Abstract: A computer executed process for mimicking human dialog, referred to herein as a “humanoid” or “humanoid system,” can be configured to provide automated customer support. The humanoid can identify a support issue for a customer, as well as a customer support campaign corresponding to the support issue. The humanoid can identify at least one machine learning model associated with the customer support campaign and can communicate with the customer using the at least one machine learning model. The humanoid can execute a support action to resolve the support issue.

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 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 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 inboard sealing assembly and an outboard sealing assembly. The outboard sealing assembly includes a tubular sealing ring having an L-shaped projection extending radially-inward. The inboard sealing assembly engages an inboard side of the slack adjuster to form a 360-degree interface, and the outboard sealing assembly engages an outboard side of the slack adjuster to form another 360-degree interface. The L-shaped projection limits grease being purged from the cam tube assembly.

Abstract: A slack adjuster assembly for use in a heavy-duty vehicle drum brake system, the slack adjuster assembly comprising a slack adjuster, an inboard sealing assembly, and a sensor arrangement. The slack adjuster is mounted on an inboard end of a camshaft of the drum brake system. The inboard sealing assembly sealingly engages with an inboard side of the slack adjuster. The sensor arrangement measures rotation of the camshaft and is at least partially disposed within the inboard sealing assembly to protect the sensor arrangement from impact damage, water, chemicals, and debris.

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 slack adjuster assembly for heavy-duty vehicles, the slack adjuster assembly comprising a slack adjuster and an inboard sealing assembly. The slack adjuster is disposed about and has an internal spline for receiving an external spline of an inboard end of a camshaft of a camshaft assembly of the heavy-duty vehicle. The internal spline has a radial clearance from the external spline. The inboard sealing assembly includes mechanical components that cooperate with the radial clearance to increase grease flow and distribution. The inboard sealing assembly is disposed over the inboard end of the camshaft and engages an inboard side of the slack adjuster to form a 360-degree seal about the inboard side.

Abstract: A sensor mounting arrangement for a drum brake assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle comprising a sensor assembly mounted on a cam tube of the drum brake assembly. The cam tube is formed with an opening. The sensor assembly includes a detector that is at least partially disposed in or adjacent to the opening of the cam tube and a target that is disposed about an outer surface of a camshaft of the drum brake assembly.

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: 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 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: 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 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 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: Tone ring mounting structure for an antilock braking system comprising a wheel end assembly rotatable component having at least a first end surface and a first engagement mechanism extending radially and non-cantilevered from the rotatable component, and a tone ring having a second end surface and a second engagement mechanism extending radially from the tone ring. Connecting engagement of the first engagement mechanism of the wheel end assembly rotatable component and the second engagement mechanism of the tone ring affects movement of the second end surface in a direction toward the first end surface. The first engagement mechanism and the second engagement mechanism can be engageable threads. The first engagement mechanism can include lugs formed on the wheel end assembly rotatable component and the second engagement mechanism threads or wedge ramps engageable with the lugs. A corrosion resistant coating can be applied to components of the tone ring mounting structure.

Abstract: A tone ring attachment for a disc brake rotor. The disc brake rotor has a disc portion that includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced lugs. Each one of the lugs has a groove. A discrete tone ring body has a plurality of bosses. Each one of the bosses is receivable in a respective one of the grooves in the lugs. A dart projection extends from at least one of the bosses. The dart projection engages a respective one of the lugs to inhibit relative axial movement and relative rotational movement in at least one direction between the tone ring and the disc brake rotor. A tab is formed on at least one of the bosses. The tab is engageable with a portion of the lug to inhibit relative rotational movement in a second direction opposite the first direction between the tone ring and disc brake rotor.

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 wheel hub for a heavy-duty vehicle includes a first and second tubular hub segment. The first tubular hub segment has a first annular end surface. The second tubular hub segment has a second annular end surface and a radially extending flange. A continuous, circumferential joint is formed at the interface of the first annular end surface and second annular end surface.