car parking

Abstract

The present invention relates to a parking lot (14) for automobiles, comprising a parking rack (12) having two or more parking grids (22) arranged side by side and a plurality of parking levels (26) arranged one above the other, wherein the parking levels (26) include an uppermost parking level (28), a lowermost parking level (30), and at least one intermediate level (32) interposed therebetween, at least one parking level (26, 28, 30) being connected or connectable to an entrance (34), the parking rack (12) defining parking spaces (36) for the automobiles (14) at intersections between the parking grids (22) and the parking levels (26, 28, 30), and the parking rack (12) having at least one vacant space (50) within the at least one intermediate level (32). There are provided storage devices (38) for the motor vehicles (14), at least one displacement device (54) operable at each parking space (36) for displacing the storage devices (38) within the respective parking levels (26, 28, 30), and at least one lifting device (72) having a lifting element (88), at least one lifting element (88) arranged on each parking grid (22) and selectively connectable to one of the storage devices for vertically transporting the storage devices (38) within the parking grid (22). Each of the storage devices (38) can adopt a transfer position and at least one passing position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking lot for automobiles, in particular comprising a parking rack having two or more parking grids arranged in a row and a plurality of parking levels arranged one above the other, the parking levels including an uppermost parking level, a lowermost parking level and at least one intermediate level interposed between said parking levels, at least one parking level being accessible to an entrance, the parking rack defining parking spaces for automobiles at the intersections of the parking grids and the parking levels, the parking rack having at least one free space within at least one intermediate level, and the parking lot further comprising a vehicle accommodation device positionable within the parking spaces. [Background technology]

[0002] For reasons of access time and construction form, there is known a type of parking lot in which exactly one intermediate level is provided between the top and bottom parking levels. Arranged on the intermediate level is an entrance for accessing onto the storage devices in the intermediate level. The storage devices can be displaced horizontally within the intermediate level. Lifting devices are connected to the storage devices of the top and bottom parking levels so that cars can also be stored in these levels. By displacing the storage devices laterally within the intermediate level, the position of the free spaces, i.e., parking spaces where no storage devices are present at the time, can be changed.

[0003] DE 10 2004 024 066 A1 describes a parking lot with a parking platform which can be raised and lowered vertically via chains and displaced horizontally via drive wheels.

[0004] It is to be understood that the location and orientation terms used herein relate to the intended installation and use of the parking lot, where the parking grid extends heightwise and is preferably oriented vertically, and the parking level is preferably oriented horizontally. By way of example, such location and orientation terminology may include "top," "upper," "vertical," "horizontal," and the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] DE 10 2004 024 066 A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated automobile parking lot in which increased density of parking spaces can be achieved with acceptable access times. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the invention, the object is an automated car park, comprising: a parking rack having two or more parking grids arranged side by side and a plurality of parking levels arranged one above the other, said parking levels including a top parking level, a bottom parking level and at least one intermediate level interposed therebetween, at least one parking level being connected or connectable to an entrance, said parking rack defining a parking space for said vehicle at the intersection of said parking grids and said parking levels, said parking rack having at least one free space within said at least one intermediate level; - a storage device for said motor vehicle, positionable in said parking space; at least one displacement device operable at each parking space for displacing said accommodation device within the respective parking level; at least one lifting device with a lifting element, wherein at least one lifting element is arranged at each parking grid and which can be selectively coupled to one of the storage devices in order to transport said storage device vertically within said parking grid; a control device for controlling said at least one displacement device and said at least one lifting device; Including, the receiving device in said at least one intermediate level is configured to adopt, within said parking grid, a transfer position in which it couples to said at least one lifting element for vertical transfer by controlling said at least one displacement device by said control device; - achieved in a parking lot, in which the storage devices located in said at least one intermediate level are configured such that said at least one lifting element is vertically movable in said parking grid through said at least one lifting device, and thereby adopts, through said at least one displacement device, at least one passing position in which it is laterally displaced in said parking grid relative to said transfer position, in order to pass through the respective storage device.

[0008] In the parking lot according to the present invention, each storage device can adopt at least two positions within at least one intermediate level. The positions include a transfer position and at least one passing position. When in the transfer position, the storage device can be coupled to the at least one lifting element and thereby raised and lowered. When in the at least one passing position, the storage device is displaced within the parking grid relative to the transfer position so that the at least one lifting element can move past the storage device, i.e., pass by the storage device. This provides the possibility of the storage device remaining largely, or even completely, within the parking grid. In this way, lateral displacement within the at least one intermediate level can be minimized. After passing the storage device, the at least one lifting element can be transferred to a storage device in another parking level and coupled to this storage device, preferably for vertical transfer. This provides the possibility of keeping access times to the storage devices relatively short, even when four or more parking levels are arranged one above the other. Preferably, a high density of parking spaces is simultaneously achieved within the parking racks.

[0009] In particular, the displacement through the at least one displacement device is realized transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction of the storage device in the lateral direction of the parking rack.

[0010] Within the parking space, the accommodation device may for example be installable on a support device fixed to or formed by the parking rack.

[0011] The control of the at least one displacement device and the at least one lifting device is effected by the control device, which preferably includes information about which storage device is located in which parking space, preferably where the storage devices are individualized or identifiable and the control device has knowledge about which storage devices are respectively positioned in which position in the parking rack.

[0012] In particular, vertical transport of the accommodation device occurs only from the parking level to which the entrance communicates to the parking level to which the designated parking spaces for motor vehicles are located, and vice versa.

[0013] It will be appreciated that the parking spaces may be associated with individual users or user profiles, and associative links between parking spaces and users or user profiles may be stored within the controller.

[0014] In particular, the entry level can be any of the parking levels, while it is preferred that the entry level is an intermediate level.

[0015] Advantageously, the storage device can be displaced into at least one adjacent parking grid via the at least one displacement device. In this way, a parking space in a parking grid can be freed for vertical transfer when a vehicle is stored and / or retrieved via another storage device. It can be realized that the storage device can be displaced into two parking grids that are respectively arranged laterally of the parking grid to be vacated.

[0016] Advantageously, the storage devices in the top level and / or in the bottom level are configured to adopt the transfer position and the at least one passing position, which may prove advantageous, for example, when the storage devices in the top and / or bottom level are to be raised and lowered via the at least one lifting element.

[0017] The ratio of the displacement path of the storage device from the transfer position to the at least one passing position, corresponding to the lateral displacement of the two positions, to the width of the storage device is preferably less than 0.5, preferably less than 0.25, more preferably less than 0.2. By way of example, the ratio may be between about 0.03 and 0.1.

[0018] It can be provided that the receiving device in the at least one passing position partially projects into the adjacent parking grid, in this way a compact assembly of the parking grid can be achieved.

[0019] Advantageously, the receiving devices in the end grids arranged at both ends of the parking rack are configured to protrude laterally from the end grids when in at least one passing position. In particular, the parking grids arranged side by side include a first end grid and a second end grid, which are arranged on both sides of the parking rack facing away from each other. When in the passing position, the receiving devices can be displaced away from the adjacent parking grids, and in particular can protrude from the end grids in this case.

[0020] Preferably, the storage device is configured to adopt two passing positions that are displaced in two directions away from each other relative to the transfer position, making the parking lot extremely versatile. In particular, depending on which passing position is advantageous in terms of fast access times, the storage device can be displaced to a first passing position or to a second passing position, with the directions of displacement pointing away from each other.

[0021] Advantageously, the lateral offset of each passing position relative to the transfer position is the same.

[0022] It can be realized that for each possible displacement direction within the level, exactly one pass position can be adopted, whereby for lateral displacement, the respective pass position is clearly defined. Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, exactly two pass positions can be provided.

[0023] In particular, it can be provided that in the transfer position the axes defined by the receiving devices are aligned with the axes defined by the respective parking grids, in contrast to which, when in the at least one passing position, the axes are spaced apart from each other.

[0024] Advantageously, the control device is configured to displace the storage device in at least one home position so that it adopts the at least one transit position. In particular, the home position can be adopted when no storage or retrieval procedure is in progress. When such a procedure is initiated, the at least one lifting element can be moved past the storage device in a time-saving manner, which makes it possible to keep access times short.

[0025] Here, it is advantageous if the storage devices in each grid are positioned one above the other and are displaced into a passing position, and in particular it can be realized that the storage devices are displaced into their transfer position only when a vehicle is to be stored or retrieved through the respective storage device.

[0026] It may be advantageous for the control device to be configured such that, when the at least one lifting device and the at least one displacement device are not in operation (e.g., when no storage or retrieval process is in progress), at least one parking grid in the at least one intermediate level, in particular in all intermediate levels, is free of accommodating devices and the accommodating devices of the remaining parking grids are displaced to a passing position in a direction pointing away from the first-mentioned parking grid, whereby at least one parking grid is free in the at least one intermediate level. In the remaining parking grids, the accommodating devices adopt the passing position as needed so that the at least one lifting element can move past them.

[0027] Here, it can be realized that the receiving devices in the end grids arranged on both ends of the parking rack are displaced outward from the end grids to a passing position.

[0028] Preferably, the parking rack has four or more parking levels.

[0029] The parking racks preferably have at least one free space, in particular exactly one free space, in the parking level at the entrance and / or in each intermediate level, which proves advantageous for reducing access times, in particular so that free spaces can be arranged above and below by laterally displacing the accommodation devices in the parking levels in order to free up parking grids as described above.

[0030] It proves advantageous if at least one guide device for guiding the movement of the at least one lifting element is arranged or formed on each parking grid. Preferably, guiding the movement of the lifting element ensures reliable operation of the parking lot. For example, thanks to the guidance it can be ensured that the relative positions of the storage device and the parking rack during vertical transport are clearly defined.

[0031] Preferably, the guide device comprises a first guide element formed by the parking rack, for example by a vertical member of the parking rack, and at least one second guide element arranged on or formed by the at least one lifting element. By utilizing vertical members as guide elements, the structural form of the parking lot can be kept simple and a compact assembly can be achieved.

[0032] In particular, the at least one second guide element may be a guide roller or a sliding guide element on the lifting element.

[0033] Preferably, guidance is provided in at least two spatial directions, in particular the longitudinal and lateral directions of the parking rack, which correspond to the longitudinal and lateral directions of the storage device.

[0034] Advantageously, the at least one lifting element engages in a form-locking manner around the vertical member and is movable or displaceable along the vertical member, which allows a reliable operation of the lifting device together with a compact assembly.

[0035] Preferably, said at least one lifting device comprises at least one traction element and a drive unit, which drive unit is indirectly or directly coupled to said at least one lifting element via said traction element.

[0036] Advantageously, said at least one traction element is a chain, a toothed belt or a rope.

[0037] By way of example, the lifting device may include a drivable drive shaft connected to the chain, toothed belt or rope, which when rotated can raise and lower the lifting element.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, it can be realized that the parking lot includes a lifting device, and in particular exactly one lifting device, associated with each parking grid. For example, a plurality of lifting devices corresponding to the number of parking grids can be provided. At least one lifting device can be used to raise and lower the storage device in each parking grid. In particular, there is the possibility here for vertical movements to be carried out in parallel in different parking grids. The corresponding control can be effected by the control device.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the parking lot comprises two or more lifting devices, at least one lifting device being associated with the lifting elements of two or more parking grids. Here, it can be provided that the storage devices of two or more parking grids are vertically transported via only one lifting device. It can be provided that the lifting device transports only one storage device at a time within a parking grid, while the storage device in the at least one further parking grid, for example, adopts a passing position. Alternatively, it can be provided that vertical transport is performed simultaneously within two or more parking grids.

[0040] In particular, in a preferred embodiment, the parking lot includes a lifting device associated with the lifting elements of all parking grids, and in particular, it may prove advantageous to provide one lifting device for the lifting elements of all parking grids. In particular, the lifting device may have only one drive unit for the entire parking rack. The drive unit is, for example, coupled to the lifting elements of each parking grid. In particular, depending on whether the receiving device in each parking grid adopts a transfer position or a through position, vertical transfer can be performed within the parking grid. This includes the possibility of performing vertical transfer operations within more than one parking grid or only within one parking grid.

[0041] Preferably, the lifting device associated with two or more parking grids comprises a drive unit and at least one drive element coupled to the at least one lifting element of each parking grid, said drive element being, for example, a drive shaft which can be coupled to a traction element as described above.

[0042] Advantageously, two or more lifting elements are arranged on each parking grid for the vertical transfer of the storage device on the parking grid. In particular, it can be provided here that at least one lifting element is provided in front of and at the rear of the parking rack relative to the longitudinal direction of the storage device, thereby providing the possibility of raising and lowering the storage device, in particular on the front and rear sides, via the lifting elements. The longitudinal direction can, for example, coincide with the direction of entry into the parking grid.

[0043] In particular, "forward" refers to the side facing away from the approach side, and "rearward" refers to the side facing towards the approach side.

[0044] As used herein, the terms "front, front side, rear, rear side" refer in particular to the intended use of the parking lot, where, for example, a vehicle is driven forward onto the accommodation device. In this case, the front side of the accommodation device is in particular the side of the accommodation device that is located in front of the parking rack and on which the front side of the vehicle is located. The rear side of the accommodation device is in particular the side that is located behind the parking rack and on which the rear side of the vehicle is located. The front side is the side that faces away from the entrance to the parking space.

[0045] Advantageously, the at least one lifting device comprises a synchronizing device that provides a mechanical connection between the at least one lifting element in front of the parking grid and the at least one lifting element in the rear thereof, through which reliable operation of the lifting device can be ensured, for example in that the lifting elements can be prevented from tilting.

[0046] Preferably, the synchronizer comprises a connecting shaft with a chain, a belt or a square gear, and the drive shafts of the at least one lifting device, each of which is connected to at least one of the lifting elements, are operatively connected to one another via this or these synchronizers, which allows for a passive synchronizer, and preferably limits the synchronizer to a single drive unit.

[0047] Preferably, an electronic synchronization device can be provided, e.g. two electric drive units interconnected at the point of control, so that the front and rear lifting elements can be moved vertically in synchronism, e.g. via the drive shafts.

[0048] Advantageously, four lifting elements are arranged on each parking grid for the vertical transfer of the storage device on the parking grid, with two lifting elements arranged in front of the parking rack and two lifting elements arranged at the rear of the parking rack for connection to the opposite sides of the storage device. For example, the four lifting elements are connected to the storage device at or near its corner areas. In particular, two lifting elements are arranged at the front and two at the rear relative to the longitudinal direction of the storage device, and preferably the lifting elements are positioned on opposite sides, in particular at the left and right front and left and right rear, respectively. The longitudinal direction of the storage device preferably coincides with the direction of the vehicles.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the parking lot, it can be provided that the at least one lifting element, in particular the two or more, in particular four lifting elements, of each parking grid can be coupled to the accommodation device of that parking grid only, so that at least one lifting element is arranged in each parking grid, and that the lifting element can be operated with the accommodation device only in that particular parking grid.

[0050] In another preferred embodiment of the parking lot, at least one lifting element is advantageously arranged in each adjacent parking grid to couple to the corresponding accommodating device of the adjacent parking grid when the accommodating device adopts the transfer position, and the lifting element is not coupled to the accommodating device when the accommodating device adopts the transit position. This allows adjacent parking grids to "share" a lifting element in a certain sense. When the accommodating device of each parking grid adopts the transfer position, the accommodating device can be coupled to the lifting element. In the transit position of the accommodating device, the lifting element can be moved beyond the accommodating device. This embodiment proves advantageous, for example, when the parking grids have a common lifting device associated with them. Only the accommodating device adopting the transfer position moves vertically. The accommodating devices that should not be moved can be displaced to the transit position beforehand.

[0051] In particular, in the latter embodiment, at least one such lifting element can be provided in front and behind the parking rack, respectively, relative to the longitudinal direction of the storage device.

[0052] Advantageously, two such lifting elements are provided at the front and at the rear, respectively, which can be connected to the respective storage devices at or near their front left, front right, rear left and rear right corner areas.

[0053] The at least one lifting element which can be connected to the receiving devices of both parking grids is preferably arranged on a vertical member where the parking grids are adjacent to each other, the vertical member preferably forming a guide element.

[0054] Preferably, the at least one lifting element comprises or forms at least one support element, and preferably the storage devices each comprise or form a holding element for being supported on the at least one support element when the storage devices adopt their respective transport position. The holding element is, for example, a protrusion on the storage device that can be supported on the lifting element. This allows the parking lot to be configured for simple assembly.

[0055] By way of example, the at least one holding element is immovably arranged on the receiving device and / or on the end section.

[0056] Advantageously, the at least one lifting element has two spaced apart support elements facing towards each adjacent parking grid and configured to couple to the accommodating devices of said parking grid when these adopt the transfer position. This embodiment has proven advantageous in the preferred embodiment described above in which the lifting element can be operable with the accommodating devices of adjacent parking grids. Depending on whether the accommodating device is to be transferred into the left or right parking grid, one of the two support elements can be used with the respective holding element of the accommodating device.

[0057] Preferably, the at least one support element forms a centering area for aligning the at least one holding element and the at least one support element relative to each other, which simplifies the connection between the storage device and the lifting element, helps to facilitate play in moving parts of the parking lot while ensuring reliable operation, and helps to compensate for component tolerances.

[0058] By way of example, the centring area is or comprises a recess and / or a centring ramp for the holding element.

[0059] Preferably, the receiving device can be hooked onto and connected to the at least one lifting element on the parking grid, and can be unhooked and disconnected from the lifting element.

[0060] Preferably, and especially in combination with the last-mentioned advantageous embodiment, the receiving device can be raised by moving the lifting element from below against the holding element and raising the holding element through the at least one lifting element. In this way, a particularly simple assembly is achieved together with a reliable operation. For example, the relative alignment of the lifting element and the holding element can be achieved very easily thereby.

[0061] In particular, it may be advantageous if the respective receiving device does not have a driven active element to enable connection to the at least one lifting element. For example, as mentioned above, the holding element is held on the receiving device in an immovable manner. Due to the absence of active elements, the assembly of the receiving device can be kept simple, which has an advantageous effect on manufacturing costs and operational reliability. In particular, this saves the costs associated with supplying such active elements, in particular in the receiving device itself, with energy, for example via a battery or trailing cable.

[0062] It proves advantageous if the car park comprises at least one displacement device for each parking space for displacing a storage device arranged in said parking space.

[0063] For example, active displacement devices with drive units can be arranged in front and behind the parking rack, respectively, for displacing the storage device.

[0064] Alternatively, a (active) displacement device with, for example, a drive unit can be provided on only one of the front and rear sides. On the other of the front and rear sides, the storage device can be supported, for example, so that it is passively carried on a displacement device or a support device. For example, the storage device runs passively on rollers or on a displacement track.

[0065] It may be advantageous for the at least one displacement device, in particular the displacement devices, to be configured as a chain conveyor, a belt conveyor or a roller track, wherein the storage devices can be displaced within the parking level via the chain, the belt or the rollers.

[0066] The at least one displacement device may define a contact surface that coincides with the support element of the storage device. The contact surface may be defined, for example, by the chain, the belt or the roller. The contact surface may be oriented parallel to the support surface of the storage device, for example for the vehicle, and / or may be oriented horizontally. In different embodiments, it may be realized that the contact surface is inclined relative to a horizontal plane.

[0067] The contact surfaces may advantageously be oriented relative to a horizontal plane so as to increase starting from the front or rear side of the parking rack towards the center of the parking rack. By way of example, the rotation axes of the rollers or of the drive elements for the chain or belt may have a higher orientation starting from the front or rear side.

[0068] Preferably, arranged on the displacement device and on the receiving device are corresponding guide elements for guiding the displacement movement of the receiving device, for example, a guide track can be arranged on the displacement device, with which a guide roller of the receiving device can come into contact, and vice versa.

[0069] For example, it may be advantageous if a plurality of guide rollers spaced apart from one another in the displacement direction are arranged on the accommodating device, in which case it may be advantageous, in particular when the accommodating device is displaced from one parking grid into an adjacent parking grid, for the guide rollers to come into contact with guide tracks of a displacement device of the adjacent parking grid in order to provide guidance for the displacement into the adjacent parking grid.

[0070] It is understood that the accommodation device can preferably, when displacing from one parking grid to an adjacent parking grid, occasionally contact the displacement devices of the two parking grids simultaneously and in particular be supported on these displacement devices.

[0071] Preferably, at least one support device is provided for holding the storage devices in each parking space, for supporting the storage devices when they are placed in said parking space, and advantageously, the storage devices are supported on said at least one support device.

[0072] Preferably, at least one support device is arranged in each parking space, for example, a support device may be arranged in front of and behind the parking rack.

[0073] Advantageously, the at least one displacement device forms the at least one support device, in particular each displacement device forms a support device, whereby a separate support device can be avoided.

[0074] The support device can be configured in such a way that the receiving device can be supported on it as described above and that the receiving device can be passively carried by means of the support device during displacement, so that for example a passive displacement device can also form the support device.

[0075] Preferably, the storage device can be supported by the at least one support device in its parking space, whether it adopts the transfer position or the at least one passing position.

[0076] Advantageously, the at least one support device, in particular a plurality of support devices, at least in the at least one intermediate level, can be transferred from a support position, in which the at least one support device supports the storage device in the parking space, to a release position, in which the parking grid is released for vertically transferring the storage device over the support device via the at least one lifting device, and vice versa. To allow the storage device to be transferred within the parking grid, for example, the one or more support devices positioned above or below the storage device can be transferred from the support position to the release position. In this way, a cross section within the parking grid is released to allow the vertical transfer of the storage device to be moved.

[0077] Preferably, this also applies to the at least one support device in the uppermost parking level and / or the lowermost parking level, and in particular to a plurality of support devices.

[0078] For example, a storage device in the uppermost parking level can first be lifted from its support device, after which the support device is transferred to the release position to allow the storage device to be transferred downwards.

[0079] Within the lowest parking level, the storage device only needs to be placed onto the support device and does not need to be transported downwards below the support device, so that, for example, the support device can be firmly and immovably positioned on the parking rack.

[0080] It may prove advantageous for the at least one support device to be pivotally supported on the parking rack, in particular on a vertical or lateral member, in order to be able to transfer from the support position to the release position and vice versa.

[0081] For transferring from the supporting position to the release position and / or vice versa, it may be advantageous for the at least one supporting device to comprise a drive unit controllable by the control device. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the at least one supporting device is connected to the at least one lifting element and / or to the receiving device and is transferable via these lifting elements and receiving devices. Thus, active transfer of the supporting device can be achieved using the drive unit, or passive transfer of the supporting device can be achieved, for example, in which corresponding stops on the supporting device and the lifting element and / or on the receiving device cooperate, in particular mechanically, to transfer the supporting device.

[0082] It has already been mentioned that the at least one displacement device can preferably displace the storage device into at least one adjacent parking grid. In this case, it is advantageous if a blocking element is arranged on the parking grid, and when the support device arranged on the parking grid adopts the release position, the blocking element can prevent the storage device from displacing into the parking grid, and the blocking element is not operable in the support position of the support device. In this way, the operational safety of the parking system is improved. The blocking element can be, for example, a mechanical stop.

[0083] For example, it can be provided that the blocking element is arranged on the supporting device of the adjacent parking grid and is mechanically coupled to this supporting device, the blocking element preferably being transferable from the non-blocking position to the blocking position by transferring the supporting device from the supporting position to the release position, and vice versa.

[0084] Preferably, the storage device is configured as a parking platform, which may also be called a pallet.

[0085] Advantageously, the parking lot comprises a sensor device coupled to the control device for determining the position of each storage device within the parking grid, in particular the adoption of the transfer position and / or of the at least one passing position by the storage device, the control device being able to control the at least one displacement device and the at least one lifting device, and if necessary also the at least one support device, depending on signals from the sensor device.

[0086] For example, the sensor device is arranged on the at least one displacement device and / or on the at least one receiving device.

[0087] Advantageously, said sensor device may be of a type configured or operable for optical and / or inductive and / or mechanical and / or contactless and / or contact-based technology.

[0088] It may be realized that the parking lot includes a charging device including a charging unit in at least one storage device, and the vehicle positioned on the storage device can be connected to this charging unit via at least one electrical connection or inductively. This allows the battery of the vehicle to be charged while the vehicle is in the parking space. When the storage device is placed in the parking space, electrical energy is supplied, for example, via a trailing cable or preferably by contact switching. For example, electrical contacts are provided on the at least one support device for this purpose.

[0089] It may be realized that the control device controls the at least one displacement device to perform time-delayed displacement between a plurality of storage devices within a parking level, thus keeping the mechanical load on the parking racks low.

[0090] In particular, it may be advantageous if the parking rack comprises, in addition to the parking grids arranged side by side, at least one parking grid positioned in transverse relation to the arrangement of the parking grids arranged side by side and in adjacent relation to one of these parking grids, between which the vehicle can cross within at least one parking level. As used herein, this may be interpreted to mean in particular that parking grids can be arranged before or after relative to the entry direction of the vehicle.

[0091] For example, at the entry level, where the entrance is preferably located, a vehicle can be driven across at least one accommodation device, through at least one parking grid and into a parking grid behind this parking grid, thus arranging the parking spaces of the parking rack not only in two dimensions, horizontally and vertically, but also in three dimensions, in two horizontal and vertical directions.

[0092] Preferably, the parking rack is executed as a steel structure.

[0093] Preferably, the parking rack can be implemented by only one rack frame. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the parking rack comprises two or more rack frames, or in some sense rack units. For example, parking grids positioned side by side or tandem with each other comprise separate rack frames. Two or more rack frames can be connected together or separated from each other.

[0094] The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings, serves to explain the invention in greater detail. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0095] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an automated parking garage according to the present invention; [Figure 2] Front view of the parking lot in Figure 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of detail A of FIG. 2 showing the vehicle in the process of being retrieved. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cutaway top view of detail B of FIG. 2, enlarged; [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cutaway top view of detail C of FIG. 3, enlarged; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a lifting element displaceable on a vertical member. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of the lifting element of FIG. 6; [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7. [Figure 8A] 2 is a detailed perspective view of the parking lot of FIG. 1 showing the parking platform and its displacement device from below. [Figure 9] 2 is a partial view of the parking lot of FIG. 1 showing the support device adopting a support position; [Figure 10] 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 9 after some of the support devices have been transferred to a release position. [Figure 11] An enlarged view of the parking lot in Figure 1, showing the connection to the entrance. [Figure 12] Enlarged view of detail D in Figure 1. [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of a parking lot according to the invention; [Figure 14] 14 is an enlarged view of a detail of the parking lot of FIG. 13 showing the displaceable lifting element and the storage device. [Figure 15] 15 is a view in the viewing direction indicated by the arrow "15" in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] 1 shows a perspective view of a displacement device simultaneously forming a support device for a parking lot according to the invention; [Figure 17] 1 is a perspective view of a parking lot support device according to the present invention; [Figure 18] 17 is a partial side view of a parking lot according to the invention, showing the displacement device of FIG. 16 and a parking platform supported on the displacement device; [Figure 19] 19 shows the situation after the parking platform has been raised and the displacement device has been transferred from the support position of FIG. 18 to the release position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0096] 1 and 2 show an advantageous embodiment of a parking lot according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10. Parking lot 10 includes a parking rack 12, which is implemented as a steel structure and in this case as a rack frame. Parking rack 12 is used to park motor vehicles 14 (hereinafter "vehicles").

[0097] The process of storing and retrieving vehicle 14 can be triggered by a user by activating a user control unit, or the process can be automatically triggered and controlled by the control device of (in this case) automated car park 10. To store vehicle 14, the user preferably drives the vehicle onto a vacant storage device within the parking grid where the vehicle is to be stored.

[0098] Parking rack 12 is positioned on a support surface 16 and includes vertically extending, interconnected vertical members 18 and horizontally extending, cross members 20 connecting together the vertical members 18. Additionally, longitudinal members may be provided (FIG. 1).

[0099] The parking rack 12 includes a plurality of parking grids 22 arranged in a row laterally. At either end of the parking rack 12, end grids 24 are arranged on either side facing away from each other.

[0100] In this case, six parking grids 22 are provided, although this number could be different.

[0101] The parking rack 12 includes a number of parking levels 26. In this case, five parking levels 26 are provided, although this number may vary.

[0102] Parking levels 26 include a top parking level 28, a bottom parking level 30, and three intermediate levels 32 therebetween.

[0103] An entrance 34 connects to the parking level 26, which in this case is the middle level of the three intermediate levels 32. The entrance also serves as an exit. Alternatively, the entrance 34 could connect to one of the other parking levels 26.

[0104] The parking racks 12 define parking spaces 36 at the intersections of the parking grids 22 and the parking levels 26. In this case, there are a total of 30 parking spaces 36, although not all of these parking spaces are used to store the vehicles 14. To store and transport each vehicle 14, a storage device 38 is provided, each of which is configured as a parking platform 40 (hereinafter "pallet"), although this configuration may vary.

[0105] As used herein, "at the front of the parking rack" refers to the side facing away from the entry side, and "at the rear of the parking rack" refers to the side facing towards the entry side.

[0106] Pallet 40 has a longitudinal direction that can coincide with the longitudinal direction of vehicle 14. Pallet 40 has a front side 44 and a rear side 46 relative to a normal direction of entry 42 into parking rack 12, such that front side 44 and the front side of vehicle 14 are in front of parking rack 12 and rear side 46 and the rear side of vehicle 14 are behind parking rack 12 during intended use.

[0107] The pallet 40 includes, in the front left, front right, rear left and rear right corner areas, respectively, holding elements 48 configured as protrusions for vertical transfer within the parking grid 22. The holding elements 48 will be considered in more detail below.

[0108] In this case, the number of accommodation devices 38 is less than the number of parking spaces 36. It is realized here that within each intermediate level 32 there is at least one vacant space 50, which does not have an accommodation device 38 positioned therein at the time under consideration.

[0109] On the other hand, it is noted that the vertical movement and lateral displacement of the pallet 40 allows the free space 50 to be variable with respect to its position within the parking rack 12. On the other hand, advantageously, the pallet 40 is displaced so that the free space 50 is located within the intermediate level 32 when the vehicle 14 is not being stored or retrieved.

[0110] The number of free spaces 50 can vary. At least one free space 50 is required. However, in this case, providing exactly one free space 50 in each intermediate level 32 allows for a relatively high density of parking spaces while minimizing access times to the pallets 40.

[0111] For safety reasons, it may be provided that no open spaces 50 are provided in the parking level 26 of the entrance 34 when no vehicles 14 are in motion.

[0112] As can be seen particularly in Figures 3, 8A, 9 and 10, the parking rack 12 includes respective support devices 52 at the front and rear of each parking space 36. A pallet 40 may be positioned on and supported by the support devices 52 for positioning within the parking space 36. The front support devices 52 and the rear support devices may be identical in construction.

[0113] The support devices 52 in this exemplary embodiment of the parking lot are formed by respective displacement devices 54 arranged in the parking spaces 36. Pallets 40 positioned on the displacement devices can be displaced horizontally within the parking level 26 via the displacement devices 54. The displacement direction extends transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction of the pallets 40 in the lateral direction of the parking lot.

[0114] The amount of displacement can be freely adjustable, or preferably, some degree of displacement can be predetermined, as explained below.

[0115] To displace the pallets 40, a drive unit 56 of each of the displacement devices 54 can be activated. The drive units 56 are operatively connected to and can be controlled by a control device 58 of the parking lot 10.

[0116] Within each parking level 26, at each parking space 36, the pallets 40 can be displaced in two directions pointing away from each other. The same applies to the end grids 24.

[0117] In this case, the displacement device 54 is configured as a chain conveyor 60. Alternative forms include a belt conveyor, a displacement track or a roller track. The chain conveyor 60 comprises a support 62 which is fixed to the cross member 20 via a retaining element 64.

[0118] A sprocket 66 is fixed to the support 62. A chain 68 is stretched around the sprocket 66. The sprocket is driven by the drive unit 56. The pallet 40 is supported on the chain 68 and can be displaced horizontally in this way.

[0119] It can be realized that only one side - front or rear - is driven for the displacement movement, the other side moving passively together with this one side.

[0120] The supports 62 are pivotally supported in all parking levels 26 except the lowest parking level 30 via respective retaining elements 64. The pivoting movement is about a pivot axis 70. The pivot axis 70 extends horizontally and parallel to the extension of the cross member 20.

[0121] The displacement device 54 is configured to adopt a support position in which it projects far enough into the cross section of the parking grid 22 to allow the pallet 40 to be placed on the chains 68 at each support element in its end region (FIG. 9).

[0122] The displacement device 54 is configured such that each chain 68 defines a contact surface 69 (FIG. 9). The contact surface 69 is parallel to the support surface 73 of the pallet 40 for the vehicle 14, in this case the contact surface 69 is oriented horizontally. This orientation refers to the support position adopted by the displacement device 54.

[0123] The displacement device 54 can be transferred from the support position to a release position. To pivot the displacement device 54 to the release position, the displacement device 54 is pivoted away from the cross section of the parking grid 22 in a direction towards the cross member 20. This increases the free cross section within the parking grid 22 (FIG. 10).

[0124] When the displacement device 54 adopts the release position, the pallet 40 can be transported vertically within the parking grid 22 and in particular can be raised and lowered without colliding with the displacement device 54 .

[0125] Within the lowest parking level 30, the pallets 40 need only be placed onto the chains 68, eliminating the need for pivoting of the displacement device 54 and the need to transport the pallets over the displacement device 54.

[0126] The transition of the displacement device 54 from the support position to the release position and / or vice versa can be actively effected, in particular under the control of the control device 58, for example through the drive unit 71 shown in Figures 8A and 9. Alternatively, it can be provided that the transition occurs passively. Here, for example, corresponding stop elements can be provided on the displacement device 54 and on the pallet and / or on the lifting elements described below. These stop elements become operable when the pallet 40 is transported vertically.

[0127] The car park 10 includes a lifting device 72 for vertically transporting the pallets 40 within the parking grids 22. In this case, exactly one lifting device 72 is provided that can raise and lower the pallets 40 within all parking grids 22. The operation of the lifting device 72 is under the control of the control device 58.

[0128] In this case, it is realized that only one pallet 40 is vertically transported in each parking grid 22. However, in connection with the present invention, it is also conceivable to provide multiple lifting elements, one above the other, in each parking grid 22, so that multiple pallets 40 positioned one above the other can be vertically transported simultaneously.

[0129] In a corresponding manner, it is realized in this case that within the car park 10 only one pallet 40 is vertically transferred within a parking grid 22, while the pallets 40 within the other parking grids 22 remain in place in the parking spaces 36. On the other hand, the invention reserves the possibility of simultaneously transferring pallets 40 vertically within the same parking level 32 to different parking grids 22 and / or to different parking levels 32.

[0130] By providing only one lifting device 72, a simple assembly configuration can be achieved.

[0131] The lifting device 72 includes a drive unit 74 (FIGS. 1 and 12), which is mounted, for example, on top of the parking rack 12. Through the drive unit 74, a drive element in the form of a drive shaft 76 can be driven in a rotational manner. The drive shaft 76 extends horizontally across the parking grid 22 in the transverse direction.

[0132] In this case, the drive shaft 76 is arranged in front of the parking rack 12. A further drive shaft 78 is arranged behind the parking rack 12. The drive shafts 76 and 78 are connected to each other through a synchronizer 80 of the lifting device 72. The synchronizer 80 includes, for example, a chain 82 that runs crosswise in a guide between the drive shaft 76 and the drive shaft 78. This allows both drive shafts 76, 78 to be driven in the same but opposite direction through the drive unit 74.

[0133] Instead of the chain 82, a connecting shaft with square gears can be used.

[0134] Separate drive units or electronic synchronizers for drive shafts 76 and 78 are contemplated.

[0135] Fixed to the drive shafts 76 and 78 are a plurality of traction elements 84, in this case seven traction elements 84 at the front, corresponding to the number of vertical members 18, and seven traction elements 84 at the rear (corresponding to the number of parking grids 22 plus one further vertical member 18). The traction elements 84 are each configured as a rotating chain 86.

[0136] The lifting device 72 includes lifting elements 88 for lifting and connecting the pallets 40. In this case, one lifting element 88 is arranged on each vertical member 18, which makes illustratively seven lifting elements 88 for the parking lot 10 (corresponding to the number of parking grids 22 plus one vertical member 18). This applies equally to the front and rear of the parking rack 12.

[0137] The lifting devices 72 function in the same way at the front and at the rear, so in the following we will only consider the lifting elements 88 arranged at the front of the parking rack 12. The same applies analogously to the support and displacement devices 54.

[0138] Each lifting element 88 is secured to the chain 86 so that the lifting element can be raised and lowered as the drive shaft 76 rotates.

[0139] Within the parking lot 10, the lifting elements 88 are each associated with two parking grids 22, except for the lifting element 88 on the outermost vertical member 18. The possibility exists for each lifting element 88 to transport a pallet 40 positioned within one of the adjacent parking grids 22.

[0140] This is not possible for the outermost vertical members 18 simply because these vertical members laterally bound the end grids 24. On the other hand, it is advantageously possible to use the same lifting elements 88 for the outermost vertical members 18 as for the inner vertical members 18, in order to simplify the manufacturing process. The lifting elements used for the inner vertical members pull the parking grids 22 on either side of them away from each other.

[0141] As can be seen in particular from Figures 4 to 8, the lifting element 88 is configured in the form of a slider 90 which is displaceable along the vertical member 18 and which engages in a form-locking manner around the vertical member 18.

[0142] The lifting element 88 comprises a base plate 92 and two side plates 94 fixed to the base plate. Guide elements in the form of guide rollers 96 are fixed to the side plates 94. Here, on each side plate 94, two guide rollers 96 are provided to contact the front of the vertical member 18 and two guide rollers 96 are provided to contact the rear of the vertical member 18.

[0143] Further guide rollers 98 are arranged on projections 100 held against the plate 94. These guide rollers 98 contact the sides of each vertical member 18.

[0144] Instead of roller guides, sliding guides can be provided.

[0145] By way of example, the chain 86 is attached and held by a base plate 92 .

[0146] The vertical member 18 forms guide elements corresponding to the guide rollers 96, 98, and a guide device 102 is provided for each lifting element 88. Via the guide device 102, the lifting elements 88 can be reliably displaced along the vertical member 18 without tilting.

[0147] The lifting elements 88 project from the vertical members 18 into the free cross section of each parking grid 22 .

[0148] The lifting element 88 includes a receiving device 104 for receiving at least one pallet 40. The receiving device 104 protrudes from the base plate 92 into the cross section of the parking grid 22.

[0149] The storage device 104 is formed with two receptacles for the holding elements 48 of the pallets 40, spaced apart in the transverse direction of the parking rack 12. The receptacles are configured as support elements 106 having a centering region 108 that is open upward and tapered downward, so that the storage device 104 presents an approximately W-shaped section in plan view.

[0150] The support elements 106 are dimensioned to support the respective holding elements 48 thereon. Alignment of the pallet 40 with respect to the lifting elements 88 is achieved via the centering areas 108. In this way, the pallet 40 can be hooked onto the lifting elements 88 in a simple and reliable manner. When in the hooked state, the holding elements 48 engage around the support elements 106 through curved projections 110 (FIGS. 8A and 9).

[0151] To transport the pallet 40 within the parking grid 22, the pallet 40 is hooked onto the lifting elements 88 at all four holding elements 48: front left, front right, rear left, and rear right. In each case, one support element 106 is used, facing the pallet 40. The other support element 106 remains free (FIG. 4). This other support element 106 serves for the vertical transport of the pallet 40 of the adjacent parking grid 22.

[0152] It is possible to provide that the lifting element 88 comprises only one support element 106 .

[0153] Advantageously, the pallets 40 are free of driven active elements, both for connection to the lifting elements 88 for vertical movement and for lateral displacement via the chain conveyor 60. In particular, this saves costs associated with the energy supply for such active elements on each pallet 40.

[0154] In the following, the operating principle of the car park 10 will be described with particular reference to FIGS.

[0155] The pallet 40 can adopt the transfer position by being displaced via the displacement device 54 under the control of the control device 58. In particular, when in the transfer position, the pallet 40 is centered within the parking grid 22 such that the axis 112 of the parking grid 22 coincides with the axis 114 of the pallet 40.

[0156] In the transfer position, the pallet 40 is oriented relative to the lifting elements 88 of the adjacent vertical member 18 so that the holding elements 48 can connect to the support elements 106. This gives the possibility to hook the pallet 40 onto the lifting elements 88 in order to raise or lower the pallet 40. When the pallet 40 adopts the transfer position, the lifting elements 88 associated with this particular parking grid 22 cannot be moved beyond the pallet 40.

[0157] To make this possible, i.e. to allow the lifting element 88 to be moved over the pallets 40 within the parking space 36, each pallet 40 can be transferred to at least one passing position.

[0158] The transition to the passing position is realized by displacing the pallet laterally within the parking grid 22 via the displacement device 54 .

[0159] Here, the pallet 40 can be displaced within the parking space 36 to such an extent that the lifting element 88 can move over the pallet 40. This is exemplarily shown in Figure 4, where the pallet 40 shown on the left of the drawing is displaced to the left, as is the pallet 40 shown on the right of the drawing. The pallet shown on the right of the drawing has been moved to the left relative to that shown in Figure 5.

[0160] Advantageously, each pallet 40 can adopt two pass positions. Through the displacement device 54, there is the possibility of carrying out a displacement movement in the direction of two adjacent parking grids 22, respectively. In each pass position, the pallet 40 partially projects into the adjacent parking grid 22.

[0161] The pallet 40 can be displaced in both directions within the end grid 24. When displaced outward, the pallet 40 protrudes partially from the end grid 24.

[0162] At each passing position, the axis 114 of the pallet 40 and the axis 112 of the parking grid 22 are spaced apart from each other (FIG. 2).

[0163] In the actual implementation of the parking lot, the lateral deviation between the transfer position and the passing position can be, for example, about 5 cm to 30 cm, preferably about 10 cm to 20 cm.

[0164] By way of example, the ratio between the displacement path of the pallet 40 from the transfer position to the at least one passing position—corresponding to the lateral displacement—and the width of the pallet 40 is approximately 0.03 to 0.1.

[0165] The width of the pallet 40 can be, for example, about 240 cm to 280 cm.

[0166] The situation described above can be seen, for example, from Figure 2. In this figure, within the two upper intermediate levels 32, there are empty spaces 50 arranged one above the other.

[0167] The pallets 40 on either side of the empty space 50 are each displaced outward in a direction pointing away from the parking grid 22 in which the empty space 50 lies, thereby each adopting a passing position, which has the advantage that the lifting elements 88 can move freely within these parking levels 26.

[0168] An empty space 50 also exists in the lower intermediate level 32. The pallet 40 lying laterally next to this empty space also displaces outward away from the empty space 50 and adopts a pass-through position, again allowing the displacement of the lifting element 88.

[0169] When no retrieval or storage operation of the vehicle 14 is in progress, the pallet 40 is positioned as far as possible in a home position by the control device 58. Preferably, the home position corresponds to a transit position in order to facilitate movement of the lifting elements 88 and thereby reduce access times.

[0170] Pallets 40 in the lowest parking level 30 also adopt a pass-through position so that lifting elements 88 can be moved upward or downward over the pallets 40 without first having to displace the pallets 40 laterally. The pallets 40 can then be moved left or right to a transfer position and lifted via the lifting elements 88.

[0171] In this case, in the uppermost parking level 28, the pallet located above the empty space 50 adopts a transfer position, while the pallet 40 arranged next to it laterally is displaced outward into a transit position. It can likewise be realized that in the uppermost parking level 28, the pallet 40 can adopt a basic position corresponding to the transit position.

[0172] When there is no vehicle 14 retrieval or storage process, the pallets 40 can be displaced so that the empty spaces 50 are arranged one above the other within the same parking grid 22. In this case, this parking grid 22 must be vacant except for the uppermost parking level 28 and the lowermost parking level 30.

[0173] The parking lot 10 includes a sensor device 140 connected to the control device 58. Through the sensor device 140, it is possible to determine the position of each pallet 40 in the parking grid 22 (FIG. 8A), in particular the adoption of one of the transfer position and the pass-through position.

[0174] For this purpose, the sensor device 140 comprises two sensor elements 142 which are positioned in a spaced relationship to one another, in this case on the support 62 or for example on the cross member 20. A corresponding protrusion 144 is arranged on the bottom of the pallet 40.

[0175] The sensor elements 142 are, for example, inductive sensor elements that provide different signals in the presence and absence of the respective protrusions 144 .

[0176] In the transfer position of the pallet 40, each sensor element 142 faces a protrusion 144. In the pass position, one sensor element 142 does not have a protrusion 144 and the other sensor element 142 faces a protrusion 144. Depending on which sensor element 142 is sending a signal, the controller 58 can distinguish between the transfer position and the pass position.

[0177] In the following, the recovery process for the vehicle 14 will be described as being positioned in the uppermost intermediate level 32 in the second parking grid 22 from the left, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. It is envisaged, without limiting generality, that the pallet 40 adopts the position (transfer position or transit position) as shown in Figure 2.

[0178] The pallets 40 within the parking spaces 36 are supported on displacement devices 54 .

[0179] To be able to transfer the pallets 40 to the entrance 34 at the central intermediate level 32, the pallets 40 underneath the vehicle 14 must first be removed. This is realized through the displacement device 54 in the central intermediate level 32 (arrow 116).

[0180] The drive units 74 are activated to enable the vertical transfer of the pallets 40 carrying the vehicles 14. All pallets, at least those below the relevant parking level 26, adopt the passing position so that all lifting elements 88 can be moved along the vertical members 18.

[0181] The pallet 40 is displaced from the passing position to the transfer position, i.e., to the right in the drawing, via the displacement device 54 (arrow 118).

[0182] It is understood that lateral displacement and vertical movement can be performed simultaneously, and the lateral displacement and vertical movement cannot interfere with each other.

[0183] The lifting elements 88 are displaced from below against the holding elements 48, and the pallet 40 is hooked onto the four lifting elements 88 (FIG. 3). The pallet 40 rises somewhat through the lifting elements 88. Advantageously, the pallet 40 rises only as far as is necessary to pivot the displacement device 54 from the support position to the release position.

[0184] The lifting of the pallet 40 is indicated by arrow 120 .

[0185] Once the displacement device 54 has adopted the release position, the vertical transport direction can be reversed and the pallet 40 lowered (arrow 122) until it reaches the level of the entrance 34, where it can be placed on the displacement device 54.

[0186] To reduce displacement movements in subsequent processing, it is advantageous to reload the pallet 40 into one of the resulting empty spaces 50 in the top intermediate level 32 .

[0187] In a corresponding manner, it is possible to realize the retrieval of a vehicle 14 from one of the lower parking levels 26. Here, a possible pallet 40 located above the vehicle 14 must be removed from the parking grid 22 by laterally displacing this pallet.

[0188] The pallet 40 adopts a transit position at least within the parking level 26 to which the lifting element 88 is to be moved. The lifting element moves below the holding element 48, and the corresponding pallet 40 with the vehicle 14 on it moves into the transfer position. The displacement device 54 positioned above this pallet moves into the release position, allowing the pallet 40 with the vehicle 14 on it to rise.

[0189] It will be appreciated that the displacement device 54 can be automatically returned to the support position.

[0190] 13 to 15 show an advantageous embodiment of a parking lot according to the invention, designated therein by the reference numeral 130. In parking lot 130, the same reference numerals are used for features and components that are identical or functionally equivalent to those of parking lot 10. The advantages that can be achieved with parking lot 10 can also be achieved with parking lot 130. Reference may be made to what has been mentioned above. Only the fundamental differences will be considered.

[0191] Within the car park 130, each parking grid 22 is provided with an independent lifting device 72 with its own drive unit 74. Drive shafts 76, 78 and, for example, a synchronizer 80 are also provided.

[0192] Within the parking lot 130, each parking grid 22 is associated with four independent lifting elements 88. These lifting elements serve to vertically transport pallets 40 only within that particular parking grid 22.

[0193] This is shown by way of example in Figures 14 and 15. In this case, the lifting elements 88 are arranged on separate vertical members 18. It could be realised that both lifting elements 88 are arranged so that they can move together on the cross member 20.

[0194] In this case, only one support element 106 is provided instead of two, since each lifting element 88 should transport only one pallet 40 of the same parking grid 22 .

[0195] FIG. 15 shows the pallet 40 on the left of the drawing as being in a transfer position, while the pallet 40 on the right of the drawing adopts a pass-through position.

[0196] In the car park 130, there is an advantage that vertical transfer operations can be performed in different parking grids 22 independently of each other.

[0197] As already mentioned, in the car park 10, 130, a support device 52 can be arranged in front of and behind the parking rack 12, in both cases this support device 52 being formed by a respective active displacement device 54, and vice versa. This is shown exemplarily in Figures 9 to 11 using the example of the car park 10.

[0198] The pallet 40 is supported on the chains 68 at respective support elements 146 at its respective front and rear end regions 148 (FIG. 11). The chains 68 and the support elements 146 form corresponding guide elements of a guide device for the pallet 40 as the pallet is displaced within the parking grid 22 and / or into an adjacent parking grid 22.

[0199] As also mentioned above, it can be provided that the displacement devices 54 form the support devices 52. In particular, both support devices 52 can be transferable from a support position to a release position and vice versa.

[0200] 17 to 19 show a support device 52 that can be used instead of the support device 52 previously considered for the car park 10 or 130. Only the most important differences compared to the above-described embodiment will be considered; for the rest, reference may be made to what has been said above.

[0201] Both support devices 52 are formed by displacement devices.

[0202] Here, it is preferably realized that the active displacement device 54 is arranged in front of the parking rack 12 and the passive displacement device 54 is arranged behind, i.e., on the approach side into the parking rack 12. In this case, since a parking rack generally has a greater accumulation of dirt in the approach side area than in front of it, this provides a way to minimize the intrusion of dirt into the active displacement device 54 in front of the parking rack. Therefore, the displacement device 54 in Figures 16, 18 and 19 is preferably arranged in front of the parking rack, and the passive displacement device 54 or the support device 52 in Figure 17 is arranged on the approach side.

[0203] Both support devices 52 each include a support 62, which may be of substantially identical construction. Each support 62 is supported on a parking rack 12, in this case a vertical member 18, through a bearing element 150 for pivotal movement about a pivot axis 70. The pivotal movement is provided by a drive unit 71.

[0204] In this case, the rear passive support device 52 in Figure 17 includes a plurality of rollers 152. The rollers 152 are supported for rotation on the support 62 adjacent to each other laterally along the longitudinal extension of the support 62 between adjacent cross members 20. For example, the rollers 152 can be positioned equidistant from each other on the support 62.

[0205] The pallet 40 may be supported at its rear end region 148 on rollers 152 (not shown), where, for example, the contact surface 69 of the rollers 152 may be oriented parallel to the support surface 73 of the pallet 40.

[0206] The front active displacement device 54 is also configured as a chain conveyor 60 with a sprocket 66 and a chain 68. The drive unit 56 can be controlled by a control device 58.

[0207] 18 and 19, support elements 146 are disposed on pallet 40 at its forward end region 148. Support elements 146 are configured in an inclined relationship relative to support surface 73 and extend laterally of pallet 40.

[0208] The contact surface 69 between the chain 68 and the support element 146 is configured in an inclined relationship with respect to the support surface 73 and the horizontal. Here, when the displacement device 54 adopts the support position, the contact surface 69 starts from the front side of the parking rack 12 and rises toward the rear (FIG. 18). When the displacement device 54 adopts the support position, the rotation axis 160 of the sprocket 66 is oriented in an inclined relationship with respect to the support surface 73 and the horizontal. Here, the rotation axis 160 starts from the front side of the parking rack 12 and rises toward the rear (FIG. 18).

[0209] In this way, when the pallet 40 is supported on the chains 68 via the support elements 146, its centering in the longitudinal direction of the parking rack 12 can be realized.

[0210] To provide further support to the pallet 40, guide elements are provided on the pallet 40 and on the displacement device 54, which form a guide device for guiding the pallet 40 as it is displaced within the parking grid 22 and / or into an adjacent parking grid 22.

[0211] In this case, the displacement device 54 comprises as guide element a guide track 154 configured as a strip along the extension of the support 62 .

[0212] Guide rollers 156 are arranged on the pallet 40 as guide elements. In this case, a plurality of, for example four, guide rollers 156 are provided. The guide rollers 156 are preferably arranged equidistant from one another in the transverse direction of the pallet 40. Preferably, when the pallet 40 is displaced into an adjacent parking grid 22, the guide rollers can cooperate with the guide tracks 154 of the displacement device 54 of the adjacent parking grid 22.

[0213] The rotation axes 158 of the guide rollers 156 are preferably oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the plane of the support elements 146 and therefore transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the contact surfaces 69 when the guide rollers are supported on the chains 68 (FIG. 18). When the pallet 40 is placed on the chains 68, the guide rollers 156 come into contact with the guide tracks 154 and adopt their target position due to the centering of the contact surfaces 69 due to their inclined orientation.

[0214] Figure 19 shows the adoption of the release position by the displacement device 54. For this, the pallet 40 is raised, as described above, through a lifting element 88, not shown in Figures 18 and 19. In the release position, the pallet 40 can move upwards and downwards over the displacement device 54 and, in a corresponding way, over the passive support device 52 on the entry side according to Figure 17, adopting the release position.

[0215] 16 to 19 are arranged on all support devices 52 a blocking element 162 facing towards the respective adjacent parking grid 22. The support devices 52 arranged in the end grids 24 include at least a blocking element 162 facing towards the adjacent parking grid 22.

[0216] In this example, the blocking element 162 is configured as a bar 164 that is mechanically connected to the support 62 and forms a stop. A stop element 166 for the bar 164 is arranged on the parking rack 12 (Figures 18 and 19). The bar 164 is pivotable relative to the support 62.

[0217] When the support device 52 is pivoted from the support position to the release position, the bar 164 pivots relative to the support 62 under the action of the stop element 166. In this way, the bar 164 is transferred to the blocking position (FIG. 19).

[0218] In the blocking position, the bar 164 acts as a stop for the pallet 40, thereby preventing the pallet 40 from being shifted into the parking grid.

[0219] When the support device 52 is transferred to the support position, the bar 164 is again pivoted relative to the support 62 under the action of the stop element 166 and brought into the non-blocking position, in which the cross section for the displacement of the pallet 40 is released so that the pallet 40 can be displaced into the adjacent parking grid.

[0220] Overall, in a parking lot according to the invention, the support device is preferably provided with a blocking element, which can be used to advantageously prevent the storage device from shifting into the parking grid. [Explanation of symbols]

[0221] 10 Parking 12 Parking Racks 14. Automobiles 16 Support surface 18 Vertical Members 20 Lateral member 22 Parking grid 24 Edge Grid 26 Parking Level 28 Top Parking Level 30 Bottom Parking Level 32 Intermediate Level 34 Entrance 36 parking spaces 38 Containment Device 40 Parking Platforms / Pallets 42 Approach direction 44 front side 46 Rear side 48 Retention element 50 free spaces 52 Support device 54 Displacement Device 56 Drive unit 58 Control Device 60 Chain Conveyor 62 Support 64 Holding Element 66 sprocket 68 Chain 69 Contact surface 70 Pivot axis 71 Drive unit 72 Lifting equipment 73 Support surface 74 Drive Unit 76 Drive shaft 78 Drive shaft 80 Synchronous Device 82 Chain 84 Traction element 86 Chain 88 Lifting Elements 90 slider 92 PCB 94 board 96 Guide roller 98 Guide roller 100 protrusions 102 Guide device 104 Containment Device 106 Supporting Elements 108 Centering Area 110 Protrusion 112 axes 114 axes 116, 118, 120, 122 Arrows 130 Parking Lot 140 Sensor Device 142 sensor elements 144 Protrusion 146 Supporting Elements 148 Edge area 150 bearing elements 152 Laura 154 Guide Truck 156 Guide roller 158 Rotational Axis 160 Rotational Axis 162 Blocking Elements 164 Bar 166 Stop element

Claims

1. A parking lot for motor vehicles (14), comprising: a parking rack (12) having two or more parking grids (22) arranged side by side and a plurality of parking levels (26) arranged one above the other, said parking levels (26) including a top parking level (28), a bottom parking level (30) and at least one intermediate level (32) interposed therebetween, at least one parking level (26, 28, 30) being connected or connectable to an entrance (34), said parking rack (12) defining parking spaces (36) for said vehicles (14) at the intersections of said parking grids (22) and said parking levels (26, 28, 30), said parking rack (12) having at least one free space (50) within said at least one intermediate level (32); a storage device (38) for said motor vehicle (14), positionable in said parking space (36); at least one displacement device (54) operable in each parking space (36) for displacing said accommodation device (38) within the respective parking level (26, 28, 30); at least one lifting device (72) having a lifting element (88), at least one lifting element (88) being arranged on each parking grid (22) and being selectively connectable to one of the storage devices (38) for vertically transporting said storage devices within said parking grid (22); a control device (58) for controlling said at least one displacement device (54) and said at least one lifting device (72); Including, the receiving device (38) in the at least one intermediate level (32) is configured to adopt, by controlling the at least one displacement device (54) by the control device (58), a transfer position in each parking grid (22) in which it couples to the at least one lifting element (88) for vertical transfer, such that the at least one lifting element (88) cannot move beyond the receiving device (38); the receiving devices (38) located in said at least one intermediate level (32) are configured so that said at least one lifting element (88) is vertically movable within each parking grid (22) through said at least one lifting device (72) and thereby adopts at least one passing position in which it is laterally displaced within each parking grid (22) relative to said transfer position through said at least one displacement device (54) in order to pass by the respective receiving device (38); at least one lifting element (88) is respectively arranged across adjacent parking grids (22) for coupling to the respective receiving devices (38) of the adjacent parking grids (22) when the receiving devices (38) adopt the transfer position, and when the receiving devices (38) adopt the passing position, the lifting element (88) is not coupled to the respective receiving devices (38), and at least one such lifting element (88) is respectively provided in front of and behind the parking rack (12) relative to the longitudinal direction of the receiving devices (38); parking.

2. 2. The parking lot according to claim 1, wherein the storage device (38) is displaceable to at least one adjacent parking grid (22) through the at least one displacement device (54).

3. 3. The parking lot according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the storage devices (38) in the uppermost level (28) and / or in the lowermost level (30) are configured to adopt the transfer position and the at least one passing position.

4. The parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the receiving device (38) in at least one passing position partially projects into the adjacent parking grid (22), and / or The storage devices (38) in the end grids (24) arranged at both ends of the parking rack (12) are configured to protrude laterally from the end grids (24) when in at least one passing position. A parking lot featuring:

5. 5. A parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the storage device (38) is configured to adopt two passing positions displaced in two directions pointing away from each other relative to the transfer position.

6. 6. The parking lot according to claim 1, wherein, at the transfer position, the storage device (38) is positioned centrally within each parking grid (22).

7. 7. A parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control device (58) is configured to displace the storage device (38) in at least one basic position so that the storage device adopts the at least one passing position.

8. 8. The parking lot according to claim 1, wherein the control device (58) is configured to displace the accommodating devices (38) so that, in the absence of operation of the at least one lifting device (72) and the at least one displacement device (54), at least one parking grid (22) on the at least one intermediate level (32) is devoid of accommodating devices (38) and so that the accommodating devices (38) of the remaining parking grids (22) are displaced to a passing position in a direction pointing away from the first-mentioned parking grid (22).

9. 8. The parking lot according to claim 1, wherein the control device (58) is configured to displace the accommodating devices (38) so that, in the absence of operation of the at least one lifting device (72) and the at least one displacement device (54), at least one parking grid (22) on all intermediate levels (32) is devoid of accommodating devices (38) and the accommodating devices (38) of the remaining parking grids (22) are displaced to a passing position in a direction pointing away from the first-mentioned parking grid (22).

10. 10. The parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the parking racks (12) have at least one free space (50) within the parking level (26) of the entrance (34) and / or within each intermediate level (32).

11. 11. The parking lot of claim 10, wherein the at least one vacant space (50) is one vacant space (50).

12. 12. The parking lot according to claim 1, wherein at least one guide device (102) for guiding the movement of the at least one lifting element (88) is arranged or formed on each parking grid (22).

13. A parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the at least one lifting device (72) comprises at least one traction element (84) and a drive unit (74), the drive unit (74) being connected to the at least one lifting element (88) via the traction element (84).

14. 14. The parking lot according to claim 13, characterized in that the at least one traction element (84) is a chain (68), a toothed belt or a rope.

15. The parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 14, - said parking lot (10) comprises two or more lifting devices (72), at least one lifting device (72) being associated with said lifting elements (88) of two or more parking grids (22), or - said parking lot (10) comprises lifting devices (72) associated with the lifting elements (88) of all parking grids (22); A parking lot featuring:

16. 15. A parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the parking lot (10) comprises lifting devices (72) associated with the lifting elements (88) of all parking grids (22), one lifting device (72) being provided for the lifting elements (88) of all parking grids.

17. 17. The parking lot according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the lifting device (72) associated with two or more parking grids (22) comprises a drive unit (74) and at least one drive element coupled to the at least one lifting element (88) of each parking grid (22).

18. 18. A car park according to claim 17, characterized in that the drive elements are drive shafts (76, 78).

19. 19. The parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that at each parking grid (22) two or more lifting elements (88) are arranged for the vertical transfer of the storage device (38) of said parking grid (22).

20. 20. The parking lot according to claim 19, characterized in that at least one lifting element (88) is provided in front of and behind the parking rack (12) relative to the longitudinal direction of the storage device (38).

21. 21. The parking lot according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the at least one lifting device (72) comprises a synchronizing device (80) that provides a mechanical connection between the at least one lifting element (88) in front of the parking grid (22) and the at least one lifting element (88) behind the parking grid (22).

22. 22. The parking lot according to claim 21, wherein the synchronization device (80) comprises a connecting shaft equipped with a chain (82), a belt, or a square gear, and the drive shafts (76, 78) of the at least one lifting device (72), each connected to at least one of the lifting elements (88), are operatively connected to each other via the synchronization device.

23. 23. The parking lot according to claim 1, wherein four lifting elements (88) are arranged at each parking grid (22) for the vertical transfer of the storage device (38) of said parking grid (22), and two lifting elements (88) are arranged in front of the parking rack (12) and two lifting elements (88) are arranged behind the parking rack (12) for connection to mutually opposite sides of the storage device (38).

24. The parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 23, the at least one lifting element (88) includes or forms at least one support element (106); and said receiving devices (38) each including or forming a holding element (64) for being supported on said at least one support element (106) when said receiving devices (38) adopt their respective transfer positions; A parking lot featuring:

25. 25. The parking lot according to claim 24, characterized in that the storage device (38) can be raised by moving the lifting element (88) from below against the holding element (64) and raising the holding element through the at least one lifting element (88).

26. 26. A parking lot as claimed in claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the at least one support element (106) forms a centering area (108) for aligning the retaining element (64) and the at least one support element (106) relative to each other.

27. 27. A parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the parking lot (10) comprises in each parking space (36) at least one displacement device (54) for displacing a storage device (38) arranged in the parking space (36).

28. 28. A parking lot according to claim 27, characterized in that active displacement devices (54) each having a drive unit (56) for displacing the storage device (38) are provided in front of and behind the parking rack (12).

29. 28. The parking lot according to claim 27, characterized in that an active displacement device (54) with a drive unit (56) is provided for displacing the storage device (38) only in front of or only behind the parking rack (12).

30. Parking lot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one displacement device (54) is configured as a chain conveyor (60), a belt conveyor or a roller track.

31. 31. A car park according to claim 30, characterized in that said at least one displacement device (54) is a plurality of displacement devices (54).

32. A parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 31, characterized in that at least one support device (52) is provided for supporting the storage device (38) when the storage device (38) is positioned in the parking space (36).

33. 33. A car park according to claim 32, characterized in that the storage device (38) is supported on the at least one support device (52).

34. 34. A parking lot according to claim 33, characterized in that said at least one support device (52) is arranged in each parking space (36).

35. Car park according to any one of claims 32 to 34, characterized in that said at least one displacement device (54) forms said at least one support device (52).

36. 36. Parking lot according to claim 35, characterized in that the displacement devices (54) each form a support device (52).

37. 37. The parking lot according to claim 32, wherein the at least one support device (52) in the at least one intermediate level (32) is transferable from a support position in which the at least one support device (52) supports the storage device (38) in the parking space (36) to a release position in which the parking grid (22) is released for vertically transferring the storage device (38, 104) beyond the support device (52) via the at least one lifting device (72), and vice versa.

38. 37. The parking lot according to claim 32, wherein the at least one support device (52) in the uppermost parking level (28) and / or in the lowermost parking level (30) is transferable from a support position, in which the at least one support device (52) supports the storage device (38) in the parking space (36), to a release position, in which the parking grid (22) is released for vertically transferring the storage device (38, 104) beyond the support device (52) via the at least one lifting device (72), and vice versa.

39. 39. A car park according to claim 37 or 38, characterized in that said at least one support device (52) is a plurality of support devices (52).

40. Car park according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the accommodation device (38) is configured as a parking platform (40).

41. 41. The parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 40, characterized in that the parking lot (10) comprises a sensor device (140) coupled to the control device (58) for determining the position of each accommodation device (38) within the parking grid (22).

42. 42. A parking lot according to claim 41, characterized in that the sensor device (140) is configured to determine the adoption of the transfer position and / or of the at least one passing position by the storage device (38).

43. 43. A parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 42, characterized in that the parking lot (10) comprises a charging device including a charging unit in at least one storage device (38), and the vehicle (14) positioned on the storage device (38) can be connected to the charging unit via an electrical connection or inductively.

44. A parking lot according to any one of claims 1 to 43, the parking rack (12) includes, in addition to the parking grids (22) arranged side by side, at least one parking grid (22) positioned in a transverse relationship with respect to the arrangement of the parking grids (22) arranged side by side and in an adjacent relationship with respect to one of the parking grids (22); and Between these parking grids (22) it is possible for the vehicle (14) to cross within at least one parking level (26). A parking lot featuring:

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