# US 11,993,234 B2 · Axle structure with asymmetrically arranged brake cylinders > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,234 B2 - Document ID: US11993234B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/627,080 - Filed: 2020-07-06 - Published: 2022-08-11 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-13 - Assignees: Man Truck & Bus AG - Applicants: MAN Truck & Bus SE - Inventors: Steve Sattler; Jürgen Hintereder; Robert Hörmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993234B2 ## CPC - B60T 17/088: {Mounting arrangements} - B60B 35/163: {characterised by specific shape of the housing, e.g. adaptations to give space for other vehicle elements like chassis or exhaust system} - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to an axle structure for a motor vehicle, preferably a utility vehicle, for installing a first wheel and a second wheel. The axle structure has a longitudinal axis and defines a vertical reference plane which extends along the longitudinal axis, and the axle structure comprises a first brake cylinder, which preferably has a first central line and is preferably used to brake the first wheel, and a second brake cylinder, which preferably has a second central line and is preferably used to brake the second wheel. The axle structure is characterized in particular in that the first brake cylinder is arranged on one side of the reference plane, and the second brake cylinder is arranged on the other side of the reference plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An axle construction for a motor vehicle and for mounting a first wheel and a second wheel, wherein the axle construction has a longitudinal axis and defines a vertical reference plane which extends along the longitudinal axis, comprising: a first brake cylinder, and a second brake cylinder, wherein the first brake cylinder is arranged at one side of the reference plane and the second brake cylinder is arranged at the other side of the reference plane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The axle construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is a utility vehicle, the first brake cylinder is used for braking the first wheel, or the second brake cylinder is used for braking the second wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The axle construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first brake cylinder has a first center line and the second brake cylinder has a second center line. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first center line extends substantially parallel with the reference plane or the longitudinal axis, or the second center line extends substantially parallel with the reference plane or the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first center line is orientated to be inclined away from the reference plane or the longitudinal axis, or extends in a non-parallel manner with respect to the reference plane or the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first center line is orientated to be inclined away from the reference plane or the longitudinal axis in such a manner that a space between the first brake cylinder and the axle construction is increased. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second center line is orientated to be inclined toward the reference plane or the longitudinal axis, or extends non-parallel with the reference plane or the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second center line is orientated to be inclined toward the reference plane or the longitudinal axis in such a manner that a space between the second brake cylinder and the axle construction is reduced. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first center line and the second center line are orientated to be inclined away from the reference plane or the longitudinal axis, or the first center line and the second center line are orientated to be inclined toward the reference plane or the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first center line or the second center line extends non-vertically. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first center line and the second center line extend substantially parallel with each other, or extend non-parallel with each other or are orientated to be inclined through angles of different sizes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first center line or the second center line extends in a substantially horizontal or non-horizontal manner. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The axle construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least two of the first center line, the second center line or the longitudinal axis extend substantially at the same height. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The axle construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first brake cylinder and the second brake cylinder are arranged in an asymmetrical manner. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The axle construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first brake cylinder is arranged substantially completely at one side of the reference plane or second brake cylinder is arranged substantially completely at the other side of the reference plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The axle construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle construction is a drive axle construction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The axle construction as claimed in claim 16, wherein the drive axle construction is driven electrically, hydraulically or by means of an internal combustion engine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The axle construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle construction has an axle gear for connecting a drive shaft for driving the motor vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The axle construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle construction has a first single-wheel motor for driving the first wheel and a second single-wheel motor for driving the second wheel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The axle construction as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first single-wheel motor is arranged at one side of the reference plane or the second single-wheel motor is arranged at the other side of the reference plane. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The axle construction as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first brake caliper associated with the first brake cylinder and a second brake caliper associated with the second brake cylinder, wherein the first brake caliper is arranged at one side of the reference plane and the second brake caliper is arranged at the other side of the reference plane. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A motor vehicle having a chassis comprising a plurality of chassis modules which can be releasably mounted on each other, wherein an axle construction as claimed in claim 1 is mounted on a chassis module. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 22, wherein the motor vehicle is a utility vehicle, or the chassis modules can be releasably mounted on each other by means of four connection node pairs in each case. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 22, wherein the individual chassis modules have as a carrier structure a plurality of longitudinal carriers, transverse carriers and vertical carriers or a 3-dimensional carrier structure.