A machine includes a first cylinder coupled to a first wheel and a second cylinder coupled to a second wheel. A first proportional dampening valve fluidly connects to the first cylinder and a second proportional dampening valve fluidly connects to the second cylinder. First accumulators are fluidly connected to the first cylinder and the first proportional dampening valve, and second accumulator(s) are fluidly connected to the second cylinder and the second proportional dampening valve. Additionally, a first proportional flow control valve fluidly connects to the first cylinder and a second proportional flow control valve fluidly connected to the second cylinder. An electronic control module (ECM) communicatively couples to the first proportional flow control valve and the second proportional flow control valve to adjust a ride height of the first wheel via the first cylinder and a ride height of the second wheel via the second cylinder.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a mechanical joint with five degrees of freedom. In certain embodiments, the mechanical joint includes first and second triangular linkages The first triangular linkage includes a base end configured to hingedly couple to a first body to pivot relative to the first body and a vertex end that includes a first rotational member. The second triangular linkage includes a base end configured to hingedly couple to a second body to pivot relative to the second body and a vertex end that includes a second rotational member. The first rotational member and the second rotational member are rotationally coupled to form a all joint. With this joint, the second body is moveable in two translational degrees of freedom and restricted in one translational degree of freedom relative to the first body. Such a configuration allows vertical movement and/or reduces stress on the joint.

The present application pertains to a system comprising a multi-axle trailer with a front and a rear. The a multi-axle trailer comprises at least one lift axle configured to be raised or lowered to distribute weight, to increase trailer deflection during a turn, or both. A jeep is mounted between the trailer and a tractor wherein the jeep is configured to decrease weight on one or more axles. A booster is mounted to the rear of the multi-axle trailer. The system is configured such that during raising of the at least one lift axle an increase in air pressure to one or more other axles is increased to offset weight.

A method for controlling axle load distribution of a heavy-duty vehicle during a maneuver, wherein the heavy-duty vehicle comprises a number of wheel axles and one or more motion support devices arranged to adjust a relative axle load of one or more wheel axles of the number of wheel axles, the method comprising obtaining a vehicle model and a tire model, wherein the vehicle model and the tire model are jointly configured to predict a tire scrubbing force in dependence of a vehicle state comprising a relative axle load distribution during the maneuver, determining a nominal tire scrubbing force for a current relative axle load distribution, determining an improved relative axle load distribution maneuver associated with a reduced tire scrubbing force compared to the nominal tire scrubbing force, and controlling the one or more motion support devices to provide the improved relative axle load distribution during the maneuver.

A bed truck having multiple axles has a hydraulic suspension including multiple hydraulic cylinders for each axle, a ride height sensor associated with each hydraulic cylinder, a high pressure hydraulic circuit connecting each of the cylinders and accumulators to a hydraulic pressure source, a low pressure hydraulic circuit connecting each of the cylinders to a fluid tank, and a plurality of valves operable to isolate operation of any one hydraulic cylinder from some or all of the other hydraulic cylinders. A control system is operable to control each of the hydraulic cylinders, either independently of all the other hydraulic cylinders, or in concert with one or more other hydraulic cylinders, such control including locking any one or more of the hydraulic cylinders at a minimum ride height position.

A dynamic weight shift suspension system for shifting the tandem axle loads on a vehicle. The system includes a first airbag connected between the drive axle of a tandem and the vehicle frame, and a second airbag connected between a tag axle of a tandem and the vehicle frame. The system also has a mechatronic control unit comprising at least one port and at least one solenoid. The mechatronic control unit is in direct fluid communication with the airbags and an air supply via fluid communication lines.

A dual-axle vehicle corner assembly which may include a sub-frame, a first arm connected to the sub-frame and rotatable with respect to the sub-frame about a first arm axis, the first arm having a first axle axis about which a first wheel rotates when connected to the first arm, a second arm connected to the sub-frame and rotatable with respect to the sub-frame about a second arm axis, the second arm having a second axle axis about which a second wheel rotates when connected to the second arm, and a suspension system comprising a piston assembly interconnecting the first arm and the second arm, the piston assembly is to controllably increase and decrease a length of the piston assembly to control a distance between the first axle axis and the second axle axis.

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.

A system and method are provided for configuring suspension ratios in a multi-rear axle vehicle, the vehicle having a drive axle suspension and at least one tag axle suspension, each suspension having one or more air springs. The timing of the performance of an adjustment cycle series of steps for adjusting the suspension height and air spring pressure readings is optimized by monitoring the acceleration of the vehicle and conducting the adjustment cycle steps when the vehicle acceleration is below an acceleration threshold. Additionally, air spring pressure adjustments may be scaled based on a confidence factor of the air spring pressure readings. Finally, a method is provided for configuring suspension ratios in a multi-rear axle vehicle, the vehicle having a drive axle suspension and at least one tag axle suspension, and for adjusting the air suspension pressures.

A method for controlling the safe operation of a rear axle of a set of combined axles powered by a motor vehicle, particularly for a vehicle designed to carry loads and which have 6×4, 8×4 or 10×4 type traction configurations, or tridem models formed by three drive axles. The method includes a set of steps and activities that ensure proper and safe operation of systems and mechanisms for uncoupling and raising a rear axle of a vehicle, and more specifically checking a status of certain operating parameters of the rear axle and of the vehicle itself in order to permit or prevent uncoupling and coupling, as well as raising and lowering of the rear axle of the vehicle.