Abstract:
Automobiles parking method and apparatus comprising a multi storied building with an inclined hoist way located diagonally along the vertical profile linking all parking floors in order to park and retrieve automobiles carried by the elevator lifted along rails situated in the inclined hoist way by means of over head traction cables powered by motor. During parking process automobile is driven in to horizontally positioned platform of the elevator brought down to loading station, so that the elevator is moved along rails on wheels by overhead traction cables to desired parking floor for automobile to drive in to desired parking place and vice versa.

Description:
[0001]    The invention relates to automotive parking methods and devices having multi storied parking structure with number of floors along which a hoisting appliance is movable, wherein the hoist way links parking floors situated one above the other in several levels. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    It is found that in highly inhabited commercial and industrial cities space to park automotives is insufficient. It results the continuation of illegal parking on streets and obstruction of traffic. Recently, automatic multi-storey car parks are appearing as a solution to this problem. However, the cost of the mechanical equipments added to the building cost overweight the advantages of such parking facilities. Also such parking devices operated by hydraulic or cables on vertical direction to haul up and bring back to owner, consumes lot of energy making these methods becoming extremely expensive. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]    The method introduced is a multi storied parking system less sophisticated with less maintenance and operational cost to provide a multi storied parking facility that could be constructed economically. 
         [0004]    New method introduces a multi-storied car park combined with an inclined hoist way. The hoist way takes shape, across the multiple of parking floors forming an opening on each slab to provide the access for the hoist way to travel hoisting appliance. The opening at any floor and elevator platform is made in such a way that when the platform of the elevator reaches any floor, the floor and platform creates a drive way for the hoisted automobile to drive in to the desired floor. Moreover, the hoist way comprises a pair of rails held on two structural beams at same inclination, connected with the building structure. Therefore the elevator travels along the rail track extending though multiple of parking floors between top most and the lowest parking floor including the loading station. 
         [0005]    The elevator is driven on wheels along rails, so that, the weight of the elevator and load will be distributed on rails, while the elevator is driven due to traction imparted by the cables secured to the top of the elevator. The cables passes over the traction pulley in the upper station and carries the counter weight hanged on another pulley and returns the cable end to a stationary grip at a higher level. The counterweight is located in a vertical hoist-way and rides a separate rail system. So that, the counter weight travels in opposite direction at half the speed of elevator, which is travelling along the inclined track. As the platform goes up, the counterweight goes down, and vice versa. This manner the weight of the elevator is balanced by the counterweight which is typically higher than the weight of the elevator platform. This action is powered and controlled by the traction machine which is an electrical motor or power generator. 
         [0006]    The elevator is having the platform of rigid surface maintained in horizontal position, so that the automobiles from any floor could be driven in and out the elevator by the driver, when it reaches the designated floor. A close tolerance is maintained between the elevator platform sill and the sill of open space of the floor in hoist way at any floor, serving as a drivable access to parking spaces on the required floor. 
         [0007]    Advantageously the elevator is constructed as a multi-deck elevator in a manner two or more compartments located one above the other, in order to haul number of vehicles at a time. 
         [0008]    Further more, each hoist way has a pair of guide rails that run parallel to one another, keeping the elevator and counterweight from swaying or twisting during their travel, and they also work with the safety system to stop the elevator in an emergency. The rail track, on which the elevator travel also can be utilize as the guide rail for the elevator in any method of operation. Advantageously, traction motor directed by the controller, typically a relay logic or computerized device that directs starting, acceleration, deceleration and stopping of the elevator platform. 
         [0009]    The inclined vehicle conveyance also provided with suitable braking systems and safeties that grab onto the rail when the car moves too fast and whenever required to stop, like any other traction cable elevator system operates. The bottom of the shaft of elevator and balance weight are mounted with heavy-duty shock absorber systems to soften the elevator system landing. Advantageously, the platform of the elevator and the loading floor are held together while the parking vehicle drives in and out of the elevator. 
         [0010]    The parking structure may comprise with a stair way, elevator or escalator to allow the driver to return to ground station after loading the vehicle to the parking floor and vice versa. 
         [0011]    The loading and unloading bay is arranged in a motorable floor either on ground floor or closer, with entrance and departure station is provided. Advantageously underground floors may provide to increase the number of parking floors to facilitate more parking spaces. 
         [0012]    Similarly, such parking conveyance can be adapted to a multipurpose building where in the building structure is a combination of shopping malls apartments or any other utilities. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0013]    These features and advantages of the present invention as well as others will be fully understood when the following description is read in light of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]    FIG.  1 —is a longitudinal section of the parking structure along the hoist way with elevator at loading station. 
           [0015]    FIG.  2 —is a longitudinal section of the parking structure along the hoist way with elevator at top most floor station. 
           [0016]    FIG.  3 —is the lay out plan at loading and delivery floor while elevator deck in loading floor, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]    FIG.  4 —is the lay out plan at topmost parking floor while elevator deck is in the same floor, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]    FIG.  5 —is a sectional view at G-G of  FIG. 01 , showing the details of the parking floor entrance and loading station 
           [0019]    FIG.  6 —is a sectional view across the hoist way for the counter weight. 
           [0020]    FIG.  7 —is a side view of elevator with two compartments one above the other. 
           [0021]    FIG.  8 —is a sectional view of the elevator shown in  FIG. 07 . 
           [0022]    FIG.  9 —is a layout plan at over head machine room consisting traction motor, traction drum with sheaves, deflection sheaves and cable system. 
           [0023]    FIG.  10 —is detailed view of the elevator platform. 
           [0024]    FIG.  11 —is details at rail track and guide rails 
           [0025]    FIG.  12 —is details of another way of connecting guide rails 
           [0026]    FIG.  13 —is a detail view of Safeties connected to cross head of the elevator. 
           [0027]    FIG.  14 —is details of rail track and wheel base. 
           [0028]    FIG.  15 —is a sectional view inside the elevator 
           [0029]    FIG.  16 —is an instance illustrating when one of traction cable broken the plug and socket disengage to send a signal to emergency brake 
           [0030]    FIG.  17 —is an instance illustrating how safety breaks takes place when entire cable system collapses. 
           [0031]    FIG.  18 —is another method of construction of the elevator where vehicle is loaded at lateral direction to the inclined hoist way. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]    The  FIG. 1  shows the typical section along the elevator, at A-A as shown in layout plan  FIG. 4 , at A-A. 
         [0033]    The hoist motor  15  is installed in machine room at upper level, powering the drive drum  10  with large sheaves. The grooves of sheaves grip the multiple of traction cables  8  that runs from the elevator  1 , up and around a drive drum attached to the hoist motor and passing over the deflection sheave  11  to suspend counter weight  13  on another pulley  12  down and ultimately fitted to a permanent grip  14  at an upper level. 
         [0034]    The track wheels  6  attached on either side of elevator  1  are typically flanged and ride on top of the rail  7  thereby easily guided on rails resting on rail track, while it guide and support the elevator  1  up the inclination. So when the electric motor rotates the sheave and the cables move too, providing enough force to pull the elevator  1  during travel. 
         [0035]    According to this design the elevator  1  is a multi deck type, having two compartments  2 ,  3  located one above the other. The structure consists of a rigid frame having a cross head  4  to which the main frame  5  is braced to hold platforms in position. Vehicle compartments are constructed with horizontal platforms secured to the elevator structure. The elevator  1  is connected to a set of traction cables  8  that link the power driven rolling drum with pulley  10  connected to the motor  15 . The elevator  1  and the counterweight each run in their own sets of guide rails. 
         [0036]    The hoist way is centrally built in relation to two beams stretched out from top to bottom on which elevator  1  can move along the rail inside the hoist way that formed as an open way at an inclined profile across the multiple of floor slabs. The platforms of elevator  1  is made to a close tolerance of the floor slab opening to move smoothly along the rail track, enabling to align with any floor when it reach the designated level. 
         [0037]    The hoisting elevator compartments are comprised of electrically operated doors, closed while hoisting. The elevator compartments  2  are having control panels with intercommunication system to operate by the person in the cradle during an emergency. 
         [0038]    The hoist way doors in floors are motor controlled remotely or controlled by the control panel fitted on wall. Alarm buttons, and emergency telephones are fixed next to the doors. The electromechanical door inter locks are installed in order to prevent the elevator  1  from operating if the door is not completely closed and to protect the driver inside the parking vehicle, from being trapped by the closing door. The same door interlocks also prevent the outer doors on each floor from opening if the elevator  1  is not approached. 
         [0039]    In the operation, when a vehicle is driven near to the hoist way in to the loading station, the hoist operator will control the elevator mechanisms to bring the elevator  1  to its loading station in alignment with the floor. The platform of the elevator  1  will be in level with the floor of the loading station. 
         [0040]    The hoist door is opened and the car is driven on to the platform situated on the hoist way. Then the hoist is elevated with platform maintained in horizontal position and lifted to the desired parking floor with the driver inside the car. When it reaches in level with a selected floor the door of the access is opened and the drive is allowed to drive the car to the required location on the floor. 
         [0041]    After the car is parked at designated location the driver leaves the car and able to reach the ground, using the access provided by the passenger lift  24 . The access for passenger can be a staircase or an escalator. 
         [0042]    This operation is reversed when the car is required to bring back to the ground floor retrieved for departure. 
         [0043]    The process is directed by the controller, typically a relay logic or computerized device that directs starting, acceleration, deceleration and stopping of the elevator platform. 
         [0044]    As the car approaches its destination, a switch near the landing signals the controls to stop the car at desired floor level. Access is provided in the shaft way to install limit switches to monitor over travel conditions. It detect the over speed conditions and activate safeties. The safeties will grip the guide rails and stop the elevator  1 . 
         [0045]    Like many other elevators inclined conveyance for vehicle parking equipped with primary safety mechanisms such as a governor which controls the elevator speed by controlling the speed of the cable pulleys, an emergency brake which consists of jaws that grip the elevator  1  to guide rails in the event the cables break. The speed governor is integrated with the traction drum. In the event of excessive speed of elevator  1 , the governor activates the emergency brake jaws which grip the guide rails and slow the elevator  1  to a stop. 
         [0046]    The elevator  1  may consist of a multiple of cables for traction so that even if one cable snapped, the remaining cables would hold the elevator  1  up. 
         [0047]    A new safety device is introduced in this elevator  1  to prevent movement unintentionally, due to cable failure. As shown in  FIG. 13  the set of cables are connected to the cross head and each cable fitted with a plug and socket held by an extended arm at a reasonable distance from the cross head. During engagement of socket in the plug electric circuit is formed and prevent emergency brake jaws grip the guide rails imposing brake. If the cable is slack as shown in  FIG. 16 , the plug will leave the socket and circuitry is disengaged. Therefore the electrical current floor will stop that prevent brake on hold, allowing the system to apply brakes. 
         [0048]    Another cable safety method is adopted as shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 17 , by linking the cross head to cable scheme by a spring loaded arm. If the cable set fails the bar attached to cable scheme will trend to come closer towards the cross head, turning the leverage of brakes to clamp the guide rails. 
         [0049]    At the bottom of each hoist way a shock absorber typically a piston mounted in an oil-filled cylinder, works like a cushion to soften the elevator landing. 
         [0050]    Also the elevator  1  is having an automatic brake system near the top and bottom of the elevator shaft. If the elevator car moves too fast in either direction, the brake brings it to a stop 
         [0051]    In addition to these elaborate emergency systems, the inclined elevator system may be equipped with any other versatile methods to make the system safety and reliable. 
         [0052]    In this design the guide rails and wheels supporting rail track are functioning as separate members, but it would be apparent from the design that the wheels supporting rail track can use as the guide rail at the same time. Further more the guide rail can fix along the beam as shown in  FIG. 12  as well. 
         [0053]    It would be noticeable another inclined conveyance could be constructed by arranging the drive way lateral to the inclined hoist way as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0054]    With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0055]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.