Abstract: A lift system for performing operations on a structure includes a base and rack assembly mounted on the base. The rack assembly includes at least two legs. A carriage is engaged with the rack assembly, and is configured to travel vertically along the legs of the rack assembly. A crane is configured for transverse movement on the carriage. In some implementations, the base is moved under self-propulsion. In some implementations, the base includes a leveling assembly that is operable to adjust an orientation of the rack assembly with respect to the structure.

Abstract: A portable wind turbine is adjustable between an operating configuration and a stowed configuration. The portable wind turbine comprises a turbine tower and a base. The base includes a floor and a pair of opposing sidewalls. The base includes four lower corners. The base is configured to store the turbine tower when the portable wind turbine is in the stowed configuration. The turbine tower is oriented in an upright manner such that the turbine tower projects upwardly away from the floor of the base when the portable wind turbine is in the operating configuration. An outrigger is attached at each of the four lower corners of the base when the portable wind turbine is in the operating configuration.

Abstract: A method for assembling a wind turbine includes: unloading a nacelle and hub from a truck; connecting the nacelle and hub to a carriage of an elevator in a vertical position; connecting blades to the hub, thereby forming a rotor; raising the carriage, nacelle, and rotor along a tower to a top of the tower; and pivoting the carriage, nacelle, and rotor to a horizontal position at the top of the tower.

Abstract: A method of assembling a wind turbine comprising placing a tower base in an upright position. The tower base includes a tower base guide rail and a carriage. The carriage is movable along the tower base guide rail and includes a crane attached thereto. The method further comprises connecting a first tower body member to the tower base to form a turbine tower. The first tower body member includes a first tower body guide rail and is connected to the tower base in a manner such that the tower base guide rail axially aligns with the first tower body guide rail to collectively form a rail track. The carriage is movable up and down the turbine tower along the rail track.

Abstract: A method for assembling a wind turbine includes: unloading a nacelle and hub from a truck; connecting the nacelle and hub to a carriage of an elevator in a vertical position; connecting blades to the hub, thereby forming a rotor; raising the carriage, nacelle, and rotor along a tower to a top of the tower; and pivoting the carriage, nacelle, and rotor to a horizontal position at the top of the tower.

Abstract: A method for assembling a wind turbine includes: unloading a nacelle and hub from a truck; connecting the nacelle and hub to a carriage of an elevator in a vertical position; connecting blades to the hub, thereby forming a rotor; raising the carriage, nacelle, and rotor along a tower to a top of the tower; and pivoting the carriage, nacelle, and rotor to a horizontal position at the top of the tower.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a rollover protection cab. In one embodiment, a rollover protection cab for a construction vehicle includes a structural frame defining cabin space for a vehicle operator. The structural frame is operable to substantially maintain the cabin space while withstanding a crushing load greater than or equal to twenty tons. The cab further includes a window; a door; a seat disposed in the cabin space; and controls for operating the vehicle disposed in the cabin space.

Abstract: A method for assembling a wind turbine includes: unloading a nacelle and hub from a truck; connecting the nacelle and hub to a carriage of an elevator in a vertical position; connecting blades to the hub, thereby forming a rotor; raising the carriage, nacelle, and rotor along a tower to a top of the tower; and pivoting the carriage, nacelle, and rotor to a horizontal position at the top of the tower.

Abstract: A pipelayer having an undercarriage with at least two tracks and a main assembly. Each track has a track frame coupled to the undercarriage and a track shoe supported by and movable around the track frame. The main assembly is supported by and rotatable relative to the undercarriage, and has a main frame, a boom pivotally mounted to the main frame, an operator cab, and a cab riser connecting the operator cab to the main frame. The cab riser is operable to selectively raise and lower the operator cab relative to the main frame. Also provided is a movable cab assembly having an operator cab, an adjustment mechanism to connect the cab to a vehicle frame and move to change the operator's view, and a guide to align the cab. A method for laying pipe using a pipelayer having a movable cab is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a pipelayer and a method for of loading a pipelayer or excavator for transportation. One embodiment includes a method for transporting a pipelayer or excavator from a first work site to a second worksite via a public road. The method includes acts of: raising the pipelayer or excavator off of track shoes of the pipelayer or excavator; removing a first track assembly from the pipelayer or excavator using a boom of the pipelayer or a boom assembly of the excavator; loading the first track assembly onto a first trailer of a first tractor-trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator; removing the second track assembly from the pipelayer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator; and loading the second track assembly onto the first trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a rollover protection cab. In one embodiment, a rollover protection cab for a construction vehicle includes a structural frame defining cabin space for a vehicle operator. The structural frame is operable to substantially maintain the cabin space while withstanding a crushing load greater than or equal to twenty tons. The cab further includes a window; a door; a seat disposed in the cabin space; and controls for operating the vehicle disposed in the cabin space.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a pipelayer and a method for of loading a pipelayer or excavator for transportation. One embodiment includes a method for transporting a pipelayer or excavator from a first work site to a second worksite via a public road. The method includes acts of: raising the pipelayer or excavator off of track shoes of the pipelayer or excavator; removing a first track assembly from the pipelayer or excavator using a boom of the pipelayer or a boom assembly of the excavator; loading the first track assembly onto a first trailer of a first tractor-trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator; removing the second track assembly from the pipelayer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator; and loading the second track assembly onto the first trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator.

Abstract: A pipelayer having an undercarriage with at least two tracks and a main assembly. Each track has a track frame coupled to the undercarriage and a track shoe supported by and movable around the track frame. The main assembly is supported by and rotatable relative to the undercarriage, and has a main frame, a boom pivotally mounted to the main frame, an operator cab, and a cab riser connecting the operator cab to the main frame. The cab riser is operable to selectively raise and lower the operator cab relative to the main frame. Also provided is a movable cab assembly having an operator cab, an adjustment mechanism to connect the cab to a vehicle frame and move to change the operator's view, and a guide to align the cab. A method for laying pipe using a pipelayer having a movable cab is also provided.

Abstract: A telehandler crane apparatus and method is provided. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobile apparatus adaptable for use as a crane and as a telehandler, and an associated method. The telehandler crane includes a telehandler frame, an outrigger assembly engaged with the telehandler frame, a rotating assembly engaged with the telehandler frame adapted for rotating 360 degrees, and a boom engaged with the rotating assembly such that the boom can be rotated 360 by the rotating assembly. Further, the telehandler crane apparatus of the present invention can be operated remote from the telehandler crane apparatus by the operator using a remote docking base.

Abstract: Urine collecting bottle is provided for use by a supine female, in which the bottle includes an opening portion with a mouth, and a liquid-collecting vessel attached to the opening portion through a neck portion. The liquid-collecting vessel is of a size and shape so as to rest on the same horizontal surface during use that the supine female is resting upon. The urine-collecting bottle includes a positioning handle and a carrying handle. The positioning handle includes two contoured recesses which can receive two fingers of a human hand, and are used by the supine person to position the urine-collecting bottle in the correct orientation for collecting urine while maintaining good hygiene. Each contoured recess has a forward surface and rearward surface that can contact one of the user's fingers thereby providing a fulcrum effect about the area around the mouth of the urine-collecting bottle. The user's fingers can be extended into the contoured recesses from either end of the contoured recesses.

Abstract: A crane-excavator apparatus and method is provided. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobile apparatus adaptable for use as a crane and as an excavator, and an associated method. The crane includes a lower crawler adapted for use with an excavator, an upper body adapted for use with an excavator, a boom adapted to engage a crane body, and an adapter for engaging a receptacle of the excavator upper body. Typically, the receptacle would accept an excavator boom. The adaptor and the receptacle are fixedly secured together such that the adaptor defines a connector for receiving the crane boom in the same manner as the crane boom would be accepted by a crane body for providing a range of boom angles comparable to the range of boom angles available to the boom connected to the crane body. The method for adapting an excavator for use as a crane is provided.

Abstract: A foldable walker that includes a single latch operator connected with each of left and right latches for the walker's left and right side frames, the left and right latches functioning to latch the left and right side frames open in the use position. Use of the single operator by only one of the user's hands allows both the left and right latches to unlatch the side frames from their open or use position, thereby allowing both those side frames to pivot closed into a collapsed or storage position against the front frame. In preferred form, the left and right latches also function to latch the left and right side frames closed in the storage position. In that preferred form, use of the single operator again by only one of the user's hands allows both the left and right latches to unlatch the side frames from their storage position, thereby allowing both the left and right side frames to pivot back open into the use position relative to the front frame.

Abstract: A rear view safety mirror is provided with an aperture through the mirror element through which extends a drive shaft for a wiper blade; the drive shaft is connected to the rotary armature of an electric motor which is mounted on the support bracket of the mirror in the rear portion thereof; the armature of the electric motor is mounted so as to be axially movable so that when the motor is supplied with direct current, the armature will shift its position to press the wiper element against the surface of the mirror during rotation thereof; a heating element is also provided in the housing of the mirror to maintain the mirror's surface free of ice and snow during inclement weather.