This disclosure details electrified vehicle drive systems equipped with electric machine integrated axle assemblies. An exemplary electrified vehicle drive system includes a leaf spring assembly and an axle assembly mounted to the leaf spring assembly. The axle assembly may include a cradle and an electric machine mounted within the cradle. Shocks and stabilizer bar assemblies may extend between the cradle and a vehicle frame of the electrified vehicle.

In a pressing step, a first forged product is pressed by a first die, and thereby, a second forged product including a rough flange having a thickness-changing portion is produced. The thickness-changing portion includes a front part protruding frontward from a side of a rough web part and a rear part protruding rearward from the side of the rough web part. Each of the front part and the rear part includes a first part, and a second part that is thicker than the first part and is located farther from the rough web part than the first part. In the pressing step, at least a part of the rough flange that is above or below the web part (thick part) is pressed by the first die, whereby the material of the first forged product in the part is caused to flow frontward and rearward, and the thickness-changing portion is formed.

This disclosure details electrified vehicle drive systems equipped with electric machine integrated axle assemblies. An exemplary electrified vehicle drive system includes a leaf spring assembly and an axle assembly mounted to the leaf spring assembly. The axle assembly may include a cradle and an electric machine mounted within the cradle. Shocks and stabilizer bar assemblies may extend between the cradle and a vehicle frame of the electrified vehicle.

A disclosed front axle beam includes a beam section. The beam section includes a first flange part, a second flange part, and a web section connecting the first flange part and the second flange part. The web section includes a varying-slope section that includes a plurality of first slope sections and a plurality of second slope sections. Each of the plurality of first slope sections inclines in one direction with respect to the vehicle-height direction in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Each of the plurality of second slope sections inclines in the opposite direction to the one direction with respect to the vehicle-height direction in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The first slope section and the second slope section are located in an alternate manner along the longitudinal direction. In this way, the rigidity of the front axle beam can be increased.

This disclosure details electrified vehicle drive systems equipped with electric machine integrated axle assemblies. An exemplary electrified vehicle drive system includes a leaf spring assembly and an axle assembly mounted to the leaf spring assembly. The axle assembly may include a cradle and an electric machine mounted within the cradle. Shocks and stabilizer bar assemblies may extend between the cradle and a vehicle frame of the electrified vehicle.

The invention relates to a running gear structure (4) for a commercial vehicle. The running gear structure comprises a lower transverse strut (8) and an upper transverse strut (9). The lower transverse strut (8) and said upper transverse strut (9) are fixedly connected to each other. The upper transverse strut (9) comprising two recesses (12, 13) which limit a space (14) located above the lower transverse strut (8). The space (14) is open at least in upper direction and dimensioned for accommodating a suspension spring (6). Preferably, an axle body and longitudinal swinging arms (22, 23) of the running gear structure (4) have a skeletal design with a plurality of struts (5). It is possible that the running gear structure (4) is L-shaped in a side view. Here, one leg of the L is formed by a horizontal structure part forming the longitudinal swinging arms (22, 23) whereas the other leg of the L is formed by a vertical structure part forming the axle body.

An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle with a pair of suspension assemblies which each are mounted on a hanger outboardly offset from the outboard surface of the vehicle main member from which it depends. Each suspension assembly includes a beam pivotally attached to the hanger outboardly offset from the outboard surface of the main member. The beam has a tapered profile including an upward outboard taper on at least the inboard side of the beam, which provides clearance between each beam and its respective vehicle main member during upward jounce travel or lifting of the axle/suspension system.

A steering unit includes a guide unit and a support unit having a second fastening section fixed to a first fastening section of the guide unit and a load-bearing section accommodating a spring unit, a second plane is oriented orthogonally with respect to a width of the second fastening section, the load-bearing section is asymmetrical with respect to the second plane, the guide unit extends predominantly along a first plane, wherein, in an assembled state, the first plane is oriented to the second plane, wherein the first plane is oriented orthogonally with respect to a pivot axis of a pivotable mounting of the guide unit in a bearing section, wherein, in a mounted state, at least one fastening structure is arranged in the first plane, and wherein the first plane runs centrally through the bearing section of the guide unit.

An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle with a pair of suspension assemblies which each are mounted on a hanger outboardly offset from the outboard surface of the vehicle main member from which it depends. Each suspension assembly includes a beam pivotally attached to the hanger outboardly offset from the outboard surface of the main member. The beam has a tapered profile including an upward outboard taper on at least the inboard side of the beam, which provides clearance between each beam and its respective vehicle main member during upward jounce travel or lifting of the axle/suspension system.