A lifting platform with two lifting devices distanced from one another and oriented to a common center axis of the lifting platform, with a working space for lifting/lowering vehicles therebetween. Each lifting device includes a vertically movable carrier. Each carrier receives at least two support arms, respectively pivotably-mounted about a pivot-axis on the carrier, the arms being orientable between a starting position parallel to the center axis to a use position in the working space. Each carrier longitudinal axis is parallel to the center axis, and a straight connecting line extends between the at least two pivot axes of each carrier to be oriented in an acute angle to the carrier longitudinal axis, such that two of the opposite pivot axes arranged to the center axis in a mirror-inverted manner have a greater distance to the center axis than the other at least two pivot axes of the carriers.

A powered side panel system is used in conjunction with a loading bed found on trailers and other flatbed vehicles. The system includes a side panel having a vertical member. The side panel is configured to pivot about a panel axis in communication with the trailer. A lever arm extends between the side panel and the trailer. The system includes a reciprocating assembly to operate the lever arm between a lowered and raised orientation. The reciprocating assembly communicates with the lever arm through a cable. The lever arm controls the rate of radial motion of the side panel about the panel axis. A control unit is configured to regulate the operation of the actuator device.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for moving an item. The apparatus comprises a mounting portion for mounting the apparatus to a surface, a platform configured to receive the item thereon, extendable arms configured to extend away from the mounting portion, wherein the platform is moveable between a storage position above the surface and an accessible position away from the surface, lifting assemblies that join opposing sides of the platform to a respective extendable arm, the lifting assemblies being configured to raise and lower the platform relative to the extendable arms whilst in the accessible position, and a driver operable to raise and lower the platform. At least one of the lifting assemblies comprises three arms, at least one arm being a driven arm that is driven by the driver whereby the platform is raised or lowered, and another are being a stabilising arm that is configured to move synchronously with the driven arm whereby the platform is stabilised.

A multi-functional cargo transfer vehicle and method. The multi-functional cargo transfer vehicle comprises a vehicle body, a cargo conveying rack, a lifting mechanism, and a control system; the vehicle body is located below for providing a platform and support; the cargo conveying rack is located above the vehicle body and includes a plurality of layers for loading and unloading cargoes; the lifting mechanism is located on the outer side of the cargo conveying rack for lifting the cargo conveying rack; the control system is located on the vehicle body for controlling omni-directional driving, accurate butt joint, and automatic loading and unloading of the multi-functional cargo transfer vehicle. Accordingly, a multi-functional cargo transfer vehicle is adopted such that the multi-task functions of loading and unloading, transporting, and conveying of cargoes are simultaneously realized, thereby efficiently completing the transferring process of cargoes from a storage place to a transporting carrier.

A multi-functional cargo transfer vehicle and method. The multi-functional cargo transfer vehicle comprises a vehicle body, a cargo conveying rack, a lifting mechanism, and a control system; the vehicle body is located below for providing a platform and support; the cargo conveying rack is located above the vehicle body and includes a plurality of layers for loading and unloading cargoes; the lifting mechanism is located on the outer side of the cargo conveying rack for lifting the cargo conveying rack; the control system is located on the vehicle body for controlling omni-directional driving, accurate butt joint, and automatic loading and unloading of the multi-functional cargo transfer vehicle. Accordingly, a multi-functional cargo transfer vehicle is adopted such that the multi-task functions of loading and unloading, transporting, and conveying of cargoes are simultaneously realized, thereby efficiently completing the transferring process of cargoes from a storage place to a transporting carrier.

In the context of service and maintenance of heavy road vehicles, apparatus is provided that is configured to engage and support a rack and manoeuvre it into position relative to the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels. The rack has a frame with a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base to pivot between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The apparatus may be expanded and contracted between an expanded configuration, where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration.

In the context of service and maintenance of heavy road vehicles, apparatus is provided that is configured to engage and support a rack and manoeuvre it into position relative to the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels. The rack has a frame with a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base to pivot between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The apparatus may be expanded and contracted between an expanded configuration, where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration.

An apparatus for lifting a vehicle top is disclosed. The apparatus may include a base frame including two or more legs and one or more support structures couplable to the one or more legs at a selected angle. The apparatus may include a body frame including a main support and a lifting arm bracket couplable to the main support. The apparatus may include a lifting arm including a lifting platform couplable to a lifting support and one or more stabilizing linkages couplable to the lifting arm bracket, the lifting arm, and the lifting support. The lifting platform may engage an underside of a vehicle top and maintain an orientation substantially parallel to a ground surface as the lifting arm rotates about an axis through the lifting arm bracket.

A safety latch system includes a mount, a pawl member, a ratchet member, and a release assembly. The mount is mountable on a housing of a piston. The pawl member is coupled to the mount. The pawl member includes a pawl. The ratchet member has a first sidewall that includes a first connecting portion that is connectable to an end portion of a piston rod of the piston. The first sidewall includes a teeth portion, which is configured to engage with the pawl. The release assembly is configured to provide an engaged state between the pawl member and the ratchet member. The release assembly is also configured to provide a disengaged state between the pawl member and the ratchet member. When in the engaged state, the pawl member is engaged with the ratchet member such that the safety latch system is configured to provide (i) an unlocked state in which the ratchet member is movable relative to the pawl member as the piston rod advances outward from the housing and (ii) a locked state in which the pawl member is configured to lock into a depression between adjacent teeth of the ratchet member to stop the piston rod from moving towards the housing. When in the disengaged state, the pawl member is disengaged from the ratchet member to permit the piston rod to advance outward from the housing and permit the piston rod to retract towards the housing.

A safety latch system includes a mount, a pawl member, a ratchet member, and a release assembly. The mount is mountable on a housing of a piston. The pawl member is coupled to the mount. The pawl member includes a pawl. The ratchet member has a first sidewall that includes a first connecting portion that is connectable to an end portion of a piston rod of the piston. The first sidewall includes a teeth portion, which is configured to engage with the pawl. The release assembly is configured to provide an engaged state between the pawl member and the ratchet member. The release assembly is also configured to provide a disengaged state between the pawl member and the ratchet member. When in the engaged state, the pawl member is engaged with the ratchet member such that the safety latch system is configured to provide (i) an unlocked state in which the ratchet member is movable relative to the pawl member as the piston rod advances outward from the housing and (ii) a locked state in which the pawl member is configured to lock into a depression between adjacent teeth of the ratchet member to stop the piston rod from moving towards the housing. When in the disengaged state, the pawl member is disengaged from the ratchet member to permit the piston rod to advance outward from the housing and permit the piston rod to retract towards the housing.