Abstract: An axle assembly is provided for a working machine. The axle assembly includes an axle having first and second ends, the first end having a first wheel mount for pivotably mounting a first wheel to the axle and the second end having a second wheel mount for pivotably mounting a second wheel to the axle. The assembly has a steering arrangement for pivoting the first and second wheel mounts relative to the axle, the steering arrangement having a linkage connected to the first and second wheel mounts and configured to pivot the first and second wheel mounts relative to the axle. The steering arrangement also includes an actuator configured to actuate the steering linkage in order to effect pivoting of the first and second wheel mounts, and the actuator is directly connected to the steering linkage.

Abstract: A damping assembly for a vehicle suspension system may include a spring including a first end operably coupled to a body of a vehicle and a second end operably coupled to a wheel assembly of the vehicle, a spring isolator operably coupling the body of the vehicle to the first end of the spring, a hydraulic jounce bumper to dampen jounce forces on the vehicle, and a reinforcement member operably coupled to the hydraulic jounce bumper at a proximal end of the reinforcement member and to the spring isolator at a distal end of the reinforcement member. The reinforcement member may be integrated with the spring isolator at the distal end of the reinforcement member.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body defining an inner volume, a flow controller positioned within the inner volume, a plug positioned within the inner volume, and a biasing element. The plug is spaced from the flow controller such that an intermediate chamber is defined between the plug and the flow controller. The biasing element is positioned in the intermediate chamber between the plug and the flow controller. The plug is repositionable within the inner volume. As the plug moves within the inner volume, the plug interacts with the biasing element such that the biasing element provides a biasing force to the flow controller.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle body includes an inflator and an airbag wherein the inflator is mounted on the vehicle body. The airbag includes a plurality of mounting portions, an inflatable main portion and a supplemental portion integral to the inflatable main portion at an upper edge of the inflatable main portion. The inflatable main portion includes an outboard interface side and an inboard engagement side while the supplemental portion includes an outboard vehicle side and an inboard interface side which is disposed adjacent to a portion of the outboard interface side of the inflatable main portion. The inflatable main portion is configured to deploy inboard of a vehicle window while the supplemental portion is configured to deploy between an upper region of the inflatable main portion and an upper vehicle rail thereby urging an upper region of the inflatable main portion toward an inboard direction.

Abstract: An agricultural dump cart including a frame, ground conveyance devices carrying the frame, a dump bed, a dumping mechanism and at least one live wall mechanism. The dump bed is coupled to and carried by the frame, and the dump bed has a non-dumping position and a dumping position. The dumping mechanism is connected to the dump bed, and is configured to move the dump bed between the non-dumping position and the dumping position. The at least one live wall mechanism is operatively located along a side of the dump bed. The at least one live wall mechanism is configured for moving a crop material out of the dump bed.

Abstract: A lagoon pump may comprise a chassis structure having front and rear ends; a tow bar couple releasably to the front end of the chassis structure; a centrifugal pump couple to the rear end of the structure; a diesel engine fluidly connected to a fuel tank; a clutch rotationally connected to the diesel engine; an extended driveline directly connected to the clutch at one end and to the pump at an opposed end to drive the pump via rotational energy from the diesel engine; a pair of steerable wheels connected adjacent the front end of the chassis structure; and ground engaging wheels connected under the chassis structure between the ends, wherein the ground engaging wheels are both extendable radially outwardly and rotatable axially relative to the chassis structure. A method of mixing and pumping a slurry material from a lagoon or storage pit utilizing such a pump is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for a driver barrier to isolate public transit vehicle operators, such as bus drivers or coach operators, from passenger seating areas. The driver side barrier includes a driver side barrier mounted behind a driver cockpit and a door coupled with the driver side barrier. In a closed configuration, the driver side barrier and door provide a barrier between the driver cockpit and a passenger seating area of the vehicle. The door may be rotated forward to provide a protective shield around the driver cockpit while allowing passengers to enter and exit the passenger seating area. In some embodiments, the door may be extended across an aisle of the passenger seating area to a curbside barrier, thereby partitioning the driver cockpit and passenger seating areas. When not in use, the door may be stowed behind the driver cockpit.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes i) a hollow base defining an axial direction and having a first mounting portion, ii) an outer axial tube, having first and second longitudinal ends, and being coaxially mounted into the hollow base via its first longitudinal end so as to allow adjusting a distance of the second longitudinal end relative to the base; and iii) an inner axial tube slidably mounted into the outer axial tube therein; the inner axial tube having a second mounting portion. The hollow tube has an opening therein that defines a window to allow visualizing a part of the outer axial tube therethrough which includes the first longitudinal end thereof.

Abstract: An apex axle truss system includes a first apex axle truss including a sheet of metal that has been bent to form a first substantially vertical wall, second substantially vertical wall, first angled wall, and second angled wall. The first substantially vertical wall is configured to be secured to a first lateral side of an axle housing. The second substantially vertical wall is configured to be secured to a second lateral side of the axle housing. The first angled wall is disposed between the first substantially vertical wall and the second substantially vertical wall. The second angled wall is disposed between the first angled wall and the second substantially vertical wall. The first angled wall and the second angled wall form an apex that is configured to be disposed over an upper surface of the axle housing.

Abstract: A method of assembling a steering column assembly includes pressing a first pivot bushing into a first rake bracket first opening of a first rake bracket and inserting a first pivot fastener into the first pivot bushing and into a first mounting bracket opening of a first mounting bracket arm of a mounting bracket. The method further includes displacing material of the first mounting bracket arm with first splines of the first pivot fastener to form first mating splines within the first mounting bracket opening.

Abstract: A front portion of a vehicle body includes front side frames, a subframe, and a vehicle compartment front structure body. The subframe has a subframe body and a pair of rear fastening portions fastened to a vehicle compartment front structure body in left and right rear regions of the subframe body. The rear fastening portion has a tubular body through which a bolt penetrates in a vertical direction, and a convex portion protruding from the tubular body toward a vehicle rear side. The vehicle compartment front structure body has a support plate extending substantially horizontally in which the tubular body is fastened to a lower surface of the support plate by the bolt, and a fall restricting wall facing the convex portion from the vehicle rear side at a position rearward of a fastening portion of the support plate fastened with the bolt.

Abstract: A safety system for a vehicle seat in a commercial vehicle operating a vehicle seat motion actuation when the commercial vehicle is colliding with an obstacle, comprising: —at least one actuator unit that comprises at least one seat actuator to move the vehicle seat from a driving position to a safety position—at least one control unit connected to said actuator unit to control the at least one seat actuator—at least one proximity sensor connected to said control unit and configured to detect an obstacle before the commercial vehicle collides it characterized in that the control unit is provided with a calculator device retrieving specific data (Dw, Dw?, Ds, Do) to determine the requested seat's motion speed profile and the requested seat's motion triggering moment to control, upon receiving an imminent and unavoidable collision alert signal from the proximity sensor, the at least one seat actuator to move the vehicle seat to the safety position.

Abstract: A gas generator includes a housing constructed by combining and joining a plurality of shell members. One of the plurality of shell members includes a cylindrical portion and a flange portion. The cylindrical portion is provided with a plurality of gas discharge openings including gas discharge openings different in opening area from one another. The flange portion is shaped such that a distance from an axial line of the cylindrical portion to an outer edge of the flange portion is non-uniform. When a perpendicular line is drawn to the axial line from a maximum outer geometry position in the outer edge of the flange portion most distant from the axial line, a gas discharge opening arranged closest to the perpendicular line is a gas discharge opening other than a gas discharge opening largest in opening area among the plurality of gas discharge openings.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an aerodynamic fairing system that may comprise a base configured to mount to a vehicle, an arm coupled to the base at a proximate end and extending laterally, and a fairing mounted to the arm having an inboard and an outboard surface. The fairing outboard surface may provide an aerodynamic outer surface to direct flow to an angle to the rear. The arm may a fixed or adjustable length arm. The arm may provide a mounting area for a mud flap such that aerodynamic system may act as a mud flap hanger. Embodiments also provide an adjustable mud flap hanger.

Abstract: Methods and systems for vehicle suspension are provided. A leveling manifold includes, in one example, a plurality of electrically-activated valves arranged between, on a first end, a rod-side and a piston-side of one or more hydraulic cylinders, and on a second end, a pressure source and a tank, wherein the plurality of electrically-activated valves include a first valve, a second valve, a third valve, and a fourth valve. The leveling manifold further includes a first flow path extending through the first and second valves and from the rod-side to the second end and a second flow path extending through the third and fourth valves and from the piston-side to the second end, the leveling manifold is designed to manage operation of the first, second, third, and/or fourth valves to independently adjust a position and a stiffness of the one or more hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism controls the location of the central primary draft load transmitting fixed-length link independently of the coupler. The coupling mechanism allows for translation in at least three orthogonal directions and for rotation of two distinct planes between coupled components, thereby providing a means for lateral shifting and articulation. The coupling mechanism mitigates unexpected rotation by restricting rotation along a longitudinal axis of the fixed-length link. Rotation of the coupling mechanism is furthermore controlled by means of a indexing turntable. The orientation and the position of the coupling mechanism is therefore determinant and predictable.

Abstract: A front two-wheel leaning vehicle, including a handle, a steering shaft, a linkage mechanism and a load transfer mechanism. The load transfer mechanism includes a left-foot-placing part and a right-foot-placing part located between the left front wheel and the rear wheel, for left and right feet of the driver to be respectively placed thereon. The load transfer mechanism transfers a load to the left and right portions of the linkage mechanism through the left-foot-placing part and the right-foot-placing part, or through the right-foot-placing part and the left-foot-placing part, respectively. The steering shaft includes a handle adjusting mechanism configured to adjust, with respect to the left-foot-placing part and the right-foot-placing part, at least one of a handle height, which is a distance from a midpoint between the left and right front wheels to the grip, or an offset amount of the handle with respect to a rotation axis of the steering shaft.

Abstract: A method of operating an agricultural vehicle including a range gearbox, an independent PTO system driven from an auxiliary drive shaft and a ground speed PTO system driven from an output shaft of the range gearbox. The method includes transferring torque from the auxiliary drive shaft to the output shaft of the range gear box via the independent PTO system and the ground speed PTO system while drive to the range gearbox is interrupted during a change in the range gear.

Abstract: An independent suspension system for a vehicle includes: a steering unit configured to be controlled to adjust the steering angle of a wheel, a shock absorber engaged with the wheel and configured to absorb impacts applied to the wheel and including a first shock absorber and a second shock absorber, each of which arranged in a forward-rearward direction on opposite side surfaces of the wheel, and a link unit disposed between the shock absorber and the steering unit in order to vary the distance between the wheel and the steering unit. The link unit includes a first upper arm disposed between the first shock absorber and the steering unit, a second upper arm disposed between the second shock absorber and the steering unit, and at least one ground clearance adjustment unit engaged with the first and second upper arms in order to vary the distance between the first and second upper arms.

Abstract: A suspension for a vehicle may include: a center leaf spring; side leaf springs respectively installed on opposing sides of the center leaf spring; mounting brackets configured to connect the center leaf spring and the side leaf springs, respectively; and damper bushes mounted in the mounting brackets, respectively, and configured to absorb shock.