Apparatus for positioning a tarp on a payload carried on the bed of a vehicle includes a tarp lifting device having a carriage engagable with forks of a forklift truck and a support arm projecting from the carriage. Lifting hooks are provided on the support arm and engage anchor points of the tarp which is raised and drawn into position over the payload. Once placed, the support arm is lowered and the hooks drop free of the anchor points. The placement of the tarp occurs without an operator being on the bed or on top of the payload and the hooks disengage without assistance from the operator.

A loading and transport system is disclosed that engages with a transporting vehicle such as a hauler or semi-truck. The system includes a plurality of transporting components including platforms or compartments that are accessible independently for efficiently loading and unloading objects including vehicles or freight boxes.

A first work tool arm is rotatably attached to a frame or reference structure, a second work tool arm rotatably attached to the first work tool arm, and a work tool attached to an end of the second work tool arm. An actuator and a spring are each rotatably attached to the second work tool arm and configured such that separate movement of the first work tool arm relative to the frame or reference structure and movement of the second work tool arm and work tool relative to the first work tool arm are achieved with actuation of the actuator.

A first work tool arm is rotatably attached to a frame or reference structure, a second work tool arm rotatably attached to the first work tool arm, and a work tool attached to an end of the second work tool arm. An actuator and a spring are each rotatably attached to the second work tool arm and configured such that separate movement of the first work tool arm relative to the frame or reference structure and movement of the second work tool arm and work tool relative to the first work tool arm are achieved with actuation of the actuator.

A vehicle system provided according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a power transmitter and a vehicle. The power transmitter is placed at one of at least one charge position. The vehicle includes: a power receiver, a capacitor, and a motor. The power receiver wirelessly receives first electric power from the power transmitter, and outputs second electric power deriving from the first electric power. The capacitor stores the second electric power output by the power receiver such that the capacitor is charged from a first voltage Vc1 to a second voltage Vc2. The motor is driven by the second electric power from the capacitor. The vehicle automatically travels a distance Dx along a route from one to a next one of the at least one charge position on the route. The distance Dx satisfies a certain relationship.

A vehicle system provided according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a power transmitter and a vehicle. The power transmitter is placed at one of at least one charge position. The vehicle includes: a power receiver, a capacitor, and a motor. The power receiver wirelessly receives first electric power from the power transmitter, and outputs second electric power deriving from the first electric power. The capacitor stores the second electric power output by the power receiver such that the capacitor is charged from a first voltage Vc1 to a second voltage Vc2. The motor is driven by the second electric power from the capacitor. The vehicle automatically travels a distance Dx along a route from one to a next one of the at least one charge position on the route. The distance Dx satisfies a certain relationship.

An apparatus is for collecting and transporting bales. The apparatus includes a transport assembly and a grasping assembly operatively connected thereto. The transport assembly includes a bale loading platform extending above and mounted to a chassis. The bale loading platform comprises at least one bale conveying section in including a bale conveying mechanism. The grasping assembly includes a mechanical arm having a prehension end effector engageable with the bales. The grasping assembly is configurable between a bale engagement configuration for engaging a corresponding one of the bales laying on the ground, a bale capture configuration for capturing and lifting the corresponding one of the bales off the ground and a bale release configuration for releasing the corresponding one of the bales onto the bale loading platform and comprises a movement absorption mechanism operative to substantially cancel the forward displacement of the apparatus during the capture of the bales.

An apparatus is mountable on a truck or trailer bed for lifting industrial or agricultural spools for transport. The apparatus includes a pair of vertically pivotable lifting members, each one of the pair of lifting members having a distal end. A pair of lifting pins are mounted to a distal end of a corresponding lifting member. A drive system is operably connected to the pair of vertically pivotable lifting members whereby the pair of lifting pins engage a hole of a spool and the spool is lifted with the vertically pivotable lifting members by a drive system.

An apparatus is mountable on a truck or trailer bed for lifting industrial or agricultural spools for transport. The apparatus includes a pair of vertically pivotable lifting members, each one of the pair of lifting members having a distal end. A pair of lifting pins are mounted to a distal end of a corresponding lifting member. A drive system is operably connected to the pair of vertically pivotable lifting members whereby the pair of lifting pins engage a hole of a spool and the spool is lifted with the vertically pivotable lifting members by a drive system.

A deployable hay pod elevator system for a transport trailer, such as a livestock trailer, provides a readily deployable hay pod, storage pod, or supply platform with the trailer, and is readily stowable above the trailer in a raised configuration for travel. The elevator system includes a deployable supply platform and a vertical raising and lowering mechanism or lift system configured to move the supply platform relative to the trailer. The lift includes a pivot arm system coupled to a sidewall of the trailer and a lift assist mechanism, such as a linear actuator, to vertically raise and lower the deployable supply platform. The elevator system includes a supply platform pivot actuation mechanism to adjust the angle of the platform relative to the pivot arm during stowage and deployment of the system. The elevator system may be fitted to various types of vehicles to store and transport various materials.