A torque support assembly, for supporting a torque of a hollow shaft onto a frame of a bicycle, comprising a cam comprising a cam hole for receiving therein a distal end of the shaft, wherein the cam hole and the shaft are interlockingly shaped for rotationally locking the cam and shaft with respect to each other, an adapter interface comprising a first face defining a seat for the cam, and an adapter interface through hole which extends from the seat on the first face and is coaxial with the cam hole for allowing a thru-axle to extend there through. The adapter interface comprises an upstanding wall, extending outward from the first face, defining an inner support surface of the seat on which the cam is supported against rotation.

A wheel assembly provides an expanded air-pressurization chamber to increase the load capacity of the mounted tire. The wheel assembly includes an axle shaft, including flange plates mounted at opposite ends of the shaft and a mounting disc attached to each flange plate. There is an annular-shaped locking ring attached to each mounting disc. A cylindrical insert assembly is mounted between the pair of locking rings. A central section is defined in the tubular body extending between a pair of annular flange wall portions and includes an array of holes. The tire bead at each inner edge of a tire is located within the annular bead-receiving channels formed between the locking ring and insert assembly. A dual air-pressurization chamber is formed, one radially outward and the other radially inward of the tubular body of the insert assembly.

A wheel assembly provides an expanded air-pressurization chamber to increase the load capacity of the mounted tire. The wheel assembly includes an axle shaft, including flange plates mounted at opposite ends of the shaft and a mounting disc attached to each flange plate. There is an annular-shaped locking ring attached to each mounting disc. A cylindrical insert assembly is mounted between the pair of locking rings. A central section is defined in the tubular body extending between a pair of annular flange wall portions and includes an array of holes. The tire bead at each inner edge of a tire is located within the annular bead-receiving channels formed between the locking ring and insert assembly. A dual air-pressurization chamber is formed, one radially outward and the other radially inward of the tubular body of the insert assembly.

An axle of a vehicle includes an axle subframe, wherein the axle subframe has at least two longitudinal members oriented approximately in the vehicle longitudinal direction and at least one crossmember oriented at least approximately in the vehicle transverse direction. The axle subframe is attached to a body of the vehicle by at least one axle-subframe bearing, wherein the axle-subframe bearing is additionally supported on the body via a thrust arm. A drive unit is supported on the body and/or on the axle subframe via an assembly mounting. The drive unit is supported with the assembly mounting on the body of the vehicle via the thrust arm.

An axle assembly for a vehicle. A movable housing is movably positioned within a closed channel defined by a central housing. The movable housing moves the axle assembly between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. A mounting assembly may be coupled to and spaced from the movable housing and slidably positioned adjacent the central housing. A steering actuator is coupled to a steering arm and the mounting assembly such that the steering actuator moves as a unit. A track assist bracket may be fixedly coupled to the central housing and define a gap sized to slidably receive a mounting plate of the mounting assembly. A bushing may be disposed on each wall of a telescoping portion of the movable housing. A bellows may be provided to enclose exposed portions of the bushings in the extended configuration. Methods of adjusting the track of the axle assembly are also disclosed.

An axle assembly for a vehicle. A movable housing is movably positioned within a closed channel defined by a central housing. The movable housing moves the axle assembly between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. A mounting assembly may be coupled to and spaced from the movable housing and slidably positioned adjacent the central housing. A steering actuator is coupled to a steering arm and the mounting assembly such that the steering actuator moves as a unit. A track assist bracket may be fixedly coupled to the central housing and define a gap sized to slidably receive a mounting plate of the mounting assembly. A bushing may be disposed on each wall of a telescoping portion of the movable housing. A bellows may be provided to enclose exposed portions of the bushings in the extended configuration. Methods of adjusting the track of the axle assembly are also disclosed.

A collapsible support structure includes at least a horizontal support structure, a vertical support structure, and an axle assembly. In use, the collapsible support structure may be folded/unfolded between a deployed configuration, in which the collapsible support structure may be capable of rolling along a support surface to transport items, and a stowed/storage position, in which the collapsible support structure is collapsed in a compact geometry for storage. The axle assembly enables removal of the wheels from the axle for storage of the collapsible support structure. The axle may be repositionable between a deployed position and a storage position. The axle may be equipped with a retainer unit that retains the axle in the deployed position.

A vehicle component such as an axle spindle or suspension beam (3) is connected to a tubular vehicle axle (1) by fitting a connector sleeve (2) onto the axle and subjecting the assembly to a crimping operation in which plural depressions (206,2018) are formed by indentation in the connector sleeve and the axle wall at the connection region (11,12) to fix the connector sleeve on the tubular axle. In the described proposals a solid lubricant (4) such as molybdenum disulphide is applied at the connection region between the connector sleeve (2) and axle (1), before crimping. The further vehicle component (3) is then connected to the connector sleeve (2) by welding.

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 modular drive system may include a motor assembly that includes a motor housing with a motor subassembly bolt pattern. The modular drive system may include a brake assembly that includes a brake housing with a brake subassembly bolt pattern. The modular drive system may include a final drive assembly that includes a final drive flange with a final drive subassembly bolt pattern.