Abstract: A vehicular parking apparatus includes a frame defining horizontal rows and vertical columns of parking spaces. Subframes are configured to have a vehicle parked thereon and can move vertically in the columns. Platforms move horizontally in the rows and are configured to engage and move the subframes with the vehicles thereon. The subframes, the platforms and the frame provide electrical connections for charging parked electric vehicles.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles includes a stationary inductive coil fixed in a position adjacent to a parking spot for the vehicle so that a charging surface of the stationary inductive coil is aligned substantially vertically. The charging apparatus further has a movable electric coil assembly that is magnetically mountable to a brake component of the vehicle and having a charging surface aligned with the charging surface of the stationary inductive coil when the vehicle is parked. A charging cable extends from the stationary inductive coil and has a plug that is electrically connectable to a charging outlet of the vehicle. The vehicle is parked with the inductive coils aligned so that an inductive charging operation can be carried out.

Abstract: A safety barrier assembly for a parking garage is positioned in proximity to an opening in a floor of the parking garage that accommodates vertical movement of a VRC between floors of the parking garage. The safety barrier assembly has left and right vertical guide columns. A handrail and a knee rail have opposite ends guided for vertical movement in the columns. A bottom rail is connected pivotally to the knee rail and hangs to a position below the knee rail when the knee rail is in the lower position. An actuator causes the bottom rail to pivot up as the knee rail is elevated.

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

Abstract: A parking system includes automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for moving automobiles to and from parking spaces in a parking facility. Each AGV is provided with a Hall effect sensor array. The parking facility has magnet arrays affixed to the floor of the parking facility. Each magnet array includes a plurality of magnets, with a specified arrangement of positive and negative poles of the magnets in the magnet array. The Hall effect sensor array senses the magnets and guides the AGV through the parking facility based on the position and alignment information determined by the Hall effect sensors.

Abstract: A parking system includes parking trays, each of which includes a parking platform for supporting a vehicle thereon and legs depending down from the parking platform. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) can move between the legs of a tray and then lift the tray with the vehicle thereon for moving the vehicle to or from parking spaces in a parking facility. Each parking space has a vehicle lift device suspended from the ceiling. Each vehicle lift device includes a tray support for supporting the tray and the vehicle thereon. The AGV can move the tray and the vehicle into a position at the parking space so that the tray and the vehicle can be lifted by the vehicle lift device. Thus, another vehicle can be moved into position below the lifted tray and vehicle.

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

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

Abstract: A quadruple parking system configured to store at least four vehicles is provided. The vehicle parking system includes a rigid frame including four vertically upstanding posts, the frame generally defining a rectangular volume; at least three platforms movably disposed in the frame, each platform being configured to support at least one vehicle; the at least three platforms being coupled to each other by a telescopic coupling, wherein in a first position the at least three platforms are nested upon each other and, upon being elevated, each platform raises the platform below each other; and a hoist unit coupled to the telescopic coupling and configured to raise and lower the at least three platforms, wherein upon being fully raised the at least three platforms define four parking positions. The hoist unit employs an electric drive unit for ensuring consistent and smooth operation in various temperature conditions.

Abstract: A quadruple parking system configured to store at least four vehicles is provided. The vehicle parking system includes a rigid frame including four vertically upstanding posts, the frame generally defining a rectangular volume; at least three platforms movably disposed in the frame, each platform being configured to support at least one vehicle; the at least three platforms being coupled to each other by a telescopic coupling, wherein in a first position the at least three platforms are nested upon each other and, upon being elevated, each platform raises the platform below each other; and a hoist unit coupled to the telescopic coupling and configured to raise and lower the at least three platforms, wherein upon being fully raised the at least three platforms define four parking positions. The hoist unit employs an electric drive unit for ensuring consistent and smooth operation in various temperature conditions.

Abstract: A vehicle handling system is provided for an automated parking garage. The system includes a loading platform dimensioned to support a vehicle, the loading platform including gratings each formed by a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel bars. The system also includes a carriage also formed with a grating having a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel bars, wherein the gratings of the loading platform and the carriage being sized and configured to allow the bars of the carriage to pass between the bars of the loading platform. The system also includes a lifting mechanism for lifting a vehicle away from the loading platform. The lifting mechanism may be a stacker crane assembly allowing both vertical and horizontal movement of the carriage or a robot trolley and lift assembly. The system may also include a turntable for changing the orientation of the vehicle within the garage.