CA2327989A1 - Automatic parking apparatus - Google Patents
Automatic parking apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2327989A1 CA2327989A1 CA 2327989 CA2327989A CA2327989A1 CA 2327989 A1 CA2327989 A1 CA 2327989A1 CA 2327989 CA2327989 CA 2327989 CA 2327989 A CA2327989 A CA 2327989A CA 2327989 A1 CA2327989 A1 CA 2327989A1
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- Prior art keywords
- parking
- vehicle
- shuttle
- vehicles
- linear
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H6/00—Buildings for parking cars, rolling-stock, aircraft, vessels or like vehicles, e.g. garages
- E04H6/08—Garages for many vehicles
- E04H6/12—Garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for shifting or lifting vehicles
- E04H6/18—Garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for shifting or lifting vehicles with means for transport in vertical direction only or independently in vertical and horizontal directions
- E04H6/182—Garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for shifting or lifting vehicles with means for transport in vertical direction only or independently in vertical and horizontal directions using car-gripping transfer means
- E04H6/183—Garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for shifting or lifting vehicles with means for transport in vertical direction only or independently in vertical and horizontal directions using car-gripping transfer means without transverse movement of the car after leaving the transfer means
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07B15/00—Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points
- G07B15/02—Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems
- G07B15/04—Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/24—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for parking meters
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- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/14—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
- Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
Abstract
The automatic parking apparatus is configured to provide a solution to the car-parking problems on a global scale. The underground of city streets, highways, airport runways, recreation parks and the like, is excavated to provide conveniently located parking space, at low cost "the virtual conquering of space". A car parking credit card provides data about the drivers' identity, and also the vehicles' particulars to configure a linear robot having tow complementary shuttles operating in symbiosis.
Contemporary handheld communicators provide access to parking availability via satellite and the Internet, of number of parks, specific vehicle parking costs and alternative location maps. A street-side car parking credit card booth and a front video camera on a gate, provide the particular data required, once a parking request is entered and approved. Otherwise the gate remains closed and the driver is instructed to exit into the street traffic. After having been approved for parking the vehicle is driven into an indexed position where the driver shuts the ignition off and exits with the other occupants. Robot linear shuttle A comes over, inspects the vehicle, lifts it by the tires and places the vehicle on shuttle B at ground level which grips the tires firmly in position then proceeds at fast speed towards a computer allocated parking booth, after shuttle A returns to its original standby position. Shuttle B has the ability to move along the X, Y, Z axis engaged by a single encoded electric servomotor to linear gear steel tracks and to index with multi level vehicle parking booths on a modular metallic frame, according to computer program allocation for parking and retrieval of the vehicles and to issue a parking receipt to the driver with the particulars. On request for retrieving a vehicle by the drivers' credit card and password, shuttle B indexes with the particular vehicles' booth once again retrieves the vehicle, clamps the tires firmly in position and proceeds at fast speed to the surface indexed position.
Once again shuttle A comes over retrieves the vehicle and now places it over a car-out indexed position then returns to its standby position. Now the driver opens the door, turns the ignition key-on and drives away. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention provide a simple solution to the present and future parking problems, a legacy to society and prosperity worldwide.
Contemporary handheld communicators provide access to parking availability via satellite and the Internet, of number of parks, specific vehicle parking costs and alternative location maps. A street-side car parking credit card booth and a front video camera on a gate, provide the particular data required, once a parking request is entered and approved. Otherwise the gate remains closed and the driver is instructed to exit into the street traffic. After having been approved for parking the vehicle is driven into an indexed position where the driver shuts the ignition off and exits with the other occupants. Robot linear shuttle A comes over, inspects the vehicle, lifts it by the tires and places the vehicle on shuttle B at ground level which grips the tires firmly in position then proceeds at fast speed towards a computer allocated parking booth, after shuttle A returns to its original standby position. Shuttle B has the ability to move along the X, Y, Z axis engaged by a single encoded electric servomotor to linear gear steel tracks and to index with multi level vehicle parking booths on a modular metallic frame, according to computer program allocation for parking and retrieval of the vehicles and to issue a parking receipt to the driver with the particulars. On request for retrieving a vehicle by the drivers' credit card and password, shuttle B indexes with the particular vehicles' booth once again retrieves the vehicle, clamps the tires firmly in position and proceeds at fast speed to the surface indexed position.
Once again shuttle A comes over retrieves the vehicle and now places it over a car-out indexed position then returns to its standby position. Now the driver opens the door, turns the ignition key-on and drives away. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention provide a simple solution to the present and future parking problems, a legacy to society and prosperity worldwide.
Description
TITLE: VIRTUAL PARKING REPLICATOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a computerized automatic parking in underground excavated space conveniently located along city streets, highways, airport runways, recreation parks and the like. The present invention also provides information on type of parking availability, cost and alternative map locations accessible via satellites and the Internet by conventional handheld communicators, as a practical economic means to solve the present and future global car parking problems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Despite the very numerous inventions and patents on this subject ever since the invention of the automobile, car parking remains a rapidly growing problem - on a global scale. When analyzed carefully, in its various aspects, the consequences are far reaching and of immense environmental and economic detriment to society and prosperity worldwide, and growing at an alarming rate as more cars pour out by the thousands every minute that goes by.
Car parking is rapidly becoming a major afflicting problem to society worldwide. Despite the latest efforts to provide underground parking for new buildings and parking garages for new houses, this is simply not a practical solution to a monumental global problem. As evidence clearly shows, our city streets, parking lots, small towns and villages are all getting clogged up with vehicles of all kinds, mostly cars. This problem is accelerating at a phenomenal rate as economic prosperity makes the convenience of individual transportation affordable, and as people commute form one place to another. Logically, they need a place to park whenever they go somewhere, and for that long.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a roadside automatic parking apparatus that provides parking availability, vehicle-parking costs and location maps via satellite Internet access with conventional handheld communication providers.
Another object is to provide a car parking credit card booth and a video camera at the entrance gate as a means to confirm parking authorization and vehicle data for configuration of the linear robot complementary shuttles and for parking allocation in the system accordingly, and otherwise the vehicle is denied parking, instructed to exit and follows along with the traffic.
Another object of the invention is to excavate and build conveniently located reinforced concrete vaults under the paved road having a large number of modular steel frames of different highs inside to suit vehicles of specific highs to improve economic efficiency and at least a linear robot shuttle A and B that operate in programmed coordination symbiosis to park and retrieve the vehicles.
A further object is to provide a roadside shelter for the vehicles and their occupant against inclement weather at the designated parking area.
Yet another object is to have the overhead robot shuttle A be the vehicle inspection and pickup shuttle equipped with video cameras and a pattern recognition program also common to shuttle B, load cells means to weigh the vehicle, and tire pressure checking means that permit an accurate identification of the vehicle against data provided by the parking credit card.
A still further object is for linear robot shuttle B
at ground level to provide firm tire griping means to permit the shuttle to move at fast speed within the underground, or above ground level parking metallic frame, for either depositing or retrieving the vehicles rapidly.
Another object is to provide a basic design of automatic parking apparatus that can potentially be adapted to any particular type of vehicle or containers of any size, permitting to form roadside underground and above ground automated storage systems.
Yet another object is to provide brush collectors and power rails coupled to an isolation transformer to permit using the power lines simultaneously for transceiver data communications purposes between the shuttles A and B
transceivers and the main computer.
Another object is to provide a basic design of vehicle parking booth shuttle, in rows for different vehicle highs to enhance economy, which has the ability to be adjusted to a particular vehicle size when engaged by a shuttle B.
Still another object is to provide a common waved shaped galvanized sheet metal floor for each individual parking booth within the metallic frame and having a slight inclination for it to drain into a port in the square tubing frame and protect the vehicle below from potential drippings.
A still further object is to provide a railing system having linear gears and power lines that permit operation of the robot B shuttle along the X, Y, Z axis and for crisscrossing between isles engaged by a single encoded electric servomotor for precise indexing of the shuttle with any position within the railing system and rapid mode of operation.
Yet another object is to provide a single encoded electric servomotor coupled to a plurality of hub gears with shafts coupled to electromagnetic clutches, universal joints, sliding shaft couplings as a means to provide for all the shuttles motion requirements, singly or in combination from a single motor, according to a main power control board.
Another object is to provide an insight for those skilled in the art of the respective areas of technology to visualize and complement the preferred embodiments and spirit of the invention to achieve a functional system.
The automatic parking apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a roadside detour having a credit card booth with a keyboard and a lifting gate with a video camera. The roadside detour leads both back to the roadway and to a weather shelter vehicle parking structure. If for whatever reason parking access is denied the driver is instructed to exit back into the traffic. Otherwise the gate lifts and the indexed parking spot and the robot shuttles are automatically configured according to the vehicle credit card data. Once at the indexed parking spot, the driver switches-off the ignition key and exits the vehicle along with all other vehicle occupants and enter the waiting room with a computer monitor and a credit card reading facility inside. The driver then once again enters the car-parking credit card into the card reading facility and is requested to enter the password. Next, shuttle A goes over the vehicle inspects it and takes a digital photo of the vehicle which is stored in memory until the vehicle exits the parking facilities. Then picks-up the vehicle by the tires, measure the weigh and deposits it into shuttle B waiting at the ground level indexed position and issues a parking receipt with the pertinent data date and time.
Shuttle A, now moves back to its original standby position and shuttle B clamps the vehicle's tires firmly in position, then descends and rapidly moves to the allocated car parking booth in the metallic frame within the underground reinforced concrete vault, or optionally to a frame forming a high rise building above ground level, where it parks the car into the allocated car-parking booth shuttle. To do this shuttle B unclamps the tires, rises and indexes with the booth's common design shuttle to the particular size of car. Then draws the telescopic booth shuttle tire supporting beams under the vehicle tires by means of an electric clutch that engages a main servomotor hub gear on shuttle B, and linear gears on booth shuttle and lowers itself a few inches, so that the vehicle is now deposited on the parking booth shuttle, then pushes the booth shuttle back to its original standby position. After the vehicle is parked, both shuttles A and B remain stationary waiting further instructions.
Both linear robot shuttles A and B are powered by precision encoded electric motors that permit their motions to be programmed according to pertinent data provided by the particular car parking credit card, double checked by inboard video cameras, load cells and other appropriate sensors to provide an accurate pattern matching profile of the vehicles' identity. V~lhile clamping the tires load cells provide an indication of individual tire pressure. All this pertinent information data is radio transmitted by means of digital transceivers to the main computer and servo motor controls to permit precise symbiosis and harmony of operation. This data transmission is transported within the main electrical power wiring system to ensure secure communications with the Internet and via satellites for communication with conventional handheld personal communicators .
The operating power requirements for the linear robot shuttle B are provided by means of brush collectors installed on the respective metallic frames along which they operate. In order to ensure precise motion and position control, the metallic frames are also provided with linear gears to engaged by the respective electric motor drive gears. The power grid, or other local suitable power sources such as fuel-cells, electric generators may optionally provide the power requirements for operation of the system. As for the location size and complexity of the individual systems, that is a matter of choice and convenience. Main shuttle B is capable of moving along the X, Y, Z, axis to permit the construction of underground parks away to the side from the vehicle parking station and permit the construction of very large parking facilities, below and above ground level.
The shuttle's B, X and Y- axis each have eight steel wheels in which a set of two at the end of set are gears wheels to ensure positive traction to the underlying steel tracks with linear gears. Each set of eight X and Y, are mechanically interlocked- retractable to permit installation of the X and Y floor tracks at the same level at right angles. The floor track slanted linear gears at the crisscrossing points are cutout to allow for the crisscross motion of the respective brush collectors of either X or Y track wheels. The Z axis track wheels are also retractable to allow motion of the shuttle along the X
and Y axis and powered by the same stepping motor as track wheels X and Y by means of electrically interlocked electromagnetic clutches to a main hub-gear output shafts.
The basic design features described above permit to build a wide variety of automatic parking apparatus that can potentially house vehicles of all sizes and containers according to their respective parking booths designations and have various ports at remote location to the main underground building. An airport for example can have underground parking and cargo storage facilities below the runways and above ground buildings. The same potential holds true for shopping centers recreation parks within cities and other public transportation sites, where space can be excavated potentially at comparable very reasonable costs to enhance economic prosperity and convenience to society. They may even be expended at a later date by digging deeper or easily modified within with their modular steel frame design and in some cases provide a foundation for the overall underground and above ground combination continuous metallic structure.
Both shuttle types A and B have flood lights and video cameras that positively identify the vehicle against a pattern recognition program and data provided by the car parking credit card.
This kind of information is also applied when retrieving the vehicle form the parking booth. Eventually, when the vehicle driver comes back to claim the vehicle, once again enters the car parking credit card and password to activate the system by requesting retrieval of the vehicle. Now automatically, shuttle B rapidly moves to the respective parking booth and retrieves the vehicle clamping it firmly in position and brings it back to the indexed position at ground level. Shuttle A now moves over, picks up the vehicle and deposits it at the car-out parking spot, then returns to its original standby position. The driver is now provide with a receipt confirming the vehicles identity, date and time-out, goes and turns the ignition key-on and drives away into the paved road.
Potentially the automatic parking apparatus may have several shuttles A and B operating in harmony at suitable parking locations, according to appropriate computer programs and provide park for different size vehicles within the same underground or above ground level parking building. It is also contemplated that the basic system can be scaled and adapted to operate as a programmed storage system for truck, railway and ship storage of containers either bellow or above ground level, in close proximity to ports. With regards to the potential social, environmental and economic advantages provided by the automatic parking apparatus particularly with regards to blocking of traffic and crowding of the streets, it is in the best interest of society as hole to see that this invention is implement with all its practical brevity, and supported by local governments and related industries with the resources to make it flourish - worldwide.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical automatic parking garage of the present invention showing a prefab modular transparent-building to provide inclement weather shelter for the vehicles and occupants with linear robot shuttles A and B, and a cut view of the underground reinforced concrete vault with metallic frame vehicle park booth modules and an high rise above ground park interfaced by the same linear robot system having an open top to show a typical parking booths arrangement.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a credit card parking reading machine on a pedestal for parking approval or denial according to particulars.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle entrance control gate with lights and video cameras to confirm data provide in the car-parking credit card.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle parking indexing conveyor flush with the floor to ensure proper pick-up of the vehicle by shuttle A.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vehicle pickup linear shuttle A assembled on the suspending metallic frame with flood lights video cameras, weigh and tire pressure that forms the first vehicle recognition checking station against data pattern provided by the client's vehicle parking credit card, as condition to pickup the vehicle and depositing it over shuttle B.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of shuttle A assembly to show the relative position of the spring loaded power brush collectors, gear track wheels, main drive encoded stepping motor hub-wheel drive with radial symbols for five electromagnetic clutches, universal joints and extensive shaft coupling means to provide all the necessary motions required by the shuttle and respective operations with a single drive motor.
_ g FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one of the four-vehicle tire clamping grips to better illustrate their basic design.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of main linear shuttle B
to show the two floodlights and video cameras at front and rear, the four-vehicle tire grips in their nearly fully closed position, the relative disposition of the Z axis power brush collector and track gear wheels, also having lateral flood lights and video cameras to positively identify the parked vehicle against credit card data for the un-park request and the main hug-gear drive motor at the center.
FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of shuttle B to particularly show the relative disposition of the eight steel tack gear wheels on four steel brackets for linear motion of X and Y axis having main drive couplings to a set of tow gear track wheels with teeth to engage the track linear gears, and the other six train-like steel track guiding wheels to permit crisscrossing of the X - Y tracks.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of shuttle B with the four tire grips fully extended up to unclamp the tires and allow the common parking booth shuttle to be indexed and engaged by shuttle B, to come over to either pick-up or to deposit a parked vehicle by the action of the B shuttle side grips. The shuttle is shown over the crisscrossing of linear slanted gear tracks X and Y where it switches direction of motion according to program, by extending and retracting the appropriate set of track wheels.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a common vehicle parking booth shuttle module assembled on a main square metallic frame and having telescoping harms designed for motion along the X and Y axis, which are engaged by shuttle B to index with the vehicle tire stands, for either deposit or retrieve a vehicle, which also having a galvanized sheet metal floor to form a drip-collector drain and protect the vehicles parked below.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross section view to show more detail of the track wheel carrier, one of four that are part of the shuttle B assembly, that permit aligning and extending the telescoping harms of the modular common booth shuttle of FIG 8.
FIG. 13 is a top view of shuttle's B that symbolizes a hub gear coupling diagram to the main stepping servomotor having electromagnetic clutches, universal joints, slide coupling shafts, so as to provide all the necessary torque motion requirements from a single servo motor and main control board.
FIG. 14 is a top view of a particular automatic parking garage to illustrate the relative disposition of the X , Y, Z, tracks and vehicle parking booths within a cut view of the reinforced concrete vault walls, or above ground level park.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
There is in FIG. 1 an overall view of a preferred embodiment of an automatic apparatus according to the present invention combining underground and above ground level parking, generally shown as 10. Potentially, the basic invention may be adapted to various sizes of vehicles, including trucks and cargo containers.
Accordingly, a pre-fabricated modular booth 11, shown transparent, provides shelter against inclement weather to the vehicles and passengers and other conveniences. A
computer monitor with a keyboard and a parking credit card reading facility within is generally shown as 12.
A vehicle 13 is shown in front of a first car-parking credit card reading pedestal 8 facing entrance control gate 9 with lights and video cameras better seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, which location can be displayed on global positioning system maps by conventional handheld communicators and computer monitors via transceiver Internet and satellite communications with the parking facility. Information data such as type of vehicle-size, number of parking spaces available and parking costs and other pertinent data can be remotely accessed for convenience and avoiding waste of time and fuel by searching for alternative most convenient parking locations in advance. Once at credit card reading station 8 the driver enters his card, pin number and OK for parking and a digital picture of the vehicle is taken and stored in memory while the vehicle remains in the park along with other pertinent data from the credit card. If for whatever reason parking is denied, the driver is instructed to exit back into the street traffic, otherwise indexed parking 14, shuttle 16 "A" and 17 "B" configure to particular vehicle size and gate 9 opens and the driver is instructed to proceed forward then turn-off the ignition key and to exit with all other passengers to computer monitor 12 area.
Linear shuttle 16 A comes over the vehicle once again photographs it with digital video cameras and weighs to confirm the vehicle particulars provide before, picks the vehicle by the tires and checks their pressure then deposits the vehicle on shuttle 17 B indexed in position at ground level and returns to its original stand by position.
X, Y, Z, shuttle 17B now firmly grips the vehicle tires, issues a parking receipt at the computer monitor to the driver with the pertinent particulars of the driver and vehicle, including date and time, then proceed at fast speed to the allocated parking booth modular frame generally shown as 18. Linear robot shuttle module "A"
generally shown as 16 and better illustrated by FIG. 5 provides a means to inspect the incoming and outgoing vehicles according to pertinent data stored in a parking credit card and video cameras installed on the shuttle's supporting frame. Underground reinforced concrete vault 19 ideally houses a plurality of rows of steel frames with many floors of common design vehicle parking shuttles. At floor level, shuttle B floor tracks referred to as "Y" and "X" axis generally shown as 20 having gear teeth 21 and power railings 22, are better illustrated by FIG. 7 to allow positive indexed motion of shuttle B along the X, Y
axis. Each booth 18 front "I" beam assembly frame also has linear gears 23 and power railings 24 indexed to shuttle B, referred to as the "Z" axis to provide a means for shuttle B to move up and down to index with the respective booth shuttle 18, either to park or retrieve the vehicles according to software main computer programs and vehicle parking credit card requests.
A paved road or street 25 has car-in 26 and car-out 27 ports for the circulation of vehicles 13 to the lane indicated by the respective arrows. The above ground level car parking high-rise building generally shown as 28 has rows of vehicle parking frame modules 18 which can conceivably be an extension of the frames in the underground parking building 19 and have parking booth modules of different highs according the prevailing models as means to achieve a maximum space utilization.
Preferably, the outer casing of high-rise building 28 would be painted corrugated sheet metal 29 with thermal insulation internally 30 and have vents for air circulation and prevention of potential accumulation of gases 31.
FIG. 2 is a conventional credit card reading machine generally shown by arrow 8, which is interfaced with to the system, has a transceiver for Internet and satellite communications as a beacon to a global positioning reference for computer monitors and handheld personal communicators and as a first line of vehicle and driver identification of vehicles 13, has a card slot 7 a keyboard 6 and a light 5.
FIG. 3 is a conventional entrance gate pedestal generally shown by arrow 9, having a digital video camera 4 floodlights 3 and red lights 2 which come ON in the event that parking access is denied in addition to a massage to exit to the street traffic.
FIG. 4 is a general view of the vehicle-indexing park generally shown by arrow 14 in which the top parts are aligned with floor level except for wood guiding posts 130 and steel rollers 131, which are configured to vehicle size once the it is approved for parking, just before the entrance gate lifts. Electric servomotor 133 drives a left and right thread lead-screw into guides 134 to permit aiming the vehicle at the exact position into conveyor 135, which is driven by electric servomotor 136. A floor-elevated wood post 137 has two pressure activated limit switches 138 that confirm that the vehicle is indexed in position. The driver now switches-off the ignition key leaving it position, then exits with all other occupants towards the computer monitor 12 and once again inserts the credit card enters the pin number and waits to receive the parking receipt with the specifics. Cut outs on the conveyor belts 139 show a plurality of rollers 140 to keep friction and wear to a practical minimum.
FIG. 5 is a general view of shuttle A assembly to show the relative position of the power railing 35 for brush collectors 36 and linear gears 37 to engage indexing drive gears 38 and driven indexing gear wheels 39. "I" beam rectangular frame 40 allows shuttle 16 A to move between indexed car parking spots 14 and 15 to pick-up and deposit the vehicles according to the software computer program.
Frame 40 is assembled on four square tube stands 41 and bolted down in position by means of four stands 42. Frame 40 has brackets with floodlights 44 and digital video cameras 45 for vehicle identification according to pattern data in the parking credit card. Shuttle A is operated by a single stepping motor 46 which provides operating power for the track wheels 38, four telescopic harms 47 up-down motion, four in-out tire clamp holders 48 and eight open-close tire grips 49 and lateral left-right motion arrows 50 to provide adjustment to a particular vehicle size according to data provided by the parking card.
FIG. 6 is a general view of shuttle "A" to show the relative position of the spring loaded brush collector 36, track wheels 38 and 39, hub main control stepping motor 46 and a diagram generally shown as 55 to symbolize electromagnetic clutch couplings, universal joints and sliding shaft couplings to permit a single motor and control board provide for all the motion requirements singly or in combination. The power railings 35 and brush collectors 36 provide both electrical power and data communication means for transceiver modules within the shuttles type "A" and "B" and the main control computer and are physically interconnected with a common source of power railings 22, ideally to an insulation transformer rated for the total power requirements.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of one of four vehicle tire clamping grips 47 to show input shafts 56 for the operation of in-out tire clamps 48, shafts 57 for operation of up-down motion of the grip 48 and shafts 58 for operation of open-close tire grips 49. Block 59 is a lateral motion slide shown by arrow 50. Sliding shaft 60 is an extension of shaft 58, 61 a ninety degrees coupling gear, 62 a sliding shaft, 63 another ninety degrees coupling gear to drive grips 49 by means of shaft 64 having a left and right thread. Sliding shaft 65 is an extension of shaft 56 coupled to a gear 66 to drive linear gear 67 through slide 68. The application of load cells, angular encoders, limit switches, proximity sensors, etc. of contemporary technology will permit those skilled in the art to complement the general concept and spirit of this invention disclosure and provide means to check tire pressure, vehicle weigh, and compliance of information with the vehicles' parking credit card.
FIG. 8 is a general view of the main shuttle "B" to show the floodlights and digital video cameras 69 to view the front and rear of the vehicle and two side view floodlights and video cameras 70 to permit viewing the parked vehicles. Like with shuttle A, shuttle B also has a single encoded servomotor 71 that provides for all the power requirements for the various operations either singly or in combination, better shown in FIG. 13. Track wheels 72 are the shuttles' B, "Z" axis drive which engage four linear gears 23 and brush collector 73 engage power railings 24 shown in FIG. 11. Sliding shafts 74 allow for retraction of gear wheels 72 once the up-down shuttle operation has been completed so that it can travel freely along the X and Y, axis. Booth shuttle indexing mechanisms 75, two on each side, are illustrated by FIG. 12 provide a means to index the booth shuttle to shuttle B tire-stand alignment for parking of the vehicle. Shuttle B four tire stands 76 can move up down and back-forth laterally to adjust to the particular vehicle dimensions according to the data provided by the parking credit card. Stands 76 have two hinged grips 77 each to permit gripping the vehicle tires firmly in position to permit the shuttle to operate at high speed.
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of shuttle B to show the relative disposition of the eight track wheels set for the X track and two sets of spring loaded brush collectors 79 and gear wheels 80. Gear coupling shaft 81, provide the driving torque for the whole of the X, axis motion. Gear coupling shaft 82, provides the driving torque for the whole of the Y, axis motion of the two sets of track gear wheels 80 and brush collectors which engage the power railing along the Y axis track, much like a subway train.
The need for the eight track wheels on each set is to ensure that the shuttle will not tip while crisscrossing the tracks.
FIG. 10 is a general view of shuttle B with the four shuttle tire stands 76 fully extended up and clamping grips 77 fully retracted down to unclamp the tires and allow the common parking booth shuttle 18 to be indexed and engaged by shuttle B, to either pick-up or to deposit a parked vehicle by the action of the B shuttle side grips 75 illustrated by FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 generally as 75. The shuttle 17 "B" is shown over the crisscrossing tracks X-Y
20 having linear gears 21 for positive traction when engaged by track wheels 80 and brush collectors 79 and 83 to power railings 22.
FIG. 11 is a general view of a common vehicle-parking booth module 18 to show the basic construction of the four I beam supporting frames 85, a cross square tube section 86 bolted in position by means of four plates 87. Bolted on tube 86 is a bracket 88 that forms a capturing slide for the two telescoping harm carriers 89 with four track wheels 96 which in turn support telescoping harm carriers 90 to allow to pick-up a vehicle for parking or to deposit the vehicle back over shuttle B when engaged by the two shuttle grips 75 which can operate them along the axis X-Y. Each carrier 90 has four track wheels 95 and two I-beams 91 with vehicle tire rests 92 bolted on, which design allows for a wide range of vehicle and tire sizes. One of the two tire resting I beams 91 has linear gears 93 which are engaged by gears 94 of the grip 75 of FIG. 12. Angle iron frame 97 has a galvanized sheet metal bottom 98 to collect any drippings, to protect the vehicles parked below, by draining at point 99 and down drainpipe 100.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged cut view to show more detail of one of four track wheel carriers generally shown as 75, extending form shuttle B and having a gear 94 to engage linear gears 93 as described above. Carrier 75 has a slide 101 to allow for lateral motion as indicated by arrow 102 "X" controlled by shaft and gear 103 and linear gear 104.
Shaft 105 controls the linear motion along the "Y" axis arrow 106, and shaft 107 controls the rotation of gear 94 through sliding shaft 108 and coupling gears 109.
FIG. 13 is a simplified view of shuttle's 17 "B" that symbolizes the encoded servomotor 71 coupled to a hub-gear 110 having output shafts 111 and electromagnetic clutches 112 coupled to universal joints and sliding shafts with encoders to accomplish all the necessary functions of shuttle B, singly or in combination and according to computer programs and a control board with transceiver capabilities.
FIG. 14 is an overall top view of a particular auto-hider automatic park virtual replicate like in FIG. 1 to show the relative disposition of the X, Y, Z, tracks 20 and 23 and the vehicle parking booths 18 previously described according to their embodiments and figures to allow shuttle B to index to any parking booth within the system, according to computer programs.
The features of the present invention, namely "the conquering of space for parking underground inexpensively at convenient locations" the "car credit card parking providing.the drivers identity, credit and specific data of the vehicle for automatic robot shuttle configuration and parking booth allocation according to Internet computer software programs" the "issuing of a receipt with the particulars to the driver at the car parking and un-parking booth" the "the automatic rejection for parking and exit of the vehicle back into the flow of traffic, if the specific qualifications are not in harmony" the "linear robot having tow shuttles operating in symbiosis, with shuttle A
operating back and forth above ground level form car park and un-park and back to a standby position and shuttle B
operating between ground level and any of the respective vehicle parking booths - which can be below and above ground level in high rise buildings" the "rapid delivery of the vehicle to a car-out indexed position at ground level upon request by the driver, where the vehicle ignition key is turned-on and driven away back into the traffic"; these brief descriptions outline the overall spirit of my invention and a new vision for the solution of the parking problems that continue to afflict society.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a computerized automatic parking in underground excavated space conveniently located along city streets, highways, airport runways, recreation parks and the like. The present invention also provides information on type of parking availability, cost and alternative map locations accessible via satellites and the Internet by conventional handheld communicators, as a practical economic means to solve the present and future global car parking problems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Despite the very numerous inventions and patents on this subject ever since the invention of the automobile, car parking remains a rapidly growing problem - on a global scale. When analyzed carefully, in its various aspects, the consequences are far reaching and of immense environmental and economic detriment to society and prosperity worldwide, and growing at an alarming rate as more cars pour out by the thousands every minute that goes by.
Car parking is rapidly becoming a major afflicting problem to society worldwide. Despite the latest efforts to provide underground parking for new buildings and parking garages for new houses, this is simply not a practical solution to a monumental global problem. As evidence clearly shows, our city streets, parking lots, small towns and villages are all getting clogged up with vehicles of all kinds, mostly cars. This problem is accelerating at a phenomenal rate as economic prosperity makes the convenience of individual transportation affordable, and as people commute form one place to another. Logically, they need a place to park whenever they go somewhere, and for that long.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a roadside automatic parking apparatus that provides parking availability, vehicle-parking costs and location maps via satellite Internet access with conventional handheld communication providers.
Another object is to provide a car parking credit card booth and a video camera at the entrance gate as a means to confirm parking authorization and vehicle data for configuration of the linear robot complementary shuttles and for parking allocation in the system accordingly, and otherwise the vehicle is denied parking, instructed to exit and follows along with the traffic.
Another object of the invention is to excavate and build conveniently located reinforced concrete vaults under the paved road having a large number of modular steel frames of different highs inside to suit vehicles of specific highs to improve economic efficiency and at least a linear robot shuttle A and B that operate in programmed coordination symbiosis to park and retrieve the vehicles.
A further object is to provide a roadside shelter for the vehicles and their occupant against inclement weather at the designated parking area.
Yet another object is to have the overhead robot shuttle A be the vehicle inspection and pickup shuttle equipped with video cameras and a pattern recognition program also common to shuttle B, load cells means to weigh the vehicle, and tire pressure checking means that permit an accurate identification of the vehicle against data provided by the parking credit card.
A still further object is for linear robot shuttle B
at ground level to provide firm tire griping means to permit the shuttle to move at fast speed within the underground, or above ground level parking metallic frame, for either depositing or retrieving the vehicles rapidly.
Another object is to provide a basic design of automatic parking apparatus that can potentially be adapted to any particular type of vehicle or containers of any size, permitting to form roadside underground and above ground automated storage systems.
Yet another object is to provide brush collectors and power rails coupled to an isolation transformer to permit using the power lines simultaneously for transceiver data communications purposes between the shuttles A and B
transceivers and the main computer.
Another object is to provide a basic design of vehicle parking booth shuttle, in rows for different vehicle highs to enhance economy, which has the ability to be adjusted to a particular vehicle size when engaged by a shuttle B.
Still another object is to provide a common waved shaped galvanized sheet metal floor for each individual parking booth within the metallic frame and having a slight inclination for it to drain into a port in the square tubing frame and protect the vehicle below from potential drippings.
A still further object is to provide a railing system having linear gears and power lines that permit operation of the robot B shuttle along the X, Y, Z axis and for crisscrossing between isles engaged by a single encoded electric servomotor for precise indexing of the shuttle with any position within the railing system and rapid mode of operation.
Yet another object is to provide a single encoded electric servomotor coupled to a plurality of hub gears with shafts coupled to electromagnetic clutches, universal joints, sliding shaft couplings as a means to provide for all the shuttles motion requirements, singly or in combination from a single motor, according to a main power control board.
Another object is to provide an insight for those skilled in the art of the respective areas of technology to visualize and complement the preferred embodiments and spirit of the invention to achieve a functional system.
The automatic parking apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a roadside detour having a credit card booth with a keyboard and a lifting gate with a video camera. The roadside detour leads both back to the roadway and to a weather shelter vehicle parking structure. If for whatever reason parking access is denied the driver is instructed to exit back into the traffic. Otherwise the gate lifts and the indexed parking spot and the robot shuttles are automatically configured according to the vehicle credit card data. Once at the indexed parking spot, the driver switches-off the ignition key and exits the vehicle along with all other vehicle occupants and enter the waiting room with a computer monitor and a credit card reading facility inside. The driver then once again enters the car-parking credit card into the card reading facility and is requested to enter the password. Next, shuttle A goes over the vehicle inspects it and takes a digital photo of the vehicle which is stored in memory until the vehicle exits the parking facilities. Then picks-up the vehicle by the tires, measure the weigh and deposits it into shuttle B waiting at the ground level indexed position and issues a parking receipt with the pertinent data date and time.
Shuttle A, now moves back to its original standby position and shuttle B clamps the vehicle's tires firmly in position, then descends and rapidly moves to the allocated car parking booth in the metallic frame within the underground reinforced concrete vault, or optionally to a frame forming a high rise building above ground level, where it parks the car into the allocated car-parking booth shuttle. To do this shuttle B unclamps the tires, rises and indexes with the booth's common design shuttle to the particular size of car. Then draws the telescopic booth shuttle tire supporting beams under the vehicle tires by means of an electric clutch that engages a main servomotor hub gear on shuttle B, and linear gears on booth shuttle and lowers itself a few inches, so that the vehicle is now deposited on the parking booth shuttle, then pushes the booth shuttle back to its original standby position. After the vehicle is parked, both shuttles A and B remain stationary waiting further instructions.
Both linear robot shuttles A and B are powered by precision encoded electric motors that permit their motions to be programmed according to pertinent data provided by the particular car parking credit card, double checked by inboard video cameras, load cells and other appropriate sensors to provide an accurate pattern matching profile of the vehicles' identity. V~lhile clamping the tires load cells provide an indication of individual tire pressure. All this pertinent information data is radio transmitted by means of digital transceivers to the main computer and servo motor controls to permit precise symbiosis and harmony of operation. This data transmission is transported within the main electrical power wiring system to ensure secure communications with the Internet and via satellites for communication with conventional handheld personal communicators .
The operating power requirements for the linear robot shuttle B are provided by means of brush collectors installed on the respective metallic frames along which they operate. In order to ensure precise motion and position control, the metallic frames are also provided with linear gears to engaged by the respective electric motor drive gears. The power grid, or other local suitable power sources such as fuel-cells, electric generators may optionally provide the power requirements for operation of the system. As for the location size and complexity of the individual systems, that is a matter of choice and convenience. Main shuttle B is capable of moving along the X, Y, Z, axis to permit the construction of underground parks away to the side from the vehicle parking station and permit the construction of very large parking facilities, below and above ground level.
The shuttle's B, X and Y- axis each have eight steel wheels in which a set of two at the end of set are gears wheels to ensure positive traction to the underlying steel tracks with linear gears. Each set of eight X and Y, are mechanically interlocked- retractable to permit installation of the X and Y floor tracks at the same level at right angles. The floor track slanted linear gears at the crisscrossing points are cutout to allow for the crisscross motion of the respective brush collectors of either X or Y track wheels. The Z axis track wheels are also retractable to allow motion of the shuttle along the X
and Y axis and powered by the same stepping motor as track wheels X and Y by means of electrically interlocked electromagnetic clutches to a main hub-gear output shafts.
The basic design features described above permit to build a wide variety of automatic parking apparatus that can potentially house vehicles of all sizes and containers according to their respective parking booths designations and have various ports at remote location to the main underground building. An airport for example can have underground parking and cargo storage facilities below the runways and above ground buildings. The same potential holds true for shopping centers recreation parks within cities and other public transportation sites, where space can be excavated potentially at comparable very reasonable costs to enhance economic prosperity and convenience to society. They may even be expended at a later date by digging deeper or easily modified within with their modular steel frame design and in some cases provide a foundation for the overall underground and above ground combination continuous metallic structure.
Both shuttle types A and B have flood lights and video cameras that positively identify the vehicle against a pattern recognition program and data provided by the car parking credit card.
This kind of information is also applied when retrieving the vehicle form the parking booth. Eventually, when the vehicle driver comes back to claim the vehicle, once again enters the car parking credit card and password to activate the system by requesting retrieval of the vehicle. Now automatically, shuttle B rapidly moves to the respective parking booth and retrieves the vehicle clamping it firmly in position and brings it back to the indexed position at ground level. Shuttle A now moves over, picks up the vehicle and deposits it at the car-out parking spot, then returns to its original standby position. The driver is now provide with a receipt confirming the vehicles identity, date and time-out, goes and turns the ignition key-on and drives away into the paved road.
Potentially the automatic parking apparatus may have several shuttles A and B operating in harmony at suitable parking locations, according to appropriate computer programs and provide park for different size vehicles within the same underground or above ground level parking building. It is also contemplated that the basic system can be scaled and adapted to operate as a programmed storage system for truck, railway and ship storage of containers either bellow or above ground level, in close proximity to ports. With regards to the potential social, environmental and economic advantages provided by the automatic parking apparatus particularly with regards to blocking of traffic and crowding of the streets, it is in the best interest of society as hole to see that this invention is implement with all its practical brevity, and supported by local governments and related industries with the resources to make it flourish - worldwide.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical automatic parking garage of the present invention showing a prefab modular transparent-building to provide inclement weather shelter for the vehicles and occupants with linear robot shuttles A and B, and a cut view of the underground reinforced concrete vault with metallic frame vehicle park booth modules and an high rise above ground park interfaced by the same linear robot system having an open top to show a typical parking booths arrangement.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a credit card parking reading machine on a pedestal for parking approval or denial according to particulars.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle entrance control gate with lights and video cameras to confirm data provide in the car-parking credit card.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle parking indexing conveyor flush with the floor to ensure proper pick-up of the vehicle by shuttle A.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vehicle pickup linear shuttle A assembled on the suspending metallic frame with flood lights video cameras, weigh and tire pressure that forms the first vehicle recognition checking station against data pattern provided by the client's vehicle parking credit card, as condition to pickup the vehicle and depositing it over shuttle B.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of shuttle A assembly to show the relative position of the spring loaded power brush collectors, gear track wheels, main drive encoded stepping motor hub-wheel drive with radial symbols for five electromagnetic clutches, universal joints and extensive shaft coupling means to provide all the necessary motions required by the shuttle and respective operations with a single drive motor.
_ g FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one of the four-vehicle tire clamping grips to better illustrate their basic design.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of main linear shuttle B
to show the two floodlights and video cameras at front and rear, the four-vehicle tire grips in their nearly fully closed position, the relative disposition of the Z axis power brush collector and track gear wheels, also having lateral flood lights and video cameras to positively identify the parked vehicle against credit card data for the un-park request and the main hug-gear drive motor at the center.
FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of shuttle B to particularly show the relative disposition of the eight steel tack gear wheels on four steel brackets for linear motion of X and Y axis having main drive couplings to a set of tow gear track wheels with teeth to engage the track linear gears, and the other six train-like steel track guiding wheels to permit crisscrossing of the X - Y tracks.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of shuttle B with the four tire grips fully extended up to unclamp the tires and allow the common parking booth shuttle to be indexed and engaged by shuttle B, to come over to either pick-up or to deposit a parked vehicle by the action of the B shuttle side grips. The shuttle is shown over the crisscrossing of linear slanted gear tracks X and Y where it switches direction of motion according to program, by extending and retracting the appropriate set of track wheels.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a common vehicle parking booth shuttle module assembled on a main square metallic frame and having telescoping harms designed for motion along the X and Y axis, which are engaged by shuttle B to index with the vehicle tire stands, for either deposit or retrieve a vehicle, which also having a galvanized sheet metal floor to form a drip-collector drain and protect the vehicles parked below.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross section view to show more detail of the track wheel carrier, one of four that are part of the shuttle B assembly, that permit aligning and extending the telescoping harms of the modular common booth shuttle of FIG 8.
FIG. 13 is a top view of shuttle's B that symbolizes a hub gear coupling diagram to the main stepping servomotor having electromagnetic clutches, universal joints, slide coupling shafts, so as to provide all the necessary torque motion requirements from a single servo motor and main control board.
FIG. 14 is a top view of a particular automatic parking garage to illustrate the relative disposition of the X , Y, Z, tracks and vehicle parking booths within a cut view of the reinforced concrete vault walls, or above ground level park.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
There is in FIG. 1 an overall view of a preferred embodiment of an automatic apparatus according to the present invention combining underground and above ground level parking, generally shown as 10. Potentially, the basic invention may be adapted to various sizes of vehicles, including trucks and cargo containers.
Accordingly, a pre-fabricated modular booth 11, shown transparent, provides shelter against inclement weather to the vehicles and passengers and other conveniences. A
computer monitor with a keyboard and a parking credit card reading facility within is generally shown as 12.
A vehicle 13 is shown in front of a first car-parking credit card reading pedestal 8 facing entrance control gate 9 with lights and video cameras better seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, which location can be displayed on global positioning system maps by conventional handheld communicators and computer monitors via transceiver Internet and satellite communications with the parking facility. Information data such as type of vehicle-size, number of parking spaces available and parking costs and other pertinent data can be remotely accessed for convenience and avoiding waste of time and fuel by searching for alternative most convenient parking locations in advance. Once at credit card reading station 8 the driver enters his card, pin number and OK for parking and a digital picture of the vehicle is taken and stored in memory while the vehicle remains in the park along with other pertinent data from the credit card. If for whatever reason parking is denied, the driver is instructed to exit back into the street traffic, otherwise indexed parking 14, shuttle 16 "A" and 17 "B" configure to particular vehicle size and gate 9 opens and the driver is instructed to proceed forward then turn-off the ignition key and to exit with all other passengers to computer monitor 12 area.
Linear shuttle 16 A comes over the vehicle once again photographs it with digital video cameras and weighs to confirm the vehicle particulars provide before, picks the vehicle by the tires and checks their pressure then deposits the vehicle on shuttle 17 B indexed in position at ground level and returns to its original stand by position.
X, Y, Z, shuttle 17B now firmly grips the vehicle tires, issues a parking receipt at the computer monitor to the driver with the pertinent particulars of the driver and vehicle, including date and time, then proceed at fast speed to the allocated parking booth modular frame generally shown as 18. Linear robot shuttle module "A"
generally shown as 16 and better illustrated by FIG. 5 provides a means to inspect the incoming and outgoing vehicles according to pertinent data stored in a parking credit card and video cameras installed on the shuttle's supporting frame. Underground reinforced concrete vault 19 ideally houses a plurality of rows of steel frames with many floors of common design vehicle parking shuttles. At floor level, shuttle B floor tracks referred to as "Y" and "X" axis generally shown as 20 having gear teeth 21 and power railings 22, are better illustrated by FIG. 7 to allow positive indexed motion of shuttle B along the X, Y
axis. Each booth 18 front "I" beam assembly frame also has linear gears 23 and power railings 24 indexed to shuttle B, referred to as the "Z" axis to provide a means for shuttle B to move up and down to index with the respective booth shuttle 18, either to park or retrieve the vehicles according to software main computer programs and vehicle parking credit card requests.
A paved road or street 25 has car-in 26 and car-out 27 ports for the circulation of vehicles 13 to the lane indicated by the respective arrows. The above ground level car parking high-rise building generally shown as 28 has rows of vehicle parking frame modules 18 which can conceivably be an extension of the frames in the underground parking building 19 and have parking booth modules of different highs according the prevailing models as means to achieve a maximum space utilization.
Preferably, the outer casing of high-rise building 28 would be painted corrugated sheet metal 29 with thermal insulation internally 30 and have vents for air circulation and prevention of potential accumulation of gases 31.
FIG. 2 is a conventional credit card reading machine generally shown by arrow 8, which is interfaced with to the system, has a transceiver for Internet and satellite communications as a beacon to a global positioning reference for computer monitors and handheld personal communicators and as a first line of vehicle and driver identification of vehicles 13, has a card slot 7 a keyboard 6 and a light 5.
FIG. 3 is a conventional entrance gate pedestal generally shown by arrow 9, having a digital video camera 4 floodlights 3 and red lights 2 which come ON in the event that parking access is denied in addition to a massage to exit to the street traffic.
FIG. 4 is a general view of the vehicle-indexing park generally shown by arrow 14 in which the top parts are aligned with floor level except for wood guiding posts 130 and steel rollers 131, which are configured to vehicle size once the it is approved for parking, just before the entrance gate lifts. Electric servomotor 133 drives a left and right thread lead-screw into guides 134 to permit aiming the vehicle at the exact position into conveyor 135, which is driven by electric servomotor 136. A floor-elevated wood post 137 has two pressure activated limit switches 138 that confirm that the vehicle is indexed in position. The driver now switches-off the ignition key leaving it position, then exits with all other occupants towards the computer monitor 12 and once again inserts the credit card enters the pin number and waits to receive the parking receipt with the specifics. Cut outs on the conveyor belts 139 show a plurality of rollers 140 to keep friction and wear to a practical minimum.
FIG. 5 is a general view of shuttle A assembly to show the relative position of the power railing 35 for brush collectors 36 and linear gears 37 to engage indexing drive gears 38 and driven indexing gear wheels 39. "I" beam rectangular frame 40 allows shuttle 16 A to move between indexed car parking spots 14 and 15 to pick-up and deposit the vehicles according to the software computer program.
Frame 40 is assembled on four square tube stands 41 and bolted down in position by means of four stands 42. Frame 40 has brackets with floodlights 44 and digital video cameras 45 for vehicle identification according to pattern data in the parking credit card. Shuttle A is operated by a single stepping motor 46 which provides operating power for the track wheels 38, four telescopic harms 47 up-down motion, four in-out tire clamp holders 48 and eight open-close tire grips 49 and lateral left-right motion arrows 50 to provide adjustment to a particular vehicle size according to data provided by the parking card.
FIG. 6 is a general view of shuttle "A" to show the relative position of the spring loaded brush collector 36, track wheels 38 and 39, hub main control stepping motor 46 and a diagram generally shown as 55 to symbolize electromagnetic clutch couplings, universal joints and sliding shaft couplings to permit a single motor and control board provide for all the motion requirements singly or in combination. The power railings 35 and brush collectors 36 provide both electrical power and data communication means for transceiver modules within the shuttles type "A" and "B" and the main control computer and are physically interconnected with a common source of power railings 22, ideally to an insulation transformer rated for the total power requirements.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of one of four vehicle tire clamping grips 47 to show input shafts 56 for the operation of in-out tire clamps 48, shafts 57 for operation of up-down motion of the grip 48 and shafts 58 for operation of open-close tire grips 49. Block 59 is a lateral motion slide shown by arrow 50. Sliding shaft 60 is an extension of shaft 58, 61 a ninety degrees coupling gear, 62 a sliding shaft, 63 another ninety degrees coupling gear to drive grips 49 by means of shaft 64 having a left and right thread. Sliding shaft 65 is an extension of shaft 56 coupled to a gear 66 to drive linear gear 67 through slide 68. The application of load cells, angular encoders, limit switches, proximity sensors, etc. of contemporary technology will permit those skilled in the art to complement the general concept and spirit of this invention disclosure and provide means to check tire pressure, vehicle weigh, and compliance of information with the vehicles' parking credit card.
FIG. 8 is a general view of the main shuttle "B" to show the floodlights and digital video cameras 69 to view the front and rear of the vehicle and two side view floodlights and video cameras 70 to permit viewing the parked vehicles. Like with shuttle A, shuttle B also has a single encoded servomotor 71 that provides for all the power requirements for the various operations either singly or in combination, better shown in FIG. 13. Track wheels 72 are the shuttles' B, "Z" axis drive which engage four linear gears 23 and brush collector 73 engage power railings 24 shown in FIG. 11. Sliding shafts 74 allow for retraction of gear wheels 72 once the up-down shuttle operation has been completed so that it can travel freely along the X and Y, axis. Booth shuttle indexing mechanisms 75, two on each side, are illustrated by FIG. 12 provide a means to index the booth shuttle to shuttle B tire-stand alignment for parking of the vehicle. Shuttle B four tire stands 76 can move up down and back-forth laterally to adjust to the particular vehicle dimensions according to the data provided by the parking credit card. Stands 76 have two hinged grips 77 each to permit gripping the vehicle tires firmly in position to permit the shuttle to operate at high speed.
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of shuttle B to show the relative disposition of the eight track wheels set for the X track and two sets of spring loaded brush collectors 79 and gear wheels 80. Gear coupling shaft 81, provide the driving torque for the whole of the X, axis motion. Gear coupling shaft 82, provides the driving torque for the whole of the Y, axis motion of the two sets of track gear wheels 80 and brush collectors which engage the power railing along the Y axis track, much like a subway train.
The need for the eight track wheels on each set is to ensure that the shuttle will not tip while crisscrossing the tracks.
FIG. 10 is a general view of shuttle B with the four shuttle tire stands 76 fully extended up and clamping grips 77 fully retracted down to unclamp the tires and allow the common parking booth shuttle 18 to be indexed and engaged by shuttle B, to either pick-up or to deposit a parked vehicle by the action of the B shuttle side grips 75 illustrated by FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 generally as 75. The shuttle 17 "B" is shown over the crisscrossing tracks X-Y
20 having linear gears 21 for positive traction when engaged by track wheels 80 and brush collectors 79 and 83 to power railings 22.
FIG. 11 is a general view of a common vehicle-parking booth module 18 to show the basic construction of the four I beam supporting frames 85, a cross square tube section 86 bolted in position by means of four plates 87. Bolted on tube 86 is a bracket 88 that forms a capturing slide for the two telescoping harm carriers 89 with four track wheels 96 which in turn support telescoping harm carriers 90 to allow to pick-up a vehicle for parking or to deposit the vehicle back over shuttle B when engaged by the two shuttle grips 75 which can operate them along the axis X-Y. Each carrier 90 has four track wheels 95 and two I-beams 91 with vehicle tire rests 92 bolted on, which design allows for a wide range of vehicle and tire sizes. One of the two tire resting I beams 91 has linear gears 93 which are engaged by gears 94 of the grip 75 of FIG. 12. Angle iron frame 97 has a galvanized sheet metal bottom 98 to collect any drippings, to protect the vehicles parked below, by draining at point 99 and down drainpipe 100.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged cut view to show more detail of one of four track wheel carriers generally shown as 75, extending form shuttle B and having a gear 94 to engage linear gears 93 as described above. Carrier 75 has a slide 101 to allow for lateral motion as indicated by arrow 102 "X" controlled by shaft and gear 103 and linear gear 104.
Shaft 105 controls the linear motion along the "Y" axis arrow 106, and shaft 107 controls the rotation of gear 94 through sliding shaft 108 and coupling gears 109.
FIG. 13 is a simplified view of shuttle's 17 "B" that symbolizes the encoded servomotor 71 coupled to a hub-gear 110 having output shafts 111 and electromagnetic clutches 112 coupled to universal joints and sliding shafts with encoders to accomplish all the necessary functions of shuttle B, singly or in combination and according to computer programs and a control board with transceiver capabilities.
FIG. 14 is an overall top view of a particular auto-hider automatic park virtual replicate like in FIG. 1 to show the relative disposition of the X, Y, Z, tracks 20 and 23 and the vehicle parking booths 18 previously described according to their embodiments and figures to allow shuttle B to index to any parking booth within the system, according to computer programs.
The features of the present invention, namely "the conquering of space for parking underground inexpensively at convenient locations" the "car credit card parking providing.the drivers identity, credit and specific data of the vehicle for automatic robot shuttle configuration and parking booth allocation according to Internet computer software programs" the "issuing of a receipt with the particulars to the driver at the car parking and un-parking booth" the "the automatic rejection for parking and exit of the vehicle back into the flow of traffic, if the specific qualifications are not in harmony" the "linear robot having tow shuttles operating in symbiosis, with shuttle A
operating back and forth above ground level form car park and un-park and back to a standby position and shuttle B
operating between ground level and any of the respective vehicle parking booths - which can be below and above ground level in high rise buildings" the "rapid delivery of the vehicle to a car-out indexed position at ground level upon request by the driver, where the vehicle ignition key is turned-on and driven away back into the traffic"; these brief descriptions outline the overall spirit of my invention and a new vision for the solution of the parking problems that continue to afflict society.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (10)
1. An automatic parking apparatus comprising:
a data transceiver communication means interfaced to the Internet and via satellites to conventional personal handheld communicators and other alternatives for providing parking availability, costs and alternative map parking locations information;
underground excavated parking facilities conveniently located under city streets, highways, airport runways, recreation parks, shopping centers, train and subway stations, high-rise buildings, and the like;
a car parking credit card, which provides specific digital information data about the driver and particulars of the vehicle before allowed access into the parking facilities and for configuring of the respective robot shuttles to the particular vehicle size;
a credit card reading pedestal with a keyboard and data-radiating antenna to provide a mapping reference for global positioning purposes and as a first client and vehicle identification facility;
a traffic control gate equipped with digital video cameras to collect vehicle data, and read lights to signal parking access denial;
a weather shelter parking structure having a computer monitor and card reading facilities, for parking and un-parking requests and for the issuing of receipts to the drivers with the respective particulars;
a credit card configured car-in vehicle indexing parking facility to position the vehicle for pick-up by a linear robotic shuttle A;
a ground level operating, credit card information configured, linear robotic shuttle "A" with vehicle inspection provisions for size, visual, weigh, and tire pressure, which operates in complementary symbiosis with an X, Y, Z vehicle parking shuttle "B";
a modular parking facility with vehicle parking booths to suit the height of the most popular vehicles, but of standard width so as to permit maximum operation economy, by permitting to park small vehicles in large parking booths when the other are not in demand;
the modular parking facility having complementary frames of reference fitted with linear gears and electric power railings for the "Z" axis of parking motion of a vehicle- parking shuttle;
the modular parking facility having steel train-like rails fitted with linear gears and power rails that crisscross to permit X and Y transportation of the vehicles along the center of corridors of vehicle parking booths;
a robotic shuttle B capable of X, Y, Z rapid motion by gripping of the vehicle tires firmly in position to minimize parking time;
the robotic shuttle B having a single electric encoded servomotor to achieve multi-functions singly or in combination and index precisely with the software programmed locations;
the robotic shuttle B having two sets of eight track-wheels as a means to permit crisscrossing of the X and Y
tracks without tipping of the shuttle;
the robotic shuttle B having a hub-gear mechanism with a plurality of output shafts controlled by individual electromagnetic clutches controlled in reference to transceiver remote control by a power control board to achieve simplicity and economy of operation;
the robotic shuttle B having transceiver communication means to provide feedback data of the various types of transducers required to complement the sophisticate method of automation at fast speed;
the robotic shuttle B having three pairs of power brush collectors to permit operation along the X, Y, Z
axis;
the robotic shuttle B having a set of four tire grips with the ability to configure to different vehicle sizes according to data provided by the respective parking credit card;
the robotic shuttle B having two pairs of side grips with provisions to draw and return and adjust the booth common shuttles to suit, the size of vehicle being parked, either to the left or to the right;
a giant robot like frame having two types of linear shuttles operating in symbiosis which are specifically adapted for the parking of vehicles of various sizes within indexed metallic frame modular booths underground and above ground level for harmony of operation;
a linear robot like frame having an above ground shuttle "A" capable of moving along the horizontal X axis, adjust automatically to a specific range of vehicle sizes, index with car-in and car-out index-parked vehicles and with shuttles type "B" at the ground level position;
a data transceiver communication means interfaced to the Internet and via satellites to conventional personal handheld communicators and other alternatives for providing parking availability, costs and alternative map parking locations information;
underground excavated parking facilities conveniently located under city streets, highways, airport runways, recreation parks, shopping centers, train and subway stations, high-rise buildings, and the like;
a car parking credit card, which provides specific digital information data about the driver and particulars of the vehicle before allowed access into the parking facilities and for configuring of the respective robot shuttles to the particular vehicle size;
a credit card reading pedestal with a keyboard and data-radiating antenna to provide a mapping reference for global positioning purposes and as a first client and vehicle identification facility;
a traffic control gate equipped with digital video cameras to collect vehicle data, and read lights to signal parking access denial;
a weather shelter parking structure having a computer monitor and card reading facilities, for parking and un-parking requests and for the issuing of receipts to the drivers with the respective particulars;
a credit card configured car-in vehicle indexing parking facility to position the vehicle for pick-up by a linear robotic shuttle A;
a ground level operating, credit card information configured, linear robotic shuttle "A" with vehicle inspection provisions for size, visual, weigh, and tire pressure, which operates in complementary symbiosis with an X, Y, Z vehicle parking shuttle "B";
a modular parking facility with vehicle parking booths to suit the height of the most popular vehicles, but of standard width so as to permit maximum operation economy, by permitting to park small vehicles in large parking booths when the other are not in demand;
the modular parking facility having complementary frames of reference fitted with linear gears and electric power railings for the "Z" axis of parking motion of a vehicle- parking shuttle;
the modular parking facility having steel train-like rails fitted with linear gears and power rails that crisscross to permit X and Y transportation of the vehicles along the center of corridors of vehicle parking booths;
a robotic shuttle B capable of X, Y, Z rapid motion by gripping of the vehicle tires firmly in position to minimize parking time;
the robotic shuttle B having a single electric encoded servomotor to achieve multi-functions singly or in combination and index precisely with the software programmed locations;
the robotic shuttle B having two sets of eight track-wheels as a means to permit crisscrossing of the X and Y
tracks without tipping of the shuttle;
the robotic shuttle B having a hub-gear mechanism with a plurality of output shafts controlled by individual electromagnetic clutches controlled in reference to transceiver remote control by a power control board to achieve simplicity and economy of operation;
the robotic shuttle B having transceiver communication means to provide feedback data of the various types of transducers required to complement the sophisticate method of automation at fast speed;
the robotic shuttle B having three pairs of power brush collectors to permit operation along the X, Y, Z
axis;
the robotic shuttle B having a set of four tire grips with the ability to configure to different vehicle sizes according to data provided by the respective parking credit card;
the robotic shuttle B having two pairs of side grips with provisions to draw and return and adjust the booth common shuttles to suit, the size of vehicle being parked, either to the left or to the right;
a giant robot like frame having two types of linear shuttles operating in symbiosis which are specifically adapted for the parking of vehicles of various sizes within indexed metallic frame modular booths underground and above ground level for harmony of operation;
a linear robot like frame having an above ground shuttle "A" capable of moving along the horizontal X axis, adjust automatically to a specific range of vehicle sizes, index with car-in and car-out index-parked vehicles and with shuttles type "B" at the ground level position;
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus provides a means to benefit from ideal parking facilities conveniently located, by excavating under paved streets, highways, air ports, shopping centers, hotels, high rise apartment buildings, public recreation parks and the like, both below and above ground level, singly or in combination, to immensely improve the environment, social and economic prosperity - worldwide.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inclement weather modular building shelter may optionally include in addition conveniences such as: restaurants, shopping, fuel, mechanical services and the like.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle parking booth modules each have a drip collecting sheet metal tray that drains into a common drain pipe system.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said reinforced concrete vault may optionally have a plurality of automatic parking station ports and a metallic frame adapted for different size vehicles and cargo containers such as those transported by trucks and trains.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said reinforced concrete vault is equipped with localized sum pumps, air circulation, fire alarm, flood lighting and video cameras to permit remote visual observation by means of remote computer monitors interfaced to the Internet data communication servers.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said modular steel frame comprises mainly of I beams and square tubing modules, specifically rated to the particular application and to provide individual parking booths having linear shuttles for the parking of vehicles or cargo containers.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shuttle "A" has a single encoded stepping servo motor to provide a torque forced, and electromagnetic clutches, universal joints and shaft slide couplings means to provide electrically indexed functions, according to a main control board to execute the various independent functions.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shuttle "B" has a single encoded stepping servomotor to provide a torque force, and electromagnetic clutches, universal joints and shaft slide coupling means to provide electrically indexed functions, according to a main control board to execute the various independent functions.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shuttle "A" has the same basic design as in shuttle "B"
with regards to the means of power control and the use of universal joints, electromagnetic clutches and sliding shaft couplings, to provide for all the shuttles' motion requirements, flood lighting, digital video cameras for pattern recognition.
with regards to the means of power control and the use of universal joints, electromagnetic clutches and sliding shaft couplings, to provide for all the shuttles' motion requirements, flood lighting, digital video cameras for pattern recognition.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2327989 CA2327989A1 (en) | 2000-12-08 | 2000-12-08 | Automatic parking apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2327989 CA2327989A1 (en) | 2000-12-08 | 2000-12-08 | Automatic parking apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2327989A1 true CA2327989A1 (en) | 2002-06-08 |
Family
ID=4167873
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2327989 Abandoned CA2327989A1 (en) | 2000-12-08 | 2000-12-08 | Automatic parking apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2327989A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2006039830A1 (en) * | 2004-10-13 | 2006-04-20 | Fridolin Stutz | Wholly automated mobile device and corresponding fast, economical and compact method for parking private vehicles |
| US8641352B2 (en) | 2004-10-13 | 2014-02-04 | Skyline Parking Ag | Entrance gate for an automatic parking garage having mechanism for centering a vehicle on the entrance gate |
| CN107825734A (en) * | 2017-12-15 | 2018-03-23 | 威海三方橡胶机械有限公司 | A kind of cord connecton layout |
| CN108104548A (en) * | 2017-12-18 | 2018-06-01 | 重庆家本家科技有限公司 | Jiffy stand is kept off a car mechanism |
| EP3619378A4 (en) * | 2017-05-05 | 2021-05-26 | Effect Parking Limited | Parking system |
| CN113404349A (en) * | 2021-06-22 | 2021-09-17 | 江西省富煌钢构有限公司 | Intelligent stereo garage system |
| CN114753686A (en) * | 2022-05-23 | 2022-07-15 | 广西交科集团有限公司 | Variable-size parking device of self-calibration camera based on vanishing point detection |
-
2000
- 2000-12-08 CA CA 2327989 patent/CA2327989A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2006039830A1 (en) * | 2004-10-13 | 2006-04-20 | Fridolin Stutz | Wholly automated mobile device and corresponding fast, economical and compact method for parking private vehicles |
| EA012314B1 (en) * | 2004-10-13 | 2009-08-28 | Фридолин Стутц | Wholly automated mobile device and corresponding fast, economical and compact method for parking private vehicles |
| US8641352B2 (en) | 2004-10-13 | 2014-02-04 | Skyline Parking Ag | Entrance gate for an automatic parking garage having mechanism for centering a vehicle on the entrance gate |
| EP3619378A4 (en) * | 2017-05-05 | 2021-05-26 | Effect Parking Limited | Parking system |
| CN107825734A (en) * | 2017-12-15 | 2018-03-23 | 威海三方橡胶机械有限公司 | A kind of cord connecton layout |
| CN107825734B (en) * | 2017-12-15 | 2023-12-05 | 威海三方橡胶机械有限公司 | Cord wiring device |
| CN108104548A (en) * | 2017-12-18 | 2018-06-01 | 重庆家本家科技有限公司 | Jiffy stand is kept off a car mechanism |
| CN108104548B (en) * | 2017-12-18 | 2019-09-17 | 重庆家本家科技有限公司 | Jiffy stand is kept off a car mechanism |
| CN113404349A (en) * | 2021-06-22 | 2021-09-17 | 江西省富煌钢构有限公司 | Intelligent stereo garage system |
| CN114753686A (en) * | 2022-05-23 | 2022-07-15 | 广西交科集团有限公司 | Variable-size parking device of self-calibration camera based on vanishing point detection |
| CN114753686B (en) * | 2022-05-23 | 2023-08-15 | 广西交科集团有限公司 | Variable-size parking device of self-calibration camera based on vanishing point detection |
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| FZDE | Dead |