Device and method for automatic transfer of car in parking system

Abstract

Device and method for automatic transfer of a car in a parking system, the device including a main frame for moving between platforms each for placing a car thereon, a first elevating part fitted to the main frame for lifting some of wheels of the car to a preset height from the platform, including at least one first leg fitted to be movable to an outside of the main frame for supporting the wheels, and a first supplementary frame for moving up together with the first leg, and a second elevating part fitted to the main frame for lifting rest of the wheels of the car to a preset height from the platform, including at least one second leg fitted to be movable to an outside of the main frame for supporting the wheels, and a second supplementary frame for moving up together with the second leg, thereby transferring the car lifted by the first and second elevating parts to another platform the main frame desires, and permitting fast loading/unloading of the car.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for automatic transfer of a car in a parking system comprising: 
 a main frame for moving between platforms each for placing a car thereon;    a first elevating part fitted to the main frame for lifting some of wheels of the car to a preset height from the platform, including; 
 at least one first leg fitted to be movable to an outside of the main frame for supporting the wheels, and  
 a first supplementary frame for moving up together with the first leg; and  
   a second elevating part fitted to the main frame for lifting rest of the wheels of the car to a preset height from the platform, including; 
 at least one second leg fitted to be movable to an outside of the main frame for supporting the wheels, and  
 a second supplementary frame for moving up together with the second leg,  
   thereby transferring the car lifted by the first and second elevating parts to another platform the main frame desires.    
     
     
         2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main frame includes wheels and supplementary wheels driven by power means for moving the main frame.  
     
     
         3 . A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the main frame further includes at least one guide wheel for guiding the main frame moving between the platforms.  
     
     
         4 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first elevating part includes one pair of legs movably fitted to both sides of the main frame, for supporting one pair of the front wheels or rear wheels of the car.  
     
     
         5 . A device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the first legs support the front wheels of the car.  
     
     
         6 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first leg has a fork form.  
     
     
         7 . A device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first leg includes; 
 two bars arranged in parallel to each other spaced a distance, and    a connecting part continuously extended between the two bars.    
     
     
         8 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second elevating part includes; 
 one pair of second legs movably fitted to both sides of the main frame for supporting front or rear wheels of the car.    
     
     
         9 . A device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the second legs support the rear wheels of the car.  
     
     
         10 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second legs have a comb form.  
     
     
         11 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the second leg includes; 
 a plurality of bars arranged in parallel at fixed intervals, and    a connecting part extended continuously between the bars so as to connect the plurality of bars.    
     
     
         12 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first legs, and the second legs include; 
 first and second pinion gears driven by power means, respectively, and    first and second rack gears coupled with the first and second legs and engaged with the first and second pinion gears, respectively, for moving in a horizontal direction as the first and second pinion gears are rotated.    
     
     
         13 . A device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first and second pinion gears are connected to the same power means for moving the first and second legs at the same time.  
     
     
         14 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second supplementary frames include; 
 first and second helical cams rotatably fitted to the main frame, respectively; and    first and second rollers fitted to the first and second supplementary frames for moving up/down along sloped surfaces of the helical cams when the first and second helical cams are rotated, respectively.    
     
     
         15 . A device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the first and second supplementary frames include; 
 first and second sprockets coupled to the first and second helical cams respectively, and    first and second chains engaged with the first and second sprockets and driven by power means for rotating the first and second sprockets and the helical cams, respectively.    
     
     
         16 . A device as claimed in  claim 14  or  15 , further comprising a plurality of first and second helical cams, and first and second rollers and sprockets fitted for stable supporting of the first and second supplementary frames, respectively.  
     
     
         17 . A device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the first and second chains are connected into one and driven by the same power means for moving up/down the first and second supplementary frames simultaneously.  
     
     
         18 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second supplementary frames include first and second guides respectively for making stable vertical movement of the supplementary frames, and 
 the first and second guides include 
 first and second channel members extended in a vertical direction respectively, and  
 first and second pins fixed to the first and second supplementary frames and held inside of the first and second channel members, respectively.  
   
     
     
         19 . A device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the first and second supplementary frames further include first and second supplementary guides respectively, and the first and the second supplementary guides includes first teeth extended in a vertical direction from the first and second supplementary frames respectively, and second teeth extended in a vertical direction from the main frame for engagement with the first teeth.  
     
     
         20 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a passage for passage of the main frame.  
     
     
         21 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes; 
 a first seat for holding the first leg moved horizontally while avoiding interference with vertical and horizontal movements of the first leg.    
     
     
         22 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes second seats for holding the second legs moved vertically while avoiding interference with vertical and horizontal movements of the second legs.  
     
     
         23 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the platforms include; 
 a first platform provided at a location for receiving the car to be parked,    third platforms provided in intermediate devices each for transporting the car to a parking space, and    a second platform provided in the parking space.    
     
     
         24 . A method for automatic transfer of a car, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) moving a car transfer device to a first platform provided in a space for receiving a car to be parked;    (b) lifting the car from the first platform including the steps of; 
 moving first and second legs from the car transfer device to an outside of the car transfer device for supporting wheels of the car, and  
 moving up first and second supplementary frames in the car transfer device coupled with the first and second legs, respectively;  
   (c) transporting the car transfer device to a second platform provided to a parking space in a state the car is lifted by the car transfer device; and    (d) placing down the car on the second platform including the steps of; 
 moving down the first and second supplementary frames, and  
 moving the first and second legs into an inside of the car transfer device.  
   
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the car transfer device is movable by a power means and wheels movably fitted to the power means.  
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the car is lifted by one pair of first legs movably fitted on both sides of the main frame for supporting one pair of front wheels or rear wheels of the car.  
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the one pair of first legs support the front wheels.  
     
     
         28 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the car is lifted by one pair of second legs movably fitted to both sides of the main frame for lifting one pair of the front wheels or the rear wheels of the car.  
     
     
         29 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the one pair of second legs support the rear wheels of the car.  
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the first and second legs are movable by first and second pinion gears driven by power means, and first and second rack gears coupled to the first and second legs and engaged with the first and second pinion gears, respectively, for moving in a horizontal direction following rotation of the pinion gears.  
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the first and second supplementary frames are movable by first and second helical cams rotatably fitted to the main frame, and first and second rollers respectively fitted to the first and second supplementary frames for moving up/down along the sloped surfaces of the helical cams when the first and second helical cams are rotated.  
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the step (c) includes the steps of, 
 moving the car transfer device to a third platform provided to a transporting device in a state the car is lifted by the car transfer device,    transporting the car and the car transfer device to a second platform apart from the first platform by the transporting device, and    transporting the car transfer device to the second platform in a state the car is lifted by the car transfer device.    
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising the step of returning the car transfer device to the third platform after the step (d).