Abstract: A mechanical device lubrication level control system operates within a mechanical housing having a sump cavity and a lubricant director, where the lubricant director is located at the bottom of the housing. A mechanical gear set is located in the sump cavity and a lube tank is located in the lubricant director. There is located within in lube tank either a motor with a pump or an expandable air bladder that is inflatable by an air source. For the lube tank having the motor with the pump, the pump controls the lubricant within the sump cavity. For the lube tank having the expandable air bladder, the air source controls the lubricant within the sump cavity.

Abstract: Provided herein is a tandem axle system including a top-mount forward axle assembly, a rear axle assembly and an intermediate drive shaft assembly.

Abstract: A king-pin joint assembly used in a vehicle. The king-pin joint assembly includes a king-pin, an axle beam and a steering knuckle. At least a portion of an intermediate portion of the king-pin is received and/or retained within at least a portion of an axle beam king-pin receiving aperture in a connector portion of the axle beam. The steering knuckle has a yoke portion with a first yoke arm and a second yoke arm. At least a portion of a first bearing assembly and a first end portion of the king-pin is received and/or retained within at least a portion of a first yoke arm king-pin aperture in the first yoke arm. Additionally, least a portion of a second bearing assembly and a second end portion of the king-pin is received and/or retained within at least a portion of a second yoke arm king-pin aperture in the second yoke arm.

Abstract: A composite shaft assembly including a core structure formed by weaving fiber(s) into an open composite structure. The assembly further includes a first end piece and a second end piece having helically shaped groove(s) and/or axially groove(s) on an outer surface of an end portion of the first and second end piece. Woven into the helical and/or axial groove(s) on the first end piece and at least partially within through hole(s) disposed at an end of the groove(s) is the fiber(s) at a first end portion of the of the core structure. Woven into the helical and/or axial groove(s) on the second end piece and at least partially within through hole(s) disposed at an end of the groove(s) is the fiber(s) at a second end portion of the of the core structure. Structural adhesive(s) are applied over the fiber(s) and allowed to cure to form the composite drive shaft.

Abstract: A non-driven axle for a vehicle or a trailer is provided. The non-driven axle includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a central portion. The first arm portion is for rotatably mounting a first wheel hub. The second arm portion is for rotatably mounting a second wheel hub. The second arm portion is on an axial end of the central portion opposite the first arm portion. The central portion is between the first arm portion and the second arm portion and may be substantially U-shaped or substantially ring-shaped. The substantially U-shaped central portion includes a main portion and a radially inner portion. The substantially ring-shaped central portion includes a main portion and an inner portion. The non-driven axle reduces a weight of a vehicle or trailer while capable of being lifted without interfering with an operation of a drive axle.

Abstract: A heat transfer system for a vehicle including an axle assembly having a carrier housing. A sump defined by the carrier housing contains a fluid lubricant. The heat transfer system further includes a heat exchanger having one or more electrically conductive elements. The electrically conductive elements are at least partially disposed within the carrier housing. Additionally, an electrical power source is in electrical connection with the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A differential assembly for use in a vehicle. The differential assembly includes a differential case having an inner surface and an outer surface defining a hollow portion therein. At least a portion of a differential gear set having a first side gear, a second side gear and one or more pinion gears is disposed within the hollow portion of the differential case. The one or more pinion gears have one or more pinion gear apertures having at least a portion of one or more trunnions of a spider disposed therein. Interposed between an outer surface of the one or more trunnions of the one or more spiders and a surface defining the one or more pinion gear apertures is one or more first bearing assemblies.

Abstract: A self-lubricating king pin joint system has a bushing within a knuckle, with a hollow king pin positioned through a center of the bushing, thereby forming a king pin joint between the bushing and the king pin. A controllable spring is positioned in and near the center of the hollow interior of the king pin, where upper and lower pistons are positioned on opposite ends of the spring. An upper volume of lubricant is placed on the upper side of the upper piston and a lower volume of lubricant is placed on the lower side of the lower piston. A drive mechanism separately controls an extension of the spring in both upper and lower axial directions, so as to individually extend each piston to self-meter lubricant over time/miles and at prescribed intervals. Thereby, each piston separately lubricates respective portions of the king pin joint.

Abstract: A non-driven axle for a vehicle or a trailer is provided. The non-driven axle includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a central portion. The first arm portion is for rotatably mounting a first wheel hub. The second arm portion is for rotatably mounting a second wheel hub. The second arm portion is on an axial end of the central portion opposite the first arm portion. The central portion is between the first arm portion and the second arm portion and may be substantially arch-shaped or substantially ring-shaped. The substantially arch-shaped central portion includes a main portion and a radially inner portion. The substantially ring-shaped central portion includes a main portion and an inner portion. The non-driven axle reduces a weight of a vehicle or trailer while capable of being lifted without interfering with an operation of a drive axle.

Abstract: A gear box having a gear set therein for mounting to the outside of a housing of an axle assembly and connected to the input shaft of the differential of the axle assembly can allow high speed electric motor(s) to connect to the differential via the gear box for driving the axle assembly. The gear box can be mounted using existing bolt hole pattern on the axle assembly housing such as the input cover of the axle head assembly housing the differential. The gear set can be a planetary gear set where the rotor of the electric motor can be rotationally connected to the sun gear and the carrier gear can be connected to the input pinion shaft. In another embodiment an axle assembly having a differential can also have a gear box mounted to the outside of the axle housing and connected to the input pinion shaft to allow use of a high speed electric motor by providing an appropriate gear ratio conversion.

Abstract: A pressurized fluid supply apparatus and method of supplying pressurized fluid is provided. The pressurized fluid supply apparatus includes a housing configured to rotate about an axis, at least one fluid pump coupled to the housing and configured to pressurize a fluid therein, and at least one movable element disposed within the housing. The at least one movable element is configured to move within the housing when the housing rotates about the axis, which causes the at least one movable element to be in periodic driving engagement with the at least one fluid pump to cause the fluid to be pressurized.

Abstract: A vehicle spindle and a method of attaching the spindle to a portion of an axle half shaft housing. The spindle has an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more bearing journals on the outer surface of the spindle and a radially protruding portion circumferentially extending from at least a portion of the outer surface of an axially inboard end portion of the spindle. Prior to attaching the spindle to the axle half shaft housing, the one or more bearing journals are ground, a clocking angle for the radially protruding portion of the spindle is determined and the spindle is aligned to the determined clocking angle. Once the spindle is aligned to the determined clocking angle, the axially inboard end portion of the spindle is attached to an axially outboard end portion of the axle half shaft housing using one or more welds.

Abstract: A self-lubricating king pin joint system has a bushing within a knuckle, with a hollow king pin positioned through a center of the bushing, thereby forming a king pin joint between the bushing and the king pin. A controllable spring is positioned in and near the center of the hollow interior of the king pin, where upper and lower pistons are positioned on opposite ends of the spring. An upper volume of lubricant is placed on the upper side of the upper piston and a lower volume of lubricant is placed on the lower side of the lower piston. A drive mechanism separately controls an extension of the spring in both upper and lower axial directions, so as to individually extend each piston to self-meter lubricant over time/miles and at prescribed intervals. Thereby, each piston separately lubricates respective portions of the king pin joint.

Abstract: Provided herein in a method of disconnecting and connecting a tandem axle system, the method including the steps of: providing a tandem axle system including a primary clutch in driving engagement with a prime mover, an inter-axle differential and clutch assembly including an inter-axle differential and an inter-axle differential lock in selective driving engagement with the primary clutch, a forward axle assembly having a disconnect assembly, a rear axle assembly having a disconnect assembly, and a control system in communication with the inter-axle differential lock, the differential lock assembly, and the disconnect assemblies; disconnecting the disconnect assemblies of the forward and rear axle assemblies; engaging the inter-axle differential lock; disengaging the primary clutch; matching rotational speeds of the axle half shafts disconnect assemblies of the front and rear axle assemblies; connecting the disconnect assemblies of the forward and rear axle assemblies; and engaging the primary clutch.

Abstract: A vehicle spindle and a method of attaching the spindle to a portion of an axle half shaft housing. The spindle has an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more bearing journals on the outer surface of the spindle and a radially protruding portion circumferentially extending from at least a portion of the outer surface of an axially inboard end portion of the spindle. Prior to attaching the spindle to the axle half shaft housing, the one or more bearing journals are ground, a clocking angle for the radially protruding portion of the spindle is determined and the spindle is aligned to the determined clocking angle. Once the spindle is aligned to the determined clocking angle, the axially inboard end portion of the spindle is attached to an axially outboard end portion of the axle half shaft housing using one or more welds.

Abstract: A drive axle system including a first axle assembly having an input shaft in driving engagement with an under-drive arrangement, an inter-axle differential in driving engagement with the under-drive arrangement, a through drive shaft in driving engagement with the inter-axle differential, a first axle drive pinion in driving engagement with the inter-axle differential, and a first axle differential arrangement including a first axle ring gear in driving engagement with the inter-axle differential through the first axle drive pinion. The drive axle system further includes the second axle assembly in driving engagement with the through drive shaft. The second axle assembly includes a second axle drive pinion drivingly engaged with the through drive shaft and meshingly engaged with a second axle ring gear of a second axle differential arrangement. The under-drive arrangement is configured to reduce a drive ratio of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly.

Abstract: A composite shaft assembly including a core structure formed by weaving fibre(s) into an open composite structure. The assembly further includes a first end piece and a second end piece having helically shaped groove(s) and/or axially groove(s) on an outer surface of an end portion of the first and second end piece. Woven into the helical and/or axial groove(s) on the first end piece and at least partially within through hole(s) disposed at an end of the groove(s) is the fibre(s) at a first end portion of the of the core structure. Woven into the helical and/or axial groove(s) on the second end piece and at least partially within through hole(s) disposed at an end of the groove(s) is the fibre(s) at a second end portion of the of the core structure. Structural adhesive(s) are applied over the fibre(s) and allowed to cure to form the composite drive shaft.

Abstract: A drive axle system including a first axle assembly having an input shaft in driving engagement with an under-drive arrangement, an inter-axle differential in driving engagement with the under-drive arrangement, a through drive shaft in driving engagement with the inter-axle differential, a first axle drive pinion in driving engagement with the inter-axle differential, and a first axle differential arrangement including a first axle ring gear in driving engagement with the inter-axle differential through the first axle drive pinion. The drive axle system further includes the second axle assembly in driving engagement with the through drive shaft. The second axle assembly includes a second axle drive pinion drivingly engaged with the through drive shaft and meshingly engaged with a second axle ring gear of a second axle differential arrangement. The under-drive arrangement is configured to reduce a drive ratio of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly.

Abstract: A non-driven axle for a vehicle or a trailer is provided. The non-driven axle includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a central portion. The first arm portion is for rotatably mounting a first wheel hub. The second arm portion is for rotatably mounting a second wheel hub. The second arm portion is on an axial end of the central portion opposite the first arm portion. The central portion is between the first arm portion and the second arm portion and may be substantially arch-shaped or substantially ring-shaped. The substantially arch-shaped central portion includes a main portion and a radially inner portion. The substantially ring-shaped central portion includes a main portion and an inner portion. The non-driven axle reduces a weight of a vehicle or trailer while capable of being lifted without interfering with an operation of a drive axle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gearing arrangement for a tandem axle assembly for a vehicle that reduces parasitic losses associated with the bearings of a drive pinion. The gearing arrangement includes a first helical gear in driving engagement with an input shaft and a portion of an interaxle differential; a second helical gear coupled to a pinion shaft with at least two bearings mounted on either side of the second helical gear on the pinion shaft; and a drive pinion coupled to the pinion shaft and meshingly engaged with a ring gear. The ring gear is in driving engagement with a forward differential assembly. The first helical gear and second helical gear are meshingly engaged and have a predetermined gear ratio.