Coin-controlled vehicle parking system

Dec. 30, 1952 , allstAdt, jr 2,623,933

COIN-CONTROLLED VEHICLE PARKING SYSTEM

Filed March 9, 1949

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Patented Dec. 30, 1952

2,623,933

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,623,933

COIN-CONTROLLED VEHICLE PARKING SYSTEM

Ira Allstadt, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.

Application March 9, 1949, Serial No. 80,501

Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle parking systems and mechanisms and aims to provide improvements in the type of coin-controlled systems and mechanisms particularly adapted for use in controlling the parking of vehicles and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a coin-controlled system which is simple and economical in construction and readily adaptable for use with coin-controlled parking meters and like devices.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved type of coin-controlled parking meter system adapted to indicate by a visual signal when a designated parking space is unoccupied and to indicate by a different visual signal in combination with an audible signal when the parking space is wrongfully or improperly occupied.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a parking meter mechanism adapted to be actuated by a vehicle or object in a designated parking· space to cause a circuit to one lamp to be opened, thereby indicating that the space is occupied, and a circuit to another lamp and a bell to be closed thereby indicating by a visual and audible signal that the parking space is wrongfully or improperly occupied.

It is another object of the invention to provide a parking meter mechanism having a signal for indicating when a parking space is wrongfully or improperly occupied and associated coin-controlled means adapted to render said signal inoperative and to initiate operation of a timing mechanism to permit authorized parking for a limited time interval.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a parking meter mechanism having signal means adapted to indicate whether a parking space is properly or improperly occupied, a timing mechanism adapted to limit the proper period of occupancy to a predetermined time interval and combined means for actuating· the signal means and the timing mechanism, said combined means including a photoelectric cell ⁴⁵unit adapted to be actuated by the presence of a vehicle in the parking space to cause the circuit to a first signal means to be opened and the circuit to a second signal means to be closed, and a coin-controlled mechanism adapted to be actu- ⁵θ ated by a coin deposited therein to cause the circuit to the second signal means to be opened and the circuit to the timing mechanism to be closed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a parking meter mechanism having a tim- ⁰⁵

I. 177—311) ing mechanism adapted to be put into operation by cooperating photoelectric tube means and coin-controlled means when a car is in a designated parking area and a coin has been deposited ⁵ in the coin-controlled means and means including said photoelectric tube means for rendering said timing mechanism inoperative and for resetting it to the starting position when the car is withdrawn from the parking area prior to the ¹⁰ expiration of a predetermined parking period.

These and othei· objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from a consideration of the accompanying drawing ¹⁵ and annexed specification illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing, the figure is a diagrammatic representation of the improved system and mechanism according to the present invention show²⁰ ing the parts in position when the light beam directed toward the photoelectric cell unit is uninterrupted.

Referring to the drawing a light beam I from any suitable source of light 2 is directed across a ²⁵ designated parking space or other area 3 to a photoelectric cell unit 4. The unit 4 may comprise a suitable type of photoelectric tube available commercially such as the R. C. A. 921 Photoelectric Cell and is preferably provided with an 30 amplifier 5 designed to amplify the current therefrom sufficiently to actuate a relay 6. The photoelectric cell 4 and amplifier 5 may be connected to any suitable sources of electrical current having- the desired high and low voltages necessary 35 to effect operation thereof.

The relay 6 comprises a field coil 7, a core 8, and switches 9 and 10. Each of the switches 9 and 10 is provided with a plurality of arms carrying contacts II, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, the arms 40 carrying the middle contacts 12 and 15 being connected to the core 8 for movement thereby so that the contacts 12 and 15 may be alternately engaged with the contacts 11 and 14 or 13 and 16.

As shown in the drawing when the parking area 3 is unoccupied and the beam of light I uninterrupted, the contacts 12 and 13 of the switch 9 are closed thus completing a circuit from the 6 volt side 17 of the stepdown transformer 18 through the connections 19,20 and 21 to the lamp 22. Lamp 22 thus burns continuously when the parking area is not occupied and may be utilized to illuminate a glass advertising panel or the like in the front portion of a parking meter. Contacts 15 and 16 of switch 10 are also closed when the parking area is not occupied but since con

2,623,933 tact 13 is not connected in any circuit no current flows therethrough.

When a car is positioned in the parking space 3 it blocks the beam of light i thus causing the photoelectric cell 4 to be energized. This in turn causes the field coil 7 of the relay 6 to be energized thereby moving the core 8 upwardly to close the contacts I i and ! 2 of switch 9 and contacts 14 and 9 5 of switch 10. This opens the circuit to the lamp 22 through the contacts 12 and 13 and closes the circuit from the 6 volt side 17 of the stepdown transformer 18 to a parallel arrangement of lamp 23 and bell 24 through connections 89, 23 and 25, contacts 27 and 28 of switch 29 of a second relay 30, connection 31, contacts i! and 12 of switch 9 and connection 21. Thus when a car is positioned in the parking area to block the beam of light 1 as stated, the lamp 22 is extinguished to indicate that the area is occupied and the lamp 23 is lighted and bell 24 rung to indicate that the required fee has not been paid and hence that the parking area is improperly occupied.

Coin-controlled timing means 32 are provided to initiate operation of a timing mechanism 33 and to render the lamp 23 and bell 24 inoperative. Such means may comprise a frame member 34 having a lever 35 pivoted thereto and a coinslot 33 adapted to conduct a coin from the opening 37 to a position where it will strike and depress one end of the lever 35. At its opposite end the lever 35 is connected by a link 38 with one arm 39 of a switch 48. Arm 39 is raised upwardly when the lever 35 is depressed by a coin thereby bringing a contact 41 thereon into contacting relation with a contact 42 on the arm 43. Thus the insertion of a coin closes the switch 40 thereby completing the circuit from the 110 volt line 44 through connection 45, contacts 14 and 9 5 of switch 9 0, connection 48, field coil 47 of the second relay 30, connections 48 and 49, switch 40 and connections 50 and 51 back to the 110 volt line 44. . Obviously any other suitable coincontrolled device may be used for closing the switch 40.

The closing of contacts 49 and 42 of switch 40 energizes the field coil 47 of relay 30 and causes the core 52 thereof to move upwardly carrying with it the arm of switch 29 which has the contact 27 thereon. Contacts 27 and 28 of switch 29 are thereby moved apart to open the circuit to lamp 23 and bell 24 thus rendering these signals inoperative and indicating that the parking area or space is properly occupied.

Upward movement of the core 52 also brings contacts 53 and 54 of switch 55 into contacting relationship to close the circuit from the 110 volt line 44 through the field coil 56 of the timing device 33. This circuit comprises connection 45, contacts 14 and 15 of switch 10, connection 46, field coil 47 of relay 30, connections 48 and 49, contacts 4 9 and 42 of switch 40, connections 50 and 58, contacts 53 and 54 of switch 55, connections 59 and 36, field coil 5S of timing device 33, and connections 57 and 5! back to the 110 volt line.

Completion of the circuit through field coil 5δ initiates operation of the timing device 33 to thereby rotate a cam 61 against the action of a coil spring 62. When the cam 61 begins to rotate it immediately contacts a projection S3 on arm 64 of switch 65 and forces the arm 64 laterally so that a contact 6S thereon engages a similar contact 67 on the arm 63. This completes an additional circuit from the 110 volt line through the field coil 56 which continues operation of the timing motor after the switch 40 returns to its normal open position following passage of the coin past the lever 35. This addi5 tional circuit from the 110 volt line comprises connection 45, contacts 14 and 95 of switch 89, connection 46, field coil il of relay 33, connections 48 and 69, contacts 66 and 67 of switch 65, connections 70 and SO, field coil 56 Of timing de10 vice 33, and connections 57 and 51 back to the 110 volt line.

If a car remains in the parking space the timing mechanism continues to rotate the cam 61 until the uniformly curved portion thereof 15 passes beyond the projection 63 on arm 64 and permits the arm 64 to move laterally away from the arm 68 to break the contact between contacts 66 and 67. This opens the circuit to the field coil 56 thereby deenergizing the timing 20 mechanism 33 whereby the spring 62 immediately returns the cam 69 to its starting position in readiness for a new cycle. Suitable stop means are provided to limit the return movement of the cam 6 9 past its starting position.

Breaking the circuit through the timing device 33 likewise breaks the circuit through the field coil 47 of the relay 30. This permits the core 52 to drop to its lower position and thereby reestablish contact between the contacts 27 and 28 20 of switch 29 to again close the circuit to the lamp 23 and bell 24. This gives warning that a vehicle has overstayed the parking limit and that it should be moved or another coin inserted.

If a car is removed from the parking space 35 prior to the expiration of the parking period the beam of light 9 again strikes the photoelectric cell 4 causing it to deenergize the field coil 7 of the relay 6. The core 8 thereupon drops reestablishing contact between the contacts 9 2 and 40 93 of switch 9 and thus completing the circuit to the lamp 22. This indicates that the parking area is unoccupied. At the same time the downward movement of the core 8 moves the contacts 94 and 15 apart thus breaking the circuit to 45 the timing device 33. Spring 52 thereupon returns the cam 6 9 and the timing mechanism to its original or starting position where it is again ready for a new cycle of operations.

Summarizing the operation of the device the 50 position of all relays and switches when the parking area is vacant is as shown in the figure of the drawing. Contacts 12 and 93 of switch 9 are closed and complete the circuit to lamp 22 to indicate that the parking space is un55 occupied.

When a car enters the parking area 3 the beam of light I is interrupted thereby causing the photoelectric cell unit 4 to actuate the relay 6 so that contacts 19 and 12 of switch 9 complete 60 the circuit to lamp 23 and bell 24 through contacts 27 and 28 of switch 29. Lamp 23 is thereby lighted and bell 24 rung tto indicate that the parking area is occupied but that the required parking fee has not been paid. Actuation of the 65 relay 6 also moves the contacts 12 and 13 apart to break the circuit to the lamp 22 and the contacts 14 and 9 5 together to complete the circuit from the 110 volt line 44 through field coil 47 of relay 30 up to contact 56 of switch 65.

When a coin is inserted in the opening 37 and moves downwardly through the slot 36 to depress the lever 35 a momentary contact is made between the contacts 41 and 42 thereby completing the circuit to field coil 47 of relay 30 and actuating same. This action starts the timer

2,623,933 motor by closing the contacts 53 and 54 of switch 55 and movement of the cam 6i immediately closes the contacts 66 and 67 of switch 65.

Contact points 66 and 67 together with contact points 53 and 54 maintain the circuit through the field coil 47 of relay 30 until one of the following events occurs (1) a predetermined parking period elapses or (2) the parking area is vacated. In the former case the cam on the timer motor shaft permits the contacts 66 and 67 to move apart thus breaking the circuit to field coil 47. This permits core 52 to drop thereby closing the contacts 27 and 28 to again complete the circuit to lamp 23 and bell 24. Substantially simultaneously therewith and as soon as the circuit through the field coil 56 is broken the spring 62 returns the cam 61 and associated mechanism to starting position where it is ready for a new parking period. In the latter case relay 6 is deenergized permitting the core 8 to drop and thus close the circuit to the lamp 22 and open the circuit to the field coil 47 of relay 30 and field coil 56 of timing device 33. Relay 36 thereupon returns to its normal position as shown in the drawing and cam 61 returns to its starting position under the influence of the spring 62.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an economical and highly effective device particularly adapted for automatically regulating parking in designated parking areas.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and are considered within the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is indicated in the appended claims.