GB2446796A - Multi-storey vehicle park - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle park consisting a plurality of vehicle receiving cells (b) forming two towers (c), between which is mounted at least one cradle (a) or platform for manoeuvring a vehicle, wherein each cradle may move horizontally along runners (d), or vertically using a winch (2Ba) and roller-bearing (3Aa) combination. A component (3Ba) of the cradle (a) may also exhibit a lateral movement to position the vehicle in either of the towers (c).

Description

AUTOMATIC VERTICAL CAR PARKING SYSTEM

This invention is a mechanism which moves vehicles inside a parking facility.

It can be applied to vertical car parking facilities in which each vehicle stands on a platform -named cradle' (Fig. i-a). These platform should be as many as the parking spaces. Each platform is housed inside a rectangular space -named cell' (Fig. i-b), and may or may not carry vehicles. These spaces (cells) are distributed vertically and horizontally forming two structures -named towers' (Fig-ic) -which run both sides of an empty space which we call a corridor' (Fig. i-e).

Mounted on the two towers' all along the corridor' there are roller-bearing rails (Fig. i-d).

On the top of each of the roller-bearing rails there is a rectangular sliding structure (railcar) which, this way, has the ability to run longitudinally/horizontally through all of the empty space we call corridor'. This mobile structure we will call railcar' (Fig. 2-A). The minimum number of raficars is two, and the total number varies according to the height of the parking facility.

The transverse members of the railcar are also roller-bearing rails (Fig. 2A) On these rails there is a vertical structure called -travelift; portico' (Fig. 2B) -which moves autonomously, thus being able to approach both the left side and the right side stuctures where the cradles' are lodged, as aforesaid.

On this portico there is hoisting equipment (Fig. 2Ba), which vertically moves a rectangular structure called ring' (Fig. 3Ab). This ring slides vertically by means of rollers/wheels (Fig. 3Ba) supported by rails mounted vertically inside the travelift.

The trafelift has a device that allows the transfer of each cradle' from the cell to the ground and vice-versa (Fig. 3Ba). This transfer consists of a sliding movement on a platform soldered/joined to the ring (Fig 3Bb).

In short, each parking space (occupied or not) has a correspondent cradle' and cradles can only be moved one at a time.

Claims (1)

1 -A mechanism destined to move vehicles inside a vertical car park, in which each vehicles stands on a platform named cradle' -the number of which equals the number of parking spaces (cells)-placed inside two towers and which run on both sides -left and right -of an empty space called corridor. Said mechanism is composed of five elements, two of which are equal. This pair of elements connects the whole of the mechanism to the fixed structure by means of rocker rails -not less than two pairs -mounted on the towers, placed horizontally and running through the entire corridor. These two elements are rectangular, automotive and have two track type rails transversally mounted.

2 -A mechanism designed to move vehicles in a vertical car park, in accordance with Claim 1, where there is a vertical structure called portico', equipped with vertical elevation devices and vertical roller-bearing tracks, that move under the railcars, described in 1. The assemblage, railcars and portico move longitudinally and transversally in the corridor.

3 -A mechanism designed to move vehicles in a vertical car park, in accordance with Claim 2, where there is a structure that moves vertically in the portico along the roller-bearing rails, previously described, moved by action of the elevation devices equiped by it.

4 -A mechanism designed to move vehicles in a vertical car park, in accordance with Claim 3, in which there is a device assembled in the structure called ring', that allows the horizontal transferral of each cradle' from the cell to the other cells, or to the ground or vice-versa