The disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for enabling lift cylinders within rail-type liftgates to perform both lifting and closing motions.

A load platform configured for use as part of a tail lift on a vehicle is described, which includes a protector device in the form of a flexible sheet that is configurable, when the load platform is attached to a vehicle, to cover a gap between the tail lift and the vehicle. The protector device at a first end is anchored to the load platform by an elasticated fixing arrangement and at a second end is configured for attachment to a supporting structure of the tail lift or to a part of the vehicle to which the tail lift is attached. The protector device is oriented to cover a gap between the rear of the tail lift and the vehicle in a first position, and to occupy a plane substantially parallel to a main plane of the load platform in a second position.

A parcel delivery vehicle includes a door opening provided in a left side part of a vehicle, a parcel storage compartment provided inside the vehicle to store a parcel, and a parcel handling device configured to convey the parcel between a first delivery reception position and a second delivery reception position and receive the parcel from the parcel storage compartment at the first delivery reception position and transfer the parcel to a worker or an unmanned transport device at the second delivery reception position. The parcel storage compartment is provided on a front side and/or a rear side of the parcel handling device in the vehicle. The parcel handling device is provided in a vicinity of a right side part and at a position facing the door opening in a vehicle width direction, and the second delivery reception position is set between the parcel handling device and the door opening.

A vehicle, cargo transfer device of the vehicle and a method of transferring a package between a vehicle to a delivery platform. A lift platform is extended from a floor of the vehicle via a support structure. The package is moved to the lift platform from one of the floor and the delivery platform. The lift platform is rotated via a turntable through a rotation angle. The support structure supports the turntable and the lift platform. The package is moved from the lift platform to the other of the floor and the delivery platform.

A liftgate in accordance with the present disclosure includes a lift mechanism and a moveable load platform. The load platform includes a proximal deck section, a distal deck section, and a center deck section positioned between the proximal deck section and the distal deck section. The load platform is selectively vertically movable between a lowered position and a raised position. The proximal deck section, center deck section, and distal deck section are pivotally coupled to one another such that the load platform is selectively moveable between an extended-operational position, wherein all of the deck sections are located substantially coplanar with one another for supporting cargo, and a retracted-stored position wherein the deck sections are folded with respect to one another and are located substantially parallel and adjacent to one another.

An autonomous cargo loading or unloading system for a delivery vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a storage compartment having at least a two high by two wide array of compartment portions that store associated cargo received from or delivered through an opening to the storage compartment. A conveyor is located in each compartment portion and the conveyor configured to assist in the delivery or receipt of the associated cargo from or into the compartment portion. A lift assembly is movably mounted to the storage compartment and configured to receive associated cargo from a compartment portion, the lift assembly including a lift assembly conveyor that receives associated cargo from or delivers associated cargo to a compartment portion. The platform can move vertically up and down, and side to side relative to the storage compartment.

A lift raises and lowers a boat to load and unload the boat onto a roof of or a roof rack on a vehicle. The lift has an upper frame having a longitudinal axis, a lower frame having a longitudinal axis, and a linkage connecting the upper frame to the lower frame. In a first position the linkage is extended and the lift is raised and in a second position the linkage is retracted and the lift is lowered. At least one lift rack extends from or is part of the upper frame. The lift rack is adapted to support a boat at least vertically such that in the extended linkage first position a boat may be slid in a longitudinal direction between the lift rack and the roof or the roof rack of the vehicle. A method for using the lift is also disclosed.

A liftgate in accordance with the present disclosure includes a lift mechanism and a moveable load platform. The load platform includes a proximal deck section, a distal deck section, and a center deck section positioned between the proximal deck section and the distal deck section. The load platform is selectively vertically movable between a lowered position and a raised position. The proximal deck section, center deck section, and distal deck section are pivotally coupled to one another such that the load platform is selectively moveable between an extended-operational position, wherein all of the deck sections are located substantially coplanar with one another for supporting cargo, and a retracted-stored position wherein the deck sections are folded with respect to one another and are located substantially parallel and adjacent to one another.

A fully-electric lift assembly for a refuse vehicle includes a track, a carrier, and a push chain. The track includes multiple channels that extend along an entire length of a path of the track. The carrier is configured to translate along the path of the track. The carrier includes multiple slidable members, each slidable member configured to engage the track at a corresponding one of the channels. The push chain is configured to couple with the carrier at a first end and be driven by an electric motor. The push chain is configured to exert a pushing force on the carrier to drive the carrier to ascend along the track.

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, multiple tractive elements, a reach assembly, and a fully-electric lift assembly. The multiple tractive elements are coupled with the chassis and support the refuse vehicle. The reach assembly is coupled with the refuse vehicle. The fully-electric lift assembly is coupled with the reach assembly and includes a track, a carrier assembly, an electric motor, and a drive member. The track includes a straight portion and a curved portion. The track includes multiple channels that extend along an entire length of a path of the track and multiple engagement members. The carrier assembly is configured to move along the path of the track. The electric motor is fixedly coupled with the carrier assembly and drives a driveshaft. The drive member is rotatably fixedly coupled with the driveshaft and engages the multiple engagement members to drive the carrier assembly to ascend or descend along the track.