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Title:
HORIZONTAL CONVEYANCE TYPE PARKING SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2004/101913
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Horizontal conveyance type parking system including one pair of hanging frames (120) of substantially rectangular shapes horizontally supported on supporting means (110) at a height from ground parallel to each other so as to be symmetry to each other, one pair of circulating means (125) for circulating along substantially rectangular circumference of each of the hanging frames (120), a plurality of holding shafts (130) horizontally laid across, and connected to, the one pair of circulating means (125) at regular intervals, a plurality of pairs of hangers (135) each having an upper end rotatably coupled to the holding shaft (130) in the vicinity of opposite ends thereof, a plurality of flat pallets (140) each having car supporting plates connected to lower ends of the hanger, for supporting the car horizontally, and driving means (150) for driving the circulating means (125) or the pallet (140) coupled to the circulating means (125), so that the pallet (140) moves along a circulating path of the circulating means (125).

Inventors:
HWANG TAE HONG (KR)
Application Number:
PCT/KR2004/001125
Publication Date:
November 25, 2004
Filing Date:
May 13, 2004
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
HWANG TAE HONG (KR)
International Classes:
E04H6/14; (IPC1-7): E04H6/14; E04H6/18
Foreign References:
US3868027A1975-02-25
GB1497410A1978-01-12
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Bahng, Hae Cheol (15th Floor Yo Sam Building, 648-23 Yeoksam-don, Kangnam-gu Seoul 135-080, KR)
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Claims:
Claims
1. A horizontal conveyance type parking system comprising: one pair of hanging frames of substantially rectangular shapes, the frames being horizontally supported on supporting means at a height from the ground and arranged to be mutually symmetrical and be parallel to each other along a lon gitudinal direction thereof; one pair of circulating means each for circulating along substantially rectangular circumference of each hanging frame; a plurality of holding shafts horizontally laid across, and connected to, the one pair of circulating means at regular intervals; a plurality of pairs of hangers each having an upper end rotatably coupled to the holding shaft in the vicinity of opposite ends thereof; a plurality of flat pallets each having car supporting plates connected to lower ends of the hanger, for supporting the car horizontally; and driving means for driving one of the circulating means and the pallet coupled to the circulating means, so that the pallet moves along a circulating path of the circulating means.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein opposite longitudinal ends of the hanging frames are formed as substantially semicircular so that each frame takes the form of an elliptical rectangle overall.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanging frames have substantially reversed trapezoidal shapes elongated in a lateral direction.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circulating means is power transmitting chains.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 or 4, further comprising: a plurality of rollers arranged in lines on opposite sides of underside surface of the car supporting plate along a moving direction of the pallets; and two pairs of pallet moving rails arranged on an inside between lower sides of the hanging frames, and on a ground under the hanging frames, respectively, in a longitudinal direction of the hanging frames, so as to support the rollers for rolling.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1 or 4, further comprising: roller bearing holding bases arranged along horizontal moving sections of the pallet moving path on opposite sides; and a plurality of roller bearings rotatably mounted on the roller bearing holding bases for supporting an underside surface of the pallet.
7. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hanging frame has a hollow rectangular section, the rectangular section having one at least partially open side, so that the power transmitting chain runs in the inside of the rectangular section of the hanging frame.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the driving means includes; sprockets rotatably engaged with the chains for driving the chains, and a sprocket driving motor for transmitting a rotating power to the sprockets, wherein the sprockets and the sprocket driving motor are mounted on an outer circumference of the hanging frames, and a portion of outer circumference of the hanging frame is opened for engagement of the sprockets with the power transmitting chains.
9. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the car supporting plate of each pallet includes; supplementary frames of wing shapes extending outwardly in a lateral direction, and a rotatable plate in rear of the car supporting plate and hinged thereto to move up/down.
10. The system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a ramp plate at an entrance of the car for easy entrance of the car.
11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a supplementary roller is arranged to project upward from pallet moving rail in the vicinities of longitudinal opposite ends of the pallet moving rails extending along a longitudinal direction of the hanging frame on an inside between lower sides of the hanging frames, to come into contact with the underside surface of the supplementary frames at opposite sides of the pallet, so that the supplementary roller assists in supporting the pallet in a horizontal position before and after moving up/down of the pallet during its circulative movement.
12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circulating means includes; one pair of circular guide pulleys each rotatably mounted on longitudinal opposite ends of the hanging frame, and a rope to circulate along a substantially elliptical rectangular path consisting of the hanging frame and outer circumferences of the guide pulleys.
13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the driving means includes; a plurality of rollers arranged in lines along a moving direction of the pallet on opposite sides of the underside surface of the car supporting plates, two pairs of rails each arranged on an inside between lower sides of the hanging frames, and on a ground under the hanging frames in a longitudinal direction of the hanging frames so as to support the rollers for rolling, a plurality of transfer projections arranged in lines along a moving direction of the pallet on the underside surface of the car supporting plate on opposite sides thereof and on an inner side between the lines of the rollers, chain conveyers mounted on an inner side between the rails on the ground so as to engage with the transfer projections, for moving the pallets horizontally and thereby circulating the pallets along a circulating path of the circulating means, and a chain conveyer driving motor for driving the chain conveyer.
14. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the hanging frame has a hollow rectangular section, the rectangular section having one at least partially open side, so that the rope runs in the inside of the rectangular section of the hanging frame.
15. The system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising ramp plates at car entrance/exit arranged along a moving direction of the pallet for easy entrance/ exit of the car.
16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circulating means includes; one pair of sprockets each rotatably mounted at longitudinal opposite ends of the hanging frames, and power transmitting chains for circulating along a substantially elliptical rectangular path consisting of the hanging frames and outer circumferences of the one pair of sprockets.
17. The system as claimed in claim 4 or 16, wherein the holding shaft is extended from a central holding part of a unit block of the chain.
18. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanger includes plural forks sub stantially in a shape of triangle branched from a lower end thereof and connected to the car supporting plate at plural points.
19. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanger includes; two upper portions each branched, and extended from a connection portion to the holding shaft, and two holding bars vertically extended downward from the upper portions, for holding up the car supporting plate at four corners.
20. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hanging frame is fabrication of'I formed steel, to enable sharing of the hanging frame between adjacent parking systems by arranging the power transmitting chains at opposite sides of the hanging frame when a plurality of the horizontal conveyance type parking systems are arranged in parallel.
21. A two stage horizontal conveyance type parking system comprising: a plurality of pallets each for loading a car thereon mounted to circulate between an upper stage and a lower stage each having a horizontal moving portion, for entrance/exit of the car tofrom the pallet at one side of the lower stage, wherein one pair of power transmitting chains are circulated by means of sprockets driv en by a motor, and the pallets maintain horizontal positions with respect to the ground by means of a plurality of hangers rotatably coupled to the power transmitting chains with bearings.
Description:
Description HORIZONTAL CONVEYANCE TYPE PARKING SYSTEM Technical Field [1] The present invention relates to a parking system in which a pallet having a vehicle loaded thereon is continuously and horizontally conveyed within a frame of the system.

Background Art [2] While cars are spread to an extent that the car is regarded as one of living necessaries in a modern life, currently, difficulty of parking in local regions is ac- celerated as families having more than one cars increase following rise of a living standard.

[3] Moreover, the absolute shortage of a number of parking lots caused by increased number of cars entering into a city, making a parking space the smaller accordingly, leads to invent various forms of parking systems for using such a small parking space.

[4] There are circulating types, and reciprocating types in the parking systems, wherein the circulating types of parking systems have vertical circulating types, horizontal circulating types, and multiple story circulating types, and the reciprocating types of parking systems have two, and three stage types, horizontal reciprocating types, elevator types, elevator slide types, and the like.

[5] The foregoing related art parking systems, mostly of the circulating types or the elevators types using a large parking system, are installed at city centers having large sized buildings concentrated thereon, or in the vicinity of a department store.

[6] Meanwhile, because hangers for loading cars thereon are hung by multistage hanging system and circulate vertically, most of the circulating type parking systems, not only give a feeling of uneasiness, or dislike in the outer appearance, but also have a problem of security as the height becomes the higher.

[7] Moreover, even if the feeling of uneasiness, or dislike may be reduced by attaching finish material to an exterior of a vertical parking system, to look like a building in the outer appearance in one hand, in a case car access can not be provided separately in view of nature of the parking system, a period of time required for parking the car is prolonged on the other hand.

[8] Such a related art vertical circulating type parking system will be described with reference to FIG. 1, briefly. FIG. 1 illustrates a related art vertical circulating type parking system.

[9] Referring to FIG. 1, the related art vertical circulating type parking system is provided with hanging chain sprockets 31, and 32 rotatably mounted on a frame in a vertical direction, and an endless type hanging chain 40 is mounted on the hanging chain sprockets 31, and 32.

[10] The hanging chain 40 has hanger supporting plates 45 coupled to the hanging chain 40 at regular intervals, and each of the hanger supporting plates 45 supports a hanger 20 having a pallet 21 for loading a car thereon.

[11] There are a driving motor 50 mounted on the frame 10 for driving the hanging chain sprockets 31, and 32, and a driving sprocket 33 mounted coaxially with one of the hanging sprocket 31, for transmission of power from the driving motor 50 to the hanging chain sprockets 31, and 32 through a plurality of chains 51, and 52.

[12] The related art vertical circulating type parking system has disadvantages in that the driving system is, not only complicate, but also requires much time period and cost for fabrication and installation, because of the double sprocket system of the coaxial hanging chain sprocket 31 and the driving sprocket 33, and the power transmission system through a plurality of chains 51, and 52 for reduction of speed of the driving motor 50.

[13] The related art vertical circulating type parking system also has disadvantages in that the related art vertical circulating type parking system occupies a large space more than necessary, because the vertical chain circulating type effects an inefficient space usage in an inner space between the endless tracks of the chains that circulate around the chain wheels, thereby making it difficult to select a site for building the parking system.

[14] Moreover, the limitation of car access makes installation of a double line of parking system impossible, and all load of the car to act on the chain wheels drops re- liability of the product due to short lifetime of the wheels and frequent breakdown.

Disclosure [15] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a horizontal conveyance type parking system that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[16] The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing a horizontal conveyance type parking system including one pair of hanging frames of substantially rectangular shapes, the frames being horizontally supported on supporting means at a height from the ground and arranged to be mutually symmetrical and be parallel to each other along a longitudinal direction thereof, one pair of circulating means each for circulating along substantially rectangular circumference of each hanging frame, a plurality of holding shafts horizontally laid across, and connected to, the one pair of circulating means at regular intervals, a plurality of pairs of hangers each having an upper end rotatably coupled to the holding shaft in the vicinity of opposite ends thereof, a plurality of flat pallets each having car supporting plates connected to lower ends of the hanger, for supporting the car horizontally; and driving means for driving one of the circulating means and the pallet coupled to the circulating means, so that the pallet moves along a circulating path of the circulating means.

[17] In addition, opposite longitudinal ends of the hanging frames are formed as sub- stantially semicircular so that each frame takes the form of an elliptical rectangle overall. Alternatively, the hanging frames have substantially reversed trapezoidal shapes elongated in a lateral direction. In this instance, it is preferable that the circulating means is power transmitting chains.

[18] The system further includes a plurality of rollers arranged in lines on opposite sides of underside surface of the car supporting plate along a moving direction of the pallets; and two pairs of pallet moving rails arranged on an inside between lower sides of the hanging frames, and on a ground under the hanging frames, respectively, in a lon- gitudinal direction of the hanging frames, so as to support the rollers for rolling.

[19] Moreover, the system further includes roller bearing holding bases arranged along horizontal moving sections of the pallet moving path on opposite sides; and a plurality of roller bearings rotatably mounted on the roller bearing holding bases for supporting an underside surface of the pallet.

[20] In the meantime, the hanging frame has a hollow rectangular section, the rectangular section having one at least partially open side, so that the power transmitting chain runs in the inside of the rectangular section of the hanging frame.

[21] Moreover, the driving means includes sprockets rotatably engaged with the chains for driving the chains, and a sprocket driving motor for transmitting a rotating power to the sprockets, wherein the sprockets and the sprocket driving motor are mounted on an outer circumference of the hanging frames, and a portion of outer circumference of the hanging frame is opened for engagement of the sprockets with the power transmitting chains.

[22] The car supporting plate of each pallet includes supplementary frames of wing shapes extending outwardly in a lateral direction, and a rotatable plate in rear of the car supporting plate and hinged thereto to move up/down.

[23] It is preferable that the system further includes a ramp plate at an entrance of the car for easy entrance of the car.

[24] In the meantime, a supplementary roller is arranged to project upward from pallet moving rail in the vicinities of longitudinal opposite ends of the pallet moving rails extending along a longitudinal direction of the hanging frame on an inside between lower sides of the hanging frames, to come into contact with the underside surface of the supplementary frames at opposite sides of the pallet, so that the supplementary roller assists in supporting the pallet in a horizontal position before and after moving up/down of the pallet during its circulative movement.

[25] The circulating means includes one pair of circular guide pulleys each rotatably mounted on longitudinal opposite ends of the hanging frame, and a rope to circulate along a substantially elliptical rectangular path consisting of the hanging frame and outer circumferences of the guide pulleys.

[26] The driving means includes a plurality of rollers arranged in lines along a moving direction of the pallet on opposite sides of the underside surface of the car supporting plates, two pairs of rails each arranged on an inside between lower sides of the hanging frames, and on a ground under the hanging frames in a longitudinal direction of the hanging frames so as to support the rollers for rolling, a plurality of transfer projections arranged in lines along a moving direction of the pallet on the underside surface of the car supporting plate on opposite sides thereof and on an inner side between the lines of the rollers, chain conveyers mounted on an inner side between the rails on the ground so as to engage with the transfer projections, for moving the pallets horizontally and thereby circulating the pallets along a circulating path of the circulating means, and a chain conveyer driving motor for driving the chain conveyer.

[27] The hanging frame has a hollow rectangular section, the rectangular section having one at least partially open side, so that the rope runs in the inside of the rectangular section of the hanging frame.

[28] The system further includes ramp plates at car entrance/exit arranged along a moving direction of the pallet for easy entrance/exit of the car.

[29] The circulating means includes one pair of sprockets each rotatably mounted at longitudinal opposite ends of the hanging frames, and power transmitting chains for circulating along a substantially elliptical rectangular path consisting of the hanging frames and outer circumferences of the one pair of sprockets.

[30] The holding shaft is preferably extended from a central holding part of a unit block of the chain.

[31] Preferably, the hanger includes plural forks substantially in a shape of triangle branched from a lower end thereof and connected to the car supporting plate at plural points.

[32] Alternatively, the hanger includes two upper portions each branched, and extended from a connection portion to the holding shaft, and two holding bars vertically extended downward from the upper portions, for holding up the car supporting plate at four corners.

[33] The hanging frame is fabrication of'I formed steel, to enable sharing of the hanging frame between adjacent parking systems by arranging the power transmitting chains at opposite sides of the hanging frame when a plurality of the horizontal conveyance type parking systems are arranged in parallel.

[34] In other aspect of the present invention, there is provided a two stage horizontal conveyance type parking system comprising a plurality of pallets each for loading a car thereon mounted to circulate between an upper stage and a lower stage each having a horizontal moving portion, for entrance/exit of the car tofrom the pallet at one side of the lower stage, wherein one pair of power transmitting chains are circulated by means of sprockets driven by a motor, and the pallets maintain horizontal positions with respect to the ground by means of a plurality of hangers rotatably coupled to the power transmitting chains with bearings.

Description Of Drawings [35] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further un- derstanding of the invention, illustrate embodiment (s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.

[36] In the drawings; [37] FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a related art vertical circulating type parking system; [38] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [39] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [40] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [41] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a pallet in a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [42] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate side views each showing a section of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively; [43] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [44] FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [45] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective enlarged view of a key portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with first or third preferred embodiment of the present invention; [46] FIG. 11 illustrates a front enlarged view of a key portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with first or third preferred embodiment of the present invention; [47] FIG. 12 illustrates a plan view of a successive arrangement a plurality of parking systems in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [48] FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [49] FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [50] FIG. 15 illustrates a plan view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [51] FIG. 16 illustrates an enlarged front view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [52] FIG. 17 illustrates an enlarged plan view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [53] FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [54] FIG. 19 illustrates a variation of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [55] FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; [56] FIG. 21 illustrates a front view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; [57] FIG. 22 illustrates a side view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; [58] FIG. 23 illustrates a perspective view of a pallet in a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; [59] FIG. 24 illustrates a side end view of a pallet entrance portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; [60] FIG. 25 illustrates a perspective view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [61] FIG. 26 illustrates a front view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode [62] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Similar, or identical components will be given the same reference symbols.

[63] A horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a pallet in a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate side views each showing a section of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

[64] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the horizontal conveyance type parking system includes one pair of symmetric hanging frames 120 to which parked cars are hung, each frame 120 being in a rectangular form with both longitudinal ends closed with semi-circles, and supported on a plurality of supporting means standng vertical with respect to ground at a predetermined height from the ground, a chain 125 mounted to run in each of the hanging frames 120 and having horizontal holding shafts 130 mounted thereon at regular intervals, a hanger 135 having upper ends coupled, by means of bearings, to each of the holding shafts 130 in the vicinity of opposite ends thereof to hang from the holding shaft 130, a flat pallet 140 mounted on lower ends of the hangers 135 for loading a car'A'thereon, one pair of sprockets 150 on an outer cir- cumferential surface of the hanging frames respectively for transmitting a driving force to the chains running within the frames 120, a sprocket driving motor 160 at one side of the sprocket 150 for rotating the sprockets 150.

[65] The hanging frames 120 are fabrication of steel channels, or C-channels in a long rectangular shape to form a moving path of the chains running inside of the channel (see FIGS. 5 and 10). It is preferable that one pair of the hanging frames 120 are held with respect to the other by a plurality of connection members 121 each having opposite ends fixed to respective hanging frames 120 across the hanging frames 120.

There are rails 170 extended along a longitudinal direction of an inside of the frames 120 in a lower portion of the hanging frames 120. There are also pallet transfer lower rails 170 on the ground at positions corresponding to the upper rails 170.

[66] There are a plurality of supporting means 110 each having a top end fixed to an underside surface of each of the hanging frames 120 along a longitudinal direction of the frames at regular intervals to support each of the frames 120 at a height from the ground, and a bottom end fixed to the ground. Though the supporting means 110 may be a fabrication of a variety of formed steels, 'H'formed steel that can support a vertical load rigidly will be used.

[67] The chain 125, mounted along a circumference of the frame 120 in a sectional inside space of the hanging frame 120, runs continuously by an external driving force.

Referring to FIG. 5, the chain 125, having individual unit blocks of chains connected in succession, has the holding shafts 130 fixed thereto at regular intervals, and each of the holding shafts 130 extends in a horizontal direction and fixed to the chain 125 running in the other side hanging frame 120. Each ends of the holding shaft 130 are fixed to a central holding part 126 of a unit block of the chain 125. There are holding devices 136 at an upper portion of the hanger 135 coupled to the holding shaft 130 with bearings in the vicinity of opposite ends of the holding shaft 130, symmetrically.

The holding shafts 130 move along a moving path of the chain, i. e. a circumference of the hanging frame 120 as the chain 125 is driven. The hanger 135 is held up by the rotatable holding devices at the upper portion thereof coupled to the holding shaft 130 with bearings, and has a flat pallet 140 mounted on a lower end portion thereof for loading a car thereon. Each of the lower end portions of the hanger 135 that hold up opposite sides of the pallet 140 is branched in a few forks to form a triangle sub- stantially so that each side of the pallet 140 can be held up by the hanger 135 at plural points. As shown in FIG. 5 clearly, the lower end portion of the hanger 135 is branched into three forks in the embodiment.

[68] The pallet 140 held up by the hanger 135 at opposite sides thereof includes car supporting plates 141 at opposite side thereof for supporting front and rear wheels at a lower portion of the car when the car'A'is loaded thereon. The car supporting plate 141 has a supplementary frame 142 extended outward in opposite directions from a central portion of front/rear direction of the car supporting plate 141 in forms of wings.

The car supporting plate 141 also has a rotatable plate 143 in a rear portion rotatably coupled to the car supporting plate 141 with hinges.

[69] The rotatable plate 143 is tilted cbwn by gravity with respect to the car supporting plate 141, so that the car'A'can move from the ground onto the car supporting plate 141 easily when the car'A'is loaded on the car supporting plate 141. As shown in FIG.

7, when front or rear wheels of the car'A'pass the rotatable plate 143 during loading the car'A', the rotatable plate 143 rotates upward by the gravity of the car'A', to be flush with the car supporting plate 141, substantially. As shown in FIG. 6, in a state the car'A'is loaded on the car supporting plate 141, rear wheels of the car'A'maintains the rotatable plate 143 in a horizontal position.

[70] The car supporting plate 141 has a plurality of rollers 145 fitted to an underside surface thereof along side portions thereof, so that the pallet 140, moving in a state hung by the hanger 135 vertically coupled to the holding shaft 130, moves along rail 170, for spreading a load on the holding shaft 130 acting through the hanger 135 that holds up the pallet 140 through the roller 145, and at the same time with this, moving the pallet 140, smoothly.

[71] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[72] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the horizontal conveyance parking system includes upper, and lower rails 170 on an inner side of the hanging frames 120 on a lower portion of the hanging frame 120 and the ground, i. e. , in horizontal sections of the moving path of the pallet 140 moving along a circumference of the hanging frame 120, respectively. The upper rail 170 on the lower hanging rail 120 has supplementary rollers 180 at opposite ends for smooth horizontal movement of the pallet 140 moving on the rail 170, and spreading a load when the pallet 140 is stationary. The sup- plementary rollers 180 are projected upward from the rail 170, such that the sup- plementary rollers 180 are brought into contact with, and roll on an underside surface of the supplementary frames 142 at opposite side of the pallet 140 that pass upper surfaces of the supplementary rollers 180.

[73] When the pallet 140 enters into, or stationary on a semicircular section at one of opposite sides of the frame 120 during the pallet 140 moves along the hanging frame 120, the supplementary roller 180 enables the pallet 140 held up in a horizontal position by the hanger 135 hung from the holding shaft 130, by making the sup- plementary frames 142 at opposite outer sides of the car supporting plate 141 of the pallet 140 located on the supplementary rollers 180, and the front, or rear rollers 145 of the pallet 140 are supported on ends of the rails 170 depending on running direction of the pallet 140.

[74] In the meantime, a driving power for moving the pallet 140 along the hanging frames 120 is generated and transmitted by the sprockets 150 and the motor 160 mounted on the hanging frame 120 and driving the chains.

[75] The 2-stage horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of pallets 140 held up in horizontal positions by hangers on an inner side of one pair of hanging frames 120 extended in a longitudinal direction move in a horizontal direction by chains mounted on the hanging frames 120, to run in first, and second stages.

[76] The chain 125 driving mechanism will be described in more detail, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective enlarged view of a key portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 illustrates a front enlarged view of a key portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[77] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, in the horizontal conveyance type parking system, teeth 155 on an outer circumference of the sprocket 150 engage with the chain 125 running along the hanging frame 120 in succession, to transmit the chain driving power, for which a portion of the hanging frame 120 is opened for the engagement of the chain 125 and the teeth 155 of the sprocket 150.

[78] The driving power of the sprocket 150 is generated by the driving motor 160 at one side of the sprocket 150 having a driving shaft coupled to the rotating shaft of the sprocket 150, and as the rotating power is also transmitted to the sprocket 150 on the other side hanging frame 120 via the rotating shaft 151 through the sprocket 150 on one side thereof, the chains 125 inside of the opposite hanging frames 120 can be driven.

[79] The horizontal conveyance type parking system enables parking of cars without waste of space in a backside road or an underground space, leading to maximize a parking space, as the holding shafts 130 each having one pair of hangers 135 that hold up a pallet 140 having a car supporting plate 141 wheels of a car'A'are to be supported thereon is fixed to central supporting devices 126 of unit blocks of chains 125 horizontally, to move in succession along the chains 125 driven by sprockets 150.

[80] Moreover, in this embodiment, for making the pallet 140 to keep a horizontal position always during the pallet 140 runs along a circumference of the hanging frame 120, rotatable holding devices 136 at upper portions of the opposite hangers 135 that hold up the pallet 140 are coupled to outer circumferences of the holding shaft 130 with bearings. According to this, the holding shaft 130 can always maintain the pallet 140 in the horizontal position even in curved sections of the hanging frames 120 during the holding shaft 130 runs along the circumference of the hanging frames 120 together with the chains 125.

[81] Lastly, FIG. 12 illustrates a plan view of a successive arrangement a plurality of parking systems in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[82] Referring to FIG. 12, the horizontal conveyance type parking systems 100 are arranged in parallel in an inside of a substantially square or rectangular parking space 300.

[83] The successive arrangement a plurality of parking systems can load a car'A'from one end of one of the horizontal conveyance type parking system and discharges from the other end of the system as the pallets moves. Therefore, no extra space for moving the cars to individual parking spaces is required.

[84] Moreover, the successive arrangement a plurality of parking systems enables to share the hanging frames between adjacent parking systems by mounting the chains on opposite side surfaces of the hanging frame of'I section.

[85] Next, a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 illustrates a plan view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[86] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the horizontal conveyance type parking system includes one pair of upper, and lower frames 120a and 120b symmetry to each other parallel to ground supported on a plurality of supporters 110 which stand vertical to the ground, circular guide pulleys 123 rotatably mounted on connection portions 120c at opposite ends of the upper and lower frames 120a, and 120b symmetry to each other respectively, ropes 125 running along the upper and lower frames 120a and 120b and the guide pulleys having shafts 130 coupled thereto with bearings in horizontal positions at regular intervals respectively, one pair of hangers 135 having upper ends coupled to the shaft 130 with bearings in the vicinity of opposite ends of the shaft 130, flat pallets 140 each held up at lower ends of the hangers 135 in a horizontal position for loadng the car'A'thereon, two pairs of rails 170a, and 170b on an inner side of the lower frames 120b and on a ground thereunder parallel to each other, and a conveyer chain 165 on the ground parallel to the rail 170b to run by a driving motor 160 on an inner side of the conveyer chain 165.

[87] There may be ramps 190 at opposite ends of the rail 170b on the ground for smooth entrance/discharge of the car'A'loaded on the pallet 140.

[88] The upper, and lower frames 120a and 120b are fabrication of steel channels, or C- channels of a high tensile steel, to form substantially rectangular hanging frames 120 having one pair of connection portions 120c at opposite ends. It is preferable that the one pair of the hanging frames 120 have a plurality of connection members having opposite ends fixed to the hanging frames 120 across the hanging frames 120, for preventing relative movement between the hanging frames 120.

[89] The circular guide pulleys 123, rotatably mounted on connection portions 120c at opposite ends of the upper and lower frames 120a, and 120b respectively having the ropes 125 to run on an outer circumferential surface thereof, are designed to change a direction of rotation as well as idle following running of the ropes 125.

[90] In the meantime, undersides of the upper, and lower frames 120, and 120b are supported on a plurality of vertical supporters 110 arranged at regular intervals such that the frames 120a and 120b are at a height from the ground. The supporters 110 may be fabricated of various forms of formed steels depending on a length, 'H'formed steel is mostly used for rigid supporting of a vertical load.

[91] The ropes 125, running insides of the upper and lower pulleys 120a, and 120b and along a circumferential surface of the guide pulley 123, has rod forms of shafts 130 fixed thereto horizontally. The shaft 130 is fixed to the ropes 125 on the opposite frames 120a, and 120b, for moving horizontally in insides of the upper and lower frames 120a, and 120b as the ropes 125 run.

[92] There are one pair of hangers 135 having rotatable holding devices 136 at upper ends thereof coupled to opposite ends of the shaft 130 with bearings to maintain a vertical position, and the hangers 135 have lower ends fixed to opposite sides of a flat pallet 140, to hold up the pallet 140 moving along the upper and lower frames 120a, and 120b. It is preferable that each of the lower ends of the hangers 135 is branched to have plural forks in a form of a triangle for holding up the car supporting plate 141 at plural points when the lower end of the hanger 135 is joined to the car supporting plate 141 at opposite sides of the pallet 140.

[93] The pallet 140, held up by the one pair of hangers 135, has car supporting plates 141 at opposite sides for supporting front and rear wheels of the car when the car'A'is loaded on the pallet 140. The pallet 140 has a plurality of rollers 145 arranged on an underside surface of each of the car supporting plates 141 in one line, and a plurality of transfer projections 146 arranged on an inner side of the rollers 145 in one line. The transfer projections 146 engage with upper portions of the chain conveyer 165 under the pallet 140 moving along the lower frame 120b, i. e. , at one side of the ground.

According to this, the pallet 140 moves in a horizontal direction by a driving force of the chain conveyor 165.

[94] The roller 145 rolls along the rails 170a and 170b on the inner side of the lower frames 120b and the ground by the driving force from the chain conveyer 165, to make the sliding movement of the pallet 140.

[95] The plurality of rollers 145, on an underside surface of the car supporting plate 141 in one line, assists the pallet 140, hung by the hanger 135 vertically connected to the shaft 130, to move along the rail 170b in a horizontal direction smoothly, and to spread a vertical load acting on the shaft 130 through the pallet 140 through the roller 145.

[96] Next, FIG. 16 illustrates an enlarged front view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 17 illustrates an enlarged plan view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, referring to which methods for parking and discharging a car following horizontal conveyance of pallets will be described.

[97] Referring to FIGS. 16-18, the horizontal conveyance type parking system includes a chain conveyer 165 drivable with a rotative driving force from a driving motor 160 in a lower portion of one side of the upper, and lower frames 120a and 120b supported at a height on a plurality of supporters 110 parallel to the ground, and roller transfer lower rails 170b on outer sides of the chain conveyers 165 in a longitudinal direction of the chain conveyers 165 over an entire lengths of the frames 120b.

[98] Moreover, there are upper rails 170a on an inner side of the lower frames 120b for supporting the rollers 145 mounted on an underside surface of the pallet 140 moving along the lower frames 120b so that the rollers 145 can roll on the upper rails 170a.

[99] The chain conveyer 165, mounted on one longitudinal end of the parking system, makes the pallet 140 that moves down though the guide pulley 123 at one side thereof to move in a horizontal drection by a transfer driving force of the chain conveyer 165 engaged with the transfer projections 146 on the underside surface of the pallet 140, and rotated by the driving motor 160. As the pallets 140 moving down via the guide pulleys 123 engage with the chain conveyers 165 in succession, the successive movement of the pallets 140 is made accordng to the running of ropes 125 on the upper, and lower frames 120a, and 120b.

[100] Parking of the car'A'or dscharge of the car'A'loaded on the car supporting plate 141 is made in a transfer direction or opposite direction thereof of the pallet 140 being moved under the lower frame 120b through the ramp plate 190.

[101] Lastly, FIG. 19 illustrates a variation of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, including chains 225 run by sprockets 223 at opposite sides, and pallets 240 each held up in a horizontal position to ground by a hanger 235 vertically joined on an inner side of the chains 225 by means of a shaft 230 and a rotative holding devices 236 in a bearing coupling. That is, in this variation, the guide pulleys 123 in the second embodiment are replaced with sprockets 223, and the ropes 125 in the second embodiment are replaced with the chains 225. As a detailed structure in which the pallet 240 is held up by the chains 225 through the hanger 235, a structure described in the first, or second embodiment can be applicable. As means for driving the chains 225 for moving the pallets 240 coupled to the chains 225, chain conveyers 165 mounted close to the ground like the second embodiment may be used. Or, alternatively, as described in the first embodiment, a combination of the sprocket 150 mounted on an outer circumference of the hanging frame 120, and the sprocket driving motor 160 may be used. In the latter case, since the chain driving means, and an underside structure of the pallet 240 become simpler, the latter case is more favorable.

[102] Lastly, a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[1CB] FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG.

21 illustrates a front view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 22 il- lustrates a side view of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 23 illustrates a perspective view of a pallet in a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 24 il- lustrates a side end view of a pallet entrance portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[104] As shown, the horizontal conveyance type parking system of the embodiment includes one pair of symmetric hanging frames 120 of long trapezoids supported on a plurality of supporting means 110 standing vertical on a ground at a height from the ground, a chain 125 in each of the hanging frames 120 mounted to run in an inside of the hanging frame 120 having holding shafts 130 horizontally connected thereto at regular intervals, hangers 135 each having upper portions 135a each rotatably coupled to the holding shaft 130 with a bearing in the vicinity of opposite ends thereof having two forks of branches, and holdng bars 135b each extended downward vertically from a lower end of the fork of the upper portion 135a, pallets 140 of rectangular shapes held up by the holding bars 135b at four corners for loading the car'A', roller bearing holding bases 170 at opposite sides of moving paths of the pallets 140 vertical to the ground, a plurality of roller bearings 180 each rotatably mounted on one of the opposite roller bearing holding bases 170, for supporting an underside surface of the pallet 140, one pair of chain sprockets 150 each mounted on an outer circumference of the hanging frame 120, for transmission of a chain driving power to the chain 125 running in an inside of the frame 120, and a sprocket driving motor 160 on one side of the sprocket 150 for generating a rotating power for driving the sprocket 150.

[105] The hanging frames 120 are fabrication of steel channels, or C-channels in a long rectangular shape to form a moving path of the chains 125 running inside of the channel (see FIGS. 5,10, and 23). It is preferable that one pair of the hanging frames 120 are held with respect to the other by a plurality of connection members 121 each having opposite ends fixed to the hanging frames 120 across the hanging frames 120.

[106] The roller bearing holding base 170 is mounted on the frame 120 along an inside longitudinal direction of the frame in a lower portion of the hanging frame 120, and the roller bearing holding base 170 is also mounted on the ground at a position cor- responding to the roller bearing holding base 170 for supporting the pallets 140 moving on the ground.

[107] Each of the roller bearing holding bases 170 has cylindrical roller bearings 180 rotatably mounted thereon at regular intervals for rotating on an inner side of the hanging frames 120. The roller bearing supports an underside surface of the pallet 140 sliding thereon.

[108] The plurality of supporting means 110 support an underside surface of the hanging frame 120 vertically, to support the trapezoidal frames 120 at a height from the ground.

Though various forms of formed steels may be used depending on a length of the hanging frame 120, it is preferable that H-formed steel is used that can withstand to a vertical load, rigidly.

[109] The chain 125 mounted along a circumference of the frame 120 in a sectional inside space thereof runs along the frame 120 by an external driving power. Referring to FIG. 23, the chain 125 having individual unit blocks connected in succession has the holding shafts 130 connected thereon, and the holding shaft 130 is extended hor- izontally and connected to the chain 125 running in an inside of the other hanging frame 120. Opposite ends of the holding shaft 130 are fixed to central holding parts 126 in the unit blocks of the chain 125. The upper portion 135a of the hanger 135 having opposite ends branched at a predetermined angle is coupled to the holding shaft in the vicinity of opposite end of the holding shaft 130. The upper portion 135a of the hanger 135 has the rotative holding device 136 coupled to the holding shaft 130 with a bearing. The holding shaft 130 moves along a chain running path, i. e. , a circumference of the hanging frame 120 as the chain is driven.

[110] The holding bars 135b are extended downward vertically from opposite ends of the upper portion 135a of the hanger 135 branched from the rotative holding devices 136 coupled to the holding shaft 130 in the vicinity of opposite ends thereof horizontally coupled to opposite chains with the rotative holding devices 136. The holding bars 135b have lower ends fixed to four corners of the rectangular pallet 140, for holding up the pallet 140.

[111] The pallet 140 moves hung from the holding shaft 130 held up at the four corners thereof includes opposite car supporting plates 141 for supporting front and rear wheels of the car'A'when the car'A'is loaded thereon. The loading of the car'A'onto the car supporting plates 141 can be done easily by using the ramp plate 190 in front of the pallet 140.

[112] FIG. 25 illustrates a perspective view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 26 illustrates a front view of one end portion of a horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, in the horizontal conveyance type parking system of the present invention, as the roller bearing holdng bases 170 are mounted both on the lower portion of the hanging frames 120, and the ground, i. e. , in horizontal sections of the moving path of the pallet 140 moving along the hanging frames 120, vertical to the ground, and the roller bearings 180 are projected from the roller bearing holding bases 170 at regular intervals, the roller bearing comes into contact with the underside surface of the pallet 140 and rolls, to support the pallet 140 and enable the pallet to move smoothly in a horizontal direction.

Thus, a few tons of load acting on the hanger 135 through the pallet 140 in a state the car'A'is loaded on the pallet 140 can be spread.

[113] In the meantime, the moving driving power of the pallets 140 moving along the hanging frames 120 is generated and transmitted by the sprockets 150 on the hanging frames 120 that drive the chains, and the sprocket motor 160.

[114] The two stage horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the plurality of pallets 140 each held up in a horizontal position by a hanger 135 and holding bars 136 on an inner side of one pair of the hanging frames 120 extended in a longitudinal direction move in a horizontal direction as the chains 125 mounted on the hanging frames 120 are driven, to circulate through first and second stages.

[115] Detailed description of a driving structure of the chains 125 is identical to the de- scription of the first embodiment given with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, and repetitive description of which will be omitted.

[116] The horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that car parking can be made without waste of space in a backside road or in an underground space, enabling to maximize a parking space, since the pallet 140 having car supporting plates 141 for supporting wheels of the car'A'is connected to lower ends of holding bars 135b in a lower portion of one pair of hangers 135 rotatably coupled to the holding shaft 130, so that the pallet 140 moves following the chains 125 driven by the sprocket 150 on an inner side of one pair of hanging frames 120.

[117] Moreover, the horizontal conveyance type parking system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is also characterized in that the rotative holding devices 136 at upper ends of the opposite hangers 135 that hold up the pallet 140 are coupled to an outer circumference of the holding shaft 130 enables the pallet 140 to maintain a horizontal position always even in opposite curved sections of the hanging frame 120 when the holding shaft 130 moves along a circumference of the hanging frames 120 together with the chain 125, so that the pallet 140 maintains a horizontal position during the pallet 140 slides along the circumference of the hanging frame 120 by the roller bearings 180 in contact with the underside surface of the pallet 140.

[118] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modi- fications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Industrial Applicability [119] As has been described, the horizontal conveyance type parking system of the present invention has an advantage in that the sense of uneasiness or dislike the users are liable to have can be minimized because the pallets having the cars loaded thereon move within a low height of car circulating structure in which the cars move hor- izontally mostly, and a parking space can be maximized by minimizing a distance between cars loaded on the pallets.

[120] The horizontal conveyance type parking system of the present invention is easy to install, can drop a production cost substantially, can be transferred to other place as a driving structure is simple, and, permits to use parking area effectively as, in some cases, the parking system can share the hanging frames that guide movement of the pallets in installation of a parking system, not to require a space or passage required for movement of the car.

[121] The horizontal conveyance type parking system of the present invention has another advantage in that the one drection movement of the pallets following the hanging frames permits easy parking and discharging of the car without change of in/ out directions of the car in parking and discharging the cars.