Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a stack structure, a staircase structure, conductive pad structures, and conductive contact structures. The stack structure includes vertically alternating conductive structures and insulating structures arranged in tiers. Each of the tiers individually includes one of the conductive structures and one of the insulating structures. The staircase structure has steps made up of edges of at least some of the tiers of the stack structure. The conductive pad structures are on the steps of the staircase structure and include beta phase tungsten. The conductive contact structures are on the conductive pad structures. Memory devices, electronic systems, and methods of forming microelectronic devices are also described.

Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis where the body assembly defines a refuse compartment, and a lift assembly pivotably coupled to the body assembly. The lift assembly includes a first lift arm, a second lift arm, a pin having a first end coupled to the first lift arm and an opposing second end coupled to the second lift arm, a pair of forks pivotably coupled to the first lift arm and the second lift arm, an electric lift actuator coupled to the pin, and an electric fork actuator coupled to the pair of forks. The electric lift actuator is configured to rotate the pin to lift the first lift arm and the second lift arm. The electric fork actuator is configured to pivot the pair of forks relative to the first lift arm and the second lift arm.

Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body assembly, and a tailgate. The body assembly is coupled to the chassis and defines a refuse compartment configured to store refuse material. The tailgate comprises a refuse receiving portion, a thresher assembly, and an electrically driven actuation mechanism. The refuse receiving portion is configured to receive refuse material. The thresher assembly includes a compaction thresher including a plurality of tines and a plurality of tine springs configured to bias the plurality of tines in a direction of compaction. The plurality of tine springs are each disposed around a corresponding tine of the plurality of tines. The electrically driven actuation mechanism is configured to selectively actuate the thresher assembly.

Abstract: Electronic devices (e.g., semiconductor devices, which may be configured for 3D NAND memory devices), comprise pillars extending through a stack of alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers. The conductive tiers, which may include control gates for access lines (e.g., word lines), include conductive rails along an outer sidewall of the conductive tiers, distal from the pillars extending through the conductive tiers. The conductive rails protrude laterally beyond outer sidewalls of the insulative tiers. The conductive rails increase the amount of conductive material that may otherwise be in the conductive tiers, which may enable the conductive material to exhibit a lower electrical resistance, improving operational performance of the electronic devices.

Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, an energy storage device supported by the chassis and configured to provide electrical power to a prime mover, wherein activation of the prime mover selectively drives the refuse vehicle, a body for storing refuse therein supported by the chassis, a first hydraulic pump configured to convert electrical power into hydraulic power, a second first hydraulic pump configured to convert electrical power into hydraulic power, and a motor coupled to at least one of the body or the chassis and configured to drive the first hydraulic pump and drive the second hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A refuse vehicle comprises a chassis, a body assembly, a battery system, and a side-loading lift assembly. The body assembly is coupled to the chassis and defines a refuse compartment configured to store refuse material. The battery system is configured to be charged via at least one of an on-board electrical energy generator, an external power source, or a power regenerative braking system. The side-loading lift assembly comprises a refuse container engagement mechanism and at least one electrically-driven actuation mechanism. The refuse container engagement mechanism is configured to selectively engage a refuse container. The at least one electrically-driven actuation mechanism is powered by the battery system and is configured to selectively actuate the side-loading lift assembly between an extended position, a retracted position, and a refuse-dumping position.

Abstract: A frame corner joint includes first and second frame rails having hollow interiors of predetermined contours and ends in mitered abutment. A corner key has legs inserted into the mitered ends of the frame rails. End portions of the legs substantially fill the hollow interiors of the frame rails forming a substantially closed cavity within the frame rails and between the end portions of the corner key legs. Solidified resin foam is disposed within this cavity rigidifying the corner joint, while the remainder of the interiors of the frame rails preferably is substantially free of solidified foam. At least one end portion of at least one leg of the corner key preferably has a flexible wall portion to permit escape of foam from within the cavity in the event of excess foam pressure. The hollow interiors of the frame rails preferably are mirror images of each other, and the legs of the corner key, including the end portions of the legs, preferably are mirror images of each other.

Abstract: A towing apparatus capable of moving aircraft and other workpieces about an airfield or other workspace. The present invention includes a first frame which is rotatable relative to a second frame about a common substantially vertical axis. A wheel assembly is positioned within the first frame and driven by a motor which is also mounted on the first frame. A gripper assembly for engaging the aircraft or other workpiece is attached to the second frame. In this manner, the present invention provides for a towing of aircraft or other workpieces along an axis which is proximate the axis of the wheel assembly. Additionally, it provides for a low center of gravity significantly enhancing the stability and maneuverability of the present invention in a towing attitude or a non-towing attitude.

Abstract: A towing apparatus is disclosed capable of moving aircraft and other workpieces about an airfield or other workspace. The present invention includes a first frame which is rotatable relative to a second frame about a common substantially vertical axis. A wheel assembly is positioned within the first frame and driven by a motor which is also mounted on the first frame. A gripper assembly for engaging the aircraft or other workpiece is attached to the second frame. In this manner, the present invention provides for the towing of aircraft or other workpieces along an axis which is proximate the axis of the wheel assembly. Additionally, it provides for a low center of gravity significantly enhancing the stability and maneuverability of the present invention in a towing attitude or a non-towing attitude.

Abstract: A towing apparatus capable of moving aircraft and other workpieces about an airfield or other workspace. The present invention includes a first frame which is rotatable relative to a second frame about a common substantially vertical axis. A wheel assembly is positioned within the first frame and driven by a motor which is also mounted on the first frame. A gripper assembly for engaging the aircraft or other workpiece is attached to the second frame. In this manner, the present invention provides for the towing of aircraft or other workpieces along an axis which is proximate the axis of the wheel assembly. Additionally, it provides for a low center of gravity significantly enhancing the stability and maneuverability of the present invention in a towing attitude or a non-towing attitude.

Abstract: A towing apparatus is disclosed capable of moving aircraft and other workpieces about an airfield or other workspace. The present invention includes a first frame which is rotatable relative to a second frame about a common substantially vertical axis. A wheel assembly is positioned within the first frame and driven by a motor which is also mounted on the first frame. A gripper assembly for engaging the aircraft or other workpiece is attached to the second frame. In this manner, the present invention provides for the towing of aircraft or other workpieces along an axis which is proximate the axis of the wheel assembly. Additionally, it provides for a low center of gravity significantly enhancing the stability and maneuverability of the present invention in a towing attitude or a non-towing attitude.

Abstract: A composite article comprising of a non-metallic composite core, a fluoroelastomer adhesive layer which has a curing temperature substantially similar to the composite core, and a metallic structure which overlays the fluoroelastomer adhesive layer, wherein the composite article can be formed by co-curing the core and the fluoroelastomer adhesive layer.

Abstract: The present invention related to a method for providing a composite structure and the composite structure formed thereby. The method broadly comprises the steps of: providing a core structure formed from a non-metallic composite material in a substantially uncured state; applying a fluoroelastomer film in a substantially uncured state over surface portions of said core structure; placing a metallic structure over a portion of said core structure, said metallic structure having inner surfaces which contacts said fluoroelastomer film; and molding said composite structure under conditions of heat and pressure for a time sufficient to co-cure said fluoroelastomer film and said non-metallic core structure material and to form a bond between said fluoroelastomer film and said inner surfaces of said metallic structure. The method of the present invention may be used to manufacture original metal/composite structures as well as to refurbish metal/composite structures such as fan exit guide vanes for jet engines.

Abstract: Alternate ones of the charge transfer stages in the CCD output register of a solid-state imager are loaded with charge packets descriptive of the intensities of respective image elements. The intervening charge transfer stages are loaded with charge packets descriptive of a reference level. Subsequently, the CCD output register is operated as a shift register to serially supply charge packets to an electrometer. Successive samples of the electrometer response are differentially combined to obtain an output signal with undesired components suppressed therein.