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 lifting and support apparatus having a fully lowered position, a fully extended position and many transitional positions. The lifting and support apparatus includes a base portion with a first leg, a second leg, a third leg and a fourth leg hingedly attached thereto and extending therefrom. The apparatus can also include a first lateral support element that the first and second legs are extending toward and hingedly connected to and a second lateral support element that the third and fourth legs are extending toward and hingedly connected to. The apparatus further includes a lift support portion that has a fifth leg, a sixth leg, a seventh leg and an eighth leg hingedly connected thereto and extending therefrom, the fifth and sixth legs extending to and hingedly connected to the first lateral support element and the seventh and eighth legs extending to and hingedly connected to the second lateral support element. In addition, the apparatus has a drive apparatus and threaded shaft for forcing the first lateral support element and the second lateral support element toward and away from each other, which raises and lowers the lift support portion of the lifting apparatus relative to the base portion. A method of raising or supporting an object with a lifting and support apparatus. The method includes placing the lifting and support apparatus in a desired position relative to the object to be raised and supported. The method also includes actuating the lifting and support apparatus to raise the object to a desired height.

An industrial cart or rack loading/unloading and switcher system and method for operation thereof. The switcher system comprises a base member having a loading end and an operator end; a first carriage for carrying a bin, said first carriage being operatively coupled to said base member and configured to move between said loading end and said operator end; a second carriage for carrying another bin; a bypass mechanism configured to support said second carriage and said other bin; said bypass mechanism being operatively coupled to said base member and configured to move between said loading end and said operator end; said bypass mechanism being further configured to operate in a bypass mode, and in said bypass mode said bypass mechanism being operable to permit movement of said first carriage and said bin between said loading end and said operator end.

A vehicle wash system includes a vehicle treatment area and an overhead frame portion supporting a pair of side brushes. The side brushes are configured to treat the lateral sides of the vehicle and may also treat the front and back of the vehicle. The side brushes are configured to pivot between a vertical position, an outwardly angled position, and inwardly angled position. The side brushes may travel along the side of the vehicle in both the vertical and pivoted orientations. The side brushes may make multiple passes along the side of the vehicle, and the side brushes may change orientation during or between passes to treat different segments of the vehicle. The side brushes may be actively pivoted or may pivot in response to contacting the vehicle when shifted laterally into contact with the vehicle.

A tool robot is for use in construction. The tool robot has a carriage with tracks or wheels for transporting the tool robot; a first adapter connected to the carriage and rotatable around an axis; a structure connected to the first adapter; and an arm connected to the structure. The arm is arranged to hold a tool. An extendable scissors device is connected to the carriage centrically around the axis. The scissors device has steel strings with articulations and a second adapter rotatable around the axis relative to the scissors device.

An apparatus includes a housing, a piston, an input cavity, a first actuating shaft, a first output cavity, and a second output cavity. The housing comprises an input port, a first output port, a second output port, a first end, a second end, a first wide wall having a first internal surface, and a chamber at least partially defined by the first end and the first internal surface. The piston is able to actuate along the first internal surface of the first side wall. The input cavity is in fluid communication with the input port. The first output cavity is in fluid communication with the first output port. The second output cavity is in fluid communication with the second output port. The first actuating shaft is fixed to the piston and helps fluidly isolate the first output port from the second output port.

A lift vehicle comprises a base, a battery arranged within the base, a drive motor powered by the battery and configured to drive a wheel, a scissor lift including a first end coupled to the base and being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, a work platform supported by a second end of the retractable lift, and a linear actuator having a lift motor. The lift motor is powered by the battery, and the linear actuator is coupled to the retractable lift so that rotation of the rotor moves the retractable lift between the extended position and the retracted position. The lift vehicle further includes an electromagnetic brake and a centrifugal brake coupled to the lift motor.

An illustrative example elevator assembly includes a header beam and a first elevator cab supported by the header beam. A plurality of vertically oriented rods extend beneath the first elevator cab. A horizontally oriented mid-beam is coupled to a first one of the rods near a first end of the mid-beam and coupled to a second one of the rods near a second end of the mid-beam. A second elevator cab is situated beneath the first elevator cab and beneath the mid-beam. At least one linear actuator is supported at least partially on the mid-beam. The linear actuator selectively causes vertical movement of the second elevator cab relative to the rods.

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 lift device includes a base including at least two rotatable wheels, a retractable lift assembly, and a coupler. The retractable lift assembly includes a first end coupled to the base and a second end that is movable relative to the base. The coupler is attached to the retractable lift assembly a distance from the first end and is configured to detachably couple the retractable lift assembly to an electro-mechanical device. The coupler includes a first flange, a second flange, a pair of diametrically opposed mounting studs, and a pin. Each one of the pair of mounting studs extends from a respective one of the first flange and the second flange. The pin extends through at least one of the first flange or the second flange below the pair of mounting studs.