The present invention relates to the field of buildings. More specifically to buildings for vehicles parking.
The increase in the number of circulating vehicles and the higher demand for parking spots in large urban centers led to the adoption of vertical solutions for parking places. The various models of parking lots, parking equipment and parking systems for this purpose can be classified into two main types: direct access and indirect access.
Direct access vertical parkings are characterized by the removal of the requested vehicle without the need of moving any previous vehicles, in other words, the transportation system directly access the target vehicle without moving non-requested vehicles. Similar to a regular ground parking, where there is a space for the parking spot and an exit passage for the vehicle, without the need of moving other vehicles that obstruct its way out. There are variations of this kind of model with different automatization degrees, going from manually operated to completely automated.
Vertical parkings of indirect access are characterized by the removal of the requested vehicle with the need of moving any previous vehicle; in other words, the transportation system needs to move non-requested vehicles to access the target vehicle. Similar to a regular ground parking, where there is only the space for the parking spot, it is necessary that a driver removes the vehicles that obstruct the removal of the requested vehicle. Both types of parking are built in a static building structure.
The existing vertical parkings of direct access are really efficient in the access operation of the vehicles; on the other hand, it allocates a relevant part of space to the vehicles' movement system. In this aspect, this parking system goes against its own purpose, which is to optimize the space once it uses a significant area destined to the movement operation and not to storage. In this way, those parking systems need a high amount of pavements to make the system viable. Patents EP0374104, U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,089; U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,636; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,182 relate to parking systems of this kind.
However, indirect access parkings prioritize a better volumetric occupation rate and, due to this, direct movement of the vehicles is precluded. Such movement occurs through different stages in function of the position of the target vehicle and the position of its neighbor vehicles. These systems require more elaborated mechanisms and an increased operational time.
Patent documents EP 0394378; US 20080075566 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,948 relate to indirect access parkings having multiple levels of parking spots.
It is an objective of the present invention to propose a vehicle parking that allows the automated storage in multiple levels in relation to the ground level and, with that, optimizing the use of the ground.
As a last objective of the invention, it is proposed a method for managing the movement of vehicles in parkings of multiple levels.
The present invention relates to multiple levels vehicle parkings comprising a parking box; a supporting base structure with locks, horizontal ground transportation and a lifting system. This parking allows the storage of vehicles in different levels in relation to the ground, optimizing, thus, the use of space.
The parking box can be stacked on a base structure, which allows the stacking of a set of boxes forming a stacking pile. The base structure allows the vehicles to remain at a determined elevation from the ground, allowing, thus, the horizontal movement of the boxes only at ground level.
Hereinafter, a supporting base structure with locks and a horizontal ground transportation will be called solely as a base structure and a set of boxes positioned on a base structure will be called a pile or a box pile. A group of piles positioned side by side along with a lifting system, will be called a line of piles or line of box piles, and a set of line of piles placed side by side will be called as vehicles parked in multiple levels.
The lifting system allows each parking box to be vertically moved. The vertical movement occurs by positioning the lifting system right below the parking box located at ground level, which is, then, lifted up to the first level above the ground and locks the supports of the base structure.
Opposite to the previously explained operation, the parking box is initially locked to the supports of the base structure at the first level above the ground level, until the lifting system is engaged to the box, thus, allowing opening the locks of the base system so that the lifting system moves the box back to the ground level. In other words, in this operation, the locks of the base structure are open first to allow only one parking box of the box pile to be moved by the lift to ground level and then, the locks of the base system are closes to lock the boxes on the first level. From this point, the parking box located at ground level can be freely moved horizontally with two different purposes: for moving the box to the destination place so the vehicle driver moves the vehicle out of the box or to occupy a temporary position at ground, allowing moving the other boxes.
In order to obtain a total and complete understanding of the object of this invention, drawings are attached which reference is made as follows.
The multiple levels (1) parking for vehicles comprises a parking box (2); a base structure (3) and a lifting system (4) that allows storing vehicles in different levels in relation to ground level, optimizing the use of space.
For the purposes of this invention, the terms box and parking box refer to the same structure and can be used indistinctively throughout the specification, conveying the same meaning. The same applies to the plural of these terms.
Thus, the parking box (2) of the present invention is formed by two bases (5) which are suitable for receiving the wheels of the vehicle and have their ends coupled to the beams (6), which, in turn, are coupled to the columns (7) which are provided with engaging structures (8). The engaging structures (8) serve for guiding and ensure the correct fit between two adjacent boxes.
Preferably, the columns (7) are made of metallic tubes having a squared profile, wherein the engaging structure (8) is formed as crossed plates.
The terminal ends of the lateral beams (6) comprise a protrusion (9) suitable as a supporting point where the boxes will be supported by the base structure (3). Tracks (10) are coupled and provided around all of the parking box (2), allowing the parking box (2) to move in both directions during the horizontal movement.
The base structure (3) is formed by four fixed metallic beams (11) forming a framework that is supported by the metallic columns (12) coupled to the foundation on the ground level. Two movable beams (13) are coupled to the framework and can freely move sideways, in order to remain in an opened position that allows the free passage of the parking box (2) or in a closed position that allows supporting the boxes on the base structure (3). Tracks (14) are provided at the lower part of the base structure (3) for allowing movement of the lifting system (4).
A framework, formed by the beams (15), (16), (17) and (18) is placed within the base structure (3), said framework is supported by four small columns (19) and provided with rollers (20). Tracks (10) of the boxes (2) are provided to contact the rollers (20) so they can horizontally move when the electric motor, installed on the framework, accelerates or the brakes the parking box (2) in both directions during the horizontal movement. The electric motor is not part of the invention, thus, it was not illustrated and can be any electric engine according to the prior art.
The beams (15) and (16) are variably lifted a few centimeters and, when located on the highest position, actuation of the rollers (20) provided on the beams (15) and (16) are allowed and when located on the lowest position, actuation of the rollers is prevented, avoiding any interferences with the line of the rollers (20) provided on the beams (17) and (18).
The lifting system (4) comprises one lower framework (21) provided with rollers (22) that move along the tracks (23), allowing the lifting and lowering movements of the beam (24).
Each one of the beams (24) is connected to the rod (25) by its middle part; to the rollers (22) by its lower end and to the articulation (26) by its upper end, being the structure responsible for the lifting and lowering of the lifting system (4). The articulation (26) connects the upper framework (27) to the beam (24). The rollers have their movement horizontally restricted by the guides (28).
The upper framework (27) has, on its four ends, the engaging structure (29) that allow engaging the boxes (2) during the lifting and lowering of the box (2), placing them on the lifting system (4).
In an embodiment of the invention, a line of piles comprises a set of box piles (29) horizontally arranged side-by-side, as can be seen on
The invention also relates to a method for vehicle movement management consisting of a system for optimizing parking space and the multiple levels vehicles parking (1).
The method for managing vehicle movement organizes a sequence of movements of the boxes (2) forming the parking (1), in a way that allows introducing a vehicle into the parking, as well as its removal in a reduce amount of time.
In this invention, the sequence of movements of the boxes (2) and the movements are synonyms and can herein be used indiscriminately and independently, referring to the same feature of this object of the invention.
In this way, the present invention refers; therefore, to a multiple levels vehicle parking for indirect storage of vehicles that prioritizes a greater volume usage. The main difference between this invention and other parking of the indirect types is that the present invention does not need a static building structure, since its structure consists of independent boxes (2) and base structures (3). Despite the fact that the system of the invention has a simpler installation process, it can also be uninstalled and, in this way, it is possible to relocate to other places, thus, allowing the use of the structure of multiple levels vehicle parking according to the need and without losing the investment already done.
The present invention also allows varying the capacity of parking spots in a parking, by adding or removing the boxes (2) based on local demand variations for parking spaces.
Furthermore, the boxes (2) and the base structure (3) do not have mechanical mechanisms, facilitating and reducing the manufacturing and installation costs.
Another advantage of the invention is that the operation of the multiple levels vehicle parking (1) is based on a very simple principle that enables several different movement combinations of the boxes (2), creating a great variety of moving options. Due to this fact, the present invention allows the use of resources for optimizing the process which can be performed in a customized way for each different user flow scenario, providing efficiency in the occupation and, at the same time by using computational intelligence, the invention mitigates the major deficiency of the indirect systems, which is an increased moving time.
Finally, even though the invention has been broadly disclosed, it is obvious for those skilled in the art that several alterations and modifications can be made and that those alterations will be covered by the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102013028165 | Oct 2013 | BR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/BR2014/000392 | 10/29/2014 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2015/061872 | 5/7/2015 | WO | A |
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2874857 | Coursey | Feb 1959 | A |
5314285 | Lai | May 1994 | A |
5707199 | Faller | Jan 1998 | A |
6974293 | Stokes | Dec 2005 | B2 |
8897913 | Luo | Nov 2014 | B2 |
20060018738 | Yen | Jan 2006 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160251867 A1 | Sep 2016 | US |