An axle of an industrial vehicle, in which a parking brake can be maintained easily. The parking brake is arranged adjacent to a power transmission device outside an axle housing. The parking brake includes a brake housing, a brake shaft supported rotatably around the axis of the brake housing, a brake gear attached to the brake shaft and meshed with a transmission gear, first brake plates attached to the brake shaft, second brake plates attached to the brake housing and alternately arranged with the first brake plates, and a brake piston arranged so as to move toward and away from the plates and in the brake housing for bringing the plates into pressure contact with each other.

An axle housing assembly and a method of manufacture. A friction weld may join a spindle to an arm portion of the axle housing assembly. An extension weld may encircle the arm portion. The extension weld may extend from the friction weld in a direction that may extend away from the spindle.

An axle housing assembly and a method of manufacture. A friction weld may join a spindle to an arm portion of the axle housing assembly. An extension weld may encircle the arm portion. The extension weld may extend from the friction weld in a direction that may extend away from the spindle.

A quick replace axle for use on the non-drive axles of a vehicle comprising an outer sleeve and an inner axle wherein the inner axle fits into the outer sleeve and is held in place with a plurality of secure pins. The quick replace axle may also be hydraulic and may include a disk break assembly or a drum break assembly.

Axle assembly includes first and second axle housings extending toward opposing sides of a vehicle frame with the axle housings aligned to define an axle axis, first and second wheel ends, first and second drive shafts disposed within the first and second axle housings, a gearbox having a first surface facing one side of the vehicle frame and a second surface facing the other side of the vehicle frame with the gearbox cantilevered outwardly relative to the aligned axle housings to define a gearbox axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame and transverse to the axle axis, and an electric motor coupled to the second surface of the gearbox and extending toward the first side of the vehicle frame to define a motor axis that is parallel to and offset from the axle axis, transverse to the gearbox axis, and transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Axle assembly includes first and second axle housings extending toward opposing sides of a vehicle frame with the axle housings aligned to define an axle axis, first and second wheel ends, first and second drive shafts disposed within the first and second axle housings, a gearbox having a first surface facing one side of the vehicle frame and a second surface facing the other side of the vehicle frame with the gearbox cantilevered outwardly relative to the aligned axle housings to define a gearbox axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame and transverse to the axle axis, and an electric motor coupled to the second surface of the gearbox and extending toward the first side of the vehicle frame to define a motor axis that is parallel to and offset from the axle axis, transverse to the gearbox axis, and transverse to the longitudinal axis.

An axle assembly for an electric or hybrid vehicle includes electrically powered drive motors for respectively driving vehicle wheels. The axle assembly preferably includes a dual motor arrangement, wherein two electric motors are arranged end-to-end. Each motor includes an inverter that is directly connected to its respective motor, and includes a gearbox assembly coupled between an output of the motor and a corresponding constant-velocity (CV) joint operatively connected to a wheel. The inboard ends of the motors are secured to opposite faces of a cooling manifold wherein the cooling manifold maintains the motors in axial alignment. The cooling manifold plate is positioned between an inboard end of each of the motor housings, and the cooling manifold plate axially aligns the first and second motors. Further, each motor drives its respective gearbox assembly, which includes a gear reduction and clutch mechanism having a brake band assembly that is selectively operable to disconnect the respective motor from the vehicle wheel associated therewith.

An axle assembly and method of reworking an axle assembly. The axle assembly has an axle housing and a differential carrier assembly. A central portion of the axle housing has an opening that is defined by an axle flange that has a first mating surface. The differential carrier assembly has a differential mounted on a carrier. The carrier has a carrier flange that has a second mating surface. The first mating surface is sealed to the second mating surface by seal. At least one of the first and second mating surfaces includes a groove.

An axle assembly and method of reworking an axle assembly. The axle assembly has an axle housing and a differential carrier assembly. A central portion of the axle housing has an opening that is defined by an axle flange that has a first mating surface. The differential carrier assembly has a differential mounted on a carrier. The carrier has a carrier flange that has a second mating surface. The first mating surface is sealed to the second mating surface by seal. At least one of the first and second mating surfaces includes a groove.

A method of providing road and vehicle diagnostics. The method includes providing a vehicle axle system having a first axle half shaft housing, a second axle half shaft housing and a differential housing. Attached one or more of said housings is one or more tri-axis accelerometers. In communication with the accelerometers is one or more data processors operably configured to receive and analyze data from the accelerometers. An occurrence of one or more road events is determined by one or more spikes in the Z-direction of said data collected from said accelerometers. A depth of the road event is determined by a magnitude of said positive and negative changes in acceleration of said spike in said Z-direction and a length of road event is determined by a span of said one or more spikes in said Z-direction. Once the road event is identified the time and geographic location of the road event is identified.