GB2183619A

GB2183619A - Multilevel parking garage

Info

Publication number: GB2183619A
Application number: GB08627790A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ryohei Ishige
Original assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Priority date: 1985-12-02
Filing date: 1986-11-20
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: KR910006193B1; JPS62129469A; JPH0617640B2; GB8627790D0; KR870006294A; GB2183619B

Abstract

A multilevel parking garage having a plurality of shelf groups each of which has a large number of storage shelves and a stacker crane which travels along the shelf groups to transfer vehicle bearing pallets between it and the storage shelves has means at the entrance (10) and exit (11) for conveying vehicles to and from ports (22) to (25) whither and whence they are conveyed by the stacker crane. The means comprise a truck (33) or (34) with an elevating portion for lifting a vehicle-carrying pallet from, or placing one back onto, supports (27), together with a travelling device (43) or (43a) which can move pallets between pallet stores (41) and (41a) and the entrance or exit. Stacks of pallets are moved between the stores by the stacker crane. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Multilevel parking garage Field ofthe invention: The present invention relatesto a multilevel parking garage which employs a stacker crane as transportation means.

In the present invention, the expression "entrance/ exit" is intended to mean an entrance at which a vehicle enters a garage or an exit at which vehicle leaves the garage. Besides, the expression "transfer port" is intended to mean a port at which a stacker crane in shelf groups each consisting of a large number of shelves transfers a vehiclefrom ortho the entrance/exit.

Description ofthepriorarts: Amultilevel parking garagewhich employs a stacker crane is, for example, one disclosed in the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laidopen No.51-141178. This garage comprises a large number of shelves along the traveling path ofthe stacker crane, the shelves being furnished with an entrance and a depalletizer at one end thereof and an exit and a paí letizer at the other end thereof.

In an entering-garage operation, a single pallet is fed from the depalletizerto the entrance by a conveyor, and a vehicle is placed on the pallet. Thevehicle-bearing pallet is fed by a rollerconveyorto a port forthe transfer between the entrance and the stacker crane. The stacker crane transports the vehiclebearing pallet to the shelf.

When a leaving-garage command has been issued, the vehicle-bearing pallet is transported to a transfer port by the stacker crane and is delivered to the exit by a roller conveyor. The pallet left in the exit is fed to the pal letizer by a conveyor.

In this manner, the vehicle-bearing pallet is conveyed by the roller conveyor. The pallet is made of plate metal as shown in the drawing.

Various experiments conducted by the inventor have revealed thatthe pallet cracks comparatively early. This is interpreted as follows: In a case where thethickness ofthe plate ofthe pallet is small and where the intervals ofthe rollers ofthe rollerconveyor are great, those parts ofthe pallet on which the wheels ofthevehicle are placed bendwhenthevehicle-bearing pallet is transported bythe roller conveyor. The bending states ofthe parts change during thetransportation bytherollerconveyor.Thepallet will therefore damage early.

The official gazette of Japanese Utility Model Registration Application Laid-open No. 58-82981 discloses that a truck is employed as meansforconvey- ing a vehicle-bearing pallet between an entrance and a transfer portfor a stacker crane.

This prior art, however, does not teach the relations of arrangement among the entrance, an exit, the transfer port, a palletizer and a depalletizer.

Summary of the invention: An object ofthe present invention is to facilitate entering-garage and leaving-garage operations in a garage wherein a truck is employed as conveyance meansforavehicle-bearing pallet.

The present invention is characterized by comprising a truck which travels between an entrance/exit and a transfer port while carrying a vehicle-bearing pallet, pallet receivers which are disposed in the entrance/exit and the transfer port in orderto sustain the vehicle-bearing pallets, a pallet keeping portion which is disposed art a position higherthan a vehicle on the truck in orderto keep pallets heaped up, and a pickerforthe pallet magazine which travels between the pallet keeping portion and the entrance/exit while holding a single pallet.

Briefdescription ofthe drawings: Figure lisa vertical sectional view of a multilevel parking garage which is an embodiment ofthe present invention; Figure2 is a sectional view taken along A-A in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of an entrance in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of a truck in Figure 1; Figure5is a side view ofa depalletizerin an emb- odiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 5; Figure 7is a sectional viewtaken along B - B in FigureS; Figure 8 is a right side view corresponding to FigureS; Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of a pallet receiverin Figure 5; and Figure 10 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 9.

Detailed description ofthe invention: Now, the present invention will be described in connection with an embodiment shown in Figures 1 10.

Referring to Figure 2, numeral 1 designates a known stacker crane, which runs along a traveling path 4 between shelf groups 5 and 6 on both sides.

The stacker crane 1 comprises an elevating block, which includes forks adapted to protrude into the shelf groups on both the sides. Each of the shelf groups 5 and 6 consists of a large number of storage shelves.

Here are juxtaposed two sets each of which consists ofthe stacker crane 1 and the shelf groups 5 and 6 on both the sides thereof.

Each shelf group 5 is provided with an entrance 10 at one end thereof, and an exit 11 at the other end thereof. The entrance 10 and the exit 11 lie outside the end parts of the travel ing path 4.

The end parts of the traveling path 4 are enclosed with fences 15. Each of the entrance 10 and the exit 11 is provided with getting-onor-offplatformsfor occupants at the right and leftofa pallet in thecor- responding portion and is surrounded with a fence 16 etc., thereby to construct a room. Numerals 7 designate doorsforthe occupants, and numeral 18 des ignatesagateforavehicle,which ascends and descends. Shown at numeral 20 is a roadway.

Referring to Figure 1, the storage shelves ofthe first stage ofthe shelf group 5atthe second and third lines thereof are used as transfer ports 22 and 23for entering-garage operations. Likewise, the storage shelves of the first stage atthe fourth and fifth lines are used as transfer ports 24 and 25for leaving- garage operations.

The No. ofthe line mentioned above is reckoned from the end ofthe shelfgroup closertothe entrance 10. The No. of the stage is reckoned from below.

Here, the shelf groups each being composed of 6 lines and 5 stages are illustrated.

The entrance 10, the transfer ports 22,23,24 and 25 and the exit 11 are provided with pallet receivers 27 for sustaining vehicle-bearing pallets. The height of each pallet receiver 27, especially the height ofthe pallet receiver27 ofthe entrance 10 orthe exit 11, is such that when the pallet 30 is placed on the pallet receiver, the path surface thereof is substantially even with the roadway 20. As shown in Figure 3, the pallet receiver 27 includes members located atfour, lengthwise and widthwise points in each ofthe entrance 10 etc., and the members atthefourpointsform the signle pallet receiver. The pallet receivers 27 of the entrance 10 and the exit 11 are respectively dis posedattherearandforeend partsthereoflestthe pallets 30 should be lifted up by the running of vehicles31.In addition,the members ofthe pallet receiveron the ingress side ofthe entrance 10 oron the egress side ofthe exit 11 are unitary in the width- wise direction. The pallet receivers 27 of the transfer ports 22-25 are mounted on pillars which constitute the storage shelves.

Underthefirststagefrom the entrance lOtothe exit 1 1,there is a traveling path 35 along which a truck 33 forthe entering-garage operation and a truck34forthe leaving-garage operation travel. The trucks 33 and 34 run on rails 36. Thetruck33forthe entering-garage operation conveys the vehicle bearing palletfrom the entrance lOtothetransfer port 22 or 23. On the other hand, the truck 34 forthe leaving-garage operation conveys the vehiclebearing pallet from transfer port 24 or 25 to the exit 11.

The supply of powerforthe running ofthetrucks 33 and 34 is performed with known means, for example, trolley wires which are laid underneath the trucks.

Referring to Figure4, each of the trucks 33 and 34 includes a jack 39 which raises or lowers a trestle 38.

The width ofthejack39 is setsmallerthan thespac- ing ofthe membersofthe pallet receiver 27 inthe widthwise direction. Besides, the trestle 38 is made smallerthan a space defined bythefour members of the pallet receiver 27. Each ofthe trucks 33 and 34 can run between the pallet receivers 27 with the vehicle-bearing pallet carried thereon, and can transfer the vehicle-bearing palletfrom orto the pallet receiver 27.

In Figure 1, numeral 40 indicates a depalletizer by which the pallet in a pallet keeping portion 41 isfed tothe entrance 10. The pallet keeping portion 41 lies atthe upper partofthe first stage atthe first line of the shelf group 5. The pallet keeping portion 41 has a pallet seat42 which sustains the pallets heaped up.

The pallet seat 42 is mounted at the upper positions ofthe pillars of the first stage so that the truck 33 carrying the vehicle-bearing pallet can pass. The height ofthe first stage is sufficiently greaterthan that of the second stage. In addition,the pallet seat 42 is made up of members which are disposed atthe fore and rearendsofthefirstline.

In orderto clarify the constituents of the depalletizer40, they are depicted with sizes largerthan actual dimensions in Figure 1.

The depalletizer40 is constructed principallyofthe pallet keeping portion 41, a picker 43 which serves to grasp the uppermost pallet in the pallet keeping portion 41, a trolley 44 which raises or lowers the pickers 43 and which runs, and girders 45 along which the trolley 44 runs. The girders 45 are supported bythe shelfgroup Sand the pillar46 ofthe entrance 10. The trolley 44 runs from the pallet keeping portion 41 to the entrance 10, and lowers the picker 43 down to the position ofthe pallet receiver 27.

Symbol 40a denotes a palletizer by which the pal- let left in the exit 11 is collected into a pallet keeping portion 41a. The pallet keeping portion 41a lies atthe upper part ofthe first stage at the sixth line ofthe shelf group 5. The pallet keeping portion 41 a has a pallet seat 42a which sustains the pallets heaped up.

The pallet seat 42a is mounted atthe upper positions ofthe pillars ofthe first stage so thatthe truck 34 carrying the vehicle-bearing pal let can pass. In addition, the pallet seat 42a is made up of members which are disposed at the fore and rear ends of the sixth line.

The construction ofthe palletizer 40a is substantially the same as that ofthe depalletizer40. The pal letizerandthe depalletizer differ only in function. By way of example, the picker 43 of the depalletizer 40 grasps the uppermost pallet in the pallet keeping portion 41 and feeds it to the entrance 1 1,whereas the picker43a ofthe palletizer40a grasps the pallet in the exit 11 and feeds it to the pallet keeping portion 41 a. Therefore, the depalletizer 40 will be chiefly explained below. The constituents ofthe palletizer40a are denoted with "a" affixed to Nos. ofthe constituents ofthe depalletizer40.

The details of the depal letizer 40 wi 11 be described with reference to Figures 5 - 10. Figure 8 shows the state in which the pallet is supported.

The trolley 44 is suspended from the girders 45 by wheels 50 which are so disposed that two wheels are located at each of four, front and rear points on both sides. The girders 45 are formed oftwo I-steel members. The wheels 50 at the two points lying on a diagonal line are furnished with motors 51 for running.

Thewheels 50 suspend a frame 55through seats 54.

Ahoisting devicewhich is constructed of a motor56, reduction gears 57 and a drum 58 is disposed on the upper surface of the frame 55. Four ropes 60 are let out ofthe drum 58 frontwards and rearwards on both the sides, and they suspend the picker 43 through sheaves 61 disposed on the frame 55. When the drum 58 is rotated forwards,thefour ropes 60 are let out of it.

Pipes 63whose lowerendsareflared are mounted on thefour,fore and rear points on both the sides on the lower surface of theframe 55. On the other hand, four rods 66 each of which has an upper end of redu ced diameter are erected on the upper surface ofthe frame 65 ofthe picker 43. When the picker 43 is raised,the rods 66 enterthe corresponding pipes 63.

Atthefour, bilateral fore and rearpointsoftheob long frame 65 ofthe picker 43, pallet seat members 67 for supporting the pallet 30 are suspended in a manner two be horizontally rotatable. Numerals 68 indicate arbors for the rotations, which penetrate guide barrels 69 and theframe 65to protrude upwards. The rotary arbors 68 are suspended. The barrels 69 are fixed to the frame 65. A lever70 is attached to the upper end ofthe rotary arbor 68. The levers 70, 70 ofthe two rotary arbors 68,68 on each side ofthe frame 65 in the widthwise direction thereof are connected by a link 71. Driving cylinder assemblies 73, 73 are mounted in parallel with the respective links 71,71. The rod ofthe cylinder assembly 73 is attached to one end of a link 74 which is horizontally turnable. The other end ofthe link 74 is coupled to the link71.The center pin 75ofthe link74 is provided on theframe 65. Figure7 illustrates the state in which the pallet seat members 67 are retracted. When the rods of the cylinder assemblies 73 are protruded, the pallet seat members 67 project.

Referring to Figure 8, a pair of photoelectric switches 78 for detecting the presence ofthe pallet 30 are installed on the side surfaces of the barrels 69, 69 at one end ofthe picker 43 in the lengthwise direction thereof. When the switches 78 have detected the interception of light owing to the ascent of the frame 65,theframe 65 is stopped descending, and the pallet seat members 67 are projected toward the pallet 30. The switches78 and the palletseat members 67 are mounted at such positions that, when the switches 78 have detected the light interception,the pallet seat members 67 can be projected into the interspaces 80 between the uppermost one and the next one ofthe pallets heaped up. Thus, the uppermost one of the pallets heaped up orthe pallet in the exit 11 can be lifted up.

The switches 78 and the rotary arbors 68 are disposed outside the ends ofthe pallet 30 in thewidthwise direction thereof.

Reinforcement plates 30a are provided on the back surface of the pallet 30so asto abut on the underly- ing pallet 30. Thus, the interspaces 80 are defined.

A limit switch 82 for detecting the presence ofthe pallet is installed on the pallet seat member 67.The lever 83 of the limit switch 82 protrudes from below the pallet seat member 67to above it through an opening 84 and then extends horizontally. Such limit switches are mounted on the two palletseatmembers 67 located diagonally.

When the limit switches 82 have turned OFF, the picker 43 lowered carrying the pallet have arrived at the entrance 10 orthe uppermost one ofthe pallets heaped up. Then, the lowering ofthe picker 43 is stopped, and the pallet seat members 67 are retracted.

The supply of power for driving the trolley 44 is performed by known means, for example, trolley wires laid in parallel with the girders 45.

Referring to Figure 3, the platform 86 of the entrance 10 orthe exit 11 is provided with recesses 87 in which the pal let seat members 67, the rotary arbors 68, etc. ofthe picker 43 can be accommodated. Thus, the pallet 30 can befedorcollected.

The entering-garage operation will be described.

The pallets heaped up are kept in the pallet keeping portion 41 ofthe depalletizer40. With thetrolley44 stopped atthefirst line, the picker43 is lowered using the hoisting device. When the photoelectric switches 78 have detected the light interception, the lowering ofthe picker 43 is stopped, and the pallet seat members 67 are projected into the interspaces 80 by the use ofthe cylinder assemblies 73. When the picker 43 is subsequently raised, the single pallet 30 can be lifted up. Underthe state under which the rods 66 are inserted in the pipes 63, the trolley is run toward the entrance 10 bathe motors 51.

When thetrolley44 has arrived at the entrance 10, the picker 43 is lowered. When the pallet ofthe picker 43 have got on the pallet receiver 27 ofthe entrance 10, the limit switches 82 turnOFF because this pallet 30 floats above the pallet seat members 67 ofthe picker43. Owing to the turn-OFF, the lowering ofthe picker43 is stopped, and the pallet seat members 67 are retracted. Subsequently, the picker 43 is raised and is returned tothefirst line afterthe completion of the raising. The depalletizer 40 stands-by in the state in which the picker 43 carries the pallet.

The occupant having driven the vehicle on the pallet 30 ofthe entrance 10 gets off the vehicle, and thereafter gives an entering-garage command. Accordingtotheentering-garagecommand,thetruck 33 having stood-byundertheentrance 10 raisesthe trestle 38 by means ofthe jack 39so as to lift up the vehicle-bearing pallet. After lifting upthevehiclebearing pallet until it comes away from the pallet receiver 27, the truck runs toward the transfer ports 22, 23. If the transfer ports 22 and 23 are both empty, the truck runs to the transfer port 23. lfthere is a vehiclebearing pallet in the transfer port 23, the truck runsto the transfer port 22. If there are vehicle-bearing pallets in both the transfer ports 22 and 23, the truck waits at the first line.When the truck stops atthe transfer port 22 or 23, the trestle 38 is lowered to put the vehicle-bearing pallet on the pallet receiver 27.

The truck 33 returns to the entrance 10 underthat state.

The vehicle-bearing pallet in the transfer port 22 or 23 is transported to the storage shelf by the stacker crane 1.

The leaving-garage operation will be described.

When a leaving-garage command has been given, the stacker crane 1 transports a vehicle-bearing palletfrom the storage shelfto thetransfer port24 or25.

If there are no vehicle-bearing pallets in the transfer ports 24 and 25, the stacker crane 1 delivers the vehicle-bearing pallet to thetransfer port 25. If there is a vehicle-bearing pallet in the transfer port 24, the stacker crane 1 waits until this vehicle-bearing pallet is put out by the truck 34.

The vehicle-bearing pallet delivered to the transfer port 24 or 25 is placed on the pallet receiver 27. The truck 34 raises the trestle 38 by means of the jack 39 so asto lift up the vehicle-bearing pallet. Thereafter, the truck 34 is run toward the exit 11.

When thevehicle has leftthegaragethroughthe exit 11 and a command has been given, the palletizer 40a starts the operation of collecting the pallet. This operation will be briefly explained since the dep alletizer40 is used as a palletizer equivalently. Inthe ensuing explanation, "a" shall be affixed to Nos. of the components ofthe depalletizer 40.

In the exit 11 ,the picker43a is lowered. When the switches 78a have detected the interception of light, the lowering ofthe picker 43a is stopped, and the pal- let seat members 67a are projected. Subsequently, the picker 43a is raised, and thetrolley44a is run toward the sixth line underthe state under which the rods 66a are inserted in the pipes 63a. When the trolley has arrived at the sixth line, the picker43a is lowered. The turn-OFF ofthe limit switches 82a ofthe palletseat members 67aindicatesthatthe pallet on the pallet seat members 67a has sat on the pallets in the pallet keeping portion 41 a. Therefore,the lowering ofthe picker 43a is stopped, and the pallet seat members 67a are lowered.Next, the picker43a is raised, whereupon the pal letizer stands-by.

When a predetermined numberof(e.g., six) pallets have been stored in the pallet keeping portion 41 a, the stacker crane 1 transports them to an unoccupied storage shelf. When pallets in the pallet keeping portion 41 ofthe depalletizer40 have been used up, the stacker crane 1 feeds the heaped-up pallets from the storage shelf orthe pal let keeping portion 41 a to the pallet keeping portion 41.

As described above, the entering-garage and leaving-garage operations can be performed without employing conveyors which convey the vehiclebearing pallets. Therefore, the thickness ofthe plate ofthe pallet can be reduced.

In addition,thetrucks33 and 34are provided with the trestles free to ascend and descend, and the entr ance 10, exit 11 and transfer ports 22-25 arefurni- shed with the pallet receivers 27, so that the entering- and leaving-garage operations can be performed fast.

Besides, the truck 33 (34) for carrying the vehiclebearing pallet and the picker43 (43a)for carrying the empty pallet are disposed, so that the period oftime forthe entering-or leaving-garage operation can be shortened owing to the divided jobs. Since the picker 43 (43a) runs above the truck 33 (34), thefeed (col lection) of the pallet can be executed with ease.

Moreover,the pallet keeping portion 41 (41 a) for the pallets heaped up is disposed overthe passage of the vehicle-bearing pallet between the entrance 10 (exit 11) and the transfer ports 22,23(24,25). In consequence, the picker 43 (43a) can carry the pallet more easily.Also the running distance of the picker 43 (43a) shortens. Further,thespaceunderthepallet keeping portion 41(41 a) can be set as the stand-by region ofthetruck33 (34) with thevehicle-bearing pallet placed thereon, and the period oftime forthe entering- or leaving-garage operation can be made still shorter. Meanwhile,thetransfer ports 22 and 23 (24 and 25) are located on the middle side ofthetraveling path 4 of the stacker crane 1, sothatthetravel- ing distance ofthe stacker crane 1 decreases on the average, and the period oftimeforthe entering- or leaving-garage operation can be made still shorter.

It ensures safety that the pallet keeping portion 41 (41a) is not disposed over the entrance 10 (exit 11).

Since the plurality oftransfer ports 22 and 23 (24 and 25) are provided, the period oftimefortheenter- ing- or leaving-garage operation can be shortened.

In the embodiment, the transfer ports 22,23 forthe entering-garage operation and the transfer ports 24, 25forthe leaving-garage operation are separated.

However, when performing onlythe entering-garage operations, vehicle-bearing palletsfortheentering- garage operations can be placed in the transfer ports 24 and 25. In contrast, when performing only the leaving-garage operations, vehicle-bearing pallets for the leaving-garage operations can be placed in the transfer ports 22 and 23.

Although, in the embodiment, the entering-and leaving-garage operations are conducted with the trucks 33 and 34, either maywell be performed with a conveyor as in the prior art.

In the present invention, therefore, the expression "entrance/exit" signifiestheentranceortheexit,and the expression "pallet magazine" signifies the depalletizer orthe palletizer.

In a case where the exit 11 is too brightto use the switches 78a, limit switches are disposed below the platform 86 ofthe exit 11, whereby the switches 78a can be dispensed with.

Although the trestles of the trucks 33 and 34 are disposed so as to freely ascend and descend, the pallet receivers 27 may well be made free to ascend and descend.

The construction of the pallet seat members 67 and 67a ofthe pickers 43 and 43a may be construction capable of attaching and detaching the pallets.

Byway of example, if the upper surface ofthe pallet is formed with holes, twist lock pins adapted to fit in the holes can be employed as in the spreader of a container crane.

A linear car can be employed asthetruck orthe trolley.

Since the entrance 10 and the exit 11 lie atthefirst stage ofthe shelf groupS, also the transfer ports lie at the first stage. In a case where the entrance etc. lie at,forexample,thethirdstage,thetransferports come to lie at the third stage, and the running path of the trucks are provided nearthem.

The pallet keeping portion 41 is provided at the first stage in the embodiment. However, when it is provided at the second stage, the height of the first stage can be reduced.

As described above, according to the present invention, even when trucks are em ployed, the feed and collection of pallets can be performed very easily, and entering- and leaving-garage operations can be executed fast.

Claims

1. Amultilevel parking garage comprising: shelf groups each of which has a large number of storage shelves, a stacker crane which travels along said shelf groups and which transfers a vehicle-bearing pallet between it and the storage shelves, an entrance/exit which is disposed art a position connected with a roadway and which has a pallet re ceiverfor sustaining the vehicle-bearing pallet, a transfer port which is disposed at a position where the vehicle-bearing pallet can be transferred between it and said stacker crane, and which has a pallet receiverfor sustaining the vehicle-bearing pal let, a truck in which a trestle for carrying the vehiclebearing pallet is provided in a manner two freely ascend and descend relative to said pallet receivers, and which runs between said entrance/exit and said transfer port witch the vehicle-bearing pallet carried on said trestle, a pallet keeping portion for pallets heaped up, which is provided at a position higher than a vehicle carried on said truck, and a pickerwhich issuspendedfrom atrolleyina mannerto freely ascend and descend, said trolley being movable between said pallet keeping portion and said entrance/exit, and which picks up and sets down the pallets in said pallet keeping portion and said entrance/exit.

2. A multilevel parking garage according to Claim 1, wherein said picker picks up and sets down the pallets over said pallet keeping portion and over said entrance/exit.

3. A multilevel parking garage according to Claim 2, wherein said pallet keeping portion is provided art a position between said entrance/exit and said transfer port and over a running path of said truck, at which the pallets heaped up can betransfer- red to andfrom said stackercrane.

4. A multilevel parking garage according to Claim 3, wherein said pallet keeping portion and said transfer port are disposed inside the shelf group, and said entrance/exit is disposed outside and shelf group.

5. A multilevel parking garage according to Claim 4, wherein one end of each of girders along which said trolley moves is attached to the shelf group, and the other end thereof is attached to a pillarwhich is erected in said entrance/exit.

6. A multilevel parking garage according to Claim 1,wherein saidtruck includes a jackwhich causes said trestle to ascend and descend relative to said pallet receiver.

7. A multilevel parking garage according to Claim 1,wherein a plurality of such transfer ports are provided on a running path of said truck.

8. A multilevel parking garage according to Claim 1, wherein said trolley includes a hoisting device, and said picker is suspended by four ropes let out of said hoisting device.

9. A multilevel parking garage constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herebefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.