Abstract: A reduced dimensions platform (1) for the landing of an aircraft on an access facility (B) having a support base (2), suitable to be fixed on a reference surface (P) belonging to said access facility (B), and a landing footboard (3), superiorly connected with said support base (2) and suitable to receive said aircraft. Specifically, the landing footboard (3) includes a central body (4), coupled with support base (2), and a plurality of peripheral panels (5), operatively connected with drive means (6) which move the peripheral panels (5) from/to a rest position, in which said peripheral panels (5) are contained within the dimensions of the central body (4), to/from an operating position, in which the peripheral panels (5) projects laterally from the central body (4).

Abstract: An object moving apparatus is provided which is different from coordinated conveyance through real-time information exchange between carriages only by wireless communication and which can move an object reliably and in a more stable manner by coordinated control of carriages without the object falling off. Arranged is a leader carriage A with a carriage body 2 travelable in all directions by travel drivers 1 and a lifter 5 attached to the carriage body via a link mechanism 3 for lifting up a vehicle 4 as object. The leader carriage is movable along a given target track. Further arranged is a follower carriage B with a carriage body 2 travelable in all directions and a lifter 5 attached to the carriage body via a link mechanism 3 for lifting up the vehicle 4. The follower carriage estimates and follows movement of the leader carriage so as to move the vehicle 4 in coordination with the leader carriage.

Abstract: An automated storage system comprises a plurality of storage locations, at least one access location, a plurality of storage containers provided on the storage locations, a control system and at least one user interface, the control system further comprising a retrieval mode and a storage mode, and a delivery system for delivering a storage container from a storage location to an access location during the retrieval mode, and for returning the storage container to a storage location during the storage mode. User instructions at the control interface initiate the retrieval mode and the storage mode, and a user is provided access to the retrieved storage container while it is located at the access location.

Abstract: A trolley and parking system using the trolley for transporting cars and the like. The present trolley includes a main body, capable of moving; and a clamping apparatus, having at least a first and a second moving plate and at least a pair of clamping claws. The present parking system includes a loading table, a differential table moving relative to the loading table, a trolley moving relative to the differential table, a longitudinal driving device, a power tube line transmission mechanism, and a power valve station and an electric control system thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle display includes a base and a platform. A bearing between the base and the platform mounts the platform on the base for rotation about an upright axis. A rotator drive is provided for rotating the platform on the base. The apparatus also includes a base mounting column mounting the base on the ground. The column includes a lifting device for varying the height of the column between a lowered position with the platform substantially at ground level and a raised position with the platform positioned above ground level. With the column lowered, a vehicle may be driven onto the platform, tied down as necessary, lifted to the raised position and rotated for display purposes. This provides a simple drive on-drive off display that is visually very effective, easy to use and unobtrusive when not in use.

Abstract: A system of shuttle cars for transporting a vehicle in an automated parking facility. Each shuttle car includes an x-shuttle that supports two z-shuttles. The z-shuttles move from the x-shuttle and under the vehicle for transport. The z-shuttles locate and engage the front and rear tires of a vehicle to lift the vehicle from the floor. Once the z-shuttles have engage the vehicle tires, the z-shuttles return to the x-shuttle so that the x-shuttle can transport the vehicle (and the z-shuttles) to and from the appropriate parking space.

Abstract: A vehicle display lift and rotator includes a base and a platform. A bearing between the base and the platform mounts the platform on the base for rotation about an upright axis. A rotator drive is provided for rotating the platform on the base. The apparatus also includes a base mounting column mounting the base on the ground. The column includes a lifting device for varying the height of the column between a lowered position with the platform substantially at ground level and a raised position with the platform positioned above ground level. With the column lowered, a vehicle may be driven onto the platform, tied down as necessary, lifted to the raised position and rotated for display purposes. This provides a simple drive on-drive off display that is visually very effective, easy to use and unobtrusive when not in use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a parking assistance system for a vehicle, comprising at least one distance sensor that detects at least sections of the lateral immediate vicinity of the vehicle and at least one path sensor that detects the path travelled by the vehicle. According to the method, a control device determines the length and/or width of a parking space from the values measured by the sensors as the vehicle drives past said parking space. The invention is characterised in that the measured length and/or width of the parking space is/are corrected by a correction value and/or that depending on the speed of the vehicle as it drives past the parking space, the measurement is taken by means of the distance sensor at different time intervals.

Abstract: A simple and relatively inexpensive containerized vehicle storage system for holding self-parked vehicles. In one embodiment, the system includes a building or housing having an upper level and a lower level, with the lower level being situated below level of vehicle entrance into the housing. A plurality of containers are positioned in at least two vertically stacked columns in the housing. Each container is identically configured, and includes a weight tolerant structural shell. The shell is formed by a floor, sidewall and roof arranged to define a shell entrance and an oppositely situated shell exit to permit respective entry and exit of a vehicle into and from the shell of the container. The shell is typically configured to support the weight of a conventional automobile positioned inside the shell, and further support a stack of about ten similarly loaded and configured containers.

Abstract: The invention includes a device for parking vehicles for supplying and delivering at an entry/exit position, wherein the device is provided with vertically displaceable lifting devices with which one carrying platform at a time is displaceable in vertical direction. This carrying platform is intended to support a vehicle. The device also includes horizontal transporting devices for taking a platform, which may or may not be loaded with a vehicle, in horizontal direction of the vertical transporting means and carrying it into a parking position.

Abstract: A High-rise Automated Garage (HAG) for offstreet parking consists of up to 40 stories (levels) car storage structure and a bank of elevators in the middle of this structure. Elevators are oriented along the garage and can pick-up cars from a flat driveway along the garage. Car handling carriages of the elevators can lift cars as cargo, using their wheels as the pick-up points, and move them horizontally into elevator's platform. In the case of one elevator failure, cars parked in the zone served by this elevator can be relocated by attendants into the zone served by an operating elevator, thus providing the capability of returning cars to the owners in a reasonable time. HAG has two loading (unloading) lanes. This allows an increase in the driver time for arriving and releasing the car to two elevators' cycles.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a system for temporary storage and output of pilotless, movable vehicles in a parking garage as well as for transferring the pilotless vehicles froma transport platform 3 to a parking place and vice versa, including a means for lifting the vehicles, for moving them in the lifted position and for putting them down in another position. Carrier arms 13, 14, 15, 16 perpendicularly extending until into the area of the vehicle wheels are arranged on a longitudinal carrier 17 movable under the vehicle in longitudinal direction, at least two of the carrier arms being pivotable from a position directed in direction of the longitudinal carrier into the rectangularly extended position in which they under pressure bear on the lower area of the vehicle wheel and lift it from the standing place.

Abstract: A storage system (10), preferably for vehicles comprising a plurality of storage bays (11) each having an opening, at least one moving device (15) movable to be adjacent the opening of any one of the storage bays (11) and transfer device (90, 20) for transferring objects (21) carried by the moving devices (15) into the storage bay (11). Preferably the storage bays (11) are arranged in two arrays and the moving devices (15) is capable of transferring an object to a storage bay (11) in either array.

Abstract: A multi-level storage facility comprising a plurality of vertically stacked storage chambers, each of a size to accommodate an item to be stored, such as a vehicle. Each chamber contains a platform, and all of the chambers are accessible from a common face of the facility. An elevator is mounted so as to move along the common face of the facility to provide access to any one of the chambers. Each of the chambers and the elevator provide a device for engaging one of the platforms in an upper or a lower position. The platform being movable between positions at any time including when the elevator is in motion. With the elevator aligned with any one of the chambers, the platform in the chamber may be exchanged with one on the elevator. The elevator provides a device for acheiving this result, saving the extreme expense of having exchange devices in each and every chamber, or on each platform.

Abstract: A vehicle parking apparatus comprises at least one lift platform (12) which can be brought to parking boxes (11) provided in rows in different stories of a multi-story car park and on which at least one movable vehicle carrying pallet (13) can be arranged. The vehicle carrying pallet is formed by two box-like wheel supporting beams (14) which extend in the direction of travel and which have a length corresponding to the wheel base of the vehicle types to be accommodated and also a lateral spacing corresponding to the track widths of the vehicles to be accommodated. The wheel supporting beams (14) are in the form of an inverse U with outwardly directed angled portions (15) at the lower longitudinal edges and plates (16) which connect the lower longitudinal edges together as well as longitudinal roller arrangements (17) at the front and rear ends. At least one cross-beam (18, 19, 20) is provided at the front and at the rear of the wheel supporting beams.

Abstract: An automated high-raised parking system includes a parking rack structure having a plurality of racks disposed one above another for parking an automobile, an entrance/exit section for allowing entrance and exit of the automobile and a lift-translator device for transporting the automobile between the entrance/exit section to the racks. The lift-translator device includes a lift table vertically movable along a lift passage extending along a side of the parking rack structure and communicating with the entrance/exit section. In this system, the invention provides a shielding member for shielding an upward view from the entrance/exit section up through the lift passage when the lift table is positioned at the entrance/exit section for entrance or exit of the automobile.

Abstract: An automatic parking device for a multi-deck parking lot for motor vehicles is described. The device includes a carrier to carry a moveable platform from a parking position to a base or from a base to the parking position, and a hydraulic cylinder to move the moveable platform from the carrier to a fixed platform at an exit or from the fixed platform to the carrier. An inductor is provided on a moveable rod, which is driven by the hydraulic cylinder to move the moveable platform between the carrier and the platform and to automatically control an electromagnetic switch which drives two retaining iron strips to lock the moveable platform in the carrier.

Abstract: A multistory parking space that is provided with an entrance and exit area, an elevator, power carriers and parking pallets. A vehicle in the entrance and exit area is transported by the elevator to the power carriers, and then the vehicle is transported to the parking pallets by the power carrier. All of these elements are provided with conveyors for transferring a vehicle. Entrance and exit of vehicles to and from the entrance and exit area, vertical travelling of the elevator, travelling of the power carrier are executed simultaneously to shorten the time required for entrance and exit.

Abstract: A multistory parking space wherein at least one parking floor is located underground. An entry way and an exit way for vehicles of the multistory parking space are provided with an entrance lift and an exit lift, respectively. The parking floor is provided with at least one power carrier and a large number of parking pallets, and vehicles are transferred between the lifts and the carrier and between the carrier and the pallets by conveyors. Shutters are provided between the lifts and the entry and exit ways, and the lifts and the passenger ways to prevent accidental falling of a vehicle or a passenger.

Abstract: An elevator type parking lot includes a number of layers of frames, one or more layers of holding units being provided along each side of a passage which is provided on a center portion of each layer of the frames, and an elevator slidable vertically to align with each layer of the frame. A sliding conveyer which is vertically extendible is lifted and carried by the elevator. The sliding conveyer is slidable on the elevator and slidable along each passage of each layer of the frame so as to align with each holding unit. A cross slide feed mechanism is provided on the sliding conveyer. A sliding carrier is carried on the sliding conveyer and is raised by the sliding conveyer to align with each holding unit and is actuated to move laterally by the cross slide feed mechanism toward each holding unit.

Abstract: A parking apparatus includes a multi-storied building having at least one parking position on each of its stories, and a transporting device having a central portion and four primary sides each of which is capable of adjoining thereto the parking position, and is capable of vertically moving a car to any one of the stories of the building and of conveying the car between the central portion and the parking position.

Abstract: A hoistway car for transporting wheeled carts between floor levels which includes mechanism for reversing the cart swivel wheels to facilitate off-loading of the cart while avoiding chafing or jamming of such swivel wheels. In the illustrated embodiments, the reversing mechanism comprises turntables at the plane of the car platform which turn in predetermined directions to control wheel swivel action. In one embodiment, the turntables rely on gravitational forces to initiate swivel action, and in another embodiment, the turntables are power-operated for inducing swivel action.

Abstract: A hoistway car for transporting wheeled carts between floor levels which includes means for reversing the cart swivel wheels to facilitate off-loading of the cart while avoiding chafing or jamming of such swivel wheels. In the illustrated embodiments, the reversing means comprises turntables at the plane of the car platform which turn in predetermined directions to control wheel swivel action. In one embodiment, the turntables rely on gravitational forces to initiate swivel action, and in another embodiment, the turntables are power-operated for inducing swivel action.

Abstract: A high-capacity parking apparatus includes a multi-storyed garage designed in two opposite portions with a space therebetwen for installation of an elevator cage to move the car from an entry to, and unload it to an exit from, a respective parking division in the garage.

Abstract: An automatic transfer apparatus for loading and unloading a push car into and from an elevator is provided. It includes a guide member, a carriage mounted in the guide member, a conveyor for moving the carriage toward the push car, and another conveyor for pulling the push car into and out of the elevator. Firstly the carriage moves toward the push car, pulls it to mount it just on itself, and moves back to its original position to carry it onto the elevator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lift-type car park for removably storing a plurality of wheeled motor vehicles. The lift platform has a telescoping transport device mounted thereon. The lift platform can be brought level with a transfer area and the telescoping transport device can be extended adjacent the wheels of the motor vehicle to be parked. Guide rollers can then be swung out from the telescoping transport device to movably engage the wheel such that when the telescopic transport device is retracted onto the platform the motor vehicle is pulled onto the lift platform as well. The lift platform can then be moved to any one of a number of storage locations and the reverse operation takes place in which the motor vehicle is placed in a storage space.

Abstract: A warehouse crane comprises an elevationally positionable carriage, a shuttle guidably mounted on the carriage for transverse movement, and apparatus for moving a tote pan out of storage racks alongside either side of the crane and onto the carriage, the crane further being able to replace the tote pan in its original compartment or to place the tote pan in any other compartment in either of the storage racks. The apparatus for moving the tote pan out of a storage rack includes a pair of reversibly driven endless chain mechanisms mounted on the shuttle and a tote pan puller attached to those chain mechanisms. The puller travels in a horizontal and flat orbital path, but changes from a vertical position to a transversely outwardly inclined position as it approaches the ends of that path so that the puller may engage a tote pan handle as it moves upwardly in an inclined position.

Abstract: A pair of conveyor pan immobilizing subassemblies are disclosed for engaging the opposite sides of a conveyor pan to stabilize the pan in a first direction transverse to the conveyed direction of the pan. In one embodiment, each subassembly is comprised of a plurality of pan engagement assemblies, each pivotally mounted for depression in a vertical axis by an off-centered pan, and each spaced further from the conveyor pan in the first direction, such that the pan is serially engaged by the assemblies as a result of pan movement resulting from, for example, loading or unloading of the pan. In another embodiment, the subassembly comprises a roller rotatably mounted for rotation by a pan being moved in the conveyed direction and resiliently mounted for depression by an off-centered pan.

Abstract: An automated parking system includes a multi-story tower having a central elevator shaft. The building is substantially circular in cross section and contains a plurality of parking stalls that radiate from the elevator shaft on each of the stories. An elevator mechanism elevates a turntable, rotatably mounted on the elevator mechanism for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, between the several floors of the building. A shuttle travels from the turntable to an entrance ramp on the ground level of the building, moves a vehicle to be parked from the entrance ramp to the turntable, whereupon the elevator and turntable cooperate to deposit the vehicle in a parking stall on one of the several floors. The elevator and turntable mechanism operate in reverse to carry the vehicle from a parking stall to an exit ramp on the groung floor of the building.

Abstract: An automatic loader and unloader for an elevator includes a stationary frame, a main carriage movable in either direction relative to the stationary frame, and a coupler carriage movable in either direction relative to the main carriage. The main carriage is slidably disposed on the stationary frame by a bearing arrangement which provides a cantilever support for the main carriage when the main carriage is extended. The main carriage and the coupler carriage are extended and retracted by two pair of cables. One pair of cables effects movement of the main carriage and coupler carriage in one direction, and the other pair of cables effects movement of the main carriage and coupler carriage in the other direction.