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.

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.

Self-steering axle assembly has an axle with central tube having a longitudinal central axis. A king pin is connected with an end portion of the axle. A knuckle is connected with the king pin. The knuckle includes a torque plate section. A first arm of the knuckle extends from a side of the torque plate section and receives a first end portion of the king pin. A second arm extends from the torque plate section in the same direction as the first arm. The second arm receives a second end portion of the king pin. A spindle is friction welded to the torque plate section and has a longitudinal central axis. The torque plate section has at least one surface on the torque plate section extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the spindle. A tool engages the surface during friction welding of the spindle to the torque plate section. The relative locations of the axle, spindle and king pin enable an air disc brake actuator to avoid contact with components of the heavy-duty vehicle during steering and with the ground and debris.

Self-steering axle assembly has an axle with central tube having a longitudinal central axis. A king pin is connected with an end portion of the axle. A knuckle is connected with the king pin. The knuckle includes a torque plate section. A first arm of the knuckle extends from a side of the torque plate section and receives a first end portion of the king pin. A second arm extends from the torque plate section in the same direction as the first arm. The second arm receives a second end portion of the king pin. A spindle is friction welded to the torque plate section and has a longitudinal central axis. The torque plate section has at least one surface on the torque plate section extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the spindle. A tool engages the surface during friction welding of the spindle to the torque plate section. The relative locations of the axle, spindle and king pin enable an air disc brake actuator to avoid contact with components of the heavy-duty vehicle during steering and with the ground and debris.

A vehicle component such as an axle spindle or suspension beam (3) is connected to a tubular vehicle axle (1) by fitting a connector sleeve (2) onto the axle and subjecting the assembly to a crimping operation in which plural depressions (206,2018) are formed by indentation in the connector sleeve and the axle wall at the connection region (11,12) to fix the connector sleeve on the tubular axle. In the described proposals a solid lubricant (4) such as molybdenum disulphide is applied at the connection region between the connector sleeve (2) and axle (1), before crimping. The further vehicle component (3) is then connected to the connector sleeve (2) by welding.

A vehicle component such as an axle spindle or suspension beam (3) is connected to a tubular vehicle axle (1) by fitting a connector sleeve (2) onto the axle and subjecting the assembly to a crimping operation in which plural depressions (206,2018) are formed by indentation in the connector sleeve and the axle wall at the connection region (11,12) to fix the connector sleeve on the tubular axle. In the described proposals a solid lubricant (4) such as molybdenum disulphide is applied at the connection region between the connector sleeve (2) and axle (1), before crimping. The further vehicle component (3) is then connected to the connector sleeve (2) by welding.

A vehicle rigid axle with an axle beam, at the ends of which axle journals or wheel carriers, are arranged, and trailing arms rigidly attached with a spring bracket for supporting an air-suspension bellow, and a method for manufacturing the vehicle rigid axle. An axle beam section extending between the trailing arms, a trailing arm adjoining the axle beam section and the spring bracket are formed by two shell elements connected to each other, which form a hollow body. In an embodiment, the spring bracket is formed by a lower shell element forming an axle beam section extending between the two trailing arms, and the spring bracket is arranged so that the air-suspension bellow mounted on the spring bracket is penetrated by the central longitudinal axis of the axle beam section. Two shell elements made of sheet metal are formed and joined together to form a hollow body.

A method of making an axle sleeve includes forming a main body comprising a cylinder and forming an expansion member whereby a diameter of the main body may be varied. The method includes cutting an inner helical cutout comprising a first slit defined through the main body and extending helically from an inner edge of the main body, cutting an outer helical cutout comprising a second slit defined through the main body and extending helically from an outer edge of the main body, forming an inner edge remaining portion comprising an annular section of the main body unbroken by the inner helical cutout, and forming an outer edge remaining portion comprising an annular section of the main body unbroken by the outer helical cutout.

A method of making an axle sleeve includes forming a main body comprising a cylinder and forming an expansion member whereby a diameter of the main body may be varied. The method includes cutting an inner helical cutout comprising a first slit defined through the main body and extending helically from an inner edge of the main body, cutting an outer helical cutout comprising a second slit defined through the main body and extending helically from an outer edge of the main body, forming an inner edge remaining portion comprising an annular section of the main body unbroken by the inner helical cutout, and forming an outer edge remaining portion comprising an annular section of the main body unbroken by the outer helical cutout.

A removable spindle assembly improvement comprised of a spindle housing end unit having a threaded cavity. A corresponding threaded removable spindle is torqued into the threaded cavity. The spindle has a tapered section that includes O-rings for creating a seal along the corresponding section of the cavity to prevent corrosion which assists in the elimination of spindle seizure within the spindle housing end unit's cavity. The spindle housing end unit's housing includes at least two threaded apertures that cooperate with sealed set screws for securing the spindle in place during operation. The set screws are placed apart at an odd number of 15 degree increments. This assembly facilitates easy removal and replacement of a spindle on a spring axle.