An air disc brake system for a heavy-duty vehicle comprising an axle. A spindle is attached to an end portion of the axle. At least a portion of an air disc brake assembly is supported by the spindle. A suspension beam has an axle support portion connectable with the axle. An end portion of the suspension beam is spaced from the axle support portion for attachment with the heavy-duty vehicle. The suspension beam may pivot about the end portion of the suspension beam. An actuator actuates the air disc brake assembly. The actuator has a movable member to actuate the air disc brake assembly. Structure is associated with the suspension beam for supporting at least a portion of the actuator. A surface defines an opening in the suspension beam through which the movable member may extend or that may receive and support a portion of the actuator.

An axle unit comprising a first suspension arm element and a second suspension arm element, wherein the first suspension arm element and the second suspension arm element can be mounted on a vehicle frame so as to be pivotable about a common pivot axis, wherein the first suspension arm element has a first joining region configured as a recess, and the second suspension arm element has a second joining region configured as a recess, wherein the first joining region and the second joining region are arranged on two opposing sides of an axle tube extending substantially along a tube axis, and wherein the axle tube can be secured by substance bonding in the first and second joining regions to the first and second suspension arm elements.

A vehicle having an axle assembly and a wheel end support housing. The axle assembly may have a differential assembly. The wheel end support housing may be mounted to a frame rail and may be spaced apart from the axle assembly. A linkage may operatively connect the differential assembly to a wheel end assembly may be mounted to the wheel end support housing.

The present invention relates to a control unit for determining a value indicative of a load bearing capability of a ground segment supporting a vehicle. The control unit is configured to issue a control signal to the vehicle to thereby impart a motion change of the vehicle, and receive response information from the vehicle indicative of the vehicle's response to the imparted motion change. The control unit is further configured to, based on the response information, determine a vertical position change of at least one wheel of the vehicle, and based on the determined vertical position change and the imparted motion change, determine the value indicative of the load bearing capability of the ground segment.

The invention relates to a method for determining a parameter indicative of a road capability of a road segment (18) supporting a vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) comprises a plurality of ground engaging members (12, 14, 16, 38, 40, 42). The method comprises: —for each ground engaging member (14, 42) in a sub-set of the plurality of ground engaging members (12, 14, 16, 38, 40, 42), setting a contact force (N.sub.14,S, N.sub.42,S) between the ground engaging member (12, 14, 16, 38, 40, 42) and the road segment (18); —determining a target global load vector (G) to be imparted to the vehicle (10), the target global load vector (G) comprising at least a vertical load and an inclining moment, —determining contact forces (N.sub.12, N.sub.16, N.sub.38, N.sub.40) for the ground engaging members (12, 16, 38, 40) of the plurality of ground engaging members (12, 14, 16, 38, 40, 42) which are not in the sub-set such that the contact forces (N.sub.12, N.sub.14,S, N.sub.16, N.sub.38, N.sub.40, N.sub.42,S) for the plurality of ground engaging members (12, 14, 16, 38, 40, 42) together result in a resulting global load vector (R), a difference measure (DM) between the resulting global load vector (R) and the target global load vector (G) being equal to or lower than a predetermined difference measure threshold, —applying the contact force (N.sub.12, N.sub.14,S, N.sub.16, N.sub.38, N.sub.40, N.sub.42,S) to each ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members (12, 14, 16, 38, 40, 42), —for at least one ground engaging member (14, 42) in the sub-set, determining a parameter indicative of the road capability of the road segment (18) associated with the ground engaging member (14, 42).

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.

Vehicle cab suspension control systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the cab suspension control systems can include front cab-to-frame mounts that include controllable elastomer-based isolators that can provide real time variable damping to improve ride quality and/or road holding and reduce cab roll in response to, for example, input from one or more cab and/or frame mounted accelerometers, position sensors, etc. Embodiments of the control systems described herein can utilize a single vehicle controller (e.g., an ECU) to control all of the cab suspension components (e.g., semi-active damping technologies, air spring technologies, etc.) employed on a vehicle to provide a single suspension control solution that can provide improved ride performance, road holding, etc.

A real-time commercial vehicle weight loading system is disclosed. The system employs a number of vehicle weight sensors, configured to provide vehicle weight data for a respective zone of the vehicle. The system may also utilize at least one cargo weight sensor to provide weight data of not-yet loaded cargo. A system controller is in communication with the weight sensors and is configured to, upon receiving cargo to be loaded information, send an indication of optimal cargo placement including identifying the cargo to be loaded, the location on the vehicle the cargo is to be loaded, and monitoring the loading of the vehicle. This same system may also provide total vehicle weight and broadcast real-time vehicle weights when pinged by a query device, which will allow for uninterrupted transit of the vehicle and cargo. This system may also provide data for improved vehicle stability.

A drive unit for a commercial vehicle includes at least one electric motor; and means for levelling the axle driven by the at least one electric motor.

A bearing device for mounting an axle guide for commercial vehicles includes a first connector which has an axial direction of extension, and a first axial centre in the axial direction of extension, a damping unit, having an outwardly peripheral retaining surface, and a second connector being fixed to the retaining surface, wherein the second connector extends along the axial direction of extension, wherein the second connector has a boundary surface on which an axle guide can be fixed, wherein the boundary surface has a second axial centre in the axial direction of extension, and wherein the first and the second axial centre are offset from each other along a vector of the axial direction of extension.