Arvin Meritor Technology, LLC

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Limited

Suspensions Incorporated

Meritor Heavy Technology, LLC

Steven Ray Miller

James Eckelberry

Nancy L Saxon

Rajesh J Somnay

John K Ma

Frank A Maly, Jr

Mark P Reynolds

David K Platner

Ragnar H Ledesma

David Gregory Gonska

Monte G Williams

Scott Arthur Jenkinson

Joseph Melekian

John David Morgan

Christopher J Wittry

Norman Austin

Tracy Gerard Ellis

Yenkai Brian Wang

Jeremy Tertzakian

Kurt A Burmeister

Richard L Decaire

Richard M Clisch

Thomas Hughes

Kenneth G Lang

Steven George Saieg

Joe Melekian

Ervin K VanDenberg

Jos Timmermans

Robert P Carlstedt

David H Croston

Craig Allen Holt

Martin Peaker

Braden Bromley

Shaun C Muston

Daniel Chien

Jeff Lloyd

James W Grant

Jos Timmermann

John Raymond Brink

Martin J Watterson

Jeffrey A Russo

David Gonska

Scott Jenkinson

An axle assembly includes a non-rotating component and a wheel hub supported for rotation relative to the non-rotating component about an axis. The wheel hub includes a hub air passage that has a hub inlet and a hub outlet to be fluidly connected to at least one tire. An air chamber is formed at least in part between the non-rotating component and the wheel hub. The air chamber receives air flow from an air source and directs air flow into the hub inlet. A seal assembly engages the wheel hub to seal the air chamber.

Tire inflation system with integrated wheel seal

A drive axle assembly includes a non-rotating spindle having a cylindrical body defining an internal cavity and an axle shaft assembly mounted within the internal cavity for rotation about an axis. A seal assembly is positioned within the internal cavity to provide a sealed chamber between the axle shaft assembly and the non-rotating spindle. A first air passage is formed within the cylindrical body and includes an air inlet to be in fluid communication with an air supply and an air outlet in fluid communication with the sealed chamber. A second air passage is formed within the axle shaft assembly and receives air input from the sealed chamber and includes an air output to be associated with at least one tire.

Drive axle with air passage for tire inflation system

A tandem axle suspension assembly includes a pair of walking beams disposed substantially parallel to a vehicle longitudinal axis supporting first and second axles. A link plate is pivotally attached to each of the walking beams and is pivotal about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. A first and a second link include pivotal connections between the link plate and a vehicle frame member. Vertical movement of the walking beams causes a corresponding rotation of the link plate to compensate for longitudinal displacement of the pivotal links with the first and second links and minimize longitudinal displacement of the walking beams.

Walking watts air beam

A tractor-trailer slider includes spaced apart longitudinal side rails having control arm supports extending downwardly from the side rails for supporting the slider. Portions of the longitudinal side rails and the control arms supports are integrated using one or more common plates. Lightening holes and edge of the slider are flanged to reinforce the walls. Coining and ribbing are also used for additional reinforcement. Lateral cross-members extend between the longitudinal side rails. The lateral cross-members have tabs on opposing ends that are received in an interlocking relationship with complementary elongated slots in the longitudinal side rails. Air spring supports arranged at forward and rearward portions of the slider are secured to the longitudinal side rails, the control arm supports, and the lateral cross-members to provide a structurally rigid frame. The air spring supports provide spaced apart air spring mounting pads.

Lightweight reinforced tractor-trailer slider

A vehicle information system has a first load sensor for generating a first load signal based on a first vehicle load. A first position sensor generates a first position signal based on a position of a vehicle axle. A second position sensor generates a second position signal based on a position of a vehicle kingpin. A memory unit stores vehicle optimization data. An evaluation unit is in communication with the first load sensor, the first position sensor, the second position sensor and the memory unit. A general user interface for receiving input is also in communication with the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit makes an evaluation of the first load signal, the first position sensor, the second position signal, and any input and generates a vehicle optimization instruction relating to a distance between the axle and the kingpin.

Intelligent load distribution system

A method and device for suspending a wheel axle from a vehicle includes a unitary flexible member coupled between the vehicle and the wheel axle and to an electronic control unit. The flexible member is formed of a material that changes shape in the presence of electrical signals having a varying signal strength. The electronic control unit, upon receiving various suspension related inputs, transmits the electrical signals having the varying signal strength to the unitary flexible member to change the shape thereof in order to vary the stiffness of the flexible member and thus control the suspension of the vehicle.

Method and device for actively suspending a wheel from a vehicle

A vehicle suspension includes a dock height holding device. First and second jounce bumper portions preferably each include a surface configuration that faces generally toward the oppositely facing jounce bumper portion. By moving at least one of the jounce bumper portions between first and second alignment positions, the clearance between suspension components is controlled in a manner that controls the height of a truck bed or trailer deck. In one example, each jounce bumper portion includes four projections and four spaced recesses. In the first alignment position the projections on one jounce bumper portion are received within the recesses on the oppositely facing portion during normal driving conditions. In the second alignment position, the projections of the jounce bumper portions engage each other and maintain a larger clearance between the suspension components to ensure an appropriate deck height when the vehicle is parked for loading or unloading.

Vehicle suspension including dock height holding device

A trailer slider pin control system is provided including a vehicle body and a rail supported along the body. The rails are moveable between a plurality of positions defined by a plurality of holes in the rail. A pin assembly is supported on the vehicle body and includes a pin moveable between unlocked and locked positions. The pin is disposed in the hole locking the rail to the vehicle body in the locked position. Conversely, the rail is free to move along the vehicle body in the unlock position. A sensor senses a location of a portion of the pin assembly, which corresponds to the unlock position. A vehicle speed control device, such as an engine, transmission, or braking system, is actuatable to limit the speed of the vehicle. A controller is connected to the sensor and the vehicle speed control device to actuate the vehicle speed control device to limit the speed of the vehicle in response to the sensors sensing the unlocked position. The controller may actuate an alarm to alert the vehicle operator that the pins are unlocked.

Trailer slider pin control system

A vehicle suspension assembly includes a height holding device that is at least partially supported within an air spring of the suspension assembly. The height holding device includes a hydraulic ram. A moveable portion of the hydraulic ram moves between a first position where a minimum clearance is maintained between suspension components and a second position where a larger clearance is maintained between the suspension components. The height holding device moves into the second position to maintain a desired height of the truck or trailer bed during loading and unloading operations at a loading dock, for example. The height holding device allows for the suspension air springs to be evacuated of air pressure during loading or unloading conditions without a change in deck height.

Vehicle suspension with a dock height holding device

A trailer suspension slider is provided that includes a suspension bogey. A trailer is supported on the suspension bogey and is longitudinally movable between a plurality of position relative to the suspension bogey. The trailer includes a stop bar to prevent the bogey from sliding out from underneath the trailer during braking if the pins are disengaged. A locking pin mechanism is movable between a locked position in which the locking mechanism couples the suspension bogey and the trailer in one of the plurality of positions and an unlocked position in which the trailer can move relative to the suspension bogey. The suspension bogey may collide violently with the stop bar when braking from a relatively low speed when the pins are unlocked. To this end, an energy absorption device is supported on either the trailer or the suspension bogey. The energy absorption device collapses in response to the stop bar engaging either the energy absorption device or the suspension bogey. Alternatively, an expandable cable may be used between the trailer and suspension bogey to slow the trailer as the stop bar approaches the suspension bogey.

Trailer suspension slider energy absorbing device

A system for connecting a slider to a trailer frame includes a rotatable locking member having a plurality of teeth that engage with a plurality of openings in the trailer from. The locking member is biased by a rotary biasing in a locked position.

Method for securing slider to trailer

A mechanism is disclosed for controlling the vertical position of the transport trailer floor of a heavy trailer bearing vehicle having a pivoting air spring suspension system such that the transport trailer floor maintains a fixed position level to an adjacent dock platform when parked for loading or unloading. The mechanism comprises various embodiments of a locking system that disables the pivotal movement of selected pivoting suspension elements in any one of a plurality of possible fixed positions such that the transport trailer floor, when parked, resists downwardly imposed forces and maintains a fixed elevation equal to the elevation of an adjacent loading dock platform.

Mechanism for fixing the height of the trailer floor at a plurality of levels by fixing the angular position of a pivoting suspension component

A number of improved ways of connecting a slider to a trailer frame are disclosed. In one general type of solution, a wedge-shaped locking surface is formed on both the slider and the trailer. The wedged surfaces provide a very secure connection. In another general way of describing the embodiments, several of the embodiments have a plurality of locking surfaces which again provide a more secure connection.

Growing community of inventors

Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Steven Ray Miller