[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic vehicle parking apparatus, provided
with means for storing/arranging and automatically removing vehicles.
[0002] Automatic vehicle parking apparatus are already known, in which each motor vehicle
is taken up from a vehicle input zone, and then automatically arranged in a compartment
or storing space; such an apparatus is moreover designed so as to remove a vehicle
from its respective compartment and convey it to a reception zone.
[0003] In a known embodiment of such an apparatus, the vehicle storing compartments are
arranged on several floors and each vehicle is brought to its storing compartment
by means of a lifting device which is transversely displaced to be arranged in a vehicle
removing zone where there are provided fork raising devices or means adapted to transversely
displace the vehicle to arrange it in its provided compartment.
[0004] These parking apparatus, however, are very complex construction wise, since the vehicle
handling means are subjected to a great wear and, moreover, can damage the vehicle
to be handled.
[0005] Moreover, known vehicle parking apparatus are affected by several drawbacks relating
to a proper and quick displacing of the vehicle supporting carriages to be generally
arranged under the vehicle to be displaced.
[0006] The GB-A-2 166 721 document discloses an automatic vehicle parking apparatus having
substantially the features of the pre-characterizing portion of the main claim, but
in which the vehicles are arranged on pallets which are moved by forked means from
a lifting platform to the vehicle parking compartments and vice-versa.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned
drawbacks, by providing an automatic vehicle parking apparatus, including means for
automatically handling vehicles, which is so arranged and designed as to quickly displace
each motorvehicle both during the storing step thereof and during the removing step
thereof.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic vehicle parking
apparatus which is very safe and reliable in operation.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic vehicle parking
apparatus which comprises vehicle handling carriages specifically adapted to quickly
and safely displace the motorvehicle to be parked and/or removed.
[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic vehicle
parking apparatus adapted to store a very high number of motorvehicles, while having
very reduced space requirements and which can be easily made, at a comparatively low
cost, starting from easily available materials and elements.
[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic vehicle
parking apparatus in which the vehicles can be parked without the need of performing
vehicle raising operations, thereby providing a multi-floor construction of very reduced
height.
[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned objects, as
well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved
by an automatic vehicle parking apparatus, with means for automatically handling vehicles
having the features of the characterizing portion of the main claim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent
from the following description of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of
an automatic vehicle parking apparatus, with means for automatically handling motovehicles,
which is illustrated by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying
drawings, where:
Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a vehicle at the inlet zone of the parking
apparatus, and a lifting platform, with a vehicle handling carriage arranged on a
bottom platform member;
Figure 2 schematically shows an operation step of the parking apparatus in which an
empty carriage is arranged at the apparatus inlet zone;
Figure 3 schematically shows an operation step of the parking apparatus in which an
empty carriage is removed from a compartment provided for receiving a vehicle;
Figure 4 schematically shows another operation step of the apparatus, in which a vehicle
is arranged in its storing compartment;
Figure 5 schematically shows another operation step of the apparatus, in which a vehicle
is removed from its storing compartment;
Figure 6 schematically shows another operation step of the apparatus, in which an
empty carriage is arranged in a compartment;
Figure 7 schematically shows another operation step of the parking apparatus, in which
the lifting platform is arranged at the outlet or output zone of the apparatus and
an empty carriage is removed from said output zone and arranged on the platform bottom
member;
Figure 8 schematically shows another operation step of the apparatus in which a vehicle
is removed from the apparatus;
Figure 9 is a schematic elevation view illustrating the raising platform or cab arranged
near the vehicle storing compartments; and
Ffigure 10 is yet another schematic top plan view of the platform arranged between
opposite vehicle storing compartments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the automatic vehicle
parking apparatus, with means for automatically handling motorvehicles, according
to the invention, comprises a fixed structure, overally indicated at the reference
number 1, which includes a plurality of vehicle storing compartments 2 which, advantageously,
are arranged with a piled-up opposite arrangement.
[0015] The vehicle storing compartments 2 communicate with a zone 3 in which there is provided
a vertically movable cab or raising platform, which has been overally indicated at
the reference number 10.
[0016] The cab or platform 10 comprises a top platform member or panel 11 and a bottom platform
member or panel 12, which are spaced from one another and coupled by uprights 13 so
as to define a cage construction.
[0017] The disclosed platform can be vertically displaced, by driving means, not shown,
to be arranged at a desired level in communication with the apparatus compartments.
[0018] On the top platform member 11 there is arranged a vehicle carriage 20 supporting
a respective vehicle whilst, on the bottom platform member 12 can be arranged an empty
carriage, indicated at the reference number 20′.
[0019] A main feature of the invention is that means are provided for longitudinally displacing
the carriage so as to bring said carriage to the single apparatus compartment or remove
the carriage therefrom, by means of a longitudinal displacement movement.
[0020] More specifically, said displacement or driving means comprise an equalizer device
30, arranged at the longitudinal end portions of both the top and bottom platform
members, which equalizer device supports, at its end portion, a pair of swinging rollers
31, 32, said swinging rollers being adapted to swing, together with said equalizer
device, about a driving axis 33 so as to cause said rollers to turn.
[0021] Upon swinging, one of the rollers is brought near a window 34, formed respectively
on the top platform member and bottom platform member so as to enter a cavity 40 defined
in the central region of the floor of each compartment, to remove the carriage from
said compartment or cause said carriage to enter said compartments.
[0022] As shown in figure 1, in order to store in the apparatus a coming vehicle, indicated
at A, the platform or cab 10 is arranged at the inlet zone 50 where is arranged the
vehicle A supported on a carriage 20; the platform 10 has, on the bottom platform
member or panel, an empty carriage.
[0023] During a first operation step, the carriage 20 is loaded on the platform by causing
the equalizer device 30, arranged at the vehicle inlet zone, to swing so as to bring
the roller 31 in engagement with the bottom surface of the carriage 20 so as to load
said carriage on the top platform panel and cause said carriage to engage with the
roller 31 of the equalizer device arranged at the other end, while disengaging the
equalizer device 30 provided at the inlet zone.
[0024] After having loaded a vehicle, the equalizer devices arranged under the top platform
panel are driven so as to both engage the carriage and practically operate as a braking
assembly for this carriage.
[0025] Then, the platform is raised so as to bring the platform bottom planel flush with
the inlet zone 50, in order to discharge the empty carriage at the inlet zone, in
a ready condition for receiving another vehicle.
[0026] After having discharged the empty carriage, the platform 10 is further driven so
as to cause the bottom platform panel or member 11 to be arranged at a compartment
floor thereon the vehicle is to be stored (see figure 3).
[0027] During a preliminary operation step, a carriage 20 is taken up by causing the equalizer
device 30 to swing so as to arrange its roller 31 in the cavity 40 thereby longitudinally
displacing the carriage which is loaded on the bottom platform panel.
[0028] After having removed the carriage from the compartment provided for receiving the
vehicle, the platform 10 is driven so as to bring in communication with the compartment
its top platform panel, and discharge the vehicle supporting carriage by a longitudinal
type of displacement.
[0029] For removing a vehicle, the above disclosed operating steps are reversely carried
out and, more specifically, the platform is preliminarly arranged as shown in figure
5, so as to remove a carriage-vehicle assembly and then said platform being raised
to arrange an empty carriage at the removed vehicle compartment.
[0030] Then, the platform will be driven to the outlet zone 60 therefrom said platform will
remove an empty carriage; then the platform will be lowered to discharge the vehicle-carriage
assembly, as shown in figure 8.
[0031] It should be apparent that the disclosed operating steps can be automatically repeated
with very short operating times.
[0032] From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves
the intended objects.
[0033] In particular, the fact is to be pointed out that the provision of a platform including
two superimposed platform members which can be respectively used for a vehicle-carriage
assembly and an empty carriage, affords the possibility of properly driving the carriages.
[0034] Moreover, since the carriages are longitudinally displaced, a very safe handling
of the vehicles can be performed during all of the apparatus operating steps.
[0035] Another very important feature of the invention is the provision of the equalizer
assembly, including driven rollers which, by engaging with the bottom surface of the
carriages, causes said carriages to be displaced, which displacement can be carried
out owing to the provision of the compartment floor cavity for receiving the driven
roller so as to both store and remove a carriage.
[0036] While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred
embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible
to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the scope of
the appended Claims.
1. An automatic vehicle parking apparatus, with means for automatically handling vehicles,
comprising a fixed structure (1), including a plurality of vehicle storing compartments
(2), said compartments communicating with a zone in which there is provided a vertically
movable lifting platform (10), said lifting platform including a top platform member
(11) for removably supporting a vehicle (A) arranged on a supporting means (20) and
a bottom platform member (12) for supporting an empty supporting means (20′), on said
lifting platform there being moreover provided means (30, 31, 32) for longitudinally
displacing a supporting means (20) with a vehicle supported thereon and an empty one
(20′) to selectively remove and store a vehicle from/in a said compartment (2), characterized
in that said supporting means (20, 20′) are carriages and in that said means (30,
31, 32) for longitudinally displacing said carriage comprise swing assemblies (30)
pivotally mounted at the longitudinal end portions of said bottom and top platform
(11, 12) panels and supporting, at their end portions, a respective pair of driven
rollers (31, 32) adapted to be engaged with the top surface of a carriage.
2. An automatic vehicle parking apparatus, according to Claim 1, characterized in that
said lifting platform (10) is provided with windows (34) to be engaged by one of said
driven rollers (31, 32).
3. An automatic vehicle parking apparatus, according to Claim 1, characterized in that
each vehicle compartment (2) comprises a floor including a respective cavity (40)
for engaging with one or more of said driven rollers (31, 32).
1. Vorrichtung zum automatischen Parken von Fahrzeugen, mit Mitteln zum automatischen
Bewegen von Fahrzeugen, mit einer festen Stiktur (1), die mit mehreren Unterstellungsabteilungen
(2) für Fahrzeugen vorgesehen ist, wobei diese Abteilungen mit einem Raum, wo eine
Aufzugsbühne (10) senkrecht bewegbar vorgesehen ist, in Verbindung steht, wobei diese
Aufzugsbühne mit inem oberen Bühneelement (11) zur abnehmbaren Unterstützung eines
auf Lagerelementen (20) angeordneten Fahrzeuges (A) und einem unteren Bühneelement
(12) zum Unterstützen einer leeren Lagerelementes (20′) vorgesehen ist, wobei auf
diese Aufzugsbühne, ausserdem, zur Längsbewegung eines Lagerelement (20) mit einem
über dasselbe gelagerten Fahrzeugen und eines leeren Lagerelementes (20′), Lagerelementen
(30, 31, 32)vorgesehen sind, die zum wechselnd Abholen und Einstellen eines Fahrzeuges
aus/in einer Abteilung (2) dienen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass diese Lagermittel (20, 20′) Schlitten sind, und dass
die obengenannten Mittel (30, 31, 32) zur Längsbewegung des obengenannten Schlittens
mit Schwenkgruppen (30), die and die Längsendportionen der obengenannten oberen und
unteren Bühneelementen (11, 12) angelenkt sind, vorgesehen sind und, an deren Endportionen,
ein entsprechenden Paar von Führungsrollen (31, 32) lagern, die zur Anbringung mit
der oberen Fläche eines Schlittens geeignet sind.
2. Vorrichtung zum automatischen Parken von Fahrzeugen, nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die obengenannte zur Anbringung über einen der obengenannten Führungsrollen (31,
32) Aufzugsbühne (10) mit Fensteröffnungen (34) versehen ist.
3. Vorrichtung zum automatischen Parken von Fahrzeugen, nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass jede Fahrzeugsabteilung (2) mit einem Boden versehen ist, der eine zur Anbringung
mit einem oder mehreren obengenannten Führungsrollen (31, 32) eine entsprechende Aufnahme
weist auf.
1. Dispositif de parcage automatique de véhicules, avec moyens pour mouver automatiquement
les véhicules, comprenant une structure fixe (1) munie de plusieurs compartiments
(2) pour stocker les véhicules, lesdits compartiments se trouvant en communication
avec une région où il y a prévu une plateforme d'élévation (10) movible en vertical,
ladite plateforme d'élévation comprenant un élément (11) de plateforme supérieur pour
supporter d'une manière amovible un véhicule (A) arrangé sur des moyens de support
(20) et un élément (12) de plateforme de fond poursupporter un élément de support
(20′) vide, sur ladite plateforme d'élévation il y étant prévu en outre des moyens
(30, 31, 32) pour déplacer dans un sens longitudinal un élément de support (20) avec
un véhicule y supporté ed un élément vide (20′) pour enlever et stocker sélectivement
un véhicule de/dans l'un desdits compartiments (2),
caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments de support (20, 20′) sont des chariots et en
ce que lesdits moyens (30, 31, 32) pour déplacer dans un sens longitudinal ledit chariot
comprennent des groupes oscillants (30) montés pivotés sur les portions d'extrémité
longitudinale desdits panneaux supérieur et inférieur (11, 12) de la plateforme et
supportant, sur leurs portions d'extrémité, un pair respectif de rouleaux commandés
(31, 32) aptes à s'engager avec la surface supérieure d'un chariot.
2. Dispositif de parcage automatique de véhicules, selon la revendication 1, caractérisé
en ce que ladite plateforme d'élévation (10) est munie de fenêtres (34) pour être
engagé par l'un desdits rouleaux commandés (31, 32).
3. Dispositif de parcage automatique de véhicules, selon la revendication 1, caractérisé
en ce que chaque compartiment (2) pour les véhicules ocmprend un plancher muni d'une
cavité (40) respective pour s'engager avec l'un ou plusieurs desdits rouleaux commandés
(31, 32).