Abstract: A drum brake assembly and method for designing the assembly are provided. The assembly includes a brake spider, a pair of brake shoes pivotally coupled to the brake spider at one end, and a pair of cam followers disposed at opposite ends of the brake shoes. The assembly further includes a camshaft having a shaft disposed along a rotational axis and a cam disposed at one end of the shaft. The cam has an inboard side proximate the shaft, an outboard side distant from the shaft and a cam surface extending between the inboard and outboard sides in engagement with the cam followers. The camshaft further includes a noise reducing mass disposed on the outboard side of the cam. The mass is configured to establish a natural frequency in the cam that differs from a natural frequency of the first and second brake shoes to reduce audible noise.

Abstract: A brake assembly apparatus is provided for a vehicle braking system. The brake assembly apparatus comprises a vibration damping sleeve for damping vibration between a first braking component and a second braking component. The sleeve includes (i) a first set of spring elements projecting toward a circumferential surface of the first braking component and tuned with a first preload against the circumferential surface of the first braking component, and (ii) a second set of spring elements projecting toward a circumferential surface of the second braking component and tuned with a second preload against the circumferential surface of the second braking component. The first and second sets of spring elements cooperate to damp vibration of certain frequencies between the first and second braking components based upon the first and second preloads.

Abstract: A brake shoe for a drum brake includes a brake table and one or more webs supporting the brake table. One end of each web is pivotally coupled to an associated brake spider and another end of each web responds to a force applied by an actuator that causes the brake shoe to move between positions of engagement and disengagement with an associated braking surface. The brake shoe further includes means for damping movement of the brake shoe, during engagement of the brake shoe with the braking surface, for a natural frequency of the brake shoe having an order of at least two and a causing a bending modal shape of the brake shoe. In one embodiment, the damping means includes a damping plate disposed on one side of a web. A spring acts on a side of the plate opposite the web to urge the plate towards the web.

Abstract: A brake shoe for a drum brake includes a brake table and one or more webs supporting the brake table. One end of each web is pivotally coupled to an associated brake spider and another end of each web responds to a force applied by an actuator that causes the brake shoe to move between positions of engagement and disengagement with an associated braking surface. The brake shoe further includes means for damping movement of the brake shoe, during engagement of the brake shoe with the braking surface, for a natural frequency of the brake shoe having an order of at least two and a causing a bending modal shape of the brake shoe. In one embodiment, the damping means includes a damping plate disposed on one side of a web. A spring acts on a side of the plate opposite the web to urge the plate towards the web.

Abstract: A brake assembly apparatus is provided for a vehicle braking system. The brake assembly apparatus comprises a vibration damping sleeve for damping vibration between a first braking component and a second braking component. The sleeve includes (i) a first set of spring elements projecting toward a circumferential surface of the first braking component and tuned with a first preload against the circumferential surface of the first braking component, and (ii) a second set of spring elements projecting toward a circumferential surface of the second braking component and tuned with a second preload against the circumferential surface of the second braking component. The first and second sets of spring elements cooperate to damp vibration of certain frequencies between the first and second braking components based upon the first and second preloads.

Abstract: A brake shoe for a drum brake includes a brake table and one or more webs supporting the brake table. One end of each web is pivotally coupled to an associated brake spider and another end of each web responds to a force applied by an actuator that causes the brake shoe to move between positions of engagement and disengagement with an associated braking surface. The brake shoe further includes means for damping movement of the brake shoe, during engagement of the brake shoe with the braking surface, for a natural frequency of the brake shoe having an order of at least two and a causing a bending modal shape of the brake shoe. In one embodiment, the damping means includes a damping plate disposed on one side of a web. A spring acts on a side of the plate opposite the web to urge the plate towards the web.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly and method for designing the assembly are provided. The assembly includes a brake spider, a pair of brake shoes pivotally coupled to the brake spider at one end, and a pair of cam followers disposed at opposite ends of the brake shoes. The assembly further includes a camshaft having a shaft disposed along a rotational axis and a cam disposed at one end of the shaft. The cam has an inboard side proximate the shaft, an outboard side distant from the shaft and a cam surface extending between the inboard and outboard sides in engagement with the cam followers. The camshaft further includes a noise reducing mass disposed on the outboard side of the cam. The mass is configured to establish a natural frequency in the cam that differs from a natural frequency of the first and second brake shoes to reduce audible noise.

Abstract: An assembly is provided which includes a first body with a blind bore with an enlarged countersunk portion. The assembly also has a second body with an aperture aligned with the first body bore. A fastener is provided having a head compressively engages the second body. A shank of the fastener has threaded engagement with the bore, and at least 10% of a free length of the shank is encircled by the countersunk portion of the bore.

Abstract: An assembly is provided which includes a first body with a blind bore with an enlarged countersunk portion. The assembly also has a second body with an aperture aligned with the first body bore. A fastener is provided having a head compressively engages the second body. A shank of the fastener has threaded engagement with the bore, and at least 10% of a free length of the shank is encircled by the countersunk portion of the bore.

Abstract: An auger type snow blower assembly having an auger with two sets of rotating ribbon spokes which transfer snow from the auger to an impeller inlet located at the mid-portion of the auger assembly, the ribbon spokes terminating a substantial distance short of the center of the auger assembly whereby snow lying directly in the center of the path of the auger assembly may move directly to the impeller inlet without contact with the ribbons. Further, the ribbons revolve around a generally cone-shaped structure at the ends of the auger assembly whereby the ribbons and the stationary cones cooperate to impel snow entering the auger assembly toward the impeller inlet. The auger assembly further includes a bi-directional, variable speed hydraulic drive system for the ribbon system consisting of variable forward speeds and reverse speeds, the forward speeds including a low ribbon speed high torque speed, and a high ribbon speed low torque speed, together with pressure relief valves to avoid the use of shear pins.

Abstract: The specification discloses an automatic actuator for dispensers for air fresheners and the like mounted on the interior of a toilet tank, comprising an actuator arm having one end connected with the neck of the container, and extending generally laterally therefrom. A flexible tube communicates the outlet of the container with the exterior of the toilet tank. A pull rod is pivotally suspended from the actuator arm, and includes a valve head attached to the lower end of the rod. A cup has a valve seat located in the upper end thereof, in which the valve head is matingly received for selective reciprocation. The cup rises and descends, and suddenly empties during descent, with fluctuations in the water level of the toilet tank, thereby pivoting the actuator arm and neck to automatically dispense a predetermined amount of air freshener from the container with each flush of the toilet, and upon emptying, suddenly unweighting the dispenser valve to allow it to close.