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Provided is a slotted axle assembly for a vehicle suspension system. The slotted axle assembly includes an axle beam extending laterally between two axle connectors. Each axle connector is slotted for mating with an end of the axle beam. When assembled, each end of the axle beam surrounds or encapsu

Provided is a slotted axle assembly for a vehicle suspension system. The slotted axle assembly includes an axle beam extending laterally between two axle connectors. Each axle connector is slotted for mating with an end of the axle beam. When assembled, each end of the axle beam surrounds or encapsulates an axle connector. A kingpin housing is inserted into each axle connector for receiving and retaining a king pin. Also, a bottom plate is attached to the axle beam and the two axle connectors. The slotted axle assembly may include a plurality of brackets, braces and channels, to include one or more damper brackets, air spring mating channels, and control arm brackets. Components of the slotted axle assembly may be welded together, or an alternate method of mechanical fastening may be employed.

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What is claimed is: 1. A slotted axle assembly, comprising: an axle beam having a first end and a second end; a first king pin housing; a second king pin housing; a first axle connector having a first end for receiving the first king pin housing and a slotted second end for mating with the first en

What is claimed is: 1. A slotted axle assembly, comprising: an axle beam having a first end and a second end; a first king pin housing; a second king pin housing; a first axle connector having a first end for receiving the first king pin housing and a slotted second end for mating with the first end of the axle beam; a second axle connector having a first end for receiving the second king pin housing and a slotted second end for mating with the second end of the axle beam; and a bottom plate attached to the axle beam, the first axle connector, and the second axle connector. 2. The slotted axle assembly of claim 1, wherein the axle beam is a tube having a center aperture extending for a length of the axle beam. 3. The slotted axle assembly of claim 1, wherein the axle beam comprises: a first wall having a first length; a second wall positioned parallel to the first wall and having a second length equal to the first length; and a third wall oriented substantially normal to the first wall and to the second wall and interconnecting the first wall and the second wall to form a channel therebetween. 4. The slotted axle assembly of claim 3, wherein the first axle connector is welded to an inner surface of the first end of the axle beam, and wherein the second axle connector is welded to an inner surface of the second end of the axle beam. 5. The slotted axle assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottom plate is welded to the axle beam, the first axle connector and the second axle connectors. 6. The slotted axle assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one king pin housing is removable. 7. A slotted axle assembly, comprising: an axle beam having a first end and a second end; a first king pin housing; a second king pin housing; a first axle connector having a first end for receiving the first king pin housing and a slotted second end for mating with the first end of the axle beam; a second axle connector having a first end for receiving the second king pin housing and a slotted second end for mating with the second end of the axle beam; and a bottom plate attached to the axle beam, the first axle connector, and the second axle connector; at least one damper bracket; a first air spring mating channel positioned at the first end of the axle beam; a second air spring mating channel positioned at the second end of the axle beam; a first control arm bracket positioned in close proximity to the first air spring mating channel; and a second control arm bracket positioned in close proximity to the second air spring mating channel. 8. A method for manufacturing a slotted axle assembly, comprising: securing a first kingpin housing in a first end of a first axle connector; securing a second kingpin housing in a first end of a second axle connector; inserting a first end of an axle beam into a slotted second end of the first axle connector, to cover the second end of the first axle connector; inserting a second end of the axle beam into a slotted second end of the second axle connector, to cover the second end of the second axle connector; fastening the axle beam to the first and second axle connectors; and attaching a bottom plate to the axle beam and the first and second axle connectors. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein securing further comprises welding the first and second king pin housings to the first and second axle connectors respectively. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein securing further comprises attaching the first and the second king pin housings with removable mechanical fasteners, wherein the king pin housings are removable. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein fastening further comprises welding the axle beam to the first and the second axle connectors. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein attaching further comprises welding the bottom plate to the axle beam, the first axle connector, and the second axle connector. 13. A method for manufacturing a slotted axle assembly, comprising: securing a first kingpin housing in a first end of a first axle connector; securing a second kingpin housing in a first end of a second axle connector; inserting a first end of an axle beam into a slotted second end of the first axle connector, to cover the second end of the first axle connector; inserting a second end of the axle beam into a slotted second end of the second axle connector, to cover the second end of the second axle connector; fastening the axle beam to the first and second axle connectors; attaching a bottom plate to the axle beam and the first and second axle connectors; mounting at least one damper bracket to the axle beam; positioning a first air spring mating channel at the first end of the axle beam; positioning a second air spring mating channel at the second end of the axle beam; attaching a first control arm bracket to the first axle connector in close proximity to the first air spring mating channel for attachment to a first control arm tower brace; and attaching a second control arm bracket to the second axle connector in close proximity to the second air spring mating channel for attachment to a second control arm tower brace. 14. An improved axle assembly of the type having an axle beam, at least one king pin housing, and at least one axle connector positioned between the axle beam and the king pin housing, the improvement comprising: a first axle connector having a first end for receiving a first king pin housing and a slotted second end for mating with a first end of the axle beam, wherein the first end of the axle beam substantially surrounds the slotted second end of the first axle connector; a second axle connector having a first end for receiving a second king pin housing and a slotted second end for mating with a second end of the axle beam, wherein the second end of the axle beam substantially surrounds the slotted second end of the second axle connector; and a bottom plate attached to the axle beam, the first axle connector, and the second axle connector. 15. The improved axle assembly of claim 14, wherein the axle beam is tubular shaped having a center aperture extending for a length of the axle beam. 16. The improved axle assembly of claim 14, wherein the axle beam comprises: a first wall having a first length; a second wall positioned parallel to the first wall and having a second length equal to the first length; and a third wall oriented substantially normal to the first wall and to the second wall and interconnecting the first wall and the second wall to form a channel therebetween. 17. The improved axle assembly of claim 14, wherein at least one king pin housing is removable. 18. A slotted axle assembly, comprising: an axle beam having a first end, a second end, an upper wall, a second wall extending from the upper wall, and a third wall; a first king pin housing; a second king pin housing; a first axle connector having a first end for receiving the first king pin housing and a second end for mating with the first end of the axle beam, the first axle connector second end having a slot extending in a direction in line with the axle beam upper wall; a second axle connector having a first end for receiving the second king pin housing and a second end for mating with the second end of the axle beam, the second axle connector second end having a slot extending in a direction in line with the axle beam upper wall; and a bottom plate attached to the axle beam, the first axle connector, and the second axle connector; wherein a portion of the axle beam upper wall is located in the first axle connector slot and sandwiched by the first axle connector; wherein another portion of the axle beam upper wall is located in the second axle connector slot and sandwiched by the second axle connector; wherein a portion of the first axle connector is engulfed by segments of: the axle beam upper wall, the axle beam second wall, and the axle beam third wall; and wherein a portion of the second axle connector is engulfed by other segments of: the axle beam upper wall, the axle beam second wall, and the axle beam third wall. 19. The slotted axle assembly of claim 18, wherein: the second wall is generally perpendicular to the upper wall; and the third wall extends: (a) from the upper wall generally perpendicular to the upper wall; or (b) from the second wall generally perpendicular to the second wall. 20. A slotted axle assembly, comprising: an axle beam having a first end, a second end, an upper wall, a second wall extending from the upper wall, and a third wall; the upper wall, the second wall, and the third wall defining an interior area; a first king pin housing; a second king pin housing; a first axle connector having a first end for receiving the first king pin housing and a second end for mating with the first end of the axle beam, the first axle connector second end having generally parallel opposed walls defining a slot extending in a direction in line with the axle beam upper wall; a second axle connector having a first end for receiving the second king pin housing and a second end for mating with the second end of the axle beam, the second axle connector second end having generally parallel opposed walls defining a slot extending in a direction in line with the axle beam upper wall; and a bottom plate attached to the axle beam, the first axle connector, and the second axle connector; wherein a portion of the axle beam upper wall is located in the first axle connector slot and sandwiched by the opposed walls of the first axle connector; wherein another portion of the axle beam upper wall is located in the second axle connector slot and sandwiched by the opposed walls of the second axle connector; wherein a portion of the first axle connector is inside the axle beam interior area; and wherein a portion of the second axle connector is inside the axle beam interior area. 21. The slotted axle assembly of claim 20, wherein: the second wall is generally perpendicular to the upper wall; and the third wall extends: (a) from the upper wall generally perpendicular to the upper wall; or (b) from the second wall generally perpendicular to the second wall.