The invention relates to a commercial vehicle, in particular a heavy-duty vehicle, comprising a plurality of wheel assemblies (10) mounted on a vehicle frame. At least one of the wheel assemblies (10) comprises an elongate wheel carrier (20), a wheel (42) at each of the longitudinal ends of the wheel carrier (20), a drive unit (28) for driving the wheels (42), and a transmission device (30, 34). According to the invention, the at least one wheel assembly (10) further comprises a clutch device (32) which selectively interrupts or establishes a power transmission connection between the drive unit (28) and the wheels (42), and a brake device (36) which is approved for the operation of the commercial vehicle on public roads up to speeds of more than 25 km/h

Provided herein is an electric axle assembly including a first motor-generator assembly, a second motor generator assembly, an axle housing, a first axle half shaft drivingly connected to the first motor-generator assembly and a second axle half shaft drivingly connected to the second motor-generator assembly. The first and second motor-generator assemblies each include a motor-generator and a housing and gear carrier portion. The axle housing includes a first axle tube portion, a second axle tube portion, a center portion, and an opening extending through the center portion of the axle housing, wherein the first axle tube portion and the second axle tube portion are disposed on axial opposite sides of the central portion. The first and second half shafts extended into the opening of the axle housing, and the first motor-generator assembly and the second motor-generator assembly are connected to the axle housing assembly.

Provided herein is an electric axle assembly including a first motor-generator assembly, a second motor generator assembly, an axle housing, a first axle half shaft drivingly connected to the first motor-generator assembly and a second axle half shaft drivingly connected to the second motor-generator assembly. The first and second motor-generator assemblies each include a motor-generator and a housing and gear carrier portion. The axle housing includes a first axle tube portion, a second axle tube portion, a center portion, and an opening extending through the center portion of the axle housing, wherein the first axle tube portion and the second axle tube portion are disposed on axial opposite sides of the central portion. The first and second half shafts extended into the opening of the axle housing, and the first motor-generator assembly and the second motor-generator assembly are connected to the axle housing assembly.

A vehicle drive unit (11) includes a spindle (12) on which a female spline portion (12G) is formed, a wheel (15) disposed on an outer peripheral side of the spindle (12), wheel bearings 17, 18 that rotatably support the wheel (15) in relation to the spindle (12), an electric motor (21) located on an axial one side of the spindle (12), a shaft (22) connected to an output shaft (21B) of the electric motor (21), a planetary gear reduction device (25) disposed between the shaft (22) and the wheel (15), and a shaft bearing (46) that rotatably supports the shaft (22) in relation to the spindle (12). A retainer (42) retaining the shaft bearing (46) is disposed on an inner peripheral surface side of the spindle (12), and a male spline portion (42E), which is spline-coupled to a female spline portion (12G) of the spindle (12), is disposed on the retainer (42).

A vehicle drive unit (11) includes a spindle (12) on which a female spline portion (12G) is formed, a wheel (15) disposed on an outer peripheral side of the spindle (12), wheel bearings 17, 18 that rotatably support the wheel (15) in relation to the spindle (12), an electric motor (21) located on an axial one side of the spindle (12), a shaft (22) connected to an output shaft (21B) of the electric motor (21), a planetary gear reduction device (25) disposed between the shaft (22) and the wheel (15), and a shaft bearing (46) that rotatably supports the shaft (22) in relation to the spindle (12). A retainer (42) retaining the shaft bearing (46) is disposed on an inner peripheral surface side of the spindle (12), and a male spline portion (42E), which is spline-coupled to a female spline portion (12G) of the spindle (12), is disposed on the retainer (42).

A drive shaft is configured by joining solid stub shafts formed of a medium carbon steel to both ends of a hollow tubular body formed of a medium carbon steel. When expressed as grain size number, the grain size of the hollow tubular body at joint parts where the hollow tubular body and the solid stub shafts are joined together ranges from #5 to #9, and the grain size of the solid stub shafts at the joint parts ranges from #10 to #12.

A drive shaft is configured by joining solid stub shafts formed of a medium carbon steel to both ends of a hollow tubular body formed of a medium carbon steel. When expressed as grain size number, the grain size of the hollow tubular body at joint parts where the hollow tubular body and the solid stub shafts are joined together ranges from #5 to #9, and the grain size of the solid stub shafts at the joint parts ranges from #10 to #12.

An axle assembly and method of manufacture. The axle assembly may include a sleeve that is disposed in a spindle and that is in sealing engagement with the spindle proximate opposing ends. The sleeve has a smaller diameter than the spindle such that a fluid passage is provided between the spindle and the sleeve.

An axle structure is provided with an axle housing for internally passing an axle shaft having wheels connected to both left and right ends thereof, and a drive motor unit. The axle housing includes a large diameter housing center portion having a recessed portion which is recessed from an opening portion on a front surface side toward a rear surface side, and small diameter hollow shaft portions connected as a left and right pair to both sides of the housing center portion. The drive motor unit is fitted into the recessed portion and is bolted to the axle housing by means of tightening bolts.

An axle structure is provided with an axle housing for internally passing an axle shaft having wheels connected to both left and right ends thereof, and a drive motor unit. The axle housing includes a large diameter housing center portion having a recessed portion which is recessed from an opening portion on a front surface side toward a rear surface side, and small diameter hollow shaft portions connected as a left and right pair to both sides of the housing center portion. The drive motor unit is fitted into the recessed portion and is bolted to the axle housing by means of tightening bolts.