Abstract: A virtual 3D display for a motor vehicle includes a substrate and a flexible display positioned on the substrate. The flexible display is rollable and bendable within a cabin of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: Gravel boxes, open top containers with rolling roofs, and related methods. The rolling roof is used to cover open top containers for dry or liquid loads. The rolling roof may be manually operated with a ratcheting handle or motor in combination with two rolling mechanisms placed on each side of the roof. The rolling roof mechanism may be implemented by sliding the roof either to the left or to the right side of the container, and turning it from a horizontal position to a vertical position along the side wall. Such allows loading from either side of the container by using the full area of the opening.

Abstract: A flowable-material transfer station includes a mobile frame and a conveyor coupled thereto. A hopper mounted on the mobile frame has a side wall with an opening. A chute's loading end is rigidly coupled to the hopper at the side wall opening thereof wherein the chute is in fluid communication with the hopper via the opening. The hopper is hingedly coupled to the mobile frame and the chute's dispensing end is positioned over a first end of the conveyor. A lift mechanism is provided to move the hopper between a lowered position and a raised position. The chute's dispensing end is above the chute's loading end when the hopper is in its lowered position, and is below the chute's loading end when the hopper is in its raised position.

Abstract: A cover assembly includes a roller member rotatably supported by a bracket assembly on one end of the intake hopper of an agricultural conveyor such that a sheet member rolled onto the roller member can be unrolled to span across the intake opening. The cover assembly also includes a support frame pivotally coupled to the intake hopper between a working position and a stored position. In the working position a portion of the frame is centrally located above the intake opening and protrudes upwardly beyond respective sides of the housing of the intake hopper to support the sheet member to slope downward from a central apex to prevent accumulation of precipitation thereon. In the stored position the support frame is shorter in height relative to the housing than in the working position and the sheet member is rolled onto the roller so as not to interfere with normal operation of the intake hopper.

Abstract: A railcar system including a railcar having a longitudinal axis and a movable cover. The movable cover including a plurality of linear bearing devices and at least one slidable hatch connected to the plurality of linear bearing devices. The slidable hatch being movable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis. The linear bearing devices each including a shaped bar and a low friction bearing having a hole therethrough. The slidable hatch has two opposite sides that define a width of the slidable hatch, the shaped bar extending substantially the full width of the slidable hatch. The shaped bar being attached to the two opposite sides of the slidable hatch. The hole through the low friction bearing being shaped to accommodate the shaped bar.

Abstract: A cover opening and closing system for use with a railcar. The railcar has a longitudinal axis, a top opening and at least one movable cover configured to cover the opening. The cover opening and closing system includes at least one structural support coupled generally to the ground and at least one of an opening device and a closing device. The opening device and closing device are coupled to said at least one structural support. The at least one of an opening device and a closing device are configured to contact a portion of the at least one movable cover and to cause the movable cover to move as the railcar moves in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A railcar hatch cover latching system including a sliding mechanism attached to a movable portion of the hatch cover and a latching apparatus associated with the hatch cover. The latching apparatus has a biased assembly, a bar and at least one profiled stop. The bar extends through the biased assembly. The biased assembly is configured to allow the bar to pass through the biased assembly with a first force requirement. The at least one profiled stop is positioned on the bar to encounter the biased assembly and having a second force requirement to move the bar past the at least one profiled stop, the second force being greater than the first force.

Abstract: A canopy deployment and retraction mechanism particularly suited to cover the cargo compartment of an elongated vehicle such as a railroad car. Each of a series of tarpaulin-supporting, parallel bows has sliders at each end sliding in a pair of funnel-shaped channels having their flat bases vertically secured to the upper inside lateral wall sections of the compartment. The spacing between the bases of the channels is less than the total length of a bow and its sliders and provides a degree of play in order to accommodate slight variations in the width of said compartment, and allows for self-centering of the cover. The shape of the channels allows for the placement of the cover retraction mechanisms such as cables and sliders within the outer periphery of the container, reducing bulk. The downward slope of the channel lower side further improves the evacuation of debris under the wiping action of the traveling sliders.

Abstract: A railcar system including a railcar having a longitudinal axis and a movable cover. The movable cover including a plurality of linear bearing devices and at least one slidable hatch connected to the plurality of linear bearing devices. The slidable hatch being movable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis. The linear bearing devices each including a shaped bar and a low friction bearing having a hole therethrough. The slidable hatch has two opposite sides that define a width of the slidable hatch, the shaped bar extending substantially the full width of the slidable hatch. The shaped bar being attached to the two opposite sides of the slidable hatch. The hole through the low friction bearing being shaped to accommodate the shaped bar.

Abstract: A railcar having a longitudinal axis and a movable cover. The movable cover includes a plurality of linear bearing devices and at least one slideable hatch connected to the plurality of linear bearing devices. The slideable hatch is movable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A railcar having a longitudinal axis and a movable cover. The movable cover includes a plurality of linear bearing devices and at least one slideable hatch connected to the plurality of linear bearing devices. The slideable hatch is movable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A feed truck compartment lid control system. The system includes coupled feed compartment lids on an upper surface of a feed truck trailer and includes cylinders in proximity of the lids such that the cylinders require much less force and power, and thus much less air pressure, to open and close the lids. The cylinder arms are connected directly to elongated bars that couple a plurality of feed compartment lids to one another. At least one of the lids includes wheels to allow the lids to travel across the upper surface of the feed truck trailer as they are opened and closed.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable cover for use on gondola railroad cars, preferably provided as a kit for retrofitting existing cars, including elongated runners for attaching to the top of longitudinal walls of the gondola railroad cars, the runners including at east one slidable surface, for supporting and permitting transport over the surface of a plurality of tarp supports, which extend across the lateral opening between the sidewalls of the gondola railroad car. The supports are adapted and configured to slide over the runners while enclosing an edge of the runner so as to engage the runner and retain the vertical position and orientation of the supports during transposition across the surface of the runners.