EP0740034A1

EP0740034A1 - Multi-stacking parking system

Info

Publication number: EP0740034A1
Application number: EP96400889A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kang Sik Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-04-27
Filing date: 1996-04-25
Publication date: 1996-10-30
Also published as: KR960038024A; JPH094264A

Abstract

A multi-stacking parking system (100) having a separation-type automatic carrying means, is disclosed including : a parking structure (102) having a plurality of parking sections (132) formed in combination of vertical and horizontal members; a slider (104) mounted on a guide rail (116) offered on the bottom of the parking structure (102), the slider (104) having a vertical member and a horizontal member for fixing the vertical member: a self-advancing lift (106) capable of repeatedly moving up and down along a passage of the slider (104), the lift having a rotatable turntable (114); and at least one carrier (108) for reciprocating between a terminal and the self-advancing lift (106) or between the self-advancing lift (106) and the parking section (132).

Description

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to a multi-stacking parking system installed in a three-dimensional space and capable of automatically parking multiple vehicles safely and quickly. Particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-stacking parking system in which a slider, self-advancing lift, and carrier are driven in various modes between a plurality of parking sections and terminal formed within a parking structure, thereby freely setting the direction and position of the entrance/exit and parking sections, fundamentally eliminating factors of safety accident and time delay, and accordingly maximizing the adaptability and efficiency of space.
Recently, demand for parking has been incredibly increased, and thus self-parking buildings are becoming more unsuitable for the practical demand. In this situation, a variety of mechanical parking facilities become known in the art. For such mechanical parking facilities, there are hydraulic, horizontally circulating, and vertically circulating types. The hydraulic parking facilities have as low a space utility as the self-parking system, and require many mechanical elements. The horizontal circulation type elongates in/out time of vehicle, whereas the vertical circulation type possibly causes safety accidents on life or property.
Korean Patent Publication No. 93-2374 discloses a typical horizontal circulation type parking system in which a predetermined rows of trays having wheels moving laterally are disposed in parallel on a plane, a space for one tray is formed on both diagonal ends of the plane on one side, and the trays are shifted through two processes by the respective carriers to be disposed laterally and longitudinally from the tray rows. Besides lateral wheels to laterally move the trays, this system includes longitudinal wheels to move the trays lengthwise, a longitudinal conveying rail installed at both ends of a lateral conveying rail and perpendicularly crossing it in order to allow the longitudinally moving wheels of tray to travel, and a support component attached to a portion where the lateral moving wheels are transferred to the longitudinally moving wheels along the conveying rail, and for supporting the longitudinally moving wheels and allowing the vehicle to be shifted onto the longitudinal conveying rail.
Korean Patent Publication No. 91-1080 discloses a vertical circulation multi-stage parking system in which a carrier having a lifting/lowering driver and laterally moving device is mounted on the top of the system, and a hydraulic cylinder operating a concave driving rail is installed on the upper plate of a lift member coupled to the carrier with a rope so that the concave driving rail is detachable from a fixed convex rail of the system. The upper protrusion of respective multi-stage suspensions is inserted into or pulled out from a lifting/lowering hole of the pallet, the protrusion of the suspension is inserted into or pulled out from holes for installation, and the pallet mounts the lifting/lowering member of the carrier by multiple stages.
Most of conventional parking facilities have the following problems.
First, chains or wire are used in their driving systems so that serious accidents may be caused when the lift falls. An automatic vehicle putting means for carrying vehicles instead of the driver even though the driver does not enter the mechanical system such as the lift is not provided. Here, when the chains or wire are cut or the machine operates falsely, a lot of property loss or safety accident for life may be caused. Even with auxiliary means such as brake or fixing device, such problems cannot be overcome basically.
Secondly, multiple rows of vehicles waiting to be parked cannot be processed due to the structural limit so that the entrance/exit of the parking lot is stagnant. For this reason, the rear row of the drivers wait for a long time until the front row of the drivers get on their vehicles and complete vehicle putting. In addition, vehicle putting is enabled when the driver gets on the lift so that the driving of the machine is stopped until, in case of vehicle putting, the driver gets on the vehicle, gets off the vehicle and gets out of the safety door, and in case of vehicle taking, the driver enters the safety door on foot, gets on (off) the vehicle, and gets out of the safety door. This elongates the whole time to process.
In case that the parking system is designed so that the vehicle is carried toward the entrance/exit via facilities for no use as the underground or above-ground parking systems because of different space utilities in accordance with the position or height, the vehicle cannot be carried directly above or under the elevator, but after the vehicle is carried to the lift installed on the side of the elevator and then the lift is raised toward the entrance/exit. This complicates the vehicle transmission process and takes a lot of time.
In another case that a rectangular turntable is mounted on the lift in combination of the pallet, when the vehicle rotates during a control process in which the bottom of the parking section is equal to that of the turntable to perform a predetermined operation, the corners of the turntable collide with the parking surface out of the lift. This cannot rotate the vehicle directly, and before the vehicle rotates, the lift must be always stopped so that the lower portion of the turntable is placed higher than the entrance/exit or the parking surface, thereby losing time and power.
Third, because the carrier and lift are driven by a chain or wire, the movement distance of the carrier is shortened, and the carrier cannot be detached from the elevator upward or downward. The carrier cannot be shifted directly to an intended place. In addition, parking lots are subject to factors considered especially for facilities in affiliation, for instance, the condition of peripheral roads, the size or shape of site, disposition of construction space, arrangement of structure material such as columns or beams in accordance with the usage of facilities, underground excavation cost, and difficulty in working. This makes impossible to install parking systems in spaces of complicated shapes having many obstacles in various forms without waste of space. This also involves many problems in freely disposing roads, the movement distance between persons and vehicles, entrance/exit, vehicle conveying passage, lifting/lowering passage, and parking standby areas, decreasing space adaptability.
Fourth, in case that vehicles are carried toward the entrance/exit via facilities for no use as underground or above-ground parking systems due to different space utilities in accordance with position or height in installing parking lots in affiliation, a space for installing an additional device such as a car lift is required. For the fork-lift parking system, a space for reciprocating the fork lift under the pallet of the parking section must be disposed in order to carry the vehicle put on the pallet. A parking system for raising the lower part of vehicles decreases space efficiency because the height of the device for raising vehicles is set at the reference of a vehicle having a relatively high minimum height. In the parking system mounting a rectangular turntable coupled with a pallet on the lift, a predetermined distance must be guaranteed in order to prevent the corners of the turntable from colliding with the vehicles of parking section or entrance/exit or peripheral walls when the turntable rotates.
Fifth, when the weight mounted on the lift is ununiform due to the flexibility of the chain or wire and the distortion of the shaft loading distortion weight, the chain or wire receiving heavier weight is elongated so that the shaft intensively burdened with the distortion weight is distorted more. The lift coupled to the shaft is hard to keep horizontal. Even a brake or fixing device installed to prevent such problems cannot solve them basically.
Sixth, the vibration of the lift or slider cannot be prevented due to the interaction between the flexibility of the chain or wire, the distortion moment of the driving shafts, distortion-resistant moment, the shift of gravity center, and inertia.
Seventh, the position of vehicles cannot be precisely maintained according to whether the vehicle is mounted or not or the weight of the vehicle mounted, due to the flexibility of chain or wire and the distortion of the shaft burdened with distortion weight.

Summary of the Invention

Therefore, in order to overcome such drawbacks of the prior arts, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a multi-stacking parking system in which the slider and lift are driven by the engagement of the pinion gear and rack gear directly connected to the warm gear performing self-locking, to thereby prevent property loss or safety accidents on life caused due to the cutting of chain or wire used in the prior art, reduce vibration in accordance with the shift of gravity center, inertia, concentrated weight, or the variation of weight, and also enable precise position control.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi-stacking parking system in which a carrier detachable from the lift is used to complete vehicle in/out operation outside the safety door, to thereby previously prevent safety accidents caused due to trouble or false operation of the mechanism, and also minimize time to take in the vehicle transmission procedure.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a multi-stacking parking system in which the turntable installed in the lift is circular, to thereby eliminate complicated control procedures required in using a rectangular turntable, and accordingly reduce time and power to consume.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi-stacking parking system in which the lift can be separated up and down from the slider so that the installation position and shape of the parking structure, entrance or passage are not limited to thereby increase adaptability to parking space and improve space efficiency.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a multi-stacking parking system in which a vehicle can be carried even when the pallet is raised slightly after the fork of the carrier is protruded externally, to thereby prevent waste of space.
For one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-stacking parking system having a separation-type automatic carrying means, the system comprising: a parking structure having a plurality of parking sections formed in combination of vertical and horizontal members; a slider mounted on a guide rail offered on the bottom of the parking structure, the slider having a vertical member and a horizontal member for fixing the vertical member; a self-advancing lift capable of repeatedly moving up and down along a passage of the slider, the lift having a rotatable turntable; and at least one carrier for reciprocating between a terminal and the self-advancing lift or between the self-advancing lift and the parking section.
In this configuration, a plurality of pallets for mounting vehicles are fixedly installed in the parking sections and the terminal.
For another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of first rack gears are fixed at the end of the horizontal member of the parking structure facing the passage of the slider, wherein the multi-stacking parking system further comprises a slider driver for driving the slider along the guide rail, the driver comprising: a first driving motor fixed at the intermediate portion of the horizontal member and from both ends of which a rotation shaft is protruded; a first spiral bevel gear fixed to the free end of the rotation shaft of the first driving motor; a second spiral bevel gear engaged with the first spiral bevel gear and whose shaft is vertically extended from the rotation shaft of the first driving motor; a first warm gear fixed to both ends of the shaft of the second spiral bevel gear; a first warm wheel engaged with the first warm gear; and a first pinion gear fixed to the shaft of the first warm wheel and engaged with the first rack gear.
In this aspect, a first guide roller is given to respective first pinion gears, the first guide roller coming into contact with the back of the rack gear engaged with the first pinion gear so that the pinion gear and first rack gear are made to be engaged. The turntable is shaped in a circle, wherein a turntable center bearing inserted into a fixing shaft provided at the center of the self-advancing lift is attached under the center of the turntable, wherein a plurality of idle rollers are given around the fixing shaft to form two concentric circles, support the turntable, and disperse the weight of the turntable.
The turntable is circular, eliminating complicated control procedure such as process added in case that the turntable is rectangular or square, and control process for driving a device for preventing safety accidents possibly caused when the driver enters the parking system.
The multi-stacking parking system further comprises a turntable driver, the driver comprising: a second driving motor having a rotation shaft; a second warm gear fixed to the rotation shaft of the second driving motor; a second warm wheel engaged with the second warm gear; a second pinion gear fixed to the shaft of the second warm wheel; and a circular second rack gear attached to the bottom of the turntable and engaged with the second pinion gear.
For still another aspect, a plurality of third rack gears are fixed on the inner side of the slider, wherein the multi-stacking parking system further comprises a self-advancing lift driver for raising or lowering the self-advancing lift along the slider, the driver comprising: a third driving motor having a rotation shaft; a third spiral bevel gear fixed to the free end of the rotation shaft of the third driving motor; a fourth spiral bevel gear engaged with the third spiral bevel gear and whose shaft is vertically extended from the rotation shaft of the third driving motor; a fifth spiral bevel gear fixed to both ends of the fourth spiral bevel gear; a sixth spiral bevel gear engaged with the fifth spiral bevel gear and whose shaft is vertically extended from the rotation shaft of the fourth driving motor; a third warm gear fixed to both ends of the shaft of the sixth spiral bevel gear; a third warm wheel engaged with the third warm gear; a first double chain gear fixed to the shaft of the third warm wheel; a second double chain gear fixed to another shaft provided closer to the warm wheel shaft (upper portion); and third and fourth pinion gears integrally fixed to the shafts of the first and second chain gears and engaged with the third rack gears.
The slider and lift are driven by the engagement of the pinion gear and rack gear directly connected to the warm gear performing self-locking, to thereby prevent property loss or safety accidents on life caused due to the cutting of chain or wire used in the prior art, reduce vibration in accordance with the shift of gravity center, inertia, concentrated weight, or the variation of weight, and also enable precise position control.
In the configuration, second and third guide rollers are given to the back of the third rack gears engaged with the third and fourth pinion gears, the second and third guide rollers making the third and fourth pinion gears engaged with the third rack gear.
Fourth and fifth rack gears are installed to be spaced apart from the third rack gear above and under the third rack gear.
The lift can be separated up and down from the slider so that the installation position and shape of the parking structure, entrance or passage are not limited to thereby increase adaptability to parking space and improve space efficiency.
For yet another aspect of the present invention, the carrier comprises a plurality of wheels, wherein the multi-stacking parking system further comprises a carrier reciprocation driver for reciprocatively driving the carrier, the carrier reciprocation driver comprising: a fourth driving motor having a rotation shaft; a first double helical gear fixed to the free end of the rotation shaft of the fourth driving motor; a second double helical gear engaged with the first double helical gear and whose shaft extends in the same direction as the extension of the rotation shaft of the fourth driving motor; fourth warm gears respectively formed at the shaft of second double helical gear at an intersection between the shaft of the second double helical gear and the shaft of the wheels; and a fourth warm wheel engaged with the fourth warm gear.
The carrier detachable from the lift is used to complete vehicle in/out operation outside the safety door, to thereby previously prevent safety accidents caused due to trouble or false operation of the mechanism, and also minimize time to take in the vehicle transmission procedure.
For a further configuration, the multi-stacking parking system comprises a carrier lifting/lowering driver for lifting/lowering the carrier, the carrier lifting/lowering driver comprising: a fifth driving motor having a rotation shaft; a third double helical gear fixed to the free end of the rotation shaft of the fifth driving motor; a fourth double helical gear engaged with the third double helical gear and whose shaft extends in a direction parallel with the extension of the rotation shaft of the fifth driving motor; right-handed and left-handed screws formed at the shaft of the fourth double helical gear back and forth centering on the fourth double helical gear; a lead member inserted into the right-handed and left-handed screws; arms one end of which is coupled to the lead member; a push bar to the inner surface of which the other end of the arms is coupled, and to the outer surface of which a plurality of push rods are fixed; a fixing device positioned on the outer side of the push bar; a plurality of forks fixed to the outer surface of the fixing device and placed between the pallets, the forks having recesses extending toward the outer ends from the inner ends; a resilient member inserted into the recesses of the forks; a fork guide positioned on the outer side of the fixing device to limit the outward movement of the fixing device, the guide having a plurality of holes through which the forks pass; an operation can' respectively fixed to both front and rear ends of the push bars; and a cam roller given closer to both ends of the fixing device and allowing the forks to be raised when the push bars are pushed over a predetermined degree. In this configuration, a vehicle can be carried even when the pallet is raised slightly after the fork of the carrier is protruded externally, to thereby prevent waste of space.

Brief Description of the Attached Drawings

FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of an installation state of a parking system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slider of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the driver shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the self-advancing lift and turntable incorporated therein according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an extracted perspective view of the driver of the turntable shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a partially omitted perspective view of the driver of the self-advancing lift shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a view of a state in which the fork of the carrier of the present invention is shifted to a position corresponding to the pallet of the parking section;
FIG. 8 shows a state in which the forks of the carrier are spread;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a state in which the forks of the carrier are raised;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the reciprocation driving system of the carrier of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the lifting/lowering driving system of the carrier of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is an extracted perspective view of the coupling structure of the arm and joint used for the lifting/lowering system shown in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 shows an operation state of the lifting/lowering driving system when the forks of the carrier are positioned in the state of FIG. 7;
FIG. 14 shows an operation state of the lifting/lowering driving system when the forks of the carrier are positioned in the state of FIG. 8;
FIG. 15 shows an operation state of the lifting/lowering driving system when the forks of the carrier are positioned in the state of FIG. 9;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the lifting/lowering driving system cut along line A-A of FIG. 13;
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the lifting/lowering driving system cut along line B-B of FIG. 14;
FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the lifting/lowering driving system cut along line C-C of FIG. 15;
FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the lifting/lowering driving system cut along line D-D of FIG. 13;
FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the lifting/lowering driving system cut along line E-E of FIG. 14; and
FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the lifting/lowering driving system cut along line F-F of FIG. 15;

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which like components will be designated like numbers.
FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a multi-stacking parking system of the present invention installed underground.
Referring to FIG. 1, a parking system 100 of the present invention comprises a parking structure 102, slider 104, self-advancing lift 106, and carrier 108. Slider 104, self-advancing lift 106 and carrier 108 can be coupled or detached from one another so that they perform conveyance independently or cooperatively, if necessary, while moving between the terminal and parking sections.
Parking structure 102 is made up with H beams, vertical members (columns or walls) made of ferro-concrete, and horizontal members (slab). In combination with the vertical and horizontal members, a plurality of parking sections 132 of a predetermined size are given three-dimensionally in parking structure 102. There is a passage in the middle of parking structure 102. On the bottom of the passage, a guide rail 116 is disposed. Slider 104 is provided on the passage, and has a race ring 134 (see FIG. 2) at its lower end. Race ring 134 is put on guide rail 116 so that slider 104 slidably moves in the horizontal direction of parking structure 102 along guide rail 116.
Including a case for a parking-only building, the parking structure 102 can be changed appropriately in various forms, like a case in which it is attached to a building, a case in which it is independently installed in a mechanical mode, a case in which self-parking and mechanical modes are combined, a case in which the structure is installed underground, a case in which it is installed on the roof, and in case in which the structure is disposed in series.
At the upper end of slider, self-advancing lift 106 is installed to be able to move up and down along slider 104. There is a rotatable turntable 114 on self-advancing lift 106. A carrier 108 is installed on turntable 114, and puts a vehicle mounted on self-advancing lift 106 into/from the parking section.
On carrier 108 is formed an entrance or opening 118 which opens toward the ground. Through the opening 118, vehicies come into or go out. A space directly under opening 118 forms a lift/drop passage. In case that the parking structure is installed on the roof or underground and the entrance is separated from the parking structure by a predetermined distance, pinion gear 122 or 124 for raising or lowering self-advancing lift 106 is installed at the four corners of the lift/drop passage connecting the entrance and parking structure (see FIG. 2). Reference numerals 110 and 112 represent pallets respectively formed at the entrance and parking sections 132 in order to support vehicles. The detailed function and structure of pallets 110 and 112 will be explained later.
Now, referring to FIG. 2, slider 104 is formed at a height equal to or one level lower than parking structure 102. In order to make a passage through which self-advancing lift 106 rises or drops, four vertical beams are installed in a rectangular form. On the outer side of the four beams, horizontal beams are attached to fix the four vertical beams. Sets of the four horizontal beams are fastened to the four vertical beams at the same height as the slabs forming the respective levels of parking structure 102.
On the inner side of the four vertical beams of slider 104, a rack gear 124 is given to guide the lifting/dropping of self-advancing lift 106. On both sidewalls of self-advancing lift 106 corresponding to gears 122, 124, and 126, pinion gears 136 and 136a are fixed. As pinion gears 136 and 136a and rack gears 122, 124 and 126 are engaged with each other, self-advancing lift 106 moves up and down along the rack gears. Guide rollers 140 and 142 are fixed to a portion opposite to the rack gears engaged with pinion gears 136 and 136a so that self-advancing lift 106 is prevented from being detached from the rack gears. Pinion gears 136 and 136a, that is, a driving system for raising/lowering self-advancing lift 106, will be stated later. Reference number 128 indicates a rack gear fixed to the side of slab of parking structure 102 in order to horizontally move slider 104.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the middle of the horizontal beam placed at the intermediate height of a portion not facing the slab of parking structure 102, a driving motor 164 is installed. The shaft 148 of driving motor 164 is protruded therefrom back and forth, and extends until the vertical beam placed back and forth. A spiral bevel gear 176 is installed at the respective ends of shaft 148. A driven spiral bevel gear 176a is engaged with each of spiral bevel gears 176. A rotation shaft 150 integrally formed with driven spiral bevel gear 176a extends up and down. At the upper and lower ends of this shaft, warm gears 190 are fixed. With this configuration, the driving force of driving motor 164 can be divided into four portions of slider 104.
Warm wheel 198 is engaged with warm gear 190, and a guide pinion gear 138 is installed at the shaft of warm wheel 198. As guide pinion gear 138 is engaged with rack gear 128 fixed to the side end of the slab, slider 104 can move along the passage of parking structure 102. Reference number 270 represents a guide roller for preventing pinion gear 138 from being detached, while inducing the engagement of pinion gear 138 and rack gear 128. Reference number 206 represents the spline shaft of guide roller 270. Reference number 272 is a rack gear fixing device. Reference number 208 is a roller gap controller. Reference number 144 is a warm gear box. Reference number 210 is a roller fixing device. Reference number 182 is a warm gear box fixing device. Reference number 160 is a spiral bevel gear box. Reference number 184 is a bevel gear box installing device.
Warm gear 190 and warm wheel 198 are used at the end of the slider driving system for the final deceleration. This reduces the distortion weight acting to the intermediate force transmission shafts 148 and 150, and accordingly also reduces the possibility of distortion vibration. Pinion gears 138 directly connected to warm wheel 198 performing self-locking are engaged with rack gear 128 fixed to the side end of the slab of parking structure 102 so that they are not driven reversely even due to external forces such as acceleration/deceleration of speed control, inertia, the movement of gravity center, and the variation of weight. The four ends of the driving system are fixed so that the whole frame of slider 104 is not distorted even without the reinforcement of anglebraces. Only when control motor 164 is driven, four pinion gears 138 operate so that slider 104 can move back and forth stably and calmly without vibration, and be positioned precisely as controlled.
Referring to FIG. 4, opening 120 is formed at the upper center of self-advancing lift 106. Turntable 114 is received into opening 120. The frame of turntable 114 is made of beams and steel plate. A turntable center bearing 216 directed downward is installed at the center of turntable 114. On the bottom of turntable 114 is attached an internal gear 218 concentric with turntable 114. A fixed shaft 282 is installed at the center of self-advancing lift 106, and turntable center bearing 216 is inserted into fixed shaft 282. A plurality of idle rollers 214 are provided around fixed shaft 282 to form two concentric circles, and support turntable 114 to disperse its weight.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, reference number 280 is a rack gear fixing device. Reference number 166 is a turntable driving motor. Reference number 168 is a self-advancing lift driving motor. Reference number 146 is a warm gear box. Reference number 284 is a pinion gear. Reference number 162 is a spiral bevel gear box. Reference number 152 is a rotation shaft. Reference number 220 is a self-advancing lift beam. Reference number 286 is the track of turntable support roller 214. Reference number 288 is the cover of the turntable. Reference number 222 is a turntable beam. The frame of self-advancing lift 106 is shaped in a flat rectangular hexahedron into which circular turntable 114 is incorporated. The self-advancing lift is assembled with I beams and stainless steel plate.
Turning only to FIG. 4, warm gear 192 is formed at the shaft of turntable driving motor 166, and engaged with warm wheel 200. The shaft of warm wheel 200 extends upward. Pinion gear 284 is integrally fixed to the upper end of the warm wheel. When pinion gear 284 is rotated with driving motor 166 driven, internal gear 218 engaged with pinion gear 284 and then turntable 114 are rotated.
Because idling rollers 214 supporting turntable 114 are installed upside down in self-advancing lift 106 while separating from turntable 114, turntable 114 is easy to install, and foreign materials stick less to its contact surface. Warm gear 192 and warm wheel 200 are used when turntable 114 is driven, preventing the turntable from rotating due to inertia involved as various weights are loaded thereon. Turntable 114 rotates by a predetermined angle only as driving motor 166 is driven so that the movement direction of carrier 108 can be controlled freely and precisely.
Referring to FIG. 6, the self-advancing lift driver includes a driving motor 168, which is fixedly installed between central members of self-advancing lift 106. At the output end of driving motor 168, driving spiral bevel gear 178 is fixed. Driving spiral bevel gear 178 is engaged with driven spiral bevel gear 180, and these two bevel gears 178 and 180 are accepted inside spiral bevel gear box 162. The rotation shaft 154 to which driven spiral bevel gear 180 is coupled extends left and right in the drawing. At both ends of rotation shaft 154, another spiral bevel gear 290 is fixed. Still another spiral bevel gear 292 is engaged with spiral bevel gear 290. The two spiral bevel gears 290 and 292 are accepted inside spiral bevel gear box 294, which is fixed to the inner intermediate portion of self-advancing lift 106.
The rotation shaft 156 to which spiral bevel gear 292 is coupled extends back and forth toward the four corners of self-advancing lift 106. Warm gears 194 are fixedly installed to the front and rear ends of rotation shaft 156. Warm wheel 202 is engaged with warm gear 194, and double chain gear 224 and pinion gear 136 are given to the shaft of the warm wheel. Another shaft is placed above the warm wheel, and also has the same size of double chain gear 224a and pinion gear 136a. The two double chain gears 224 and 224a are tightly connected to each other by double chain 226. In order to prevent pinion gears 136 and 136a from being detached toward their sides, a guide rim is formed on both sides of pinion gears 136 and 136a, respectively, as shown in the drawing. Pinion gears 136 and 136a are interlocked with rack gears 122, 124 or 126 shown in FIG. 2. Guide rollers 140 and 142 are used in order to make pinion gears 136 and 136a come into contact with rack gears 122, 124 or 126 by an adequate force and prevent pinion gears 136 and 136a from being detached from rack gears 122, 124 or 126. Reference number 274 represents a warm gear box.
When driving motor 168 operates forward or backward as self-advancing lift 106 is driven, rotation shafts 154 and 156 are rotated sequentially as spiral bevel gears 178, 180, 290, and 292 are engaged. Accordingly, warm gear and warm wheel 194 and 202 are rotated forward or backward, and eight pinion gears 136 and 136a engaged with rack gears 122, 124 or 126 are rotated forward or reverse so that self-advancing lift 106 is raised or lowered.
Warm gear and warm wheel 194 and 202 are disposed at the ends of self-advancing lift driver for final deceleration so that self-advancing lift 106 can be driven at a small torque, and this in turn reduces distortion weight acting to intermediate force transmission shafts 154 and 156. In addition, warm wheel 202 and pinion gear 136 are directly connected with a very short shaft, eliminating the possibility of distortion vibration. Pinion gear 136 directly connected to warm wheel 202 performing self-locking is engaged with non-flexible rack gears 122, 124 or 126 fixed on the inner sides of the vertical beam or at the four corners of the lift/drop passage of slider 104. By doing so, even with external force whose position, direction and magnitude cannot be predicted due to complex factors of the flexibility of chains or wires burdened with different weights whose gravity varies frequently and the interaction between distortion moment according to the variable weights and distortion vibration by the distortion-resistant moment, pressure whose direction is changed toward warm gear 194 is transmitted to the taper roller bearing of warm gear box 274, and the force transmitted to the bearing goes to the warm gear box fixed to the beams of the frame of self-advancing lift 106. Therefore, self-advancing lift 106 does not move slightly, and maintains its intended position precisely. Fundamentally, this eliminates difficulty in position control of self-advancing lift 106.
All kinds of weights generated due to the movement of self-advancing lift 106 are absorbed by eight pinion gears 136 and 136a engaged with four rows of rack gears 122, 124 and 126 so that self-advancing lift 106 is protected from being falling. When raised or lowered while engaged with rack gears 122 and 124 installed in the passage disposed above or under parking structure 102 from rack gear 126 attached to slider 104, self-advancing lift 106 freely moves even if there is a gap corresponding to integer times the pitch of the rack between rack gear 126 attached to slider 104 and rack gears 122 and 124 placed along the passage, as shown in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIGS. 7-21, carrier 108 reciprocates between pallet 110 of the terminal out of the safety door and self-advancing lift 106 or between self-advancing lift 106 arid pallet 112 given to the respective parking sections 132, in order to load and carry vehicles. The frame of carrier 108 is made with stainless steel plate, and the driving mechanism of carrier 108 is divided into reciprocating and lifting/lowering portions.
In FIG. 10, a carrier reciprocation driving motor 170 is placed at the center of carrier 108, and a driving double helical gear 236 is fixed to the output shaft of reciprocation driving motor 170. A driven double helical gear 238 is engaged with driving double helical gear 236. Rotation shaft 158 connected to driven double helical gear 238 extends back and forth, and warm gear 196 is formed at a portion of rotation shaft 158 crossing shafts 296 of wheel 264 of carrier 108. Warm wheel 204 is disposed under warm gear 196, engaged therewith, and received within warm gear box 276.
When carrier reciprocation driving motor 170 operates, rotation shaft 158 is rotated by the engagement of double helical gears 236 and 238, warm wheels 204 engaged with four warm gears 196 along rotation shaft 158 are rotated, and wheels 264 connected to warm wheels 204 are rotated to allow carrier 108 to move back and forth.
By using warm gears and warm wheels 196 and 204 not reversely driven even when external forces such as different intensities of inertia act according to the weight of vehicles, carrier 108 is able to move back and forth only when driving motor 170 is rotated. This enables carrier 108 to be precisely positioned as desired, without a separate braking device.
Referring to FIG. 11, the driving mechanism of the lifting/lowering portion of carrier 108 is divided into a fork expanding portion and fork lifting/lowering portion operating as the fork expanding portion runs. A vehicle mounting driving motor 172 is installed at the center of carrier 108, and a double helical gear 300 is fixed to the output shaft of driving motor 172. Another helical gear 302 is engaged with double helical gear 302. A rotation shaft 298 is connected to double helical gear 302, and extends back and forth. Right-handed screws 240 and 242 and left-handed screws 240a and 242a are installed in the front and rear of rotation shaft 298 in pairs. A lead member 304 is inserted into right-handed and left-handed screws 240, 242, 240a, and 242, respectively. One end of arm 246 is coupled to both ends of lead member 304 via joint 258. Reference number 306 represents joint pins for coupling lead member 304 and joint 258, and joint 258 and arm 246, respectively (see FIG. 12). The other end of arm 246 is fixed to the inner surface of push bar 248 by joint 258, and a plurality of push rods 254 are fixed to the outer surface of push bars 248 (see FIGS. 16-19).
A fork fixing device 260 is installed on the outer side of push bar 248, and a plurality of forks 230 are protruded outward in fork fixing device 260. A recess extending outward from the inner end of forks 230 is formed into which spring 262 is inserted. Push rods 254 respectively fixed to push bars 248 are kept being inserted into the recess formed on forks 230. A fork guide 256 is positioned on the outer side of fork fixing device 260, and a plurality of holes are formed in fork guide 256, through which fork 230 is to be protruded outward. An operation cam 250 extending upward obliquely is attached to front and rear ends of fork fixing device 260, and a cam roller housing 266 is installed inside carrier 108 adjacent to operation cam 250. A cam roller 252 is installed inside cam roller housing 266.
As shown in FIGS. 7, 13, 16 and 20, when driving motor 172 operates while forks 230 are placed inside carrier 108, rotation shaft 298 having right-handed and left-handed screws 240, 242, 240a, and 242a are rotated by the engagement of double helical gears 300 and 302. Then, when two lead members 304 move to be spaced apart, arms 246 coupled to lead members 304 are widened so that push rods 254 fixed to the outer surface of push bars 248 coupled to the end of arms 246 outwardly bias spring 262 inserted into the recesses of forks 230, in order to push outward fork fixing device 260 in which fork 230 is installed. Before arms 246 are widened to the utmost, fork fixing device 260 comes into contact with fork guide 256. In this state, forks 230 are shifted outward to the utmost, and thus cannot be moved more outward (FIGS. 8, 14, 17 and 20).
When arms 246 continue to move outward, spring 262 inserted into fork 230 is compressed, and fork fixing device 260 is raised while eight operation cams 250 corresponding to the lifting/lowering portion of fork 230 make rolling contact with cam rollers 252. When arms 246 expand to the utmost, the lowest end of fork 230 is raised higher than the top of pallet 110 or 112 (see FIGS. 9, 15, 18 and 21) so that carrier can move back and forth without fork 230 interrupted by pallet 110 or 112. If there is a vehicle on pallet 110 or 112, it is mounted on fork 230 of dolly. In case that driving motor 172 is reversely driven, the above-explained operation is performed in the reverse direction. In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, reference number 228 indicates the outer frame of carrier 108. Reference number 234 is the cover of carrier 108. Reference number 232 is a fork support beam, reference number 268 being a cam guide.
The carrier's conveyance of vehicles is performed with the above part operations mixed. According to the conveyance in case of vehicle in/out, a vehicle to park is mounted on pallet 110 fixed to the terminal outside the safety door. While fork 230 is contracted and incorporated in carrier 108 (see FIGS. 7, 13, 16 and 19), carrier 108 moves from self-advancing lift 106 of the safety door until pallets 110 supporting the vehicle coincide with the fork of carrier 108. Subsequently, forks 230 incorporated in carrier 108 are unfolded outward and interposed between pallets 110 to be raised higher than the top of pallets 110. This enables the vehicle placed on pallet 110 to be mounted on fork 230. When the vehicle is mounted on fork 230, the reciprocation driver of carrier 108 operates so that carrier 108 returns to self-advancing lift 106. Then, slider 104 and/or self-advancing lift 106 start to move. When self-advancing lift 106 is placed at a position coinciding with a parking section, carrier 108 moves until pallet 112 fixed to parking section 132 and fork 230 of carrier 108 coincide, and fork 230 is dropped to be lower than the top of pallet 112. This enables the vehicle placed on fork 230 of carrier 108 to be mounted on pallet 112. Fork 230 interposed between pallets 112 is contacted, detached from pallet 112, and inserted into carrier 108. Carrier 108 moves to self-advancing lift 106, which is the completion of vehicle putting. The vehicle taking is performed in the reverse sequence thereof.
As described above, in the present invention, vehicles can be raised with a small motor by using the characteristics of the toggle device of an end gravity. By interposing fork 230 between pallets 110 and 112 while it is spread from the side of carrier 108, a vehicle can be carried when it is raised slightly onto pallets 110 and 112. This eliminates waste of space. Carrier 108 is separated from self-advancing lift 106 to be independently driven regardless of distance so that carrier 108 completes the vehicle in/out operation instead of the driver. This does not require the driver to enter the mechanical chamber, basically preventing safety accidents. In addition, pallet 110 of the terminal the driver's completing vehicle in/out preparation can be set in plurality serially or in parallel or both serially and in parallel, outside or inside parking structure 102, reducing waiting time between the driver and mechanism.
The control of the multi-stacking parking system of the present invention is performed by manually or automatically operating power switches of driving motors of slider 104, self-advancing lift 106, turntable 114, carrier 108, and vehicle mounting portion forward or reversely in sequence. The multi-stacking parking system of the present invention can be automatically or manually driven according to selection because automatic and manual controls include the respective advantages.
The automatic control of the multi-stacking parking system of the present invention is performed in a well-known method in which a flowchart for programming is made and multiple sensors are disposed at proper places. In order to compare advantages and disadvantages between the automatic control and manual control, the manual control will be explained in brief in which the power switches of the driving motors are manipulated while the current position and operation states of the respective driving positions are observed and identified with eyes (or with reference to the input of rotation numbers from a rotary encoder).

<1> Identify the current position of slider 104 and self-advancing lift 106, turn on driving motor 164 of slider 104 and driving motor 168 of self-advancing lift 106 in order to make the position of slider 104 coincide with that of self-advancing lift 106.
<2> Open the safety door.
<3> Manipulate the power switch of turntable driving motor 166 in order to make the direction of carrier 108 positioned on turntable 114 coincide with that of the vehicle.
<4> Confirm whether the vehicle parked on pallet 110 given to the terminal outside the safety door is empty, confirm whether the fork 230 of carrier 108 is contracted and incorporated inside carrier 108, and manipulate the power switch of carrier reciprocation driving motor 170 to shift carrier 108 under the vehicle from self-advancing lift 106 within the safety door, and stop driving carrier 108 when the fork 230 of carrier 108 coincides with pallet 110 supporting the vehicle thereunder.
<5> Manipulate the power switch of lifting/lowering driving motor 172 of fork 230 in order to interpose fork 230 of carrier 108 between the respective pallets, and raise fork 230 higher than the top of pallet 110 to mount the vehicle placed on pallet 110 onto fork 230.
<6> Manipulate the reverse switch of carrier reciprocation driving motor 170 so that carrier 108 returns to turntable 114 of self-advancing lift 106.
<7> Manipulate the power switch of turntable driving motor 166, and rotate the vehicle at a predetermined angle while estimating the position of the parking section to park.
<8> Close the safety door.
<9> Manipulate the power switch of driving motor 168 of self-advancing lift 106 in order to make the top height of self-advancing lift 106 coincide with the bottom height of parking section 132 to park the vehicle.
<10> Manipulate the power switch of slider driving motor 164 in order to shift the carrier 108 mounted on self-advancing lift 106 to be placed at the center of parking section 132 to park the vehicle.
<11> Manipulate the power switch of carrier reciprocation driving motor 170 in order to shift carrier 108 loading the vehicle toward pallet 112 fixed onto parking section 132, and stop driving reciprocation driving motor 170 when the relative positions of fork 230 of carrier 108 and pallet 112 coincide.
<12> Manipulate the power switch of fork lifting/lowering driving motor 172 to lower the vehicle mounted on spread forks 230 of carrier 108 above pallets 112 of parking section 132, and contract and shift forks 230 inside carrier 108.
<13> Manipulate the power switch of carrier reciprocation driving motor 170 so that carrier 108 returns to turntable 114 of self-advancing lift 106.
<14> Manipulate the power switch of driving motor 164 or 168 of slider 104 or self-advancing lift 106 so that slider 104 or self-advancing lift 106 returns to its initial position.

The vehicle putting procedure is completed according to the above controlling process, and the vehicle taking operation is performed in the reverse sequence thereof.
As explained above, because the multi-stacking parking system 100 can be controlled manually, the operations of the respective driving positions can be examined one by one. During actual use, in order to quickly operate the parking system and eliminate labor therefor, data detected by the position detecting sensor, motor rotation number detecting sensor (rotary encoder), and timer is input to a computer so that the power switches of the speed accelerating/decelerating devices or the respective driving motors are controlled according to the operation result of the data through the interface. This automation is well-known in the art (its implementation is complex and various for parking systems made in various forms in various kinds of space), and its specific description will be omitted in this embodiment. Hereinbelow, effects of the multi-stacking parking system of the present invention will be stated.
First, while the bottom of the parking section coincides with the bottom of the lift as in the step <7>, when the carrier loading a vehicle is shifted to the parking section of the parking structure from the self-advancing lift as in step <9>, the chain or wire burdened with the weight of the carrier loading the vehicle is contracted, and the shafts burdened with distortion weight from the chain or wire are restored so that the chain gear and sheave connected to the shafts wind up the chain or wire. Through this process, the bottom of the lift becomes higher than that of the parking section so that, when the carrier returns to the self-advancing lift as in the step <13>, the wheels of the carrier cannot maintain their own positions and interrupted by the stop of the raised lift. This may cause the automatic serial control procedure to be stopped. However, in the present invention, the engagement of the warm gear and warm wheel for self-locking function is used to precisely control the self-advancing lift to be fixed at an intended position, requiring no additional devices such as brake or other fixing devices even with the ununiform distribution of weight or the variation of weight. This eliminates difficulties in position control, and enables the automatic control to be performed serially and smoothly without obstacles.
Second, pinion gears 136 and 138 directly connected to warm gears and warm wheels 190, 198, 192, 200, 194, 202, which eliminate the possibility of drooping of the double chain or wire, or distortion of the shafts regardless of weights or even with different weights of vehicles mounted, are engaged with rack gears 122, 124, 126, and 128. Therefore, in case of steps <1>, <3>, <7>, <9> and <10>, the movement distance of slider 104 and self-advancing lift 106 and the rotation angle of turntable 114 are precisely proportional to the rotation number of the respective driving motor, removing a plurality of sensors. By detecting the rotation number of the motors with the rotary encoder, the position of self-advancing lift 106 or slider 104 or the rotation angle of turntable 114 can be easily detected. For this reason, in case that the vehicle moves more or less than its intended position with the variation of inertia according to the weight of the vehicle, the distance to be corrected from the current position can be easily obtained, which enables the control position to be adjusted precisely in a simple way.
Third, in case that the vehicle is carried toward the entrance/exit via the passage disposed in part of underground or above-ground space for no use as the parking lot, self-advancing lift 106 loading the vehicle is separated from slider 104, and directly raised or lowered to the entrance/exit along rack gears 122 and 124 installed at the four corners of the passage. The driver's vehicle putting/taking operation is completed when the driver gets on or off the vehicle outside the safety door involving no falling, perfectly protecting the driver from accidents. Further, turntable 114 is circular, eliminating complicated control procedure such as process added in case that the turntable is rectangular or square, and control process for driving a device for preventing safety accidents possibly caused when the driver enters the parking system. The whole control of the parking system is simplified and easily performed.
In short, the present invention overcomes mechanical factors causing trouble or obstacles of the multi-stacking parking system, safety problem, complexity involved by the addition of the control process, and time delay factors, sharply increasing the space adaptability and efficiency of the whole parking system.
Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and substitutions can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

A multi-stacking parking system having a separation-type automatic carrying means, said system comprising :
a parking structure (102) having a plurality of parking sections (132) formed in combination of vertical and horizontal members;

a slider (104) mounted on a guide rail (116) offered on the bottom of said parking structure (102), said slider (104) having a vertical member and a horizontal member for fixing said vertical member;

a self-advancing lift (106) capable of repeatedly moving up and down along a passage of said slider (104), said lift (106) having a rotatable turntable (114); and

at least one carrier (108) for reciprocating between a terminal and said self-advancing lift (106) or between said self-advancing lift (106) and said parking section (132).
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of pallets for mounting vehicles are fixedly installed in said parking sections (132) and the terminal.
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of first rack gears (128) are fixed at the end of said horizontal member of said parking structure (102) facing the passage of said slider (104),
wherein said multi-stacking parking system (100) further comprises a slider driver for driving said slider (104) along said guide rail (116),

said driver comprising : a first driving motor (164) fixed at the intermediate portion of said horizontal member and from both ends of which a rotation shaft (148) is protruded; a first spiral bevel gear (176) fixed to the free end of said rotation shaft (148) of said first driving motor (164); a second spiral bevel gear (176a) engaged with said first spiral bevel gear (176) and whose shaft (150) is vertically extended from said rotation shaft (148) of said first driving motor (164); a first warm gear (190) fixed to both ends of said shaft (150) of said second spiral bevel gear (176a); a first warm wheel (198) engaged with said first warm gear (190); and a first pinion gear (138) fixed to the shaft of said first warm wheel (198) and engaged with said first rack gear (128).
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a first guide roller (270) is given to respective first pinion gears (138), said first guide roller (270) coming into contact with the back of said rack gear (128) engaged with said first pinion gear (138) so that said pinion gear (138) and first rack gear (128) are made to be engaged.
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said turntable (114) is shaped in a circle,
wherein a turntable center bearing (216) inserted into a fixing shaft (282) provided at the center of said self-advancing lift (106) is attached under the center of said turntable (114),

wherein a plurality of idle rollers (214) are given around said fixing shaft (282) to form two concentric circles and thereby support said turntable (114).
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in any of claims 1-5, further comprising a turntable driver,
said driver comprising : a second driving motor (166) having a rotation shaft; a second warm gear (192) fixed to the rotation shaft of said second driving motor (166); a second warm wheel (200) engaged with said second warm gear (192); a second pinion gear (284) fixed to the shaft of said second warm wheel (200); and a circular second rack gear (218) attached to the bottom of said turntable (114) and engaged with said second pinion gear (284).
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of third rack gears (126) are fixed on the inner side of said slider (104),
wherein said multi-stacking parking system further comprises a self-advancing lift driver for raising or lowering self-advancing lift (106) along said slider (104),

said driver comprising : a third driving motor (168) having a rotation shaft; a third spiral bevel gear (178) fixed to the free end of said rotation shaft of said third driving motor (168); a fourth spiral bevel gear (180) engaged with said third spiral bevel gear (178) and whose shaft (154) is perpendicular extended from said rotation shaft of said third driving motor (168); a fifth spiral bevel gear (290) fixed to both ends of said rotation shaft (154); a sixth spiral bevel gear (292) engaged with said fifth spiral bevel gear (290) and whose shaft (156) is parallely extended from said rotation shaft of said third driving motor; a third warm gear (194) fixed to both ends of said shaft (156) of said sixth spiral bevel gear (292); a third warm wheel (202) engaged with said third warm gear (194); a first double chain gear (224) fixed to the shaft of said third warm wheel (202); a second double chain gear (224a) fixed to another shaft provided closer to said warm wheel shaft (upper portion); and third and fourth pinion gears (136, 136a) integrally fixed to the shafts of said first and second chain gears (224, 224a) and engaged with said third rack gears (126).
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in claim 7, wherein second and third guide rollers (140, 142) are given to the back of said third rack gears (126) engaged with said third and fourth pinion gears (136, 136a), said second and third guide rollers (140, 142) making said third and fourth pinion gears (136, 136a) engaged with said third rack gear (126).
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein fourth and fifth rack gears (122, 124) are installed to be spaced apart from said third rack gear (126) above and under said third rack gear (126).
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier (108) comprises a plurality of wheels (264),
wherein said multi-stacking parking system further comprises a carrier reciprocation driver for reciprocatively driving said carrier (108),

said carrier reciprocation driver comprising : a fourth driving motor (170) having a rotation shaft; a first double helical gear (236) fixed to the free end of said rotation shaft of said fourth driving motor (170) ; a second double helical gear (238) engaged with said first double helical gear (236) and whose shaft (158) extends in the same direction as the extension of said rotation shaft of said fourth driving motor (170); fourth warm gears (196) respectively formed at the shaft (158) of second double helical gear (238) at an intersection between the shaft (158) of said second double helical gear (238) and the shaft (296) of said wheels (264); and a fourth warm wheel (204) engaged with said fourth warm gear (196).
A multi-stacking parking system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a carrier lifting/lowering driver for lifting/lowering said carrier (108),
said carrier lifting/lowering driver comprising : a fifth driving motor (172) having a rotation shaft; a third double helical gear (300) fixed to the free end of the rotation shaft of said fifth driving motor (172); a fourth double helical gear (302) engaged with said third double helical gear (300) and whose shaft (298) extends in a direction parallel with the extension of the rotation shaft of said fifth driving motor (172); right-handed (240, 242) and left-handed (240a, 242a) screws formed at the shaft (298) of said fourth double helical gear (302) back and forth centering on said fourth double helical gear (302); a lead member (304) inserted into said right-handed (240, 242) and left-handed (240a, 242a) screws; arms (246) one end of which is coupled to said lead member (304), a push bar (248) to the inner surface of which the other end of said arms (246) is coupled, and to the outer surface of which a plurality of push rods (254) are fixed; a fixing device (260) positioned on the outer side of said push bar (248); a plurality of forks (230) fixed to the outer surface of said fixing device (260) and placed between said pallets (110, 112), said forks (230) having recesses extending toward the outer ends from the inner ends; a resilient member (262) inserted into said recesses of said forks (230); a fork guide (256) positioned on the outer side of said fixing device (260) to limit the outward movement of said fixing device (260), said guide having a plurality of holes through which said forks (230) pass; an operation cam (250) respectively fixed to both front and rear ends of said push bars (248); and a cam roller (252) given closer to both ends of said fixing device (260) and allowing said forks (230) to be raised when said push bars (248) are pushed over a predetermined degree.