A computer-implemented method for handling an axle configuration of a vehicle is provided. The axle configuration is indicative of a number of axles of the vehicle. The method includes obtaining vehicle condition data indicative of at least one load applied to the vehicle. The method includes obtaining the axle configuration of the vehicle. The method includes obtaining estimating a current weight of the vehicle based on the obtained vehicle condition data and based on the axle configuration of the vehicle. The method includes obtaining a previously estimated weight of the vehicle. The method includes, based on a difference between the previously estimated weight and the current weight of the vehicle, predicting whether there has been a change in the axle configuration of the vehicle.

The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for providing stability to a vehicle using one or more auxiliary support members on the vehicle, such as lateral sides of the vehicle. The auxiliary support members may extend away from the vehicle body to approach and/or touch a support surface and provide stability and in some cases additional centripetal force to facilitate steering of the vehicle. The auxiliary support members may also retract towards the vehicle.

The subject matter of the present invention relates generally to a vehicle that has axles with tires mounted thereon with at least one axle that is a lift axle, and more specifically, to a method that optimizes the effective tire rolling resistance by adjusting the load on the tires, resulting in an improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicle. According to one embodiment, the method takes into consideration the rolling resistance characteristics of the tires placed onto the axles of the vehicle and provides an algorithm for optimizing their rolling resistance by raising or lowering the lift axle.

A dual trailing axle suspension system is disclosed wherein a pair of trailing axles are suspended from an auxiliary chassis with axle suspensions that provide spring action for isolating road-induced axle movement from the auxiliary chassis. And the auxiliary chassis is suspended from a chassis of a motor vehicle by an auxiliary chassis suspension adapted to deploy the auxiliary chassis from a stowed location on the motor vehicle to a deployed location at a substantial distance behind the motor vehicle chassis. And the auxiliary chassis suspension is adapted to cause the auxiliary chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis to a variable degree by acting on the auxiliary chassis at a location between the two axles and in a manner determined by whether the spring action provided by the axle suspensions is set or variable.

A dual trailing axle suspension system is disclosed wherein a pair of trailing axles are suspended from an auxiliary chassis with axle suspensions that provide spring action for isolating road-induced axle movement from the auxiliary chassis. And the auxiliary chassis is suspended from a chassis of a motor vehicle by an auxiliary chassis suspension adapted to deploy the auxiliary chassis from a stowed location on the motor vehicle to a deployed location at a substantial distance behind the motor vehicle chassis. And the auxiliary chassis suspension is adapted to cause the auxiliary chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis to a variable degree by acting on the auxiliary chassis at a location between the two axles and in a manner determined by whether the spring action provided by the axle suspensions is set or variable.

A method of controlling operation of a vehicle is disclosed, wherein the vehicle comprises an auxiliary braking system and a number of wheel axles each comprising wheels and wheel brakes controllable to brake the wheels, and wherein one or more of the number of wheel axles is a liftable wheel axle. The method comprises the step of controlling at least one of the one or more liftable wheel axles from a lifted position to a lowered position if the at least one liftable wheel axle is in the lifted position and a ratio between an estimated braking capacity of the auxiliary braking system and a current or impending braking need of the vehicle is below a first threshold ratio. The present disclosure further relates to a computer program, a computer-readable medium, a control arrangement, and a vehicle.

A system is provided for lifting one or more axles on a lifting machine, such as a crane including a chassis, relative to the ground. The system includes a lifter for raising or lowering the axle relative to the ground. The lifter comprising a flexible connector, such as a strap, for connecting with the axle and/or a cylinder including a rod connected to the connector and adapted for substantially horizontal movement for raising or lowering the first axle. A bearing may also be provided for supporting the flexible connector during the lifting and lowering of the axle. The system may be applied to multiple axles for independent or simultaneous operation. Related methods are also provided.

A trailer system with a trailer and a booster is provided. The trailer can have a hitch assembly provided at a front end of the trailer, a load bed provided behind the hitch assembly, and an axle assembly. The booster can have a connection assembly pivotally connecting the booster to a rear end of the trailer and an axle assembly. The connection assembly can include a booster hydraulic cylinder to dampen the pivoting of the booster; and an axle assembly comprising: a booster suspension frame; at least one axle; ground wheels provided on each axle; a booster suspension having at least one booster suspension air spring controlling the height of the booster suspension frame relative to the ground wheels; and a pressure regulator limiting the maximum pressure of a fluid supplied to the at least one booster suspension air spring.

A work vehicle includes a chassis, an axle assembly, an actuator, a parking brake, and a controller. The axle assembly is coupled to the chassis. The actuator is coupled to the chassis and the axle assembly. The actuator is configured to transition the axle assembly between a raised position and a lowered position. The controller includes a processor and a memory. The controller is configured to generate signals to determine a vehicle state based on data representing at least one of a vehicle load, a vehicle location, and a vehicle operating condition; and operate the actuator to transition the axle assembly between the raised position and the lowered position based on the vehicle state.

The present disclosure relates to an air supply control arrangement for a heavy-duty vehicle including a lift axle which comprises a brake chamber. The air supply control arrangement includes a control valve and a lever. The control valve has a closed first state in which pressurized air along an air supply passage is blocked by the control valve, and an open second state in which pressurized air is allowed to pass through the control valve along the air supply passage. The lever has a first portion connected to the control valve and a second portion connectable to the lift axle so that when the lift axle is raised from its ride condition to its lift condition the lever moves the control valve from the open second state to the closed first state. When the lift axle is lowered to its ride condition the lever moves the control valve back to the open second state.