Automated parking garage/self-storage apparatus

Abstract

A parking system includes a plurality of trays having a parking platform for supporting a vehicle and legs for keeping the parking platform in an elevated position on a supporting surface of the parking facility. The parking system also has at least one automated guided vehicle for moving the tray with the vehicle thereon between an access location and a specified parking location. The automated guided vehicle has a frame and drive devices mounted on the frame. Each drive device has a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis and two independently driven wheels mounted on the turntable. The automated guided vehicle can fit beneath the parking platform of the tray and can lift the tray for moving the tray and the vehicle between the access location and the specified parking location.

Claims

1. An automated guided vehicle for use with a tray having a parking platform capable of supporting a vehicle thereon, the automated guided vehicle comprising: a frame having opposite top and bottom surfaces; a plurality of tray support platforms mounted to the frame for movement along a moving direction between an extended position where the tray support platforms are raised above the top surface of the frame and a retracted position where the tray support platforms are lower than in the extended position; a plurality of platform lifts mounted to the frame and operative for moving the tray support platforms between the extended position and the retracted position; a plurality of drive devices mounted to the frame, each drive device including: a turntable rotatable about a rotational axis substantially parallel to the moving direction of the tray support platforms, a plurality of wheels mounted to the turntable and rotatable about axes substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the turntable, the wheels projecting below the bottom surface of the frame, a plurality of dedicated drive motors mounted on the turntable of each of the drive devices and disposed so that each of the wheels has one of the drive motors and so that the wheels and the drive motors of each drive device rotate with the turntable, each of the drive motors being independently operable and being selectively reversibly operable; and a controller for controlling rotational directions of the respective wheels and controlling operation of the platform lifts.

2. The automated guided vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of drive devices comprise four drive devices.

3. The automated guiding device of claim 1, wherein the drive motors are bidirectional drive motors for selectively rotating the wheels in opposite directions.

4. The automated guiding device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tray support platforms comprises two tray support platforms disposed at opposite respective ends of the frame.

5. The automated guiding device of claim 4, wherein the drive devices are disposed between the two tray support platforms.

6. A vehicle moving assembly for moving parked vehicles in a parking facility, the assembly comprising: at least one tray having a parking platform for supporting a vehicle thereon and a plurality of legs projecting from the parking platform for keeping the parking platform in an elevated position on a supporting surface of the parking facility; at least one automated guiding device having a frame dimensioned for fitting between the legs of the tray, a plurality of drive devices mounted to the frame, each drive device including: a turntable rotatable about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface, a plurality of wheels mounted to the turntable and rotatable about axes substantially parallel to the supporting surface, the wheels projecting below the bottom surface of the frame, the frame and the wheels being dimensioned so that the automated guiding device can move beneath the parking platform of the tray, a plurality of dedicated drive motors mounted on the turntable of each of the drive devices and disposed so that each of the wheels has one of the drive motors and so that the drive motors rotate the respective wheels, each of the drive motors being independently operable and being selectively reversibly operable for selectively moving the automated guided vehicle and rotating the respective turntable, and a plurality of tray support platforms mounted to the frame for movement between a retracted position and an extended position where the tray support platforms are raised above the top surface of the frame and a plurality of platform lifts mounted to the frame and operative for moving the tray support platforms between the extended position and the retracted position for selectively lowering and raising the tray with the vehicle supported thereon.

7. The vehicle moving assembly of claim 6, further comprising a controller for controlling operation of the drive motors and the platform lifts.

8. The vehicle moving assembly of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of rechargeable batteries mounted to the frame.

9. The vehicle moving assembly of claim 6 wherein the legs of the tray are aligned for nesting the tray with another substantially identical tray.

10. A parking system comprising: a parking facility having at least one access location and a plurality of vehicle parking locations; a plurality of trays, each of the trays having a parking platform for supporting a vehicle thereon and a plurality of legs projecting from the parking platform for keeping the parking platform in an elevated position on a supporting surface of the parking facility; a plurality of automated guided vehicles, each of the automated guided vehicles having a frame dimensioned for fitting between the legs of the tray, a plurality of drive devices mounted to the frame, each drive device including: a turntable rotatable about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface, a plurality of wheels mounted to the turntable and rotatable about axes substantially parallel to the supporting surface, the wheels projecting below the bottom surface of the frame, the frame and the wheels being dimensioned so that the automated guiding device can move beneath the parking platform of the tray, a plurality of dedicated drive motors mounted on the turntable of each of the drive devices and disposed so that each of the wheels has one of the drive motors and so that the drive motors rotate the respective wheels, each of the drive motors being independently operable and being selectively reversibly operable for selectively moving the automated guided vehicle and rotating the respective turntable, and a plurality of tray support platforms mounted to the frame for movement between a retracted position and an extended position where the tray support platforms are raised above the top surface of the frame and a plurality of platform lifts mounted to the frame and operative for moving the tray support platforms between the extended position and the retracted position for selectively lowering and raising the tray with the vehicle supported thereon.

11. The parking system of claim 10, further comprising a central controller in the parking facility for associating a vehicle with one of the parking locations in the facility and an automated guided vehicle controller mounted on the automated guided vehicle and communicating with the central controller for controlling operation of the drive motors and the platform lifts for selectively moving a vehicle on the parking platform of one of the tray is between the access location and the parking location associated with the respective vehicle.

12. The parking system of claim 11 wherein the automated guided vehicle controller controls the drive motors for selectively rotating the wheels and thereby selectively rotating the turntables for moving the vehicles between the access location and the parking location associated with the respective vehicle.

13. The parking system of claim 10, wherein the tray has two front legs and two rear legs, the automated guided vehicle being dimensioned to move between the two front legs, between the two rear legs or between a front leg and a rear leg.

14. The parking system of claim 10, wherein the turntable is freely rotatable and is rotatably driven by the action of the drive motors on the wheels.

15. The parking system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of drive devices comprise four drive devices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a parking structure that includes the system of the subject invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tray in accordance with the invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the tray.

(7) FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of an automated guided vehicle in accordance with the invention.

(8) FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the automated guided vehicle.

(9) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

(10) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 8.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a drive device for the automated guided vehicle.

(12) FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the drive device.

(13) FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the drive device.

(14) FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the drive device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(15) A parking garage in accordance with the invention is identified generally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The parking garage 10 includes an ingress bay 12 and an egress bay 14, each of which is dimensioned to receive an automotive vehicle. At least one vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) 16 is disposed in proximity to the ingress and egress bays 12 and 14. Additionally, a queue area 18 is disposed between the ingress bay 12 and the VRC 16 to accommodate an array of vehicles that are waiting for the VRC 16 to become available. Automated doors preferably are provided between the queue area 18 and in the ingress and egress bays 12 and 14 to prevent customers from accessing the queue area 18. The doors to the queue area 18 will be open only after the customer has left the ingress or egress bays 12 and 14. The parking garage 10 further includes a plurality of floors that can be accessed by the VRC 16. Each floor includes a plurality of areas where vehicles can be parked.

(16) The parking system of the invention utilizes a plurality of trays 24. Each tray 24 includes a substantially rectangular parking platform 26 with a top surface 28 for supporting a vehicle thereon and a bottom surface 29. Legs 30 project down from the parking platform 26 for supporting the parking platform 26 in a spaced position from the floor. The legs 30 flare outward or inward slightly so that a plurality of parking trays 24 can be nested in a vertical array for storage and transportation. The ingress and egress bays 12 and 14 each include a recessed floor 20 dimensioned to receive one of the trays 24. The recessed floor 20 is lower than the floor 21 at other locations in the ingress or egress bays 12 or 14 by a distance substantially corresponding to the height of the tray. Thus, the top surface 28 of the parking platform 26 will be substantially flush with the floor 21 adjacent the recessed floor 20 when the tray 24 is positioned in the ingress or egress page 12 for 14 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 additionally, the floor in the queuing area 18 is substantially flush with the floor in the recess 20 as shown most clearly in FIG. 3

(17) The parking system of the invention also includes automated guided vehicles (AGV) 32 for transporting the trays 24 throughout the parking garage 10 with or without vehicles thereon. Each AGV 32 includes a substantially rectangular frame 34 that includes an interior 36 for accommodating the operative parts of the AGV 32. More particularly, the interior 36 of the frame 34 includes an array of rechargeable batteries 38 for providing power to operate the AGV 32. The batteries 38 communicate with one or more recharging connectors 40 in a peripheral region of the frame 34. Additionally, the interior of the frame 34 includes a controller 42 for controlling the various operative parts of the AGV 32 as explained herein. The controller 42 further communicates with a central control for the parking garage 10.

(18) The AGV 32 further includes four platform lifts 44 disposed within the interior 36 of the frame 34. More particularly, two platform lifts 44 are disposed in proximity to each of the respective longitudinal ends of the AGV 32. The two platform lifts 44 at each end of the AGV 32 are connected to a tray support platform 46 that can be raised or lowered relative to the frame 34. At the lowered or retracted position, the tray support platforms 46 are substantially flush with the upper surface of the frame 34. In the raised or extended position, the tray support platforms 46 project slightly above the upper surface of the frame 34. The platform lifts 44 and the respective tray support platforms 46 are used to raise and lower the trays 24 with or without vehicles thereon as explained herein.

(19) The AGV 32 further includes four drive devices 50 disposed at corners of a rectangle and disposed inwardly of the elevator mechanisms 44. Each drive device 50 includes two wheels 52 mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis 54. The two wheels 52 of each drive device 50 are driven respectively by two drive motors 56 so that each wheel 52 has a dedicated drive motor 56. The assembly of wheels 52 and drive motors 56 on each drive device 50 is mounted to a turntable 60 so that the assembly of wheels 52 and drive motors 56 on each of the drive devices 50 can be rotated about a vertical axis. The turntable 60 freely rotatable about a vertical axis and is driven rotatably by the wheels 52 and their respective drive motors 56. The drive motors 56 are operated independently pursuant to signals received from the controller 42 of the respective AGV 32, which in turn is driven by controls of the parking garage.

(20) The longitudinal and lateral dimensions of each AGV 32 enable the AGV 32 to fit between the legs 30 of a tray 24. Additionally, the height dimensions of each AGV 32 enable the AGV 32 to fit beneath the parking platform 26 of the tray 24 when the tray is supported on the legs 30.

(21) In use, a tray 24 will be positioned on the recessed floor 20 in the ingress bay 12 of the parking garage 10 at a position so that a vehicle can drive into the ingress bay 12 and onto the parking surface 28 of the parking platform 26 of the tray 24. Electro-optical signage in the ingress bay 12 will guide the driver of the vehicle to a proper position on the tray 24. The driver then will exit the vehicle and issue appropriate instructions regarding parking duration and payment method. The instructions may be delivered verbally to an employee of the parking garage 10 or may be delivered electronically, as explained above.

(22) The tray 24 with the vehicle thereon then will be transported to the VRC 16. This transportation between the ingress bay 12 and the VRC 16 can be carried out by any of several optional means. Preferably, an AGV 32 will move beneath the tray 24 so that the AGV 32. The platform lifts 44 of the AGV 32 then will be moved into their extended positions so that the tray 24 with the vehicle thereon is elevated slightly from the floor 20 so that the AGV 32 can transport the tray 24 and the vehicle thereon to the VRC 16. Alternatively, a conveying mechanism can move the vehicle from the ingress bay 12 to the VRC 16.

(23) The VRC 16 will move the tray 24 with the vehicle thereon to a selected floor in the garage 10 for parking. An AGV 32 then will transport the tray 24 and the vehicle to a preselected parking location. More particularly, the AGV 32 will move between the legs 30 of the tray 24 and into a position for properly supporting the tray 24. This accurate positioning can be determined by sensors on the AGV 32 and/or on the tray 24. The proper positioning of the AGV 32 relative to the tray 24 will be transmitted to the controller 42 of the AGV 32, which will generate a signal to operate the platform lifts 44 of the AGV 32. The platform lifts 44 will cause the tray support platforms 46 to move into the extended position so that the tray 24 with the vehicle thereon is lifted sufficiently for the legs 30 of the tray 24 to be spaced from the floor. The controller 42 of the AGV 32 then will issue appropriate signals for operating the drive devices 50 of the AGV 32. More particularly, the control of the AGV 32 will cause the drive motors 56 to drive the wheels 52 so that the AGV 32 delivers the tray 24 and the vehicle thereon to an appropriate pre-designated parking location. In this regard, the drive motors 56 all can be operated independently of one another pursuant to instructions received from the controller 42. In some instances, the motors 56 on a single drive device 50 will be operated in opposite directions for turning the turntable 60 to steer the AGV 32 in the required direction.

(24) Once at the designated parking location, the controller 42 of the AGV 32 will issue instructions to the respective platform lets 44 to retract the tray support platforms 46 sufficiently for the legs 30 of the tray 24 to rest on the floor. The controller 42 of the AGV 32 then will operate the drive motors 56 to move the AGV 32 away from the tray 24. The AGV 32 then will be directed to another location for performing more work, such as returning another tray 24 and the vehicle thereon to the appropriate VRC 16 to have the vehicle delivered to the egress bay 14.