Abstract: A shock absorber is provided that includes a shock absorber body defining a cavity that is at least partially filled with hydraulic fluid. A piston is slidably arranged within the body and separates the cavity into rebound and compression fluid chambers. A rod is secured to the piston and includes first and second portions that are respectively adjacent to the rebound and compression chambers. A fluid passageway extends between the first and second portions to fluidly connect the rebound and compression chambers. In this manner, fluid is permitted to flow through the rod to provide damping characteristics in addition to those damping characteristics typically provided by the piston. A valve assembly, which may include a one-way check valve, is arranged within the passageway for controlling the flow of fluid between the rebound and compression chambers through the passageway. Preferably, the rod includes a longitudinal bore having an adjustable plunger arranged therein.

Abstract: An adjustable shock absorber is provided that includes a body having a fluid passageway with first and second passages in fluid communication with one another. A valve assembly is arranged between the passages and includes a plunger that is adjustable between a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of fluid flow positions. The valve assembly includes a metering valve having a orifice in a disc, and the plunger includes a needle with a portion disposed in said orifice to provide flow area. The flow area is changed when the plunger moves. The valve assembly also includes a blow-off valve in which the disc is biased to a closed position by a spring arranged between the plunger and the disc. Movement of the plunger changes the loading on the spring. An adjustment knob has a cammed surface that cooperates with the plunger so that as the adjustment knob is rotated the cammed surface moves the plunger.

Abstract: A drive unit assembly utilizes a single input to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. Each wheel end is suspended independently from the other. The input is operatively coupled to only one of the wheel ends and an exposed axle shaft assembly interconnects the input to the opposite wheel end. The axle shaft assembly includes multiple shaft members to interconnect the laterally spaced wheel ends. One of the axle shaft members is mounted to a vehicle floor structure with a bearing mount and includes connection joints at either end to accommodate the independent motion of each wheel end. The floor and the shaft member move together during suspension travel, allowing the floor to have a lower profile than is traditionally available.

Abstract: A tandem axle assembly includes a forward drive axle coupled to a rear drive axle with a connecting driveshaft. An inter-axle differential (LAD) located in a carrier assembly for the forward drive axle takes driving input and splits the input between the forward and rear drive axles. The LAD transfers driving force to a ring and pinion gear assembly in the carrier assembly for the forward drive axle and transfers driving force to a thru-shaft that is operably coupled to drive the rear drive axle via the connecting driveshaft. The pinion gear includes a first portion defining a pinion gear head and a second portion defining a hollow pinion support shaft that extends into the IAD. The pinion support shaft applies a thrust load to an IAD bearing via an IAD gear assembly to permit reverse load sharing. The thru-shaft extends through the hollow pinion support shaft such that the thru-shaft and the pinion gear rotate about a common axis.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly includes a damping adjustment mechanism that can easily be incorporated into a twin cylinder design. The shock absorber includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder mounted within the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder is spaced apart from the outer cylinder to define a gap. A piston is mounted within a fluid filled chamber formed within the inner cylinder to dampen vibrations. Holes are drilled into the wall of the inner cylinder to provide fluid ports that can communicate with the gap to form a bi-directional fluid path as the piston moves back and forth within the chamber to dampen vibrations. To provide variable damping, the outer cylinder includes an eccentric inner diameter to outer diameter profile that allows damping adjustment between high and low damping forces. The damping force is adjusted by rotating the outer cylinder relative to the inner cylinder to vary the size of the gap with respect to the ports.

Abstract: A brake assembly is provided having a brake spider with a hole. An anchor pin is supported within the hole and includes end portions extending from the spider. The end portion has a first interlocking profile, which may be a recess or flat in the outer cylindrical surface of the anchor pin. The cylindrical surface extends preferably to the terminal ends of the pin. That is, the anchor pin has a generally uniform diameter across its length excluding the areas in which the recess or flat is arranged. A brake shoe includes a web having an aperture. The end portion of the anchor pin is at least partially disposed within the aperture. The aperture has a second interlocking profile complimentary to and mating with the first interlocking profile of the anchor pin to prevent relative rotation between the web and the end portion. The brake shoe and anchor pin will rotate in unison about the pivot point defined by the anchor pin to ensure the pin does not bond to the spider.

Abstract: An automatic axle engagement system utilizes wheel speed sensors, engine control, and braking control to provide optimal engagement of a front drive axle to provide all wheel drive under poor driving conditions. The system includes a transfer case that is coupled to a power source and which has output shafts for front and rear drive axles. The engine provides torque to the transfer case via an input shaft. Wheel sensors generate wheel speed signals that are transmitted to a controller, which determined whether or not there is wheel slip. The controller initiates a shift to drivingly engage the front drive axle if there is wheel slippage by controlling one or both of the output torque or axle braking forces to bring rotational speeds of the input shaft and the rear axle output shaft within a predetermined speed range.

Abstract: A system for connecting a slider to a trailer frame includes a rotatable locking member having a plurality of teeth that engage with a plurality of openings in the trailer from. The locking member is biased by a rotary biasing in a locked position.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a housing that houses a thermally sensitive sensor, a transmitter portion and a power source. Preferably, the sensor device is encapsulated to protect the components from the environment. The transmitter generates a signal in response to the sensor detecting a temperature in a vehicle component that exceeds a predetermined temperature. A receiver is located remotely from the transmitter to receive the signal. The power supply generates electricity when the temperature of the vehicle component achieves an initial threshold temperature that is less than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for controlling the vertical position of the transport trailer floor of a heavy trailer bearing vehicle having a pivoting air spring suspension system such that the transport trailer floor maintains a fixed position level to an adjacent dock platform when parked for loading or unloading. The mechanism comprises various embodiments of a locking system that disables the pivotal movement of selected pivoting suspension elements in any one of a plurality of possible fixed positions such that the transport trailer floor, when parked, resists downwardly imposed forces and maintains a fixed elevation equal to the elevation of an adjacent loading dock platform.

Abstract: A brake assembly utilizes a conical brake drum and matching conical brake lining assembly to provide a more efficient braking system. An adjuster mechanism with a pair of conical adjuster members is controlled by an electric motor and worm gear drive. As the lining wears, the adjuster mechanism pulls the conical adjuster members towards one another to force the brake linings outwardly to maintain a predetermined distance between the drum and the brake lining assembly.

Abstract: A steer axle for a heavy duty vehicle is provided including an axle assembly having an axle housing. A steer knuckle is connected to an end portion of the axle housing by king pins. The steer knuckle rotates relative to the axle housing about the king pins. A wheel end assembly including a brake drum and a pair of brake shoes is supported on an outer wall of the steer knuckle. Preferably, one end of a cam shaft is supported by the wheel end assembly, such as by a spindle. According to the present invention, the steer knuckle includes a boss extending from a portion of the steer knuckle. The boss includes a hole, and preferably, a bushing is received in the hole to support the other end of the cam shaft. Other brake components such as an air chamber, rod, and a brake adjuster are supported by the knuckle and connected to the cam shaft to rotate the cam shaft about its axis and force the brake shoes away from one another with a cam and into engagement with the brake drum.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly includes a hub, a drum, and disc wheels that are mounted together for rotation about a common axis. The hub has a cylindrical body with a hub mounting flange that extends out radially from the body. The body defines an exterior surface having a common drum and wheel pilot. The drum has a drum mounting flange with a peripheral edge that is aligned relative to the drum and wheel pilot. The disc wheels each have wheel mounting flanges with a peripheral edges aligned relative to the drum and wheel pilot. Thus, the drum and wheels are mounted on a common pilot surface formed on the hub. The single pilot significantly reduces the occurrence of drum misalignment and possible drum fracture.

Abstract: A composite brake drum for use in a drum brake assembly includes a one-piece mounting flange and shell and a liner cast integrally in a shell portion thereof.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for inspecting and maintaining a vehicle. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of capturing vehicle data including the steps of servicing a vehicle at a location corresponding to service data. Service data is input into a portable handheld computing device and transferred from the portable handheld computing device to a vehicle onboard computer. Vehicle warranty data is provided on the vehicle onboard computer. The service data and the vehicle warranty data are retrieved from the vehicle onboard computer. In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of inspecting a vehicle includes communicating with the vehicle systems using a portable handheld computing device to automatically inspect the vehicle systems. Prompts are displayed on the portable handheld computing device to guide a vehicle inspector to inspect additional vehicle systems.

Abstract: A tubular axle beam with variable wall thickness for a vehicle is provided including a first beam portion extending longitudinally between first ends and including spaced apart first longitudinal edges. A second beam portion extends longitudinally between second ends and includes spaced apart second longitudinal edges. Weld beads secure the first longitudinal edges to the second longitudinal edges to define a cavity between the beam portions with the first and second ends arranged adjacent to one another. Preferably, the tubular axle beam is constructed by stamping a first blank to form a first half of the beam, and a second blank is stamped to form a second half of the beam. The first and second portions are welded to one another to define a cavity between the portions. In another embodiment of the invention, a tubular axle beam includes a hollow beam extending longitudinally between opposing ends.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved driver warning system that more effectively conveys the urgency of a potentially unsafe condition. The driver warning system detects a distance based parameter, preferably headway time or range rate, between a driver vehicle and a traffic vehicle using various sensors. A controller with a multi-variable table determines the safety status of the driver vehicle relative to the traffic vehicle. The safety status is compared to a plurality of predetermined safety status levels, which correspond to particular alert signal intensities. For example, a first alert signal intensity may be a light flashing at a first rate, and a second alert signal intensity may be the light flashing at a second rate which is greater than the first rate. A safety status level is selected for the current safety status of the driver vehicle. The alert signal, which may be the light mentioned above, is activated at the alert signal intensity for the selected safety status.

Abstract: Tandem drive axles include a pair of drive axles interconnected by a thru-shaft. An inter-axle differential allows speed differentiation between the pair of axles. Differences in tire rolling radii and variations in axle load distribution between the pair of drive axles are examples of why axle differentiation is needed. By measuring and monitoring wheel speed and/or tire pressure, tire rolling radii differences can be determined and appropriate adjustments can be made to tire pressures to provide a common tire rolling radii range for all tires. In addition to tire pressure adjustment, by adjusting other axle parameters that affect axle performance, such as suspension height and weight distribution, the need for axle differentiation is eliminated.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle is provided that includes a steering knuckle which is rotatable about an axis. The steering knuckle includes an upper attachment point and a lower attachment point. The attachment points define the steer axis. A rotational drive unit is connected to the steering knuckle for rotating the steering knuckle about the steer axis. A control module receives a steering input corresponding to the desired Ackerman angle and commands the rotational drive unit to rotate the steering knuckle about the axis to the desired Ackerman angle. Rotational drive units for each side of the vehicle ensure that the wheels are turned to the appropriate Ackerman angle for each wheel. The rotational drive unit may include an electric motor, or a pneumatic or hydraulic pump. In one preferred embodiment, the rotational drive unit includes a fluid housing and the shaft connected to the steering knuckle. The shaft includes a vane extending therefrom and into the housing.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly is provided that includes an axle housing having a cavity. A differential case is disposed within the cavity. The ring gear is supported on the differential case such as by fastening the ring gear to a flange extending from the differential case. A pinion cage eccentrically supports the driveshaft and pinion, which are rotatable about a first axis. The pinion cage may be used for different axle assemblies having different gear ratios. Moreover, the same differential case may be used for the different axle assemblies. The pinion cage is rotatable relative to the carrier housing between first and second positions in which the first axis is spaced from the ring gear first and second distances, respectively. In this manner, the pinion offset and gear mounting distance may be varied. The pinion cage is secured to the housing, preferably by fasteners, in one of the positions to accommodate a particular gearset.