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 The bottom plate as defined by claim 51 further comprising 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;
• and wherein said bottom plate having has 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 the first head portion ;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it the second head portion ;
• 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 the first head portion , said first king pin bore is positioned such that a center of the first king pin bore is offset from a center of said first head portion to provide additional tie rod clearance;
• a second head portion having a second king pin bore extending through it the second head portion ;
• 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 the head portion ;
• 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 the first head portion , 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 the second head portion , said method comprising the steps of:

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

A bottom plate for fabricated vehicle axle comprising:

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

A fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a main body constructed as a single piece and, along the entirety of the length of the main body, the main body having a cross-section in the form of an inverted U-shaped configuration;
• a continuous bottom plate welded to said main body having a first end with a first king pin bore extending through the first end and a second end with a second king pin bore extending through the second end;
• a first king pin top plate welded to said main body having a third king pin bore extending through the first king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said first king pin bore;
• a second king pin top plate welded to said main body having a fourth king pin bore extending through the second king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said second king pin bore;
• a first gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said first king pin top plate and said first end of said bottom plate;
• and
• a second gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said second king pin top plate and said second end of said bottom plate;
• wherein said main body has a length substantially less than a length of the bottom plate.

A fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a main body constructed as a single piece and, along the entirety of the length of the main body, the main body having a cross-section in the form of an inverted U-shaped configuration, said main body having a top surface extending along the entire length of the main body;
• a continuous bottom plate welded to said main body having a first end with a first king pin bore extending through the first end and a second end with a second king pin bore extending through the second end;
• a first king pin top plate welded to said main body having a third king pin bore extending through the first king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said first king pin bore;
• a second king pin top plate welded to said main body having a fourth king pin bore extending through the second king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said second king pin bore;
• a first gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said first king pin top plate and said first end of said bottom plate;
• and
• a second gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said second king pin top plate and said second end of said bottom plate.

A fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a main body constructed as a single piece and formed from a main body blank having a substantially uniform width, said main body, along the entirety of the length of the main body, having a cross-section in the form of an inverted U-shaped configuration;
• a continuous bottom plate welded to said main body having a first end with a first king pin bore extending through the first end and a second end with a second king pin bore extending through the second end;
• a first king pin top plate welded to said main body having a third king pin bore extending through the first king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said first king pin bore;
• a second king pin top plate welded to said main body having a fourth king pin bore extending through the second king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said second king pin bore;
• a first gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said first king pin top plate and said first end of said bottom plate;
• and
• a second gooseneck par, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said second king pin top plate and said second end of said bottom plate.

A fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a main body constructed as a single piece and formed entirely from a generally rectangular-shaped main body blank having tapered edges at opposite ends thereof, said main body, along the entirety of the length of the main body, having a cross-section in the form of an inverted U-shaped configuration;
• a continuous bottom plate welded to said main body having a first end with a first king pin bore extending through the first end and a second end with a second king pin bore extending through the second end;
• a first king pin top plate welded to said main body having a third king pin bore extending through the first king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said first king pin bore;
• a second king pin top plate welded to said main body having a fourth king pin bore extending through the second king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said second king pin bore;
• a first gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said first king pin top plate and said first end of said bottom plate;
• and
• a second gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said second king pin top plate and said second end of said bottom plate.

A fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a main body constructed as a single piece and, along the entirety of the length of the main body, the main body having a cross-section in the form of an inverted U-shaped configuration;
• a continuous bottom plate welded to said main body having a first end with a first king pin bore extending through the first end and a second end with a second king pin bore extending through the second end, said bottom plate having a tie rod clearance region;
• a first king pin top plate welded to said main body having a third king pin bore extending through the first king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said first king pin bore;
• a second king pin top plate welded to said main body having a fourth king pin bore extending through the second king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said second king pin bore;
• a first gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said first king pin top plate and said first end of said bottom plate;
• and
• a second gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said second king pin top plate and said second end of said bottom plate.

A fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a main body, along the entirety of the length of the main body, having a cross-section in the form of an inverted U-shaped configuration;
• a continuous bottom plate welded to said main body having a first end with a first king pin bore extending through the first end and a second end with a second king pin bore extending through the second end;
• a first king pin top plate welded to said main body having a third king pin bore extending through the first king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said first king pin bore;
• a second king pin top plate welded to said main body having a fourth king pin bore extending through the second king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said second king pin bore;
• a first gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said first king pin top plate and said first end of said bottom plate;
• and
• a second gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said second king pin top plate and said second end of said bottom plate;
• wherein said bottom plate is relatively thick and relatively heavy compared to said main body.

A fabricated vehicle axle, comprising:

• a main body, along the entirety of the length of the main body, having a cross-section in the form of an inverted U-shaped configuration;
• a continuous bottom plate welded to said main body having a first end with a first king pin bore extending through the first end and a second end with a second king pin bore extending through the second end;
• a first king pin top plate welded to said main body having a third king pin bore extending through the first king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said first king pin bore;
• a second king pin top plate welded to said main body having a fourth king pin bore extending through the second king pin top plate in substantial alignment with said second king pin bore;
• a first gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said first king pin top plate and said first end of said bottom plate;
• and
• a second gooseneck part, constructed as a single piece separate from said main body single piece, welded to said second king pin top plate and said second end of said bottom plate;
• wherein a king pin bore group for the fabricated axle consists of said first king pin bore, said second king pin bore, said third king pin bore and said fourth king pin bore.