The present invention relates to a motor vehicle trailer with at least one rigid axle with at least one tubular element. The motor vehicle trailer is characterized in that the tubular element has a yield strength Rp0.2 of at least 600 MPa, a tensile strength Rm of at least 850 MPa, a breaking elongation A5 of at least 14% and the tubular element (10) consists of an air-hardening, mainly bainitic material. In addition, a chassis axle as well as the use of a material for a chassis axle is disclosed.

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 spindle for a wheel end assembly includes a first end of the spindle receiving the wheel of a vehicle on a first side of the wheel end assembly, and a second end of the spindle defining a flange and receiving the axle of a vehicle is disclosed. The flange includes a socket joint that receives the axle on the second side of the wheel end assembly. Mounting members extend distally from the second side a first distance to secure the spindle to the wheel end assembly via the flange. The socket joint of the spindle extends from the second side of the wheel end assembly a second distance from the second side. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A third distance represents degree of overlap of the axle by a ratio with respect to the outer diameter of the axle ranging from 8% to 20%.

A spindle for a wheel end assembly includes a first end of the spindle receiving the wheel of a vehicle on a first side of the wheel end assembly, and a second end of the spindle defining a flange and receiving the axle of a vehicle is disclosed. The flange includes a socket joint that receives the axle on the second side of the wheel end assembly. Mounting members extend distally from the second side a first distance to secure the spindle to the wheel end assembly via the flange. The socket joint of the spindle extends from the second side of the wheel end assembly a second distance from the second side. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A third distance represents degree of overlap of the axle by a ratio with respect to the outer diameter of the axle ranging from 8% to 20%.

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.

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.

An axle-shaft system for transmitting torque in a motor vehicle drive-train includes first and second two-stage stiffness axle-shafts. Each axle-shaft includes a hollow cylinder having first and second ends and a hollow cylinder stiffness. The axle-shaft also includes an inner shaft extending through the hollow cylinder, and having first and second ends and an inner shaft stiffness. The inner shaft's and the hollow cylinder's first ends are engaged via a rotational clearance fit. The inner shaft's and the hollow cylinder's second ends are rotationally fixed to permit the inner shaft's first end to twist relative to the inner shaft's second end. The inner shaft's stiffness defines the axle-shaft's first-stage stiffness, while the inner shaft's and the hollow cylinder's combined stiffness defines the axle-shaft's second-stage stiffness. At least one of the first-stage and second-stage stiffness of the first axle-shaft is dissimilar from the respective stiffness of the second axle-shaft.

The invention concerns an axle unit comprising a stub axle and a tube unit, wherein the stub axle at least in regions is configured rotationally symmetrically about a stub axis and has a channel which extends substantially parallel to the stub axis, wherein the tube unit is configured as a hollow body and extends substantially along a tube axis, wherein the tube unit has a recess running transversely to the tube axis, wherein a line element is provided which can be brought into fluid-tight connection with the channel and passed through the recess of the tube unit. A method for production of an axle unit is also given.

The invention concerns an axle unit comprising a stub axle and a tube unit, wherein the stub axle at least in regions is configured rotationally symmetrically about a stub axis and has a channel which extends substantially parallel to the stub axis, wherein the tube unit is configured as a hollow body and extends substantially along a tube axis, wherein the tube unit has a recess running transversely to the tube axis, wherein a line element is provided which can be brought into fluid-tight connection with the channel and passed through the recess of the tube unit. A method for production of an axle unit is also given.

The invention relates to an axle unit comprising an axle tube and a link element, wherein the axle tube substantially extends along a tube axis, wherein the link element has a joining portion with a first welding portion and a second welding portion, wherein the link element is arranged with its joining portion adjacent to the axle tube and substantially transversely with respect to the tube axis, wherein, in the first welding portion and in the second welding portion, a welded joint can be produced between the link element and the axle tube.