A brake system for a vehicle having at least two axles. The brake system includes a hydraulic deceleration unit with a motorized brake pressure buildup device, a first and second wheel brake cylinder which can be mounted on a first and second wheel of a first axle of the vehicle. The first wheel brake cylinder is hydraulically connected to the motorized brake pressure buildup device via a first pressure control valve, and the second wheel brake cylinder is hydraulically connected to the motorized brake pressure buildup device via a second pressure control valve. The brake system includes an electromechanical deceleration unit having a first electromechanical wheel brake cylinder which can be mounted on a first wheel of a second axle of the vehicle and a second electromechanical wheel brake cylinder which can be mounted on a second wheel of the second axle.

A brake controller determines if an amount of regenerative braking needed to achieve a requested deceleration will exceed a driveline capability of a tractor. If it will, the brake controller redistributes some of the requested deceleration to a braking system of a trailer. That way, the requested deceleration can be achieved by the combination of regenerative braking of the tractor and the braking system of the trailer. Other braking mechanism(s) of the tractor can also be used, if needed.

An adjusting apparatus for an electrically operated utility vehicle, which has a front axle; at least two rear axles; at least one electric motor for driving the rear axles; and a battery to supply the electric motor with electrical power; including: an adjusting device to adjust a level of at least one of the rear axles from the roadway; in which the adjusting device is configured to identify a recovery mode in which the electric motor functions as a generator and is driven by the two rear axles in order to charge the battery; and in which the adjusting device is configured, when a recovery mode has been identified, to adjust the level and a load of the at least one adjustable rear axle so that the recovery is optimized. Also described is a related method and an electrically operated utility vehicle.

The invention i.a. relates to a load transfer arrangement (10) for a vehicle (12) including a chassis (14) with at least one braked axle (16), the arrangement (10) comprising: a non-driven load axle (18), and an air suspension assembly (20) including at least one air cushion (22) arranged between the chassis (14) and the non-driven load axle (18) in order to transfer load from the braked axle(s) (16) to the non-driven load axle (18), wherein the non-driven load axle (18) is unbraked, and wherein the arrangement (10) further comprises: an evacuation controller (24) configured to provide a pressure release trigger in response to a current or predicted braking event of the vehicle (12), and at least one evacuation valve (26) configured to, in response to receiving the pressure release trigger, evacuate pressure from the at least one air cushion (22) in order to remove load from the non-driven load axle (18) and increase load on the braked axle(s) (16).

An adjusting apparatus for an electrically operated utility vehicle, which has a front axle; at least two rear axles; at least one electric motor for driving the rear axles; and a battery to supply the electric motor with electrical power; including: an adjusting device to adjust a level of at least one of the rear axles from the roadway; in which the adjusting device is configured to identify a recovery mode in which the electric motor functions as a generator and is driven by the two rear axles in order to charge the battery; and in which the adjusting device is configured, when a recovery mode has been identified, to adjust the level and a load of the at least one adjustable rear axle so that the recovery is optimized. Also described is a related method and an electrically operated utility vehicle.

A brake system includes a service brake and a parking brake that brake a vehicle including a lift axle capable of ascending and descending. The brake system further includes a brake blocker device and a controller that controls the brake blocker device. The brake blocker device blocks at least one of supply of compressed air to the service brake and supply of compressed air to the parking brake. The service brake and the parking brake act on the lift axle. The controller actuates the brake blocker device when the lift axle is at a lifted position.

The invention i.a. relates to a load transfer arrangement (10) for a vehicle (12) including a chassis (14) with at least one braked axle (16), the arrangement (10) comprising: a non-driven load axle (18), and an air suspension assembly (20) including at least one air cushion (22) arranged between the chassis (14) and the non-driven load axle (18) in order to transfer load from the braked axle(s) (16) to the non-driven load axle (18), wherein the non-driven load axle (18) is unbraked, and wherein the arrangement (10) further comprises: an evacuation controller (24) configured to provide a pressure release trigger in response to a current or predicted braking event of the vehicle (12), and at least one evacuation valve (26) configured to, in response to receiving the pressure release trigger, evacuate pressure from the at least one air cushion (22) in order to remove load from the non-driven load axle (18) and increase load on the braked axle(s) (16).

The present application relates to a braking method and a braking system. The braking method of the present application may be performed by an electro-mechanical braking system including at least one axle control unit and a plurality of electro-mechanical braking devices provided at ends of wheels and driven by motors to apply friction braking forces to the wheels. The electro-mechanical braking devices are controlled by at least one axle control unit to switch between a state in which no friction braking is applied and a state in which friction braking is applied in response to a braking requirement. The braking method includes: setting a brake clearance between a brake pad and a brake disc to an initial value; determining whether there is a braking requirement; determining whether regenerative braking is performed; and in response to the performing of regenerative braking, setting the brake clearance to a preset value, wherein the preset value is smaller than the initial value. The brake clearance is reduced before friction braking is required, the respond time to the friction braking requirement is shortened, so that the switch between friction braking and regenerative braking is smoother, thereby the pause and transition during the switch between brakings is effectively reduced.

A variable traction device for drifting vehicles that allows the driver to vary the traction of the rear wheels with the road surface by alternating the weight of the drift vehicle between two sets of rear wheels with a substantially different coefficient of friction. The variable traction device includes a set of primary rear wheels, a set of secondary rear wheels, and an actuator lever. The actuator lever is located within reach of the driver and is operatively coupled to raise and lower the secondary rear wheels between a retracted position in which the vehicles weight is on the primary rear wheels and a deployed position in which the vehicles weight is on the secondary rear wheels. By manipulation of the actuator lever, it gives the driver the ability to vary the traction of the rear wheels with the road surface.

A brake system includes a service brake and a parking brake that brake a vehicle including a lift axle capable of ascending and descending. The brake system further includes a brake blocker device and a controller that controls the brake blocker device. The brake blocker device blocks at least one of supply of compressed air to the service brake and supply of compressed air to the parking brake. The service brake and the parking brake act on the lift axle. The controller actuates the brake blocker device when the lift axle is at a lifted position.