VEHICLE PARKING/STORAGE SYSTEM WITH CHARGER

Abstract

A storage/parking system has a vertical base structure defining a loading station and a storage/parking station thereabove. A drive moves a plurality of gondolas vertically along the structure, and a power supply is provided in at least one of the gondolas. A feed cable extends from a fixed point on the structure to the supply, and a flexible element secured to the one gondola for movement therewith guides the feed cable between the point and the supply.

Claims

1. A storage/parking system comprising: a vertical base structure defining a loading station and a storage/parking station thereabove; a plurality of gondolas; a drive for displacing the gondolas vertically along the structure; a power supply in at least one of the gondolas; a feed cable extending from a fixed point on the structure to the supply; and a flexible element secured to the one gondola for movement therewith and guiding the feed cable between the point and the supply.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the drive includes upper and lower wheels carried on the structure and an endless traction chain reeved over the wheels and carrying the gondolas.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising at least one entrainment formation on the chain or on the flexible element coupling the chain and element together for joint movement.

4. The system according to claim 2, the wheels are each double for driving the chain and the flexible element.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the flexible element extends between and has opposite ends connected to fixed points at an upper end of the structure.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein the flexible passes only over the upper wheel.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the flexible element is movable between one end position hanging as a loop from the points to one side of the structure and another end position hanging as a loop from the points to an opposite side of the structure.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the flexible element is formed of links.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein each of the links is of U-section and surrounds the feed cable on three sides.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising: a data line connected to the supply and guided in the flexible elements.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein there are a plurality of the supplies in respective ones of the gondolas and a plurality of the feed cables each connected to a respective one of the supplies, the flexible element further comprising separators forming respective passages through the links for the cables.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising: strain reliefs between the cables and the links.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the links is provided with at least one entrainment formation for connection to the traction chain.

14. The system according to claim 10, further comprising: a load controller connected to the supply via the data line.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the supplies are chargers operated by the controller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0029] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a parking system according to the invention;

[0031] FIGS. 2A-2C are views of the system in different positions; and

[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a link of the guide chain.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a storage/parking system for vehicles 1. The vehicle 1 in question can e a hybrid or full-electric motor vehicle. The system can also work with standard bicycles, electric bicycles, electric motor bikes, electric quads, electric trucks etc. or with vehicles having conventional drive or even no drive.

[0034] For this purpose the storage/parking system can be equipped with one or several walls 2 or an open variant. In addition there is generally a stationary base structure 3 support on a floor 4, normally at or close to ground level. The base structure 3 can be a steel frame capable of supporting a plurality of, here eight, parking gondolas 5 each having in turn a floor 5a on which the respective vehicle 1 is parked. The floor 5a is spend by a framework 5b itself pivoted on a respective suspension arm 6 that is fixed to one or more links of an endless traction chain 7. Like the floor 5a, the base structure 3 is rectangular, seen from above. The narrow sides of the floor 5a and of the base structure 3 are aligned with each other.

[0035] The flexible and endless traction or traction chains 7 are each reeved between upper and lower wheels 8. One of the wheels 8 is at the top of the base structure 3 and the other is at its base, forming there a loading/unloading station 23. In addition the base structure 3 has on its front narrow side two of the wheels 8 with a respective the traction chain 7 passing over them and on the opposite narrow back side two identically constructed wheels 8 with the other endless traction chain 7. Thus the individual parking gondolas 5 move according to the paternoster principle with the aid of the two parallel traction chains 7 and the respective park gondolas 5 suspended from them.

[0036] If one assumes in this context a complete orbital motion through 360° is effected, FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show equivalent movement starting from a middle FIG. 2B position at 0° in a direction to -180° to the FIG. 2A position and in the other direction +180° to the FIG. 2C position, so each of the represented parking gondolas 5 moves through the loading/unloading station 23.

[0037] When one of the gondolas 5 is in the station 23, the respective vehicle 1 can enter it and leave it at ground level. Once the vehicle 1 is loaded, a drive 9, 10 for the coupled parking gondolas 5 with each other is controlled so that as consequence of it the gondola 5 in the station 23 is moved vertically and/or horizontally. During such movement, it passes through several vertically offset levels, at each of which the vehicle 1 could be moved off horizontally, for parking or storage, normally above ground level. Of course it is also possible to work with other loading positions, for example with the vehicles 1 driving onto the floor 5a via a ramp to move above ground level for loading.

[0038] The drive 9, 10 is according to the embodiment formed by an electric motor 9 and a gear train or transmission including a drive wheel 10 that meshes with the links of the traction chain 7 and in this manner drives the endless traction chain 7. This produces the travel movement according to FIGS. 2A to 2C both in one direction (clockwise) and also in the other direction (counterclockwise), so that in this way each parking gondola 5 can move from the lower loading/unloading station 23 into one of the overhead storage/parking positions or stations and back again.

[0039] As mentioned above, the storage/parking system 1 according to the invention can be an open structure without closed side walls 2 and even without the roof 11. Then there are walls 2 and a roof 11, the walls 2 can be used for example as multimedia advertising surfaces. In addition the roof 11 can carry arrays of solar cells, as can the walls 2. An additional indicated battery storage 12′ can be provided so that during peaks the electrical charging of the individual vehicles 1 is interrupted, whereas otherwise electrical power can be stored in the battery storage 12′, which can also store extra energy from the solar cells.

[0040] Access to storage/parking system is possible via an automated access control with or without remote control. For this in the framework of the access control, authorization is checked. The authorization can be with a code entered by the vehicle driver at a terminal either with an RFID system or by use of a QR code or the like.

[0041] According to this invention some or all of the parking gondolas 5 are provided with a respective electrical supply 12. FIG. 1 shows only a single electrical supply 12 by way of example, but as mentioned more or all of the gondolas 5 can be thus equipped. With their help the respective vehicle 1 can be charged inductively. According to the illustrated embodiment the charging process however is carried out as shown in FIG. 1 by electrical connection cable between the vehicle 1 and the electrical supply or supply 12. In this example electrical power of 22 KW is made available. Further such supplies 12 can be provided at ground level, although that is not shown here.

[0042] According to the invention respective electrical feed cables 13 are provided for the supplies 12 that are held in a flexible guide chain 14 as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C. In addition the chain 14 contains and guides a data line 15. The traction chain 7 and the trailing chain 14 are moved synchronously.

[0043] The setup is such that the parking gondolas 5 are connected with each other by the traction chain 17 spanned between the two wheels 8 and moved by the drive 9, 10, which chain 7 also drives the guide chain 14. For this the traction chain 7 is equipped with individual entrainment formations that fit in respective seats of the guide chain 14. The wheels 8 are double wheels or double pinions that entrain both the traction chain 7 and with the guide chain 14. For this purpose, the traction chain 7 with its double pinion and also the guide chain 14 with its double pinion move predominantly in respective parallel planes spaced from each other.

[0044] In addition a guide 16 is provided for the individual parking gondolas 5 or suspension arms 6 from which they are hung. In addition,a further guide 17 is provided for the guide chain 14. These are U-shaped guide rails.

[0045] The guide chains 14 are according to FIGS. 2A to 2C each connected to two fixed points 18 at the top of the base structure 3. The guide chain 14 starting from the a fixed point 18 passes only over the upper wheel 8 on the base structure 3, then falls as a loop connected to the other fixed point 18. In contrast each traction chain 7 is endless and reeved on both upper and lower wheels 8 with two reaches horizontally flanking the base structure 3. Thus the guide chain 14 as seen in front view in FIGS. 2A to 2C on the wheels 8 can move between the FIG. 2C position with its loop on the right side to the FIG. 2A position on the left side, passing through the FIG. 2B position half on the right and half on the left.

[0046] In this manner the guide chain 14 is moved both during rotation of the upper wheel 8 in the clockwise direction and also counterclockwise always mainly vertically and goes thereby from the position of FIG. 2A to the position of FIG. 2C and back. Thus all the parking gondolas 5 can move through both the loading station 23 and each other storing/parking position while connected to the respective electrical feed cables 13 and the data line 15 with the help of the guide chain 14. Since the cables 13 are connected permanently at each end, there are no sliding contacts and considerable amperage can be managed.

[0047] To do this, the guide chain 14 has a succession of identical U-section links with side plates 19a and cross plates 19b interconnected by cross bars 24 themselves interconnected by dividers 20 to form five windows through which the cables 13 and 15 extend. Thus these cables 13 cannot tangle to each other as the guide chain 14 moves. In addition the individual lines 13,15 are connected at regular intervals with help of strain reliefs to the links of the guide chain 14,in order to avoid any friction or mechanical loads of the lines 13,15.

[0048] Each electrical supply or electrical supply unit 12 has a respective electrical feed cable 13. Furthermore the electrical supply 12 is connected to the data line 15. This is best seen in FIGS. 2A to 2C that show the electric feed cables 13 starting from for example the left fixed point 18 in a loop via the upper wheel 18 to the other fixed point 18. In the area of the supply 12 the electrical feed cable 13 is connected to electrical supply 12 via a loop lying in a plane perpendicular to the view plant and lying, for example on the floor 5a of the parking gondola 5 to the electrical supply 12 and again back.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows that the individual chains links 19a, 19b are provided with lateral guide pins 21 that serve for engagement with the respective upper double pinion 8 rotatable on the basic frame 3. The data line 15 is connected to a controller 22 shown only in FIG. 1 at the bottom of the base structure 3. This controller 22 not only controls access to the system, but can also can determine how much electricity was consumed by the parked or stored vehicles for charging to the driver. In addition the controller 22 can control the consumption of the supplies 12, for instance limiting charging to off-peak times when rates are lower.

[0050] Overall, the invention a high-wattage connection between individual fixed points 18 that are connected to line and the supplies 12 in the movable gondolas, all without sliding contacts or other systems with limited load capacity and significant wear and upkeep costs. The permanent heavy-duty connection via the lines 13 allows high-voltage and high-amperage fast charging of the vehicles 1 in the system. Direct or alternating voltage can be supplied. In addition can with the help of the electrical supply 12 can power lighting of the respective gondola 5, and, in the event of malfunction, individual electrical supplies 12 can be switched off in a targeted manner with the aid of the controller 22 without impairing the other electrical supplies 12 and generally the function of the storage/parking system according to the invention.

[0051] The individual U-shaped chain links 19a, 19b of the guide chain 14 are made of plastic according to this embodiment. Here, it has proven particularly advantageous if the individual chain links 19a, 19b are plastic injection moldings. Thus at the same time an effective electrical insulation of the lines 13 and 15 between the two side plates 19a guided is realized and implemented. In addition a particularly low-friction and durable operation of the guide element and/or of the guide chain 14 is ensured. In contrast the traction chain 7 as a rule is made of steel. The applies also to the base structure 3 and usually also to the guides 16 and 17 as well as to the parking gondolas 5.