RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and benefits of Chinese Patent Application No. 201220243002.X, filed with State Intellectual Property Office, P. R. C. on May 28, 2012, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relates to a stereo garage.

BACKGROUND

Stereo garages are developed in order to solve difficulties of vehicle parking. During parking a vehicle in the stereo garage, it is necessary to adjust the orientation of the vehicle. Conventionally, the orientation of the vehicle is adjusted immediately after the vehicle enters the stereo garage. However, this kind of adjustment needs a large space for temporarily parking of the vehicle, which wastes the limited parking space of the stereo garage. Moreover, the orientation deviation occurred during conveying the vehicle may not be corrected, so that it is inconvenient to convey the vehicle into the garage unit of stereo garage. SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to solve at least one of the problems existing in the prior art at least to some extent.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a stereo garage, comprising a passage for temporarily parking a vehicle, the vehicle coming into or going out of the stereo garage via the passage ; a garage unit for depositing the vehicle; and a conveying device for carrying the vehicle to the garage unit from the passage, and carrying the vehicle to the passage from the garage unit, the conveying device comprising: a conveyer for carrying the vehicle; a lifter comprising: a guide frame; a sliding carriage moveable upwardly and downwardly along the guide frame; a translating mechanism disposed on the sliding carriage and reciprocable in a transverse direction ; a rotating mechanism disposed on the sliding carriage , the conveyer being disposed on the rotating mechanism so as to be driven to rotate by the rotating mechanism.

With the stereo garage according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the orientation of the vehicle may be adjusted in time according to requirements so as to convey the vehicle to the garage unit conveniently. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig.l is a schematic view of a stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.2 is a top view of the stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.3 is a schematic perspective view of a conveyer and a rotating mechanism of the stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.4 is a schematic perspective view of a ground comb member of the stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.5 is an enlarged view of Portion A of Fig. 3;

Fig.6 is a schematic plane view of the stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig 7 is a schematic view of the stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the conveyer is moved into the garage unit after finishing charging of the vehicle;

Fig 8 is a schematic view of the stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a carrying comb member and a parking comb member are aligned;

Fig 9 is a schematic view of the stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the carrying comb member conveys the vehicle and is disengaged from the parking comb member;

Fig 10 is a schematic view of the stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a charging connector device is disconnected from an adapter in the garage unit and the vehicle is moved out of the garage unit;

Fig 11 is a schematic view of the adapter in the garage unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig 12 is a schematic view of the charging connector device of the stereo garage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by way of example only.

Unless specified or limited otherwise, terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplers. Further, "connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplers.

In the specification, relative terms such as "central", "longitudinal", "lateral", "front", "rear",

"right", "left", "lower", "upper", "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "below", "up", "top", "bottom" as well as derivative thereof (e.g., "horizontally", "downwardly", "upwardly", etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the present disclosure be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.

The stereo garage according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 12.

As shown in Fig. 1, the stereo garage according to embodiments of the present disclosure comprises a passage 1, a garage unit 2 and a conveying device 30.

The passage 1 is used for temporarily parking a vehicle. The vehicle V comes into or goes out of the stereo garage via the passage 1. The garage unit 2 is used for depositing the vehicle V. The conveying device 30 is used to convey the vehicle V between the garage unit 2 and the passagel. In other words, the conveying device 30 conveys the vehicle V in the passage 1 into the garage unit 2, and conveys the vehicle V in the garage unit 2 into the passage 1.

In some embodiments, the conveying device 30 comprises a conveyer 4 and a lifter 3. The conveyer 4 is mounted on the lifter 3 and used for conveying the vehicle V. For instance, the conveyer 4 conveys the vehicle V into the garage unit 2 from the lifter 3, and conveys the vehicle V to the lifter 3 form the garage unit 2.

In some embodiments, the lifter 3 comprises a sliding carriage 5, a guide frame 6, a translating mechanism 8 and a rotating mechanism 7. The sliding carriage 5 is moveable upwardly and downwardly along the guide frame 6, and used for carrying and moving the conveyer 4. The translating mechanism 8 is disposed on the sliding carriage 5, and reciprocable in a transverse direction B as shown in Fig.3. The rotating mechanism 7 is disposed on the translating mechanism 8, and the conveyer 4 is disposed on the rotating mechanism 7 so as to rotate by means of the rotating mechanism 7.

In some embodiments, the lifter 3 further comprises a driving motor 10 disposed on a top of the lifer 3, a driving chain 11 and a counterweight 12. The driving chain 11 is, at one end thereof, connected to the sliding carriage 5, and connected to the counterweight 12 at the other end thereof. The driving motor 10 drives the driving chain 11 to move, for example, via a chain wheel. The lifter 3 may have counterweight guide rails 31 along which the counterweight 12 is moveable upwardly and downwardly, so that the counterweight 12 can be moved smoothly. The driving motor 10, the driving chain 11 and the counterweight 12 may be mounted on the guide frame 6.

In some embodiments, during a downward movement of the lifter 3, the weight of the vehicle V may cause an impact onto the sliding carriage 5 when the sliding carriage 5 lands on the ground. Therefore, a damper 40 may be disposed on a bottom of the sliding carriage 5, in other words, the damper 40 is disposed onto the bottom side of the sliding carriage facing the ground, and preferably, the damper 40 may be configured as a rubber block.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, there are a plurality of garage units 2 at each floor of the stereo garage. In order to deposit the vehicle V, the rotating mechanism 7 may drive the conveyer 4 to rotate, thereby to rotate the vehicle V, that is, the orientation (or position) of the vehicle V is adjusted, so that the vehicle V may enter the garage unit 2 properly. Next, the vehicle V may be moved into a corresponding garage unit 2 by means of the translating mechanism 8.

More particularly, the translating mechanism 8 is disposed on the sliding carriage 5 and reciprocable in the transverse direction B, so as to move the vehicle V in the transverse direction B, thus moving the vehicle V into a gangway of the corresponding garage unit 2. The rotating mechanism 7 is disposed on the translating mechanism 8 for rotating the conveyer 4 in the horizontal direction so as to rotate the vehicle V on the conveyer 4 and adjust the orientation of the vehicle V.

In operation, the conveyer 4 and the vehicle V thereon are rotated by a certain angle by means of the rotating mechanism 7 until they reach a proper position, then the vehicle V is moved to a position corresponding to the garage unit 2 in which the vehicle V will be deposited via the translating mechanism 8, finally the conveyer 4 conveys the vehicle V into the garage unit 2. Additionally, during moving the vehicle V out of the garage unit 2, the translating mechanism 8 is moved to the gangway of the garage unit 2, next, the conveyer 4 conveys the vehicle V out of the garage unit 2, then the conveyer 4 and the vehicle V thereon are rotated to a proper position by means of the rotating mechanism 7, finally, the vehicle V is moved out of the stereo garage by means of the lifter 3.

During parking and depositing the vehicle V in the stereo garage according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the position of the vehicle V may be adjusted conveniently by means of the rotating mechanism 7 and the translating mechanism 8, and the vehicle V may be carried into the garage unit 2 by the conveyer 4.

In some embodiments, transverse rails 9 are disposed on the sliding carriage 5, and the translating mechanism 8 is supported on the transverse rails 9 so as to reciprocate along the transverse rails 9 in the transverse direction B. Therefore, the vehicle V can be moved to the gangways of different garage units 2, as shown in Fig. 2. More particularly, the transverse rails 9 are configured as two rails parallel to each other, and the translating mechanism 8 may be supported reciprocally on the two rails.

As shown in Fig. 3 , in one embodiment, the translating mechanism 8 may comprise a rectangular supporting frame 81 consisted by four metal rods. Slide blocks 20 are disposed on four corners of the rectangular supporting frame 81 and supported on the transverse rails 9 so as to move along the transverse rails 9. A translation motor 19 for driving the slide block 20 to move along the transverse rails 9 is mounted on the slide block 20.

A mounting frame 21 for mounting the rotating mechanism 7 thereon is disposed at a center of the rectangular supporting frame 81. The rotating mechanism 7 comprises a steering gear and a holding frame 22. The steering gear is fixed on the mounting frame 21 and has a central hole extending along an axial direction thereof, and an axis of the steering gear is perpendicular to the mounting frame 21. Two guide rails 23 are disposed on the holding frame 22, and the conveyer 4 is movably supported on the guide rails 23 along a longitudinal direction C. The holding frame 22 has a driving motor and a rotating shaft (not shown) which is rotatably fitted in the central hole. A driving gear engaged with the steering gear is mounted on a shaft of the driving motor. The steering gear is fixed immovably on the mounting frame 21, and the holding frame 22 is rotatably mounted on the steering gear. When the driving motor drives the driving gear to rotate, the driving gear is revolved around the steering gear with engaging with the steering gear. Therefore, the holding frame 22 is rotated along with the driving gear.

As shown in Fig.4, the vehicle V is entered into and temporarily parked in the passage 1, then conveyed into the garage unit 2 by the conveyer 4. A supporting frame 110 for supporting the vehicle V is disposed on the ground of the passage 1 and has a ground comb member 15.

Conveying rails 18 and a parking comb member 17 for supporting the vehicle V are disposed in the garage unit 2, and the conveyer 4 is disposed on the conveying rails 18 and movable along the longitudinal direction C.

In some embodiment, the conveyer 4 comprises a base 24, a conveying frame 28 and an elevating mechanism.

The base 24 is disposed on the rotating mechanism 7 and reciprocable along the longitudinal direction C. In other words, the base 24 is supported on the guide rails 23 of the holding frame 22 and reciprocable along a longitudinal direction C. The conveying frame 28 is disposed on the base 24 and has a carrying comb member 16. The elevating mechanism drives the conveying frame 28 to move upwardly or downwardly relative to the base 24.

When the vehicle V is needed to be conveyed into the passage 1, the conveying frame 28 supporting the vehicle V thereon moves into the passage 1 and stops at a predetermined position in the passage 1. At this time, the carrying comb member 16 is above the ground comb member 15. Then the elevating mechanism drives the conveying frame 28 to move downwardly along the vertical direction, such that the carrying comb member 16 is engaged with the ground comb member 15 (namely, each tooth of the carrying comb member 16 is inserted between two adjacent teeth of the ground comb member 15, and the teeth of the carrying comb member 16 and the ground comb member 15 are located in the same horizontal plane). Finally, the carrying comb member 16 is further moved downwardly and below the ground comb member 15, such that the carrying comb member 16 disengaged from the ground comb member 15, and the vehicle V is transferred onto the ground comb member 15.

When the vehicle V is needed to move out of the passage 1, the conveying frame 28 is moved into the passage 1 and stops at a predetermined position. The elevating mechanism drives the conveying frame 28 upwardly, such that the carrying comb member 16 is engaged with the ground comb member 15 by moving upwardly from the underside of the ground comb member 15. Then the elevating mechanism continues to vertically lift the carrying comb member 16, so that the carrying comb member 16 is disengaged from the ground comb member 15 and support the vehicle V. Finally, the conveying frame 28 is translated so as to move the vehicle V out of the garage unit 2.

As shown in Fig. 5, the elevating mechanism comprises a rack 25 mounted on the base 24. The rack 25 has a plurality of teeth and is perpendicular to the base 24. An elevating motor 26 is mounted on the conveying frame 28, and a gear 27 mounted on a motor shaft of the elevating motor 26 is engaged with the rack 25. By means of engagement of the gear 27 and rack 25, the elevating motor 26 drives the gear 27 to move along the rack 25 so as to move the carrying comb member 16 and the conveying frame 28 upwardly or downwardly.

When the vehicle V is needed to be carried into the garage unit 2, the base 24 is moved onto the conveying rails 18 of the garage unit 2 along the guide rails 23 and stops at a predetermined position. At this time, the carrying comb member 16 is above the parking comb member 17. Then, the elevating motor 26 drives the gear 27 engaged with the rack 25 to rotate so as to move the conveying frame 28 downwardly along a direction toward the base 24, so that the carrying comb member 16 is engaged with the parking comb member 17. Finally, the carrying comb member 16 continues to move downwardly and disengaged from the parking comb member 15, so that the vehicle V is supported on the parking comb member 17. When the vehicle V is needed to be carried out of the garage unit 2, the base 24 is moved onto the conveying rails 18 of the garage unit 2 along the guide rails 23 and stops at a predetermined position. At this time, the carrying comb member 16 is below the parking comb member 17. The elevating motor 26 drives the gear 27 engaged with the rack 25 to rotate so as to move the conveying frame 28 upwardly along a direction away from the base 24, so that the carrying comb member 16 is engaged with the parking comb member 17. Finally the carrying comb member 16 continues to move upwardly and is disengaged from the parking comb member 15, so that the vehicle V is lifted by and supported on the carrying comb member 16, then the base 24 is moved onto the guide rails 23 along the conveying rails 18 of the garage unit 2, thus finishing the conveying of the vehicle V.

When a position of the vehicle V is needed to be adjusted, the driving motor of the holding frame 22 drives the driving gear to revolve around the steering gear, thus rotating the holding frame 22 and the conveyer 4 mounted thereon, so that the position of the vehicle V may be adjusted by controlling rotation of the driving motor, thereby a rotating angel of the driving gear.

The stereo garage for parking the electric vehicle is required to have a function of charging the electric vehicle. With the conventional stereo garage, the charging operation is difficult and complicated.

In some embodiments, as shown in Figs.7-10, a charging connector device 14 and a charging cable are disposed on the conveyer 4, the charging cable is used to connect the charging connector device 14 with a battery of the vehicle V. During charging, the operator can charge the vehicle by merely connecting the charging cable to the battery of the vehicle V.

A charging box and an adapter 13 are disposed in each garage unit 2. The adapter 13 is connected to the charging box and adapted to separably connect with the charging connector device 14. After the conveyer 4 conveys the vehicle V into the garage unit 2, the charging connector device 14 is connected to the adapter 13 so as to charge the vehicle V. After the charging is completed, the charging connector device 14 is disconnected from the adapter 13 so that the conveyer 4 can convey the vehicle V out of the garage unit 2.

In some embodiments, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the charging connector device 14 comprises a plug 141 and a mounting seat 142 for mounting the plug 141. The mounting seat 142 has guide columns 143. Correspondingly, the adapter 13 has guide sleeves 131 engageable with or disengageable from the guide column 143, and the plug 141 is capable of being inserted into or pulled out of the adapter 13.

By means of the cooperation of the guide column 143 and the guide sleeve 131, the plug 141 can be easily inserted into or pulled out of the adapter 13. During inserting and pulling out of the plug 141, the guide column 143 and the guide sleeve 131 serve the function of guiding and position limitation.

The mounting seat 142 has a recess 144, and the plug 141 has a fixing element 145 adapted to fit in the recess 144. An electromagnet 146 is disposed in the recess 144. The electromagnet 146 may fix the fixing element 145 into the recess 144 by attracting the fixing element 145 when the electromagnet 146 is energized, and the electromagnet 146 permits the fixing element 145 to disengage from the recess 144 when the electromagnet 146 is de-energized.

Referring to Fig. 7- Fig. 10, operations of parking and charging the vehicle will be described below.

When the vehicle V is needed to be carried into the garage unit 2, the base 24 is moved onto the conveying rails 18 of the garage unit 2 along the guide rails 23 and stops at a predetermined position. Then the elevating motor 26 drives the conveying frame 28 to move downwardly, so that the vehicle V supported on the carrying comb member 16 is transferred onto the parking comb member 17, at this time, the plug 141 of the charging connector device 14 may be connected to the adapter 13 so as to charge the vehicle V.

When the vehicle V is needed to be carried out of the garage unit 2, the base 24 is moved onto the conveying rails 18 of the garage unit 2 along the guide rails 23 and stops at a predetermined position. Then the elevating motor 26 drives the conveying frame 28 to move upwardly, so that the vehicle V supported on the parking comb member 17 is transferred onto the carrying comb member 16, at this time, the plug 141 of the charging connector device 14 may be disconnected from the adapter 13 so as to carry the vehicle V out of the garage unit 2.

In some embodiments, the rotating mechanism 7 further compares an adjusting device for adjusting a height of each floor of the stereo garage (not shown), so as to align the guide rails 23 with the conveying rails 18, thus facilitating the moving of the conveying frame 28 into or out of garage unit 2.

In some embodiments, as shown in Fig. 3-Fig. 5, each of the ground comb member 15, carrying comb member 16 and parking comb member 17 has a plurality of straight fingers, the straight fingers are parallel to each other and an interval between adjacent straight fingers are same, similar to the teeth of a comb, so that the comb members are easily to be engaged with and disengaged from each other. The straight fingers may be metal rods.

Preferably, the stereo garage further comprise an automatic controlling system capable of allocating the vehicle V to a proper garage units 2 and controlling the lifter 3 according to the parking state of the vehicles in the stereo garage.

The stereo garage according to embodiments of the present disclosure may adjust the positions (orientation) of the vehicle V in time according to the actual requirements so as to carry the vehicle V into the garage unit 2. In addition, the stereo garage has auto-charging function, the operator can charge the vehicle V by merely connecting a charge gun connected to the charging connector device to the battery of the vehicle V. The charging connector device and the adapter in the garage unit can be connected with and disconnected from each other automatically, thus simplifying the charging operation.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "one embodiment", "another example," "an example," "a specific examples," or "some examples," means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases such as "in some embodiments," "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", "in another example, "in an example," "in a specific examples," or "in some examples," in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

Although explanatory embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments can not be construed to limit the present disclosure, and changes, alternatives, and modifications can be made in the embodiments without departing from spirit, principles and scope of the present disclosure.