A damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems. The damping air spring includes a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one opening between the first chamber and second chamber to provide restricted fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. An adsorptive material is disposed within the first chamber or the second chamber and works in conjunction with the at least one opening to provide damping characteristics to the air spring over a first and second critical range of frequencies.

A method for coupling a semi-trailer with a top plate to a truck tractor with a coupling plate includes: importing a reference height profile assigning a reference gradient to different actual values for the relative height of the chassis to the rear axle of the truck-tractor; changing the relative height such that the coupling plate approaches the top plate; continuously determining actual height values and height gradients while changing the relative height, wherein an actual height value is assigned the currently determined actual height gradient; checking a coupling criterion by comparing a currently determined actual height gradient with the reference gradient, wherein the reference gradient which in the imported reference height profile is assigned to the same actual height value as the currently determined actual height gradient is applied; and, maintaining the relative height when the currently determined actual height gradient deviates from the reference gradient.

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.

A suspension system for a wheel of a vehicle includes a first arm, a second arm, a support structure positioned between the first arm and the second arm, a first bearing assembly coupled to the first arm and supporting the support structure for movement, and a second bearing assembly coupled to the second arm and supporting the support structure for movement. The support structure is configured to be coupled to the wheel that is rotatable about a wheel rotation axis. The first bearing includes a spherical bearing, and the second bearing assembly includes a first spherical bearing and a second spherical bearing.

A steering system, in particular for use in commercial vehicles, having a base body and a retaining element, wherein the base body has a contact surface on the base body side and the retaining element has a contact surface on the retaining side, wherein the base body has a bearing area for a pivotable suspension at its first distal end, wherein the contact surface on the base body side is arranged at the end of the base body opposite the first distal end, wherein the retaining element has a fastening section for fastening a spring element, wherein the retaining element can be fixed or is fixed to the base body by means of an adhesive introduced between the contact surface on the base body side and the contact surface on the retaining side, and/or wherein an axle body with a contact surface on the axle side is provided, wherein the base body can be fixed or is fixed to the axle body by means of an adhesive introduced between the contact surface on the base body side and the contact surface on the axle side, wherein the retaining element can be fixed or is fixed to the axle body by means of an adhesive introduced between the contact surface on the axle side and the contact surface on the retaining side.

Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media provide dynamic chassis and tire status indications associated with a vehicle. Lift axle status data may be graphically represented by a lift axle indicator dynamically provided in a shared notification/messaging space positioned within the driver's line of sight during a lift axle transition. The lift axle indicator may include a side-view representation of the vehicle including a plurality of axle sections indicating the status of each axle. The lift axle indicator may be suppressed when air pressure is stabilized. Additionally, a graphical representation of data associated with statuses (e.g., air pressure, temperature) of each tire may be provided in a top-down view representation of the vehicle including its associated tire/axle configuration and the tire pressure for each tire. The graphical representation may be configured to reflect the correct number of axles and tires per position, and may further include a tractor versus trailer designation.

A pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle, in which the pneumatic suspension system includes a supply tank, a first set of air springs positioned on a first side of the vehicle; a second set of air springs positioned on a second side of the vehicle, and a dual-action dynamic valve positioned between the first set of air springs and the second set of air springs. The dual-action dynamic valve is connected to the supply tank, the first set of air springs, and the second set of air springs by a series of air hoses. The dual-action dynamic valve is adapted to supply air to either one of the first set of air springs or the second set of air springs while simultaneously exhausting air from the other one of the first set of air springs or the second set of air springs.

Methods and systems are provided for an electric heavy-duty vehicle. In one example, a system for the vehicle may include a wheel hub assembly coupled to a frame of the vehicle via a first wishbone arm and a second wishbone arm, and an air spring coupled at opposite ends to a first link and a second link, each of the first link and the second link being pivotably coupled to the frame of the vehicle, the second link further being pivotably coupled to the first wishbone arm. The air spring may be positioned above the wheel hub assembly with respect to the vehicle.

A wheel suspension arrangement is provided for a vehicle having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a vertical direction. The wheel suspension arrangement includes a wheel holder for supporting a vehicle wheel. A first vertical end region of the wheel holder is pivotally attached to a vehicle support structure by a rigid control arm and a second vertical end region of the wheel holder is attached to the vehicle support structure by a leaf spring. A longitudinal direction of the leaf spring is arranged substantially in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The leaf spring is pivotally attached to the vehicle support structure at a transverse centre region of the vehicle, and a centre of the leaf spring in the transverse direction is located vertically offset from a pivotal attachment location of the leaf spring. The pivotal attachment location of the leaf spring is vertically offset towards the side of the rigid control arm.

A method and apparatus for lowering the height of a wheeled vehicle for cargo height constraints during transportation. The rear leaf spring shackle on each side of the vehicle is connected to a sliding frame mount. In the transport configuration, fasteners are removed from the sliding frame mount, and the mount slides forward, rotating the rear leaf spring shackle from a near vertical to a near horizontal position, effectively lowering the height of the vehicle. To return the vehicle to the ride configuration, a screw jack member is attached to the sliding frame mount and a rear attachment point on the vehicle, pulling the sliding frame mount back, aligning attachment points of the mount with the frame member in the original position. The fasteners are reinstalled to lock the sliding frame mount into the ride configuration.