AUTOMATIC PARKING

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 June 1931, Page 12

AUTOMATIC PARKING

AN INGENIOUS INVENTION

All automatic parking machine, wfucvti enables tiie parinng of automobiles on a ground space little larger than that required ov an ordinary double garage, has been developed by Mr. H. JD. James, consulting engineer of the W’estinghousie Electric Company, of l'ennsylvania. Tins macliine consists of cradles, one for each car, supported between two endless chains which pass over sprocket wlieels at the top and bottom of tratel. The chains are driven by two electric motors, and, by means of a pushbutton control, any cradle can be brought quickly to the driveway level for receiving or discharging an automobile.

Three general methods, all of which use substantially the same control but different master switches, are used for operating the parking machine, hirst, there is the key system, winch is best . suited for garages where the spaces | are rented for a fixed time, say, ior a 1 month. Outside the garage is a panel having several numbered locks, one for each parking space, and a Jock for opening and closing the door. Each tenant is provided with a key, which, when inserted in the lock for liis particular space, and turned' at lugtu angles, .despatches the cradle .to too driveway, and permits the tenant's taking ms key from that lock and inserting it in the door lock. When the key inserted in the door lock is turned ‘9j degrees, or sideways, it establishes I a circuit to open the door as soon as I the cage is level with the driveway. While the driver is engaged in driving his ear on or off the key remains m * the door lock, preventing anyone else from operating the machine while the driver is inside the enclosure. When the automobile has been driven on or off and the tenant is ready to leave, the key is turned to the vertical position in order to remove it from the lock. This, by establishing another circuit, closes the doors, leaving the machine ready for use by the next tenant.

Another method of operating the parking machine is by push-button control, a method specially suitable for j use in a public garage, where the push-button can be located in the cashier’s office. When a customer wishes to park a car a despatclier directs him to a vacant place and opens the door to the parking space, or. the customer drives close to the opening of a machine showing “vacant” signal, such as a green light, where a light-ray-operated relay or a track switch causes the doors to open. The driver Then places the car on the cradle. When the driver has stepped out of the enclosure he operates a lever to get i his check, which is stamped with the) location of the car and the time of parking. The lever establishes a circuit I for closing the door and sets up a j circuit for despatching an empty cage to the driveway level, so that the machine is ready to receive the next car. The door cannot be closed until the driver operates the lever, a feature preventing closing of the doors while the driver is inside the enclosure. When the driver returns for his car lie presents the check to the cashier, who pushes the button corresponding to the check and receives payment for the storage. By the time the driver reaches the .machine on which his car is parked, his parking space is at the driveway level and the doors ai-e open ready for him to drive out. In driving off the cradle a circuit is established for closing the doors. The third method, the coin system, is the same as the push-button system except that a coin machine is used instead of push-buttons. The driver deposits a coin which opens the door and provides a space for parking his car.