Abstract: A damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems. The damping air spring includes a piston chamber and a bellows chamber and at least one opening between the chambers to provide restricted fluid communication between the chambers. A relationship between a cross-sectional area of the at least one opening in square inches to a volume of the piston chamber in cubic inches to a volume of the bellows chamber in cubic inches to a mean effective area of the air spring in square inches, or of the at least one opening in square inches to a volume of the piston chamber in cubic inches to a volume of the bellows chamber in cubic inches to a unitless ratio of the volume of the bellows chamber to the volume of the piston chamber, provides damping characteristics to the air spring over a first and second critical range of frequencies.

Abstract: A rotary union for a tire inflation system of a heavy-duty vehicle that includes energy harvesting structure for generating electricity to power electronic components of the heavy-duty vehicle. The energy harvesting structure is integrated with and protected by the rotary union. The energy harvesting structure includes components that are attached to respective static and rotatable components of the rotary union that generate electricity for powering the electronic components during rotational movement of the rotatable components relative to the static components during operation of the heavy-duty vehicle. The components of the energy harvesting structure can be entirely removed or separated and sealed from a flow path of pressurized air through the rotary union.

Abstract: An under beam lift assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle that is removably connectable with an axle/suspension system of the heavy-duty vehicle. The under beam lift assembly includes structure that enables the lift assembly to pivot in an axis different than an axis of a pivotal connection between a suspension assembly and a hanger of the axle/suspension system. The under beam lift assembly is free of contact with the pivotal connection between the suspension assembly and the hanger of the axle/suspension system.

Abstract: An insert to a mold for a leaf spring comprises a substrate and a hole that extends through the substrate, A post protrudes from the substrate such that the insert, may be coupled to the mold. Further, the post covers the hole on a first end, so the hole is not exposed. On the other end of the hole, a thin overlay that covers the hole. Thus, during a process where resin is added to the mold, no resin enters the hole. The insert, when added to a leaf spring, offers reinforcement on areas where there is high stress. Therefore, holes may be added to a leaf spring at areas of high stress without overly weakening the leaf spring.

Abstract: An axle for heavy-duty vehicles, the axle comprising first and second grooves formed about the axle. The first and second grooves include a cross-sectional geometry that forms integrated annular fixturing locations about the axle for selectively mounting a component of a braking system.

Abstract: A knuckle for a heavy-duty vehicle self-steering axle/suspension system that includes integrally formed structure for mounting components of a drum brake system. The knuckle includes a spindle that is welded directly to the knuckle and a discrete tie rod arm bolted to the knuckle.

Abstract: A disc brake hub and rotor assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle. The disc brake hub and rotor assembly includes a hub receivable on and rotatable about an axle spindle of a heavy-duty vehicle. A rotor is connectable with the hub for rotation with the hub. The rotor includes a disc segment, a flange mounting segment, and a cylindrical sleeve segment connecting the disc segment and the flange mounting segment. A flange is connectable with the flange mounting segment and separately with the hub. The flange mounting segment of the rotor has an inboard facing surface at least part of which is for engaging head portions of wheel studs. The inboard facing surface is substantially planar and free of wheel stud clearance reliefs. A transition region is located between the flange mounting segment and sleeve segment and is also free of wheel stud clearance reliefs.

Abstract: A radial mounting torque plate for mounting a disk brake component for heavy-duty vehicles, the torque plate comprising an annular portion and a pair of mounting arms. The annular portion is formed with an opening for receiving an axle of the heavy-duty vehicle. The mounting arms are integrally formed with and extend longitudinally outward in opposite directions from the annular portion and have a T-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A tandem mechanical spring axle/suspension system for heavy-duty vehicles includes a tandem assembly that comprises a front beam of a suspension assembly of a front axle/suspension system, a rear beam of a suspension assembly of a rear axle suspension system, and a mechanical spring. The mechanical spring operatively engages the front beam and the rear beam and extends longitudinally therebetween, as well as operatively engages a main member of the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems. The damping air spring includes a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one opening between the first chamber and second chamber to provide restricted fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. An adsorptive material is disposed within the first chamber or the second chamber and works in conjunction with the at least one opening to provide damping characteristics to the air spring over a first and second critical range of frequencies.

Abstract: A slack adjuster assembly for use with a heavy-duty vehicle drum brake system, the slack adjuster assembly comprising a slack adjuster, a cam tube assembly, and an interlock assembly. The interlock assembly is disposed on an outboard side of the slack adjuster and interconnects the cam tube assembly with the slack adjuster. A component of the interlock assembly and a component of the cam tube assembly cooperate to form a rotation reference mechanism for indexing of an automatic adjustment mechanism of the slack adjuster. The slack adjuster assembly further comprising an inboard sealing assembly and an outboard sealing assembly engaging respective inboard and outboard sides of the slack adjuster to form respective 360-degree interfaces. The cam tube assembly, interlock assembly, and inboard and outboard sealing assemblies forming a continuous grease pathway between the cam tube assembly and the slack adjuster.

Abstract: A tire inflation system for a heavy-duty vehicle having a source of fluid pressure, a tire and wheel assembly, and a fluid path. The fluid path includes at least one conduit, a first valve, and a flow detection structure. The conduit provides fluid communication from the source of fluid pressure to the tire and wheel assembly. The first valve is disposed along the fluid path. The flow detection structure is disposed along the fluid path and is arranged in parallel to the first valve.

Abstract: Axle seat assemblies and methods of manufacturing thereof, are provided for attachment to an axle body (15). The axle seat assembly may be comprised of a first piece (42) and a second piece (50). The first piece (42) may have a first wall, a second wall and a first axle seat piece engagement portion providing a first engagement surface. The second piece (50) may have a third wall and a second axle seat piece engagement portion providing a second engagement surface. The first wall and the second wall of the first piece are oriented to engage a front surface of an axle body and the third wall of the second piece is oriented to engage a rear surface (30) of an axle body. The first and second engagement surfaces of the respective first and second pieces of the axle seat assembly are positioned and configured to engage one another to removably and reversibly secure with the use of a fastener the first piece to the second piece to form an axle seat assembly.

Abstract: A hubcap for a heavy-duty duty vehicle that includes mounting structure that is formed with and cooperates with a side wall of the hubcap to provide a stiff, rigid structure that enables non-cantilevered connection to a wheel hub. The mounting structure can be a plurality of elongated bosses circumferentially spaced about the side wall that are formed with corresponding elongated bolt openings to enable the non-cantilevered attachment to the wheel hub. The elongated bosses cooperate with the hubcap side wall to provide a stiffened or rigid structure between the elongated bolt openings for increased and more uniform clamping force on a sealing gasket between the hubcap and the wheel hub. The hubcap profile provides clearance for removal of an outboard mounted disc brake rotor in heavy-duty vehicle wheel end assemblies that include such rotor configurations. The hubcap may support simple mounting of a hub odometer.

Abstract: A suspension travel control system (1046) for a vehicle suspension is disclosed. The suspension travel control system includes a stop post (834) secured to the vehicle frame and a suspension travel control formation that includes a base (1042) and a body (1048). The stop post (834) is positioned in a space defined by the body (1048). The suspension travel control formation may be secured to the axle, the main support member or incorporated into the axle coupling assembly to provide a rebound and jounce stop as well as longitudinal redundancy in the event of the failure or loss of a longitudinal linkage.

Abstract: A load-based tire inflation system for a heavy-duty vehicle comprises at least one source of fluid pressure, suspension structure of the heavy-duty vehicle, a tire and wheel assembly and a system to control fluid pressure in the tire and wheel assembly. The suspension structure is located between a frame member and an axle and has a condition indicative of a weight of the heavy-duty vehicle. The tire and wheel assembly is operatively mounted to the axle and is in fluid communication with the source of fluid pressure. The control system controls fluid pressure in the tire and wheel assembly in response to the condition of the suspension structure.

Abstract: A bushing is disclosed for pivotally mounting an end portion of an axle-supporting beam of a vehicle suspension system to a hanger bracket of the vehicle with a pair of wear pads positioned between sides of the end portion of the beam and the hanger bracket, where the pair of wear pads each has a central opening defined by an inner edge. The bushing includes a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, a first end portion, a second end portion and a beam support portion positioned between the first and second end portions. A first resilient wear pad retainer extends radially from the first end portion of the body and a second resilient wear pad retainer extends radially from the second end portion of the body.

Abstract: An axle assembly includes a central tube and an axle spindle. The axle spindle is fixed to the central tube. The axle spindle has a tubular first section and a tubular second section extending from the first section. The second section has an outer diameter. The second section has a bearing support surface. A tubular transition section is located between the first section and the second section. An annular shoulder portion is formed in an axial end segment of the tubular transition section adjacent the second section. The shoulder portion has at least one annular profile located in the shoulder portion between the annular shoulder surface and the bearing support surface. The annular profile is defined by a surface with a diameter not less than the outer diameter of the second section. An antilock braking system sensor bracket locator nub is integrally formed in the tubular transition section.

Abstract: A brake component positioning assembly that is removably connectable to a component of a heavy-duty vehicle. The brake component positioning assembly enables a brake system component to be positioned away from a wheel end of the heavy-duty vehicle to allow removal or servicing of at least one component of a wheel end assembly or the vehicle brake system. In one embodiment, the brake component positioning assembly includes a base block disposed in a cutout of a torque plate. A positioning block slidably engages one or more guide pins received by or disposed through the base block. A positioning bolt threadably engages the positioning block, whereby upon rotation of the positioning bolt, the positioning block and brake system component are positioned away from the bottom block and wheel end. Components of the brake component positioning assembly can be removably connected to each other.

Abstract: A regulator for establishing outlet fluid pressure. The regulator includes a valve body having a fluid pressure inlet in selective fluid communication with a fluid pressure outlet. A pilot pressure inlet is formed in the valve body and in fluid communication with a source of pilot pressure. Valving structure in the valve body establishes outlet fluid pressure as a function of pilot pressure. First adjustable structure within the valve body may establish a minimum outlet fluid pressure threshold without regard to pilot pressure. Second adjustable structure within the valve body may establish outlet fluid pressure offset relative to pilot pressure.