An electrically driven axle with electrical drive units (4) arranged symmetrically around the axle body (1). The drive units having an electric machine and a transmission, and at least one spring-loaded brake (3) as a parking brake. The spring-loaded brakes (3) are arranged radially, thus enabling the spring-loaded brake (3) to be released by removing a release spindle (7) from brake cylinders of the spring-loaded brakes (3).

To produce a combined service brake cylinder and spring-loaded brake cylinder for a vehicle brake system, force-actuation path characteristic curves of the brake system with the elements that can be actuated by a storage spring of the spring-loaded cylinder are measured/recorded under different operational conditions. Force-actuation characteristic curves of different storage springs for use in the spring-loaded cylinder are also measured/recorded. The minimum necessary actuation stroke of the piston of the spring-loaded cylinder and the minimum necessary spring force for a storage spring to effect a parking brake function are determined by the intersection of the force-actuation curves of the brake system with those of the storage springs. The storage spring that generates a sufficient actuation force under certain operating conditions and the dimensions resulting from the smallest possible piston actuation stroke are selected for producing the combined service brake cylinder and spring-loaded cylinder.

In a brake actuator including a plurality of actuator housing portions, a diaphragm seal, partially delimiting a parking brake de-actuation chamber, is retained between adjacent actuator housing portions, and an elastic element disposed between the diaphragm seal and one of the housing portions opposes expansion of the parking brake de-actuation chamber. A push rod extends into and out of a service brake actuation chamber upon respective release of fluid pressure from the parking brake de-actuation chamber and supply of fluid pressure to the parking brake de-actuation chamber. In order to constrain a central portion of the diaphragm seal for movement together with both the push rod and a piston, a clamping arrangement is used to axially clamp the central diaphragm seal portion between an end of the push rod and a surface of the piston.

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.

A spring brake actuator for a commercial vehicle includes a service brake portion (4) and a spring brake portion (6) that has a housing (8, 108) with a first end (10, 110) proximal to the service brake portion (4), a wall section (12, 112) extending from the first end (10, 110), a second end (14, 114) distal to the service brake portion (4), and a locking mechanism (16, 116) for locking the first and second ends (10, 110, 14, 114) to the wall section (12, 112). The locking mechanism (16, 116) is arranged between the wall section (12, 112) and the second end (14, 114) of the housing (8, 108).

An interface between an adapter push rod and a parking brake diaphragm seal includes an axial projection at one end of the push rod, a thread extending axially between a free end of the projection and a remainder of the push rod, and a washer having an approximately conical wall extending radially inwardly from an outer circumference of the washer towards a central mounting connection having a radial flange. A nut is threaded over the free end of the projection, and an opening in a hardened element is aligned axially with the projection to receive the projection. A circumferential groove defined in a side of the radial flange forms a boundary between the approximately conical wall and a remainder of the washer, and a portion of the diaphragm seal is pressed by the nut and the hardened element into the circumferential groove to produce a sealing bead.

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.

A brake actuator assembly including a pressure plate presenting an opening, a push rod that is coupled to the pressure plate, a diaphragm that is coupled to the pressure plate, and a retainer that engages the push rod. The push rod has an outer surface and at least one protrusion extending outward from the outer surface. The retainer engages the protrusion such that at least a portion of the diaphragm is positioned between the pressure plate and the retainer.

A braking system for an autonomous car is provided, including a car body, a pedal, a braking mechanism, a resistance ruler, a driving motor, a connecting member, a first micro switch, a second micro switch, and a control unit. The pedal is pivotally connected to the car body, the braking mechanism is connected to the pedal, and the resistance ruler is disposed on the pedal. The connecting member is connected to the driving motor and the pedal. The control unit is electrically connected to the driving motor, the resistance ruler, the first micro switch, and the second micro switch. When the pedal is in a first position relative to the car body, the pedal contacts and actuates the first micro switch. When the pedal rotates relative to the car body from the first position to a second position, the pedal contacts and actuates the second micro switch.

A radial mounting torque plate for mounting a disk brake component for heavy-duty vehicles, the torque plate comprising an annular portion and a pair of mounting arms. The annular portion is formed with an opening for receiving an axle of the heavy-duty vehicle. The mounting arms are integrally formed with and extend longitudinally outward in opposite directions from the annular portion and have a T-shaped cross-section.