Systems and methods provide a torsion bar assembly coupled to one or more casters of a material handling vehicle (MHV). The torsion bar assembly is configured to maintain contact between a travel surface of the MHV (e.g., ground) and a drive wheel of the material handling vehicle throughout the service life of the drive wheel.

A trailer for towing by a power vehicle is provided and generally includes a frame and a tandem wheel assembly. The frame forms an undercarriage chassis which the tandem wheel assembly is positioned there under. The undercarriage chassis includes a steerable rear wheel assembly, a steerable front wheel assembly, and an extension assembly moving the front wheel assembly between trailing position and a self-propelled position where the rear wheel assembly and the front wheel assembly are positioned to equally support the undercarriage chassis.

The present invention relates to a suspension system (S; S1; S2) fora tracked vehicle (V; V1; V2). Said tracked vehicle comprises a vehicle body (4), a pair of opposite track assemblies (T1, T2), the respective track assembly comprising a plurality of road wheels (2) and an endless track (3) disposed around said wheels. Said suspension system comprises a road wheel arm (20) having a wheel axle portion (22) configured to support a road wheel of the vehicle and a pivot axle portion (24), the road wheel arm (20) being pivotably journalled at said pivot axle portion (24) to a support portion (30) configured to be fixed to the vehicle body (4). The suspension system comprises a torsion bar (40) having a first end portion (42) and an opposite second end portion (44), the first end portion (42) being connected to the support portion (30). The suspension system comprises an adjustment device (100) connected to the second end portion (44) of the torsion bar (40), the adjustment device being configured to adjust the torque on the torsion bar so as to adjust the height of the vehicle body relative to said pair of track assemblies. The invention also relates to a tracked vehicle with such a suspension system and a method for controlling such a suspension system.

A connecting arrangement for a stabilizer of a vehicle, with at least one lever that extends transversely to a longitudinal direction. The lever has a bearing eye provided with a non-circular inner circumferential contour. A torsion-bar spring with a rotation axis extends in the longitudinal direction. The torsion-bar spring has an outer circumferential contour, at least at one end, that matches the inner circumferential contour of the bearing eye and which fits into the bearing eye. The wall of the bearing eye is cut through by at least one slit extending in the longitudinal direction, by which two opposite wall sections of the wall are separated from one another. The two wall sections are pressed against the non-circular outer circumferential contour of the torsion-bar spring by at least one releasable clamping element.

An overload suspension system configured for operative engagement to a vehicle having a first leaf spring and second leaf spring to provide auxiliary support to the vehicle when overloaded. A first control arm attached to a first torsion bar has a distal end positioned a separation distance from the first leaf spring. A second control arm attached to the second control arm has a distal end positioned substantially the same separation distance from the second leaf spring. The suspension system operates as an auxiliary suspension only when added weight to the vehicle deflects both leaf springs to contact a respective one of the control arms, thereby preserving the ride and suspension characteristics of the vehicle when the added weight is not present.

A trailer for towing by a power vehicle is provided and generally includes a frame and a tandem wheel assembly. The frame forms an undercarriage chassis which the tandem wheel assembly is positioned there under. The undercarriage chassis includes a rear wheel assembly, a front wheel assembly, and an extension assembly moving the front wheel assembly between trailing position and a self-propelled position. At least one of the wheel assemblies is powered by a selectively engageable drive assembly including a motor, transmission, driveshaft, selectively engageable clutch and hub, to drive the rotation of at least one of the wheels.

An overload suspension system configured for operative engagement to a vehicle having a first leaf spring and second leaf spring to provide auxiliary support to the vehicle when overloaded. A first control arm attached to a first torsion bar has a distal end positioned a separation distance from the first leaf spring. A second control arm attached to the second control arm has a distal end positioned substantially the same separation distance from the second leaf spring. The suspension system operates as an auxiliary suspension only when added weight to the vehicle deflects both leaf springs to contact a respective one of the control arms, thereby preserving the ride and suspension characteristics of the vehicle when the added weight is not present.

A suspension system for a vehicle includes at least two torsion bars, each of which are connected on their first end to respective wheel suspensions that are arranged on opposite lateral sides of the vehicle. Movement of the wheel suspensions produces torque in the respective torsion bars. Each of the torsion bars are connected on their second ends to a frame of the vehicle through a damper system. Movement of the wheel suspensions produces torque in the respective torsion bar. The damper system selectively applies resistance to the torque in the torsion bars to selectively provide active variable spring rates to the wheel suspension, which application of resistance may be coordinated amongst the various torsion bars to inhibit roll of the vehicle during a turning maneuver or to increase occupant comfort when the vehicle encounters a bump or hole.

A torsion spring assembly for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, including two torsion bars arranged coaxially one inside another and also a spring element, which is arranged axially-parallel to the two coaxial torsion bars, and can be mounted on the motor vehicle body via a bearing position, wherein the radial outer hollow-cylindrical torsion bar can be mounted on the motor vehicle body side and is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to an output lever fastenable on a wheel guiding element and the radial inner torsion bar is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to the outer torsion bar and is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner via a coupling to the spring element.

It is disclosed a system for leveling of load between front and rear wheels on a trailer, consisting of a rubber-torsion axle FIG. D with longitudinal members 4 which center is pivotally mounted to the torsion axles pivot arms 7. With a wheel in each end of the longitudinal members, the system is working as a complete bogie unit which has vertical spring motion effect, as shown in FIG. B. For trailers with no need of such spring motion effect, the longitudinal members can be mounted direct to the inner tube 9 in the rubber-torsion element.