US20110274523A1

US20110274523A1 - Automatic load-parking system

Info

Publication number: US20110274523A1
Application number: US13/129,567
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Petalas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-01
Filing date: 2009-11-30
Publication date: 2011-11-10
Also published as: WO2010063932A1; FR2939113B1; FR2939113A1; EP2370652A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic load-parking system comprising:—a plurality of storage locations placed at different levels;—at each level, at least one main aisle enabling access to the storage locations;—at least one shuttle configured to carry the load to be parked and to move the latter horizontally into the storage locations;—at least one carrier configured to carry the shuttle and move the latter horizontally into the main aisle;—at least one elevator configured to carry the shuttle and/or the carrier and move them vertically from one level to the other in a vertical shaft; and—a control unit enabling the automatic management of the movement of the shuttle, the carrier, and the elevator so as to move the loads between a transfer area and the storage locations. The invention is characterized in that the storage locations (12) are not all the same size; the heights, widths, and lengths thereof vary, so the control unit (2) is equipped with a means for detecting the size, i.e. the length, width, height, and optionally the weight, of each parked load placed in the transfer area (11) so that said loads are moved and parked in free locations, the sizes of which come closest to the sizes of the loads, said system comprising a device for fixing prices that are proportional to the size of the loads to be parked and optionally to the weight thereof.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is a system for automatically parking loads, and in particular motor vehicles. The system is suitable, however, for the handling of boats, bikes, packages, merchandise, etc.
The invention relates to the general technical field of the storage of objects with a certain order, in warehouses or buildings, and more particular to the field of parking for parking cars and two-wheel conveyances with means of transport moving horizontally and vertically without human intervention.

Prior Art

Fully automated parking lots are known to the person of skill in the art and have been the subject of numerous patent applications or patents. By way of example the following documents can be cited: EP 0,875,644 (SOILMEC), EP 0,987,384 (STOLZER), WO 91/12396 (DUOTECH INNOVATION), WO 96/05390 (SKY PARK HOLDING), FR 2,511,417 (FRIED), FR 2,600,363 (MARCOULET), FR 2,601,989 (SOVER PARK), FR 2,646,193 (KOYO JIDOKI COMPANY), U.S. Pat. No. 2,651,823 (JAMAL), U.S. Pat. No. 2,077,238 (HENRICKS), U.S. Pat. No. 2,428,856 (SINCLAIR) or DE 1,228,390 (HUBERTUS).
All these systems generally comprise:
a plurality of storage spaces positioned on different levels,
at each level, at least one traffic lane enabling access to the storage spaces,
at least one shuttle configured to support the load to be parked and maneuver it horizontally into the storage spaces,
at least one transport carriage configured to carry the shuttle and/or the transport carriage and move them horizontally in the traffic lane,
at least one elevator configured to support the shuttle and move it vertically from one level to another in a vertical shaft,
a control unit enabling automatic management of the movement of the shuttle, of the transport carriage and of the elevator so as to move loads between a transport area and the storage spaces.
These systems are based on the following technical principle: at the time of the arrival of a vehicle (and more generally of a load to be handled), the latter is automatically handled in a transfer area. The vehicle is mounted on a shuttle itself mounted on the elevator. Once the vehicle is positioned on the shuttle, the elevator ascends and/or descends to bring the entire shuttle+vehicle to a level where the vehicle is going to be parked. Arriving at the desired level, the shuttle on which is positioned the vehicle is going to leave the elevator to be positioned on a transport carriage. The latter will circulate in the traffic lanes to bring the shuttle+vehicle assembly to a free location. The shuttle is going to then leave the transport carriage and discharge the vehicle at the selected location. The localization of a storage space and the movement of different means of transport (elevator, shuttle, transport carriage), are driven automatically by the control unit.
All the benefits associated with these systems are easily inferred: handling and restitution of vehicles in a much reduced time, improved performance of the overall volume of storage space, limitation of manpower, etc. However, in all the systems mentioned above, for the same overall volume of storage, one finds approximately the same number of storage spaces. Indeed, the storage spaces have standard sizes and are generally large enough to park the most bulky vehicles of the market.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,753 (SCHWEEN) describes a system for automatically parking vehicles. The storage spaces are not all the same dimensions but only their length is variable. Their width and their height are constant. A means enables testing of the height and length of a vehicle and possibly its weight for the sole purpose of authorizing or prohibiting the entry of the vehicle into the parking area.
Given this state of affairs, the main objective of the invention is to modify the structures of the known systems of the prior art, in order to improve their storage capacity and make them more attractive from the perspective of users.

Disclosure of the Invention

The technical solution proposed by the invention is a system for automatically parking loads of the type known from the prior art, that is to say comprising:
a plurality of storage spaces positioned on different levels,
at each level, at least one lane enables access to the storage spaces,
at least one shuttle configured to support the load to be parked and maneuver it horizontally into the storage spaces,
at least one transport carriage configured to carry the shuttle and move it horizontally in the traffic lane,
at least one elevator configured to support the shuttle and/or the transport carriage and move them vertically from one level to another in a vertical shaft,
a control unit enabling automatic management of the movement of the shuttle, of the transport carriage and of the elevator so as to move the loads between a transfer area and the storage spaces,
This system, however, differs by the fact that:
the storage spaces are not all the same dimensions: the heights, widths and lengths being variable,
the control unit is arranged with means to detect the outline: length, width, height and possibly the weight of each load to be parked positioned in the transfer area, so that the aforementioned loads are moved and parked in empty locations with dimensions closest to their outline,
the aforementioned system comprising a device to charge proportional to the outline of the loads to be parked and possibly proportional to their weight.
These features enable parking of loads depending on their dimensions and thus maximization of the volume available for storage. In addition, the pricing rule is more fair than in prior art systems, making the parking system of the invention particularly attractive.
To make best use of the storage volume, the control unit incorporates a computer program enabling maintenance in memory of the outline of parked loads and real-time analysis of available locations so as to move a load from a location where it was originally parked by default to another location that has became free and whose dimensions are closest to its outline.
Similarly, the control unit incorporates a computer program enabling maintenance in memory of the outline of parked vehicles and analysis in real time the available spaces so as to move the loads from a space where they were being initially parked by default to other spaces where they can be combined in order to optimize the available room.
According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the measurement of the length and the width of the load is performed using motorized carriages running on horizontal guide rails fixed against the walls and/or ceiling of the transfer area, the aforementioned carriages being equipped with scanners for the measurement of the dimensions.
Equivalently, the measurement of the length and the width of the load is performed using motorized carriages running on horizontal guide rails fixed against the walls and/or ceiling of the transfer area, the aforementioned carriages being equipped with cameras to capture the image of the aforementioned load, the central unit being equipped with a program enabling calculation of the dimensions of the aforementioned load from the aforementioned image.
Parking-related features according to the outline of the load are independent, that is to say, do not interact with the other features mentioned.
To improve system reliability, the shuttle, the transport carriage and the elevator are independent of each other and move with their own drive mechanism means. This feature is independent of other features.
It advantageously provides multiple shuttles, multiple transport carriages and multiple elevators, the number of shuttles, transport carriages, and elevators not necessarily being equal in order to increase the flow of loads to be parked. This feature is independent of other features.
It is possible to provide multiple shuttles, multiple transport carriages and multiple elevators, the number of shuttles, transport carriages, and elevators being changeable according to the activity periods. This feature is independent of other features.
The loads to be parked can be automobile vehicles, the dimensions of spaces varying to correspond to commercial vehicles having small outline, medium outline, or large outline.
Preferably:
the loads to be parked are automobile vehicles (cars, motorbikes . . . ),
the shuttle is configured to pass under a vehicle and position itself between the wheels of the latter,
the lateral edges of the shuttle are equipped with means of gripping of each wheel of the aforementioned vehicle,
the means of gripping each comprise a stop element coupled to a cradle serving as support tray during the transport of the aforementioned vehicle, the aforementioned cradle being configured so as to pass under a wheel and tip into a locked position where the aforementioned wheel is sandwiched between the aforementioned cradle and the aforementioned stop element.
To reduce the bulk of the shuttle, the cradles and stop elements are mounted on movable arms between a folded position where they are parallel to the lateral edges of the shuttle and an extended position where they are perpendicular to the aforementioned lateral edges.
Also, the shuttle will be able to comprise a front part and a rear part equipped with means of gripping respectively the front wheels and the rear wheels of the vehicle, the aforementioned parts being mobily mounted on the shuttle so that the aforementioned cradles can pass between the aforementioned wheels and tilt into locked position.
Advantageously, when the shuttle is positioned under the vehicle, the articulated arms spread out between the wheels of the aforementioned vehicle so that the cradles and the stop elements are arranged at the aforementioned wheels.
The features relating to the gripping wheels of a motor vehicle are independent, that is to say, do not interact with the other features mentioned.
It is advantageous to provide a control panel enabling the users to indicate their identity or the identity of their vehicle so that the control unit automatically recognizes them and admits the parking of their vehicle, the panel used being tactile recognition and/or card with or without contact and/or by voice recognition. This panel may be positioned near the transfer area or in a distant local (apartments, offices, commercial centers, airports, train stations, hospitals, hotels, . . . ) or accessible via a computer or a remote portable terminal. This feature is independent of other features.
The transport carriage is advantageously equipped with a turntable enabling rotation of the shuttle and the load about a vertical axis so that it can, if necessary, guide the aforementioned shuttle and the aforementioned load in the direction of advancement into the storage spaces. This feature is independent of other features.
To improve the reliability and dependability of the system, the transport carriage moves via axles on which are mounted wheels, each wheel being rotated by an independent gear motor and each being equipped with a clutch enabling disengagement of its associated gear motor. This feature is independent of other features.
For the same purpose, the shuttle moves via axles on which are mounted wheels, each wheel being rotated by an independent gear motor and each being equipped with a clutch enabling disengagement of its associated gear motor.
According to a preferred implementation feature simplifying the system design, the power supply of the transport carriage is implemented using conductor wipers attached to the aforementioned carriage and brushing on electric rails positioned in the traffic lanes. This feature is independent of other features.
According to another advantageous feature of the invention enabling a quasi-automatic maintenance of the system, the shuttle is equipped with wheels rolling on roll strips positioned on the transport carriage and/or in the storage spaces and/or in the elevator and/or in the transfer area, the aforementioned shuttle being provided at the front and at the rear with brushes arranged to clean the aforementioned roll strips during its movement. This feature is independent of other features.
For the same purpose, the transport carriage is equipped with wheels rolling on roll strips positioned in the traffic lanes, the aforementioned carriage being provided at the front and at the rear with brushes arranged to clean the aforementioned roll strips during its movement.
To improve the predictive maintenance of the system, the shuttle is advantageously equipped with a device to detect an object abandoned in a storage space, the aforementioned detection device being formed by a projecting arm positioned at the front and at the back of the aforementioned shuttle, the end of the aforementioned telescopic arm being provided with a detection sensor. This feature is independent of other features.
The shuttle is equipped with a device to recognize the ground, the aforementioned recognition device being formed by a wheel for recognizing the ground attached to the front and to the rear of the aforementioned shuttle, the aforementioned wheels being coupled to sensors so that when the aforementioned wheels are no longer in contact with the ground, the control unit is instantly alerted and stops the drive mechanism of the aforementioned shuttle.
To improve the positioning accuracy of the transport carriage in the traffic lanes, first bar codes are preferably positioned in the lanes, in line with storage spaces and/or in line with the transfer area and/or in line with the elevator, bar code readers being positioned on the sides of the transport carriage so as to be able to read the aforementioned first bar codes.
In order to improve the accuracy of the positioning of the shuttle, second barcodes are advantageously positioned in the storage spaces and/or in the transfer area and/or in the elevator and/or in the transport carriage, bar code readers being arranged on the sides of the shuttle so as to read the aforementioned second bar codes.
Features relating to the positioning of the transport carriage and of the shuttle by barcodes are independent, that is to say, do not interact with the other features mentioned.
The elevator and/or the transfer area comprise roll strips on which are positioned the load, recentering bars coming to exert a lateral pressure on the aforementioned load so as to center it to the aforementioned roll strips. The latter can be provided with rollers mounted freely in rotation on axes parallel to the direction of insertion of the load, the latter rolling on the aforementioned rollers during the action of the aforementioned lateral thrust. These features relating to the centering of the load are independent, that is to say, do not interact with other features mentioned.
According to yet another advantageous feature of the invention facilitating the change of the system depending on the configuration of the site wherein it must be installed and/or depending on periods of activity, the elevator, its drive mechanism and its device guide, are mounted in a fixed or mobile structure forming the movable vertical shaft. This feature is independent of other features.
When certain loads to be parked are automobile vehicles with electric drive mechanism (cars, motorbikes, or others), before being moved, these vehicles can be pre-positioned on the table connected to a current source and equipped with a means for electrically recharging their drive mechanism means. This feature is independent of other features.
Any defect encountered during the use of the aforementioned system is recovered, in the form of information, in real time to the control unit and/or to a remote management system that processes the aforementioned information. This feature is independent of other features.
According to yet another advantageous feature of the invention, the loads correspond to a fleet of vehicles placed at the disposition the users, the control unit incorporating a fleet management program comprising instructions to manage the modification of the aforementioned fleet and/or to manage the taking of a vehicle and/or to manage the return of a vehicle and/or to manage the selection of a vehicle by the aforementioned system depending on the category assigned to the identity of a user. This feature is independent of other features.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the description of a preferred implementation made that is going to follow, with reference to the accompanying drawings, mode by way of indicative and non limiting examples and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a building or warehouse incorporating the system in accordance with the system in accordance with invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along A-A of the building of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of the system in accordance with the invention in a configuration variant,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view partially illustrating the interior of the system in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along B-B of the interior of the system shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an elevator according to the invention,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the elevator platform alone,

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the elevator platform illustrating the device to recenter the load,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a shuttle according to the invention, the device for detecting an abandoned object being in folded position,

FIG. 10 is a top view of the shuttle of FIG. 9, the device for detecting an abandoned object being in extended position,

FIGS. 11 a and 11 b schematically show the grip of a wheel of an automobile vehicle by the shuttle,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a transport carriage according to the invention on which is positioned on a shuttle,

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the structure of a transport carriage equipped with a turntable, the aforementioned table having pivoted.

IMPLEMENTATION MODES OF THE INVENTION

The invention that will now be described makes reference to the handling of automobile vehicles of the passenger car, van, truck or motorbike (motorcycle, Segway®, . . . ) type. However, the system of the invention applies to the handling of other loads such as bicycles, boats, merchandise, materials or commodities, etc.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the system is designed to be incorporated into a building or a warehouse, above ground, buried or mixed. The building 1 comprises an access 10 enabling a user to bring his vehicle into a transfer area 11 or go out of it. A traversant transfer area 11, equipped with an input port and an output port arranged face to face, can also be provided. Equivalently, one or multiple transfer areas, one or multiple input ports and one or multiple different output ports that are arranged at various locations in the building 1, can also be provided.
Once introduced into the transfer area 11, the C vehicle enters a parking zone comprising a plurality of storage spaces 12 arranged on different levels. On one level, the storage spaces 12 may be isolated from each other or, conversely, some of them can be arranged one behind the other. At each level, at least one lane 13 enables access to storage spaces 12, which may be single or arranged in a driveway. At least one shuttle 120 is configured to support the vehicle to be parked and maneuver horizontally along the Y axis, in the storage spaces 12, even when some of them are arranged one behind the other. At least one transport carriage 130 is configured to carry the shuttle 120 and move horizontally along the X axis perpendicular to the Y axis in the lane 13. And at least one elevator 140 is configured to support the shuttle 120 and/or transport carriage 130 and move vertically along the Z axis perpendicular to the other two axes X and Y, from one level to another, the aforementioned elevator is moving in a vertical pipe 14. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and as explained in the following description, the shuttle 120, the transport carriage 130 and the lift 140 are independent of each other and move with their own drive means.
A control unit 2, remote or incorporated into an equipment room of the building 1, enables automatic management of the movement of the transport carriage 130 and of the elevator 140, in a manner to move the vehicles between the transfer area 11 and the storage spaces 12, without direct human intervention and without using the motor of the vehicles. This control unit 2 enables control of not only the free sites and those that are occupied, but also the position and status (available or not) the various means of transport 120, 130, 140. The controller 2 can also optimize the placement strategies and of the vehicles to optimize the strategies for moving the transport means 120, 130, 140, to optimize the allocation of resources and means necessary to the movements of vehicles to be parked.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the traffic lanes 13 comprise a rolling surface S on which the transport carriages 130 circulate. These traffic lanes may be in the form of a trough, that is to say that the rolling surface S is lined with vertical walls enabling guidance of the movement of the transport carriages 130. Storage spaces 12 are oriented perpendicular to the lanes 13. They are formed by two bands 12 a which are designed to rest the vehicles. The bands 12 a are arranged to form a central channel 12 b in which is designed to move a shuttle 120. Note that the central channel 12 b is raised with respect to the rolling surface S, so that the upper surface of the transport carriages 130 on which rest and move the shuttle 120 is located in the same plane as the rolling surface of the aforementioned central channel 12 b. The shuttle 120 can thus easily reach the channels 12 b when positioned on the transport carriages 130. And conversely, the shuttle 120 can easily reach transport carriages 130 when positioned on the channel 12 b.
When a transfer area 11 opens directly into a traffic lane 13 (FIG. 3), the aforementioned transfer area has a footprint similar to that of storage spaces 12, that is to say that the footprint is formed by two bands on which the vehicles are designed to rest, the aforementioned bands being raised in a manner to form a central channel in which is designed to move the shuttle 120 for the grip of the aforementioned vehicles. The running surface of the central channel of the transfer area 11 being located in the same plane as the upper surface of transport carriages 130 on which rest and move a shuttle 120. A transfer area 11 that opens directly into a storage space 12 lane could also be provided.
The number and the position of the transfer areas 11, the fact that they open directly on an elevator 140 or directly on a traffic lane 130 or directly onto lanes of storage spaces 12 and/or that these transfer areas 11 are transversing or not, will be established based on the configuration and constraints related to the installation site.
In a configuration such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation is the following: a vehicle C arrives in enters the transfer area 11 and is positioned on the elevator 140; the latter brings the vehicle to a level determined by the control unit 2 and wherein spaces 12 are free; a shuttle 120 handles the vehicle, that is to say that the latter is positioned on the aforementioned shuttle (the latter can also be positioned on the elevator 140 and handle the vehicle directly in the transfer area 11), arrived at the level determined by the control unit 2, the loaded shuttle 120 load is supported by a transport carriage 130 that moves in the traffic lane 13 and bring it to a free storage space 12, the loaded shuttle 120 then exits the transport carriage 130, reaches the free storage space located by the control unit 2 and unloads the vehicle at that storage space. The return of the vehicle from its storage space 12 up to the transfer area 11 (where to another area of recovery) is carried in a similar manner.
In another configuration, for example that shown in FIG. 3 and where a transfer area 11 opens directly into a traffic lane 13, without being equipped with an elevator, the operation can be the fallowing: a vehicle C arrives in the transfer area 11 where it is supported by a shuttle 120, the latter, loaded, is then supported by a transport carriage 130 which circulates in the traffic lane 13 and bring it either to a free storage space located at the same level as the transfer area 11, or on an elevator 140 positioned at and/or the other end of the traffic lane and enabling parking of the vehicle at another level; in the latter case, the loaded shuttle is positioned on the elevator 140, which bring it to the level determined by the control unit 2. (it can also be provided that the assembly of the transport carriage 130+loaded shuttle 120 moves through the elevator 140); the loaded shuttle 120 is then supported by a transport carriage 130 that moves in the traffic lane 13 and brings it to the level of a free storage space 12; the loaded shuttle 120 leaves the transport carriage 130, reaches the free storage space located by the control unit 2 and discharges the vehicle at this storage space. The return of the vehicle, from its storage space up to the transfer area (or towards another recuperation zone) is carried out in a similar manner.
According to the invention, the storage spaces 12 are not all the same dimensions: the heights, widths and lengths are variable. In practice, the dimensions of emplacements 12 vary in a manner to correspond to the dimensions of commercial vehicles having small outline (for example cars marketed under the mark SMART® or motorcycles), medium outline (for example touring cars or vans), or large outline (for example 4×4 type all-terrain or trucks). This configuration thus enables parking of vehicles having small outline in the storage spaces 12 having small dimensions, vehicles of medium side outline in storage spaces having standard dimensions and vehicles of large outline in storage spaces having large dimensions. This enables avoidance of the drawbacks of prior art systems wherein a vehicle having small outline is located systematically parked in a storage space having much larger dimensions. This parking oriented as a function of the outline of the vehicle is implemented with the aid of the fact that the control unit is arranged with means to detect the outline of each vehicle that penetrates into the transfer area, so that the vehicles are moved and parked in free storage spaces whose the dimensions are closest to the to their outline, thus totally optimizing the storage volume.
The elevator 140, the transport carriage 130 and the shuttle 120 are equipped with means for communicating with the controller. These means can be, for example, antennas for the reception of communication data transmitted by the control unit 2. This data is transmitted over the air terrestrial links, by radio waves, by radiating cables, satellites, Bluetooth, WiFi (for example IP protocol under standard 8002.11) or others. Each translation axis of the transport means 120, 130, 140 is marked so that the unit 2 can easily control the movement of the elevator 140 to reach the proper level (z), the transport carriage 130 to reach the proper storage space lane locations 12 (x), and the shuttle 120 to reach the proper storage space (y). The control unit 2 manages in real time the availability of storage space 12.
The control unit 2 is in the form of a fixed or portable computer, equipped with a processor, controller or any other equivalent means enabling management of the parking of vehicles. One can provide to incorporate software, or a computer program, for supervision of the management in real time based on needs of user and operators. For example, one can provide multiple shuttle and multiple elevators in order to increase the flow of vehicle processing. Typically, one can reasonably anticipate that in the early morning, at noon and the end of afternoon, the activity will be most intense, because these periods correspond to office entry/exit. Similarly, in certain places, certain times of the year may be busier than others (for example summer resorts). During these periods of intense activity, the control unit 2 can control the movement of the set of transport means 120, 130 and/or 140, while during periods of “peak”, only a limited number of ways transport means will be activated. It is also possible to add transport means 120, 130 and/or 140 during the periods of high activity and to them remove during periods of low activity, thus enabling optimization of the investment. The control unit 2 can also include a computer program enabling analysis of the activity of the system to deduce from it the periods of activity and/or adapt in real-time the processing capability of the aforementioned system. Similarly, the users can indicate to the control unit 2 the time at which they wish to retrieve their vehicles in a manner such that the aforementioned unit controls the transport means so that, on the approach of the indicated time, the vehicle is parked in a location that is close to the exit port. The control unit 2 can also control the acceleration ramps of the drive mechanisms of the different transport means 120, 130, 140 so as to increase their pace depending on the desired flow rate.
To maximize the processing flow rate of vehicles, the applicant noticed that the number of shuttles 120, transport carriages 130 and elevators 140 trucks need not necessarily be equal. Indeed, in a first configuration, a number of transport carriages 130 greater than the number of shuttles 120 and in another configuration a number of shuttles greater than the number of transport carriages can be provided. It is the same for the elevators 140.
According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the control unit 2 includes a computer program enabling maintenance in memory of the outline of the parked vehicles and to analyze in real time the available storage space 12 to parked by default to another storage space that has become free and whose dimensions move a vehicle from a storage space where it was being initially are closest to its outline. For example, take the case where a first vehicle having small outline, of type SMART® is presented in the transfer area 11. Perhaps at this moment, the only free storage space 12 is a storage space having intermediate dimensions, designed for conventional private passenger type vehicles. The control unit 2 is then going to control the transport means 120, 130, 140 in order to transfer the first vehicle into this unique free storage space. In the course of the day, another user wants to retrieve a second parked vehicle, therefore freeing a storage space. If this new liberated storage space is a storage space having small dimensions, then the control unit 2 will control the transport means 120, 130, and/or 140 to transfer the first vehicle to this new storage space.
Also, the control unit 2 will incorporate a computer program to enable maintenance in memory of the outline of parked vehicles and analysis in real time the available storage spaces so as to move the vehicles from a storage space where they were being initially parked by default to other storage spaces where they can be regrouped in order to control the available space. By way of non limiting example, the control unit 2 can control the transport means 120, 130, 140 in order to park two vehicles small outlines in a single storage space having large dimension or, in a similar manner, to park a vehicle having large outline in two storage spaces having small dimensions.
The various transport means will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The elevator 140 is shown schematically in FIGS. 6 and 7. It is constituted by a metallic frame on which are affixed to roll strips 141 arranged in a manner to form a central channel 142. The latter will serve as the passage of the shuttle 120. The rolling surface of the central channel 142 is located in the same plane as the upper surface of a transport carriage 130 on which a shuttle 120 is adapted to rest and circulate. The metallic frame is laid out with a drive mechanism 143 in a way to be moveable in the vertical shaft 14. In practice, the frame is guided in vertical translation by the vertical rails 144 and the drive mechanism 143 is constituted by a motor, a gearbox, and a chain angle transmission. However, any other drive mechanism and guidance device such as cylinders, winches, deformable scissor lifting structures can be used by the person of skill in the art to raise or lower the elevator 140 from one level to another. According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the elevator 140, its drive mechanism device and its guidance device 144, are mounted in a fixed or mobile moveable structure 1400 forming the vertical shaft 14. In this manner, according to the configuration of the site where the system in accordance with the invention is designed to be installed or according to the periods of activity, is possible to easily move and/or add and/or remove elevators 140. In practice, the structures 1400 can be fixed or mobile. In the latter case, the structures 1400 are mounted or motorized wheels.
Each level of building 1 is advantageously marked by a bar code positioned in the shaft 14, in line with the end of traffic lanes 13. A bar code reader is positioned on one of lateral edges of the frame of elevator 140 in a way to be able to read the barcodes. In this way, the control unit 2 can know the exact position of an elevator 140 in the shafts 14 and stop its drive mechanism 143 when the correct level is reached. A similar result would be achieved by equipping the elevators 140 with a GPS® type navigation device connected to the control unit 2.
In a configuration such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the vehicle enters the transfer area 11, it advances to the step on the two roll strips 141 to abut against two front flaps 145 which are in open position. The detection of the front wheels of the vehicle is carried out by a photo detector cell placed on the walls of the transfer area and/or a presence sensor placed at the front flaps 145. Rear flaps 146, controlled by actuators, open in a manner to come to block the wheels before front wheels of the vehicle and form, with the front flaps 145, a ground clearest device with articulated wedge. The slightest deflection of the articulated wedge thus formed, is confirmed by an audio signal and/or visual signal all on a screen provided in the transfer area 11. Any other means enabling blockage of the front wheels of the vehicle can however be used by the person of skill in the art.
A means to center the vehicle or on the roll strips 141 can advantageously be provided. To do this, and with reference to FIG. 8, on each roll strips 141 is provided centering bars 147 coming to exert a lateral thrust, (represented by the arrow) on the wheels W of the vehicle in a manner to re-center the latter on the aforementioned rings. In practice, a centering bar per vehicle wheel is provided. These bars 147 are mounted mobile between a position where they retract into the frame of the elevator 140 (position where the bars are represented in dotted lines) and a position where they exert a lateral thrust on the wheels W. In working position, the bars 147 are positioned in a manner to simultaneously excerpt symmetric thrust forces on the wheels on each side of the vehicle. According to the arrangement of FIG. 8, the wheels W of the vehicle being swerved towards the left of the aforementioned figure, only the bars 147 of the right are going to exert on the wheels from the right a lateral thrust towards the right is a manner to re-center the aforementioned vehicle. The bars 147 are controlled by cylinders and the re-centering force is preferable maintained for the time necessary for the movement of the vehicle. To facilitate the lateral movement of the vehicle on the roll strips 141, on the latter are provided rollers 148 mounted freely in rotation on axles parallel to the insertion direction of the aforementioned vehicles on the elevator 140, the aforementioned rolling vehicle on the aforementioned rollers during the action of the lateral thrust.
Once the vehicle is stationary and centered, its outline is measured. The measure of the length and of the width of the vehicle is carried out using motorized carriages moved on the horizontal guidance rails fixed against the lateral walls and/or the ceiling of the transfer area 11, the aforementioned chariots being equipped with scanners for measurement of the dimensions. The use of a scanner enables rapid taking of the dimensions of the vehicle. However other means of measurement such as image recognition can be used by a person of skill in the art. For this latter case, the carriages are equipped with cameras for taking of the image of the vehicle, the central unit 2 being equipped with a program enabling calculation of the dimensions of the aforementioned load using the aforementioned image. The carriages used are motorized by gearmotors and are moved on systems in translation for example of the type DSL4® of HEPCO®. Each gearmotor is coupled to a coder enabling management of the movement of the carriage to which it is coupled. The scanner is of the type known to the person of skill in the art and enables measurement of the overall length and width of the vehicle. For a rapid taking of the measure of the width, a first chariot that manages the right side of the vehicle and a second chariot that manages the left side will be able to be provided. The number of carriages for the measurement of the width can also be multiplied.
The measurement of the height is carried out by a positioning on the lateral walls of the transfers zone 11 two vertical ELCOM® profile. A first profile equipped with REFLEX® cells is positioned vertically on one of the lateral walls and a second profile equipped with complementary reflectors is positioned on the facing lateral wall. As a function of the cells whose beam is interrupted by the vehicle, it is easy to desert to determine the height of the latter. In an implementation variation, the height of the vehicle could be measured using motorized carriages moving on the vertical guidance rails fixed against the walls of the transfer area, the aforementioned carriages being equipped with scanners. However, other means of measurement of the outline, such as image recognition, can be used by the person of skill in the art.
It can also be advantageous to determine the weight of the vehicle by means of a spring balance arranged with the roll strips 141. The ground clearance of the vehicle can also be measured, that is to say the spacing between the rocker panel and the rolling surface of the roll strips 145. Indeed, a ground clearance too low can impair the installation of the shuttle, as this is described later in the description. This measure of ground clearance can be effected, for example, by means of a hinged shoe positioned at the entrance of the transfer area 11. The least deflection of this articulated shoe will generate data that will be sent and managed by the unit 2, the latter being able to emit an audio and/or signal on a screen provided in the transfer area 11.
For loyal users, one could make provision for identifying their vehicles such that it is not necessary to take a measurement at each use. It will suffice, for example, for these users to indicate, on a control panel provided for this purpose, their identity or the identity of their vehicle so that the control unit 2 recognizes them and automatically admits to the parking. The panel used is advantageously a panel with touch recognition and/or card with or without contact and/or by voice recognition. This panel will be positioned in proximity to the transfer area 11 or in a distant local annexed to the building 1 or not (apartments, offices, commercial centers, train station, hospitals, hotels . . . ) or accessible via a computer or a remote portable terminal (mobile phone, PDA,).
When all these measurements are effected and analyzed by the control unit 2, the vehicle is authorized to be parked or not. A pricing system proportional to the outline of vehicles to be parked, and possibly proportional to their weight, can be provided. Indeed, it seems natural to charge less for the vehicles having small outline and possibly lighter vehicles (which require less energy consumption to move and less storage volume).
The control unit 2 manages the ascent or descent of the elevator 140 in the shaft 14 so as to bring the vehicle to a level where a free storage space 12 is intended for it. When the elevator arrives at the desired level 140, the vehicle is supported by a shuttle 120.
In the case where a transfer area 11 is not equipped with an elevator 140 (as for example the configuration of FIG. 3) and opens directly into a traffic lane 13, it must be understood that the aforementioned transfer area is provided with an impression on the floor similar to that described previously for elevator 140 and includes all of the means of maintaining the vehicle in position and the means of measuring weight and ground clearance described above. A vehicle located in such a transfer area is supported by a shuttle 120 carried by a transport carriage 130 that bring it either a free storage space 12 or in front of an elevator 140 to bring the aforementioned vehicle to another level.
A shuttle 120 in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. It is formed from a metal frame. In practice, the shuttle 120 moves using four motorized axles, each equipped with two wheels 121, that is a total of eight wheels, four on each side. A greater or lesser number of wheels 121 may of course be considered. The eight wheels 121 are dimensioned in a way to support approximately 11 tons. The independent drive mechanism of each axle is provided by four geared motors whose power is adapted to the configuration of the system in accordance with the invention (in order to go fast and/or to effect relatively long distances, the drive mechanism will be given high-power). Each axle is equipped with a clutch enabling disengagement of its associated gear-motor in case of failure it. In this case, the control unit 2 is informed and the latter possibly commands the other shuttles in a way to increase their pace. The powering of the gear-motors is made using batteries equipped with chargers. The chargers take their sources on conductor rails 122 fixed on the lateral sides of the frame and on which brushes a broom attached to the transport carriages 130, so that the batteries are recharged when the shuttle 120 is positioned on the aforementioned car. The drive system of the shuttle 120 is therefore completely autonomous.
The shuttle 120 is configured to pass under the vehicle and positioned between the wheels of the aforementioned vehicle. The shuttle is preferably fitted with direct reflection cells configured to enable detection of the vehicle wheels and centering of the aforementioned shuttle relative to the aforementioned wheels. In practice, the shuttle has a length of approximately 6 m, a width of approximately 1 m and a height of approximately 20 cm. In any event, the shuttle 120 is dimensioned in a way to roll in the central channel 142 of the elevator 140, in the gutter of a transfer area 11 communicating directly with a circulation 13 or in the central channel 12 b of a storage space 12, when the aforementioned shuttle leaves the transport carriage 130.
Once the shuttle 120 is positioned under the car, the gripping of the wheel can be carried out. To do this, the lateral sides of the shuttle 120 are equipped with gripping means 123, 124 for each wheel of the vehicle. These gripping means are adapted to the majority of vehicle models on the market. In practice, the shuttle 120 is equipped with four gripping means, two on the front part and two on the rear part. These gripping means each comprise a stop element 123 coupled to a cradle 124 serving as support tray during the transportation of the vehicle, the aforementioned cradle being configured in a way to pass under the wheel and tilt into a locked position where the aforementioned wheel is clamped between the cradle and the stop element. The fixed stop elements 123 fixed and the mobile cradles 124 have concave elements in common that, in the locked position, combine to form a wedge in which is held in the wheel. In practice, the cradles 124 are mounted rotatable around a horizontal axis parallel to the direction of advancement of the shuttle. The cradles 124 and the stop are elements 123 are mounted on mobile arms between a folded position where they are parallel to the lateral sides of the shuttle 120 and an extended position where they are perpendicular to the aforementioned lateral sides (the movement of the articulated arms is represented by the arrows in FIGS. 9 and 10). The arms are articulated around a vertical axle 125. When the shuttle 120 is at rest without load or is in transit between the transport carriage 130 and the elevator 140, the arms are folded position so that it can be positioned under the vehicle to be loaded. Once positioned under the vehicle, the arms spread out so that the cradles 124 are positioned at the wheels of the vehicle. The shuttle 120 comprises a front part 120A and rear part 120B equipped with a gripping means 123, 124 respectively for the front wheels and the rear wheels of the vehicle. These two parts 120A and 120B are mobily mounted on the shuttle 120 so that the cradles 124 can easily pass under the wheels and tilt into locked position. In practice, the two parts 120A and 120B are symmetrical and translate lengthwise, but in opposite directions, via ball screw motors, 1200A and 1200B respectively.
The loading of a vehicle on the shuttle 120 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 11 a and 11 b. When the shuttle 120 is positioned under the vehicle, the articulated arms are spread between the wheels W of the aforementioned vehicle so that the cradles 124 and the stop elements 123 are positioned at the aforementioned wheels. The advance of the parts 120A and 120B is controlled by the motorized ball screws until the cradles 124 arrive at the contact of the wheels (FIG. 11 a). When the parts 120A, 120B continue their course, the cradles 124 pivot around their horizontal axis of rotation in 1240 and under the traction force of the ball screws pass under the wheels W of the vehicle (FIG. 11 b). In this locked position, the wheels W are held in position from one side of by the cradle 124 and from the other by the stop element 123.
The unloading of the vehicle from the shuttle 120 is made in a similar manner. When the shuttle 120 leaves the transport carriage 130 and positions the vehicle at a free parking space, the parts 120A and 120B recede. Under the traction force of the ball screws, the cradles 124 repass under the wheels W and pivot about their axle 1240 to return in their initial loading position and release the aforementioned wheels. The articulated arms fold then so as to return to the folded position in order that the shuttle 120 can exit the channel 142 and come back on the transport carriage 130.
The shuttle 120 can be equipped with a device enabling detection of an abandoned object (for example a vehicle, another shuttle, . . . ) in a storage space 12. Indeed, it is possible that an object is accidentally present in a storage space, most particularly in the channel of this storage space, and is likely to hamper the circulation of the aforementioned shuttle. Referring to FIG. 10, the detection device is formed by a projecting arm 128 positioned at the front and at the rear of the aforementioned shuttle, the end of the aforementioned arm being provided with a detection sensor 129, preferably having an ultrasonic probe. The arm 128 is moved by actuators 126 between a rest position where it is retracted against the front part of the shuttle 120 (FIG. 9) and an active position where it extends towards the front of the aforementioned shuttle (FIG. 10). When the shuttle 120, moves the arm 128 is in active position. In case of contact with an object, the control unit 2 is notified immediately, human intervention being able to then be necessary to get rid of the object and/or reposition it. A camera, combined with a lighting means or not, can possibly be provided at the front and at the rear of the shuttle 120 in a manner to be able to view, on a screen, the type of object that encumbers the storage space.
Also, it can be advantageous for the shuttle 120 to include a device to recognize the ground. Indeed, the shuttle is designed to leave a transport carriage 130 in order to roll in the channel of a transfer area 11 and/or the channel 142 of an elevator 140 and/or in the channel 12 b of a storage space 12. In case of poor positioning of the transport carriage 130 in a traffic lane 13, for example if it is not exactly in line with a storage space 12 or in line with a transfer area 11 or in line with an elevator 140, the shuttle 120 can be brought to take off the aforementioned carriage, which, understandably, can be seriously detrimental to the functioning of the system. It is the same when shuttle 120 leaves space for the storage space 12 or a transfer area 11 or an elevator 140 and the transport carriage 130 is not present to receive it. Referring to FIGS. 9 to 12, the ground recognition device is advantageously composed of a ground recognition wheel attached to the front and to the rear of the shuttle 120. There wheels 127 are coupled to sensors, so that when the aforementioned wheels are no longer in contact with the ground, the control unit 2 is notified instantly and stops the drive mechanism of the shuttle 120 in order to stop its movement.
Generally, any defect encountered during the use of the system in accordance with the invention can be recovered, in the form of information, in real time to the control unit 2 and/or to a centralized remote management system that processes the aforementioned information. This information management can lead to the installation of degraded operation strategies that can lead to manual handover of the system. This information can be processed by the manager of the building 1 and/or by a centralized management system composed of sedentary and/or mobile personnel equipped with portable terminals for direct access to the system.
To optimize the precision of the positioning of shuttle 120, bar codes are preferably placed in storage spaces 12 and/or transfer areas 11 and/or in the elevators 140 and/or transport carriages 130, and more particularly on the walls of their channel, bar code readers are positioned on the sides of the aforementioned shuttles in a way to be able to read the aforementioned barcodes. In this way, the control unit 2 can know the exact position of a shuttle 120 and stop its drive mechanism when it has reached the desired position. A similar result would be achieved by equipping the shuttles 120 with a GPS® type navigation device connected to the control unit 2.
According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the shuttles 120 are equipped with wheels 121 rolling on roll strips positioned on the transport carriages 130 and/or storage spaces 12 and/or the elevators 140 and/or in the transfer areas 11, preferably positioned in their respective channel, the aforementioned shuttles being provided on their front part and on the rear part with brushes arranged in a way to clean the aforementioned roll strips when moving. This cleaning can be continuous or on demand, that is to say, driven by the control unit 2 in case of need.
A transport carriage 130 in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. By way of example, the transport carriage 130 can have a length of approximately 5.5 m, a width of approximately 2.2 m and a height of approximately 40 cm. It is a metal frame with two roll strips 132 on which roll the shuttle 120. Referring to FIG. 13, the transport carriage 130 moves via four motorized axles, each equipped with two wheels, that is a total of eight wheels, four on each side. A greater or lesser number of wheels can obviously be considered. The eight wheels are dimensioned in order to be able to support approximately 11 tons. The independent drive mechanism of each axle is provided by four geared motors whose power is adapted to the configuration of the system in accordance with the invention (in order to go fast and/or to effect relatively long distances, the drive mechanism will be given high-powered). Each axle is equipped with a clutch enabling disengagement of its associated gear-motor in case of failure of it. In this case, the control unit 2 is informed and the latter possibly commands the other transport carriage in a way to increase their pace. The power supply of geared motors is advantageously via conductor wipers attached to the transport carriage. These pick-ups brush on electric rub on rails attached to vertical walls of the traffic lanes. In an implementation variation, and similarly to that described above for the shuttle 120, the energy supply can be made by means of batteries.
The wheels of transport carriage 130 preferably run on roll strips positioned in the traffic lanes 13, the aforementioned carriages being provided on their front part and on their back part with brushes arranged so as to clean, continuously or on demand, the aforementioned roll strips during their movement.
According to an advantageous feature of the invention shown on FIG. 13, the transport terror to 130 is equipped with a turntable 133 enabling pivoting of the shuttle 120 and the load about a vertical axis. It can in fact be useful to modify the orientation of the table in a way such that the transported vehicle is always facing forward or that the shuttle 120 is oriented in the in the same direction as the storage spaces 12 and/or that the elevator 140 during or unloading of the aforementioned vehicle. In any event, the use of this turntable enables reduction of the width of the storage spaces 12 and of the transfers zone 11 and therefore enables optimization of the available space in the installation site while increasing the processing rate of the vehicles by effecting this rotation in the background during the movement of the transport carriage 130. In practice, the table 133 comprises in its center an exterior crown wheel 1330 meshed by a motorized gear pair 1331. The rotation of the table it is advantageously provided by two gearmotors of 1.1 KW with a torque output of 130 N.m and positioned at 180° from each other. The rotation is 14 turns in clockwise direction and 14 turns in counterclockwise direction. The table 133 is also equipped with runners 1332 rolling on the circular roll bands 1333 positioned around the wheel 1330.
To optimize the precision of the positioning of transport carriages 130 in the traffic lanes 13, barcodes are preferentially positioned in the aforementioned traffic lanes, in line with storage spaces 12 and/or in line with transfer areas 11 and/or in line with elevators 140, bar code readers being positioned on the sides of the aforementioned carriages so as to be able to read the aforementioned barcodes. In this way, the control unit 2 can know the exact position of a transport carriage 130 in the traffic lanes 13 and stop its drive mechanism when it has reached the desired position. A similar result can be attained by a equipping the transport carriages 130 with a GPS® type navigation device connected to the control unit 2.
It can be advantageous to equip the transport carriages 130 with an anti-collision device to avoid the carriages being able to come in contact as they move in the traffic lanes 13. To do this, two anti-collision cells positioned respectively at the front and at the rear of the transport carriages 130 will be provided.
When certain loads to be parked are automobile vehicles (cars, motorbikes, or others) with electric drive mechanism, before being moved, these vehicles can be pre-positioned on the table connected to a current source and equipped with a means for electrically recharging their drive mechanism means. This will then be the table+vehicle assembly that will be handled by the shuttle 120.
The system in accordance with the invention can also be used to place vehicles at the disposition of users. For example in the case of office buildings and/or businesses and/or rental agencies that make vehicles available, it can be necessary to manage the fleet of the aforementioned vehicles. To do this, the control unit 2 can incorporate:
a fleet management program comprising instructions to manage:
→change in the fleet: removing an obsolete vehicle, introducing a new vehicle, freezing the use of a vehicle . . .
→pick-up of a vehicle: triggered by the presentation of a “multiservice” badge, user type<=>vehicle type association, time stamp of each vehicle pick-up, unlocking of a locker enabling access to a fuel card, unlocking of a locker enabling access to keys of the vehicle,
→return of a vehicle: triggered by the presentation of the “multiservice” badge, consistency tests with the pick-up of the vehicle (user/badge/vehicle verification), handling of the return of the fuel card, reestablished kilometerage, handing of possible anomalies and reestablished with the manager, timestamp of the vehicle return with reassignment of vehicle availability (schedule management),
→choice of a vehicle by the system depending on the category assigned to the identity of the user,
a reservation program comprising instructions for managing the accessibility from the Internet by the client (user mode): information about the identity of the user, vehicle category, vehicle pick-up time, vehicle return time, confirmation of the availability of vehicle, application of deadlines before taking and after return, reporting unavailabilities, replacing the vehicle in availability mode if the user does not come to pick it up, if the vehicle is absent (mapping error), the system signals this to the manager and delivers another vehicle in the same category,
a program to manage the accessibility via a Web browser,
a program to manage the accessibility to user cards,
a program to manage the accessibility to vehicle cards,
a program for the management of the relationship between the type of user and the corresponding category,
a program to manage the definition of authorizations between categories of vehicles,
a program to manage the possibility of category overlap in case of out of stock,
a program to manage the optimization of the choice of vehicle in the requested category,
a program to manage the reservation schedule facility (user, vehicle, duration and planning),
a program to include or not include a category in the available reservation,
a program to manage the display of anomalies,
a program to manage user profiles for levels of access to operations of the application (administrator, user and manager) comprising instructions to manage: direct choice of vehicle, vehicle suspension, forcing of entered values (in case of error) of kilometerage, in the area of fuel, acknowledgment of anomalies, display of mapping of the storage zone, editing of the reservation schedule, editing of the tracking status of the vehicles (user, total period of use, category), tracking of fuel cards, exportation of data to a spreadsheet, tracking of first level maintenance of the vehicles (oil change . . . )
a management program for options of the application (customization) comprising instructions for managing: the choice of language, filtering of the access to the functions/visibility of data according to the profile (in administrator mode), the help line, the customization of the appearance, the editing of profiles, the customization of reference tables,
a program for the tracking of assignments comprising instructions to manage:
→vehicles and equipment: taxes due (fees, waivers), maintenance (types and frequency of visits), consumptions (energy types and levels of consumption), insurance, warranty deadlines, deadlines for renewal, additional fields selected by the user (possibility of adding fields),
→personnel: personnel that can be assigned to receive a vehicle, personnel in charge of equipment, shop staff if the fleet is equipped with one or multiple incorporated workshops, drive and use personnel if the use tracking modules are installed, specializing the data according to the type of agent concerned, proposing in the consultation lists only the necessary agents in the operational context in progress,
a program for the tracking of counters comprising instructions to manage: the choice of the unit of activity, the management of counter changes, the computer interface on board the cars, the interface with activity management application,
a program for the tracking of factory price comprising instructions to manage:
→the consumptions: processings of tests (highlight of anomalies in view of norms of consumption), statistics by product, supplier, assignments, incorporating of the cost of consumptions with the complete factory price
→the maintenance: possible control phase, date of service and downtime of the equipment, supplies (internal or external), number and date of order if the service follows an order with which it is then attached, possible line with an accident report file, nature of the service (repair, prevention, accident, tire, adjustment) wording of the service, that can result from the reference to a classification, degree of importance, index counter, amounts, list of parts and supplies, generation of a maintenance log authorizing multicriteria consultations, statistics by nature of the service and/or member group and/or supplier, incorporation of the cost of the maintenance with the price of complete factory price, forward-looking management of operations,
→miscellaneous costs and revenues,
a program for administrative management comprising instructions to manage:
→accidents: background information covering all aspects of need in the simplest cases, additional descriptive information, location, third parties, circumstances, information from administrative and financial management,
→the minutes: identification and description of minutes (cause and circumstances, amount, . . . ), assignment to the responsible user, administrative tracking of the minutes approved by your services (status date: resolved, sent to associate, litigation, closure, . . . )
→tracking of contractual periods and kilometerage (which can evolve in the framework of successive amendments) enabling an effective control of the time/kilometerage pair, detailed content and cost of benefits and services, according to the indicated interval, possibility of test of invoices received with respect to the contractual parameters,
→credit cards: inventory the cards in effect by supplier, vehicle and user, declare the products authorized for each card, card renewals, declaration of losses and thefts, control of invoiced services with respect to authorized benefits (automatic alert to the entry or editing in the list of anomalies in case of integration by interface),
→insurance,
→tax: sticker, TVS, non-deductible charge, business tax
→engineering controls,
a program for technical management comprising instructions to manage:
→preventive: nomenclature of visits and operations, for each among them, a period based on duration and/or the activity of vehicles and equipment involved as well as their age bracket when necessary
→incorporated workshop(s),
→stockage(s),
→fuel tanks: valuating the takings with internal pumps according to unit costs of each site, track quantities in tanks and manage re-supply,
→tires,
→management of workshop personnel: recording of periods of unavailability (vacations, illnesses . . . ), history of work performed (time reported on maintenance operations is automatically taken into account by the management module of the workshop personnel), possibility of recording various times (except workshop work)
a program for the management of use comprising instructions to manage:
→pools
→short-term rentals and transport: commercial section with tariffs, tracking of contracts . . . ,
→contracts for rentals and services,
→operations personnel: recording of periods of unavailability (vacations, illnesses, . . . ), history of assignment, possibility of recording various times (non-operating),
a program for configurable transverse connectivity options: electronic document management, accounting, off-fleet, B.O. universe, multilingualism, reporting module, exportation of data (spreadsheet, sql database, xml . . . ), printing of reports, etc.

Claims

1. A system for automatically parking loads, the system comprising:

a plurality of storage spaces positioned on different levels,

at each level, a traffic lane enabling access to the storage spaces,

a shuttle configured to support the load to be parked and maneuver it horizontally into the storage spaces,

a transport carriage configured to carry the shuttle and move it horizontally in the traffic lane,

an elevator configured to support the shuttle and/or the transport carriage and move them vertically from one level to another in a vertical shaft,

a control unit enabling automatic management of the movement of the shuttle, of the transport carriage and of the elevator so as to move the loads between a transfer area and the storage spaces,

characterized by the fact that:

the storage spaces are not all the same dimensions: the heights, widths and lengths being variable,

the control unit is arranged with means to detect the outline: length, width, height and possibly the weight of each load to be parked positioned in the transfer area, so that the aforementioned loads are moved and parked in empty locations with dimensions closest to their outline,

the aforementioned system comprising a device to charge proportional to the outline of the loads to be parked and possibly proportional to their weight.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a computer program enabling maintenance in memory of the outline of loads to be parked and real-time analysis of available locations so as to move a load from a location where it was originally parked by default to another location that has become free and whose dimensions are closest to its outline and/or be moved to other locations where they can be combined to optimize the available space.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement of the length and the width of the load is performed using motorized carriages running on horizontal guide rails fixed against the walls and/or ceiling of the transfer area, the aforementioned carriages being equipped with scanners for the measurement of the dimensions.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement of the length and the width of the load is performed using motorized carriages running on horizontal guide rails fixed against the walls and/or ceiling of the transfer area, the aforementioned carriages being equipped with cameras to capture the image of the aforementioned load, the central unit being equipped with a program enabling calculation of the dimensions of the aforementioned load from the aforementioned image.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle, the transport carriage and the elevator are independent of each other and move with their own drive mechanism means.

6. A system according to claim 1, comprising multiple shuttles and multiple transport carriages and multiple elevators, the number of shuttles, transport carriages, and elevators not being equal.

7. A system according to claim 1, comprising multiple shuttles and multiple transport carriages and multiple elevators, the number of shuttles, transport carriages, and elevators being changeable by the activity periods.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the loads to be parked are automobile vehicles, the dimensions of storage spaces varying to correspond to commercial vehicles having small outline, medium outline, or large outline.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the loads to be parked are automobile vehicles

the shuttle is configured to pass under a vehicle and position itself between the wheels of the latter,

the lateral edges of the shuttle are equipped with means of gripping of each wheel of the aforementioned vehicle,

the means of gripping each comprise a stop element coupled to a cradle serving as support tray during the transport of the aforementioned vehicle, the aforementioned cradle being configured to pass under a wheel and tip into a locked position where the aforementioned wheel is sandwiched between the aforementioned cradle and the aforementioned stop element.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the cradles and stop elements are mounted on movable arms between a folded position where they are parallel to the lateral edges of the shuttle and an extended position where they are perpendicular to the aforementioned lateral edges and wherein the aforementioned shuttle comprises a front part and a rear part equipped with means of gripping respectively of the front wheels and the rear wheels of the vehicle, the aforementioned parts being mobily mounted on the shuttle so that the aforementioned cradles can pass between the aforementioned wheels and tilt into locked position

11. A system according to claim 9 one, wherein a control panel enables the users to indicate their identity or the identity of their vehicle so that the control unit automatically recognizes them and admits the parking of their vehicle, the panel used being tactile recognition and/or card with or without contact and/or by voice recognition.

12. A system according to claims 11, wherein the control panel is positioned in proximity to the transfer area or in a remote location such as apartments, offices, commercial centers, airports, train stations, hospitals, hotels, or others or accessible via a computer or a remote portable terminal.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transport carriage is equipped with a turntable enabling rotation of the shuttle and the load about a vertical axis.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transport carriage moves via axles on which are mounted wheels, each wheel being rotated by an independent gear motor and each axle being equipped with a clutch enabling disengaging of its associated gear motor.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle moves via axles on which are mounted wheels, each wheel being rotated by an independent gear motor and each being equipped with a clutch enabling disengagement of its associated gear motor.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply of the transport carriage is implemented using conductor wipers attached to the aforementioned carriage and brushing on electric rails positioned in the traffic lanes.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply of the shuttle is implemented using batteries equipped with chargers.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle is equipped with wheels rolling on roll strips positioned on the transport carriage and/or storage spaces and/or in the elevator and/or in the transfer area, the aforementioned shuttle being provided at the front and the rear with brushes arranged to clean the aforementioned roll strips during its movement.

19. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transport carriage is equipped with wheels rolling on roll strips positioned in the traffic lanes, the aforementioned carriage being provided at the front and the rear with brushes arranged to clean the aforementioned roll strips during its movement.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle is equipped with a device to detect an object abandoned in a storage space, the aforementioned detection device being formed by a projecting arm positioned at the front and at the rear of the aforementioned shuttle, the end of the aforementioned arm being provided with a detection sensor.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle is equipped with a device to recognize the ground, the aforementioned recognition device being formed by a wheel for recognizing the ground attached to the front and to the rear of the aforementioned shuttle, the aforementioned wheels being coupled to sensors so that when the aforementioned wheels are no longer in contact with the ground, the control unit is instantly alerted and stops the drive mechanism of the aforementioned shuttle.

22. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first bar codes are positioned in the traffic lanes, in line with storage spaces and/or in line with the transfer area and/or in line with elevator, bar code readers being positioned on the sides of the transport carriage so as to be able to read the aforementioned first and wherein second bar codes are placed in the storage space and/or the transfer area and/or in the elevator and/or in the transport carriage, the bar code readers being positioned on the sides of the shuttle so as to be able to read the aforementioned second bar codes.

23. A system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator and/or the transfer area comprise roll strips on which is positioned the load, recentering bars coming to exert a lateral pressure on the aforementioned load so as to center it to the aforementioned roll strips, the aforementioned roll strips being provided with rollers mounted freely in rotation on axes parallel to the direction of insertion of the load, the latter rolling on the aforementioned rollers during the action of the aforementioned lateral thrust

24. A system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator, its drive mechanism device and its guide device, are mounted in a fixed or adjustable mobile structure forming the vertical shaft.

25. A system according to claim 1, wherein certain loads to be parked are automobile vehicle with electric drive mechanism, before being moved, these vehicles are pre-positioned on a table connected to a current source and equipped with a means for electrically recharging their drive means.

26. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer area leads directly onto an elevator or directly onto a traffic lane.

27. A system according to claim 1, wherein any defect encountered during the use of the aforementioned system is recovered, in the form of information, in real time to the control unit and/or to a remote management technique that processes the aforementioned information.

28. A system according to claim 1, wherein the loads correspond to a fleet of vehicles placed at the disposition the users, the control unit incorporating a fleet management program comprising instructions for managing the modification of the aforementioned fleet and/or to manage the taking of a vehicle and/or to manage the return of a vehicle and/or to manage the selection of a vehicle by the aforementioned system depending on the category assigned to the identity of a user.