Apparatus for installing a solar panel array in parallel rows on panel support structure, as for solar farms, including a lift-and-place vehicle with characterizing features for moving between and along rows of support structure. Such vehicle includes a driven ground-engaging base, a lifting mast extending upwardly and in a fore/aft direction to define a panel-loading space therebeneath, a liftable trolley beam secured to the mast over the panel-loading space and extending laterally between adjacent rows, a traversing trolley movable along the beam, and a panel-placing carrier suspended from the trolley for up/down and lateral movement of carried panels. A panel-pallet vehicle is hitched to the lift-and-place vehicle, extends under the panel-loading space, and has a pallet carrier adjacent to the panel-loading space. Preferred embodiments include telescoping, tilting and angle adjustment of the mast, and the panel-placing carrier has panel supports movable between panel supporting and releasing orientations, and wireless control.

A lifter device includes a pole, a lifting member guided by the pole, a motor that generates power used for ascending and descending of the lifting member, a controller that controls the motor, a case that is fixed to at least a portion of the pole and accommodates the motor and the controller, a transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the motor to the lifting member, and a battery mounting portion that is provided on the case and to which a battery pack is mouted to supply power to the motor.

A battery transfer device having a base, a plurality of multidirectional rollers coupled to the base, and a winch coupled to the base. Each of the rollers is configured to rotate about at least a first axis and a second axis that is positioned at an angle with respect to the first axis. The winch has a cable or rope configured for coupling to a battery, and the winch is operable to pull the battery across the rollers. Guides may be removably coupled to the base adjacent one or both sides of the base. A method of using the battery transfer device to remove a battery from a battery rack or install a battery in a battery rack.

An improved cart and pallet system and an improved compactly stackable pallet for use in the system are disclosed. The improved pallet has a central support extending beneath the pallet with channels on either side of the support. The support and channels are engaged by a ledged, generally U-shaped deck of a cart or pallet truck of the application.

A system for assembling a plurality of pre-fabricated components to form a structure comprising: a first lifting device for transporting at least one pre-fabricated component from a source to a designated site; a second lifting device for engaging the at least one pre-fabricated component at the designated site; wherein the second lifting device comprises an engagement means to engage a portion of the at least one pre-fabricated component for installation at the designated site, and wherein the engagement means is capable of moving the engaged pre-fabricated component in at least two degrees of motion, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the engagement means comprises a plurality of locks.

A mobile lift column (200) is configured to automatically position itself with respect to a vehicle (112) to be lifted. A proximity and object sensor is used to identify a location of a vehicle and navigate obstructions while advancing to the vehicle. The column includes a set of automatically driven Mecanum wheels (222, 224) that can be variably controlled to provide precise movement in any direction without rotating the column. A camera (244) positioned on the column identifies a wheel of the vehicle, and an alignment beam is projected onto the wheel to verify centering on the wheel. Once positioned, the column may operate one of several lift members, including a pair of removable fork adapters (216, 218), to extend underneath the vehicle and contact the vehicle lifting points. With at least two columns properly positioned, each mobile column can simultaneously raise its lift member(s) to lift the vehicle to a desired height.

A swivel base is provided on a trolley so as to be able to swivel around a vertical axis, and a fork can be slid in a horizontal direction between an advanced position and a retracted position by a sliding mechanism capable of moving up and down along a pillar erected on the swivel base. Thus, it is possible to realize a configuration in which an empty-box skid is loaded in one direction and unloaded in another direction by means of the swiveling swivel base, without employing a configuration in which a plurality of members is supported so as to be able to swivel around different vertical axes. A movable range of the sliding mechanism (a movable range of the fork) in a vertical direction is therefore not significantly limited, and a transfer position of the empty-box skid in the vertical direction can be set to a lower position.

A conveyance apparatus according to an embodiment includes a fork unit, a lift unit, a movable cart unit, an auxiliary leg, and a distal end support mechanism. The lift unit is configured to drive the fork unit upward and downward. The movable cart unit is configured to support the lift unit and be movable on a traveling surface by driving a drive wheel. The auxiliary leg unit is provided for the movable cart unit, and is movable along a longitudinal direction of the fork unit and having an auxiliary wheel a position of which is changeable relative to the movable cart unit. The distal end support mechanism is provided on a distal end side of the fork unit and is switchable between a non-contact state with the traveling surface and a contact state with the traveling surface.

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.

A conveyance apparatus according to an embodiment includes a fork unit, a lift unit, a movable cart unit, an auxiliary leg, and a distal end support mechanism. The lift unit is configured to drive the fork unit upward and downward. The movable cart unit is configured to support the lift unit and be movable on a traveling surface by driving a drive wheel. The auxiliary leg unit is provided for the movable cart unit, and is movable along a longitudinal direction of the fork unit and having an auxiliary wheel a position of which is changeable relative to the movable cart unit. The distal end support mechanism is provided on a distal end side of the fork unit and is switchable between a non-contact state with the traveling surface and a contact state with the traveling surface.