Abstract: A brake actuator for a brake rigging in a brake system includes a brake cylinder; a piston rod disposed on the brake cylinder and connected to a piston assembly in the brake cylinder, the piston rod being configured to be moved by the piston assembly in a reciprocal axial motion and including at least one lateral protrusion extending therefrom; and an extension cylinder disposed on the brake cylinder at least partially surrounding the piston rod, the extension cylinder including at least one cam surface engaged by the at least one lateral protrusion of the piston rod. The extension cylinder is configured to be connected to a hand brake mechanism and to be actuated by the hand brake mechanism to rotate such that the cam surface engages the lateral protrusion of the piston rod to cause the piston rod to move to the extended position.

Abstract: An actuating device for an internal expanding brake has a restoring device for manual adjusting and restoring of an adjusting pin relative to an expanding piston. The restoring device includes an actuating pin which is mounted rotatably in a housing and is configured for transmitting a torque which is applied manually to the actuating pin, and a restoring gear mechanism which has a first gearwheel which is coupled to the actuating pin and a second gearwheel which is coupled to an adjusting nut. The first gearwheel of the restoring gear mechanism which is coupled to the actuating pin can be displaced in the axial direction of the actuating pin and can be brought into and out of torque-proof engagement with the actuating pin by means of a coupling device in a manner which is dependent on the transmitted torque.

Abstract: What is presented is a mechanical arm assembly with a novel roller thrust bearing. The mechanical arm assembly comprises a first arm having a first end and a second end. A first roller thrust bearing is mounted to the first end and to a ceiling. A second roller thrust bearing mounted to the second end. Each roller thrust bearing comprises a first bearing body and a second bearing body able to rotate relative to each other. Each roller thrust bearing has a solenoid powered brake comprising two brake shoes each with a high friction brake pad mounted to a hinge body affixed to the first bearing body, a brake drum mounted to the second bearing body, a tension spring pushing the brake shoes against the brake drum, and a mechanism for disengaging the brake shoes from the brake drum. The mechanism comprises a slider body with space for two pins, two ball bearings, and a plunger with sloped surfaces on one end and a mounting provision on the other. A solenoid is attached to the mounting provision.

Abstract: A brake device includes: a damper; an advancing and retreating member; a support section; and wedge members. The support section is provided on an opposite side to the wedge members with respect to the advancing and retreating member, and is capable of supporting the advancing and retreating member on an application side in a drive direction. On one of the support section and the advancing and retreating member, there is provided a raised strip section which extends in a braking direction. On the other of the support section and the advancing and retreating member, there is provided a groove section which restricts movement of the raised strip section towards a release side in the drive direction, and restricts movement of the raised strip section to both sides in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the drive direction and the braking direction.

Abstract: A braking device includes a base, a braking component, and a driving component including a reset member. The braking component has a clamping block. The driving component includes a movable member, a chamber therein and a first butting portion. The movable member passes through the driving member. One end of the movable member has a piston accommodated in the chamber, and the other end of the movable member has a second butting portion. The reset member is disposed in the chamber. The piston butts the reset member under an external force, and the first butting portion and the second butting portion are kept away from each other, and when the external force vanishes, the reset member butts the piston, and the first butting portion and the second butting portion are kept close to each other so as to achieve a braking effect.

Abstract: A disc brake for a vehicle, reduced in volume by improving a driving unit thereof that presses a wedge and therefore conveniently installed in the vehicle. The disc brake includes a disc rotated along with wheels of the vehicle, inner and outer friction pads disposed at both sides of the disc, a caliper housing supporting the outer friction pad, a wedge member disposed at a rear side of the inner friction pad and formed with inclined surfaces on a rear side thereof, a supporting member formed with inclined surfaces corresponding to the inclined surfaces of the wedge member and fixed to the caliper housing, and a driving unit operating the wedge member to perform a braking operation. The driving unit includes a screw axis, a driving motor, a worm gear constituted by a worm and a worm wheel, and a moving member.

Abstract: A method for recognizing a reference position of a wedge member of a disk brake for vehicles, which has a disk rotating together with the rotation of a wheel of a vehicle, a movable friction pad rubbing against one surface of the disk and generating braking force, the wedge member having one surface, to which the movable friction pad is attached, and moving in a rotating direction of the disk and moving forward to the disk by a driving motor for generating driving force, a guide member guiding the wedge member to the disk when the wedge member moves in the rotating direction of the disk, and a driving force transfer member screw-connected to a rotary shaft of the driving motor, moving in the rotating direction of the disk by the driving motor, and causing the wedge member to move in the rotating direction of the disk, the method including moving the wedge member to a left end of an operating section and recognizing a position of the left end, when a driver applies a pressure to a pedal; moving the wedge membe

Abstract: A cam for a brake is provided that allows for greater brake shoe travel and thicker brake linings while providing the same or greater mechanical force as compared to conventional cams. One or more lobes of the cam include multiple portions having varying profiles in axial cross-section. The variation in the cam profiles results in a cam in which the outermost ends or tips of the lobes are longer than in conventional cams yet retain the same mechanical strength.

Abstract: A brake apparatus is provided for braking a vehicle wheel, and includes a brake member rotated integrally with the wheel, a friction member mounted on the vehicle to be in contact with the brake member, a rotation member rotated integrally with the wheel, an electric motor, and a differential shift device. A motion converter is provided for converting a rotating motion of the motor into a thrust motion of the friction member to be pressed onto the brake member. For example, one of three components of the differential shift device is movable in response to rotation of the rotation member, another one is movable in response to rotation of the electric motor, and the rest is movable in response to operation of the motion converter.

Abstract: A brake rigging for a railway vehicle having a singular truck-mounted brake apparatus for generating a braking force and a plurality of disk caliper assemblies for applying the braking force to each wheel. Wedge-like elements are rigidly attached to the braking beams of the truck-mounted brake apparatus and engage a pair of rollers that are pivotably mounted on corresponding ends of a pair of pivoted levers disposed within a disk caliper assembly. The wedge-like elements transmit a generated braking force to the levers, the rocking of which in opposite directions is effective to force the brake shoes against the respective opposite sides of a disc brake rotor to exert the braking force thereon.

Abstract: A cam for a brake is provided that allows for greater brake shoe travel and thicker brake linings while providing the same or greater mechanical force as compared to conventional cams. One or more lobes of the cam include multiple portions having varying profiles in axial cross-section. The variation in the cam profiles results in a cam in which the outermost ends or tips of the lobes are longer than in conventional cams yet retain the same mechanical strength.

Abstract: A vertically sliding freight elevator landing door with a safety brake that deploys when a chain suspending the door breaks. The safety brake is adapted for use on both panels that slide up to open or that slide down to open. The brake, which is simple in construction and installation, comprises, principally, a caliber block fixed to the door and a roller cam assembled in the block. A spring biases the roller cam towards a wedge lock position while a cable normally holds the roller cam in an inactive position. The cable and, therefore, the roller cam are released when the associated door suspension chain breaks. The roller cam, operating between a tilted internal surface in the caliper block and a door guide rail quickly frictionally brakes the door on the guard rail.

Abstract: In an elevator emergency stop device wherein emergency stop of the elevator cage (20) is achieved by generating frictional force at a sliding part (11) and guide rail (1) by pressing a sliding part (11) against guide rail 1 using a wedge-shaped element (3), in wedge-shaped element (3), the dimension in the direction perpendicular with respect to the sliding faces on the guide rail (1) and sliding part (11) is changed in accordance with the braking force. An elevator emergency stop device can thereby be provided wherein the braking force is kept constant even though the coefficient of friction changes.

Abstract: An electromechanical brake has an electrical actuator which generates an actuation force and acts on at least one friction member in order to press said member to elicit a friction force against a rotational component, which is to be braked, of the brake. A self-boosting device is arranged between the friction member and the electrical actuator, said device serving to self-boost the actuation force generated by the electrical actuator, and having at least one wedge (12), which has a wedge surface (14) arranged at a wedge angle a and supported on a corresponding counter bearing (16). When the brake is actuated, the electrical actuator displaces the wedge (12) relative to the counter bearing (16) in an actuation direction (x) to press the friction component against the component, which is to be braked, of the brake.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drum brake device (10), which is provided as a wheel brake for a motor vehicle. The invention proposes embodying the drum brake device (10) with a brake belt (14), which is disposed inside a brake drum (12) and can flex in the radial direction of the brake drum (12). Thrust exerted on one end (18) of the brake belt (14) with a simultaneous bracing of the other end (20) of the brake belt (14) causes the brake belt (14) to be pressed against the brake drum (12) from the inside and produces a braking moment. The invention has the advantage that a friction force exerted on the brake belt (14) by the brake drum (12) augments the thrust on the end (18) of the brake belt (14) and thus boosts the braking moment. Another advantage is that the brake belt (14) always rests uniformly against the brake drum (12) over its entire circumference, even, for example, when the brake drum (12) expands due to heating.

Abstract: A wedge drum brake of vehicles is disclosed. A pair of pistons of a wheel cylinder are pushed out by a vertically descending wedge to make a leading shoe and a trailing shoe press against an inner circumference of a drum 10, wherein the wedge has a larger inclined angle on the side of the trailing shoe compared to the inclined angle on the side of the leading shoe and the end surfaces of the pistons facing both sides of the wedge have correspondingly different inclined angles, thereby reinforcing the expanding force of the trailing shoe so that the leading and trailing shoes have the same degree of expanding force.

Abstract: The cylinder body 11 has the first boss 11d through which the wedge-actuating mechanism is inserted and the second boss 11e having an inlet port and outlet port of the fluid away from the first boss 11d, where the first boss 11d is fit in the boss fitting hole 33 of the torque-receiving member 30 while the second boss 11e is positioned adjacent to the outside of surrounding edge of the torque-receiving member 30.

Abstract: A block brake actuator including in a housing a service brake arrangement, having an electric motor and mechanism for transforming its rotary movement into an axial movement of a push rod, and a safety brake arrangement, including at least one powerful spring, which acts in a brake application direction, may be tensioned at a service brake application and may be locked to the housing in a tensioned state. The spring is arranged transverse of the push rod and acts thereon over a wedge and roller arrangement.

Abstract: An overspeed brake mechanism for a storage and retrieval vehicle (SRV). The brake mechanism includes wedges acting between a brake block attached to the load carriage of the SRV and the mast of the SRV. The wedges are biased into engagement with the mast and are held out of engagement under normal operating conditions by electromagnets which apply an attractive force to the wedges, the electromagnets being de-energized by a control system responsive to an overspeed signal from a tachometer generator on the load carriage and having its input member in engagement with the mast. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, permanent magnets imbedded in the wedges bias the wedges into light contact with the mast to insure that there will be no lost motion between the wedges and the mast when the brake is activated.

Abstract: A liquid-immersed disc brake has a housing containing rotatable and stationary members operated by a wedge device for brake actuation from actuating means. The brake is supplied with cooling liquid, of which the flow is controlled by a valve, a portion of which is incorporated into the housing. The valve is closed by action thereon of the actuator means and opened so as to admit cooling liquid to the brake as a result of the actuator means performing an actuating movement.

Abstract: An automatic brake for vehicle winch that is automatically applied when the applied torque of the drive motor ceases and automatically released upon application of motor torque. The brake features brake pad segments that move radially outward against the interior of the drum to affect braking and retract radially inward to affect releasing of the brake. The pads have tapered ends that mate with opposed frusto-conical shoes. The brake utilizes rotation of a cam rotatable with respect to a cam follower in one direction to force one shoe toward the other to force the pads radially outward to engage the interior surface of the drum. Rotation of the cam with respect to the cam follower in the opposite direction releases the braking action. A wave spring is incorporated to eliminate chatter as the brake is applied and released. The configuration of the brake components provides a conductive path for the dissipation of heat generated by the braking action.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electromechanical control having a centrifugal structure comprising a shaft (22) driven in rotation by an electric motor (20) and defining an axis, at least two flyweights (38) capable of moving under the effect of a centrifugal force between a plate (34) and a disk (32), the plate (34) being able to be driven in rotation by the shaft, and a wedge device (12). According to the invention, the shaft (22) is mounted movably in axial translation to drive in translation the wedge device (12), and the plate (34) is axially fixed whereas the disk (32), which solidly fixed to an axial sleeve (30) forming, with the end (24) of the shaft (22), a lockable screw-nut assembly, is capable of axial translation and can be driven in rotation by the shaft (22), the radial position of the flyweights (38) determining the separation of the disk (32) and the plate (34). Application to the braking of vehicles.

Abstract: A wedge-type actuator for actuating drum brakes including guide rollers positioned between the wedge and a plunger that contacts the leading brake shoe. The guide rollers are carried between a guiding surface on the wedge and a guiding surface in the housing, to take up the reaction forces caused by the larger actuation forces needed to operate the trailing brake shoe. The disclosed arrangement provides more even braking forces, and thereby results in more even brake shoe wear.

Abstract: A device for regulating swing resistance of swingable devices such as video cameras and/or motion picture cameras. A pair of right and left shoe members to be fixed to the swingable device are mounted on the body side. Elastic O rings are commonly fitted in the peripheral surfaces of the pair of shoe members and disposed such that the O rings can be contacted with and separated from the inner peripheral surface of a back plate filled with a viscous member. The contacting state of the O rings with the inner peripheral surface of the back plate is changed from a line contact to a plane contact by adjusting operation of a control member for spreading the pair of shoe members in order to steplessly regulate a swing resistance.

Abstract: An adjusting device is disclosed for the brake shoes of inside shoe brakes. The adjusting device includes two levers which are articulated on a carrier at a lateral distance from one another. The levers each engage on one of two adjacent brake shoe ends and are jointly in engagement with a frustoconical endpiece of an actuating member guided rotatably on the carrier in a threaded bore provided between the levers and extending in parallel with a brake drum axis. During the rotation of the actuating member for the adjustment of the brake shoes, the two levers are pivoted in directions opposite to one another, being supported respectively on one of two mutually opposite edges of the brake-shoe webs so as to surround these. The adjusting device is merely attached by its levers on to the brake shoe webs so it can also execute self-reinforcing floating movements of the brake shoes in dual servo-brakes.

Abstract: A spreading wedge actuator for vehicle brakes includes a housing (11) mounted on a brake carrier, two coaxial pressure members (2, 3) displaceably mounted in the housing (1) and abutting at outer ends against the brake operating members, a spreading wedge (8), between and abutting via rollers (4, 5) against inner ends of the two pressure members (2, 3) and extending outward through an opening (6) in a housing neck (7), a spreading-wedge shaft (9) operated by a diaphragm cylinder or similar device for reciprocating the spreading-wedge to operate the pressure members (2, 3) and thus the brakes, and a sealing device between the spreading-wedge shaft (9) and the housing neck (7) with a frustoconically shaped flexible sealing member (10) extending via a diversion area (15) between two ring shaped rims (11, 12) at its ends having different diameters.

Abstract: A wedge and roller brake actuator comprises a wedge disposed between opposed tappets with interposed rollers acting to transmit thrust from the wedge to the tappets for brake actuation, a fixed inclined surface engaged by one roller to restrain the wedge for linear movement, and to ensure that one of the tappets normally associated, in use, with the brake trailing shoe, applies its associated shoe in advance of the other tappet, either the roller-engaging surfaces of the wedge and opposed tappet at either side of the wedge are inclined at different angles to the wedge longitudinal axis, or respective adjusters of the tappets are provided with different clearances between threadedly interengaged components thereof so that one tappet is adjusted to maintain its associated shoe nearer to the drum than the shoe associated with other tappet.

Abstract: Braking device for a vehicle, comprising a mechanism for driving at least one friction member in frictional engagement with a rotary member to be braked, the mechanism comprising a wedge (28) movable in a first axis in order to shift an actuating member (14) of the brake under the effect of a force coming from an actuator (34), characterized in that the actuator (34) comprises a centrifugal assembly (34) equipped with at least two flyweights (40; 72) arranged about a second axis and intended for rotating selectively about this second axis, the rotation of the flyweights (40; 72) about the second axis causing them to move away from the latter, and a connecting assembly (36, 30; 76, 90) between the flyweights (40; 72) and the wedge (28) for converting the movement away of the flyweights (40; 72) into a movement of the wedge (28) in the first axis.

Abstract: The friction member (4a) is actuated, via a piston mechanism (5), by an assembly consisting of a wedge (12) and of rollers (14), put into operation as a result of the rotation of a control shaft (11) driven by an electric motor (8) under the supervision of a force or pressure sensor (23) associated with one of the surfaces of ramps (16) interacting with the rollers (14).

Abstract: An automatic adjustment device for internal shoe brakes, comprises a fixed housing disposed interiorly of a rotating brake drum, a slidably guided, non-rotatable, axially displaceable pressure element disposed in the housing and operated mechanically or by a pressurized fluid, the pressure element acting on the brake shoe via a rotatable adjustment bushing and an adjusting bolt which is screw-connected to the adjustment bushing and is non-rotatably connected to the brake shoe, and a ring rotatably mounted in the pressure element. A first end face of the ring rests against a spring which presses against the base of the pressure element, and a second end face of the ring rests against the end face of the adjustment bushing which extends into the interior of the pressure element. The ring has an inclined slot engaged by a pin element affixed to the housing. The mutually facing end faces of the ring and adjustment bushing form a ratchet-like unidirectional clutch.

Abstract: In the case of a wedge brake activating device for drum brakes of vehicles, the guidance of the rollers (13) contained in a roller cage (15)--which provide the positive [frictional] engagement between the wedge surfaces (12) and the slant surfaces (10)--located in the slots (9) of the push tappets (8) activating the brake shoes--is established exactly and with low friction at low manufacturing costs for the roller cage (15). In order to accomplish this, the rollers (13)--on the one hand--are guided tangentially between guidance surfaces (22) located on guidance protrusions (19, 20) of the roller cage (15) at their cylindrical circumferential surfaces (22), and they are guided axially--on the other hand--between axial guidance sections (24) located on the roller cage (15) and the sidewalls (11) of the slots (9), and the width of the expanding wedge (4) and the corresponding dimensions of the roller cage are in a determined way coordinated to the length of the rollers (13).

Abstract: A wedge and roller actuator, primarily for a vehicle drum brake, has a wedge disposed between opposed tappets with interposed thrust-transmitting rollers. Inwardly directed thrust arising on one of the tappets is transmitted to a fixed surface of the actuator housing either by additional rollers or by one of the rollers. In the latter case, the surface of the housing reacting the inwardly directed force is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the wedge in the opposite direction to the opposed wedge surface.

Abstract: A self adjusting wheel cylinder for a drum brake including a brake drum and a brake shoe for exerting braking pressure on the drum with a shoe gap formed therebetween comprising a cylinder including an opening therein, hydraulic piston slidably mounted in the opening for activating the brake shoe upon movement in one direction, and for releasing the brake shoe upon movement in the other direction, and multiple adjusting screws within the cylinder for automatically adjusting the limit of movement of the piston in response to changes in the shoe gap of the brake, the multiple adjusting screws including a spindle having external screw-threads on both ends, the spindle is threadably mounted within the piston to one end thereof, and has a pair of multiple drive screws on the other end of the spindle for defining a fixed movement limit of the piston.

Abstract: A wedge brake arrangement for drum brakes on heavy road vehicles includes a brake cylinder push rod (29), plungers (26) axially movable perpendicularly to the push rod, and force transmitting rollers (32) between parallel wedge surfaces at the end of the push rod and on the respective plunger. In order to obtain full control over the reaction forces from the plungers (26) at brake operation the push rod (29) is guided by the housing (25) of the arrangement in the plane of the plungers by means of guide rollers (35) between plane surfaces at the end of the push rod (29) and in the housing (25), respectively, the surfaces being parallel with each other and with the axis of the push rod.

Abstract: A wedge-type actuator for a drum type brake including a positive stop for limiting the degree of relative movement between the cage and the wedge for avoiding push through. The stop is operative between the cage and a member other than the wedge for limiting the forces exerted on the unit during its operation.

Abstract: A braking unit for vehicles is disclosed which includes a housing in which slides a piston that can be displaced by means of a pressurized fluid to control, by means of an actuator, a thrust rod which controls a brake shoe. The actuator includes at least one pair of coaxial rollers supported so that they can revolve around a pin, supported by a pair of legs, which is connected to the piston and displaced in rolling contact with inclined surfaces of the thrust rod.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic brake adjustment assembly (50) for maintaining a desired disengaged clearance (c) between a frictional brake lining (17) and a moveable object to be braked. Assembly (50) includes a cam member (2) that is moved in opposite axial directions upon the respective engagement and disengagement of the brake by the operator causing a cam follower (10) to move a nut (16) in corresponding opposite axial directions which in turn is threadingly engaged with and operates to move a piston (18) in opposite axial directions along a frame (24) and accordingly cause brake lining (17) to move towards and away from the object to be braked.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanism for actuating a disc brake, incorporating a piston (5) coupled to a brake pad (1), a wedge (12) which is moveable longitudinally, under the action of a control rod (10), between surfaces (5a, 17a) forming part of the piston (5) and of a reaction component (17), respectively, and a pair of rollers (13) situated on each side of the wedge (12) and able to roll between the surfaces (12a, 12b) of the latter and the surfaces of the piston (5) and of the reaction component (17). The space in which the wedge (12) and the rollers (13) move is confined in a closed hydraulic chamber (17). The control rod (10) actuating the wedge forms a penetrating piston which determines variations of volume in this chamber (7) producing a hydraulic thrust upon the piston (5). The corresponding displacement of the latter is slightly greater than that which the wedge (12) would communicate to it mechanically through the intermediary of the roller (13), for the same displacement of the control rod (10).

Abstract: A snubbing device for a suspended grapple or the like operable by pressurized fluid in a cavity between a pin and housing of a universal joint which actuates a ramp to cause a retarding reaction between the pin and housing to prevent free swinging of the grapple.

Abstract: A wedge assembly particularly adapted for expanding brakes of motor vehicles including a housing and at least a pair of push rods movably supported in the housing and operatively connected to brake shoes of the brake, the push rods having confronting oppositely inclined faces comprising a wedge member having a pair of oppositely inclined wedge faces complementing the inclined faces of the push rods and at least a roller engaging between the inclined faces of said wedge member and push rods, and a cage for guiding said rollers slidingly movable in a longitudinal direction on said expansion wedge member, said cage having two flank portions extending parallel to the transverse direction having two free flank ends reciprocally directed in the transverse direction and provided with guide means for the rollers, each of said rollers having smooth axial end faces blending at their circumferential edge into a rolling face and said guide means being formed by two radial guide sections on each flank end of the roller ca

Abstract: A wedge mechanism particularly adapted for expanding brakes of motor vehicles including a housing, a wedge member, a pair of push rods displaceably supported in the housing action upon the brake shoes of the brake by opposing displacement in a common perpendicular direction, rollers arranged between one of the two wedge surfaces of the wedge member and a complementary inclined surface of the push rod located opposite it, a cage for the rollers, which in relation to the spreading wedge is movable in longitudinal direction and which in turn has two parallel side portions running in perpendicular direction, with machined openings in them in the direction of the axis of rotation of the rollers for guiding the ends of the rollers facing the side portions, characterized in that both rollers (9) have a face (20,27) at their ends, gradually changing over into their roller surface (21) confronting the inclined wedge surfaces and that the opening in the roller cage (13) is formed by a common recess (16,26) for said rol

Abstract: An actuator for a shoe drum brake has a body containing a tappet engaging one of a pair of brake shoes, and a split tappet of which the outermost piston engages the other brake shoe. A mechanical wedge actuator acts between the tappets for emergency and parking operation. The piston cooperates with an automatic adjuster of which a component normally engages an abutment member which bears against a shoulder within the body to isolate the adjuster from the piston of the split tappet and thereby from the other tappet.

Abstract: A large two axle rear dump off-highway vehicle comprising a main frame section, a tilting dump body, a cab section, a radiator section, front wheels providing steering for the vehicle, and rear wheels providing a driving power for the vehicle.

Abstract: A wedge actuated drum brake assembly uses a wedge-shaped actuating rod and a roller cage slidably mounted thereon to transmit actuating forces from a fluid pressure actuator to a pair of friction elements. The actuating rod and roller cage are provided with a compression spring between the rod and the roller cage and an extension spring between the roller cage and the housing within which the actuating rod and roller cage are movably mounted. The extension spring opposes the compression spring during initial movement of the actuating rod to thereby cancel the spring forces acting on the cage. A flexible boot interconnects the rod and the wall of the housing and includes a bead that is clamped with the end coil of the extension spring between a shoulder on the housing and a portion of the fluid pressure actuator that extends into the housing.

Abstract: An improved emergency and service brake actuator for a wedge type brake is of the type which includes a tubular structure extending from the brake and housing an extended end of a stem of the wedge of the brake therein. An emergency brake actuation portion is mounted on the tubular structure and includes an emergency actuation rod extending into the tubular structure. The emergency brake actuation portion is capable of producing axial movement of the emergency actuation rod to cause an end thereof within an interior of the tubular structure to be selectively located at one of a first position toward the brake for emergency actuation of the brake and a second position remote from the brake. The improvement includes a service cylinder mounted on the end of the emergency actuation rod within the interior of the tubular structure and capable of being axially moved therein. A service piston is mounted on the extended end of the stem for sealed movement within the service cylinder.

Abstract: A vehicle brake unit having a fluid pressure operated piston arranged perpendicular to a brake push rod on which is provided a pair of diagonally opposed roller members. An actuator member is connected to the piston and is interposed between the piston and push rod to translate the force of the piston to the push rod. A thrust surface having a cam profile is engageable with the roller members of the push rod, while a reaction surface is engageable with the brake unit housing. The actuator reaction surface is convex and the complementary thrust surface of the housing is concave, thereby providing a pivot point about which the actuator is angularly rotated when the piston is operated to establish a brake stroke of the brake push rod.

Abstract: A hydraulic wheel cylinder assembly is particularly for use in a drum brake of the kind in which the wheel cylinder assembly is interposed between one pair or adjacent ends of a pair of brake shoes and a mechanical expander and fixed abutment is interposed between the other pair of adjacent ends of the shoes. The wheel cylinder assembly incorporates a pair of piston assemblies each including an adjustable variable length tappet assembly comprising rotatable and un-rotatable screw-threaded components. The rotatable screw-threaded component can move axially relative to the driven member of a one-way drive mechanism by compression of a spring when a flange on the driven member strikes the wheel cylinder body. This provides a self-centering force which prevents drag when the brake is installed with the shoes one above the other.

Abstract: A brake assembly wherein a reciprocable wedge actuator projects into an actuator housing containing two oppositely slidable brake shoe associated plungers disposed in aligned bores having a common axis and a fluid pressure motor unit has a tubular support by which it is mounted on the housing with the wedge actuator extending between a fluid pressure responsive element of said motor and the inner ends of said plungers, the housing having a bore into which the tubular support extends, flange means on the tubular support and on the housing concentric with the bore, one of the flange means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs, and a split lock ring having means extending radially inward from each edge to engage the flange means and secure the tubular support to the housing.

Abstract: A drum brake is disclosed in which at least two, and preferably four, friction pad assemblies are symmetrically arranged with respect to the drum. The pad assemblies are slidably guided for movement towards and away from the drum in a substantially radial direction on drag-taking abutments in a relatively stationary drag-taking member, and the pad assemblies are applied to the drum by levers upon which actuators act.

Abstract: An automatic brake for vehicle winch that is automatically applied when the applied torque of the drive motor ceases and automatically released upon application of motor torque. The brake features brake pad segments that move radially outward against the interior of the drum to affect braking and retract radially inward to affect releasing of the brake. The pads have tapered ends that mate with opposed frusto-conical shoes. The brake utilizes rotation of a cam rotatable with respect to a cam follower in one direction to force one shoe toward the other to force the pads radially outward to engage the interior surface of the drum. Rotation of the cam with respect to the cam follower in the opposite direction releases the braking action. A wave spring is incorporated to eliminate chatter as the brake is applied and released. The configuration of the brake components provides a conductive path for the dissipation of heat generated by the braking action.