A gear casing for a wheel-hub assembly comprises a gear housing comprising a drive-gear volume for accommodating therewithin a gearing assembly that is positioned to mediate between a drivetrain member and a wheel-hub member, the drive-gear volume being in fluid communication with opposing first and second openings formed in the gear housing for respective gearing-assembly connections therethrough with the drivetrain member and the wheel hub member; and a lubricant compartment radially displaced from the drive-gear volume and in fluid communication therewith exclusively via an array of one or more lubricant passages disposed circumferentially around a portion of the gear housing, the lubricant-passage array arranged for flow therethrough of a gearing-assembly lubricant between the lubricant compartment and the gear housing.

A wheel carrier device for a vehicle, with at least one wheel carrier which has at least one bearing point at which at least one wheel bearing is to be mounted for rotatably mounting a wheel hub, wherein the wheel carrier is at least partially surrounded on the outer circumference by at least one thermal insulation element.

A wheel carrier device for a vehicle, with at least one wheel carrier which has at least one bearing point at which at least one wheel bearing is to be mounted for rotatably mounting a wheel hub, wherein the wheel carrier is at least partially surrounded on the outer circumference by at least one thermal insulation element.

An independently driving wheel module includes: a base frame including an upper end fixed to a coupling surface of a vehicle body, and a rotation part coupled to the upper end of the base frame such that the rotation part is rotatable with respect to the upper end of the base frame; a connection link including a first end integrally coupled to the rotation part, and a second end having a shape extending downward from the first end of the connection link; a driving wheel disposed at a side of the second end of the connection link and coupled to the second end of the connection link; and a rotation plate including an upper and lower surfaces extending obliquely in misaligned directions, the rotation plate being interposed between the base frame and the vehicle body so as to be rotatable with respect to the base frame or the vehicle body.

An independently driving wheel module includes: a base frame including an upper end fixed to a coupling surface of a vehicle body, and a rotation part coupled to the upper end of the base frame such that the rotation part is rotatable with respect to the upper end of the base frame; a connection link including a first end integrally coupled to the rotation part, and a second end having a shape extending downward from the first end of the connection link; a driving wheel disposed at a side of the second end of the connection link and coupled to the second end of the connection link; and a rotation plate including an upper and lower surfaces extending obliquely in misaligned directions, the rotation plate being interposed between the base frame and the vehicle body so as to be rotatable with respect to the base frame or the vehicle body.

A lightweight suspension upright or knuckle for a vehicle including a bearing connection interface arranged coaxial with the rolling bearing and including a first sleeve element and a second sleeve element arranged radially outside the first sleeve element and including a BMC/LFT/DLFT annular body that is sandwiched between a first and second shell elements, which are coupled together in a radially superimposed manner and which are preferably obtained in a semi-cured state as self-supporting elements, to be chemically and mechanically bonded together and with the BMC/LFT/DLFT annular body in a later stage during a step of forming a core (11) to fill either completely or partially an empty space (12) delimited between the first and second shell elements (8,9).

A lightweight suspension upright or knuckle for a vehicle including a bearing connection interface arranged coaxial with the rolling bearing and including a first sleeve element and a second sleeve element arranged radially outside the first sleeve element and including a BMC/LFT/DLFT annular body that is sandwiched between a first and second shell elements, which are coupled together in a radially superimposed manner and which are preferably obtained in a semi-cured state as self-supporting elements, to be chemically and mechanically bonded together and with the BMC/LFT/DLFT annular body in a later stage during a step of forming a core (11) to fill either completely or partially an empty space (12) delimited between the first and second shell elements (8,9).

An axle assembly for a driving wheel of a vehicle allows a wheel-side joint and a shaft to be rotated separately from a boot while driving so as to prevent generation of friction noise of the boot. The axle assembly includes the shaft rotated by receiving driving force from a powertrain; an axle housing disposed to pass through a center of a steering knuckle connected to a steering apparatus; a wheel bearing mounted between the steering knuckle and the axle housing; a joint bearing mounted on an outer part of the shaft; and a boot unit configured to have a first end coupled to an outer race of the joint bearing and a second end coupled to an outer race of the wheel bearing so as to form a space filled with a lubricant outside the shaft.

A steerable vehicle suspension can include an axle, at least one retractor having a length that decreases in response to a pressure increase applied to the retractor, and at least one wheel spindle. Resistance to rotation of the wheel spindle relative to the axle increases in response to the pressure increase applied to the retractor. A method of operating a steerable vehicle suspension of a vehicle can include allowing steering knuckles rotatably mounted at opposite ends of an axle to rotate relative to the axle while the vehicle moves forward, and applying an inwardly directed force simultaneously to each of the steering knuckles. Another steerable vehicle suspension can include two rotatably mounted steering knuckles, and two retractors connected to the steering knuckles. An inwardly directed force is applied by each retractor to a respective one of the steering knuckles in response to pressure applied to the retractors.

A steerable vehicle suspension can include an axle, at least one retractor having a length that decreases in response to a pressure increase applied to the retractor, and at least one wheel spindle. Resistance to rotation of the wheel spindle relative to the axle increases in response to the pressure increase applied to the retractor. A method of operating a steerable vehicle suspension of a vehicle can include allowing steering knuckles rotatably mounted at opposite ends of an axle to rotate relative to the axle while the vehicle moves forward, and applying an inwardly directed force simultaneously to each of the steering knuckles. Another steerable vehicle suspension can include two rotatably mounted steering knuckles, and two retractors connected to the steering knuckles. An inwardly directed force is applied by each retractor to a respective one of the steering knuckles in response to pressure applied to the retractors.