Modular parking systems with tilting ramped trays

Abstract

A parking garage sub-module includes at least one parking pod, the parking pod including a first column, a second column, and a third column. Each parking pod includes a plurality of parking slots, wherein each of the first column, the second column and the third column each include a plurality of parking slots and wherein each slot includes at least one tilting platform associated therewith. Further, at least one of the parking slots associated with the second column includes at least one transfer slot, the transfer slot including at least one transfer platform configured to move first and second ends between raised and lowered positions to exchange trays between adjacent parking slots and to shift trays parallel to an axis about which the transfer platform rotates to move between the raised and lowered positions.

1 . A parking garage sub-module, comprising:
 at least one parking pod, the parking pod including a first column, a second column, and a third column;   a plurality of parking slots, wherein each of the first column, the second column and the third column each include a plurality of parking slots and wherein each slot includes at least on tilting platform associated therewith; and   wherein at least one of the parking slots associated with the second column includes at least one transfer slot, the transfer slot including at least one transfer platform configured to move first and second ends between raised and lowered positions to exchange trays between adjacent parking slots and to shift trays parallel to an axis about which the transfer platform rotates to move between the raised and lowered positions.   
   
   
       2 . The parking garage sub-module of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of parking pods. 
   
   
       3 . The parking garage sub-module of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one spacer bar coupling platforms in vertically aligned slots. 
   
   
       4 . The parking garage sub-module of  claim 1 , wherein a tilting platform associated with the transfer slot is configured to be selectively aligned with platforms associated with a plurality of the storage slots in the third column to selectively form ramps between the transfer slot and the plurality of storage slots, the transfer slot being further configured to cooperate with each of the storage slots in the third column to transfer a vehicle across the ramps. 
   
   
       5 . The parking garage sub-module of  claim 1 , wherein the first column further includes a storage slot. 
   
   
       6 . The parking garage sub-module of  claim 1 , wherein at least one platform in at least one of the first and third columns includes a tray drive mechanism, the tray drive mechanism being configured to push trays to and retrieve trays from platforms in the second column. 
   
   
       7 . The parking garage sub-module of  claim 1 , wherein the first column includes at least one access slot. 
   
   
       8 . The parking garage sub-module of  claim 1 , wherein the first column includes at least two access columns and two storage columns, the second column includes at least two transfer columns and three storage columns, and the third column includes at least four storage columns. 
   
   
       9 . A parking module, comprising:
 an entry/retrieval sub-module, including   a loading port having a loading platform configured to selectively move between an upward tilted position and a downward tilted position;   a first parking pod including:
 a first access slot operatively associated with the loading port, the first access slot including a platform configured to selectively move to a tilted position to form a ramp with the loading port while the loading port is in the downward tilted position; 
 a first transfer slot operatively associated with the first access slot, the first transfer slot including at least one transfer platform configured to move first and second ends between raised and lowered positions to exchange trays and to shift trays parallel to an axis about which the transfer platform rotates to move between the raised and lowered positions, and 
   a second parking pod including:
 a second access slot operatively associated with the loading portion, the second access slot including a platform configured to selectively move to a tilted position to form a ramp with the loading port in the upward tilted position; 
 a second transfer slot operatively associated with the second access slot, the second transfer slot including a platform configured to selectively move to a tilted position to form a ramp with the second access slot. 
   
   
   
       10 . The module of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 first and second storage slots operatively associated with the first transfer slot, the first transfer slot being further configured to tilt the platform associated therewith to selectively form ramps with each of the first and second storage slots;   third and fourth storage slots operatively associated with the second transfer slot; the second transfer slot being further configured to tilt the platform associated therewith to selectively form slots with each of the third and fourth storage slots.   
   
   
       11 . The module of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first storage sub-module having at least one transfer slot operatively associated with at least one of the first and second transfer slots associated with the entry/retrieval sub-module, wherein the transfer slots associated with the entry/retrieval column and the transfer slot associated with the entry/retrieval module are configured to cooperate to transfer a tray configured to support a vehicle between the entry/retrieval sub-module and the storage sub-module.   
   
   
       12 . The parking module of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one storage sub-module includes a plurality of parking pods. 
   
   
       13 . The parking module of  claim 12 , further comprising a second storage sub-module, the second storage sub-module including a plurality of parking pods. 
   
   
       14 . The parking module of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of the platforms associated with the slots includes a rail assembly associated therewith. 
   
   
       15 . A parking system, comprising:
 a plurality of parking modules, each parking module including a central entry/retrieval sub-module, the entry/retrieval module including a plurality of parking pods, the parking pods each including plurality of parking slots, each parking slot including at least one platform configured to selectively tilt to form a ramp with at least one adjacent platform;   first and second storage sub-modules located on opposing sides of the central entry/retrieval sub-module, the first and second storage sub-modules including a plurality of tilting platforms configured to selectively tilt to form a ramp with at least one adjacent platform; and   at least one transfer platform operatively associated with each of the parking pods within the entry/retrieval sub-module and the first and second storage sub-modules, each transfer platform being configured to move first and second ends between raised and lowered positions to exchange trays and to shift trays parallel to an axis about which the transfer platform rotates to move between the raised and lowered positions to transfer a tray between the entry/retrieval sub-module and the first and second storage sub-modules.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one distribution module associated with a plurality of parking modules, the distribution module including a plurality of transfer platforms configured to shift a tray into alignment with each of the sub-modules. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the system includes a plurality of distribution modules associated with a plurality of parking modules, wherein the plurality of distribution modules includes an entry sub-module and an exit sub-module. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of parking modules is located on one side of the distribution sub-modules. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of parking modules is located on both sides of the distribution sub-modules. 
   
   
       20 . A transfer platform for use in a parking system, the transfer platform, comprising:
 a platform having a first end and a second end;   a plurality of rails operatively associated with the platform;   a tilting mechanism configured to move the first end between a raised, centered, and lowered positions and for moving the second end between lowered, centered, and raised positions about at least one tilting axis; and   a transfer mechanism operatively associated with the rails, the transfer mechanism being configured to rotate the rails from a first alignment in which the rails are generally perpendicular to the tilting axis to a second alignment in which the rails are generally parallel to the tilting axis, wherein the transfer mechanism is configured to shift trays along the rail while the rails are in the second alignment.   
   
   
       21 . The transfer platform of  claim 20 , wherein the platform is configured to receive trays from adjacent platforms.