To obtain a front axle frame having a high degree of strength appropriate to heavy load tasks, without resulting in a decrease in productivity or a drastic rise in costs. In a tractor that includes a front axle frame supporting a front axle case, the front axle frame is configured by a cast metal member having a support portion on a bottom of the front axle frame, the support portion supporting the front axle case.

A heavy goods vehicle (10) having a vehicle frame (12) and at least one driving axis (A), which has on either longitudinal side (10a) of the vehicle (10) a bogie (22) comprising a wheel assembly (14), each wheel assembly (14) comprising at least two wheels arranged symmetrically in relation to a central axis (S), and a wheel suspension (18) by means of which said wheel assembly is fastened to a rotary plate (28) of the bogie (22), this rotary plate (28) being mounted on a rotary bearing (24) of the bogie (22) which is engaged with the vehicle frame (12) so as to be rotatable about a steering swivel axis (X). According to the invention, the rotary bearing (24) of the bogie (22) can be adjusted in the width direction (B) of the vehicle relative to the vehicle frame (12) and can be detachably connected to the vehicle frame (12) in an operationally stable manner.

Provided is a wheel assembly including a housing having a top side, an attachment arrangement on the top side of the housing and configured to be removably attached to an external support, a wheel supported by the housing and arranged below the top side of the housing, a motor supported by the housing and configured to move the wheel, a network interface supported by the housing, and a controller in communication with the motor and the network interface, the controller configured to control the motor based on at least one command received via the network interface. A modular vehicle system is also described.

One variation of a system includes a bogie including: a chassis; a first set of latches configured to transiently engage a first subset of engagement features, in a first array of engagement features on a left rail and in a second array of engagement features on a right rail of the trailer, to retain the bogie below a floor of the trailer; a driven axle suspended from the chassis; and a motor coupled to the driven axle and configured to output torque to the driven axle and regeneratively brake the driven axle. The system further includes a battery assembly: including a second set of latches configured to transiently engage a second subset of engagement features, in the first array of engagement features and in the second array of engagement features, to retain the battery assembly adjacent the bogie; and configured to receive electrical energy from the motor.

A wheel float that articulates in multiple directions for efficiently and safely moving an object across a surface having a non-planar obstruction. The wheel float has a pair of walking beam assemblies, a crosstube assembly having a crosstube interconnecting the walking beam assemblies, a pedestal supported by the crosstube and a center pivot assembly that allows the crosstube assembly to pivot relative to the pedestal. The pedestal has a support surface that supports the object above the walking beam assemblies. Each walking beam assembly has a base plate, wheeled casters, a pair of spaced apart hangers and a bushing assembly associated with an articulation opening in each of the hangers. Pivot members at the ends of the crosstube assembly engage the hanger bushings to allow the respective walking beam assembly to pivot relative to the crosstube. Thrust blocks or locating plates position the walking beam assemblies on the crosstube assembly.

A wheel float that articulates in multiple directions for efficiently and safely moving an object across a surface having a non-planar obstruction. The wheel float has a pair of walking beam assemblies, a crosstube assembly having a crosstube interconnecting the walking beam assemblies, a pedestal supported by the crosstube and a center pivot assembly that allows the crosstube assembly to pivot relative to the pedestal. The pedestal has a support surface that supports the object above the walking beam assemblies. Each walking beam assembly has a base plate, wheeled casters, a pair of spaced apart hangers and a bushing assembly associated with an articulation opening in each of the hangers. Pivot members at the ends of the crosstube assembly engage the hanger bushings to allow the respective walking beam assembly to pivot relative to the crosstube. Thrust blocks or locating plates position the walking beam assemblies on the crosstube assembly.

One variation of a system includes a drive subsystem and a controller. The drive subsystem includes: a chassis configured to transiently install on a trailer over a range of longitudinal positions; a set of retention features configured to transiently engage a first subset of engagement features, in a first array of engagement features on a left rail of the trailer and in a second array of engagement features on a right rail of the trailer, to couple the drive subsystem to the trailer in a particular longitudinal position in the range of longitudinal positions; a driven axle suspended from the chassis; and a motor coupled to the driven axle. The controller is configured to: trigger the motor to output torque to the driven axle; and trigger the motor to regeneratively brake the driven axle.

To obtain a front axle frame having a high degree of strength appropriate to heavy load tasks, without resulting in a decrease in productivity or a drastic rise in costs. In a tractor that includes a front axle frame supporting a front axle case, the front axle frame is configured by a cast metal member having a support portion on a bottom of the front axle frame, the support portion supporting the front axle case.

Provided is a wheel assembly including a housing having a top side, an attachment arrangement on the top side of the housing and configured to be removably attached to an external support, a wheel supported by the housing and arranged below the top side of the housing, a motor supported by the housing and configured to move the wheel, a network interface supported by the housing, and a controller in communication with the motor and the network interface, the controller configured to control the motor based on at least one command received via the network interface. A modular vehicle system is also described.

A heavy goods vehicle (10) having a vehicle frame (12) and at least one driving axis (A), which has on either longitudinal side (10a) of the vehicle (10) a bogie (22) comprising a wheel assembly (14), each wheel assembly (14) comprising at least two wheels arranged symmetrically in relation to a central axis (S), and a wheel suspension (18) by means of which said wheel assembly is fastened to a rotary plate (28) of the bogie (22), this rotary plate (28) being mounted on a rotary bearing (24) of the bogie (22) which is engaged with the vehicle frame (12) so as to be rotatable about a steering swivel axis (X). According to the invention, the rotary bearing (24) of the bogie (22) can be adjusted in the width direction (B) of the vehicle relative to the vehicle frame (12) and can be detachably connected to the vehicle frame (12) in an operationally stable manner.