Abstract: A drive unit assembly utilizes a single input to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. Each wheel end is suspended independently from the other. The input is operatively coupled to only one of the wheel ends and an exposed axle shaft assembly interconnects the input to the opposite wheel end. The axle shaft assembly includes multiple shaft members to interconnect the laterally spaced wheel ends. One of the axle shaft members is mounted to a vehicle floor structure with a bearing mount and includes connection joints at either end to accommodate the independent motion of each wheel end. The floor and the shaft member move together during suspension travel, allowing the floor to have a lower profile than is traditionally available.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly for a low floor vehicle utilizes a single input gear assembly to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. The input gear assembly is positioned next to one of the wheel ends so that the vehicle floor can be lowered to facilitate passenger access to the vehicle. Each wheel end includes a gear reduction assembly with a ring gear rotatably mounted within a gear housing. A drive gear is operatively coupled to the input gear assembly and is in meshing engagement with the ring gear. The gear reduction assembly also includes an output or driven gear, which is larger than the drive gear, to provide the desired gear reduction. The driven gear is also in meshing engagement with the ring gear. A pair of idler gears is rotatably mounted within the gear housing and are in meshing engagement with both the drive and driven gear. The idler gears and drive gear do not have a common centerline.

Abstract: A mounting system is provided whereby a data communications system can be mounted in a plurality of different ways in one or more standard size rack openings and on planar surfaces. A first bracket selection and arrangement provides side by side dual mounting of two closures within a first rack having a first rack width. A second bracket selection and arrangement provides side by side dual mounting of two enclosures within a second rack having a second rack width greater than the first rack width. A third bracket selection and arrangement provides a single mounting of one enclosure in the first rack. A fourth bracket selection and arrangement provides a single mounting of one enclosure in the second rack. A fifth bracket selection and arrangement provides a single mounting of one enclosure on a planar surface.

Abstract: Several embodiments are disclosed for incorporating suspension components into vehicle frame structures. Most preferably, the resulting structure is a modular combination of a frame and a suspension. Most preferably, the frame component extends along the lateral width of the vehicle and between the two wheels for the vehicle. The suspension components mounted within the frame may be mechanical springs or fluid springs. Moreover, various types of controls can be incorporated into this structure.

Abstract: A connecting component connecting two members, such as a suspension component and a vehicle component, dampens vibrations and produces springing forces. The connecting component is formed by a steel strip including a plurality of holes. A sealing strip is secured to the upper surface of the steel strip to contain fluid for damping, and springing strips are secured to the upper surface of the steel strip to provide for springing forces. The steel strip is rolled to form the connecting component, trapping the fluid between the sealing strips. As the connecting component is a linking element with several degrees of freedom, different springing and damping rates are possible at each degree of freedom.

Abstract: A system and method for selling vehicles includes an adjustable suspension module on a test drive vehicle. The suspension module preferably is adjusted so that it performs as each of a plurality of available suspension options for the vehicle. The customer is presented with the various options. The suspension module is adjusted to perform as each of the suspension options in which the customer is interested. Once the customer makes the selection, the dealer or seller is able to place an order for the vehicle containing the suspension option chosen by the customer.

Abstract: An intervehicle network provides for communicating information regarding driving conditions experienced by one vehicle to another remotely located vehicle. By receiving information regarding oncoming driving conditions, the vehicle driver may take action to anticipate the driving condition and avoid potential hazards or inconveniences. Additionally, for vehicles having onboard dynamically adjustable systems, an electronic controller may adjust the performance of the adjustable system responsive to the driving condition information received before the vehicle reaches the location of the driving condition. Another feature of a system designed according to this invention is to have onboard diagnostics where the controller monitors one or more variables to detect when one or more vehicle components are showing signs of aging or wear. Communications between vehicles in a system designed according to this invention may be directly between the vehicles or through a central information communication module.

Abstract: A suspension assembly is provided for a vehicle including a frame. A lower control arm having first and second opposing portions is pivotally connected to the frame at the first portion. A knuckle is supported on the second portion of the lower control arm with a wheel supported on the knuckle. A strut having a lower end is connected to the knuckle and an upper end of the strut is connected to the frame at an upper connection. The upper connection generally constrains the upper end of the strut against vertical movement while permitting limited lateral movement of the upper end relative to the frame. In one embodiment, a linkage assembly including a first linkage portion is interconnected between the lower control arm and the frame. A second linkage portion interconnects the upper end of the strut and the first linkage portion for moving the upper end laterally in the upper connection in response to vertical movement of the lower control arm.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes upper and lower control arms pivotally attached to a frame member of the vehicle. A knuckle arm pivotally attaches to the upper and lower control arms moves along a substantially vertical axis in response to wheel movement caused by an uneven road surface. An actuation link is attached to one of the control arms at one end and to a damper assembly at another end. The damper assembly is disposed substantially within the frame member along a second axis transverse to vertical movement of the wheel and is actuated along the transverse axis in response movement of the control arm along the substantially vertical axis.

Abstract: A laminated bushing is formed from a metal sheet having resilient material disposed on one side by spirally winding the metal sheet about a longitudinal axis to form a spirally shaped cavity. The resilient material is disposed within the spirally shaped cavity and the metal sheet forming the spiral shaped cavity either mechanically compresses the resilient material disposed within the cavities, or the resilient material is vulcanized once the laminated bushing is formed. The spirally wound laminated bushing includes inner and outer sleeves concentric about the longitudinal axis that are movable relative to one another in direct proportion to the material deformation properties of the resilient material.

Abstract: A steering assembly is provided for a vehicle including an upper connection, typically provided by an upper control arm. A knuckle includes an upper and lower portions with the upper portion supported by the upper connection. A lower assembly of the present invention includes a control arm with legs extending from a spring portion at spaced apart ends. The legs extend from its ends and converge to a lower connection for supporting the lower portion of the knuckle with the upper and lower connections defining a wheel camber and a wheel caster. Preferably, each of the legs of the control arm has a different spring rate to provide a change in wheel camber under the deflection of the control arm during wheel travel. The different spring rates of the legs permits the lower connection to twist thereby enabling the wheel caster to change slightly during the upward and downward motion of the wheel.

Abstract: Role is a comprehensive grouping mechanism. In a client-server directory system, roles transfer some of the complexity to the directory server. A role is defined by its role definition entry. Assigning entries to roles enables applications to locate the roles of an entry, rather than select a group and browse the members list. Additionally, roles allow for support of generated attribute values, and directory server-performed membership verification for clients. By changing a role definition, a user can change an entire organization with ease. Any client with appropriate access privileges can discover, identify and examine any role definition.

Abstract: Role is a comprehensive grouping mechanism. In a client-server directory system, roles transfer some of the complexity to the directory server. A role is defined by its role definition entry. Assigning entries to roles enables applications to locate the roles of an entry, rather than select a group and browse the members list. Additionally, roles allow for support of computed attribute values, and server-performed membership verification for clients.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes a wheel assembly attached to the frame of a motor vehicle for movement in response to uneven roadway surfaces. A first inductive coil attached to the frame is mounted along an axis, and a second inductive coil is mounted co-axially with the first inductive coil and for movement with the wheel assembly. The inductive coils are movable relative to one another along the axis. An electromagnetic force generated by the inductive coils provides spring and dampening forces for the motor vehicle. Further, variation in the inductance between the coils is measurement to determine the relative position between the coils in order to monitor motor vehicle ride height.

Abstract: A directory server including a supplier server, a consumer server in communication with the supplier server, a plurality of pluggable services that manage replication of data contained within the directory server from the supplier server to the consumer server; and a replica update vector used to determine a minimal set of updates necessary to synchronize the consumer server with respect to the supplier server. Replication of data is managed using the replica update vector.

Abstract: A virtual attribute service in a directory server including an attribute value associated with an entry, a virtual attribute service provider, and an interface using the virtual attribute service provider to generate the attribute value associated with the entry.

Abstract: A directory server including a supplier server, a consumer server in communication with the supplier server, a plurality of pluggable services that manage replication of data contained within the directory server from the supplier server to the consumer server, and a change sequence number used to determine ordering of operations performed on the consumer server. Replication of data is managed using the change sequence number.

Abstract: A method for resolving updates in a directory server including generating a change sequence number, creating a total ordering of operations by time using the change sequence number, extracting state information from an entry associated with an operation from the total ordering, and computing a new state for the entry using extracted state information and the operation associated with the entry.

Abstract: A directory server including a supplier server, a consumer server in communication with the supplier server, a plurality of pluggable services that manage replication of data contained within the directory server from the supplier server to the consumer server, and a directory server mapping tree used to select a backend to handle a request. Replication of data is managed using the directory server mapping tree.

Abstract: A directory server includes a supplier server, a consumer server in communication with the supplier server, a plurality of pluggable services that manage replication of data contained within the directory server from the supplier server to the consumer server, and a change log maintained on the consumer server of data replicated to the consumer server. The replication of data is managed by the plurality of pluggable services using the change log.