An axle-to-beam connection for a suspension assembly of an axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle including an axle, a beam, and a top pad. The beam includes an alignment assembly for aligning the axle with the beam. The top pad includes an integrally-formed bump stop boss and is fixedly attached to the axle and removably attached to the alignment assembly of the beam.

Lift axle systems for use with trucks and other heavy duty vehicles are described herein. In some embodiments, lift axle systems configured in accordance with the present technology include upper and lower control arms on each side of the vehicle that operably couple an axle to a support system attached to the vehicle chassis. The upper control arm has a first end portion pivotally attached to a support system bracket at an upper bracket location, and a second end portion pivotally attached to the axle at an upper axle location. The lower control arm has a first end portion pivotally attached to the support system bracket at a lower bracket location, and a second end portion pivotally attached to the axle at a lower axle location. In some embodiments, the upper and lower bracket locations lie in a vertical plane that extends parallel to the vertical and longitudinal axes of the vehicle, and the upper axle location is spaced apart from the lower axle location in a lateral direction that extends parallel to the lateral axis of the vehicle.

Lift axle systems for use with trucks and other heavy duty vehicles are described herein. In some embodiments, lift axle systems configured in accordance with the present technology include upper and lower control arms on each side of the vehicle that operably couple an axle to a support system attached to the vehicle chassis. The upper control arm has a first end portion pivotally attached to a support system bracket at an upper bracket location, and a second end portion pivotally attached to the axle at an upper axle location. The lower control arm has a first end portion pivotally attached to the support system bracket at a lower bracket location, and a second end portion pivotally attached to the axle at a lower axle location. In some embodiments, the upper and lower bracket locations lie in a vertical plane that extends parallel to the vertical and longitudinal axes of the vehicle, and the upper axle location is spaced apart from the lower axle location in a lateral direction that extends parallel to the lateral axis of the vehicle.

An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that has an axle and a spindle sleeve with a spindle sleeve inner surface axis coaxial with the axis of the axle, and a spindle sleeve outer surface axis not coaxial with the axis of the axle. A hub has an axis coaxial with the spindle sleeve outer surface axis, and the hub at least partially defines a chamber. First and second ports extend through a wall of the hub to the chamber. The hub rotates about the spindle sleeve through the aid of two bearings. Lubricant is present within the chamber, and the first port provides a pathway for a pressurized fluid to be introduced into the chamber to force the lubricant out of the chamber via the second port.

An axle unit, includes a control arm and a clamping unit that surround a tube region, wherein a first side of the control arm faces away from the tube region, and a second side of the control arm forms a boundary face on the control-arm side of the tube region, wherein the clamping unit can be brought into supporting abutment with the first side of the control arm and has a boundary face on the clamp side, which face defines the tube region, wherein the clamping unit has a first and second clamping parts each having a wedge portion, wherein the wedge portions are formed in such a way that a displacement of the clamping parts substantially in parallel with a clamping axis toward one another results in a narrowing of the tube region transversely to the clamping axis.

The present invention is directed to a method for bidirectional communication between a command unit and a plurality of LED control units connected thereto. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to supply control commands to LED control units with high speed, or to return execution results from these control units to a command unit. Therefore, the present invention provides for a highly efficient and thus highly performant method for communication between several serially connected control units. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a respective device for bidirectional communication as well as a computer program product including control commands for implementation of the method.

Air damping systems for lift axles are described herein. In some embodiments, lift axle systems configured in accordance with the present technology can include one or more air springs for carrying vehicle sprung mass (load springs) and one or more air springs (or, for example, air cylinders) for raising the lift axle (lift springs). One or more air lines can be connected between the load springs and the lift springs so that, in operation, compression and extension of the load springs in response to axle movement causes pressurized air to flow back and forth between the load springs and the lift springs. As a result, the lift springs provide an additional volume to receive the pressurized air and provide an opposing spring force to the suspension. Additionally, in some embodiments the air line or lines extending between the load springs and the lift springs can include an air flow restriction and/or other air damping feature. In operation, the air damping feature dampens the flow of air between the load springs and the lift springs to provide damping of the vehicle suspension without the additional costs or disadvantages often associated with conventional hydraulic shock absorbers.

Air damping systems for lift axles are described herein. In some embodiments, lift axle systems configured in accordance with the present technology can include one or more air springs for carrying vehicle sprung mass (load springs) and one or more air springs (or, for example, air cylinders) for raising the lift axle (lift springs). One or more air lines can be connected between the load springs and the lift springs so that, in operation, compression and extension of the load springs in response to axle movement causes pressurized air to flow back and forth between the load springs and the lift springs. As a result, the lift springs provide an additional volume to receive the pressurized air and provide an opposing spring force to the suspension. Additionally, in some embodiments the air line or lines extending between the load springs and the lift springs can include an air flow restriction and/or other air damping feature. In operation, the air damping feature dampens the flow of air between the load springs and the lift springs to provide damping of the vehicle suspension without the additional costs or disadvantages often associated with conventional hydraulic shock absorbers.

Vehicle suspension systems are described herein. An example apparatus includes a cam pivotably coupled to a rear axle. The example apparatus also includes a first tie rod having a first end pivotably coupled to the cam and a second end pivotably coupled to a steering knuckle. The example apparatus also includes a second tie rod having a first end pivotably coupled to the cam outboard relative to the first end of the first tie rod and a second end coupled to a steering actuator.

A motor drive device includes: a trailing arm that extends in a vehicle front-rear direction and includes a vehicle body-side attachment portion and wheel-side support portion, the vehicle body-side attachment portion formed on a forward portion side of the trailing arm and coupled to a vehicle body via a rubber bush, the wheel-side support portion formed on a rear side of the trailing arm and supporting a rear wheel; and a motor that is supported by the trailing arm and drives the rear wheel. The motor and the rubber bush are disposed in such a way that motor and the rubber bush are seen as being substantially aligned in a vehicle up-down direction when viewed in a vehicle width direction.