Abstract: A system is provided for lifting one or more axles on a lifting machine, such as a crane including a chassis, relative to the ground. The system includes a lifter for raising or lowering the axle relative to the ground. The lifter comprising a flexible connector, such as a strap, for connecting with the axle and/or a cylinder including a rod connected to the connector and adapted for substantially horizontal movement for raising or lowering the first axle. A bearing may also be provided for supporting the flexible connector during the lifting and lowering of the axle. The system may be applied to multiple axles for independent or simultaneous operation. Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A videoconferencing network for digital computer workstations that operate on a local area network (LAN) to exchange data. The network includes a signalling local area network (A-LAN), connected to a first port of a plurality of workstations, for transmitting and receiving data signals between selected ones of the workstations and a broadband local area network (B-LAN) connected to a second port of the plurality of workstations, for transmitting and receiving television signals between selected ones of these workstations. Each television signal is transmitted at a selected frequency channel so that no two transmissions interfere. A software program, stored in and operable on the computer of each workstation, generates and receives data messages, transmitted via the A-LAN, to and from the computer of another workstation, respectively.