This invention relates to an automated system and an automated method for storing items in a three-dimensional warehousing facility, having a catwalk for accessing vehicles.
In a conventional three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage, mechanical elements or motorized conveyances, such as lifts (elevators), cranes, shuttle vehicles (moving platforms), turntables, and other mechanical elements are used to transport a vehicle from an entry/exit station at the arrival/departure level of the parking garage to a parking space in the parking garage and then retrieve the vehicle from the parking space and transport the vehicle to the entry/exit station, without human assistance.
In general, a typical automated vehicle parking garage consists of a storage (or parking) area with individual parking spaces, one or more entry/exit stations (or bays) for accepting a vehicle from a driver for parking and for delivering the vehicle to the driver upon retrieval, and motorized conveyances (mechanical elements), such as elevators and shuttle vehicles, used to transport the vehicle from the entry/exit station to the parking space and to transport the vehicle from the parking space to the entry/exit station for driver retrieval. The conventional three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage is controlled and managed by a control system based on PLCs (programmable logic controllers) or other control circuitry, and by central management software running on a central management computer that operates the control system. The control system is typically resident on one or more PLCs, and the central management software is typically resident on a central management computer that receives inputs from and sends command to the various mechanical elements (e.g. elevators and shuttle vehicles) to coordinate the movement of those mechanical elements, namely, the transportation of a vehicle between the entry/exit station and the parking space.
Automated parking systems such as those described above are designed to provide automated and unattended storage and retrieval of vehicles, and therefore only automatic conveying devices have access to the storage area, and access is not provided to the area where the vehicles are stored. Since human access is not required for normal operation, such systems are designed without a catwalk, stairs or similar devices in order to provide maximum capacity. However, in certain countries or states, human access may be required by the local authorities according to fire abatement regulations.
Another problem that arises from the structure of the automated garage is the safety of the persons that are to maintain the facility. Like any other electromechanical system, preventive maintenance is constantly needed. Due to the nature of the automated parking solution, access to some of the elements in the system may require severe safety considerations.
An automated vehicle parking system having a catwalk structure or bridge installed within the vehicle storage area is described herein. The parking system facilitates the physical access of parked vehicles on different floors by fire abatement teams equipped with fire abatement equipment, as well as the access of maintenance personnel, to each stored vehicle within the system, in a safe and fast way. The main catwalk is positioned proximate the parking area and will maximize the number of available parking places and make efficient use of the space. This garage does not require any increase of the total footprint and land requirements of the system over conventional systems.
Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
a is a top plan view of the ground floor of a three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage having a catwalk;
b is a side elevational view of the stairs used in the automated parking garage of
a is a side elevational view of the automated parking garage of
b is a cut away view of the automated parking garage of
a is a side elevational view of the automated parking garage of
b is a cut away view of the automated parking garage of
Referring now to
The vehicle 12 is moved from the entry/exit station 24a by means of mechanical elements or motorized conveyances, such as shuttle vehicles 34 and elevators 30 as controlled by a central management computer 26 (see
Each floor L1-L4a of the first embodiment, other than the bottom or ground floor L0 of
The elevators 30 are located along the aisle 22. The shuttle vehicles 34 on ground floor L0 move along aisle 22 between the elevators 30 in order to deliver vehicles 12 from the elevators 30 to the parking spaces 16, such as the vehicle 12 from elevator 30 to the parking space 16 or to retrieve the vehicle 12 from the parking space 16 and to return the vehicle 12 to the elevator 30a. The selection of the particular shuttle vehicle 34 and the particular elevator 30a or 30b is made by the central computer 26 or a distributed control system. The decision depends on variables such as the location and status of those particular mechanical elements at the time the instruction is issued to move the vehicle 12 between the parking space 16 and one of the elevators 30a or 30b on ground floor L0, with the central computer 26 monitoring each of the variables.
The parking garage 10 integrates main or primary catwalks 40 (or walkways or bridges) and safety meshes 39 in the vehicle storage area 14 where the vehicles 12 are stored. Through various embodiments illustrated herein, the automated parking garage 10 provides the access to each parked vehicle 12 with a design that uses the minimum usable space for catwalks 40 while conforming with fire department regulations and providing maximum safety. When required, the access is provided to the front of the parked vehicles 12, where the engine is located and which is more susceptible to fire hazards. In all of the alternative embodiments discussed herein, the catwalks 40 are designed to allow access only to one side of the vehicle 12, and in certain alternatives a single catwalk 40 path allows access to two adjacent vehicles 12.
As depicted in Figure la, the main catwalk 40 in each floor L1 and L1a-L4a is located centrally between the inner row of parking spaces 16 (individually labeled P1-P31) and the outer row of parking spaces 16 (individually labeled P1a-P31a). More specifically, one main catwalk 40 is located in a first parking area 14 between parking spaces labeled P1-P16 and P1a-P16a, and another main catwalk 40 is located in a second parking area 14 between parking spaces labeled P17-P31 and P17a-P31a. A connecting catwalk 41 (or bridge or walkway) will join the main catwalks 40 positioned in the rows of parking spaces 16. Additionally, as discussed herein, alternative embodiments of the main catwalk 40 may also be located at the perimeter of the parking garage 10. In each embodiment, the catwalk 40 is positioned slightly underneath the path of the shuttle vehicles 34 in each respective floor L1-L4a, overlapping the same footprint when looked at from above (see
Even with parking spaces 16 in double or triple deep layouts in the parking area 14, the main catwalk 40 is located centrally between the rows of parking spaces 16 and overlapping the shuttle vehicle paths. Only catwalks 40 positioned on each side of the parking spaces 16 will increase the total width of the parking garage 10, therefore keeping the total footprint of the building 11 as small as possible.
The first step of using the parking garage 10 is the vehicle 12 entering the entrance bay 24a-24d. The driver of the vehicle 12 will follow one or more traffic signs that lead to the desired entrance bay 24a-24d. A second signal or display, such as a traffic light (green/red display), will notify the driver when the particular bay 24a-24d is ready to receive the vehicle 12. Note that the entrance bay 24a-24d may also be used for exit (depending on the layout of the facility).
The driver will then direct the vehicle 12 toward the particular entrance bay 24a-24d. When the approaching vehicle 12 has passed a specified point, an automatic roll-up door (not illustrated) opens. The driver will then direct the vehicle 12 inside the corresponding bay 24. An automatic sensors system (not illustrated) will assist the driver in positioning the vehicle 12 in the correct location. The central computer 26 or control system will monitor the vehicle 12 via the sensors system to verify that the measurements of the particular vehicle 12 fit within the specified dimensions of the parking garage 10 and the parking space 16 to safely accept the vehicle 12. If any of the measurements of the vehicle 12 exceed the allowed limitation, then the driver will be requested to withdraw the vehicle 12 from the parking garage 10.
When the vehicle 12 has been positioned correctly in the bay 24, the central computer 26 will provide a corresponding notice. to the driver using a display panel, such as: “The vehicle is parked correctly. Please leave the vehicle.” The driver will engage the parking brakes, check that all the vehicle 12 doors are closed, and leave the entrance bay 24. The driver will walk to an automatic parking ticket machine 52 to take a parking ticket, with the ticket machine 52 being in electrical communication with the central computer 26. The ticket machine 52 may be located in or near the bay 24 (such as in a waiting room 50). The central computer 26 will be able to accommodate regular drivers that pay for parking on a monthly or yearly basis. Optionally, an image of the vehicle 12 including license plate number is automatically captured by a camera (not illustrated) before the storage process begins, to facilitate identification of the vehicle 12 in the case parking ticket is lost by the driver. After exiting the bay area 24, a system component connected to the central computer 26 will check that the bay 24 area is clear before starting the automatic process.
Once the bay 24 is clear, the central computer 26 will begin the process of automatically conveying the vehicle 12 to an available parking space 16 using shuttle vehicles 34, conveyors, elevators 30 and/or other automated conveying devices or mechanical elements. In the illustrated embodiment, the driver will park the vehicle 12 in the delivery bay 24 on the rotating platform 33. However, it should be noted that the rotating platform 33 can be located down the path of the entry level and no necessarily at the delivery bay 24. After the vehicle 12 has been scanned, the central computer 26 will determine the available and appropriate parking space 16 for the vehicle 12, and the vehicle 12 will be rotated, if necessary, to achieve the desired orientation with respect to the catwalk 40 and the available parking space 16. That is, software operated by the central computer 26 will determine whether the front or rear is to be proximate the main catwalk 40, and then direct the rotating platform 33 to rotate the vehicle 12 by 180 degrees to provide the desired orientation of the vehicle 12 before being loaded onto the mechanical elements for moving the vehicle 12. Thus, the parking garage 10 will store the vehicles 12 so that each vehicle 12 will always face a catwalk 40 for easy access to the front of the vehicle 12.
In the embodiment shown in
One or more main catwalks 40 are positioned adjacent the parking slots 16, with the main catwalk 40 being positioned underneath or below the path of the travel of the shuttle vehicle 34 that moves the vehicle 12 horizontally (see
When the driver wishes to retrieve the vehicle 12 from the parking space 16, he will enter the waiting room 50 and insert the parking card (or member card) to the automatic payment machine or identification station 52, which could include a separate computer or be a link to the central computer 26. The station 52 calculates the parking time for the particular vehicle 12, and after the payment process is complete and/or valid membership is authenticated, the automatic vehicle retrieval process is started.
The driver can follow the process on a display in the waiting room 50 that shows the list of vehicles 12 that are being retrieved and the estimated time left before each vehicle 12 is expected to reach an exit bay 24a-24d. The vehicle 12 will be engaged by a shuttle vehicle 34 in the parking space 16 and taken to one of the elevators 30, and then returned to the ground floor L0. The vehicle 12 will then be transported to the rotatable platform 33, and using information stored in the central computer 26, the system will determine if the vehicle 12 needs to be rotated for the vehicle 12 to be in the exit-facing position in the bay 24a-24d. Once the vehicle 12 has been placed in the exit bay 24a-24d, the driver will be notified by a message on the display showing the number of the particular bay 24a-24d where the vehicle 12 is located. The driver enters the correct bay 24a-24d, finds the vehicle 12 in a convenient exit-facing position, and leaves with his vehicle 12.
This invention provides the safest method to access every component of the system (shuttle vehicle 24, elevator 30, etc.) for regular maintenance or repairs. Any other solution is either more risky (without catwalks 40, maintenance persons have to walk on the storage shelving structure, and sometimes needs to be suspended to reach remote components), or compromise space utilization (there is always the possibility to add catwalks 40 that are not overlapping the moving shuttle vehicle as suggested by this invention, and therefore increase the total width or length of the system, thus requiring more land area).
In a second embodiment illustrated in
In a third embodiment shown in
Looking to
In a further embodiment shown in
In a fourth alternative illustrated in
While an AUTOMATED VEHICLE PARKING GARAGE WITH CATWALK INSTALLATION has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/978,581 filed Oct. 9, 2007, which is incorporated herein in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60978581 | Oct 2007 | US |