A front axle assembly with an axle housing that has first and second housing halves that each include a main housing portion, a tubular portion and a steering yoke. The main housing portion defines a cavity that houses at least a portion of a speed differentiation mechanism. The tubular portions are fixedly coupled to an associated one of the main housing portions and extend between the main housing portion and an associated one of the steering yokes. Each steering yoke is fixedly coupled to an associated tubular portion. An annular joint structure is formed where the first and second first housing halves are coupled to one another. The annular joint structure is formed about the rotary axis such that one of the first and second housing halves is inserted into the other one of the first and second housing halves along an insertion axis that is coincident with the rotary axis.

A wheel drive assembly for transferring propelling torque from a source shaft to a wheel, the source shaft receiving torque from a motion actuator. The wheel drive assembly includes a wheel-hub, adapted to have the wheel mounted thereon, the wheel-hub being arranged about a longitudinal axis, which is adapted to coincide with a rotation axis of the wheel. The wheel drive assembly further includes a drive axle and a constant velocity (CV) joint mounted onto an outer end of the drive axle. The CV joint connects the drive axle to the wheel-hub. An outermost surface of the CV joint is disposed outwardly of an outermost surface of the wheel hub, along the longitudinal axis of the wheel-hub.

Provided are a steering function-equipped hub unit that has a simple structure, high rigidity and a reduced size, a steering system, as well as a vehicle including the steering function-equipped hub unit. The steering function-equipped hub unit includes: a hub unit main body including a hub bearing supporting a wheel; a unit support member provided to a knuckle of a suspension device and rotatably supporting the hub unit main body about a turning axis extending in a vertical direction; and a steering actuator configured to rotationally drive the hub unit main body about the turning axis. The hub unit main body is supported by the unit support member through a preloaded rolling bearing.

A cylinder boot for an axle of an industrial vehicle includes a cylinder boot body, a rod-side fixing portion, a cylinder-side fixing portion, and a detection portion. The cylinder boot covers a cylinder rod of a steering hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder boot body has a contractable portion that is contractable in response to a stroke of the cylinder rod. The rod-side fixing portion is disposed at one end portion of the cylinder boot body and fixed to a distal end portion of the cylinder rod. The cylinder-side fixing portion is disposed at the other end portion of the cylinder boot body and fixed to a cylinder body of the steering hydraulic cylinder. The detection portion is displaced in a direction in which the cylinder rod extends or contracts, and is detected by a detection sensor disposed on the beam axle.

Provided is a steering function-equipped hub unit including: a hub unit body including a hub bearing; a unit support member configured to be provided to a chassis frame component, the unit support member supporting the hub unit body such that the hub unit body is rotatable about a turning axis extending in a vertical direction; and a steering actuator configured to rotationally drive the hub unit body about the turning axis, wherein the hub bearing includes an outer race integrally provided with turning shaft parts protruding upward and downward in the vertical direction on an outer peripheral surface of the outer race, each of the turning shaft parts having an axis coinciding with the turning axis, and the hub unit body is rotatably supported by the unit support member through the turning shaft parts.

Provided herein is a driving apparatus for transporting a loaded object, which allows a drive-wheel to always be in contact with the ground even when the ground is uneven. The driving apparatus includes a loading plate (140, 240) on which a loaded object is loaded, a first support (110, 210) connected to a lower portion of one side of the loading plate (140, 240), a second support (120, 220) connected to a lower portion of the other side of the loading plate (140, 240), a hinge (130, 230) configured to connect the first support (110, 210) to the second support (120, 220) in a hinge structure, at least a pair of drive-wheels (160, 260) coupled to both sides of a lower portion of the second support (120, 220), and a driver configured to rotate and drive the drive-wheels (160, 260).

A cylinder boot for an axle of an industrial vehicle includes a cylinder boot body, a rod-side fixing portion, a cylinder-side fixing portion, and a detection portion. The cylinder boot covers a cylinder rod of a steering hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder boot body has a contractable portion that is contractable in response to a stroke of the cylinder rod. The rod-side fixing portion is disposed at one end portion of the cylinder boot body and fixed to a distal end portion of the cylinder rod. The cylinder-side fixing portion is disposed at the other end portion of the cylinder boot body and fixed to a cylinder body of the steering hydraulic cylinder. The detection portion is displaced in a direction in which the cylinder rod extends or contracts, and is detected by a detection sensor disposed on the beam axle.

Steered caster wheel systems that include a disengagement system to enable a caster wheel steering mode and non-caster wheel steering mode are disclosed. In some embodiments, the caster wheels are mounted to a subframe that may be independently suspended from the chassis of a vehicle such as a self-propelled vehicle.

The present disclosure provides an inner-C-forging assembly, an integral front axle assembly, and modification method thereof. The inner-C-forging assembly includes an inner-C-forging and a connection structure. The inner-C-forging is configured for connecting with a kingpin knuckle. The connection structure is configured for connecting with an axle tube. The inner-C-forging is detachably fixed to the connection structure, and the inner-C-forging has different mounting states relative to the connection structure. At different mounting states, a kingpin installation portion of the inner-C-forging has different positions relative to the connection structure. In the present disclosure, vehicle's caster angles on both sides and the pinion to driveshaft angle can be conveniently and independently adjusted while ensuring the support strength.

A wheel drive assembly for transferring propelling torque from a source shaft to a wheel, the source shaft receiving torque from a motion actuator. The wheel drive assembly includes a wheel-hub, adapted to have the wheel mounted thereon, the wheel-hub being arranged about a longitudinal axis, which is adapted to coincide with a rotation axis of the wheel. The wheel drive assembly further includes a drive axle and a constant velocity (CV) joint mounted onto an outer end of the drive axle. The CV joint connects the drive axle to the wheel-hub. An outermost surface of the CV joint is disposed outwardly of an outermost surface of the wheel hub, along the longitudinal axis of the wheel-hub.