Abstract: A tonneau cover comprising: (a) a plurality of panels; (b) one or more hinges between each panel of the plurality of panels so that the plurality of panels are rotatably connected together, wherein some or all of the one or more hinges include: (i) a plurality of expansion links that are movably interconnected together, some of the plurality of expansion links including: (1) one or more expansion projections; (2) one or more pockets that receive all or a portion of the one or more expansion projections from an adjacent one of the plurality of expansion links; and (3) one or more expansion stops that restricts movement of the one or more expansion projections from the adjacent one of plurality of the expansion links that extend within the one or more pockets; wherein the one or more hinges rotate so that the one or more hinges form of angle of about 90 degrees or more and about 225 degrees or less.

Abstract: An arm assembly for a cover system includes a force mechanism associated within a hollow arm of the assembly that includes a resiliently compressible element, such as a compression spring or gas spring, connected to one end of a cable. The opposite end of the cable is fastened to a non-circular pulley mounted to the container body, so that the cable is wound around the pulley as the arm pivots relative to the container body. As the arm pivots in a stowed direction, energy is stored by the compressible element, and releasing the stored energy causes the arm to pivot toward an extended or deployed position.

Abstract: A tarp deploying apparatus includes radial arm with a proximal radial arm and a distal arm. The distal arm is formed from a flexible material such as a double-walled hydraulic hose. The distal arm attaches to a tarp roller to deploy the tarp over a storage area on a trailer with at least one rear door. The radial arm is mounted on a mounting bracket secured to one of the doors. A releasable connector between the arms permits the distal arm to be separated from the proximal arm so that the rear doors on the trailer can be opened and closed without interference from the radial arm.

Abstract: A drive chain element for operably connecting a slat of a roll top cover to a drive rail enables more efficient roll top cover operation. The drive chain element includes: an elongate body that defines a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, an inner side of the elongate body configured for engaging an end portion of the slat; first and second hinge elements disposed at the respective first and second ends of the body, the first and second hinge elements configured to define a hinge arrangement between adjacent drive chain elements that facilitates relative pivotal movement therebetween; and first and second pins disposed in a spaced arrangement along an outer side of the body and extending outwardly therefrom; wherein the first and second pins are configured for operably contacting a drive system during operation of the roll top cover.

Abstract: A side rail for a cargo bed of a vehicle comprising an elongate body that defines a longitudinal axis; an axially extending drive channel disposed at a medial side of the body and defining an opening therein for receiving a drive chain, the drive channel having a recessed inner portion and a stepped outer portion adjacent the opening; a first receiving channel disposed within an upper wall of the outer portion of the drive channel and extending axially therealong; a first sealing member disposed within the first receiving channel; a second receiving channel disposed opposite the first receiving channel within a lower wall of the outer portion of the drive channel and extending axially therealong; and a guide element disposed within the second receiving channel and projecting upwardly therefrom, the guide element having an upper contact surface for slidably contacting a surface of the drive chain.

Abstract: A motor vehicle including a rear bumper and a front bumper, and a protective tarpaulin system having a flexible tarpaulin for covering the vehicle and a rear shaft that is installed at the rear bumper, the tarpaulin being windable around the rear shaft. The vehicle is fitted with two longitudinal sheaths a longitudinal slot, a slider being received in each longitudinal sheath and being connected via a traction cable both to a front shaft and to a rear shaft, so that rotating the shafts causes the traction cable to be wound and unwound, thereby moving the slider in the longitudinal sheath, which slider entrains the tarpaulin that is connected to the slider.

Abstract: An apparatus for extending and retracting a cover over a bed of a vehicle transporting material therein. The apparatus comprises an arm assembly, a motor and a tarp reel for rolling and unrolling a tarp to uncover and cover the vehicle bed. To improve tarp tensioning, rollers are provided on a bracket in which the reel seats when the tarp is unrolled. Locations of sliding friction found in known designs are avoided and replaced with rolling friction. Rolling friction is significantly less than sliding friction and thus greater levels of motor output torque can be incorporated into stretching the tarp tighter before the motor is shut off. At this point of the covering operation, the vehicle bed is covered and the tarp held taut. The bracket may also be configured to provide a braking effect to the reel to assist in holding the tarp in tension.

Abstract: A tonneau system that includes tonneau cover and a canister. The canister includes one or more tracks for guiding the tonneau cover within the canister during movement of the tonneau cover into the canister; and a retraction system including: a drive roller; one or more lines connecting the drive roller to the tonneau cover; a bias member that moves the drive roller and the one or more lines to assist in moving the tonneau cover into the canister, and a tensioner.

Abstract: An end cap for a roller tonneau cover of a truck includes, among other things, an end portion having a primary sliding surface and a first interlocking feature that provides an interface between the end cap and a slat of the tonneau cover, a tooth portion including teeth for engaging with a pinion gear, and a connection portion between the end portion and the tooth portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for covering an open top of a transportation trailer container includes a frame on top of the container. The frame surrounds an aperture for flow of material into the container. The apparatus also includes an arm pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The arm holds a rotatable roller for dispensing and receiving a flexible cover. The flexible cover is wrapped around the roller when the arm is in the open position. The flexible cover is unrolled from the roller to cover the aperture due to motion of the arm from the open position to the closed position. The frame includes a side portion having an inwardly and upwardly tapered outer surface. The roller contacts the outer surface when the arm is in the closed position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system, comprising: a control system; a pivot arm assembly, the pivot arm assembly comprising plural arms joined by a transverse arm; and plural electromagnetic assemblies, each comprising an electromagnetic device, wherein the control system is configured to selectively activate each electromagnetic device when the plural arms are in contact with the plural electromagnetic assemblies to magnetically constrain movement of the plural arms relative to the plural electromagnetic assemblies.

Abstract: An arm assembly for a cover system includes a force mechanism contained within a hollow arm of the assembly that includes a resiliently compressible element, such as a compression spring, with a cable or wire extending through the element. The cable is fastened at one end to an end cap that bears against one end of the compression spring. The opposite end of the cable is fastened to a base mounted to the container body. The base includes a pulley about which the cable is wound as the arm pivots relative to the base. As the arm pivots and the cable winds about the pulley, the end cap bears against the spring to compress the spring.

Abstract: The present invention is a protective cover arrangement for a vehicle. The protective cover arrangement includes a housing and a cover cartridge positioned inside the housing. The housing is installed substantially in a middle of a roof of the vehicle. The cover cartridge includes two coiled-up rolls, namely a first roll including a cover sheet and a second roll including a cover sheet. When the cover sheets are pulled out, it causes the corresponding first roll and the second roll to unroll from spiral configuration to be disposed in deployed configuration, thus covering the vehicle. The cover sheets are rolled back into the corresponding rolls to dispose the protective cover arrangement in retracted configuration.

Abstract: A dual action truck cover provides two modes, actions or ways to access contents in a truck bed. Side rails can be mountable to a cargo box so as to be pivotable between a raised position to provide a rear opening in an open pivot arrangement, and a lowered or closed pivot arrangement. The side rails can be spaced apart to define an inter-rail area therebetween. A door can include a plurality of elements hingedly coupled together and extending between the side rails and movable between a closed door arrangement wherein the elements cover the inter-rail area, and an open door arrangement in which the elements are positioned to permit access through the inter-rail area. The door can move between the open and closed arrangements by rolling up the hingedly coupled elements together or folding the elements together.

Abstract: A drive assembly mounted on a pivot arm for a cover system having a cover supported on an axle for the cover to be wound and unwound, the drive assembly including a housing, a drive motor including a hypoid pinion gear in meshed engagement with a hypoid ring gear, a transfer gear engaged to the hypoid ring gear for rotation therewith, an output gear in meshed engagement with the transfer gear, and an output shaft engaged to the output gear for rotation therewith, the output shaft engaged to the axle to transmit rotation from the drive assembly to the axle. The hypoid ring gear, the transfer gear and the output gear are sized and arranged so that the output gear overlaps the hypoid ring gear, and so that the hypoid pinion gear and the output gear are on the same side of the hypoid ring gear and laterally overlap each other.

Abstract: A container covering deployment system includes a covering deployment device and a pair of worm drive mechanisms. The covering deployment device has a pair of ends pivotally mounted adjacent to opposite sides of a load bed so as to undergo pivotal movement about a transverse axis extending between the opposite sides. Each worm drive mechanism is mounted adjacent to and drivingly coupled with one of the pivotally mounted ends of the covering deployment device so that the worm drive mechanisms are operable to translate rotational drive input motion about respective longitudinal axes extending along the opposite sides and between opposite ends of the load bed into rotational driven output motion about the transverse axis to thereby pivotally actuate the covering deployment device to either draw or withdraw the covering over or from an open-top container on the load bed.

Abstract: An apparatus for covering an open top of a transportation trailer container, such as a chip train carrying wood chips, is provided. A flexible cover (e.g., tarp) is deployed and retracted using a roller moved overtop of the container using pivotable arms. A recessed region houses the base of the arm and associated components. A secondary cover covers the recessed region and is biased toward a cover closed position. An actuating surface associated with the arm pushes the secondary cover to a cover open position. Other features include inwardly angled container sides, a foam sealing member integral with the flexible cover, the secondary cover closing when the flexible cover is both fully opened and fully closed, channels between the recessed region and the container, narrow and/or sloped surfaces, and a retaining hook for capturing a roller connected to the arm.

Abstract: A drive assembly mounted on a pivot arm for a cover system having a cover supported on an axle for the cover to be wound and unwound, the drive assembly including a housing, a drive motor including a hypoid pinion gear in meshed engagement with a hypoid ring gear, a transfer gear engaged to the hypoid ring gear for rotation therewith, an output gear in meshed engagement with the transfer gear, and an output shaft engaged to the output gear for rotation therewith, the output shaft engaged to the axle to transmit rotation from the drive assembly to the axle. The hypoid ring gear, the transfer gear and the output gear are sized and arranged so that the output gear overlaps the hypoid ring gear, and so that the hypoid pinion gear and the output gear are on the same side of the hypoid ring gear and laterally overlap each other.

Abstract: A railcar has a pair of sidewalls, a cover, a take up spool, and a motor. The take up spool may store panels of the cover, and the motor moves the cover between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A retractable trailer enclosure system includes a flexible cover, rotatable winding spindle moveable by way of a spindle guide assembly. The spindle guide assembly includes a drive assembly actuable to rotate the spindle, a shuttle assembly mounting a spindle end and a guide track assembly which guides the shuttle assembly in reciprocal movement along both a vertical cover deployment/retraction path, and laterally along a spindle storage path.

Abstract: A tarp deploying apparatus for use on a trailer includes a fiberglass tarp roller. The fiberglass tarp roller is constructed from two fiberglass tubes. A splined joint is used to join the two tubes together. Each end of the tarp roller also includes a female socket with grooves to engage splines on a motor shaft that drives the tarp roller or to connect the roller tube to a universal joint. A pin or bolt may also be used at the splined joint to securely hold the tarp roller together without the need for a welding operation.

Abstract: A vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck. The cargo bed of the pickup truck is defined by a pair of side walls having tops, respectively, and a tailgate to access the cargo bed of the pickup truck. The top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a pair of ends. Each end of the top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a through bore therein. The vented tonneau covering includes netting that covers the cargo bed of the pickup truck, and an apparatus that holds down the netting over the cargo bed of the pickup truck.

Abstract: A retractable canopy assembly for mounting to a truck rack to provide shade to a bed of a truck is provided. The retractable canopy assembly comprises a housing sized to fit within a footprint of the truck rack mounted to a vehicle. The housing comprises a mount for mounting to a lower plane portion of the truck rack such that the mounting of the housing does not interfere with a load on an upper plane portion of the truck rack. In addition, a canopy is retractably stowed in the housing, the canopy less than a width of the footprint of the truck rack such that the canopy can be deployed and retracted without interfering with the load on the truck rack, the deployed canopy providing shade to the bed of the truck.

Abstract: An arm assembly for a cover system includes a force mechanism contained within a hollow arm of the assembly that includes a resiliently compressible element, such as a compression spring, with a cable or wire extending through the element. The cable is fastened at one end to an end cap that bears against one end of the compression spring. The opposite end of the cable is fastened to a base mounted to the container body. The base includes a pulley about which the cable is wound as the arm pivots relative to the base. As the arm pivots and the cable winds about the pulley, the end cap bears against the spring to compress the spring.

Abstract: A cover system includes a flexible cover, a pair of bail arms connected to one end of said flexible cover, and a corresponding pivot mechanism for pivotably supporting each bail arm. Each pivot mechanism is mounted on a corresponding gliding assembly, and each gliding assembly includes a pair of oppositely disposed rails fixedly mounted to the frame of the vehicle, a gliding body slidably supported on the pair of rails, and a cylinder supporting the gliding body and slidably supported on a rod assembly. The rod assembly includes a pair of collinearly disposed rods, coupled together by a piston element, the piston element defining opposite fluid paths for a pressurizing fluid conveyed under pressure to the cylinder. A fluid circuit is configured to selectively supply pressurized fluid to each cylinder through the pair of rods to move the cylinder, and therefore the gliding body and bails arms supported thereon, in one of two opposite directions along the length of the vehicle frame.

Abstract: The vehicle sunshade is adapted for use as a sunshade within a vehicle. The vehicle sunshade is a retractable shade that is mounted in the vehicle where front windshield meets the roof of the vehicle. The shade contained on the retractable shade is adapted to fit around the rearview mirror mounted on the windshield of the vehicle and to extend laterally to partially block sunlight from passing through the front windows. The vehicle sunshade comprises a roller, a shade, a first clip, and a second clip.

Abstract: A retractable cover system includes a frame that provides an opening and a drive system. A flexible cover is configured to slide relative to the frame between first and second positions within the opening in response to actuation of the drive system. Multiple spaced apart bows are configured to slide relative to the frame and relative to the flexible cover.

Abstract: A motorized conversion kit for converting manually operated roll tarps includes front and rear arm assemblies and a roll tube extension. The front arm assembly includes a drive assembly that drives an output shaft. The output shaft is removably connectable to the roll tube extension that is connected to a modified roll tube. The connection between the output shaft and the roll tube extension has two distinct modes. The output shaft can be removably connected to the roll tube extension with a clevis pin such that the output shaft and the roll tube extension rotate together or the output shaft can be retained within the roll tube extension by a roll pin residing in a peripheral grove in the output shaft so that the output shaft may rotate independently of the roll tube extension. Methods of installing and using the conversion kit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment of a cover to a pickup truck. The tonneau cover apparatus includes two opposing side rails that can be secured to respective side walls of the pickup truck and a securing apparatus that can be attached to the cover and is engageable with respective side rails to secure the cover to the pickup truck. The securing apparatus includes a channel, a locking member and a draw cord secured to the locking member. The locking member is biased toward a first position in which the securing apparatus can be prevented from disengaging from the respective side rail; wherein the draw cord can draw the locking member from the first position to a second position, in which the securing apparatus can be disengaged from the respective side rail. A tonneau cover apparatus including a cover, a support frame and a securing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A motorized rolling cover system for covering the top of an open-top vehicle. The system includes a cover, a shaft, a motor assembly, an arm assembly and a motor mount that supports the motor assembly on the arm assembly. The motor mount is pivotally attached to the end of the arm assembly to provide pivotal movement of the mount in a single plane. The plane of pivotal movement is either the same as (i.e., parallel to) the plane defined by the arm and the shaft, or is perpendicular to the arm-shaft plane.

Abstract: A vehicle having a front wall, two side walls, and a truck bed that altogether define a tonneau is provided. The vehicle includes a tailgate that has a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, and a top panel that altogether define a cavity. The tailgate also has a tonneau cover deployable from and retractable to within the cavity. The tonneau cover is selectively movable between a stowed position, a deployed position, and a partially deployed position. In the stowed position, the tonneau cover is substantially within the cavity. In the deployed position, the tonneau cover substantially covers the tonneau of the vehicle. The partially deployed position is any position between the stowed position.

Abstract: A system for selectively covering and uncovering an opening of a trailer for trucks, comprising at least two tracks mounted to the trailer, at least two roller assemblies, each mounted for rolling movement along one of the tracks between a covered position and an uncovered position, an elongate roller bar extending between and supported by the at least two roller assemblies, and a drive mechanism operatively connected to the roller bar to rotate the roller bar about its elongate axis. The roller bar is adapted to receive a cover in a rolled configuration in which the opening of the trailer is not covered by the cover, when the roller assemblies are in the uncovered position. The roller bar is further adapted to receive the cover in an unrolled configuration in which the cover covers the opening, when the roller assemblies are in the covered position.

Abstract: A transportation system comprising a vehicle having a first electrically operated component, a second electrically operated component and a wireless controller system. The wireless controller system is used for selectively controlling the operation of the first electrically operated component and the second electrically operated component.

Abstract: A rollo assembly comprises a rollo screen with opposite longitudinal ends and opposite transverse ends, a winding shaft for winding and unwinding the rollo screen at one of said longitudinal ends, a pull beam connected to the other one of said longitudinal ends and two longitudinal guides for cooperation with the transverse ends of the rollo screen and for guiding the pull beam. At least one support member for the rollo screen extends underneath the rollo screen between two opposite longitudinal support member guides. The support member moves in said longitudinal direction along the support member guides when the rollo screen moves between its fully wound position and a partially wound off position, and is kept stationary in an end position when the rollo screen moves between its partially wound off position and its fully wound off position.

Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for securing a flexible cover about a cargo box of a pickup truck. The apparatus comprises the cover and a support frame for attachment to the cargo box. The frame has two opposing side rails, each of which has a lock engaging surface. The support frame further includes a pair of securing plate engagement members, each of which is secured to one of the respective opposing side rails. The apparatus further comprises a flexible cover securing plate attached to the cover. The flexible cover securing plate includes a channel and least one locking member. Each locking member is secured within the channel and each respective locking member is engagable with the lock engaging surface of the respective side rail such that the flexible cover securing plate is prevented from disengaging with respect to the respective side rail when it is in a first position.

Abstract: A roll-up tarp apparatus for a truck box having first and second ends, first and second longitudinal sides and an open top. The apparatus includes a tarp, a roll bar, an arm and a biasing member. The first longitudinal edge of the tarp is interconnected to the first longitudinal side of the truck box and the second longitudinal edge of the tarp is attached to the roll bar member. The roll bar is operatively connected to the truck box and is rotatably movable between the first and second longitudinal sides of the truck box, which enables the tarp to close or open the truck box. At least one biasing member is operatively connected to the roll bar or the arm, with the biasing member able to exert a tensioning force in the direction of the second longitudinal side of the truck box so that the tarp is under tension.

Abstract: A roll tarp system is provided which includes a container, a roll pipe, a tarp sized to cover an open top of the container, a power mechanism for rolling the roll pipe from a closed position in which the tarp covers the open top to an open position in which the open top is exposed, and an arm assembly having a flexible arm portion. The arm assembly biases the roll pipe toward the closed position when the roll pipe is in the open position.

Abstract: A motorized conversion kit for converting manually operated roll tarps includes front and rear arm assemblies and a roll tube extension. The front arm assembly includes a drive assembly that drives an output shaft. The output shaft is removably connectable to the roll tube extension that is connected to a modified roll tube. The connection between the output shaft and the roll tube extension has two distinct modes. The output shaft can be removably connected to the roll tube extension with a clevis pin such that the output shaft and the roll tube extension rotate together or the output shaft can be retained within the roll tube extension by a roll pin residing in a peripheral groove in the output shaft so that the output shaft may rotate independently of the roll tube extension. Methods of installing and using the conversion kit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tarp deploying apparatus includes radial arm with a proximal arm and a distal arm. A flexible inelastic limit element is provided between the proximal and distal arms to prevent them from crossing over center to an angle that would cause the apparatus to bind.

Abstract: A tarp deploying apparatus includes radial arm with a proximal arm and a distal arm. The distal arm is formed from a flexible material such as a double-walled hydraulic hose. The distal arm attaches to a tarp roller having a splined end. The distal arm is selectively removable from the distal arm to permit a hand crank with a female splined socket to be attached to the splined end of the tarp roller to permit hand operation of the tarp deploying system when the electric motor is not functional. A mounting bracket including two feet, a pair of legs and a support span allows easy mounting of the tarp deploying apparatus.

Abstract: A roll-up tarp apparatus for attachment to an open top truck trailer having a truck box, having end caps at each end that partially cover the top opening. Preferred embodiments include at least one magnet on at least one of the end caps; even more preferably, a plurality of magnets along each end of the end caps, which are configured to releasably secure the flexible tarp to the end cap when the flexible tarp is in the secured position. Preferably, the flexible tarp is wound around an elongated roll bar that is secured to at least one arm that connects the elongated roll bar to the truck box and selectively activates movement of the elongated roll bar to move the flexible tarp from an open position to a secured position. Various embodiments include biasing members to bias the arm(s).

Abstract: Generally disclosed is a device for simply and inexpensively tarping the payload of any truck bed without placing the tarper, the tarp, or the payload in danger of injury. In a preferred embodiment, the disclosed device generally comprises: (1) a rolled or bunched tarp that is installed on a first portable and adjustable riser; (2) a cable and cable crank installed on a second portable and adjustable riser; (3) wherein the cable may be attached to the tarp so that cranking the cable crank will unroll or unbunch the tarp and suspendedly draw the same toward the second riser; and (4) wherein the risers are removable from the truck bed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tarping system with dual springs that allow for constant and continuous pressure to be exerted on the tarp and tarp arms. Specifically, it relates to a tarping system comprising a tarp capable of being unrolled to cover said transport container or rolled to uncover said container, a movement means supplying power to said tarping system, at least two springs positioned at the same angle along a shaft, and two arms joined to said tarp at one end and shaft at the other end.

Abstract: A roll-up tarp apparatus for attachment to an open top truck trailer having a truck box, having end caps at each end that partially cover the top opening. Preferred embodiments include at least one magnet on at least one of the end caps; even more preferably, a plurality of magnets along each end of the end caps, which are configured to releasably secure the flexible tarp to the end cap when the flexible tarp is in the secured position. Preferably, the flexible tarp is wound around an elongated roll bar that is secured to at least one arm that connects the elongated roll bar to the truck box and selectively activates movement of the elongated roll bar to move the flexible tarp from an open position to a secured position. Various embodiments include biasing members to bias the arm(s).

Abstract: A tarp deploying apparatus includes an electric motor attached to a radial arm. The electric motor provides rotational force to a tarp roller through a planetary gear transmission. The electric motor can be taken out of engagement with the gear transmission by a quick release lever. A second radial arm at an opposite end of the tarp roller includes a support member that supports a splined end of the tarp roller. The splined end is adapted to be engaged by a hand crank to permit manual rotation of the tarp roller by the hand crank when the electric motor is out of engagement with the gear transmission.

Abstract: A tarp deploying apparatus includes radial arm with a proximal arm and a distal arm. A flexible inelastic limit element is provided between the proximal and distal arms to prevent them from crossing over center to an angle that would cause the apparatus to bind.

Abstract: An actuation assembly for a cover extendable over an open-topped container body from a stowed position to a deployed position includes two actuator mechanisms on each side of the body, each including at least one torsion spring having a base portion and at least one reaction end and at least one reaction post in contact with a corresponding reaction end of the at least one spring. In a first exterior actuator mechanism, the reaction post is connectable to the bail arm, while in the second interior actuator mechanism the reaction post is mountable to the container body. A common shaft extends between the base portions of the spring(s) of each actuator mechanism to transmit torque from the interior spring(s) to the exterior spring(s), serving as a rotating anchor for the exterior actuator mechanism. In one embodiment, only the exterior actuator mechanism is situated outside the side extent of the container body.

Abstract: A tarp deploying apparatus includes radial arm with a proximal arm and a distal arm. The distal arm is formed from a flexible material such as a double-walled hydraulic hose. The distal arm attaches to a tarp roller having a splined end. The distal arm is selectively removable from the distal arm to permit a hand crank with a female splined socket to be attached to the splined end of the tarp roller to permit hand operation of the tarp deploying system when the electric motor is not functional. A mounting bracket including two feet, a pair of legs and a support span allows easy mounting of the tarp deploying apparatus.

Abstract: A furling system adapted for use with an air cushion landing system (ACLS) coupled to a hull of an airship is disclosed. The furling system includes a deployable cover having two lateral edges. The cover is configured to cover at least a first portion of the ACLS when the cover is deployed. The furling system also includes a fairing that has an inlet and is coupled to the hull of the airship. The furling system also includes a pair of cables each coupled to at least one point along respective lateral edges of the cover. The pair of cables is configured to selectably draw the cover into the fairing through the inlet when the pair of cables is activated in a first direction, thereby stowing the cover and exposing the ACLS.

Abstract: In the coupling of bi-directional, non-freewheeling-type DC motors to the pulling spool of a canopy deployment strap and to a take-up roller, ratchet gears assure automatic alignment and synchronization of the deployment and retraction mechanisms. The reverse direction rotation of the unwinding motor can be uninhibited through the slipping of its ratchet gear when the winding motor is slow to take up the pulling strap or the tarp being wound thereon. The slipping provides sufficient slack to accommodate changes of spool and roller diameters as more material is successively wound thereon. A friction brake acting against a flange of the spool keeps it from spinning freely when not engaged by the motor.