A transportation apparatus is described herein that comprises a lifting apparatus having a support structure, a base portion and a scissor-lift device disposed between the support structure and the base portion. The scissor-lift device having a first arm having a first end and a second end pivotally connected to a second arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first arm is hingedly connected to the base portion and the second end of the first arm is slidably engaged with the support structure. Similarly, the first end of the second arm is slidably engaged with the base portion and the second end of the second arm is hingedly connected to the support structure. A method of raising centrifuge equipment to a desired height via the lifting apparatus is also described herein.

A safety barrier for a loading dock lift that includes a lift platform that can be raised and lowered. The safety barrier includes a sleeve attached to the lift platform extending along a vertical axis. The sleeve includes guides to define open and closed positions of said gate and said shaft includes a pin that interacts with the guides to produce rotation of said gate between open and closed positions. Consequently each embodiment gate automatically closes due to gravity whenever the lift is raised off the ground and thereby assures that that gates are locked in position when the lift platform has been raised a short distance.

A battery block moving assembly for handling and a manipulation with a battery block is described. The battery block moving assembly includes a trolley, a platform, a lift mechanism and a battery block moving mechanism. The battery block moving mechanism includes a pin and a horizontal pin moving mechanism configured to move the pin. The pin is configured to engage and move a battery block.

This invention details a portable Vertical Platform Lift. This Portable Vertical Platform Lift (PVPL) is specifically designed to be transported and set up by a single individual and be used by a disabled person needing to enter a building or structure that is at a height of approximately two to three steps. The device is also useful for material handlers. This design has three key enablers. The first key enabler and most critical to the design is a two-stage lift mechanism. The first stage provides considerable leverage albeit at a slower lift speed to initially raise the platform from a low-profile position. The low-profile position is necessary for ease of ingress onto or egress off of the lift platform. The second stage provides increased vertical lift speed to the desired top position. The second key enabler is the light-weight design. The third key enabler is the compact design.

A deployable support surface for a vehicle storage area having an opening defined by an edge includes a support member including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the support member. The adjustment mechanism selectively raises the first surface to the edge of the opening.

A vehicle coupling system includes a first vehicle, a second vehicle, and a tow bar. The first vehicle includes a drive motor configured to propel the first vehicle and a lifting implement configured to support a product for movement. The second vehicle includes a lifting implement configured to support the product for movement. The tow bar is coupled to the first vehicle at a first end of the tow bar and coupled to the second vehicle at a second end of the tow bar opposite the first end. Responsive to the drive motor propelling the first vehicle, the tow bar exerts a force on the second vehicle to maintain a space between the second vehicle and the first vehicle.

A vehicle includes a chassis, a frame, a tractive element, a drive motor, and a cart interface. The cart interface includes a base frame coupled to the frame assembly of the vehicle, and a first and second pin assembly. The first and second pin assembly each include first pin configured to engage a cart and a actuator configured to raise the pin relative to the frame. The first pin assembly also includes a first linear actuator configured to bias the first pin relative to the first linear actuator and to permit relative movement between the first pin and first linear actuator. The cart interface includes a first actuator to reposition the first pin independently of the second pin and is configured to hold the pin in either of a lowered position, a raised position above a lowered position and an intermediate position between the raised and lowered positions.

A vehicle includes a frame, a drivetrain coupled to the frame, a base assembly coupled to the frame, and a lifting implement coupled to and supported on the base assembly. The lifting implement includes a platform, a cradle rotatably coupled to and supported on the platform so that the cradle, a scissor assembly coupled between the platform and the base assembly, and a lift actuator coupled between the base assembly and the scissor assembly. The lift actuator is configured to selectively raise the cradle relative to the base assembly. The lift actuator is a multi-stage telescoping actuator that includes a base stage, an intermediate stage, and an outer stage. The base stage is coupled to the base assembly, the outer stage is coupled to the scissor assembly, and the intermediate stage is arranged between the base stage and the outer stage.

A cart includes a chassis including one or more frame members, one or more casters, a first channel and a second channel coupled to the chassis, the first channel defining a longitudinal axis and the second channel defining a lateral axis. The first channel and the second channel each include a pair of guides each including a first portion and a second portion and a flat member coupling the guide to the frame members. The first portions extend substantially parallel to one another. The second portions are angled to increase a distance between the second portions as the second portions extend away from the first portions.

A vehicle system includes a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The first vehicle includes a first drive motor configured to drive one or more of a first plurality of tractive elements to propel the first vehicle, and a first cradle configured to support a product at a first end thereof for movement. The second vehicle includes a second drive motor configured to drive one or more of a second plurality of tractive elements to propel the second vehicle, and a second cradle configured to support the product at a second end thereof for movement. The first vehicle and the second vehicle move the product via at least one of the first drive motor or the second drive motor.