GB2414985A

GB2414985A - Car parking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2414985A
Application number: GB0509028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Frederick Dytham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-12
Filing date: 2005-05-04
Publication date: 2005-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-05-04
Also published as: GB0413160D0; GB2414985B; GB0509028D0

Abstract

The invention provides apparatus for parking a car in a garage, comprising a track 4 fixed to the floor of the garage, a trolley 1 on which at least one wheel of a car can rest and a motor 3 attached to the trolley 1 and engaging the track 4, eg by means of a pinion and chain such that the motor 3 can be operated to travel forwards or backwards along the track, drawing the trolley 1 and the car with it. Preferably, the motor 3 includes a memory that stores the amount of power required to operate the motor 3 at each point along the track 4 so that the trolley 1 will stop moving or reverse if an obstruction is encountered. A latch 6 can be provided to hold the trolley 1 at a start position until the latch 6 is released by a car wheel rests on the trolley 1. A further, non-claimed embodiment uses a motor, chain and pulley (21, 38, 33, Fig 4).

Description

SMARI1lARK (Car Parking ADDartUS) The Problem When parking a small family

car in a single garage, mark people experience difficulty Betting in and out of the car. This is especially true of older people, larger people, and people with physical disabilities, and probably presents some degree of difficulty to almost everyone.

When asked 'what is the main problem when parking a car in a single garage', a survey indicated that getting in and out of the car was the main problem.

The Smartpark machine solves this problem' The Invention The invention provides an automate o ar parking apparatus as defined in claim 1. Option and preferred features ofthe appends are defined in the subsidiary claims.

The Drawings Figure 1. is a side view of a first example of car parking apparatus according to the invention, showing a car wheel resting on the trolley.

Figure 2. is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3. is a side view of a second example of car parking apparatus, which includes alternative features that can be used with the invention.

Figure 4. is a plan view ofthe apparatus of Figure 3.

Description

The machine consists of a trolley (1) that runs on rollers in the two U shaped channels (2) that are screwed to the garage floor.

The trolley is powered by an electric motor (3) that runs in the channel (4) that is screwed to the floor in the centre ofthe garage. Limit switches (5) located in the channel determine the stroke of the motor.

Two latches (6) operated by lever (7) hold the trolley finely in position whilst the car is being driven on and off the trolley.

Operation The trolley is positioned just inside the garage door and the car is driven onto it as shown in Fig 1. Latches (6) hold the trolley (1) in position. As the front wheels enter the well ofthe trolley, a lever (7) operated by the front wheels lifts the latch (6).

The car is parked without the handbrake being applied. Because only the front wheels are inside the garage, the car door can be opened to its fullest extent and getting out of the car is unlimbered. The car door is then closed and a button is pressed to start the motor (3. The car is then drawn into the garage by the motor. A limit switch (5) stops the motor at the required point. Because the limit switches (5) are in the channel (4), there are no trailing cables to them.

To get the car out of the garage, the process is reversed - open the garage door, press the button, and the car is drawn out of the garage. Access to the car is easy and the car can be reversed off the trolley.

Tests proved that when driving on and off the trolley (13, stresses were being applied to the motor (3) that could damage the gearbox. To overcome this, latches (6) have been incorporated that will hold the trolley (1) in a firm position. The front wheel ofthe car, when descending into the well of the trolley, presses a lever (7) down which lifts a latch that is holding the trolley by a fixed block on the rail.

When reversing the car, the latch (6) is quickly pulled back into the lock position by a strong spring.

As the motor (3) has a power required memory, no damage can be done to the motor if the remote button is pressed whilst the latches (6) are engaged.

Remote control unit The motor is operated by radio waves from a remote control button. This has many advantages: 1. A person can be well clear of the car when operating the machine.

2. If necessary the car can be stopped by pressing the remote control button.

3. It is very easy to operate the machine, and could be especially helpful for disabled people.

4. It eliminates a danger area. If the switch had to be used inside the garage, a person could be standing very near the car as it stated to move, and stopping the car in an emffgffncy could be dangerous.

ApertQ Drive Unit The unit being used to pOWff the trolley (1) is an Aperto (Registered Trade Marls). This is a machine normally used to operate up and over garage doors. The motor (3) runs in a channel (4) which is bolted to the garage floor. The motor has a worm and pinion gearbox with a sprocket that is located in a fixed static chain in the channel (4).

The power ofthe motor is 24 volt D.C. and is obtained from the channel and the chain so that there are no trailing power cables to the motor.

The motor has a memory which determines how much power is required at a given point which may vary if the car has to negotiate a slope or small step at the entrance to the garage, for example. Should the car or trolley meet an obstruction, such that more power is required, the motor will stop and reverse approx.l2 inches (30 cm).

As the machine is operated by a remote control button, it makes the operation very easy, especially for disabled drivers.

Alternat ve Apparatus Figures 3 and 4 show an alternative automatic car parking apparatus for a garage which does not fall within the scope of the present invention but includes some of the features that can be used with the present invention.

The machine consists of two platforms that are connected by two space bars (31,32) The space bars can be of different widths to suit any cars' wheelbase.

Each platform has four small wheels (11) which run in rails which are screwed to the garage floor (34).

The platforms are powered by a single phase reversible electric motor (21) driving a worm and pinion gearbox (22).A sprocket (23) drives a chain (38) which is attached to space bar (31) passed round a tension pulley (33) and attached to space bar (32). Limit switches (35) operated by a switch operating cam (36) control the amount of travel of the platforms.

The motor is started by a push button (12) through a relay and contactor (13) for each direction, with a master stop button to isolate all electrics in case of emergency.

Two latches (37) hold the platforms in place whilst the car is being driven on and off.

Options The Autopark machine could be manufactured in several ways: 1 As one wide trolley (1), as shown in the Figure 2, with two U shaped rails (2) that would accommodate cars of various wheel base widths.

2. As two separate trolleys, as shown in Figure 4, each nutting in two U sloped rails, and the trolleys being connected by space bars. The space bars would be the required length to suit the wheel base of the car.

3. As one small trolley that would accommodate one front wheel ofthe car. The trolley could be positioned either on the left or right-hand side ofthe garage. This would give easy access to the garage, especially if it is used as a walk-through to give access to the rear of the property, without obstructing the floor across the full width of the garage.

The drive unit would be used as described for each ofthese options.

Claims

1. Apparatus for parking a car in a garage, comprising: a track fixed to the floor of the garage; a trolley on which at least one wheel of a car can rest; and a motor attached to the trolley and engaging the track, such that the motor can be operated to travel forwards or backwards along the track, drawing the trolley with it.

2. Parking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor has a pinion that engages a static chain in the track.

3. Parking apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the motor is an electric motor that draws electrical power from the track.

4. Parking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the motor includes a memory that stores the amount of power required to operate the motor at each point along the track.

5. Parking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the amount of power required by the motor at a point along the track exceeds the amount stored in the memory for that point, the motor reverses direction.

6. Parking apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the motor can be operated by remote control.

7. Parking apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a latch for holding the trolley at a start position on the track, the latch being operable to release the trolley by a car wheel resting on the trolley.

8. Parking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the latch is pivotally mounted on the trolley and the latch comprises on one side of the pivot a latching member that is biased into engagement with a fixed block when the trolley is at the start position on the track; and the latch comprises on the other side of the pivot a lever that is depressed by contact with a car wheel to rotate the latch about the pivot and disengage the latching member from the fixed block.

9. Parking apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a limit switch at each end of the track to limit the travel of the motor.

10. Apparatus for parking a car in a garage, substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2.