This disclosure is directed toward a heated tailgate for use in cold climates. The heated tailgate may be used with a self-contained heated portable vacuum slurry box. The slurry box generally includes a vacuum tank, a structure attached to the tank, a vertical tailgate, and a hook for pulling the slurry box onto a vehicle. The heated tailgate provides that the slurry cuttings within the slurry box which are adjacent to the tailgate do not freeze and provides for a way in which the tailgate may seal to the vacuum box.

Provided are a tank support jig and a tank cleaning method. The tank support jig for supporting a cylindrical tank includes a curved body having a first end and a second end that face with an interval in between; and a connecting member disposed across the interval, the connecting member connecting the first end and the second end of the curved body such that the interval is adjustable, in which the curved body and the connecting member form an annular structure for the tank that is to be placed horizontally inside the annular structure with the curved body in close contact with at least part of an outer circumferential face of the tank along a circumferential direction of the tank.

A modular shipping container apparatus having a base with two support portions each of having two substantially open top rectangular shaped spaces each having a bottom side, a left side and a right side and at least one set of base holes; at least one wheel assembly between the two substantially open top rectangular shaped spaces, the at least one wheel assembly having a substantially open bottom rectangular piece with at least one set of wheel assembly holes and at least one wheel with a center opening, the wheel assembly is retained between the two substantially open top rectangular shaped spaces by at least one bar through the at least one set of base holes, the at least one set of wheel assembly holes and the wheels; at least two tracks attached to the bottom interior of a shipping container for slidably receiving the at least one wheel assemblies.

A modular shipping container apparatus having a base with two support portions each of having two substantially open top rectangular shaped spaces each having a bottom side, a left side and a right side and at least one set of base holes; at least one wheel assembly between the two substantially open top rectangular shaped spaces, the at least one wheel assembly having a substantially open bottom rectangular piece with at least one set of wheel assembly holes and at least one wheel with a center opening, the wheel assembly is retained between the two substantially open top rectangular shaped spaces by at least one bar through the at least one set of base holes, the at least one set of wheel assembly holes and the wheels; at least two tracks attached to the bottom interior of a shipping container for slidably receiving the at least one wheel assemblies.

A self loading container with specific improvements upon prior art. The aim is to expand self loading from industrial multi mode shipping units to less costly end uses with a range container sizes, shapes and customizations that perform common tasks and that can be self loaded into any size vehicle. Gravitational stability is improved by relocating the main rolling means of container from the bottom of vertically extendable jacks or legs to horizontally extendable support rails directly under container. As such, extendable legs are used only to vertically level container with a receiving surface onto which it can then be horizontally transferred by means of its horizontally extendable support rails. Cost and operating improvements include a simplified coupling mechanism torqued for heavy loads with which front and rear leg extension and retraction can be either in pairs, combined or locked. Operating simplicity, visibility and safety are improved by locating all manipulative tools on the same side of container and within easy reach. Ease of self loading container into vehicles and its safe retention during transport is made possible by retainer rails on an insertable vehicle cargo floor that automatically pivot to encase the container support rails.

A self loading container with specific improvements upon prior art. The aim is to expand self loading from industrial multi mode shipping units to less costly end uses with a range container sizes, shapes and customizations that perform common tasks and that can be self loaded into any size vehicle. Gravitational stability is improved by relocating the main rolling means of container from the bottom of vertically extendable jacks or legs to horizontally extendable support rails directly under container. As such, extendable legs are used only to vertically level container with a receiving surface onto which it can then be horizontally transferred by means of its horizontally extendable support rails. Cost and operating improvements include a simplified coupling mechanism torqued for heavy loads with which front and rear leg extension and retraction can be either in pairs, combined or locked. Operating simplicity, visibility and safety are improved by locating all manipulative tools on the same side of container and within easy reach. Ease of self loading container into vehicles and its safe retention during transport is made possible by retainer rails on an insertable vehicle cargo floor that automatically pivot to encase the container support rails.

A container has a base, sides and a top, the base, sides and top together defining a void within which items can be located in use, an electromagnetic shield fully surrounding at least part of the void to provide an electromagnetic shield between an exterior of the container and items located within the said part of the void, an antenna located within the said part of the void and a signal generator connected to the antenna and operable to apply a signal to the antenna to cause the transmission of an impeding signal within the said part of the void to impede the reception of signals transmitted from locations external to the container by items located within the said part of the void.

A silo system includes a storage chamber, an intake pathway associated with the chamber, and a discharge pathway associated with the chamber. The system further includes one or more material sensors associated with the chamber, a plurality of actuators, and a controller that is communicatively coupled to the one or more material sensors and to the one or more actuators. The plurality of actuators enable a deposit of additional material from a transport container into the chamber through the intake pathway at least partially simultaneous with a discharge of material from the chamber through the discharge pathway into an operational silo. The material sensors provide indications of the amount of bulk material in the chamber and the controller is configured to control the one or more actuators in response to sensor data from the one or more material sensors to provide for deposit of material simultaneous with discharge of material.

A modular mobility base for a modular autonomous bot apparatus transporting an item being shipped including a mobile base platform, a component alignment interface, a mobility controller, a propulsion and steering system, and sensors. The component alignment interface provides an alignment channel into which another modular component can be placed and secured on the platform. The mobility controller generates propulsion control signals for controlling speed of the modular mobility base and steering control signals for navigation of the modular mobility base. The propulsion system is connected to the platform and responsive to the propulsion control signal. The steering system is connected to the mobile base platform and is responsive to the steering control signal to cause changes to directional movement of the modular mobility base. The sensors are disposed on the platform provide feedback sensor data to the mobility controller about a condition of the modular mobility base.

A detachable modular mobile autonomy module (MAM) for a modular autonomous bot apparatus includes a housing with latching points, an autonomous controller, location circuitry, external sensors monitoring an environment external to the MAM and providing sensor data to the controller, multi-element light panels on the housing driven by the controller; and a modular component power and data bus. The bus has a bottom side modular component electronics interface disposed on the housing that mates to a corresponding interface on another proximately-attached modular component of the bot. The MAM receives sensor data from the external sensors, receives outside sensor data from additional sensors disposed on a mobility unit of the bot, generates steering and propulsion control output signals based on location data from the location circuitry, external sensor data, mobility unit sensor data, and destination information data maintained by the controller, and generates transport and delivery information for the light panels.