Abstract: A mobile manipulator robot for retrieving inventory items from a storage system. The robot includes a body, a wheel assembly, a sensor to locate a position of the robot within the storage system, an interface configured to send processor readable data to a remote processor and to an operator interface, and receive processor executable instructions from the remote processor and from the operator interface, an imaging device to capture images of the inventory items, a picking manipulator, first and second pneumatic gripping elements for grasping the inventory items, and a coupler configured to mate with a valve to access a pneumatic supply for operating at least one of the first or second pneumatic gripping elements. The robot is configured to transition the valve from a closed condition to an open condition and selectively place one of the first or the second pneumatic gripping elements in communication with the pneumatic supply.

Abstract: A robotic tile laying machine and a method of use.

Abstract: A method of facing a roof structure includes securing a facing to respective lower flanges of first and second spaced-apart purlins of the roof structure, with the facing extending directly between the respective lower flanges of the first and second purlins. A carriage is suspended from purlins of the roof structure and supports a roll of facing. The facing is dispensed and adhesively secured to the purlins by moving the carriage relative to the purlins and/or by maintaining the carriage in a stationary position and pulling facing from the roll of facing supported on the carriage. The resulting faced roof structure provides an enhanced appearance and more uniform and higher R-value insulation.

Abstract: A formliner and master mold are disclosed. The master mold corresponds with the formliner, which includes a plurality of courses, each course having a plurality of pockets, each pocket sized and configured to receive a decorative brick, and a plurality of ridges arranged and disposed to separate the pockets. In the embodiment, each pocket has an angle of rotation in the range of about ?5.0° to about 5.0° and the angle of rotation of at least one pocket is other than 0°.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing cracks, crevices, joints, and other discontinuities in a chimney flue liner, comprises a flexible, resilient applicator having a liquid impervious rubberized coating. An electrical vibrator is installed within the applicator, for tamping the mortar or grout material into any discontinuities in the flue liner. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed, comprising drawing the applicator downwardly through the flue from top to bottom, connecting the vibrator to a suitable source of electrical power, placing the applicator at the bottom end of the flue, pouring mortar or grout material into the chimney from the top with the mortar flowing to the sides of the applicator and between the applicator and flue liner, and drawing the applicator upwardly through the flue liner while operating the vibrator to coat the interior of the flue liner and tamp the repair material thoroughly into any discontinuities in the liner.

Abstract: A manufacturing facility and method for assembling a composite box structure on a railway car underframe are provided. The composite box structure may be defined in part by an exterior metal surface, interior side stakes attached to the exterior metal surface, foam insulation disposed between the side stakes and attached to the metal surface and at least one layer of reinforced plastic material forming an interior surface. The composite box structure preferably includes a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls, a floor assembly and a roof assembly. The composite box structure may be assembled on a railway car underframe to form a temperature controlled boxcar or on insulated boxcar.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bake carbon flue straightener for straightening a flue wall of an anode baking surface from a deformed or bowed position to a straight or normal position. The flue straightener includes a plurality of remotely controlled and independently actuated hydraulic cylinders mounted on a plurality of elevations space apart at equal distances from each other, a steel frame for supporting hydraulic cylinders, such that each of the elevations of the hydraulic cylinders are coupled to a continuous length of extendable solid push plates for extending the push plates to the deformed or bowed flue wall so as to push or straighten with equally distributed forces the deformed or bowed flue wall back to the straight or normal position.