Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes a battery body, a leading face, and an electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly; the battery receiving space includes an electrical connector; the leading face of the removable battery assembly rests on a bottom surface of the battery receiving space with the electrical socket engaged with the electrical connector; and the electrical socket, the electrical connector, the battery body, and the battery receiving space are configured to define a standoff gap between opposing surfaces of the electrical socket and the electrical connector, with the leading face of the removable battery assembly resting on the bottom surface of the battery receiving space.

Abstract: A voltage doubling phase converter that converts single phase AC electric power to balanced three phase AC power. Two input terminals are connectable to a single-phase AC power source and connect directly to two output terminals of the converter. The phase converter has a storage capacitor, three active half-bridge modules connected to the storage capacitor, and a controller. Two modules connect to the input terminals and charge the storage capacitor. The other module connects to a third output terminal. The controller switches the module connected to the third output terminal and one of the other modules to generate and shape a second and a resultant third phase.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes lateral battery faces, each including a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space includes opposing guide blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each including a securement portion and a replaceable portion; the replaceable portion of each guide block including a friction-inducing surface and a guiding surface; each friction-inducing surface facing an opposing one of the lateral battery faces; and each guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes a battery body and a battery locking mechanism; the battery locking mechanism includes a spring-loaded battery handle and a spring-loaded locking pin; the battery receiving space includes a battery latch positioned to receive the spring-loaded locking pin; the spring-loaded battery handle includes a planar handle cam surface and the spring-loaded locking pin includes a planar pin cam surface such that the handle cam surface engages the pin cam surface with movement of the battery handle relative to the battery body; the spring-loaded battery handle is spring-biased in a locked position; and the spring-loaded locking pin is spring-biased in an extended position and is movable to a retracted position in response to movement of the battery handle from the locked position to an unlocked position.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes lateral battery faces, each including a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space includes opposing guide blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each including a securement portion and a replaceable portion; the replaceable portion of each guide block including a friction-inducing surface and a guiding surface; each friction-inducing surface facing an opposing one of the lateral battery faces; and each guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes a battery body and a battery locking mechanism; the battery locking mechanism includes a spring-loaded battery handle and a spring-loaded locking pin; the battery receiving space includes a battery latch positioned to receive the spring-loaded locking pin; the spring-loaded battery handle includes a planar handle cam surface and the spring-loaded locking pin includes a planar pin cam surface such that the handle cam surface engages the pin cam surface with movement of the battery handle relative to the battery body; the spring-loaded battery handle is spring-biased in a locked position; and the spring-loaded locking pin is spring-biased in an extended position and is movable to a retracted position in response to movement of the battery handle from the locked position to an unlocked position.

Abstract: Briefly, a voltage doubling variable frequency drive includes an active converter connected to a DC bus that is connected to a first inverter that converts DC power to variable frequency, three-phase AC power, and variable frequency, three-phase AC power to DC power, and to a second inverter that converts DC power to three-phase AC sine wave power. The converter converts single-phase AC power to DC power and DC power to single-phase AC power and maintains a selected voltage on the DC bus. The converter has an active rectifier and a controller that drives the rectifier with a pulse width modulation according to a switching scheme that switches the rectifier according to an adaptive hysteresis control to maintain constant switching.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes lateral battery faces, each including a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space includes opposing retention blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each comprising a retention lever including a fixed end and a distal end; and the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face includes a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of one of the retention levers.

Abstract: A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) or substrate has a bump pad layer and a separate trace metal layer. The bump pad layer substantially covers or overlays the trace metal layer. A first surface of a bump pad in the bump pad layer is electrically coupled to a trace in the trace metal layer. A second surface of the bump pad in the bump pad layer extends above a surface of the bump pad layer. When a component is mounted on the substrate during a component mounting process, a pillar or other electrical connection mechanism of the component is electrically coupled to the bump pad without the risk of solder non-wetting and/or the formation of solder bridges between traces and bump pads on the substrate.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory circuit in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following features: (a) a logic source, and (b) a semi-conductive device being electrically coupled to the logic source, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a nano-grease with significantly reduced amount of carbon nanotube loading located between the first and second terminal, wherein the nano-grease exhibits non-volatile memory characteristics.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the battery receiving space includes opposing pairs of battery guide pins, each opposing pair arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each opposing pair includes a latching pin and a guiding pin; the removable battery assembly includes a battery locking mechanism; the battery locking mechanism includes spring-loaded locking pins that are spring-biased in extended positions and are movable from the extended positions to respective retracted positions; the latching pin of each opposing pair of battery guide pins includes a recess forming a battery latch that is positioned to receive a leading portion of one of the spring-loaded locking pins in the extended position.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes a battery body and a battery locking mechanism; the battery locking mechanism includes a spring-loaded battery handle and a spring-loaded locking pin; the battery receiving space includes a battery latch positioned to receive the spring-loaded locking pin; the spring-loaded battery handle includes a planar handle cam surface and the spring-loaded locking pin includes a planar pin cam surface such that the handle cam surface engages the pin cam surface with movement of the battery handle relative to the battery body; the spring-loaded battery handle is spring-biased in a locked position; and the spring-loaded locking pin is spring-biased in an extended position and is movable to a retracted position in response to movement of the battery handle from the locked position to an unlocked position.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes a battery body, a leading face, and an electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly; the battery receiving space includes an electrical connector; the leading face of the removable battery assembly rests on a bottom surface of the battery receiving space with the electrical socket engaged with the electrical connector; and the electrical socket, the electrical connector, the battery body, and the battery receiving space are configured to define a standoff gap between opposing surfaces of the electrical socket and the electrical connector, with the leading face of the removable battery assembly resting on the bottom surface of the battery receiving space.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes lateral battery faces, each including a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space includes opposing retention blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each comprising a retention lever including a fixed end and a distal end; and the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face includes a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of one of the retention levers.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes lateral battery faces, each including a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space includes opposing guide blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each including a securement portion and a replaceable portion; the replaceable portion of each guide block including a friction-inducing surface and a guiding surface; each friction-inducing surface facing an opposing one of the lateral battery faces; and each guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.

Abstract: A voltage doubling phase converter that converts single phase AC electric power to balanced three phase AC power. Two input terminals are connectable to a single-phase AC power source and connect directly to two output terminals of the converter. The phase converter has a storage capacitor, three active half-bridge modules connected to the storage capacitor, and a controller. Two modules connect to the input terminals and charge the storage capacitor. The other module connects to a third output terminal. The controller switches the module connected to the third output terminal and one of the other modules to generate and shape a second and a resultant third phase.

Abstract: A trimmer head having at least two pivoting line holders for holding multiple folded strips of trimming line is presented wherein said pivoting line holders are retained within said housing between said housing and said cover and extend upward through apertures in said cover, said line holders being capable of movement around a vertical axis of rotation, at least three embodiments are disclosed which provide a rounded landing for supporting the inner radius of a folded strip of trimming line, the rounded geometry of the landing prevents line stress and breakage, the various embodiments include a pivot post having two parallel straight through holes with a rounded vertical wall between the through holes, a single open passageway having a center metal post, and a single open passageway having a series of at least two metal pins through the center of the passageway.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory circuit in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following features: (a) a logic source, and (b) a semi-conductive device being electrically coupled to the logic source, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a nano-grease with significantly reduced amount of carbon nanotube loading located between the first and second terminal, wherein the nano-grease exhibits non-volatile memory characteristics.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory circuit in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following features: (a) a logic source, and (b) a semi-conductive device being electrically coupled to the logic source, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a nano-grease with significantly reduced amount of carbon nanotube loading located between the first and second terminal, wherein the nano-grease exhibits non-volatile memory characteristics.

Abstract: Briefly, a voltage doubling variable frequency drive includes an active converter connected to a DC bus that is connected to a first inverter that converts DC power to variable frequency, three-phase AC power, and variable frequency, three-phase AC power to DC power, and to a second inverter that converts DC power to three-phase AC sine wave power. The converter converts single-phase AC power to DC power and DC power to single-phase AC power and maintains a selected voltage on the DC bus. The converter has an active rectifier and a controller that drives the rectifier with a pulse width modulation according to a switching scheme that switches the rectifier according to an adaptive hysteresis control to maintain constant switching.