A parking brake apparatus may include: a driving part; a driving gear rotatably connected to the driving part; a gear shaft engaged with the driving gear so as to be rotated by the driving gear; a pair of pistons disposed on both sides of the gear shaft and connected to brake shoes, respectively; a pair of nuts disposed in the respective pistons, and screwed to the gear shaft; an elastic member installed between the piston and the nut so as to pressure the nut toward the brake shoe; a holder installed in the piston so as to support the elastic member; and a constraint ring installed in the piston so as to constrain the holder.

A patient transport apparatus includes a height-adjustable assembly having a longitudinal axis, and a brake assembly comprising a brake cable. The brake cable includes an elongate portion extending along the height-adjustable assembly and a slack portion. The patient transport apparatus further includes a brake cable housing coupled to and axially offset from the height-adjustable assembly. The slack portion of the brake cable is enclosed within a hollow interior of the brake cable housing.

A patient transport apparatus includes a height-adjustable assembly having a longitudinal axis, and a brake assembly comprising a brake cable. The brake cable includes an elongate portion extending along the height-adjustable assembly and a slack portion. The patient transport apparatus further includes a brake cable housing coupled to and axially offset from the height-adjustable assembly. The slack portion of the brake cable is enclosed within a hollow interior of the brake cable housing.

A brake assembly for a manually-operated, height-adjustable wheeled vehicle according to a first aspect includes a brake cable assembly. The brake assembly includes a brake cable housing shaped to enclose an excess portion of the brake cable assembly. The brake assembly includes a cable adjuster coupled to the brake cable assembly. The cable adjuster is enclosed by the brake cable housing. There is additionally provided a wheel fork assembly for a manually-operated, height-adjustable wheeled vehicle according to a first aspect. The vehicle includes a frame member. The wheel fork assembly includes a mount shaped to couple with a lower end of the frame member of the vehicle. The mount has a longitudinal axis. The wheel fork assembly includes a wheel fork having a longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the mount. The wheel fork is integrally coupled to and formed with the mount.

A brake assembly for a manually-operated, height-adjustable wheeled vehicle according to a first aspect includes a brake cable assembly. The brake assembly includes a brake cable housing shaped to enclose an excess portion of the brake cable assembly. The brake assembly includes a cable adjuster coupled to the brake cable assembly. The cable adjuster is enclosed by the brake cable housing. There is additionally provided a wheel fork assembly for a manually-operated, height-adjustable wheeled vehicle according to a first aspect. The vehicle includes a frame member. The wheel fork assembly includes a mount shaped to couple with a lower end of the frame member of the vehicle. The mount has a longitudinal axis. The wheel fork assembly includes a wheel fork having a longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the mount. The wheel fork is integrally coupled to and formed with the mount.

A method for preventing drive off of a refrigerated transport unit includes detecting whether an electrical power system of the refrigerated transport unit is electrically connected to a utility power source, and performing an action when the electrical power system is electrically connected to the utility power source includes. A drive off protection system includes a refrigerated transport unit including an electrical power system and a controller that monitors the electrical power system. The controller configured to perform an action when the electrical power system is electrically connected to the refrigerated transport unit.

A method for preventing drive off of a refrigerated transport unit includes detecting whether an electrical power system of the refrigerated transport unit is electrically connected to a utility power source, and performing an action when the electrical power system is electrically connected to the utility power source includes. A drive off protection system includes a refrigerated transport unit including an electrical power system and a controller that monitors the electrical power system. The controller configured to perform an action when the electrical power system is electrically connected to the refrigerated transport unit.

A truck parking safety system for alerting drivers to unsafe parking practices includes a speaker and a plurality of lights that are in operational communication with a microprocessor. The microprocessor is in operational communication with a sensor array that is configured to detect truck brake and trailer brake engagement as well as driver's door position. When the driver's side door is open and the parking brakes for either or both the truck and the trailer brakes are not engaged the microprocessor activates the speaker and the plurality of lights to create an audio-visual alarm. The microprocessor ceases the audio-visual alarm when the sensor array detects that the parking brake and the trailer brake are each engaged.

Methods are provided for optimizing generation of water on-board a vehicle with reduced impact on fuel economy. Regenerative braking energy, and/or solar energy, in excess of what is required for charging a system battery, is used to operate a water extractor and save the captured energy as stored water. A proportion of the braking energy used to charge the battery versus operate the water extractor is adjusted as a function of operating conditions including a water level in a water reservoir on-board the vehicle.

Methods are provided for optimizing generation of water on-board a vehicle with reduced impact on fuel economy. Regenerative braking energy, and/or solar energy, in excess of what is required for charging a system battery, is used to operate a water extractor and save the captured energy as stored water. A proportion of the braking energy used to charge the battery versus operate the water extractor is adjusted as a function of operating conditions including a water level in a water reservoir on-board the vehicle.