Abstract: A friction device may include a backing plate connected with a friction material. The friction device may include a conditioning insert at least partially embedded within the friction material. The conditioning insert may include opposite first and second longitudinal sides that extend from the backing plate to the conditioning surface and opposite first and second lateral sides that extend from the backing plate to the conditioning surface. The first longitudinal side, the second longitudinal side, the first lateral side, and/or the second lateral side of the conditioning insert can include one or more protrusions extending away from the first longitudinal side, the second longitudinal side, the first lateral side, and/or the second lateral side and into the friction material.

Abstract: A vehicle brake system is provided that includes (or is formed from) a back plate configured to support a composite pad, at least one conditioning insert coupled to the back plate and configured to contact a surface of a wheel during a braking event and thereby to condition at least a portion of the surface of the wheel, and fins coupled with the at least one conditioning insert and configured to conduct heat generated by contact of the at least one conditioning insert with the at least the portion of the surface of the wheel away from the at least one conditioning insert.

Abstract: A conditioning insert of a friction device includes a body having a conditioning surface configured to engage a wheel, opposite first and second sides intersecting the conditioning surface, and opposite third and fourth sides intersecting the conditioning surface. Each of the first and second sides extend from the third side to the fourth side. The body includes one or more of (a) a recess extending into one or more of the first side, the second side, the third side, or the fourth side and is configured to receive friction material of the friction device and/or (b) a protrusion extending out of the first side, the second side, the third side, or the fourth side and into the friction material of the friction device.

Abstract: A vehicle brake system is provided that includes (or is formed from) a back plate configured to support a composite pad, at least one conditioning insert coupled to the back plate and configured to contact a surface of a wheel during a braking event and thereby to condition at least a portion of the surface of the wheel, and fins coupled with the at least one conditioning insert and configured to conduct heat generated by contact of the at least one conditioning insert with the at least the portion of the surface of the wheel away from the at least one conditioning insert.

Abstract: A brake shoe includes a backing plate, a composition friction material forming a brake pad. The brake pad has first and second opposite ends and first and second opposite lateral sides. A wear indicator is formed in at least one of the ends. The wear indicator extends outwards from at least one of the first end surface, the second end surface, the first lateral side surface, and the second lateral side surface at a set vertical position with respect to the back surface.

Abstract: A vehicle brake system is provided that includes (or is formed from) a back plate configured to support a composite pad, at least one conditioning insert coupled to the back plate and configured to contact a surface of a wheel during a braking event and thereby to condition at least a portion of the surface of the wheel, and fins coupled with the at least one conditioning insert and configured to conduct heat generated by contact of the at least one conditioning insert with the at least the portion of the surface of the wheel away from the at least one conditioning insert.

Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a back plate that may support a composite pad, and at least one conditioning insert coupled to the back plate and that may contact a surface of a wheel during a braking event and thereby to condition at least a portion of the surface of the wheel. Optionally, the back plate can define a U-shaped coupler that is centrally located and has two ends that are distal from the coupler. The back plate can have a centerline extending from a first end of the ends to a second end of the ends while passing through a center of the back plate, and the at least one conditioning insert can be disposed off of the centerline so as to not be centrally disposed.

Abstract: A brake shoe includes a backing plate configured to interface with a brake head of a vehicle. The backing plate includes a main body and a flange attached to the main body and configured to align the brake shoe on a wheel of the vehicle. The brake shoe also includes a composition friction material disposed on the backing plate, which defines a brake surface for engaging the wheel. The brake shoe may have one or more dimensional characteristics for facilitating alignment of the brake shoe with the wheel, e.g., a ratio of a shortest horizontal distance to a shortest vertical distance of the brake shoe may be at least 1.07 and no more than 1.25, or a ratio of a length of the main body of the brake shoe to a length of the flange may be at least 1.3 and not more than 1.7.

Abstract: A conditioning insert of a friction device includes a body having a conditioning surface configured to engage a wheel, opposite first and second sides intersecting the conditioning surface, and opposite third and fourth sides intersecting the conditioning surface. Each of the first and second sides extend from the third side to the fourth side. The body includes one or more of (a) a recess extending into one or more of the first side, the second side, the third side, or the fourth side and is configured to receive friction material of the friction device and/or (b) a protrusion extending out of the first side, the second side, the third side, or the fourth side and into the friction material of the friction device.

Abstract: A method and a system of a friction device for a wheel may include a backing plate and a friction material disposed on the backing plate to form a brake surface to engage a surface of the wheel. The friction material extends between a first end and a second end along a central longitudinal axis, and between a rim side and a flange side. A void is disposed within the friction material and extends from the brake surface a distance into the friction material. The void forms an opening of the brake surface of the friction material.

Abstract: A friction device for a vehicle having a flanged wheel (with a wheel flange and wheel tread) includes a backing plate and a friction structure. The backing plate may interface with a brake actuator of the vehicle. The friction structure is attached to the backing plate and comprises a friction material; the friction structure has a longitudinal flange side, a longitudinal rim side, and two opposing ends, and defines a brake surface for engaging the flanged wheel for braking. The friction structure includes an extended volume portion of the friction material on the longitudinal flange side, which defines a flange contact region of the brake surface. The flange contact region may at least partially engage the flange and to align the friction device with the wheel tread, e.g., the flange contact region may be complementary in shape to at least part of the flange.

Abstract: A brake shoe formed of friction material for use without a metal backing plate. The brake shoe is defined by a friction surface for bearing upon a wheel tread and an opposed back surface for being placed in contact with and secured to a brake head. The brake shoe has a reinforcing mesh defining a plurality of interstices positioned along the back surface of the brake shoe embedded in a molded friction material that is reinforced with a plurality of fibers. A keyway is at least partially formed of the molded fiber reinforced friction material extending away from the back surface of the brake shoe.

Abstract: A friction wedge assembly for use in a suspension system of railroad car trucks. The friction wedge assembly comprises a cast metal wedge having a bolster engaging surface, a truck side frame engaging surface and a surface disposed between the bolster engaging surface and the truck side frame engaging surface for engaging a spring that provides the load on the friction wedge assembly. There is a metal bonding matrix disposed on the truck side frame engaging surface of the wedge and a composition liner having a first side engageable with the metal bonding matrix and a radially opposed second side for engaging a metal wear liner on a side frame of such railroad car truck.

Abstract: A brake shoe is used on a railway vehicle for both applying a braking force and simultaneously reconditioning a wheel tread surface of a wheel disposed on such railway vehicle during a normal braking application on such vehicle. The brake shoe comprises a backing plate having a predetermined configuration and a first friction type material formed into a brake shoe and having a predetermined shape. There is a brake surface for engaging a wheel tread having a predetermined configuration and having a predetermined surface area. A second friction type material is formed as a discrete insert, having a predetermined shape and a predetermined width, and molded into first friction type material. One surface of the discrete insert being disposed coincidently as part of the brake surface of the brake shoe. The second friction type material exhibits greater abrasive properties than does the first friction type material.

Abstract: A brake shoe for use on a railway vehicle for reconditioning a wheel tread surface during a normal braking application including a backing plate and a first friction material extending over the brake surface of such brake shoe. It further contains a second friction material, formed as a discrete insert molded into such first friction material. Such second friction material initially is completely embedded. One surface of the insert is incrementally exposed as the first friction type material is eroded away. Such second friction material exhibits abrasive properties and is bonded to such backing plate. A third friction material is disposed as another discrete insert imbedded in the first friction type material. One surface of the abrasive third friction material being disposed as part of the brake surface of the brake shoe.