A cradle assembly for housing and supporting a motor and a gearbox of an electric axle assembly. The cradle assembly has generally an “open air” design which provides a space for a motor and/or gearbox to be positioned within a pre-assembled cradle assembly and allows for easy access to the motor and gearbox for maintenance. The cradle assembly includes two end caps, a plurality of tube portions connecting the end caps and a plurality of motor mounts for supporting the motor and gearbox.

An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle beam and a suspension system. The suspension system includes a mounting member, at least one positioning member, and at least one coupling member configured to cooperate to maintain a position of a working component. The mounting member having at least one aperture formed therein is freely disposed on the axle beam and the at least one coupling member is disposed through the at least one aperture of the mounting member and entirely outside the axle beam.

An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that has a spindle sleeve (12) with a spindle sleeve inner surface axis (14) that is coaxial with the axis of an axle (16). The spindle sleeve (12) has a spindle sleeve outer surface axis (20) that is oriented at an angle to the axis of the axle. A hub (28) is present that has a hub axis (30) that is coaxial with the spindle sleeve outer surface axis (20). A rotor (32) is coaxial with the hub axis (30) and brake calipers (34) are carried by the axle. A brake caliper positional correction device (36) is present and is carried by the axle (16) and has a correction surface (38) that carries the brake calipers (34). The correction surface (38) orients the brake calipers (34) such that the brake calipers (34) are properly positioned with respect to the rotor (32).

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a bushing with a center line L, having an inner sleeve with a mounting bore, an outer sleeve and an elastomeric spring member extending along a height H along the center line L. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve are on each side of the center line L substantially parallel. On at least one side of the longitudinal center line L, the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve extend at an angle to the center line L. An outer surface of the outer sleeve is substantially parallel to the center line L along the height H. Another embodiment of an assembly according to the invention comprises a bushing with a mounting bore that extends at an angle to the center line L. The bushing according to the invention is compact, can be easily manufactured and assembled, take up a high load and can be adjusted to the direction along which forces act on the bushing.

A clamping system for mating an I-Beam frame to an undercarriage is disclosed. The clamping system utilizes clamping brackets to secure the undercarriage to the trailer frame. The undercarriage has adapter sides oriented perpendicular to the undercarriage adapter bottom. The clamping brackets have two portions oriented perpendicular to each other. Holes are located in the clamping brackets to receive bolts or screws. The trailer frame is aligned onto the undercarriage and positioned such that proper tongue weight is applied. The clamping brackets are rigidly installed on the clamping bracket sides. Clamping screws are installed into the clamping brackets and torqued to a value such that a compressive force is applied between the bottom of the I-Beam and the undercarriage adapter bottom. The compressive force applied prevents unwanted relative motion between the I-Beam frame and the undercarriage during use.

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.

An electric vehicle includes a chassis, a rigid axle housing, and a suspension system control arm coupling the rigid axle housing to the chassis. The electric vehicle also includes first and second electric motors, each having a rotator and a stator. The stator of the first and second electric motors are rigidly fixed to the rigid axle housing. The electric vehicle also includes a coolant supply system coupled to a radiator and the rigid axle housing to supply coolant from the radiator to a coolant inlet of the rigid axle housing and to supply used coolant from a coolant outlet of the rigid axle housing to the radiator. A first mounting bracket is fixed to the chassis and the coolant supply system. A second mounting bracket is fixed to the rigid axle housing and the coolant supply system, and a third mounting bracket is fixed to the control arm and the coolant supply system.

A vehicle including a frame having an axle and a support apparatus coupled thereto. The support apparatus is configured to support a load coupled to the axle and permit the load to translate along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis.

An electric vehicle includes a chassis, a rigid axle housing, and a suspension system control arm coupling the rigid axle housing to the chassis. The electric vehicle also includes first and second electric motors, each having a rotator and a stator. The stator of the first and second electric motors are rigidly fixed to the rigid axle housing. The electric vehicle also includes a coolant supply system coupled to a radiator and the rigid axle housing to supply coolant from the radiator to a coolant inlet of the rigid axle housing and to supply used coolant from a coolant outlet of the rigid axle housing to the radiator. A first mounting bracket is fixed to the chassis and the coolant supply system. A second mounting bracket is fixed to the rigid axle housing and the coolant supply system, and a third mounting bracket is fixed to the control arm and the coolant supply system.

A clamp group for a vehicle leaf spring suspension is disclosed. The clamp group secures a longitudinally disposed, leaf spring at separate and distinct locations, between which the leaf spring is undamped and spaced away from the top and bottom pads of the clamp group. Shear stress is reduced and the spring remains active throughout its length.