US2623933A - Coin-controlled vehicle parking system - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1952 l. ALLsTADT, JR

COIN-CONTROLLED VEHICLE PARKING SYSTEM Filed March 9,A 1949 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 OFFICE COIN-CONTROLLED VEHICLE PARKING SYSTEM Ira Allstadt, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.

Application March 9, 1949, Serial No. 80,501

2 Claims.

rIhis invention relates to vehicle parking systems and mechanisms and aims to provide improvements in the type of coin-controlled systems and mechanisms particularly adapted for use in controlling the parking of vehicles and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a coin-controlled system which is simple and economical in. construction and readily adaptable for use with coin-controlled parking meters and like devices. y

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved type of coin-controlled parking meter system adapted to indicate by a visual signal when a designated parking space is unoccupied and to indicate by a diierent visual signal in combination with an audible signal when the parking space is wrongfully or improperly occupied.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a parking meter mechanism adapted to be actuated by a vehicle or object in a designated parking space to cause a circuit to one lamp to be opened, thereby indicating that the space is occupied, and a circuit to another lamp and a bell to be closed thereby indicating by a visual and audible signal that the parking space is wrongfully or improperly occupied.

t is another object of the invention to .provide a parking meter mechanism having a signal for indicating when a parking space is wrongfully or improperly occupied and associated coin-controlled means adapted to render said signal inoperative and to initiate operation of a timing mechanism to permit authorized parking for a limited time interval.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a parking meter mechanism having signal means adapted to indicate Whether a parking space is properly or improperly occupied, a

timing mechanism adapted to limit the properv period of occupancy to a predetermined time interval and combined means for actuating the signal means and the timing mechanism, said combined means including a -photoelectrie cell unit adapted to be actuated by the presence of a vehicle in the parking space to cause the circuit to a rlrst signal means to be opened and the circuit to a second signal means to be closed, and a coin-controlled mechanism adapted to be actuated by a coin deposited therein to cause the circuit to the second signal means to be opened and the circuit to the timing mechanism to be closed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a parking meter mechanism having a timing mechanism adapted to be put into operation by cooperating photoelectric tube means and coin-controlled means when a car is in a designated parking area and a coin has been deposited in the coin-controlled means and means including said photoelectric tube means for rendering said timing mechanism inoperative and for resetting it to the starting position when the car is withdrawn from the parkingarea prior to the expiration of a predetermined parking period.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from a consideration of the accompanying drawing and annexed specification illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing, the ligure is a diagrammatic representation of the improved system and mechanism according to the present invention showing the parts in position when the light beam directed toward the photoelectric cell unit is uninterrupted.

Referring to the drawing a light beam I from any suitable source of light 2 is directed across a designated parking space or other area 3 to a photoelectric cell unit 4. The unit 4 may comprise a suitable type of photoelectric tube available commercially such as the R. C. A. 921 Photoelectric Cell and is preferably provided with an amplifier 5 designed to amplify the current therefrom sufficiently to actuate a relay 6. The photoelectric cell 4 and amplifier 5 may be connected to any suitable sources of electrical current having the desired high and low voltages necessary to effect operation thereof The relay 6 comprises a iield coil l, a core 9. and switches 9 and ID. Each of the switches 9 and I0 is provided with a plurality of arms carrying contacts II, I2, I3, I4, I5 and I6, the arms carrying the middle contacts I2 and I5 being connected to the core 8 for movement thereby so that the contacts I2 and I5 may be alternately engaged with the contacts I I and I4 or I3 and I6.

As shown in the drawing when the parking area 3 is unoccupied and the beam of light I uninterrupted, the contacts I2 and I3 of the switch 9 are closed thus completing a circuit from the 6 volt side Il of the stepdown transformer I8 through the connections I9, 2i] and 2l to the lamp 22. Lamp 22 thus burns continuously when the parking area is not occupied and may be utilized to illuminate a glass advertising panel or the like in the front portion of a parking meter. Contacts I5 and IG of switch I0 are also closed when the parking area is notoccupied but since contact i5 is not connected in any circuit no current iiows therethrough.

When a car is positioned in the parking space 3 it blocks the beam of light i thus causing the photoelectric cell to be energized. rIhis in turn causes the field coil E of the relay 5 to be energized thereby moving the core 8 upwardly to close the contacts Il and 2 of switch 5 and contacts ld and I5 of switch I5. This opens the circuit to the lamp 22 through the contacts i2 and I3 and closes the circuit from the 6 volt side Il of the stepdown transformer i3 to a parallel arrangement of lamp 23 and bell 22 through connections i9, 25 and 25, contacts 2i and 28 of switch 25 of a second relay 3, connection 3 i, contacts i I and l2 of switch 9 and connection 2I. Thus when a car is positioned in the parking area to block the beam of light I as stated,vthe lamp 22 is extinguished to indicate that the area is occupied and the lamp 23 is lighted and bell 24 rung to indicate that the required fee has not been paid and hence that the parking area is improperly occupied.

Coin-controlled timing means 32 are provided to initiate operation of a timing mechanism 33 and to render the lamp 23 and bell 2li inoperative. Such means may comprise a frame member 3 5 having a lever 35 pivoted thereto and a coin slot 33 adapted to conduct a coin from the opening 3'@ to a position where it will strike and depress one end of the lever 35. At its opposite end the lever 35 is connected by a link 3S with one arrn 39 of a switch Arm 39 is raised upwardly when the lever 35 is depressed by a coin thereby bringing a contact il thereon into contacting relation with a contact 2 on the arm d3. Thus the insertion of a coin closes the switch 4 thereby completing the circuit from the llO volt line i2 through connection 5, contacts lli and i5 of switch i5, connection d5, held coil l? of the second relay Si?, connections d8 and switch d5 and connections 55 and 5l back to the 110 volt line 44. Obviously any other suitable coincontrolled device may be used for closing the switch 4B.

The closing of contacts lli and @l2 of switch it energizes the eld coil TI of relay 35 and causes the core 52 thereof to move upwardly carrying with it the arm of switch 29 which has the Acontact 2l thereon. Contacts 2 and 28 of switch 25 are thereby moved apart to open the circuit to lamp 23 and bell 2d thus rendering these signals inoperative and indicating that the parking area or space is properly occupied.

Upward movement of the core 52 also brings contacts 53 and 53 of switch 55 into contacting relationship to close the circuit from the 110 volt line l through the field coil 55 o1" the timing device 33. This circuit comprises connection 35, contacts ill and I5 of switch I5, connection 33, field coil :il of relay 35, connections i8 and e3, contacts I and 32 of switch 5G, connections 5t and 58, contacts 53 and 53 of switch 55, connections l5i) and 5, field coil 56 of timing device 33, and connections 5l and 5! back to the 110 volt line.

Completion of the circuit through eld coil 56 initiates operation of the timing device 33 to thereby rotate a cam 6l against the action of a coil spring t2. When the cam Si begins to rotate it immediately contacts a projection 53 on arm `M of switch G5 and forces the arm Gli laterally so that a contact 55 thereon engages a similar contact 51 on the arm 38. rhis ccm'- pletes an additional circuit from the 11'0 volt line t4 through the eld coil 56 which continues operation of the timing motor after the switch 4I! returns to its normal open position following passage of the coin past the lever 35. rhis additional circuit from the volt line comprises connection 135, contacts Hl and i5 of switch i3, connection 23, eld coil Se? of relay 35, connections i8 and 39, contacts 63 and 5l of switch 55, connections 7? and 55, field coil 55 of timing device 33, and connections 5l and 5I back to the 110 volt line.

If a car remains in the parking space the timing mechanism continues to rotate the cam @I until the uniformly curved portion thereof passes beyond the projection 53 on arm 64 and permits the arm 63 to move laterally away from the arm 68 to break the contact between contacts 35 and 5i. This opens the circuit to the eld coil 56 thereby deenergizing the timing mechanism 33 whereby the spring 52 immediately returns the cam EI to its starting position in readiness for a new cycle. .Suitable stop means are provided to limit the return movement of the cam `t! past its starting position.

Breaking the circuit through the timing device 33 likewise breaks the circuit through the eld coil Il? of the relay 35. This permits the core 52 to drop to its lower position and thereby reestablish contact between the contacts 27 and 28 of switch 29 to again close the circuit to the lamp 23 and bell 2d. This gives warning that a vehicle has overstayed the parking limit and that it should be moved or another coin inserted.

If a car is removed from the parking space f prior to the expiration of the parking period the beam of light I again strikes the photoelectric cell i causing it to deenergize the field coil 'I of the relay 5. The core 8 thereupon drops reestablishing contact between the contacts i2 and i3 of switch 9 and thus completing the circuit to the lamp 22. This indicates that the parking area is unoccupied. At the same time the downward movement of the core 8 moves the contacts i5 and I5 apart thus breaking the circuit to the timing device 33. Spring 52 thereupon returns the cam 5il and the timing mechanism to its original or starting position where it is again ready for a new cycle of operations.

Summarizing the operation of the device the position of all relays and switches when the parking area is vacant is as shown in the figure of the drawing. Contacts I2 and i3 of switch 5 are closed and complete the circuit to lamp 22 to indicate that the parking space is unoccupied.

When a car enters the parking area 3 the beam of light I is interrupted thereby causing the photoelectric cell unit 4 to actuate the relay 6 so that contacts II and I2 of switch 5 complete the circuit to lamp 23 and bell 24 through contacts 2l and 28 of switch 29. Lamp 23 is thereby lighted and bell 24 rung tto indicate that the parking area is occupied but that the required parking fee has not been paid. Actuation of the relay 6 also moves the contacts I2 and I3 apart to break the circuit to the lamp 22 and the contacts I4 and I5 together to complete the circuit from the 110 volt line 44 through field coil 41 of relay 3l! up to contact 66 or switch 65.

When a coin is inserted in the opening 31 and moves downwardly through the slot 36 to depress the lever 35 a momentary contact is made between the contacts 4I and 42 thereby com'- pleting the circuit to eld coil 41 of relay 30 and actuating same. This action starts the timer motor by closing the contacts 53 and 54 of switch 55 and movement of the cam 6I immediately closes the contacts B6 and 6l of switch 65.

Contact points BB and 61 together with contact points 53 and 54 maintain the circuit through the eld coil 4'! of relay 30 until one of the following events occurs (l) a predetermined parking period elapses or (2) the parking area is vacated. the former case the cam on the timer motor shaft permits the contacts 66 and 61 to move apart thus breaking the circuit to field coil 41. This permits core 52 to drop thereby closing the contacts 21 and 28 to again complete the circuit to lamp 23 and bell 24. Substantially simultaneously therewith and as soon as the circuit through the field coil 55 is broken the spring 62 returns the cam 5| and associated mechanism to starting position where it is ready for a new parking period. In the latter case relay 6 is deenergized permitting the core 8 to drop and thus close the circuit to the lamp 22 and open the circuit to the iield coil 4'! of relay 3B and eld coil 56 of timing device 33. Relay 30 thereupon returns to its normal position as shown in the drawing and cam GI returns to its starting position under the influence of the spring 62.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an economical and highly effective device particularly adapted for automatically regulating parking in designated parking areas.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described modiiications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and are considered within the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a coin controlled vehicle parking system, a first signal device indicative of the absence of a vehicle in a parking space, a second signal device indicative of the presence of a vehicle in the parking space and of the failure of insertion of a coin or of overstaying the time allotted after the insertion of a coin, a normally closed circuit for said first signal device, means operated by the entry of a vehicle in the parking space for opening the circuit to said iirst signal device, for closing the circuit to the second signal device and for preparing a control circuit, said means remaining ln operation during the presence of the vehicle in said space, means operated by the insertion of a coin for completing said control circuit, means in said control circuit for opening the circuit to the second signal device and for closing a circuit to an electrically operated self-restoring timing device, means operated by the starting of the operation of the timing device for closing a maintaining circuit for the timing device including said circuit closing device operated by the presence of the vehicle in the parking space and a circuit closing device operated by the timing device, and means operated by the timing device when it counts a predetermined time for opening said maintaining circuit.

2. In a coin controlled vehicle parking system, a first signal device indicative of the absence of a vehicle in a parking space, a second signal device indioative of the presence of a vehicle in the parking space and of the failure of insertion of a coin or ci overstaying the time allotted after the insertion of a coin, a normally closed circuit for said iirst signal device, means operated by the entry of a vehicle in the parking space for opening the circuit to said rst signal device, for closing the circuit to the second signal device and for preparing a control circuit, said means remaining in operation during the presence of the vehicle in said space, means operated by the insertion of a coin for completing said control circuit, means in said control circuit for opening the circuit to the second signal device and for closing a circuit to an electrically operated timing device, a maintaining circuit for the timing device including switch means normally closed by the presence of a vehicle in the parking space and switch means adapted to be closed upon initiating operation of the timing device, said timing device operating to open said maintaining circuit when it has counted a predetermined time to close the circuit to the second signal device during such time as the circuit to the rst signal device is open.

IRA ALLSTADT, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,028,037 Babson Jan. 14, 1936 2,360,885 Metcalf Oct. 24, 1944

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