornered guide pins situated underneath onto the upper cornered upper openings of the stored container to provide vertical alignment in rows of the stack (27) of containers (3 ) .

19. Proceeding according to any one of claims

15-18, characterized in that the computer system is arranged to estimate new placing of a vehicle-provided container (3) in question upon prolonged parking time, so that the container (3) will come in correct estimated order for later unloading.

20. Proceeding according to any one of claims

15-19, characterized in that in the absence of fetching of vehicles (2) or lack of information during the parking time from the customer (4) to the reception department of the car park for messages, said reception department dispatches request in case intended indicated fetching time remains or if the fetching time is desired to be changed .