Fabricated vehicle axle

A bottom plate for a fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a first head portion having a first king pin bore extending through it;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it;
• and
• a body portion positioned between said first head portion and said second head portion.

A bottom plate for a fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a first head portion having a first king pin bore extending through it;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it;
• a body portion positioned between said first head portion and said second head portion;
• a first transition zone portion adjacent to said first head portion and extending therefrom at a first bend to a second bend at a said body portion, said body portion extending from said second bend to a third bend, a second transition zone portion adjacent to said body portion and extending therefrom at said third bend, said second transition zone portion also being adjacent to said second head portion and extending therefrom at a fourth bend;
• and
• a first angle formed by said second bend and a second angle formed by said third bend, said first and second angles being within a range of forty degrees to fifty degrees;
• wherein said bottom plate having a constant thickness within a range of twelve to sixteen millimeters.

A bottom plate for a fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a first head portion having a first king pin bore extending through it;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it;
• a body portion positioned between said first head portion and said second head portion;
• and
• a first transition zone portion adjacent to said first head portion and extending therefrom at a first bend to a second bend at said body portion, said body portion extending from said second bend to a third bend, a second transition zone portion adjacent to said body portion and extending therefrom at said third bend, said second transition zone portion also being adjacent to said second head portion and extending therefrom at a fourth bend, said first transition zone portion includes a tie rod clearance region.

A bottom plate for a fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a first head portion having a first king pin bore extending through it and a steering stop integrally formed therewith;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it;
• and
• a body portion positioned between said first head portion and said second head portion.

A bottom plate for a fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a first head portion having a first king pin bore extending through it and a machining datum;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it;
• and
• a body portion positioned between said first head portion and said second head portion.

A bottom plate for a fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a first head portion having a first king pin bore extending through it, said first king pin bore extends through said first head portion at a position offset to a rear of said bottom plate;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it;
• and
• a body portion positioned between said first head portion and said second head portion.

A bottom plate for a fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a first head portion having a first king pin bore extending through it, said first king pin bore is positioned to provide additional tie rod clearance;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it;
• and
• a body portion positioned between said first head portion and said second head portion.

A king pin top plate for a fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a head portion having a king pin bore extending through it;
• a body portion adjacent to said head portion;
• and
• a curved fork portion adjacent to said body portion.

A method of welding a fabricated vehicle axle having a main body and a bottom plate having a first head portion with a first king pin bore extending through it, a first transition portion adjacent to said first head portion and extending therefrom at a first bend, a body portion adjacent to said first transition portion and extending therefrom at a second bend, a second transition portion adjacent to said body portion and extending therefrom at a third bend, and a second head portion adjacent to said second transition portion and extending therefrom at a fourth bend, said second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it, said method comprising the steps of:

• extending a first root pass weld between a first root pass first point positioned outboard said first king pin bore and a first root pass second point positioned inboard said second bend;
• extending a first middle pass weld between a first middle pass first point positioned outboard said first king pin bore and a first middle pass second point positioned inboard said first root pass second point;
• extending a second root pass weld between a second root pass first point positioned outboard said second king pin bore and a second root pass second point positioned inboard said third bend;
• extending a second middle pass weld between a second middle pass first point positioned outboard said second king pin bore and a second middle pass second point positioned inboard said second root pass second point;
• and
• extending a final pass weld between a final pass first point positioned outboard said first king pin bore and a final pass second point positioned outboard said second king pin bore.

A bottom plate for a fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a first head portion having a first king pin bore extending through it;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it;
• a body portion positioned between said first head portion and said second head portion;
• a first transition zone portion adjacent to said first head portion and extending therefrom at a first bend to a second bend at said body portion, said body portion extending from said second bend to a third bend, a second transition zone portion adjacent to said body portion and extending therefrom at said third bend, said second transition zone portion also being adjacent to said second head portion and extending therefrom at a fourth bend;
• and
• a first angle formed by said second bend and a second angle formed by said third bend, said first and second angles being within a range of forty degrees to fifty degrees.

A bottom plate for a fabricated vehicle axle comprising:

• a first head portion having a first king pin bore extending through it;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it;
• and
• a body portion positioned between said first head portion and said second head portion;
• wherein said bottom plate has at least two rounded corners.