CA2062418A1 - Method for operating a multistory car park and apparatus for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

In a multistory car park having at least one parking shaft (B) and one elevator shaft (L), a cyclic operation (a1, a2, 33) is maintained, in which the pallets (P) holding the vehicles (C) are raised from an entrance to the parking shaft (B) to the individual parking places (B1-B7) and are brought to the elevator shaft (L) for collection, said elevator shaft being used exclusively for the downward movement of the pallets (P), and then to the exit. The pallets (P) are then conveyed to the entrance again without a distance last covered being travelled over again in the opposite direction.

Description

~Ofi24~8 METHOD FOR OPER~TING A MULTISTORY G~R PARK AND
APP~RATUS FOR CARR~ING OUT THE METHOD

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1.

Multistory car par~s of this type and methods for operating them have already been proposed in various forms, generally as above-ground multistory car parks, although they could in principle also be constructed below ground. Examples of this are to be found in documents DE-B-16 84 789 or DE-A-14 23 545, 28 25 767, 36 21 964 and 37 40 586. The common feature of all these proposals is the arrangement of at least one parking shaf~ in which the vehicle-carrying pallets form. The pallets are mobile in order to move from an elevator shaft, in which they have been raised, to the individual parking places and to be returned to the elevator shaft from there when they are collected, in order to move downward in said elevator shaft.

These proposals have many disadvantages. First, the vehicle-laden pallets are ~ransported up and down in the same shaft, which inevitably results in mutual h.indrance of transport and hence annoying waiting times. The supply of emp~y pallets and their location after the relevant vehicle has driven away also remain unsolved problems. Finally, such above-ground multistory car parks require a not inconsiderable number of staff and often also require that someone drives with and assists the vehicle owner, which is troublesome and, with such close stacking of the vehicles, also entails danger.

It is the object of the invention to provide a method for operating such multistory car parks which permits problem-free and rapid operation for the vehicle driver ' 2~62~8 and for the operator in conjunction with short waiting times and a high level of safety, said car park having a simple and compact design.

This object is achieved, according to the invention, by th~ defining features of claim 1. The fact that the pallets are now transported in a loop results in many advantages:

- There are no superfluous waiting times due to repeated driving along one and the same transport route in different directions;
~ It is possible to automate the processes so that safety is increased and the assistance of personnel or vehicle drivers is minimized or can even be completely dispensed with; 5 - The advantages of a multistory car park system are fully retained, permitting very flexible adaptation to the particular space conditions within a large city, which are generally limited.

This last-mentioned space requirement is further reduced if the procedure accordiny to claim 2 is used.
An elevating shaft to be arranged outside the parking shaft is in fact thus dispensed with.

A multistory car park having the features of claim 3 is therefore particularly suitable for carrying out the method.

When the term elevating means is used, this does not mean that the pallets are inevitably conveyed upward by it; instead, for the purposes of the present invention, it comprises means which are usually defined as lifting gears, lifting apparatuses or the like, such as elevators, or trolleys which project from a building in the form of a wall crane and are capable of moving ~0~2~8 upward and downward. ~epending on whether it is an above-ground multistory car park or an underground multistory car park, the lifting means will have the function of moving the pallets Upward in the first case and of lifting them do~r!ward in the latter case.
An analogous situation applies to the expression "lifting arrangement!'.

As will be evident subsequently wi~h reference to the description of embodiments, the multistory car park according to the invention is preferably in the form of an above-ground multistory car park, although it may in principle be in the form of an underground multistory car park. Fur~her advantages in addition to those mentioned above are that the towers of an above-ground multistory car park can be produced from readily stackable structural units, which permits large-scale industrial production and hence optimal quality in conjunction with an advantageous price. In addition, the assembly time is extremely favorable, subsequent changes to the size of the car park being entirely possible and relatively easy; in fact, easy and virtually non-destructive transfer to another location is also possible, since dismantling and reassembly present hardly any problems.

Further details of the invention are evident from the following descrip~ion of embodiments shown schematically in the drawing.

Fig. lA shows an embodiment, according to the invention, of an above-ground multistory car park as an axonometric view;
Fig. lB shows a plan view of another embodiment, illustrating a complete pallet loop;
Fig. lC shows a process flow diagram which can be derived from Fig. lA and lB;

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4 2~2418 Fig. 2 shows a section approximately along the line II-II of Fig. lA;
Fig. 3 shows a front view of th~ two shafts in the direction o~ arrow III of Fig. lA;
Fig. 4 shows a pre~erred embodiment o~ a pallet used according to the invention~ Fig. 4A showing a side view thereof, Fig. 4B showing an end view, Fig. 4C showing a section along the line C-C of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4D showing the preferred embodiment of the roller arrangment of the pallet;
Fig. 5 shows a s-ide view of a ~uide rail for the pallets which is advantageously used in a stacking layer according ko the invention and which is shown in Fig. 6 in end view;
Fig. 7A shows the arrangement of a preferred liftillg means within the parking shaft, which arrangement is shown in Fig. 7B in end view and of which Fig. 7C shows a variant, and Fig. 7D shows a possible arrangement on the roof of the above-ground multis~ory car park with simultaneous representation of the expedient mutual offset of the lifting units;
Fig. 8 shows a plan view of the shaft arrangement according to Fig. lB, of which Fig. 9 is a fro~t view along the line IX-~X of Fig.
lB;
Fig. 10 shows a variant of the stack conveyor shown i~
Fig. lB, at the entrance of the parking shaft;
Fig. llA ~hows a plan view of a particularly expedient means for aligning the pa~le~ wheels, as may be used, for example, in an above-ground multistory car park according to Fig. lB, 8 and 9, and of which Fig. llB shows a section along the line B~B of Fig.

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llA;
Fig. 12 shows a further possible shaft arrangement according to the invention;
Fig. 13 illustrates the mode of operation of a pxogram means, advantageous for automation, on arrival of a vehicle at an above-ground multistory car park according to the_invention, and Fig. 14 is intended to explain the mode of operation of the program means when a vehicle leaves the above-ground mu~tistory car park.

An above-ground multistory car park accor~ing to the invention, as shown in Fig. lA, consists of a number of parking boxes Bl to B7 placed one on top of the other in a tower-like manner to orm a parking shaft B, alongside which is an elevator shaft L having floors L1 to L7. It is preferable if both associated floors are combined to form a structural double module BiM1 to Bi~7. It is clear that there may be any number of floors, i.e. the number o~ floors is not restricted to the seven floors shown, and tha~ the modular st~ucture illustrated permits the space-saving and economical design.

The above-ground multistory car park BI. according to the invention has a conventional entrance, where it is advantageous to arrange at least one of the conventional ticket-issuing devices 56. The removal of a ticket from this device may then expediently initiate the program sequence subsequently discussed with re~erence to Fig. 13.

~he particular vehicle arriving reaches a provided pallet P1 via a ramp R. The way in which this pallet P1 is provided is discussed with reference to an example and a variant to Fig. lA, namely with reference to Fig. lB, althouyh there are many possible : : , . ,: : : ~

2~2~18 modifications for this. The way in which the pallet Pl reaches the lowermost parking box Bl from the position, shown in Fig. lA, at the entrance of the parking shaft B will also be discussed subsequently with reference to Fig. lB. In principle, the particular pallet could have its own drive which, for example~ is controlled automatically~ for e~ample by induction loops. For the purposes of the known proposal according ~o DE-A-36 21 974, it would also be possi~le to ensure a transfer of the movement of ~he vehicle wheels to the wheels of the pallet in such a way ~hat the driver himself ensures that the pallet P1 is driven into the parking shaft B, bu~ this is less preferable because ît requires the driver to adapt to the small space and to be a skilled driver. Instead, it is preferab}e if the driver of the vehicle can leave his vehicle before the enkrance o~
the parking shaft B and has no need to worry about the further sequence, which is thus also free of the randomness of driving skills. For this purpose, it is advantageous if a horizontal conveyo~ which is not shown in Fig. lA and will be discussed subsequently with reference to Fig. lB and which pulls or pushes the pallet P1 in the direction of arrow al into the lowermost box Bl is provided before the entrance or at the entrance to the parking shaft B.

It is merely indicated here that virtually any type of horizontal conveyor is possible, for example o~ the type conventionally used in washing lines, running between rails, but, for example, a lifting cylinder steered inside the box B1 could also pull the pallet Pl into the interior.

In the box Bl, the vehicle remains on its pallet unless a box B2 to B7 located above is free. However, if this is the case, as is shown with reference to box B5 whose pallet P5 together with t~le vehicle present thereon is :,, : . : ; ,.

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just changing over to elevator shaft L, and an "empty"
message is sent via a signal generator to the program unit which will be discussed later and by means of which a lifting program is initiated. The associated signal generator will be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 2, and the program with reference to Fig. 13.

In each case, this program causes the pallets present below box B5, together with the vehicles, to be lifted so that the row above box Bl is always closed. For this purpose, in Fig. 1 a lifting gear which comprises four piston/cylinder units 7 is coordinated with each story. The function and mode of operation o~ these units will be explained subsequently with reference to Fig. 7.

Thus, if the pallets move exclusively upward in the direction of arrow a2 inside the parking shaft B, the elevator with the travelling cabin 4 on elevator cable (in the case of 6, the associated drive may be present) serves exclusively for conveying the pallets or the vehicles parked thereon in a downward direction.
The vehicle driver need only insert his ticket into the appropriate slot of a ticket-accepting device 57, which calculates the parking cost in a conventional manner from the noted time and the current time.

In addition, however, each ticket also carries a code coordinated with the particular pallet, which in the case shown in Fig. lA corresponds to pallet P5. On the basis of this code, the program unit then be~ins to search the storys for the associated pallet. This scanning subroutine will be explained subsequently with reference to Fig. 3 and 14.

As soon as the scanniny subroutine has found the pallet being searched for, the elevator with cabin 4 moves to .- . . .

" 2~1~2~8 the relevant story, after which a subroutine for transferring the pallet or the vehicle from B to L
begins. For this purpos~, a horizontal conveyor of the type discussed above is expedien~rly coordinated with each story, said conveyor pushing the pallet P5 in Fig.
lA out of box B5 into the elevator cabin 4. The elevator cabin 4 may be provided with a sensor which monLtors when the vehicle has been completely driven into the elevator cabin 4 and only thereafter allows the next step to take place.

This next step can, but need not, consist of securing the pallet to prevent displacement within the elevator cabin 4. Securing may be effected in such a way that the wheels of the pallet are blocked, either by providing retxactable brake blocks in the elevator cabin 4 or by virtue of the fact that the wheels have a brake mounted on the palle~, which brake can be operated, for example magnetically. A par~icularly simple method of securing will be discussed subse~uently with reference to Fig. 8, in which special control measures for this purpose are dispensed with.

As soon as the vehicle has been secured in the elevator cabin, the upward movement to the lowermost elevator box L1 in double module BiM1 begins. This lowermost box Ll too, may be equipped with a horizontal conveyor which at least ejects the pallet P5 in its position P5' onto a horizontal conveyor located outside the elevator shaft or directly to a position directly before the exit of the elevator shaft L. The vehicle can then be entered and driven away in the pallet P5, which is then brought, for example manually by an operator, but preferably by a conveyor arrangement, for example the type shown in Fig. lB, to the entrance of the parking sha~t B.

It is expedient if a memory and processor unit is provided, which records the removal of pallet P5 and therefore has the inform~tion that this pallet is now located before the entrance of shaft B. It is thus possible for the device 55, which is connected to this memory unit, to provide the next ticket with the code of pallet P5 so that the latter can be found again inside shaf~ B by the scanning subroutine.

In the embodiment of Fig. lA, the box modules are arranged so that the shafts B and L are connected to one another via their narrow sides. However, this is not at all a condition. Instead, it will be shown subsequently that very di~ferent arrangements of the shafts relative to one another are possible, such as L-shaped arrangements, arrangements offset obliquely toone another, etc. This permits good utilization of the space which in any case is limited in large cities and is not always of the shape shown in Fig. lA. It is merely necessary to ensure that the pallets can be conveyed in the required directions. A pallet which is particularly suitable for ~his purpose will be described subsequently with reference to Fig. 4.

The embodiment according to Fig. lB illustrates a parking shaft B' with an elevator shaft L', which are connected to one another via their long side. Onc:e again, the pallet Pl is located a~ the entrance of parking shaft B'. In addition, however, further pallets, for example P15 and P8, are arranged in waiting positions in such a way that several vehicle drivers approach the multistory car park simultaneously, are able to park the vehicles in the waiting positions on the pallets Pl, Pl5 and P8 and leave everything else to the automatic system.

The waiting positions shown, of which there may be any ~, .

2~2~L~8 number, thus permitting easy adaptation to the circumstances, may be approached either via a central ticket issuing device ~6 (Fig. lA) or, ~o avoid waiting times, via a plurality of such devices 56', 56'', 56''', each of which is coordinated with a waiting position WP1 to WP3.

The horizontal conveyor in the form of a chain conveyor 58 is coordinated with ~he waiting position WPl arranged directly in front of the entrance to par~ing shaft B. The chains of this horizontal conveyor are in a vertical plane and run over chain wheels 59 indicated schematically. Chain links are provided at intervals with drivers (not shown) which engage the pallets laterally and pull them into the lowermost box B1 (cf.
Fig. lA) of parking shaft B~. Of course, this is only one example o~ a possible horizontal conveyor; other examples will be described with reference to this Fig.
lB. The advantage of ~he chain conveyor 58 is that coupling through the movement of the particular pallet into the waiting position WP1 can easily be ePfected without additional means being required. Such a horizontal conveyor may furthermore be coordinated with a parking box ~1 to B7 (Fig. lA), as will be described subsequently with reference to Fig. 5.

As soon as the particular pallet ha~ been drawn into the parking sha~t B', the upward movement begins in the manner described above and in accordance with the availability of parking space. On the other hand, vehicles are fetched by means of a device 57, driven into the elevator shaft L' and brought from there, in the manner also already described, through exit AL of elevator shaft L' and into an exit position AP where, in the example shown, pallet P7 is located. The vehicle can now be entered and can be driven away from pallet P7, which then remains empty and stationary.

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Transpor~ of pallet P7 back to a waiting position canin principle now be triggered by a time function element which is set so that there is sufficien~ time for entering the vehicle, starting and driving away.
However, it is also possible simply to trigger a light barrier ~ith light source Ls, reflector Lr and optoelectric converter Lt w~en the light beam is interrupted a first time by the approaching vehicle and a second ~ime on driving across and unblocking the light beam, whereupon a conveyor subroutine is initiated.

A horizontal conveyor in the form of a fluid piston/cylinder unit 60 which presses laterally on the pallat P7 and pushes it onto a belt conveyor 61 is provided for this purpose. Of course, such a horizontal conveyor 61 can also be provided inside the boxes in order, for example, ~o push the particular pallet out of shaft B' and into the elevator shaft L' This may be somewhat more problematic in the case o~
arrangement according to Fig. lA, because a two-sta~e movement in the same direction takes place there, namely out of the waiting position at the entrance to box B1 and, if necessary, from this (if no space is free above) into elevator box Ll, so that there is scarcely any space for accommodating such a hydraulic or pneumatic displacement unit (unless it can be brought from a rest position into an operating position). In the case of Fig. lB, however, the pallets are drawn lnto parking shaft B' via ~he narrow side of the box, and such a displacement unit could therefore quite easily engage the long side. All that is required for this purpose is that the pallet be capable of displacement both longitudinally and transversely, as will be described subsequently with reference to Fig. 4.

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2i~6~ 8 Of course, the exit AL need not necessarily always be arranged on the naxrow side, and this is just as true for the entrance side. For example, in an arrangement of the shafts according to Fig. lB, the exit can also be positioned on the long side of the shaft L', in which case the arrangement of the conveyors 60, 61 and of the conveyors 62, 63, which are still to be discussed, will certainly be chosen otherwise. It is also evident from Fig. lA that the invention is in no way restricted to the straight-forward arrangement of parking shafts and elevator shafts; instead, it is also possible to provide a waiting shaft 64 in which either steps or an elevator, preferably both, are housed and which permits access to both shafts B and L.

A similar conveyor 62 which brings the particular pallet into the region of a displacement unit 60' fvr transfer to a further horizontal conveyor 63 is located downstream of the horizontal conveyor 61 which is in the form of a belt conveyor for receiving ~he total pallet P7 or in the form of a chain conveyor in the manner of the conveyors used in vehicle-wash lines.
Said conveyor 63 already comprises the waiting positions WP2 and WP3 and finally transfers the particular pallet P15 or P8 to the waiting position WP1 with chain conveyor 58. The loop is thus closed.

Thus, if the mode of operation of the two embodiments described with reference to Fig. lA and lB is consider0d, a process flow diayram according to Fig. lC
results. However the two shafts B or B' and L or L' are arranged, there is always a closed loop of pallets from the waiting position WP1 at the entrance of parking shaft B or B', from where the particular pallet is drawn into box B1 as a result of initiation by device 56, to one of the upper boxes BX, where the pallet with the vehicle can be collected. This ; . .
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collection in turn is triggered via ~evice 57, whereupon the elevator cabin is brought into elevator box LX of an associated double module BiM, and the vehicle is fetched and is moved downward to ~he lowermost floor of elevator box L1. There, the pallet reaches the exit position AP and triggers the return of the pallet via return route 62', for example by means of the light barrier Lrst or in another manner. Thus, none of the distances are driven in different directions, but each distance is driven only in one direction. This makes the system fluid and saves waiting times, with the result that acceptance by the public is also improved.

If a shaft arrangement according to Fig. lA is used as a starting point, the enlarged section according to Fig. 2 results. ~he concept of the lnvention gives rise to a problem in that the pallets must be held securely in each story on the one hand while on the other hand it must be possible to change over the pallets from the parking shaft B into the elevator shaft L. A large number of solutions are possible for this purpose, and the solution shown in Fig. lA with reference to the lifting units 7 is preferred but is not the only one. Thus, the individual llfting system with pinwheel gear, disclosed in DE-A-36 21 974, could also be used, as can an elevator system which is coordinated in each story and in which, in the uppermost floor, a number of pairs of chains hangs down on each side for each story and is coupled to the particular pallet, the pallets expediently being ecluipped with chain catching devices (funnel-like surfaces, etc.) and each pair of chains being separately drivable. On the other hand, a pinwheel gear system according to DE-B-16 84 789 has already been proposed for a horizontal conveyor and could likewise be usecl or the purposes of the invention.

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In the case of the embodiment according to Fig. 2, rails 8a, 8a' and 8b, 8b' which can be brought from a rest position to an opera~ing position are provided in each story. Of course, the rails 8b, 8b' can be omitted since in fact the pallet need only be moved into the elevator cabin 4. However, by means of the arrangement of rails 8b, ~b', the securing problem for the pallet inside the elevator cabin can easily be solved if its platform is dimensioned so that it can move between the rails 8b, 8b' located in the operating position shown. In this case, the pallet moves out of the particular box of parking shaft B and onto the rails 8b, 8b' as soon as the elevator cabin is at the appropriate height. If the rails 8b, 8b' are then brought to their rest position, the pallet rests with its bottom directly on the elevator platform without the wheels, which are indiGated in Fig. 2 by dashed lines on rails 8a, 8a', coming into con~act with the platform. It is only in the elevator box L1 that the wheels 11 are placed on the floor of this box and permit the pallet to be driven.

Bringing the rails from the operating position to rest position can be- effected in a variety of ways. For example~ it would be possible to move the rails 8a to 8b' from the wall of the particular box horizontally in their plane. However, at least in the case of elevator shaft L, it would be disadvantageous if the rails are not provided with ramps which face the center of the elevator shaft and would permit slow sliding of the pallet wheels 11 from the rails. It would be possible in this case too to arrange a damping system inside the elevator cabin 4 in order to prevent sudden sinking of the pallet and of the vehicle when the rails are pulled away. Rails 8a and 8a' present fewer problems in this respect, and it is therefore quite possible for rails 8a, 8a' or rails 8b, 8b' to be brought from their rest ., :

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- 2~62~ 8 positiorl to the operating position and vice versa by different systems.

The problems inside parking shaft B are somewhat different. As soon as the particular pallet has been brought to the reguir2d height, rails 8a, 8a' reach their operatiny position which is shown in Fig. 2 and in which they support the wheels 11 of pallet P. The lifting system then need not act any further. For this lifting system with the units 7 (~ig. lA) to be docked with the particular pallet P, the latter may be provided with docking slots 65, 66 which are engaged by the particular lifting units 7. The details will be described subse~uently with reference to Fig. 7, but it should merely be noted here that the slots 65, 66 shown in Fig. 2 are positioned relatively far inward, toward the center of the pallet, but preferably positioned further outward.

In order to permit satisfactory transfer from parking shaft B to elevator shaft L, stationary rails 9a, 9a' are provided, over the width of a particular support 1, on supports la, la' or lb, lb~ of the ~ox construction also comprising transverse spars 2 and 3. Howevex, it is clear that these stationary rails 9 may be omitted if the corresponding trans~erse spars 3a, 3b and 2S possibly 3c are arranged at the appropriate height, so that they permit the pallet P to be moved on them flush with rails 8.

For automatic control of the multistory car park, as is preferable, it is advan$ageous to install an "empty"
sensor inside the boxes of parking shaft B. Said alarm may be formed in different ways and is shown in Fig. ~
- analogously to the light barrier Lrst of Fig. lB -with a light barrier Lrst' consisting of a light source Ls', a reflector Lr' and a converter Lt'. ~his light 21~162~L8 barrier is advantageously located in a region in which the front part of the vehicle or of the pallet P is arranged, in order to be interrupted, for example, by the front wheel of the vehicle. This indicates that the relevant box is occupied. However, as soon as the pallet P of the vehicle changes over the elevator shaft, the rear wheel of ~he vehicle finally unblocks the path of the light with ~he result that - with an appropriate delay - on the one hand the vacating of the relevant pallet and of the par~icular bQX iS reported to the above-mentioned processor and on the other hand the subroutine for adjusting rails 8, but at least rails 8a, 8a', can be initiated, subsequently putting into operation the lifting mechanism for moving up the pallets located below the box which has become free.

This upward movement can then take place for all pallets located underneath, for axample simultaneously, or stepwise so that only the pallet located directly underneath is raised and the box arranged underneath is thus vacated, whereupon the same process is repeated in the lower box. The details of the procedure depend on the particular construction and possibly also on its dimensions.

Of course, the "empty" sensor may be arranged and formed in a wide variety of ways. It will thus be quite possible to arrange a light barrier on the lower surface of each of the rails 8a, 8a' so that the light beam is reflected by the vehicle located underneath and thus reaches the converter Lt'. It will also be possible ko arrange a telemeter, at least in the upper box, for example on the vertical wall connected to the transverse spar 3a, so khat it measures a short distance when its scanning beam is reflected by a vehicle and a long distance when the box is empty. In :
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2~62~ 8 general, however, it is preferable if scanning is effected transversely to the par~icular directions of movement of the pallet, as has been described with reference to the light barrier Lrst'.

The procedure described with re~erence ~o Fig. 2 is illustrated in Fig. 3. It can be seen that, after being transferred to position C2' inside the elevator shaft, a vehicle C2 is first c~rried by the wheels 11 of the pallet P2 to position P~', but that, when the rails 8b, 8b' (Fig. Z) are brough~ into the rest position, the wheels 11' reach position 11' in which they are freely suspended while pallet P2 rests flat on the floor of elevator cabin 4 and the vehicl~ C2 is thus secured to prevent unintentional movement within the elevator cabin 4 without further measures.

However, in order to be able satisfactorily to identify each pallet - and therefore the associated vehicle C2 or C3 - it is advantageous to provide each pallet with an identification code~ for example in the form of a reflecting bar code, at a predetermined place. Of course, the code may be of any form, for example of different colours, but fully developed circuits for reading bar codes are available relatively cheaply on the market and also operate in a fairly error-free ~5 manner. A code-reading means 6~ having a reader and one or two light sources, as symbolised by the symmetric arrangement of Fig. 3, are then expediently located opposite such a code 67 and report the presence of a certain pallet in a certain story to the stated memory and processor unit, either periodically on r~quest or only after inltiation via the ticket device 57. In the ~ormer case, the place where each pallet is located is constantly stored ready to be called, so that calling up of the vehicle is accelerated, while in the other case the pallet with the associated vehicle :

~ :' ' ' ' ` ~ . ' : ' 2~2~ 8 must first be found, although this can also be effected relatively rapidly.

It should be mentioned that it is not absolutely essential to coordinate a reacling means 68 with each story. Theoretically, it will be possible to provide a single reading -means 6~ which is capable of travelling vertically through the storys and which reads in succession the codes of the vehicles or pallets stored in shaft B. However, this is not the preferred embodiment. Furthermore, it would also be quite possible to use the reading means 68 also as an "empty" sensor if it gives an "empty" signal when a pallet code opposite it is missing.

Fig. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of a pallet P used for the multistory car park according to the invention.
Said pallet consists of a pallet base PB, which is expediently stiffened by transverse ribs 13.
S-tiffening is also achieved if the base PB is recessed on both sides in the region of the wheel locating surface ws, so that vertical webs 10, 10' are formed.
Although in this case - according ~o Fig. 2 - the slots 65, 66 are drawn in the central part of the pallet base PB, it is fairly understandable that the preferred arrangement of the support slots 65, 66 is in the region of the reinforcing webs 10, 10' or between them, i.e. on the one hand in the region of the stiffened surface ws and on the other hand in the region of a wheel box adjacent to this reinforcing web 10' and having a further reinforcing web 10''. Thus, one or two staggerecl lifting units in the region of the surface ws can advantageously engage a slot arranged there while the other lif~ing unit in the region of the wheel box wb engages a slot 65 or 66 arranged on this surface, as explained with reference to Fig. 7D.

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19 2~2~8 An axle 12 is preferably fastened, in particular welded, to this wheel box surface wb, as can be seen on a larger scale in Fig. 4D. A pivot bearing b, thus ~r-mittinq the associated pallet wheel 11 to be oriented5 in different directions.
This is not required when a shaf~ arrangement according to Fig. lA can be chosen, where, at least inside the shafts B and L, the pallets must always move in one direction, but such a pivot bearing b improves the manoeuvrability of the pallet also during its return and in particular in the case of the shaft arrangement according to Fig. lB or of an even more complicated arrangement.

A ring mount Dk on pivot bearing b has side bearin~s 69 arranged in the form of a fork for mounting a wheel axle wa. The surface wb of the wheel box is thus sufficiently large to permit a rotation of the ring mount Dk. The outer web 10'' may also serve as an extension surface for drivers of a horizontal conveyor arranged in the particular story, which drivers M are indicated by the dash-dot line in Fig. 4B and extend away from a chain member (not shown) o~ a conveyor in the form of conveyor 58 and shown in detail in Fig. 5.
In order also to permit engagement at the front of the pallet for such a conveyor, a pallet P may be formed with projecting driviny surfaces, at least in the region of the front and rear ends, as shown by surfaces f (Fig. 4B). However, it would also be possible to allow the reinforcing ribs 13 to p.roject slightly beyond the web 10'' if such a chain conveyor and not another type of horizontal conveyor is used.

Fig. 4C shows that the slots 65 and 66 have different lengths, although this is not absolutely essential.
However, it is expedient if an identation-forming securing surface 70 is incorporated at ~he end of each * ring mount DK for the wheel 11 is mounted on this axle 12 via a - . . .
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~2~8 slot, into which surface a transverse lock 71 of a piston rod pr o~ a lifting unit 7 (cf. Fig. lA) can be inserted and held firmly. The surface 70 thus prevents slipping of the transverse lock 71.
, Fig. 5 and 6 show the construction of a rail 8 in detail. It is brought by means of lifting cylinders 16 from a rest position, in which it is essentially vertical (cf. Fig. 6), into the ope:rating position shown, said rail swivelling about a pivot bearing 19 supported on brackets 21. As in the case of brackets 17 for the lifting cylinders, the brackets ~1 are supported by supports la, lb of the box construction, the lifting cylinders 16 swivelling about axles 20.
The piston rods 16a are hinged to a projection 14 of the rail 8, at a pin 18. The space between the projection 14 and the vertical wall supported by support la (Fig. 6) may be partly filled by a chain conveyor 58' shown in Fig. 5 t that in Fig. 6 being omitted. As in the case of chain conveyor 58 of Fig.
lB, this conveyor 58~ has chain wheels 59', as well as drivers M which are fastened to individual chain links, are indicated only schematically and project in the manner shown in Fig. 4B.

As is evident from Fig. 6, the rail 8 can be folded down in the direction of arrow 2~ in order to make way for a new pallet P, fetched up by lifting units 7, as soon as the rail 8 is empty. In ordex to secure the rail 8 in its particular position, the hydraulic blocking means (not shown) is expediently coordinated, in a manner known per se, with the lifting cylinders 1~. It may also be expedient to provide a switch S
which is operated by the rail 8 on folding down, in order to send a signal to the controlling processor or the program unit to indicate that the rest position o~
rail 8 has been reached. Only then may the liftiny -. : , : - :
.. ., , - .,. .
: . ~ '' , ' `. :' " , -.. :. . . , , :.

~062~8 units 7 (Fig. lA) be operated. It is also possible to provide a sensor Se, which gives a signal to indicate that the operating position shown has been reached.
This sensor, too, can be re lized in a wide variety of ways but in this case consists of a reed contact which responds to the position of the piston 16b which can be displaced in the cylinder 16._ Fig. 5 shows, on the one hand, the height of the return ~ide 58'' of conveyor 58~, which side i9 capable of engaging a pallet P (indicated by a dash-dot line). It is also evident that the movable rails 8 are aligned flush with the rails 9a, 9b mounted in a stationary manner on supports la, lb.

Fig. 7A, 7B illustrate two views of the lifting unit 7 merely indicated in Fig. lA. All other units are not shown here. It is evident that each lifting unit 7 must be relatively long unless a telescopic cylincler construction is used. Such a piston/cylinder unit 7 may therefore be hinged on a swivel axle 23 more than one story above the box B1 to be served, in order for its piston rod pr to have a sufficient length. This piston rod pr has, at its end, the crosspin 71 which is shown in Fig. 4C and engages under the pallet base PB
after the piston rod pr engages its associated slot 65 or 66.

In order ~o be able to perform this docking movement, a drive for a swivel mo~ement of the unit 7 in the direction of arrow 25 must be provided. For this purpose, a toothed segment could in principle be connected to the cylinder 7 in order to be driven to form this movement via a pinion or a worm, but it is also possible to use for this purpose a cylinder unit 24 which is controlled via a program unit in such a way that the piston rod pr is first extended until the 2~2~
~2 crosspin 71 (Fig. 4C) is located below the pallet base PB, whereupon the cylinder 24 performs the swivel mov0ment 25. The crosspin 71 enters the recessed surface 70 and hooks in there. The piston rod pr can now be drawn in, in order to avoid hindrance both sides of the cylinder 24 preferably being connected to the medium re~ervoir (not shown) to permit the pressure medium to flow out freely as required. Alternatively, the cylinder 24 could be positively controlled via the pressure medium fed to it, in such a way that it follows the slight swivel movement of the cylinder 7 during lifting of the pallet P out of the box Bl to the height of the box B2.

As soon as the pallet P has reached the reguired height, which can be determined, for example, by a reed contact Sel tFig. 7~) with reference to the piston position, folding down of the rails 8 into its operating position over lifting cylinder 16 is initiated so that the pallet P can be placed on the ~O rails 8 with a s~all decreasing movement of the rod pr.
~he lifting unit 7 then undocks, i.e. the cylinder 24 is operated in such a way that the cylinder unit 7 swivels out of the particular slot 65, 66 toward the vertical, in order to be extended again if necessary when a pallet P is to be brought from box Bl to box B2, which of course can only take place if the pallet present in box B2 has moved upward or into elevator shaft L.

As can be clearly seen in ~ig. 7B, the end of the piston rod pr engages the pallet P in the region of the wheel box, as was described wikh reference to Fig. 4 as being preferred, since the reinforcing webs lO', lO'' are present in this region. Accordingly, the docking slot 65 or 66 should be arranged on the surface wb.

Because khe lifting unit 7 is relatively long, "' ' ~

2~62~

appropriate measures must be taken in the uppermost storys in order to ensure that the pallets are lifted thereto. One possibility is shown in ~ig. 7C, in which a unit 7a which pushes the pallets upw~rd is used instead of a piston/cylinder unit 7 which pulls the pallet upward (Fig. 7A, 7B). The swivel movement 25 is controlled analogously to Fig. 7A~ It is clear that, if necessary, all lifting units can be formed by pushin~ cylinders 7a over the entire height of the multistory car park, in which case the lowermost cylinder units 7a must be housed in basements or once again lifting cylinders 7 of the type shown in Fig. 7A
must be used for the lowermost boxes B1 and B2. When pushing ~nits 7a are used, it is merely necessary to ~nsure that, with respec~ to the dimensions of the pallet and rails 8, the piston rods pr' do not hinder the folding up of the rails 8, although this is easily possible as a result of sufficiently large distance from the wheels 11 to the particular end of the pallet P and the associated docking surface.

It can be seen that, when pushing lifting units 7a are used, a docking slot 65 or 66 is not required.
However, it is once again expedient if the engaging surfaces for the piston rods pr~ are in the region of the reinforcing webs 10, 10' or 10''. The engaging surfaces may be, for example, in the form of the recessed surfaces 70 ~Fig. 4C).

Another possibility is shown in Fig. 7D, which also illustrates the reason for the staggered arrangement of two docking slots 65, 66. Accordingly, a type of crossbeam construction with supports 1' and a cross spar 3' is provided for stiffening above the uppermost story of the multistory car park, i.e. above box B7, said construction being used for storing the lifting units 7', 7'' for the uppermost story. While the unit . , . : . . , . ~ . :
,~

24 2~2~8 7' will engage in the region of the wheel box of the palletl in the surface wb (Fig. 4), for reasons relating to space the unit 7'' is arranged offset relative thereto, so that it will engage in the region of the surface ws (Fig. 4B) where the associated docking slot should be arranged.

The construction 1', 3' may either be roofed ~o permit free access of the two lifting units 7', 7'' downward without the vehicles located underneath being exposed to inclement weather, or the units 7', 7'' operate through slots in a roof constxuction covering the uppermost box B7, which slots are covered on the one hand by a slide sl travelling with the piston rod of the unit 7' during swivelling or by slide sl' travelling with the cylinder of unit 7''.

Fig. 8 and 9 show, with reference to views similar to Fig. 2 and 3, the conditions in a sha~t arrangement corresponding to Fig. lB. Here, the elevator cabinet ~ fills, for example, the entire cross-sec~ion of the elevator shaft L', so that, although rails 8b, 8b' (cf.
Fig. 2) are dispensed with, it is then expedient, if the pallet is secured against unintentional rolling inside the elevated cabin 4 by means other than those described. For example, magnetic fields which trigger a brake means provided on the pallet may be genera~.ed in the base o~ the elevator cabin 4.

According to the view in Fig. lB, the pallets P move in the direction oF arrow 26 to the parking shaft B' but, where the wheel bearing is constructed according to Fig. 4D, can move ~reely in all directions so that, if re~uired, not only is a transfer to the elevator shaft L' in the direction of arrow 27 possible, but if required, a plurality of further shafts may also be built on in order to transfer the pallets P

. . " . . ~ ., .

~24~ ~
alternatively also in the directlon of arrow 30 into a furthex elevator shaft (not shown) if the elevator cabin 4 is occupied.

Exit from the elevator cabin 4 may furthermore be effected not only in ~he direction of arrow 29, corresponding to ent~y in the direction of arrow 26 in Fig. lB, but also in the direction o~ arrow 28. In this case, entry and exit will therefore be effected on the same side of the building, facilitating the return of the pallets to the ~irst waiting position WPl (Fig.
lB~ and on the other hand necessi~ating a corresponding organization of the entry and exit routes into or frum the multistory car paxk. It is also clear that it will be possible to buil~ on a further parking shaft in tha direction of arrow 28 or 29 in order to use the elevator shaft L' from ~wo parking shafts for downward transport.

Fig. 9 shows the direction of movement in the case of only two shafts B' and L', the direction a2 once again corresponding to the upward movement in the parking shaft B' and the direction 33 corresponding to the downward movement in elevator shaft L'.

Fig. lB shows how a type o~ "terminal" wi-th waiting positions WP1 to WP3 can be set up with the aid of a belt conveyor or chain conveyor ~linear conveyor) 63.
However, a rotary conveyor, as shown in Fig. 10, is simpler with regard to storage and driving. Such a rotary conveyor 63' may have parking places WP4 to WP7 arranged around an axis of rotation 72. In the case of an appropriate size, a radial orientation of these waiting places WP4 to WP7 would also be possible, but, because of the inevitable narrowing in a radially inward direction~ this would require a very considerable increase in the size of the conveyor 63'.
The arrangement of waiting places WP4 to WP7 shown - :
,. , ~ ~ . " .
.: - : : : .:
.`' " ' ~ ' - ' ' ' . .
.
". ~ . :
,, ~ ; ' ~ ~ , .........
. . . . .: .

`` 2~2~18 approximately in the circumferential direction is preferred.

The conveyor 63' formed by a turntable may be supported by wheels (not shown) along a track 73. One waiting place, in this case waiting place WP5, is aligned with the entrance to parking shaft B so that the associated pallet can be drawn into the shaft. For this purpose, a telescopic cylinder unit, similar to the unit 60 of Fig. l~, may be arranged, for example inside the lowermost box B1, on its rear wall, opposite the entrance, said unit not pushing but gripping the front end of the particular pallet and pulling it into the box. Because of the outer circumference of the rotary con~eyor 63', it is however necessary to maintain a certain distance from the parking shaft B, which makes drawing in more difficult and makes it appear ad~isable to make a chain conveyor incorporated in the base of the turntable 63', as is to be found in vehicle-washing lines.

It has already been mentioned that the pallets can be moved in all directions in the case of a ring mount construction corresponding to Fig. 4D. In principle, in the case of corresponding follow-up (point of contact of wheel 11 behind the axis of rotation 12), the wheel 11 automatically adjusts to the desired position, depending on the movemen~ impulse given, and this effect can also be utilized in the present case.
On the other hand, it is safer if a rotary construction is used for forced rotation of ~he wheel 11 in the desired direction. Such a positive rotary means could in principle be reali~ed on the pallet in the form of a drivable ring mount. However, it is preferable if the pallet is kept free of drive means.

A positive rotary means according to Fig. llA and llB

,~ :

.:

'~
. ,:

%~

is suitable for this case. Such a positive rotary means is expediently incorporated in the rails ~ (cf.
Fig. 8) in order to orient in the direction 27 the pallets entering in the direction of arrcw 26, each pallet then moving on stati.onary rails 9d, 9d'.

For this purpose, g~ide tracks 45, 46 which guide the pallet wheels 11 within a groove are provided inside the rail projection 14 (cf. Fig. 6). A turntable 34 having a groove 31 which receives the wheel 11 is arranged at the point of intexsection of the two guide tracks 45, 460 This groove 31 holds the particular wheel 11 firmly on both end faces so that it is inevitably turned when the turntable 34 rotates. For this purpose, ~he turntable 34 is connected, for example welded, to a short shaft 37 which is mounted in pivot bearings 36. The pi~ot bearing 36 may be supported on a mounting plate 43. An arm 39 is fastened to the shaft 37 by means of a pin 38. The - end 40 of the piston rod 35, which is part of a piston/cylinder unit 35, 41, engages this arm 39 viaafork.
The cylinder is hinged, in a manner not shown, at its end opposite the piston rod 35, so that its central axis can move from the position 44 shown in Fig. llA to a swivelled position 44'.

With the aid of this rotary drive, it is therefo-re possible forcibly to turn the particular pallet wheel 11 through 90 in order to leave direction 26 (Fig. 8) and swivel into direction 27. Of course, in the case of an angular wheel position differing from 90~ (with the correspondlng arrangement of the shafts B and L) such a turntable 34 can also be used for a lar~er or smaller rotation.

A further embodiment, in which two parking shafts B' and B'' are coordinated with one elevator shaft I.', is , .: .

, ,. . j . .
:. ~ :., ,: .
.: : . ~ ~: .. :

. , . ~

~2~18 illustrated in Fig. 12. Here too, the principle illustrated in Fig. lC, that the upward movement takes place inside the parking shafts B', B'' on the downward movement exclusively in the elevator shaft L', is S adhered to. Because of the axrangement of the shafts with long sides adjacent to one another, in this case too a positive rotary means corresponding to Fig. 11 is advantageous, unless entrance is effecked in the direction of the arrow 48 and the exit is in the direction of arrow 49, which is also possible.

It has already been mentioned that it is expedient to control the sequence and the synchronization of the various movements by a program means, for example by a microprocessor. The degree of automation depends of course on the circumstances and can of course be replaced if desired by manual labor, for example in countries with cheap labor and a lack of capital.

In most cases, however, fully automatic operation is desirable to simpli~y handling as much as possible ~or the vehicle drivers and on the other hand also to save operating teams. According to Fig. 13, a program sequence begins with a start St. ~his start is triggered either by a threshold in front of the ticket-issuing device 56 (Fig. lA) or by pressing a button St' on the device. The issuing of a ticket in a manner customary in such devices then takes place with the aid of an issuing routine Tio, i.e. a ticket is pushed forward through the slot of the device 56 to such an extent that the vehicle driver can grasp it.

The next step is therefore a decision box out. If the ticket has not yet been removed from the slot, the system switches via an exit n to a relatively short waiting time W1, whereupon the inquiry out begins again. However, if the kicket has already been taken, , . . . .. .
- : . ....

' :~

:

2~24~

the program continues with a further waiting time W2 after the exit line y from the box out.

The waiting time W2 is such that the vehicle driver can drive onto the pallet located in waiting position WP1, if necessary after prior opening of a barrier. Of course, it will be possible to provide a modification where a light barrier or a similar sensor (also in the form of a telemeter with a digital output) is provided at the waiting position WP1, shor~:Ly before the entrance to the parking shaft, which sensor signals the end of the movement of the vehicle onto the pallet in waiting position WPl.

The ticket subroutine TiS, which also includes the possibility of a time setting externally via an adjusting means Adj, continues up to this point. After the expiry of waiting time W~ or after a signal has been received from ~he stated sensor, the draw-in subroutine ES begins, said subrou~ine essentially comprising starting of the conveyor 58 (Fig. lB) and if necessary also a further conveyor if two conveyors cooperate for ~he drawing in procedure. rrhe draw-in subroutine ES is part of a conveyor routine Fs which also monitors the arrival of the pallet in the box Bl.
For example, the light barrier Lrst' shown in Fig. 2 may also be installed in the box Bl for monitoring this process. After being broken by the advanced vehicle, the light barrier gives the signal t which is fed to a decision box Bl? If this signal t is not received, the draw-in subroutine is continued via its exit n;
however, as SOQn as the signal t appears, the routine ES is no longer operated but instead a search subroutine SS is put into operation via exit y, by means of which subroutine the "empty" sensors (light barriers Lrst' in the individual storys or read means 68) are scanned in succession or (preferably) - . , 2~62~1~

simultaneously to determine whether a place has become free above box Bl.

Once a fxee parking place has been found, the corresponding "empty" sensor sends an "empty" signal v, which is fed to the decision box Sp? If, after all "empty" sensors have been scanned, there is no free parkin~ place above box Bl, the signal is sent via exit n to end the program ("End"). However, i~ an empty place is present in one of the upper storys, a lift subroutine HS is put into operation via the exit y of box Sp?, which subroutine actuates, in succession or simultaneously, all lifting units used for liting the pallets below the empty place. Only thereafter does the program switch to End.

Thus, the vehicle is then parked in the parking shaft B and is continuously brought higher, as boxes above become free, each time the program indicated in Fig. 13 staxts up. However, when the vehicle driver returns and wants to fetch his vehicle, he need merely insert 2Q his ticket into the slot for this purpose in device 57.
This triggers an initiation signal Tii (Fig. 14), which in turn leads to two processes.

On the one hand, the arrival time noted on the ticket is compared with the collection time in the usual manner by the comparison rou~ine Time, and the price is calculated from this via the Price routine, the price then being fed to a corresponding indicator Ind. On the other hand, the pallet noted on the ticket is searched for inside the various storys of the multistory car park via the read means 68, with the aid of a search program PNo. Once the pallet has been found, the associated story is fixst stored in a memory MEM.

`' ~ ':
.~ . . , 2~18 The situation now depends on whether the vehicle driver has paid the price indicated on Ind. This is monitored by the routine Pay. Inserting a part of the amount leads in the known manner merely to a correction of the indicator Ind. However, if the full amount has been paid, a siynal is sent to a decision box "paid" down-circuit of the memory program MEM. As long as the signal "pay" persists, ~he memory program MEM is maintained via the exit n, i.e the skored place remains stored. Once the total amount has been paid, an intermediate program Q is selected via the exit y of the box "paid", which program communicates the story determined to the elevator controlr whereupon a collect program cL begins. This program c~ is connected to a decision box BX?, in which the curxent position of the elevator cabin 4 is constantly compared with theSETP~INT
position. If the desired position has not yet b0en reached, the program cL is maintained via the exit n;
otherwise, a pallet collection program dP begins via exit y.

With this program dP, for example, a horizontal conveyor inside the parking box (conveyor 58') is put into operation in order to transfer the pallet there from shaft B into shaft L. Of course, it would also be possible to provide the elevator cabin 4 with such a conveyor, but this is generally not preferred. It is advantageous if the orderly transfer of the pallet to the elevator shaft L is monitored. For this purpose, either the elevator cabin has a sensor which corresponds to the light barrier Lrst' (Fig. 2) and is arranged a~ that end of the elevator cabin 4 which is opposite the shaft B, or simply the "empty" signal of the light barrier coordinated with the parking box or of the "empty" sensor is employed, although this may involve uncertainties and in any case additionally requires the elapse of a sufficiently long time before * if necessary, --` 2~2~ 8 the palle~ has moved completely into the elevator cabin 4.

A decision box L? is therefore connected.to the pallet collection program dP, said box keeping the program dP
S in operation until a signal i (~rom the sensor installed in the ~levator cabin 4, otherwise an "empty"
signal v from the "empty" sensor of the parking box) switches ~o the exit y.

With the appearance of the signal i, a securing program Sec can, if necessary, be selected in order to prevent the pallet from rolling in the elevator cabin 4. For example, the above-mentioned magnet which puts the brake means of the pallet into operation is fed with a current, but in the preferred caise this program Sec is dispensable if the arrangement with foldable rails 8b, 8b' is used, as was described with reference to Fig. 2.

Thus, the elevator can be switched to downward travel (program Down~, the current position in the elevator cabin 4 can be compared with the S~TPOINT position of ~0 the elevator box L1 by a decision box L1? It should be mentioned that the decision boxes BX? and Ll? are supplied in the usual manner with position signals of the elevator, in the manner which is part of the prior art. In any case, the program Down remains in operation via the exit n until the box L1 has been reachedl whereupon the system switches via the exit y to a draw-out program Out.

By means of the program Out, a horizontal conveyor of the type discussed, which is present at the exit of the elevator shaft or in the elevator cabin 4, is put into operation in order to bring the pallet out of the elevator cabin 4 into position AP (Fig. lB). This program too can be monitored by means of a sensor, such , : , , ' ~ ,::
- : : ~ . :
, : . . . :.: : ..

..

::

`` 2~24~ ~

as a light barrier arranged at the end of AP, an induction loop or the like, in which case a decision box supplied by the sensor is also present down-circuit of the program Out, said decision box keeping the program Out in operation until the vehicle has completely reached the exit position AP.

It is then expedient to switch on a waiting program W3 with a predetermined time sufficient to permit the vehicle to be entered and started. However, i~ need not necessarily be a predetermined time; instead, the duration of ~he waiting program W3 may also be controlled by the light barrier Lrst (Fig. lB), whose signal is fed to a decision box off and which maintains the waiting program W3 in the absence of the light barrier signal but otherwise switches to conveyor program CS, by means of which conveyors 60 to 63 are put into operation simultaneously or in succession, and of course the number of conveyors operated and their form depend on the circumstances.

For the purposes of ~he invention, a large number of variants are possible. Thu~, the modules of the parking or elevator shafts can be produced individually or as a double module from steel or concrete or other materials, as a unit or capable of being assembled from elements. What is important is that connecting surfaces or connecting means are present for the connection of the ad~acent modules. Furthermore, it will not be absolutely essential, for the docking of the lifting units, to provide slots 65, 66, as shown in Fig. 7C. It is sufficient to pro~ide a correspondingly formed docking surface, for example in the form of hooks or the like, which of course are preferably mounted between edge reinforcing webs 10, 10', 10'' running in the longitudinal direction. Finally, the sensors used may also be of different types, such as . . . . , . . ~ ~
! I .' . . ' . : :
. ' ' ' '` ' ' . ~ 1' ~ ~', ., '', ' .' ., ' ` ' : . ', "

~ 2~2~8 magnetic, inductive, with a laser, ul~rasonic, etc.
Since, owiny to the modular design, virtually only assembly need be carried out at the particular building site, as soon as the foundations are present, a multistory car park according to the invention can be reached rapidly and in a relatively small space.
Although the elevator shaft has been represented in a simplified manner, it is clear that it is equipped in the usual manner with guides, expediently also with a counter-weight for the elevator cabin 4. The various cylinder units may at least in part be formed by pneumatic cylinders, although a hydraulic pressure medium i5 preferred. Otherwise, it is clear that the rails 8 must be made distortion-free by the pro~ection 14 on the one hand and by stiffening ribs 15 on the other hand, which of course also applies to the pallet P. All fluid cylinder units are expediently equipped with means to prevent hose rupture, pressure-releasable nonreturn valves or with damping means for end positions.

The identification signal generators 67 of the pallets P (Fig. 3) also need not necessarily be of a passive nature in order to be capable of being read with the aid of light sources of the read means; active, luminescent signal generators would also be possible, although not preferred.

In Fig. lB and 10, two horizontal conveyors 53 and 63' were described as storage conveyors for the arriving vehicles. However, it would also be possible to store the arriving vehicles vertically, for example to allow them to drive via ramps into a vertically moving conveyor in order to save space for the terminal.

Fig. 3 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of an identifica~ion signal generator 67 together with a read .. . . . . . . . .
-: .. ,.: . :~ .
: . . : . .
., . ", ., , :: . ~ :: .
:: . : : ::: : : : :
, .. , : . .. ...

~241 8 means 68 which is arranged in each story itself. The arrangement between the storys, where the codes 67 can be read in passing~ would also be possible. However, thi~ requires the arrangement of an intermediate stor~
since reading can in fact only take place once.

The ease with which a multistor~ car park according to the invention can be automated is clearly shown in Fig.
13 and 14 with relatively simple, linear programs.
Although the individual subroutines may contain slightly more structure when it is ~aken into account that, for example, the lifting subroutine HS (Fig. 13) of course also includes the synchronized control of cylinders 16 with cylinders 7, or the program dP (Fig.
14) may also include the operation of the positive rotary means according to Fig. 11, this does not present any problems for the programming.

On the other hand, it should also be mentioned that the invention is in no way restricted to above-ground multistory car parks; instead, the storys could also be constructed underground in the manner of basement floors. In this case~ the loop in the direction of arrow a2 does not begin in an upward direction but downward, whereas the direction of movement 33 is not downward but upward.

For the purposes of the invention, a large number of variants are possible; thus, it is clear that the positive rotary means described with reference to Fig.
llA, llB can advantageously also be used for car parks of the known type wherever a change of the straight direction of travel of the pallets provided with whee].s is required. The embodiment of the groove 31 as the means engaging the particular wheel 11 is particularly simple and advantageous if it is considered that even movable gripping ~aws would be possible for this purpose (for example in the form of robots).

" ~ . ; ! .: ,. ..
': . . ~ '; , : ' : , :
: . ; !, .
,, : ' :
"' ' ~ `, 'i

Claims (10)

1. A method for operating a multistory car park having a plurality of parking places which are arranged one on top of the other, each in a story, and into which vehicles standing on pallets can be lifted and out of which said vehicles can be lowered via an elevator shaft for drawing away again, wherein the pallets are guided within a loop in a first movement to the particular parking place and are moved, in a second movement via the lift shaft, without backward movement over the distance last travelled through, to an exit and again to the parking places.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first movement takes place within a shaft which houses the parking places and is separate from the elevator shaft.

3. A multistory car park for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, having at least one parking shaft which can be entered via at least one entrance and a lifting means leading to at least one exit, wherein a lifting arrangement separate from the lifting means is coordinated with the parking shaft, exclusively for moving the pallets in a single direction.

4. A multistory car park as claimed in claim 3, wherein a horizontal conveyor for transferring the pallets to the parking shaft or from the latter to the lifting means or away from said means is coordinated with each story.

5. A multistory car park as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein identification signals, preferably code marks, in particular bar codes, are coordinated with the pallets, and at least one read means is provided for these signals, preferably at least one read means being coordinated with, if necessary arranged in, each story.

6. A multistory car park as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein a return conveyor arrangement for the pallets is provided * the lifting means to the entrance of the parking shaft.

7. A multistory car park as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6, wherein a storage conveyor which holds a plurality of pallets with vehicles and is in particular horizontally displaceable, especially a linear conveyor, is provided before the entrance to the parking shaft.

8. A multistory car park as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7, wherein a program means controlled by at least one detector means is provided for the successive actuation of at least two movement means.

9. A multistory car park as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the lifting arrangement has a plurality of lifting units, each coordinated with a story and if necessary being separately actuatable, for moving up the pallets arranged underneath when a parking place becomes free, wherein the lifting units are preferably formed by piston/cylinder units or wherein guide rails which can be brought from a rest position into position for use and are intended for parking and guiding the pallets, in particular pivotable guide wheels, together with an actuating drive associated with the guide rails, are coordinated with each parking place.
* on the way between the exit of

10. A multistory car park as claimed in any of claims 3 to 9, wherein a positive rotary means is provided in at least one story, and is expediently incorporated in rails for pallets provided with wheels, which positive rotary means has a gripping arrangement which grips at least one wheel of the pallet, in particular in an interlocking manner, and with which a rotary drive is associated, the positive rotary means preferably having at least one of the following features:
a) the gripping arrangement has a groove which at least partially holds or encompasses the particular wheel;
b) it has a turntable which can be driven by the rotary drive;
c) the rotary drive comprises a swivel arm connected to a shaft;
d) the rotary drive comprises a fluid, in particular hydraulic, piston/cylinder unit.