Abstract: A king pin assembly for rotatably connecting a steering knuckle with an axle member may have a first king pin. The assembly may also have a first member with a first recess for receiving the first king pin. The first member may have a steering knuckle or an axle member. A portion of the first member that may enclose the first recess may have a female thread. The first king pin may have a male thread engaged with or configured to be engaged with the female thread enclosing the first recess.

Abstract: An electric driveline comprising an electric drive motor and a transmission, and a method of shifting gears therefor. The transmission comprises an output shaft, a synchronizer, preferably a hydraulically actuatable synchronizer, for selectively drivingly engaging the electric drive motor with the output shaft via either one of a first gear providing a first gear ratio ?1 between the electric drive motor and the output shaft, and a second gear providing a second gear ratio ?2 between the electric drive motor and the output shaft, and an electronic shift controller for controlling a gear shift from the first gear to the second gear. The electronic shift controller is configured to actuate the synchronizer to disengage the first gear and to engage the second gear, and to synchronize a motor speed of the electric drive motor with a target speed.

Abstract: A rotary joint for use with a central tire inflation system and a network of sensorized components for a driveline is provided. The rotary joint comprises a sealing gasket wear detection system and a rotary encoder disposed within a joint cavity. The network of sensorized components comprises a sensorized wheel hub, a transmission speed sensor, and a controller in communication with the sensorized wheel hub and the transmission speed sensor through a communication bus. A method of utilizing a network of sensorized components to analyze a driveline and a method for monitoring a wear of a sealing gasket of a rotary joint is also provided.

Abstract: A steering knuckle assembly for a vehicle may have a steering knuckle with a first blind hole formed in a surface of the steering knuckle and a first king pin defining a rotation axis and non-rotatably mounted in the first blind hole.

Abstract: A controller is configured to output a control command for controlling at least one driveline component according to a control map. The control map may define a dependence of the control command on at least one of: a control position of an input device, and at least one first condition of the driveline. The controller may also be configured to receive at least one input signal, the input signal may have a plurality of signal values recorded at different times. The signal values of the at least one input signal are indicative of at least one of: the control position of the input device, the at least one first condition of the driveline, and at least one second condition of the driveline. The controller may also be configured to derive a feature from the plurality of signal values and adapt the control map based on the derived feature.

Abstract: A rotary feedthrough assembly for a tire inflation system for a vehicle. The assembly may have a stationary part including a first section of a main fluid line and a first section of a pilot fluid line. A rotatable part may be rotatably mounted on the stationary part support a pneumatic tire. The rotatable part may have a second section of the main fluid line and a second section of the pilot fluid line. A first annular seal chamber may be radially disposed between the stationary part and the rotatable part. The first annular seal chamber may provide fluid communication between the first section of the main fluid line and the second section of the main fluid line. A second annular seal chamber may be radially disposed between the stationary part and the rotatable part. The second annular seal chamber may provide fluid communication between the first section of the pilot fluid line and the second section of the pilot fluid line.

Abstract: A multi-stage planetary reduction drive apparatus for a vehicle including a first-stage planetary reduction unit and a second-stage planetary reduction unit. A first primary housing and a first secondary housing of the first-stage planetary reduction unit are joined to enclose inner components of the first-stage planetary reduction unit, and may be directly mounted to a vehicle frame. A mounting arrangement with mounting openings on both sides of the vehicle frame, a mounting flange, and a fastening member. A power transmission system including the drive apparatus, a vehicle frame, a mounting arrangement, and a power source. The drive apparatus is aligned with and directly connected to the power source in an axial direction.

Abstract: A system for recovering energy from a hydraulic actuator and to a method of operating the system are described. The system may have a hydraulic actuator and a source of hydraulic pressure, comprising a hydraulic pump, in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator for pressurizing the hydraulic actuator. The system may also have a hydraulic accumulator assembly for selectively absorbing energy from the hydraulic actuator or via the hydraulic actuator. The system may also have a first one-way valve configured to provide fluid communication between the hydraulic actuator and the hydraulic accumulator assembly. The first one-way valve may be configured to permit a flow of fluid through the first one-way valve from the hydraulic actuator to the hydraulic accumulator assembly. The first one-way valve may also be configured to block a flow of fluid through the first one-way valve from the hydraulic accumulator assembly to the hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: A hydraulic driveline for a vehicle may have a main hydraulic circuit with a first hydraulic displacement unit and a second hydraulic displacement unit. The driveline may have a hydraulic accumulator assembly which is selectively fluidly connected to the main hydraulic circuit by one or more controllable valves of a first group of valves. The driveline may also have a first secondary module that has a first fluid communication of the hydraulic accumulator assembly with a first secondary hydraulic load of the hydraulic driveline. The first fluid communication may be one or more controllable valves that allow connecting the hydraulic accumulator assembly with the first secondary load or separating the hydraulic accumulator assembly from the first secondary load and that belong to a second group of valves. The controllable valves of the second group of valves are controllable independently of the controllable valves of the first group of valves.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a vehicle axle, and of discriminating between a plurality of axle failure modes, is described. The method may include acquiring first axle data and second axle data, detecting at least one first anomaly if the acquired first axle data deviate from first reference data provided by a model of the axle, detecting at least one second anomaly if the acquired second axle data deviate from second reference data, detecting at least one out of a plurality of axle failure modes based on which anomaly or which anomalies have been detected, and issuing a failure notice indicative of the at least one detected axle failure mode.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for an adaptive park braking system and method of operation thereof. The method of operating an adaptive park braking system includes providing a vehicle having a motor, a front axle system, a rear axle system, wherein the front axle system has one or more front axle braking systems and the rear axle system has one or more rear axle braking systems. Identifying when the vehicle is engaged in a digging operation. Disconnecting the front axle system or the rear axle system from driving engagement with the motor of the vehicle. Activating the one or more braking systems of the disconnect axle system to apply an amount of force to the disconnected axle system of the vehicle. Then applying an amount of torque with the motor to the axle system in driving engagement with the motor.

Abstract: A hydrostatic driveline has a power source and a hydrostatic pump in driving engagement with the power source; a primary driveline shaft in driving engagement with the power source. The driveline also has a first transmission portion and a second transmission portion in driving engagement with the first transmission portion. A hydrostatic motor is in fluid communication with the hydrostatic pump and is in driving engagement with the first transmission portion. A vehicle output is in driving engagement with the second transmission portion. The primary driveline shaft is also in driving engagement with the second transmission portion. The hydrostatic driveline may be operated in a hydrostatic mode or in a direct drive mode using the primary driveline shaft and the second transmission portion.

Abstract: A series hydraulic hybrid driveline for a vehicle, having a hydraulic circuit with a first hydraulic displacement unit in fluid communication with a second hydraulic displacement unit, the first hydraulic displacement unit having a variable hydraulic displacement and the first hydraulic displacement unit being drivingly engaged with an internal combustion engine. A hydraulic accumulator assembly selectively fluidly connected to the hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic accumulator assembly having a high pressure hydraulic accumulator and a low pressure hydraulic accumulator. And a hydraulic actuator adapted to control the hydraulic displacement of the first hydraulic displacement unit, the hydraulic actuator being in fluid communication with the hydraulic accumulator assembly and/or with the hydraulic circuit.

Abstract: A controller is configured to output a control command for controlling at least one driveline component according to a control map. The control map may define a dependence of the control command on at least one of: a control position of an input device, and at least one first condition of the driveline. The controller may also be configured to receive at least one input signal, the input signal may have a plurality of signal values recorded at different times. The signal values of the at least one input signal are indicative of at least one of: the control position of the input device, the at least one first condition of the driveline, and at least one second condition of the driveline. The controller may also be configured to derive a feature from the plurality of signal values and adapt the control map based on the derived feature.

Abstract: A rotary joint for use with a central tire inflation system and a network of sensorized components for a driveline is provided. The rotary joint comprises a sealing gasket wear detection system and a rotary encoder disposed within a joint cavity. The network of sensorized components comprises a sensorized wheel hub, a transmission speed sensor, and a controller in communication with the sensorized wheel hub and the transmission speed sensor through a communication bus. A method of utilizing a network of sensorized components to analyze a driveline and a method for monitoring a wear of a sealing gasket of a rotary joint is also provided.

Abstract: A hydrostatic driveline has a power source and a hydrostatic pump in driving engagement with the power source; a primary driveline shaft in driving engagement with the power source. The driveline also has a first transmission portion and a second transmission portion in driving engagement with the first transmission portion. A hydrostatic motor is in fluid communication with the hydrostatic pump and is in driving engagement with the first transmission portion. A vehicle output is in driving engagement with the second transmission portion. The primary driveline shaft is also in driving engagement with the second transmission portion. The hydrostatic driveline may be operated in a hydrostatic mode or in a direct drive mode using the primary driveline shaft and the second transmission portion.