Wholly Automated Mobile Device and Corresponding Fast, Economical and Compact Method for Parking Private Vehicles

Abstract

The patent claim concerns an automatic parking system for passenger cars, comprising six independent claims with various building parts and methods thereto. These comprise a dismountable construction consisting of one or more automatic parking ramps whereon the driver leaves his/her vehicle, the vehicle being then positioned, mechanically centred, gripped and electronically measured, automatically, so that the vehicle can be displaced by computer and compactly stored. Said device consists essentially of a push system (tractor, 40 ) moving on a rail (tractor rail, 42 ), gripping the vehicles at the wheels using forks with specific rollers ( 45 ), pulling same onto the lifting platform ( 31 ) in centred position on the rollers, moving the platform vertically, rotating the platform about its vertical axis and pushing the vehicle onto the parking platform ( 8 ). On request, the vehicles are once more pulled onto the lifting platform, transported to the exit ramp and delivered to the user. The entire device consists of a reduced number of mobile components such that the construction and the use of said device are simple and economical. The inventive device uses the basic shapes of modern vehicles combined with the inventive method and a computerised allocation of places enables the space required as well as building and use costs to be considerably reduced compared to existing systems.

1 . Generic part
 Automatic parking installation for passenger cars   
   
   
       2 . Designation of Objects
 Stationary or mobile device and automatic process for compact, efficient and economical parking of private vehicles.   
   
   
       3 . Technical features
 The parking device ( FIG. 1 ) comprising of several pillars, rails, or columns ( 2 ), to which parking platforms ( 8 ) are fixed arranged in circular discs for parking the private vehicles. At the centre of this, on plates, arranged in several decks, stands or hangs a lift shaft in a conventional lift (FIG.  6 A/ FIG. 6B ) with a fixed or movable lifting platform ( 31 ) that can be moved back and forth, on which a mechanical push system (tractor) ( 40 ) runs on a horizontal rail (tractor rail) ( 42 ), which grips the vehicles mechanically at their wheels, centres, lifts and pulls them on to the lifting platform ( 31 ). In the design with movable lifting platform this moves first in the centre (position  2 ). Thereafter, the lift travels vertically to the assigned deck. When the lift ( FIG. 6   a ,  FIG. 6   b ) reaches the corresponding deck and this deck or the entire lift shaft has rotated by the calculated angle or to the platform assigned by the computer, the lifting platform is taken to this deck (position  1 ), in order to push the car on the parking platform with the tractor. With this method and the selected, overlapping parking arrangement ( FIG. 8 ), the compactness can be enhanced enormously vis-á-vis the conventional systems. When removing the vehicle this is taken back by executing the steps in the reverse sequence and pushed on to the exit ramp ( 9 ) (tractor position  3 ).
 Owing to its simplicity and modular design the device assembled, dismantled and assembled again very quickly. To do this, no other constructional measures are needed except for a connection to the power supply and a firm ground. 
   
   
   
       4 . Characterising part
 This system is characterised by the fact that it grips the vehicles automatically, parks them quickly and economically in a special arrangement, discharges them again when required and the entire device can be dismantled and re-assembled on another location with minimal effort. Furthermore, it is also characterised by the act that the vehicles are gripped automatically, mechanically and brought to the exact initial position, in order to transport them automatically and precisely, horizontally and vertically and to rotate them on the vertical axis, without need for aids like palettes and conveyor belts.   
   
   
       5 . Independent patent claim
 Automatic parking system for private vehicles with fixed parking platforms ( 8 ) arranged in circular discs on several decks with a central lift ( FIG. 6 ), the connected lifting platform ( 31 ), a push and pull device (tractor) ( FIG. 4 ) and with parking and exit ramps, on which the vehicles are cantered and positioned automatically.
 This parking system is characterised by the fact that the vehicles are gripped automatically in mechanical fashion, are measured electronically and transported with assistance of computer to specially arranged parking platforms ( 8 ), without making use of accessories like palettes, such that this parking method and the selected arrangement ( FIG. 8 ) help to achieve an essentially higher density of the parked cars. 
 The design is also characterised by the fact that only a few movable parts are needed, which are restricted only to the lift ( 61 ), tractor ( 40 ), and the parking ramps ( 22 ) and the components can be combined together and screwed quickly and easily in modular layout as hanging or supporting structures, such that the entire system is mobile and can be reused. 
   
   
   
       6 . Dependent patent claims 
   
   
       7 . Parking ramp with cantering system ( FIG. 2 )
 Automatic parking system as per  claim 1 , with parking ramp, which is characterised by a centering system, which brings the vehicle to the middle of this ramp by means of two guide rails ( 21 ). These rails are equipped with rollers that prevent the wheels from ramming against them, without using any mechanical drive for the purpose, such that these guide rails are mechanically connected with one another through swivel arms ( 37 ), push rods ( 28 ) and cantering rails ( 29 ), which are thus in a symmetric position. These rails, kept under tension with springs ( 23 ), exercise pressure against the middle of the parking ramp, such that these are pulled away from each other in the front when the vehicle is driven in. At the same time, it results that at the back these come together symmetrically and so push the vehicle with the wheels in the middle of the driveway. The platform is also characterised by the fact that it is designed with rollers ( 25 ) laid longitudinally, on which the vehicle wheels ( 16 ) can easily be displaced to the side. As an alternative the side guide rails can also be mounted parallel and fixed, in order to keep the lateral deviation of the vehicle within limits.   
   
   
       8 . Lift shaft and lifting platform ( FIG. 3 )
 Automatic parking system as per  claim 1  with a lifting platform ( 31 ), characterised by the fact that this on one hand can be moved forward and back horizontally, and on the other can rotate laterally along the vertical axis and also has the suitable shape and dimensions, so that it can move below the parked front of the car and can join the parking platforms ( 8 ) arranged in circle, as also the parking ramps ( 22 ) and the exit ramp ( 9 ). The lifting platform is also characterised by the fact that the tractor ( 40 ), a mechanical gripping and pushing system, is mounted on a rail which is cantered and is movable, in order to pull the vehicles on the lifting platform or to push them from this on to other platforms. As an alternative the lifting platform can be connected permanently with the lift. Similarly, as an alternative, the lift, together with the lift shaft can be designed such that it can rotate on the vertical axis. ( FIG. 4   a ,  31 ). This is then characterised by the feature that it can be rotated with rollers between the pillars of the lift shaft ( FIG. 6   b ,  65 ,  68   FIG. 9   c ,  68 ) and parking platforms guided on the side via an electromechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic drive (Z 9 ,  FIG. 9   c ,  69 ), electronically controlled, along the vertical axis. This ensures an exact cantering and less gaps between the lifting platform and the parking platform.   
   
   
       9 . Tractor ( FIG. 4 )
 Automatic parking system as per  claim 1  is characterised by the fact that the vehicles are gripped, cantered and moved on their wheels, without using aids like palettes or conveyor belts, when this component, hereinafter referred to as Tractor ( FIG. 4 ,  40 ), is on a rail fixed in the middle of the lifting platform ( 31 ). On this, it runs below the vehicle placed on the parking ramp, presses at the wheels with two rails (forked rails) ( 44 ) that can spread, thereby centres the car exactly and raises the car to some extent with four forks ( 45 ) each having two roller fingers ( 46 ), which are pushed under the wheels, fixes the vehicle and pulls or pushes it in the desired position.   
   
   
       10 . Roller fork ( FIG. 5 )
 Automatic parking system as per  claim 1  characterised by the fact that the vehicle is gripped, lifted and pushed on each wheel with a roller fork ( 45 ), each comprising of two roller fingers ( 46 ) with horizontal rollers on its rollers ( 57 ).
 This roller fork ( 45 ) is characterised by the feature that it is fixed in such a way at a rail (forked rail) ( 44 ) that its two roller fingers, comprising of one or two rollers ( 57 ) running on the platform, which carry a third roller (lifting roller) (58) and travel below the wheel of the vehicle when pulled together and lift it thereby. The lifting rollers can run either on a separate axis between and parallel to the rollers, or can be overlaid on this concentric to the roller ( FIG. 5   a ,  58 ,  FIG. 4   a   1 ,  46 ). In this case the lifting roller comprises of a segment of a roller, which runs over the roller and has the form of a segment of a barrel, on which a straight or a concave plate is set to enlarge the bearing surface of the wheel. 
   
   
   
       11 . Parking platform, arrangement and parking method ( FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 )
 Automatic parking system as per  claim 1  with a parking arrangement and a corresponding parking platform ( 8 ), characterised by the fact that by using the conical or oval front sections of the modern automobiles, with corresponding dimensions and specific assignment of this, the vehicles can be parked compactly side by side, when these are cantered precisely and moved automatically without using palettes or similar aids, the parking platforms have a specific basic shape and an arrangement in a circular disc and at an angle of 15 to 30 degrees and the optimum space is assigned to the cars with a computer, when broad and narrow vehicles receive the corresponding parking positions. As such the arrangement is characterised by the fact that the rectangular parking areas overlap with the front edges and the side margins, and very little space is needed for manoeuvring and for transporting. Furthermore, it is also possible to manage without vertical and horizontal rails, which reduce space in the usable area.