NZ199976A - Garage with rolling and elevating parking slabs - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Garage installation comprising a plurality of parking slabs transversely movable in an access plane, and a plurality of parking platforms positioned side by side in a pit below of said parking slabs, each of said platforms being vertically movable between a lower parking position and a raised drive-in position joining the access plane within a gap formed by transversely moving the parking slabs into positions close to each other, characterised in that for protecting the pit (11) an automatic control system is installed such that each platform (1, 3...), which has been last used to drive on or to drive off, is maintained in its raised drive-in position for covering the pit at the gap of the parking slabs (2, 4...) until the control system will have been activated to actuate another platform, and in that within the area of the common access plane (10) barrier means in front of said platforms for opening or closing the respective access are connected to the control system such that the partial barrier means associated to each parking place will not open before all necessary raising and transverse movements of the platforms and parking slabs have been finished.

Description

1999 76 Priority Dat&fa): .. 1.3 , .3 . £/ Complete Specification Filed: '.*? ;$?■ c,^r. E=0/fH6|3u- V.'aK.'V1* IlltlStfjffl •••(•(■■(■III & 1 JAN Put^ca'dc-ra I • • ■ icaaceaoata^laaa p n r-- \3-(ob • • ■ Vtf *Jr :i j k.«/ t c U< aaaiiAaaaa>a*ataa Patents Fonri No. 5 Number PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION GARAGE INSTALLATION I/We OTTO WOHR GjahB, A German company of Leonberger Strasse 77, D-7251 Friolzheim, West Germany do hereby declare the invention for which RCwe pray that a Patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - 1 - (followed by page la) -la- 199976 This invention relates to a garage installation of the type comprising parking slabs for the parking of motor vehicles, which slabs are movable transversely of their long sides by means of rollers on tracks laid in an access plane.

Such parking slabs are used in large garages, or multistorey car-parks, for improved utilisation of the area which is taken up by the driveway in front of a row of fixed parking places. Such a driveway, provided to enable access to the parking places which immediately adjoin one another, is generally of a considerable width and takes up a substantial area that could otherwise be used for parking. The movability of the parking slabs ensures that the fixed rear parking places can be accessed as required. In order to create the necessary gap between parking slabs to enable access to a given rear parking place, each parking slab is equipped with an individual drive which the user operates, from a central control point, for the particular parking slab which is directly in front of the fixed parking place which is to be accessed.

It is also known that it is possible to provide only one of a plurality of such parking slabs with a drive means, whereby, by means of this drive, the other parking slabs which do not have a drive, can be pushed or pulled so that, depending on the length of the parking floor, any desired number of such parking slabs can be driven by a single parking slab provided with a drive means. The parking slabs which do not have a drive are, for example, coupled to the driven -2- .199976 parking slab by electromagnetically operated clutches.

Having regard to these known arrangements of movable parking slabs for improved utilisation of parking areas, in which an access gap is created at the desired point by shifting the parking slabs in order to achieve access to other parking places, it is the object of the present invention to provide a garage installation using movable parking slabs in which a relatively large number of vehicles can be accommodated above one another within a given enclosed space.

According to the invention this object is achieved in a garage installation comprising a plurality of parking slabs positioned in an access plane, on each of which slabs a motor vehicle can be parked and which slabs are transversely movable at substantially the level of the said access plane, wherein a plurality of parking platforms are provided below said parking slabs and said access plane in which the said slabs lie such that a motor vehicle can be parked on each of the said parking platforms, and wherein each of the said platforms is substantially vertically movable by way of lifting means, between a lower, parking position and an upper, drive-in position wherein the parking platform is positioned substantially at the level of the said access plane, the said parking slabs being transversely movable in the said access plane to allow a said parking platform to be raised thereto from below. 7 SEP S9S4 .3. 199976 In such a garage installation, the parking places are arranged above one another in at least two planes, with the parking places of the upper access plane being formed by movable parking slabs and the parking places of the lower plane or planes being formed by platforms located in a lower parking space and which, for driving-in and driving-out, are raised up to the access plane after a gap has first been created therein by movement of the higher parking slabs.

Compared to previously known parking systems comprising platforms which are arranged above one another and which are solely vertically movable or pivotable in vertical planes, and where, even if all platforms are fully occupied, there is always an unutilised volume per floor area which corresponds approximately to the floor area multiplied by the vehicle height, the garage installation according to the invention permits improved space utilisation, since only the space corresponding to a single parking place need be left free within the entire installation, i.e. a space, within the upper parking or access plane, which is required to enable by movement of the parking slabs, a gap to be produced in the access plane \o enable the lower platforms to be raised.

Thus the construction according to the invention enables substantial savings in the volume of the building to be achieved relative to known garage installations comprising parking places arranged one above the other. Additionally, expenditure on construction is reduced, since the means for shifting of the parking slabs can merely comprise a simple arrangement of rollers and tracks which are used conjointly for all parking slabs, and accordingly the c-4- 199976 more expensive vertical guides, the stiffening members for the guides and soforth, and the lifting drives for the parking slabs are not required.

A further important advantage of the invention is that one is able to walk on the parking places unrestricted, and getting into and out of a parked vehicle is much more convenient. With known arrangements a bent posture must be assumed when using the lower parking places of a two-storey garage or a parking lift. Moreover, in the present invention, since the movable parking slabs are constantly positioned in the common access plane, they can be used at any time regardless of the position to which they have been moved, and adjacent slabs can be used at the same time.

Driving of the transversely movable parking slabs can be effected in various suitable ways, for example by driving the slabs individually or by means of a common drive for a group of slabs. The drive elements used can be chains or racks and sprockets or pinions in engagement therewith, these being respectively arranged in a fixed position and on the parking slab; friction wheel drives can also be used. The drive can also be effected by means of threaded spindles or of a linear motor on a roller track. A further possibility is to use double-action hydraulic cylinders which can, if desired, be subjected to, and controlled by, a source of pressure which also serves for the lower platforms. The lower platforms can be raised by means of a spindle drive, or hydraulically, or by means of chains, cables or racks.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lower parking space or pit extends the length of the aforementioned rails or tracks, and then, if the width of the parking slabs and parking platforms is substantially the same, the number of platforms will need to be greater by one than the number of parking slabs. This relationship of the number of parking slabs to the number of platforms is however not essential, since suitable embodiments are conceivable in which the number of parking slabs is greater than the number of platforms, for example in cases where, for constructional reasons, the lower parking space is shorter than the length of the running track or rails. On the other hand, for example if the pit and the rails are of equal length, the same number of platforms and parking slabs can be provided, particularly if the lateral guides of the lower platforms each occupy a significant space which, in the case of relatively large or long garage installations, cumulates so that for the same number of equally wide platforms and parking slabs, the requisite space for producing a gap is available for the parking slabs.

Advantageously, the parking slabs are provided, at or near their ends, with rollers whose axles run parallel to the long sides of the slabs. The tracks on which the parking slabs are movable are preferably located in the region adjacent 199976 the edge of the pit, which adjoins the access plane, and at an appropriate height on the pit or garage rear wall, so that the tracks do not interfere with the movement of the lower platforms.

The lower platforms can be movable, between their lower parking positions and their raised drive-in positions, on vertical guides supported from the pit floor. Such guides can in each case be provided on either side of a lower platform, either centrally relative to the platform or in the i vicinity of both ends. A lower platform can also be raised by, for example, being first moved vertically, by its drive, over a certain length of stroke until it strikes a stop, and then being pivoted upwards, by the same drive, until its drive-in end reaches the level of the access plane, so that, in the drive-in position, this platform has a downward slope. This type of approach mechanism, which is known per se, permits the use of shorter vertical guides and, where appropriate, also shorter lifting devices.

In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of parking platforms are connected to one another, in a vertically spaced manner, with each second lower parking platform being positioned immediately below an upper parking platform to form a framework arrangement. The arrangement takes up the area of the pit floor usually required for a single platform and it can be moved vertically by means of lifting devices so as to bring either of the platforms to the height of the access plane. 1 OiQCj'7^ J. oJ xj i D In this arrangement, the lower parking space or pit is of an appropriate depth for accommodating at least two vertically spaced platforms and the parking places located above them. Guides, which can be telescopic, ensure that the platforms, lying in a fixed position above one another in the framework arrangement, are sufficiently rigidly supported even when the lower platform is at the access plane. With such a garage installation which has ten upper parking places in the form of ten parking slabs.and twenty lower parking places in the form of ten times two superposed platforms, it is possible to achieve a saving of enclosed space of 27% compared to a comparable known parking system with three superposed vertically movable platforms.

In another embodiment of the invention, the lower platforms can, in the region of one of their ends, be mounted so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis, so that their opposite* ends can rise to the access plane whereby the platform is moved between its parking and drive-in positions.

It is advantageous, in such an arrangement, if the pit floor is sloped so that it rises towards the pit rear wall and the track on the garage rear wall is located at a greater height than the rail on the access plane, so that the parking slabs have essentially the same slope as the platforms in their lower parking positions. The slope of the upper parking slabs does not necessitate a higher position of the garage ceiling, because the free space above the parking slab which -"diminishes in height towards the back accommodates the motor 3 Vehicle bonnet, which is at a lower level than the vehicle t 199976 roof. With a pit which becomes shallower toward the rear wall, the excavation otherwise required is reduced, so that a total saving of about 20% of enclosed space is achieved with such a garage installation compared to conventional tworstorey garages with two pivotable platforms arranged above one another.

In order to gain even more parking space in sizeable garage installations, the parking slabs can have a width which is only slightly, if at all, greater than the maximum width of a motor vehicle. In that case, each parking slab is provided, on one side, with a podium, which can be extended by means of, for example, hydraulic cylinders or some other drive mechanism, to permit walking on the parking slab whilst getting in and out of the vehicle. To use a lower platform, the upper parking slabs are pushed together after their podiums have been retracted, so that the free space for raising the lower platform is provided. Since this construction saves about 25 cm width per parking place, it is possible, with ten parking slabs, to gain space for an additional parking slab.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention emerge from the description of illustrative embodiments which is given below, in some cases in relation to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows a garage installation 199976 according to the invention, with four upper transversely movable parking slabs and five lower vertically movable platforms, in a section along line I-I in Fig. 2, Fig. 2 shows a view from above of the garage installation of Fig. ~lf in a section along line II-II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a side view of the garage installation in a vertical section along line III-III in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 shows a section similar to Fig. 3 through another embodiment garage installation, and Fig. 5 shows a section similar to Figs. 3 and 4 through a further embodiment garage installation according to the invention.

In Figs. 1 to 3, a garage installation, accommodated, for example, in a basement, comprises an access plane 10, which is adjacent a pit 11, the depth and length of which (Fig. 3) suffices to accommodate completely vehicles parked therein. The pit has a front wall 12, a pit floor 13 and a pit rear wall 15 which extends upwardly into the garage rear wall 15 which connects with the ceiling 16.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, front and rear tracks 17 and 18 respectively are provided adjacent the pit mouth such that they extend longitudinally thereof for the length of the pit 11 as shown. These tracks may consist of rails, and on them upper parking slabs 2, 4, 6, 8 are movable. The parking slabs each include rollers 19 which are mounted on ■* horizontal axles which extend substantially parallel to i the longitudinal sides of the parking slab and which engage J|he tracks 17 and 18. - -10- 199976 As shown in Fig. 1, four parking platforms 1, 3, 5 and 7 rest on the garage floor 13; these are shown in their parking position and can be individually raised to the height of the access plane 10 by means of a suitable arrangement of substantially vertical guides and lifting drives which are not shown in the drawings. In Fig. 1, the platform 9 is shown in the course of upward or downward movement below a gap which has been created by transverse movement of the upper parking slabs. The guides, not shown in the drawing, of the lower platforms 1, 3 ... can be anchored to the pit floor 13 and can consist of rails, columns or the like, in which the platforms are guided by means of lateral rollers or slide blocks. The lifting drive can consist of cables running over rollers and these cables are a particularly advantageous means of ensuring that the drive devices do not extend up into the plane of the upper parking slabs and thus interfere with the transverse movability thereof. Alternatively an arrangement of hinged telescopic scissor drives, which extend and telescope, or of simple hydraulic cylinders which, if desired, engage the parking platforms by means of suitable direction-changing mechanisms (articulated levers or cables), so that they do not have to be supported at a lower level than the pit floor, could be provided. The drive of the platforms could also be realised by the mounting of chains or racks vertically on the pit front wall 12 and rear wall 14, which chains or racks mesh with driven pinions mounted on the underside of the platform. If the drives and guides are provided in the area of the j-tv? V. • •' r I. 19997 front wall and rear wall of the pit, optimum space saving is achieved, so that the platforms shown in Figs. 1 and 2 can be positioned very closely and adjacent one another.

In the alternative embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the rear track 18 for the parking slabs 2, 4, 6, 8 is located at a greater height than the front track 17, so that the parking slabs slope upwardly. The wheel-flange rollers 19 are mounted on horizontal axles on the inclined parking slabs 1 . The lower platforms 22 are each pivotable, in the region of their rear ends, about a transverse axle 2 0 extending transversely of the garage floor, so that their other end may be brought to the access plane 10 by way of a pivoting action, as shown in broken outline in Fig. 4. The platforms 1, 3, 5 ... can be subdivided into a longer standing portion 22 and a shorter flap portion 23 which are connected together by a hinge 21 as shown. A lifting drive, not shown in the drawing, can engage each standing portion 22, at or near the hinge axle 21, so that during the lifting action the flap portion 23 would automatically move into the plane of the platform. The garage floor has a zone 13a which slopes up towards the rear.

In a further embodiment of their invention shown in Fig. 5, a deeper pit 11a is provided, in which parking platforms 24 and 25, arranged above one another, are coupled together to form a rigid framework. Guides and lifting drives for each individual platform frame 26 could be constructed in the same manner as has been described in connection with the Figs. 1 to 3 embodiment of the invention - t 1 o o q >7 a .JL. K> e., YJ V \) This embodiment of the invention also encompass constructions in which, a framework unit is assembled on site, the framework unit being bounded at the top by the two rails 17, 18 with the parking slabs movable thereon, and enclosing the lower parking space, otherwise referred to as the "pit 11", to the extent that is necessary for the inherent rigidity required for the intended mode of operation. In such constructions, the platform guide and drive devices, described above, are attached to or mounted on the components of the framework which bound the lower parking space, and are accordingly independent of the constructional details of the building which accommodates the garage installation, both in respect of the manner in which they are fixed or supported and in respect of their operation. 1. O, Q G '7 p

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A garage installation comprising a plurality of parking slabs positioned in an access plane, on each of which slabs a motor vehicle can be parked and which slabs are transversely, movable at substantially the level of the said access plane, wherein a plurality of parking platforms are provided below t said parking slabs and said access plane in which the said slabs lie such that a motor vehicle can be parked on each of the said parking platforms, and wherein each of the said platforms is substantially vertically movable by way of lifting means, between a lower, parking position and an upper, drive-in position wherein the parking platform is positioned substantially at the level of the said access plane, the said parking slabs being transversely movable in the said access plane to allow a said parking platform to be raised thereto from below.

2. A garage installation according to claim 1 wherein the said parking platforms are provided in a transversely extending pit and wherein the said parking slabs are transversely movable in tracks extending longitudinally of the pit mouth and wherein the number of parking platforms is greater by one than the number of parking slabs. 199976

3. A garage installation according to either of claims 1 and 2 wherein each of the said parking slabs includes rollers which engage the said tracks and which are mounted to the parking slab on axles which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal sides of the parking slab.

4. A garage installation according to either of claims 2 and 3 wherein the said pit is positioned adjacent the wall of a garage and wherein one of the said tracks depends from the said wall adjacent the pit mouth.

5. A garage installation according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each of the said parking platforms is movable between the said lower parking position and the said raised drive-in position in substantially vertically extending guides supported from the floor of the said pit.

6. A garage installation according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the said parking platforms carries depending therebelow and vertically spaced thereform a second parking platform movable therewith to said access plane.

7. A garage installation according to any on of claims 1 to 5 wherein each of the said parking platforms is pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends so as to be movable about a substantially horizontal axis between its said lower parking and raised drive in positions. -15- 199976

8. A garage installation according to claim 7 when dependent upon any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the floor of the said pit is sloped upwards towards a rear wall of the pit and wherein the said parking slabs are so mounted that they are also sloped to the same extent.

9. A garage installation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each of the said parking slabs is of a width which only insignificantly, if at all, exceeds the width of a motor vehicle and wherein each of the parking slabs is provided on at least one longitudinal side thereof with an extendible podium to enable exit from and entry to the vehicle.

10. A garage installation according to one of the preceding claims wherein each of the said parking platforms is movable between its lower and raised positions by means of cables which extend from one end of the platform, to which they are affixed, over upper cable guide rollers provided at or immediately below the said access plane, and over lower guide rollers provided substantially at the level of the floor of the said pit, to cable drive means.

11. A garage installation according to claim 10, wherein each of the said parking platforms runs, at least in the region of their raised drive in position, in guides which prevent lengthwise or transverse movements of the platform.

12. A garage installation substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 - 3 of the accompanying drawings. N.Z. PATENT OFFICE -5 OCT 1984 -16- 1OQG7A L «-• 1/ ( U

13. A garage installation substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A garage installation substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings. „.,VW, McCM* pe;-rro^s F0R '