Abstract: A landing gear assembly includes a leg assembly including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the leg assembly telescopingly engage one another, a gear assembly operably coupled to the first and second leg portions and configured to telescopingly move the first and second leg portions with respect to one another, the gear assembly including an input shaft, and a drive assembly coupled to the gear assembly comprising a gear arrangement configured to drive the drive shaft of the gear assembly at a first speed and at a second speed that is different than the first speed, an electric motor configured to drive the gear arrangement, and a battery configured to provide power to the motor.

Abstract: A landing gear assembly includes a leg assembly including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the leg assembly telescopingly engage one another, a gear assembly operably coupled to the first and second leg portions and configured to telescopingly move the first and second leg portions with respect to one another, the gear assembly including an input shaft, and a drive assembly coupled to the gear assembly comprising a gear arrangement configured to drive the drive shaft of the gear assembly at a first speed and at a second speed that is different than the first speed, an electric motor configured to drive the gear arrangement, and a battery configured to provide power to the motor.

Abstract: A landing gear assembly includes a leg assembly, a gear assembly configured to telescopingly move a second leg portion with respect to a first leg portion, and a drive assembly including a gear arrangement configured to drive the drive shaft of the gear assembly at a high speed and low torque configuration and at a low speed and high torque configuration, an electric motor configured to drive the gear arrangement, and a controller configured to switch the gear arrangement from the high speed and low torque configuration to the low speed and high torque configuration in response to an increase in current draw by the electric motor as the second leg portion moves from a retracted to an extended position, and configured to maintain the gear arrangement in the high speed and low torque configuration as the second portion moves from the extended position toward the retracted position.

Abstract: A landing gear assembly includes a leg assembly including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the leg assembly telescopingly engage one another, a gear assembly operably coupled to the first and second leg portions and configured to telescopingly move the first and second leg portions with respect to one another, the gear assembly including an input shaft, and a drive assembly coupled to the gear assembly comprising a gear arrangement configured to drive the drive shaft of the gear assembly at a first speed and at a second speed that is different than the first speed, an electric motor configured to drive the gear arrangement, and a battery configured to provide power to the motor.

Abstract: A landing gear assembly includes a leg assembly including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the leg assembly telescopingly engage one another, a gear assembly operably coupled to the first and second leg portions and configured to telescopingly move the first and second leg portions with respect to one another, and a drive assembly operably coupled to the gear assembly, and including a planetary gear arrangement configured to drive the gear assembly at a first speed and at a second speed that is different than the first speed, and a motor configured to drive the planetary gear assembly.

Abstract: A landing gear assembly includes a leg assembly including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the leg assembly telescopingly engage one another, a gear assembly operably coupled to the first and second leg portions and configured to telescopingly move the first and second leg portions with respect to one another, and a drive assembly operably coupled to the gear assembly, and including a planetary gear arrangement configured to drive the gear assembly at a first speed and at a second speed that is different than the first speed, and a motor configured to drive the planetary gear assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension assembly includes a vehicle frame rail, a slide rail extending longitudinally along the vehicle frame rail and slidably adjustable thereto, a support bracket extending downwardly from the slide rail, a trailing arm pivotably coupled to the support bracket, a spring member positioned between the trailing arm and the slide rail, and an elastically resilient coupling arrangement coupling the slide rail to the vehicle frame rail, wherein the coupling member is configured to elastically deform during vertical displacement of the vehicle frame rail with respect to the slide rail.

Abstract: A vehicle impact energy absorption arrangement includes a vehicle frame, a slider suspension arrangement coupled to the vehicle frame and including an axle member, and a spring member biasing the axle member, and an impact force absorbing arrangement that includes a mounting member coupled to the vehicle frame, first and second pivot members each pivotably coupled to the mounting member, and an elastically deformable biasing member positioned between each of the pivot members and the mounting member, wherein each of the pivot members is configured to pivot and elastically deform the at least one biasing member when impacted.

Abstract: A vehicle impact energy absorption arrangement includes a vehicle frame, a slider suspension arrangement coupled to the vehicle frame and including an axle member, and a spring member biasing the axle member, and an impact force absorbing arrangement that includes a mounting member coupled to the vehicle frame, first and second pivot members each pivotably coupled to the mounting member, and an elastically deformable biasing member positioned between each of the pivot members and the mounting member, wherein each of the pivot members is configured to pivot and elastically deform the at least one biasing member when impacted.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension assembly includes a vehicle frame rail, a slide rail extending longitudinally along the vehicle frame rail and slidably adjustable thereto, a support bracket extending downwardly from the slide rail, a trailing arm pivotably coupled to the support bracket, a spring member positioned between the trailing arm and the slide rail, and an elastically resilient coupling arrangement coupling the slide rail to the vehicle frame rail, wherein the coupling member is configured to elastically deform during vertical displacement of the vehicle frame rail with respect to the slide rail.

Abstract: A semi-tractor including a pair of C-shaped frame rails and having a rail distance therebetween, a fifth wheel hitch having mounting areas therein, mounting brackets located within the mounting areas, and a support assembly supporting the mounting brackets. An outside distance between the mounting areas is shorter than the rail distance.

Abstract: A short span fifth wheel hitch comprising a hitch plate, at least one back rib, a peripheral flange connected to ends of the back rib, and a main rib extending between the back rib and a portion of the peripheral flange, with the main rib being connected to ends of the peripheral flange. The fifth wheel hitch also includes skirts extending from the hitch plate adjacent the back rib. At least two pairs of mounting ribs are located interior of the peripheral flange and the back rib, each pair of mounting ribs including aligned apertures for accepting a mounting pin therein, whereby a mounting bracket can be inserted into a space between the mounting ribs of each pair of mounting ribs and the mounting pin can be placed through the aligned apertures and the mounting bracket to connect the fifth wheel hitch to a tractor.

Abstract: A short span fifth wheel hitch comprising a hitch plate, at least one back rib, a peripheral flange connected to ends of the back rib, and a main rib extending between the back rib and a portion of the peripheral flange, with the main rib being connected to ends of the peripheral flange. The fifth wheel hitch also includes skirts extending from the hitch plate adjacent the back rib. At least two pairs of mounting ribs are located interior of the peripheral flange and the back rib, each pair of mounting ribs including aligned apertures for accepting a mounting pin therein, whereby a mounting bracket can be inserted into a space between the mounting ribs of each pair of mounting ribs and the mounting pin can be placed through the aligned apertures and the mounting bracket to connect the fifth wheel hitch to a tractor.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a pair of equalizing beams, two pairs of axle housings each having a lower portion connected to opposite ends of the equalizing beams, two pairs of linkage arms operably connected to an upper portion of each of the axle housings and with a vehicle frame, and a pair of air cylinders operably connected to the equalizing beams at a point located between the ends of the beams and with the vehicle frame. The system further includes a torsional beam extending between the first and second air cylinders, wherein the torsional beam provides the operable connection between the first cylinder and the point of the first equalizing beam located between the ends of the first equalizing beam, and the operable connection between the second cylinder and the point of the second equalizing beam located between the ends of the second equalizing beam.

Abstract: A front steering axle suspension for a wheeled vehicle comprises a leaf spring (15) mounted at its ends to a vehicle frame and an axle bracket (20) mounted to the leaf spring at a central portion thereof and having inclined air spring seats (38, 40). Air spring brackets are mounted to the vehicle frame having air spring seats inclined at an angle complementary to the air spring seats of the axle bracket. An air spring is (22, 34 mounted between the axle bracket and an air spring bracket so that the air spring is inclined with respect to the vertical in a substantially vertical plane.

Abstract: An integrated fifth-wheel hitch and axle suspension assembly for mounting on a truck with a pair of spaced apart frame rails comprises a fifth-wheel hitch carriage adapted for mounting a fifth-wheel hitch, a pair of suspension brackets for mounting an axle suspension component and an integrating connector rigidly connecting the fifth-wheel hitch carriage to the suspension brackets at opposite sides of the hitch carriage. The integrating connector, the hitch carriage and the suspension brackets define an elongated opening for slidably receiving the truck frame rails so that the integrated fifth-wheel hitch and axle suspension assembly can slide as a unit onto the truck frame rails. An integrated connection interface includes a plurality of electronic and pneumatic connectors in a connector harness for selectively connecting electronic and pneumatic systems on a truck with electronic and pneumatic components of an integrated fifth-wheel hitch and axle suspension assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a first equalizing beam, a first pair of axle housings each having a lower portion operably connected to opposite ends of the first equalizing beam, a pair of first linkage arms operably connected to an upper portion of each of the first axle housings and with a vehicle frame, and a first air cylinder operably connected to the first beam at a point located between the ends of the beam and with the vehicle frame. The system also includes a second equalizing beam, a second pair of axle housing, each having a lower portion operably connected to opposite ends of the second equalizing beam, a pair of second linkage arms operably connected to an upper portion of each of the second axle housings and with the vehicle frame, and a second air cylinder operably connected to the second beam at a point located between the ends of the second beam and with the frame vehicle.

Abstract: An integrated fifth-wheel hitch and axle suspension assembly for mounting on a truck with a pair of spaced apart frame rails comprises a fifth-wheel hitch carriage adapted for mounting a fifth-wheel hitch, a pair of suspension brackets for mounting an axle suspension component and an integrating connector rigidly connecting the fifth-wheel hitch carriage to the suspension brackets at opposite sides of the hitch carriage. The integrating connector, the hitch carriage and the suspension brackets define an elongated opening for slidably receiving the truck frame rails so that the integrated fifth-wheel hitch and axle suspension assembly can slide as a unit onto the truck frame rails. An integrated connection interface includes a plurality of electronic and pneumatic connectors in a connector harness for selectively connecting electronic and pneumatic systems on a truck with electronic and pneumatic components of an integrated fifth-wheel hitch and axle suspension assembly.

Abstract: A short span fifth wheel hitch comprising a hitch plate, at least one back rib, a peripheral flange connected to ends of the back rib, and a main rib extending between the back rib and a portion of the peripheral flange, with the main rib being connected to ends of the peripheral flange. The fifth wheel hitch also includes skirts extending from the hitch plate adjacent the back rib. At least two pairs of mounting ribs are located interior of the peripheral flange and the back rib, each pair of mounting ribs including aligned apertures for accepting a mounting pin therein, whereby a mounting bracket can be inserted into a space between the mounting ribs of each pair of mounting ribs and the mounting pin can be placed through the aligned apertures and the mounting bracket to connect the fifth wheel hitch to a tractor.

Abstract: Vibration dampening assembly alone and in vehicle trailing arm suspension has a link member, a shock absorber and a lever member. The link member has a first end pivotally interconnected with either of the trailing arm or the vehicle frame at a first support pivot. A lever member is pivotally interconnected with the link member second end at a link pivot intermediate the first and second ends of the lever member. A shock absorber has a first end of pivotally interconnected with the lever member second end at a shock pivot and has a second end pivotally interconnected with the other of the trailing arm or the vehicle frame at a second support pivot spaced from said first support pivot. The lever member is pivotally interconnected with either the trailing arm or the vehicle frame at a main pivot connection located at the first end of the lever member.