A grasping mechanism for an agricultural bale wagon has a fixed grasping arm and a movable grasping arm. The movable grasping arm is translatable toward and away from the fixed grasping arm. The movable grasping arm can be rotated to define varying angular relationships between the fixed grasping arm and the movable grasping arm. Rotation and translation of the movable grasping arm are effected by an actuator. A resilient bumper between the fixed grasping arm and movable grasping arm is adjustable automatically to span the adjusted width between the fixed grasping arm and movable grasping arm.

Mainframes for a self-propelled machine are disclosed. The mainframe includes first and second pockets that extend from the front end to the rear end of the mainframe. A hydraulic reservoir housing extends from the first side to the second side of the mainframe. The hydraulic reservoir housing is disposed between the front end of the mainframe and first and second drive openings.

A container carrier (1) comprises an elongate main frame (2). The main frame (2) comprises an articulating lifting apparatus (3). The carrier (1) further comprises a second elongate frame (10) slidably connected to the main frame (2) arranged such that one of the frames is slidably arranged within the other frame in the longitudinal direction. The relative position of the two frames (2, 10) is changeable between a retracted position and an extracted position.

Compact tool carriers having a loader mounted to a low-profile mainframe are disclosed. In some embodiments, the pivot points of the mainframe about which the loader is pivoted are low relative to the mainframe to reduce the mainframe size and to lower the center of gravity to improve the stability of the compact tool carrier during use.

A controller for electronically controlling hydraulically operated lifting arms. The controller allows a wide range of quicker movement and slower movement of the lifting arms under proportional control by the operator. An electronic servomechanism is mechanically coupled to a hydraulic valve handle to control the operation of the lifting arms. The servomechanism turns a shaft in response to a proportional controller. The valve handle controls the hydraulic valve stem, allowing the hydraulically operated lifting arms to raise, lower, grip, release, and perform auxiliary hydraulic operations.

A solar panel dispensing device comprising a hopper and a robotic arm. The hopper includes a base and a frame defining an interior volume and being configured to contain solar panels therein supported in an upright position. The robotic arm is moveable about the hopper in one or more degrees of freedom. The robotic arm includes a solar panel end effector operable to acquire a lead solar panel oriented in the upright orientation. The solar panel end effector includes an interfacing orientation and a release orientation; The robotic arm further includes an arm actuator operable to move the robotic arm and the solar panel end effector between the interfacing orientation and the release orientation. The interfacing orientation and the release orientation of the solar panel end effector correspond respectively to the solar panel being in the upright orientation, and the solar panel being in a presentation orientation.

A cargo lift system and method for a pickup truck or similar vehicle. The apparatus fits within the cargo box of a pickup truck and can be deployed to positions above and below the cargo bed. The system includes a set of movement synchronizers configured to synchronize movement of the lifting and lowering structures to prevent binding and racking during operation, thus allowing the construction of the apparatus to be more compact and lighter in weight.

Systems and methods for controlling a hoist apparatus on a vehicle to automatically load and unload a container. The vehicle includes a chassis, a hoist apparatus coupled with the chassis, and at least one lift mechanism operative to move the hoist apparatus with respect to the chassis in response to the flow of hydraulic fluid along a fluid flow path. The vehicle also includes at least one valve in fluid communication with the at least one lift mechanism, a control system in electronic communication with the at least one valve, and a transceiver in electronic communication with the control system. The control system is operative to receive, via the transceiver, an initiation signal from a remote control unit. Further, the control system is operative to selectively actuate the at least one valve in response to the initiation signal to move the hoist apparatus.

A reel handler system includes a first arm and a second arm. A first member is coupled to the first arm and a second member is coupled to the second arm. A sleeve has the members movably positioned therein. A first bracket has a first link coupled to the first arm and a second link coupled to the sleeve. The links are pivotable relative to one another. A second bracket has a third link coupled to the second arm and a fourth link coupled to the sleeve. The third and fourth links are pivotable relative to one another. The brackets are movable to increase and decrease a distance between the arms from a first configuration in which the first and third links are spaced a first distance apart from the sleeve and a second configuration in which the first and third links are spaced a second distance apart from the sleeve.

A vehicle trailer system for loading, transporting and unloading a load includes a wheeled trailer structure for attachment to a towing vehicle; a carriage mounted for bidirectional travel on the trailer structure; a carriage hitch carried by the carriage, the carriage hitch configured for coupling to the load; a movable, preferably pivotable arm carried by the trailer structure; and an arm actuating cylinder operably engaging the movable arm to selectively position the movable arm in lowered and raised positions. In a first raised position, the movable arm can suspend a cable attached to the load and lift the load when the cable is pulled by a winch. In a second raised position, the movable arm can arrange the cable so that it presents a strong vertical component for lowering the load onto the carriage hitch. When the movable arm is arranged in the lowered position, the carriage can travel over the movable arm as the cable pulls the load onto the trailer structure.