Abstract: A motor vehicle and construction method for a motor vehicle, such as a bus, wherein fabricated subassemblies or modules are joined using mechanical fasteners to form an integrated, load carrying structure. The fabricated subassemblies are configured to allow substitution of subassemblies with alternative configurations in order to produce a number of unique vehicle configurations each sharing a common architecture. Modular construction techniques allow for simplification of construction processes, reduction of welding processes, and the application of physically smaller subassemblies. Interchange and substitution of subassemblies with shared attributes may also facilitate production of vehicles having different characteristics.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a motor vehicle, such as a bus, using a rear driven axle and having a propulsion unit positioned so that it is not aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle. The propulsion unit is oriented at an acute angle to the base reference axis of the vehicle. The axle is provided with a driven input shaft that is oriented at an angle not parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The propulsion unit comprises a motor, a transmission, and a bevel gear box coupled to the transmission, with an output shaft that is oriented at an angle not parallel to the axis of the propulsion system. The propulsion unit output shaft and the driven axle input shaft are not aligned coaxially, and are connected via a propeller shaft, wherein the ends of the propeller shaft use constant velocity joints to accomplish a change in the angle of the transmitted power and torque.

Abstract: A motor vehicle and construction method for a motor vehicle, such as a bus, wherein fabricated subassemblies or modules are joined using mechanical fasteners to form an integrated, load carrying structure. The fabricated subassemblies are configured to allow substitution of subassemblies with alternative configurations in order to produce a number of unique vehicle configurations each sharing a common architecture. Modular construction techniques allow for simplification of construction processes, reduction of welding processes, and the application of physically smaller subassemblies. Interchange and substitution of subassemblies with shared attributes may also facilitate production of vehicles having different characteristics.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a motor vehicle, such as a bus, using a rear driven axle and having a propulsion unit positioned so that it is not aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle. The propulsion unit is oriented at an acute angle to the base reference axis of the vehicle. The axle is provided with a driven input shaft that is oriented at an angle not parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The propulsion unit comprises a motor, a transmission, and a bevel gear box coupled to the transmission, with an output shaft that is oriented at an angle not parallel to the axis of the propulsion system. The propulsion unit output shaft and the driven axle input shaft are not aligned coaxially, and are connected via a propeller shaft, wherein the ends of the propeller shaft use constant velocity joints to accomplish a change in the angle of the transmitted power and torque.

Abstract: The apparatus for monitoring and recording operational characteristics of heavy or medium duty vehicle power steering systems and a method of using same in testing the operation and response of a steering system in a heavy or medium duty truck including school buses. In its most basic form, the apparatus is comprised of a data collection computer means for collecting data input and displaying output data, a steering wheel rotation measuring assembly, a driver side pitman arm angle measuring device, a passenger side wheel turn angle measuring device, and a driver side wheel turn angle measuring device. The apparatus is generally installed on a temporary basis for troubleshooting and analysis, however, the steering wheel rotation measuring assembly may be permanently installed on a vehicle to give the driver an accurate indication of steering wheel turns or an alarm when the wheel has been turned to its maximum value.

Abstract: We have studied the regulation of the extracellular chymoelastase protease (Pr1) of Metarhizium anisopliae, an enzyme involved in the penetration of insect cuticle by Metarhizium and other entomopathogenic fungi. We report here the isolation and characterization of a Pr1 cDNA clone with a full length insert. Pr1 is synthesized as a large precursor (40.3 kDa) containing a signal peptide and a propeptide and the mature protein is predicted to have a relative molecular mass of 28.6 kDa. The primary structure of Pr1 shares extensive homology (30-60%) with enzymes of the subtilisin subclass of the serine endopeptidases and the serine, histidine and aspartyl components of the active site in subtilisins are preserved. The genes coding for chymoelastase or slightly altered versions thereof, can be used to transform various organisms (i.e. fungi, viruses, plants, bacteria, etc.) such that the transformed organisms are capable of producing chymoelastase in recoverable quantities.