Role of Hydraulics in Smart Multi-Level Car Parking System

In today’s world, the large parking area requirements for apartments and large buildings are a concern for everyone. How to build a large parking space that can accommodate hundreds of cars in the minimum area? This is the common question in the mind of everyone who wishes to effectively utilize their space. The smart multi-level car parking system is one of the recent and best solutions for this. This method is beneficial not only in reducing the packing space requirement but also in eliminating the time required to search for a suitable parking space. In this automated car parking system, the driver will leave the vehicle at the entrance of the parking system, and the system will automatically raise and park this car using the power of electric motors/hydraulic pumps.

          Step stacker-type parking systems, tower-rotary-type parking systems, horizontal circulation parking equipment, stacker-type parking systems, and puzzle multi-level car parking systems are some of the commonly used automatic car parking systems. In the step stacker type parking system, there will be two levels for car parking. The car parked at the bottom will be lifted to the above level using the hydraulics mechanism. The drawback of this method is, that it is necessary to move the bottom car to access the car parked on the top. A rotary mechanism is used in the tower-rotary type parking system and here each of the parked cars will move in a circular path for loading and unloading. Most of the small and middle-sized buildings with tight spaces install horizontal circulation parking equipment for underground basements and podium levels. This approach eliminates the need for separate entry and exit lanes and ventilation costs. The next is the stacker-type parking system that uses a mechanism called a stacker with inbuilt robotic technology. Compared with the step stacker type parking system, in the stacker type method, there will be multiple floors, and the push and pull mechanism from the parking bay is done automatically. The most recent technology in automated car parking is multi-level puzzle-type parking. More details on this approach are discussed in the following sections.

What is the puzzle-type multilevel parking system? 

           Similar to other parking systems, the primary aim of this approach is to reduce the parking space requirements and to utilize the area effectively. This parking system for indoor/outdoor parking can be installed in driveways, basements, and rooftops. The important difference is the ability of the pallet to move horizontally(left to right) and vertically(up and down) to enter into a vacant parking space. The pallet is the flat, movable structure on which the car is placed and transported among multiple floors. The same steps are reversed to take the vehicle back from the parking space. It will take only less than one minute for both car parking and retrieving the car.

How does puzzle-type car parking work? 

         As mentioned earlier, both horizontal and vertical movement is possible for all spaces except ground. With this approach, it is possible to create two to six floors for vehicle parking. For parking and retrieving cars, it is possible to move every parking space, and also some of the parking slots will be always kept vacant to make this movement possible. For the movement of every vehicle, it is hydraulic that simplifies the operation. The hydraulic pump will pressurize the fluid and make the piston rod to move according to the given signal. It is the installed hydraulic cylinders that control both vertical and horizontal movements. Some benefits of this smart parking system over other systems are listed below.

• This parking system approach will contain multiple entry points for the driver to leave the car. The car can be taken back through the same entry point itself. This will reduce the time spent waiting for a vehicle to park and remove.
• Requires minimum maintenance and it can be handled easily.
• Compared with traditional car parking systems, this approach is cost-effective and requires minimum human effort.
• No need for energy-intensive ventilating systems.