# US 2026/0084479 A1 · Automated leaf spring failure-detection in heavy-duty vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0084479 A1 - Document ID: US20260084479A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/297,129 - Filed: 2025-08-12 - Published: 2026-03-26 - Earliest claimed: 2024-09-24 - Assignees: Volvo Truck Corporation - Applicants: Volvo Truck Corporation - Inventors: Dinkar NALAWADE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260084479A1 ## CPC - B60G 17/0185: for failure detection - B60G 9/02: the axle or housing being pivotally mounted on the vehicle {, e.g. the pivotal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (B60G9/003 takes precedence)} - B60G 11/04: arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle - B60G 17/0195: characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems {(conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22)} - G01M 17/04: Suspension or damping - B60G 2200/322: with a single pivot point and a straight axle - B60G 2202/112: longitudinally arranged - B60G 2300/026: Heavy duty trucks - B60G 2400/0521: Roll rate - B60G 2400/0522: Pitch rate - B60G 2400/252: vertical - B60G 2600/08: Failure or malfunction detecting means - B60G 2800/70: Estimating or calculating vehicle parameters or state variables - B60G 2800/80: Detection or control after a system or component failure - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A computer system is provided, including processing circuitry configured to: receive angular velocity data indicative of roll and pitch angular velocities of a leaf spring-suspended bogie of a heavy-duty vehicle; receive deflection data indicative of deflection of leaf springs of the bogie, and detect a failure of at least one leaf spring used to suspend the bogie based on the received angular velocity data and deflection data. In some examples, deflection is indicative of leaf spring failure only if angular velocity data indicates that the bogie is stable and not moving due to, e.g., uneven road conditions or undulating road profiles. A corresponding vehicle, computer-implemented method, computer program product and computer-readable storage medium are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer system comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive angular velocity data indicative of roll and pitch angular velocities of a leaf spring-suspended bogie of a heavy-duty vehicle; receive deflection data indicative of deflection of leaf springs of the bogie; and detect a failure of at least one leaf spring used to suspend the bogie based on the received angular velocity data and deflection data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to detect the failure of the at least one leaf spring by determining that both the roll and pitch angular velocities are below one or more angular velocity threshold values, and by determining that the deflection of at least one leaf spring is larger than a deflection threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to command, in response to detecting the failure of the at least one leaf spring, a brake system of the vehicle to lower the vehicle's speed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer system of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to command the brake system of the vehicle to lower the vehicle speed only if a current vehicle speed is above a vehicle speed threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause, in response to detecting the failure of the at least one leaf spring, at least one indication to be issued to a driver of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer system of claim 5, wherein the at least one indication is at least one of an audio-based indication, a visual indication and a haptic feedback indication. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to, in response to detecting the failure of the at least one leaf spring, cause a transmission of an indication of the failed at least one leaf spring to a remote location. ### Claim 8 A heavy-duty vehicle, comprising: a leaf spring-suspended bogie; one or more angular velocity sensors configured to provide angular velocity data indicative of roll and pitch angular velocities of the leaf spring-suspended bogie; one or more deflection sensors configured to provide deflection data indicative of deflection of leaf springs of the bogie; and a computer system comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive the angular velocity data from the one or more angular velocity sensors; receive the deflection data from the one or more deflection sensors; and detect a failure of at least one leaf spring used to suspend the bogie based on the received angular velocity data and deflection data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the one or more angular velocity sensors comprise one or more inertial measurement units, IMUs, gyroscopes, inclination sensors and tilt sensors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the one or more deflection sensors comprise one or more limit sensors, displacement sensors, and distance measuring sensors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the bogie comprises front and rear axle arrangements jointly suspended around a trunnion axle by a left leaf spring and a right leaf spring, wherein the one or more angular velocity sensors comprise at least a first angular velocity sensor located on the front axle arrangement, at least a second angular velocity sensor located on the rear axle arrangement, and at least third and fourth angular velocity sensors located proximate to the trunnion axle, and wherein the one or more deflection sensors comprise left and right front deflection sensors located proximate to where the front axle arrangement connects to the left and right leaf spring, respectively, and left and right rear deflection sensors located proximate to where the rear axle arrangement connects to the left and right leaf spring, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the left and right front and rear deflection sensors are provided on or as part of rubber springs connecting the left and right leaf springs to the front and rear axle arrangements, respectively. ### Claim 13 A computer-implemented method for detection of leaf spring failure in a leaf spring-suspended bogie of a heavy-duty vehicle, comprising: receiving, by processing circuitry of a computer system and from one or more angular velocity sensors, angular velocity data indicative of roll and pitch angular velocities of a leaf spring-suspended bogie of a heavy-duty vehicle; receiving, by the processing circuitry and from one or more deflection sensors, deflection data indicative of deflection of leaf springs of the bogie; and detecting, by the processing circuitry, a failure of at least one leaf spring used to suspend the bogie based on the received angular velocity data and deflection data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the method of claim 13.