Abstract: Multi-axle vehicles with individual wheel drives are, for the purpose of improving ground clearance, also equipped with drive trains split in two arrayed in proximity of the wheels, in which distribution drives drive the wheels via articulated shafts. In order that these articulated shafts, despite the short distance between the distribution drive and the wheel hub, do not become so short that either the angle or excursion is very limited, or that the articulation must be stressed unfavorably, and to permit larger spring paths for the wheels, the articulations were integrated into the housings of the distribution and/or wheel hub drives to the extent that the center of the articulation comes to lie immediately at or even behind the intersection of the articulated shaft with the drive train and below the output bearing. The latter receives therto a specially large diameter and short construction length.

Abstract: A spring-loaded brake may be modulated by an integrated brake-actuating cylinder of almost unchanged constructional length, arranged radially above a spring-packet which acts in a direction contrary to the lifting force of the cylinder. The brake still has the automatic emergency stopping function of the parking brake principle. The spring packet acts against a brake piston which is acted upon by pressure at both ends by cylinders which are equipped with gaskets for sealing them both against each other and against the transmission housing. The brake discs and splash lubrication of the transmission are in communication via oil passage sections. The brake housing is designed as an assembly built into the transmission and its cover flange may be equipped with a shaft seal for fitting a shaft extension to a drive shaft. The brake hub body can be shaped as a shaft flange which brake hub body can also be the hub of a gear wheel.

Abstract: A steered and driven axle-end assembly has a steering knuckle whose inside and outside halves are pivotal about an upright pivot axis. An axle extends into the inside knuckle half and is connected to the inner side of a universal joint whose outer side is connected to one end of a gear train whose other end is connected to a wheel support which is rotatable about a horizontal wheel axis on the outside knuckle half. A pair of roller bearings centered on the wheel axis are spaced axially apart therealong by a spacing which is equal to at most half of the axial distance through which the outside knuckle half extends into the wheel support. Thus the outside knuckle half and associated structure can pivot through a considerable angle relative to the inside knuckle half for minimum turning radius of a vehicle embodying the axle-end assembly.

Abstract: A steered and driven axle-end assembly has a steering knuckle whose inside and outside halves are pivotal about an upright pivot axis. An axle extends into the inside knuckle half and is connected to the inner side of a universal joint whose outer side is connected to one end of a gear train whose other end is connected to a wheel support which is rotatable about a horizontal wheel axis on the outside knuckle half. A pair of roller bearings centered on the wheel axis are spaced axially apart therealong by a spacing which is equal to at most half of the axial distance through which the outside knuckle half extends into the wheel support. Thus the outside knuckle half and associated structure can pivot through a considerable angle relative to the inside knuckle half for minimum turning radius of a vehicle embodying the axle-end assembly.

Abstract: A wheel head for the drive wheel of a heavy duty vehicle provides the hub as a housing which is closed at its outer end by a movable cover and can be opened to allow removal of the planetary gearing and brake. The planetary gearing includes planetary gears journaled directly on the cover and a ring gear in the form of a hollow shaft which encloses the brake and is connected to the axle by a wheel bearing cap which also can be removed through the housing opening when the cover is detached.

Abstract: A steering axle comprises a steering shaft connected to a wheelhub either directly or through a planetary gear set, and to a shaft joint. The shaft joint includes an external component which is connected to a driven shaft. A boot is affixed to the steering shaft and the external component and collectively with the external component encloses the shaft joint. There is a housing about the shaft joint and affixed to the shafts such that when the shafts are located transversely relative to each other the boot and joint can be laterally removed. A plug in the wheelhub axially locates the steering shaft, and permits withdrawal of the steering shaft.