Abstract: A steerable suspension system may include a steering knuckle and an actuator, the actuator having an effective piston area which varies in response to rotation of the steering knuckle. A method of stabilizing a steerable suspension system may include applying a first level of pressure, thereby applying a stabilizing force to a steering knuckle and permitting rotation of the steering knuckle, and applying a second level of pressure, thereby preventing rotation of the steering knuckle. Another steerable suspension system may include an axle, a tie rod arm, and a pressure operated actuator interconnected between the tie rod arm and the axle.

Abstract: A steerable suspension system may include a steering knuckle and an actuator, the actuator having an effective piston area which varies in response to rotation of the steering knuckle. A method of stabilizing a steerable suspension system may include applying a first level of pressure, thereby applying a stabilizing force to a steering knuckle and permitting rotation of the steering knuckle, and applying a second level of pressure, thereby preventing rotation of the steering knuckle. Another steerable suspension system may include an axle, a tie rod arm, and a pressure operated actuator interconnected between the tie rod arm and the axle.

Abstract: A liftable independent suspension system which may also be steerable. In a described embodiment, a liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle includes wheel spindles positioned to extend outwardly at each respective lateral side of the vehicle. The spindles are displaceable independent of each other. An actuator is operable to raise at least one of the spindles, so that a tire rotatably connected to the spindle is liftable out of engagement with a road surface when the actuator raises the spindle.

Abstract: An adjustable run height lift axle suspension system includes an axle assembly, an air spring and a lift actuator. A device may be releasably attached to the axle assembly and connected to each of the air spring and the lift actuator, the device spacing the air spring away from the axle assembly. A selected one of multiple devices may be used, the suspension system having one run height when one device is releasably attached to the axle assembly and connected to each of the air spring and the lift actuator, and a different run height when another device is used. The air spring may have approximately the same operational height when the suspension system is at the different run heights.

Abstract: A liftable independent suspension system which may also be steerable. In a described embodiment, a liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle includes wheel spindles positioned to extend outwardly at each respective lateral side of the vehicle. The spindles are displaceable independent of each other. An actuator is operable to raise at least one of the spindles, so that a tire rotatably connected to the spindle is liftable out of engagement with a road surface when the actuator raises the spindle.

Abstract: An adjustable run height lift axle suspension system includes an axle assembly, an air spring and a lift actuator. A device may be releasably attached to the axle assembly and connected to each of the air spring and the lift actuator, the device spacing the air spring away from the axle assembly. A selected one of multiple devices may be used, the suspension system having one run height when one device is releasably attached to the axle assembly and connected to each of the air spring and the lift actuator, and a different run height when another device is used. The air spring may have approximately the same operational height when the suspension system is at the different run heights.

Abstract: A suspension system for a dump truck which is to be connected to a paver using a truck hitch. In one example, a system for connecting a dump truck to a paver includes a liftable and steerable suspension of the truck, the suspension having an adapter with a laterally outwardly facing concave side. A truck hitch of the paver engages the concave side of the adapter to attach the truck hitch to the suspension. In another example, a method of connecting a dump truck to a paver includes the steps of: interconnecting a hydraulic actuator between a frame of the truck and an axle of a suspension of the truck to thereby transmit a load from the frame to the axle; then raising a bed of the truck, the load increasing as the bed is raised; and increasing pressure in the hydraulic actuator in response to the increasing load.

Abstract: A liftable independent suspension system which may also be steerable. In a described embodiment, a liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle includes wheel spindles positioned to extend outwardly at each respective lateral side of the vehicle. The spindles are displaceable independent of each other. An actuator is operable to raise at least one of the spindles, so that a tire rotatably connected to the spindle is liftable out of engagement with a road surface when the actuator raises the spindle.

Abstract: An advanced massively parallel computer having a plurality of processor subsystems, where each processor subsystem is coupled to a secondary storage device (e.g., disk drive) through a secondary storage interface. The computer contains an input data bus for supplying data to the processor subsystem, an interprocessor communications bus for communicating data and instructions between processor subsystems, and an instruction bus for supplying instructions to the processor subsystems to facilitate data manipulation by each of the processor subsystems.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for combining the characteristics of both single instruction, multiple data stream (SIMD) and multiple instruction, multiple data stream (MIMD) computer architectures into a single parallel processing computer for performing multiple instruction stream processing. Such a parallel processing computer simultaneously performs both MIMD and SIMD operations on various processors within the computer. Additionally, at specified points during program execution, certain processors, i.e., a subset of all the processors, are synchronized. Once synchronized, the processors can exchange data. Moreover, the processors that do not take part in the synchronization continue executing instructions without interruption. The apparatus and method disclosed find applicability in video servers, medical imaging, special effects and animation and location based entertainment systems among other applications.