An axle structure is provided with an axle housing for internally passing an axle shaft having wheels connected to both left and right ends thereof, and a drive motor unit. The axle housing includes a large diameter housing center portion having a recessed portion which is recessed from an opening portion on a front surface side toward a rear surface side, and small diameter hollow shaft portions connected as a left and right pair to both sides of the housing center portion. The drive motor unit is fitted into the recessed portion and is bolted to the axle housing by means of tightening bolts.

A frame unit for utility vehicles includes outer and inner parts and a transverse region, wherein the transverse region extends substantially transversely to the outer part and/or the inner part, wherein the transverse region is integrally formed with the outer part or the inner part, the outer part and/or the inner part has a fastening region for being secured to a vehicle frame, the outer part has an outer bearing region and the inner part has an inner bearing region, an axle guide can be arranged between the outer and inner bearing regions and can be secured to the bearing regions such that the axle guide can pivot about a bearing axis, and wherein the transverse region secures the outer part and/or the inner part against pivoting about an orthogonal in relation to the bearing axis.

A connecting tube for connecting two joint attachments of a steering or track rod. The connecting tube is reinforced by at least one tube section connected by friction force to the connecting tube such that either the entire outer or inside wall the tube section is in contact against a wall of the connecting tube, thereby forming a press fit connection. The steering or the track rod has a connecting tube with end sections that each hold or support components of joint attachments. A method for producing a connecting tube or the steering or the track rod in which first a tube semifabricate of the tube section is positioned within a tube semifabricate of the connecting tube and then the two tube semifabricates are expanded within a connection zone by a mandrel with an oversized section that is moved along the common axial direction of the two tube semifabricates.

A connecting tube for connecting two joint attachments of a steering or track rod. The connecting tube is reinforced by at least one tube section connected by friction force to the connecting tube such that either the entire outer or inside wall the tube section is in contact against a wall of the connecting tube, thereby forming a press fit connection. The steering or the track rod has a connecting tube with end sections that each hold or support components of joint attachments. A method for producing a connecting tube or the steering or the track rod in which first a tube semifabricate of the tube section is positioned within a tube semifabricate of the connecting tube and then the two tube semifabricates are expanded within a connection zone by a mandrel with an oversized section that is moved along the common axial direction of the two tube semifabricates.

Methods and systems for estimating an axle load of a vehicle are described. In one example, a method is disclosed wherein axle load is estimated in response to an angle between two components of an axle. The angle may change as weight is added to or removed from the axle such that axle load may be determined as a function of the angle.

A control system for controlling the ride height of a vehicle, the system including a controller that receives and processes multiple variable inputs to provide enhanced ride height control. The inputs include a brake system signal including an Automatic Braking System (ABS) signal and/or an Electronic Braking System (EBS) signal, a remote setpoint signal and/or a fluid dump signal. The system also provides for measuring the actual ride height, filtering the measured ride height, determining if the filter ride height signal exceeds a threshold level, and adjusting the ride height accordingly.

A leaf spring suspension system for a vehicle includes a chassis rail. Also included is a pivot block operatively coupled to the chassis rail and rotatable relative to the chassis rail. Further included is a leaf spring operatively coupled to the pivot block proximate an end of the leaf spring. Yet further included is a half leaf spring operatively coupled to the pivot block proximate a first end of the half leaf spring and operatively coupled to a vehicle axle proximate a second end of the half leaf spring.

A rear suspension apparatus of a vehicle includes: a transverse helper leaf spring connected to a rear axle and disposed in a transverse direction; and a first stopper mechanism and a second stopper mechanism contacting the transverse helper leaf spring when the vehicle moves. The rear suspension apparatus is capable of improving riding quality by using a new spring constant value generated by the transverse helper leaf spring when freight is loaded and a vehicle body frame moves downwardly, and restricting rolling movement of the vehicle when rolling is caused, thereby increasing roll stiffness and improving driving stability.

A rear suspension apparatus of a vehicle includes: a transverse helper leaf spring connected to a rear axle and disposed in a transverse direction; and a first stopper mechanism and a second stopper mechanism contacting the transverse helper leaf spring when the vehicle moves. The rear suspension apparatus is capable of improving riding quality by using a new spring constant value generated by the transverse helper leaf spring when freight is loaded and a vehicle body frame moves downwardly, and restricting rolling movement of the vehicle when rolling is caused, thereby increasing roll stiffness and improving driving stability.

A wall component and other components for a building structure wherein the wall component has a spanning beam spanning the length of the wall component, one or more structural column assemblies positioned between the spanning beam and a floor plate which are structured to carry structural weights and loads received from the spanning beam. The structural column assemblies are separated by a longitudinal distance so as to define an intercolumnar region which is greater than a width of a member selected from the group consisting of a door assembly and a window assembly, and there is an exterior panel fastened between the first and second structural column assemblies that defines a generally continuous and uninterrupted planar surface over the intercolumnar region.