Abstract: A tandem brake booster ( 12 ) having a flow path ( 145 ) between a control valve (118) and a solenoid valve (180) connected to a source of vacuum and the surrounding environment. The flow path (145) is created by first (140) and second (150) telescoping sleeves that are resiliently urged into sealing engagement with a front shell (58) and hub member (92) by a return spring (164).

Abstract: The present invention comprises an integrated disc brake (50) and drum brake (120) construction. A support member (12) is supported by a vehicle axle (14) and extends radially outwardly to provide support for a housing (52) of the disc brake (50). The housing (52) is secured by bolts (93 or 94) to the support member (12), the housing (52) having through openings (54) for receiving rod members (75). The rod members (75) each have one end (76) secured to the support member (12) and a second part (90) and the other end has an opening (77) for an internal bore (78) extending therein. The disc brake (50) includes an axially movable yoke (60) attached to guide pins (82) extending into bores (78) of the rods (75) for slidable movement therein. The second part (90) extends radially to provide support for an inner brake pad (20) and may extend axially away from the housing (52) to provide an anchor support (91) for shoulders (132, 142) of drum brake shoes (130, 140).

Abstract: The present invention comprises an integrated disc brake (50) and drum brake (120) construction. A support member (12) is supported by a vehicle axle (14) and extends radially outwardly to provide support for a housing (52) of the disc brake (50). The housing (52) is secured by bolts (93 or 94) to the support member (12), the housing (52) having through openings (54) for receiving rod members (75). The rod members (75) each have one end (76) secured to the support member (12) and a second part (90) and the other end has an opening (77) for an internal bore (78) extending therein. The disc brake (50) includes an axially movable yoke (60) attached to guide pins (82) extending into bores (78) of the rods (75) for slidable movement therein. The second part (90) extends radially to provide support for an inner brake pad (20) and may extend axially away from the housing (52) to provide an anchor support (91) for shoulders (132, 142) of drum brake shoes (130, 140).

Abstract: The brake assembly (10, 110, 210) comprises a caliper housing (14, 114, 214) having a bore (26, 226) with a first piston (30, 230) slidably received therein. The first piston (30, 230) includes a recess (34, 234) receiving the head (52, 252) of a longitudinally extending rod (50, 250), the head (52) displaced from a surface (35) of the recess (34) by a resilient mechanism (37). The piston (30, 230) has a first seal (40, 240) disposed thereabout. The longitudinally extending rod (50) has an end (54) with a second seal (60) disposed thereabout, the end (54) received slidably within a tube (70) having a flange (72). The flange (72) of the tube (70) has a first spring (80, 180) located thereabout, the first spring (80, 180) biasing tube (70) away from a second piston (90) positioned about the tube (70) and rod (50 ).

Abstract: A disc brake comprises a caliper member (14) which is movably supported relative to a torque member (12) by at least one pin assembly (46). The one pin assembly comprises a first part (50) and a second part (54) with a resilient member (70) therebetween. The resilient member (70) cooperates with the parts (50, 54) and the caliper member (14) to positively retract a friction element (24) upon termination of braking.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly (10) includes a caliper (22) movably supported by a torque member (36). The caliper (22) and torque member (36) each have lateral recesses (44, 46, 48, 50) defining axially extending apertures (52, 54) between the caliper (22) and torque member (36), with a pair of wedge-shaped members (66, 68) disposed in each aperture to maintain the caliper in radial and circumferential position relative to the torque member while allowing lateral movement therebetween. The wedge-shaped members (66, 68) are biased inwardly by an improved dual purpose spring member (72) which traverses a portion of the exterior perimeter of the torque member (36) and engages the ends of the respective pins.

Abstract: An adjustment assembly for a disc brake includes a nut (26) and a threaded stem (28). The threaded stem (28) defines a first diameter portion (72) and a second diameter portion (76) which cooperate to form a differential area sealingly engaging an inwardly extending partition (68). The partition (68) also forms a passage (88) to communicate fluid pressure to both portions (72, 76) so that the differential area and pressure communicating passage are compactly arranged at the partition (68).

Abstract: A disc brake includes a caliper assembly (12) cooperating with a pair of friction elements ((14, 16) to brake a rotor (10). A pin assembly (30) supports the caliper assembly (12) and includes a bolt (34) defining an axial spacing for a sleeve (36) which engages the caliper assembly (12) via a resilient bushing (32). The sleeve is permitted to move axially through a clearance (62) with each brake application and a spring (38) biases the sleeve and caliper to always retract through the clearance upon termination of braking.

Abstract: A drum brake (10) includes a light-weight backing plate (12) which carries a pair of brake shoes (44, 46). The backing plate comprises a pair of stamped plates (18,20) having a plurality of radially extending arms (22-28) which cooperate to guide the brake shoes. A hydraulic actuator (68) is carried by the brake shoes to move the shoes into engagement with a brake drum (66). A light-weight dust shield (82) cooperates with the brake drum to inhibit the entry of dirt into the brake. The actuator (68) carries a parking lever (94) and cooperates with the lever to effect a parking brake application responsive to pivoting of the lever. An adjustable strut (62) spaces apart the brake shoes. An automatic adjusting mechanism (106) cooperates with the strut to maintain a substantially constant running clearance between the brake shoes and the brake drum.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a pair of brake shoes which are carried by a backing plate and engageable with a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator is operable to move the pair of brake shoes from a rest position to a braking position. A strut extending between the pair of brake shoes cooperates with a parking arm to move the pair of brake shoes to the braking position during a parking brake application. A support assembly on the backing plate is disposed opposite the hydraulic actuator for the purpose of absorbing braking torque developed by the pair of brake shoes. The support assembly comprises a pair of slots and a lever. The lever is movable in response to movement of the parking arm to adjust the position of the pair of blocks relative to each other. In a first position the blocks are in abutment with the backing plate while in a second position the blocks are free to move a limited amount relative to the backing plate.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a wheel cylinder (36) and extendible assembly (60) disposed between adjoining ends of a pair of brake shoes. The wheel cylinder includes a pair of pistons (40,42) which are in abutting relation with each other and with the extendible assembly to substantially define a non-braking position for the pair of brake shoes. The extendible assembly is operable to move the pair of pistons within the wheel cylinder in response to an excessive clearance between the pair of brake shoes and a rotating drum.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes a frame which is movably disposed relative to a rotor and a central opening on the frame carries a pair of friction elements facing opposite sides of the rotor. An adjuster assembly is disposed within the central opening to control the position of the pair of friction elements relative to the rotor. The adjuster assembly includes a lever pivotally engaging the frame and an extendible assembly cooperating with the lever and frame to control the pivotal position of the lever relative to the frame. An actuator extends into the central opening and is engageable with one of the friction elements and the lever. Upon operation of the actuator, the one friction element separates from the lever to engage the rotor and the frame moves to engage the other friction element with the rotor. A pawl is responsive to movement of the actuator to control extension of the extendible assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspension member and the process for constructing the suspension member. The suspension member comprises a folded single sheet of metal which is enlarged at one end to couple to a wheel assembly and U-shaped at the other end to pivotally connect with a vehicle frame. The process of constructing the suspension member comprises the steps of stamping a single sheet from a piece of stock, deforming the sheet to form a pocket defining the enlarged end, folding the sheet to form a substantially rectangular cross section and welding the seam between adjoining edges of the folded sheet. In order to support a spring assembly a tube extends through the folded sheet and cooperates with the spring assembly to attach the latter to the folded sheet.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a torque member which supports a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator is engageable with a pair of brake shoes and is operable to move the pair of brake shoes into a braking position. The torque member comprises a central portion which attaches to an axle assembly and a plurality of arms extending radially outward from the central portion. In the preferred embodiment the plurality of arms cooperate with the central portion to substantially form a Y-shaped member. One of the arms substantially forms the hydraulic actuator to integrally form the latter with the one arm. The other arms are provided with slots to direct the movement of the pair of brake shoes and a resilient spring within the slots opposes axial movement of the pair of brake shoes.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a backing plate for supporting a pair of brake shoes and a hydraulic actuator which cooperates with the pair of brake shoes to urge the latter into a braking position. A parking lever is pivotally mounted on one of the brake shoes and a strut connects the parking lever with the other brake shoe such that rotation of the parking lever when the parking brake is applied urges the pair of brake shoes into a braking position. In order to connect the strut to the other brake shoe while at the same time eliminating any rattle between the pair of brake shoes and the struts, a spring clip releasably connects with the other brake shoe and resiliently engages the strut to bias the latter toward the one brake shoe. The spring clip is substantially U-shaped with at least one opening for receiving the strut and for maintaining the strut in juxtaposition to the other brake shoe.

Abstract: A drum brake for a motor vehicle includes a backing plate secured to a nonrotatable portion of the motor vehicle. The backing plate mounts a hydraulic actuator which, in turn, carries a pair of brake shoes. The backing plate includes a first portion that attaches to the nonrotatable portion of the motor vehicle and a second portion that extends radially from the first portion. The second portion includes an opening and the hydraulic actuator extends into the opening for mounting the same on the second portion. The pair of brake shoes define a space therebetween and the backing plate is radially disposed substantially within the space. A shield engages the backing plate and extends radially past the pair of brake shoes to engage the pair of brake shoes in order to guide the radial expansion of the latter during braking.

Abstract: A disc brake for a two-wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle, is disclosed. The brake includes a torque member fastened to a nonrotative part of the vehicle, a two-piece caliper carried by the torque member, and a pair of pins carried by the caliper which slidably support a pair of friction elements adjacent opposed friction faces of a convention disc brake rotor. The torque member is rigidly secured to the pins, a sliding connection being provided between the pins and the caliper to permit the latter to slide axially with respect to the rotor. Bolts are provided to hold the pieces of the caliper together. The pins which slidably support the friction elements are bolts which also hold the two pieces of the caliper together.

Abstract: A disc brake for an automotive vehicle is disclosed in which the inner friction element is provided with a pair of arms extending from opposite ends thereof. The arms are provided with grooves (or projections) which are adapted to slidably engage axially extending splines (or grooves) which are provided on the bridge portion of the caliper so that the inner friction element is guided for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A gap is defined between the ends of the splines and the inwardly extending portion of the caliper to permit insertion of the arms into the gap and movement of the inner friction pad onto the splines when the brake is assembled. The outer friction element is then installed on the inwardly extending portion of the caliper and encloses a sufficient portion of the gap to prevent the inner friction element from escaping. A pair of pins slidably mount the caliper to a non-rotating portion of the vehicle, such as the spindle housing.

Abstract: A heavy duty disc brake is disclosed which is provided with an automatic adjuster mechanism to limit retraction of the friction elements to a substantially predetermined amount to thereby maintain the running clearances between the friction elements and the brake rotor substantially constant. The adjustment mechanism includes an extensible member which is slidably mounted within the caliper housing and which interconnects a mechanical actuating mechanism and a piston which engages one of the friction pads. The piston is slidably mounted within the housing and is disposed between the extensible element and the corresponding friction pad, and the piston carries a spring-actuated pawl. The pawl is adapted to engage corresponding ratchet teeth on one portion of the extendible member, which includes a pair of threadedly interconnected, relatively rotatable members, designed so that upon relative rotation between the members, the extendible member extends.

Abstract: A disc brake is disclosed which includes a rotatable disc, a pair of friction elements disposed opposite friction faces of the disc, and a caliper movable axially with respect to the disc to urge the friction element into braking engagement with the friction faces of the disc when a brake application is effected. The caliper includes a fluid motor portion which includes a pair of circumferentially spaced arms which traverse the periphery of the rotor. The caliper further includes a stamped collar member which encircles the friction elements and the fluid motor portion and includes a circumferentially spaced section which traverse the periphery of the discs. Fastening means secure each of the arms to the portion of the collar disposed adjacent the friction element engaging the side of the disc opposite to the side of the disc on which the fluid motor portion is mounted.