The twist axle assembly includes a cross beam that extends along a length between opposite ends, and a pair of trailing arms are fixedly attached with the opposite ends. A spindle plate is fixedly attached with each of the trailing arms. For each spindle plate and trailing arm combination, the spindle plate and trailing arm are provided with cooperating orbital adjustment features which allow an orientation of the spindle plate relative to the trailing arm to be adjusted prior to the spindle plate being fixedly attached with the trailing arm for allowing preselection of a camber angle, a caster angle, and a toe angle for a wheel to be coupled with the spindle plate.

A wheeled work vehicle (1) comprises a forward chassis part (4) and a rearward chassis part (5) pivotally connected about a substantially vertically extending primary pivot axis (7) for steering thereof. A pair of forward ground engaging wheels (29) are carried on a forward suspension unit (32), and a pair of rearward ground engaging wheels (30) are carried on a rearward suspension unit (33). The forward suspension unit (32) is pivotally connected to the forward chassis part (4) by a pair of main forward transverse pivot shafts (63) pivotally coupled to the forward chassis part (4) by corresponding main forward pivot mountings (65). The main forward transverse pivot shafts (63) defines a main forward transverse pivot axis (59) about which the forward suspension unit (32) is pivotal relative to the forward chassis part (4). The forward suspension unit (32) comprises a pair of spaced apart trailing arms (35) which are joined by a torsion shaft (68) of tubular steel, which is rigidly connected to the trailing arms (35). The torsion shaft (68) defines a torsional axis (70), and permits limited upward and downward pivotal type torsional deflection of the trailing arms (35) relative to each other. The rearward suspension unit (33) is substantially similar to the forward suspension unit (32) and is coupled to the rearward chassis part (5) about a pair of main rearward transverse pivot shafts (87) in a similar manner as the forward suspension unit (32) is coupled to the forward chassis part (4).

A bearing eye for a leaf spring for sprung support of a vehicle component on a vehicle body of a vehicle may include a through opening and a torsion spring therein, and a first catch. The bearing eye may provide pivotable mounting of the leaf spring on the vehicle body. The torsion spring is twistable relative to the bearing eye and connectable non-rotatably to the vehicle body. The first catch may project radially inwardly into the through opening, and the torsion spring has a second catch that projects radially outwardly into the through opening. The first and second catches may form a locking engagement which, depending on a degree of relative twisting between the bearing eye and the torsion spring, stops the relative twisting.

The twist axle assembly includes a cross beam that extends along a length between opposite ends, and a pair of trailing arms are fixedly attached with the opposite ends. A spindle plate is fixedly attached with each of the trailing arms. For each spindle plate and trailing arm combination, the spindle plate and trailing arm are provided with cooperating orbital adjustment features which allow an orientation of the spindle plate relative to the trailing arm to be adjusted prior to the spindle plate being fixedly attached with the trailing arm for allowing preselection of a camber angle, a caster angle, and a toe angle for a wheel to be coupled with the spindle plate.

This torsion beam manufacturing method is for manufacturing a torsion beam including a central portion of which a cross-section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction is a closed cross-section having a substantial V-shape or a substantial U-shape at any position in the longitudinal direction, and a shape changing portion which has a connection region leading to the central portion and including a closed cross-section having a shape different from the shape of the closed cross-section of the central portion.

This torsion beam manufacturing method has a compression step of thickening at least the connection region through application of a compression force in the longitudinal direction to at least the connection region of a torsion beam material to obtain the torsion beam, the torsion beam material being formed with the central portion and the shape changing portion.

A trailing arm device (1) of a drivable torsion beam axle (2) is described. The trailing arm device (1) has a housing (5) in which a drive-train (8) can be arranged and is connected to a trailing arm (4). The housing (5), as fitted into position within a vehicle, has a sidewall (11) formed integrally with a central housing region (9) on a side facing toward a wheel. The sidewall delimits a housing interior space (10) that accommodates, at least partially, the drive-train (8). On the side facing away from the wheel, the housing interior space (10) is delimited by at least one cover element (14) that can be detachably connected to the central housing region (9).

The invention relates to a twist-axle that includes a cross-beam member and two trailing arms, each trailing arm rigidly secured to the cross-beam member in one of two connection regions of the cross-beam member or formed integrally with and extending from one of the two connection regions. The cross-beam member is formed from a tubular blank and has a torsionally elastic central portion and two torsionally stiff connection regions. The cross-beam member has a wall thickness that varies longitudinally along the length of the cross-beam member from the torsionally elastic central portion to each of the torsionally stiff connection regions.

A twist axle assembly (20) of a vehicle includes a pair of trailing arms (22) and a twist beam (24) having a base portion (46) extending along an axis (A) between first and second twist beam ends (42, 44). The twist beam (24) includes a pair of side walls (48) extending downwardly from the base portion (46) and each disposed in spaced relationship with the trailing arms (22). At least one mounting bracket (54) extends from a first mounting bracket end (56) disposed in abutting relationship with a respective trailing arm (22) to a second mounting bracket end (58) disposed in overlaying relationship the side walls (48) of the twist beam (24) for allowing the mounting bracket to axially slip or slide along the side walls (48) of the twist beam (24) and provide for lateral or axial adjustment of the twist axle assembly (20) during the manufacturing process.

An axle assembly includes a first rail assembly, a second rail assembly and an open-section twist beam connected to the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly. The twist beam includes an upper wall, a lower wall and rear wall wherein the upper wall and the lower wall are connected by the rear wall to define an open portion of the twist beam where the upper wall and the lower wall are separated by a vertical distance. The open portion of the twist beam is forward facing. The axle assembly further includes a torsion bar that extends through and is connected within the open portion of the twist beam.

An embodiment rear side member of a vehicle includes a front portion extending forward in a vehicle length direction, a rear portion extending rearward in the vehicle length direction and disposed offset to an inside of the vehicle with respect to the front portion, and a transition portion in a curved shape connecting a rear end of the front portion and a front end of the rear portion and passing through both a first point configured to engage with a first arm of a first type suspension and a second point configured to engage with a second arm of a second type suspension different from the first type suspension.