What types of vertical circulation equipment are there?

Vertical circulation equipment Depending on their functions and operating methods, they can be classified into the following nine types.

1. Lifting and lateral‑vertical circulating systems: These are the most common types of automated parking structures on the market, capable of lifting or horizontally moving parking platforms to access vehicles. Typically, they operate in a semi‑unattended mode, requiring users to manually move their cars after exiting the system.

2. Vertical circulating parking equipment: refers to parking equipment in which the vehicle carrier moves in a vertical plane, consisting of a metal structural frame, carriers, a drive system, a control system, and safety and detection systems.

3. Simple Lifting Vertical circulation equipment It is a parking device that uses the pitching (swinging) motion of a lifting mechanism or car platform to access the vehicle compartment.

4. Vertical lift‑type parking equipment: refers to parking systems that use a lifting mechanism to raise and lower vehicles, with carriages horizontally moved by carriers to park in bays on either side of the shaft. It consists of a metal structural frame, a lifting system, carriers, a rotating device, access‑assistance equipment, a control system, and safety and monitoring systems.

5. Planar Motion Vertical circulation equipment : Refers to moving vehicles on the same floor using transport trolleys or cranes, or achieving vehicle parking through horizontal movement via rack-and-pinion systems. It may also employ transport trolleys and elevators to implement multi‑level, planar‑movement automated parking systems.

6. Alley‑style stacked vertical circulation systems: These can be installed outdoors (typically in fully enclosed structures), indoors, above ground, or underground, depending on the site conditions. They offer high vehicle storage capacity and are safe and reliable.

7. Multi‑level, vertically circulating parking equipment: refers to parking systems that achieve multi‑level vehicle storage by enabling parking platforms to move vertically in a horizontal plane.

8. Horizontal circulating parking system: This system uses a horizontal circulating parking‑space arrangement to store and retrieve vehicles. It primarily consists of a steel structure, car‑cabin panels, a circulation‑drive system, a control system, and safety‑monitoring devices.

9. Car lift: A specialized elevator designed for transporting vehicles between different levels. It functions as a conveyor and does not provide direct access during construction. Vertical circulation equipment At times, one often encounters situations where a self-propelled ramp cannot be used due to limited space. To transport vehicles to different locations for closer access, a vertically lifting car lift should be employed.

This can replace the ramp for vehicles entering and exiting the garage, significantly saving space and improving garage utilization. Such car elevators are typically used to transport cars in underground or rooftop parking structures, as well as in drive‑in garages.