There is provided an end plate that includes a through hole that causes an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion to communicate with each other, into which an intruding portion provided in a wheel-side member can intrude, a first press-formed portion formed by depressing in a peripheral edge of the through hole in the inner wall portion. The end plate includes a second press-formed portion arranged in a part of a peripheral edge on the side of a peripheral end of the inner wall portion, which is a remnant of a portion where the first press-formed portion is arranged in the inner wall portion, and formed therein with a protruding portion by protruding a part of the peripheral edge, and a screw hole formed by penetrating through the protruding portion in the second press-formed portion between the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion.

There is provided an end plate that includes a through hole that causes an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion to communicate with each other, into which an intruding portion provided in a wheel-side member can intrude, a first press-formed portion formed by depressing in a peripheral edge of the through hole in the inner wall portion. The end plate includes a second press-formed portion arranged in a part of a peripheral edge on the side of a peripheral end of the inner wall portion, which is a remnant of a portion where the first press-formed portion is arranged in the inner wall portion, and formed therein with a protruding portion by protruding a part of the peripheral edge, and a screw hole formed by penetrating through the protruding portion in the second press-formed portion between the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion.

An axle assembly for transporting a load bearing frame includes a first axle operably coupled to an axle mount of the load bearing frame by a first articulation structure, and a second axle spaced a distance from the first axle and operably coupled to the axle mount by a second articulation structure. The first articulation structure is rotationally coupled to the axle mount by a first articulation connection, and the second articulation structure is rotationally coupled to the axle mount by a second articulation connection. A suspension system is operably coupled to both the first articulation structure and the second articulation structure. In a first mode of operation, the suspension system forms a substantially rigid connection between the first articulation structure and the second articulation structure. In response to an upward articulation of the first articulation structure towards the load bearing frame, the substantially rigid connection causes the second articulation structure to articulate down and away from the load bearing frame. In a second mode of operation, the suspension system articulates both the first articulation structure and the second articulation structure towards the load bearing frame.

An axle assembly for transporting a load bearing frame includes a first axle operably coupled to an axle mount of the load bearing frame by a first articulation structure, and a second axle spaced a distance from the first axle and operably coupled to the axle mount by a second articulation structure. The first articulation structure is rotationally coupled to the axle mount by a first articulation connection, and the second articulation structure is rotationally coupled to the axle mount by a second articulation connection. A suspension system is operably coupled to both the first articulation structure and the second articulation structure. In a first mode of operation, the suspension system forms a substantially rigid connection between the first articulation structure and the second articulation structure. In response to an upward articulation of the first articulation structure towards the load bearing frame, the substantially rigid connection causes the second articulation structure to articulate down and away from the load bearing frame. In a second mode of operation, the suspension system articulates both the first articulation structure and the second articulation structure towards the load bearing frame.

A suspension device for electric vehicle includes a pair of hollow members each connected to an elastic body configured to suspend a vehicle body of the vehicle, the pair of hollow members each configured to house, in an internal space of the hollow member, part of an associated one of a pair of drive shafts, a beam member joined to the pair of hollow members, and at least one of a hollow member joint portion or a beam member joint portion having a projecting portion, the hollow member joint portion constituting a side surface of each of the hollow members, the beam member joint portion constituting a side surface of an end portion of the beam member, the other one of the hollow member joint portion or the beam member joint portion having a recessed portion.

A suspension device for electric vehicle includes a pair of hollow members each connected to an elastic body configured to suspend a vehicle body of the vehicle, the pair of hollow members each configured to house, in an internal space of the hollow member, part of an associated one of a pair of drive shafts, a beam member joined to the pair of hollow members, and at least one of a hollow member joint portion or a beam member joint portion having a projecting portion, the hollow member joint portion constituting a side surface of each of the hollow members, the beam member joint portion constituting a side surface of an end portion of the beam member, the other one of the hollow member joint portion or the beam member joint portion having a recessed portion.

Systems and methods for improving vehicle rear suspension and operation and to reduce the 3D trajectory motion of the suspension components into separate linear and rotational movements, and allow for a more stable and steady vehicle ride.

In a pressing step, a first forged product is pressed by a first die, and thereby, a second forged product including a rough flange having a thickness-changing portion is produced. The thickness-changing portion includes a front part protruding frontward from a side of a rough web part and a rear part protruding rearward from the side of the rough web part. Each of the front part and the rear part includes a first part, and a second part that is thicker than the first part and is located farther from the rough web part than the first part. In the pressing step, at least a part of the rough flange that is above or below the web part (thick part) is pressed by the first die, whereby the material of the first forged product in the part is caused to flow frontward and rearward, and the thickness-changing portion is formed.

In a pressing step, a first forged product is pressed by a first die, and thereby, a second forged product including a rough flange having a thickness-changing portion is produced. The thickness-changing portion includes a front part protruding frontward from a side of a rough web part and a rear part protruding rearward from the side of the rough web part. Each of the front part and the rear part includes a first part, and a second part that is thicker than the first part and is located farther from the rough web part than the first part. In the pressing step, at least a part of the rough flange that is above or below the web part (thick part) is pressed by the first die, whereby the material of the first forged product in the part is caused to flow frontward and rearward, and the thickness-changing portion is formed.

The production method disclosed is a method for producing a front axle beam. The production method includes a die forging step and a bending step. The die forging step is a step of forging a steel material with dies to produce a forged product including a rough web part, which is to be formed into a web part, and four plate-shaped rough flange parts protruding frontward and rearward from an upper side and a lower side of the rough web part, respectively. The bending step is a step of pressing at least one specified rough flange part, which is at least one of the four rough flange parts, with a first die to form a bent portion in the specified rough flange part such that the bent portion is bent inward in an up-down direction of the forged product.