A vehicle axle body is provided for incorporation into a vehicle axle. The vehicle axle body may be comprised of first and second axle body pieces. The first axle body piece may define at least a portion of a lower surface of the vehicle axle body and at least a portion of one of a front surface and a rear surface of the vehicle axle body. The second axle body piece is secured to the first axle body piece and may define at least a portion of an upper surface of the vehicle axle body and at least a portion of the other one of the front surface and the rear surface of the vehicle axle body. The thickness of the first and second axle body pieces may be different. Suspension component supports may be integrally formed with the upper and/or bottom surfaces of the axle body.

The present invention relates to an axle unit comprising an axle tube and an axle stub, wherein the axle stub is formed to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to a stub axis in some regions and has a channel which extends substantially parallel to the stub axis, wherein the axle stub has a first connection portion which has an engagement geometry for fluid-tight connection to the channel, wherein the axle tube is formed to be substantially rotationally symmetrical about a tube axis and wherein the axle tube and the axle stub are fixed on/to one another by way of a cross-member in such a way that the tube axis and the stub axis are spaced from one another.

The present invention relates to an axle unit comprising an axle tube and an axle stub, wherein the axle stub is formed to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to a stub axis in some regions and has a channel which extends substantially parallel to the stub axis, wherein the axle stub has a first connection portion which has an engagement geometry for fluid-tight connection to the channel, wherein the axle tube is formed to be substantially rotationally symmetrical about a tube axis and wherein the axle tube and the axle stub are fixed on/to one another by way of a cross-member in such a way that the tube axis and the stub axis are spaced from one another.

A vehicle suspension includes at least one anchor bar, at least one axle lift spring, an auxiliary drop-type axle which may be selectively lifted or lowered and a single, integrated support attaching the at least one axle lift spring and the at least one anchor bar to the auxiliary drop-type axle, wherein the single, integrated support provides the only attachment of the at least one axle lift spring and the at least one anchor bar to the auxiliary drop-type axle, and wherein the support includes an open area configured to allow the passage of a cardan.

The present invention relates to a control unit for controlling a chassis system between at least a ground contact point and a frame of a vehicle, the chassis system comprising a leaf spring and a chassis arrangement, said chassis arrangement is adapted to receive a chassis condition input signal and to control a chassis condition of said chassis arrangement in response to said chassis condition input signal, said chassis system further comprising a strain gauge adapted to issue a strain gauge output signal indicative of a strain in said leaf spring, wherein said control unit is adapted to receive said strain gauge output signal and to issue said chassis condition input signal to said chassis arrangement on the basis of said strain gauge output signal. The invention also relates to a method, a chassis system, and a vehicle.

Axle seat assemblies and methods of manufacturing thereof, are provided for attachment to an axle body (15). The axle seat assembly may be comprised of a first piece (42) and a second piece (50). The first piece (42) may have a first wall, a second wall and a first axle seat piece engagement portion providing a first engagement surface. The second piece (50) may have a third wall and a second axle seat piece engagement portion providing a second engagement surface. The first wall and the second wall of the first piece are oriented to engage a front surface of an axle body and the third wall of the second piece is oriented to engage a rear surface (30) of an axle body. The first and second engagement surfaces of the respective first and second pieces of the axle seat assembly are positioned and configured to engage one another to removably and reversibly secure with the use of a fastener the first piece to the second piece to form an axle seat assembly.

A tiltable trailer that can assume a high, or road, position, and a low loading position in which the trailer is tilted with respect to the ground. The trailer includes wheels; a chassis mounted on an axle that pivots with respect to the wheels; an actuator for actuating the pivoting of the axle relative to the wheels to vary the position of the chassis with respect to the ground, the actuator including a flexible element secured to the axle and a tensioner attached to the chassis for adjusting tension of the flexible element; and a lock for locking the trailer in the high position, which is separate from the actuator. The lock includes a sliding locking bar, a first end of which is secured to the axle and a second end of which cooperates with a locking mechanism, mounted on the chassis, when the trailer is in the high position.

A tiltable trailer that can assume a high, or road, position, and a low loading position in which the trailer is tilted with respect to the ground. The trailer includes wheels; a chassis mounted on an axle that pivots with respect to the wheels; an actuator for actuating the pivoting of the axle relative to the wheels to vary the position of the chassis with respect to the ground, the actuator including a flexible element secured to the axle and a tensioner attached to the chassis for adjusting tension of the flexible element; and a lock for locking the trailer in the high position, which is separate from the actuator. The lock includes a sliding locking bar, a first end of which is secured to the axle and a second end of which cooperates with a locking mechanism, mounted on the chassis, when the trailer is in the high position.

An apparatus (10) is provided, configured for use with a trailer (48) of a tractor trailer (44), that includes forward and rearward axles (12, 28) that each have a central body. The forward axle (12) has first and second mounting portions (16, 20) that are configured to receive first and second wide base tires (24, 26). The rearward axle (28) has first and second rearward mounting portions (32, 36) configured to receive third and fourth wide base tires (40, 42). The first forward mounting portion axis (18) is oriented at an angle (56) from +0.75-+0.95 degrees to the lateral direction, and the second forward mounting portion axis (22) is oriented at an angle (58) from +0.08-+0.28 degrees to the lateral direction. The first rearward mounting portion axis (34) is oriented at an angle (60) from +0.65-+0.85 degrees to the lateral direction, and the second rearward mounting portion axis (38) is oriented at an angle (62) from −0.05-+0.15 degrees to the lateral direction.

An apparatus (10) is provided, configured for use with a trailer (48) of a tractor trailer (44), that includes forward and rearward axles (12, 28) that each have a central body. The forward axle (12) has first and second mounting portions (16, 20) that are configured to receive first and second wide base tires (24, 26). The rearward axle (28) has first and second rearward mounting portions (32, 36) configured to receive third and fourth wide base tires (40, 42). The first forward mounting portion axis (18) is oriented at an angle (56) from +0.75-+0.95 degrees to the lateral direction, and the second forward mounting portion axis (22) is oriented at an angle (58) from +0.08-+0.28 degrees to the lateral direction. The first rearward mounting portion axis (34) is oriented at an angle (60) from +0.65-+0.85 degrees to the lateral direction, and the second rearward mounting portion axis (38) is oriented at an angle (62) from −0.05-+0.15 degrees to the lateral direction.