A vehicle weight sensing system is particularly useful for trailers. An axle tube is mounted to the vehicle or trailer through its suspension members that may be leaf springs. A mounting block is affixed to the axle tube for mounting a strain gauge. The mounting block is fixed to the axle tube between the suspension members connected to the axle tube. The mounting block has a mounting surface opposite to the mating surface and a notch extends from the mating surface toward the mounting surface. The notch terminates between the mating surface and the mounting surface. The notch separates rigidified sections of the mounting block and the rigidified sections straddle the notch. The stain gauge measures strain in the axle and thereby generates a signal proportional to the weight on the trailer. The signal can be used to properly proportion a brake system on the trailer.

An air suspension for a vehicle includes a mounting bracket configured to couple to the vehicle. A pivot bracket includes a top and a bottom. The top is pivotably coupled to a frontward portion of the mounting bracket. An air shock absorber includes a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotably coupled to the bottom of the pivot bracket and the second end is pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the mounting bracket. An axle arm includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the axle arm is fixedly coupled to the frontward portion of the mounting bracket. A spindle is fixedly coupled to the second portion of the axle arm and is configured to be coupled to a hub assembly of a wheel.

An axle/suspension assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle supported by a frame and a hanger includes a beam, an axle, and a bumper. The axle is supported by a first portion of the beam for pivotal movement of the beam relative to the hanger at a pivot joint. The first portion of the beam is located on a first side of the pivot joint. The bumper is fixed to at least one of the frame, the hanger, and a second portion of the beam. The second portion of the beam is located on an opposite second side of the pivot joint. The bumper includes a portion for contacting structure of at least another of the frame, the hanger, and the beam to limit pivotal movement of the axle in one direction.

A towable vehicle including a chassis, at least two wheels and a suspension assembly supporting each wheel. The suspension assembly includes a swing arm pivotally mounted to the chassis, an axle mounted proximate an end of the swing arm, the wheel being mounted on the axle, at least one shock absorber extending from the chassis to the swing arm, an airbag swing arm mounting pivotally coupled to the swing arm, an airbag chassis mounting coupled to the chassis, an airbag coupled to the airbag swing arm and airbag chassis mountings so that inflation of the airbag allows a suspension height to be adjusted over an operating range and a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the chassis and the airbag swing arm mounting to maintain an orientation of the airbag swing arm mounting over the operating range.

In one embodiment, a pull-type machine, comprising: a chassis; a fully independent suspension system mounted to the chassis; and wheels mounted to the independent suspension system.

In one embodiment, an apparatus, comprising: a housing; a spherical bearing disposed within the housing; a shaft disposed in part beneath the housing and penetrating a portion of the spherical bearing; a bellow circumscribing a lower portion of the housing and providing an interface between the spherical bearing and the shaft; and a cover adjacent a lower end of the bellow and having a circumferential groove configured to enable rotational movement of the bellow, the cover extending to and circumferentially surrounding a portion of the shaft to seal the shaft.

The invention concerns an axle unit, in particular for use in utility vehicles with a hydraulic or compressed air system, comprising an axle tube and an actuation unit, wherein the axle tube has a receiving opening, wherein the actuation unit has a cylinder, a piston rod and a piston, wherein the piston divides a chamber of the actuation unit into a first chamber region and a second chamber region, wherein the piston rod is in engagement with the piston and is designed such that it can be brought into engagement with a leg of the axle unit in order to transmit a force to the leg, wherein the actuation unit is arranged in the receiving opening of the axle tube and is secured against moving transversely relative to a tube axis and at least in one direction parallel to the tube axis.

An axle cartridge member receives a pair of torsion stub axles at opposite lateral sides thereof. The torsion stub axles include elongated axle housings, which are sandwiched between two parallel plates to align the torsion stub axles with respect to one another. The cartridge member includes a central arch extending between the two torsion stub axles, which can provide additional ground clearance when the axle cartridge member is mounted to a trailer.

A three-wheeled vehicle having a frame with articulated four-link straight line linkage mechanism mounted thereon, said mechanism including lateral arms arranged symmetrically about the axis of symmetry of the vehicle, and also one conditionally front wheel, and two conditionally rear wheels, each having an axis. The articulated four-link straight line linkage mechanism also includes a linear steering mechanism, a T-shaped arm, a short central arm, an O-shaped bracket, a rubber-strand torsion member of the conditionally front wheel, and one rubber-strand torsion member and L-shaped wheel arm per each conditionally rear wheel, which form a rear axle connected to the linear steering mechanism via the T-shaped linkage arm. The result is increased stability when cornering at a speed, and more accurate steering.

A trailer includes a trailer frame having a hitch. A stationary support base is joined to the trailer frame. Two support plates are slidably guided on the support base toward and away from each other. A pair of wheel assemblies is provided, wherein a wheel assembly is mounted to an end of each of the support plates remote from the other support plate such that a distance between the wheel assemblies varies with movement of the support plates on the support base. A pair of drive links is provided wherein a drive link is joined to each of the support plates. A drive mechanism is joined to the drive links and configured to selectively move the support plates toward or away from each other.