A quick replace axle for use on the non-drive axles of a vehicle comprising an outer sleeve and an inner axle wherein the inner axle fits into the outer sleeve and is held in place with a plurality of secure pins. The quick replace axle may also be hydraulic and may include a disk break assembly or a drum break assembly.

A speed limited wheel includes a wheel main body defining a cavity, a urethane wheel outer overmolded to the cavity, a brake hub and a plurality of brake elements. The brake hub is disposed in the cavity and includes a cylindrical flange. The wheel main body is rotatable relative to the brake hub about a wheel rotational axis. The plurality of brake elements is disposed in the cavity and is circumferentially surrounded by the cylindrical flange of the brake hub. Each brake element is pivotally mounted to the wheel main body for pivoting between a first position spaced apart from a cylindrical flange of the brake hub and a second position engaging the cylindrical flange of the brake hub for generating friction to reduce a rotational speed of the wheel. The speed limited wheel may be a caster.

A wheel end assembly having a knuckle, a brake spider, and a drum brake assembly. The knuckle may have a first mounting boss that may extend from a spindle mounting surface. The drum brake assembly may be mounted to the brake spider. The drum brake assembly may include a brake pad assembly that may extend partially around a first mounting boss.

A brake drum system (100) for a wheel of a vehicle, comprising a brake drum (110) rotatable with the wheel, the brake drum having an inner surface (124) adapted to receive a friction-generating lining when a driver applies the brakes of the vehicle; a wheel end hub (112) adapted to be located radially between a drive axle of the vehicle and the brake drum (110); and a substantially circular spring element (102) for concentrically aligning the brake drum (110) with the wheel end hub (112), the spring element being adapted to be clamped between the brake drum and the wheel end hub for providing a radially directed spring force, wherein the spring element has an outer surface adapted to be pressed against the brake drum and an inner surface adapted to be pressed against the wheel end hub.

A wheel hub drive as a direct drive of a wheel of a vehicle having an electric motor preferably designed as a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM)—external rotor motor—which is substantially arranged in the region within the wheel, wherein a rotating part of a friction brake is frictionally, interlockingly, and/or integrally connected to the motor for braking. The rotating part is operatively connected to the rotor of the motor, directly or indirectly, from outside of the motor.

An omni-wheel may include a shaft, a plurality of rollers, and a braking device. The plurality of rollers may be circumferentially arranged about the shaft and arranged radially outward from the shaft. The braking device may include an at least one flexible clutch member, an at least one brake pad, and an actuator. The at least one flexible clutch member may have an outer diameter arranged about the shaft. The at least one brake pad may be arranged on the outer diameter of the at least one flexible clutch member. The actuator may be arranged to axially displace the at least one flexible clutch member. The at least one flexible clutch member may expand radially outward when axially displaced by the actuator, which may displace the at least one brake pad arranged on the outer diameter of the at least one flexible clutch member radially outward to contact at least one of the plurality of rollers, preventing rotation of the roller.

A vehicle suspension can include an adapter mounting face, a spindle rigidly mounted relative to the adapter mounting face, a wheel mounting hub including a hub body rotatably mounted on the spindle by bearings, and an adapter that spaces a brake component away from the adapter mounting face. Another vehicle suspension can include a spindle, bearings, and a wheel mounting hub rotatably mounted on the spindle by the bearings, the wheel mounting hub can include a hub body and a wheel mounting flange, the hub body and the wheel mounting flange being separate components of the wheel mounting hub. A system for adapting a vehicle suspension to different suspension capacities can include multiple wheel mounting hubs including a same hub body internal configuration configured to be rotatably mounted on the spindle by the bearings, but the wheel mounting hubs including respective different wheel mounting flanges.

An omni-track system for mounting onto a wheel may include a plurality of track segments. Each of the plurality of track segments may include a male connector, a female connector, a roller mount, and at least one roller. The female connector may be arranged opposite the male connector. The roller mount may be fixedly secured to the track segment. The at least one roller may be rotatably secured to the roller mount. The plurality of track segments may be linked together to fully encompass an outer circumference of the wheel.

The rotor of an electric motor unit has a web portion partially enclosing the remainder of the unit and terminating in a circumferentially extending rim. The brake drum defines an engagement surface for drum brake linings, and has an outboard end defining a flange securable to the wheel hub. The brake drum also includes an open inboard end, partly covered over by a dust guard, and a circumferential wall extending between the outboard and inboard ends and surrounding the engagement surface. By way of keys and slots or recesses, a reinforcing ring interlocks the circumferentially extending rim of the web portion and the circumferential brake drum wall. The reinforcing ring is secured to the circumferentially extending rim and to the wall of the brake drum at a location disposed axially between the rim of the web portion and the brake drum lining engagement surface.

An assembly method is provided for a vehicle having an axle assembly. The assembly method comprises fastening a drum brake assembly having a brake spider to a brake flange of an axle assembly and routing electrical lines through the brake spider and the brake flange of the axle assembly. The assembly method further comprises coupling an electric drive motor to an axle of the axle assembly, attaching the electrical lines to the electric drive motor and coupling a wheel hub to the axle assembly. The assembly method further comprises disposing the drum brake assembly inside a chamber of a brake drum portion, the brake drum portion located coaxial to the axle and disposing the electric drive motor inside a chamber of a brake adapter portion, the brake adapter portion located coaxial to the axle.