Automated vehicle parking garage with catwalk installation

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/978,581 filed Oct. 9, 2007, which is incorporated herein in their entirety.

This invention relates to an automated system and an automated method for storing items in a three-dimensional warehousing facility, having a catwalk for accessing vehicles.

In a conventional three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage, mechanical elements or motorized conveyances, such as lifts (elevators), cranes, shuttle vehicles (moving platforms), turntables, and other mechanical elements are used to transport a vehicle from an entry/exit station at the arrival/departure level of the parking garage to a parking space in the parking garage and then retrieve the vehicle from the parking space and transport the vehicle to the entry/exit station, without human assistance.

In general, a typical automated vehicle parking garage consists of a storage (or parking) area with individual parking spaces, one or more entry/exit stations (or bays) for accepting a vehicle from a driver for parking and for delivering the vehicle to the driver upon retrieval, and motorized conveyances (mechanical elements), such as elevators and shuttle vehicles, used to transport the vehicle from the entry/exit station to the parking space and to transport the vehicle from the parking space to the entry/exit station for driver retrieval. The conventional three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage is controlled and managed by a control system based on PLCs (programmable logic controllers) or other control circuitry, and by central management software running on a central management computer that operates the control system. The control system is typically resident on one or more PLCs, and the central management software is typically resident on a central management computer that receives inputs from and sends command to the various mechanical elements (e.g. elevators and shuttle vehicles) to coordinate the movement of those mechanical elements, namely, the transportation of a vehicle between the entry/exit station and the parking space.

Automated parking systems such as those described above are designed to provide automated and unattended storage and retrieval of vehicles, and therefore only automatic conveying devices have access to the storage area, and access is not provided to the area where the vehicles are stored. Since human access is not required for normal operation, such systems are designed without a catwalk, stairs or similar devices in order to provide maximum capacity. However, in certain countries or states, human access may be required by the local authorities according to fire abatement regulations.

Another problem that arises from the structure of the automated garage is the safety of the persons that are to maintain the facility. Like any other electromechanical system, preventive maintenance is constantly needed. Due to the nature of the automated parking solution, access to some of the elements in the system may require severe safety considerations.

An automated vehicle parking system having a catwalk structure or bridge installed within the vehicle storage area is described herein. The parking system facilitates the physical access of parked vehicles on different floors by fire abatement teams equipped with fire abatement equipment, as well as the access of maintenance personnel, to each stored vehicle within the system, in a safe and fast way. The main catwalk is positioned proximate the parking area and will maximize the number of available parking places and make efficient use of the space. This garage does not require any increase of the total footprint and land requirements of the system over conventional systems.

Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a top plan view of the ground floor of a three-dimensional automated vehicle parking garage having a catwalk;

FIG. 1b is a side elevational view of the stairs used in the automated parking garage of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the floors other than the ground floor of the automated parking garage of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 3a is a side elevational view of the automated parking garage of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 3b is a cut away view of the automated parking garage of FIG. 3a taken along the lines of Detail A;

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