Abstract: A brake torque plate and an installation method for fixedly attaching the plate to an axle tube, includes the plate formed with an opening and a continuous cut extending between the plate peripheral edge and the opening, wherein the diameter of the opening is smaller than that of the axle tube. The cut enables the torque plate to be temporarily expanded for installation on the axle tube by spreading means until the bore diameter is larger than that of the axle tube. Upon mounting of the torque plate on the axle tube, the spreading means is removed to reduce the diameter of the opening, thereby creating an interference fit between the torque plate and the axle tube and minimizing or eliminating the gap between the plate opening and the axle tube to ensure perpendicularity between the axle tube center line and the torque plate inboard and outboard faces.

Abstract: A system for automatically and simultaneously controlling one or more vehicle functions by detecting the direction of movement of and the distance traveled by the vehicle. The control system includes an electronic sensor mounted on a selected one of the vehicle axles adjacent to and facing an anti-lock braking system tone ring of a selected one of the wheel hubs mounted on the axle. The sensor is electrically connected to an electronic control unit, which in turn is electrically connected to a vehicle function actuation device such as a lift axle solenoid or back-up alarm actuation device. The sensor transmits direction and distance information to the electronic control unit based on the movements of a plurality of teeth formed on the tone ring. The control system is a stand-alone system that is free of interfacing with other vehicle systems, such as the anti-lock braking system.

Abstract: A bracket for securely positioning an anti-lock braking system sensor on a heavy-duty vehicle axle adjacent to wheel hub tone ring teeth is formed from a single piece of robust material such as sheet steel. A steel blank of a certain size and shape preferably is stamped from the sheet steel and is formed by a multi-stage process into the final bracket configuration. The bracket includes a tubular portion formed with a continuous opening for receiving the sensor and a retaining sleeve. A pair of spaced-apart, parallel rearwardly extending bracket feet ensure proper positioning of the sensor relative to the tone ring teeth, and enable use of the bracket in various applications having different wheel hub and/or axle spindle configurations.

Abstract: A vent tube for hollow axles of heavy-duty vehicles such as semi-trailers releases built-up air pressure from the wheel hub and axle while preventing ingress of contaminants into the axle and hub. The vent tube includes a tubular portion preformed from a flexible material into a generally coiled configuration. The tubular portion is biased to the coiled state so that when stretched about the axle and released, it firmly grips the axle without the need for fasteners. One end of the tubular portion includes a fitting for plumbing into the axle and the opposite end includes a one-way check valve such as a duck bill. The vent tube is disposed in a protected location within the hollow beam of the vehicle suspension assembly, and on a relatively stress-free location of the axle within a window of an axle sleeve.

Abstract: A vehicle brake assembly where the actuator tube is positioned in a relief portion formed in the periphery of a brake spider and a pair of separated return springs are respectively attached to a pair of brake shoes pivotably mounted to the spider where an actuator mounting flange is positioned against a shoulder formed in the actuator tube. The brake assembly overall size is minimized for use in a reduced diameter wheel while maximizing the travel of the brake shoes using a cam type actuator.

Abstract: A pair of arcuate brake shoes in a vehicle brake assembly are pivotably supported on a pivot pin which is directly mounted to a steering knuckle add activated by an S-cam type actuator where an S-cam actuator shaft is supported in a support tube which is attached directly to the steering knuckle thereby eliminating the traditional brake spider. Rotation of the S-cam causes a pair of cam followers to separate the brake shoes resulting in frictional contact between the brake shoes and a brake drum. Elimination of the brake spider to support the pivot pin and the S-cam actuator shaft housing reduces complexity for lower cost and improved performance.

Abstract: A sensor which responds to both changes in working length and temperature is embedded in a friction lining to provide a signal indicative of both wear and temperature to an electronic control unit which interprets long term averaged change in the sensor resistance measured when the vehicle is stationary as lining wear and short term changes in sensor resistance as representative of lining temperature.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel for supporting a tire and attached to a brake drum having a multiplicity of pin-fins extending from a surface of the wheel to increase the surface area available for convective heat transfer into the surrounding airflow thereby increasing the rate of conductive heat transfer from the brake drum for a resultant decrease in the operating temperature of the tire, wheel and brake drum with an attendant increase in performance and service life.

Abstract: A cylindrical brake drum including a flanged end and an open end having a squealer band in the shape of an annular ring and a multiplicity of chill fins irregularly spaced one to another and/or relative to a plurality of equally spaced airflow channels where the chill fins are cast into the squealer band and the outside surface of the brake drum where the chill fins are generally of a constant height with respect to the outside surface and then moving axially outward decrease in height to meet the outside surface and cause any casting porosities to move to a central region of the squealer band thereby reducing drum cracking due to localized hot spots thereby greatly improving the brake drum fatigue strength while minimizing the increase in overall weight and facilitating ease of manufacture.

Abstract: A brake drum and wheel assembly having a reduced heat transfer coefficient having an insulating ring formed in a flange section of the wheel disposed to be clamped against a drum extension attached to a cylindrical main drum. In an alternate embodiment, the drum extension is coated with a thermal insulating material such that a layer of the insulating material is disposed between the wheel flange section and the drum extension.

Abstract: A heat sink having an annular conductive section disposed between a brake drum and a wheel assembly with a plurality of convective sections extending from the conductive section through a like number of hand-hold apertures formed in the wheel assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the heat sink has a hollow section formed in each convective section extending into the conductive section where the hollow section is at least partially filled with a heat conductive material that undergoes a phase change to further enhance the heat transfer from the conductive section to the convective section.

Abstract: A thermal insulating wheel spacer for placement between a vehicle brake drum and a wheel, where the spacer has a plurality of mounting holes formed within a plurality of mounting pads with scallop portions adjacent to each mounting pad. The wheel spacer is assembled in layers of materials having enhanced wear and thermal insulating properties.

Abstract: A cylindrical brake drum including a flanged end and an open end having a radially extending annular extension ring acting as a squealer band and a multiplicity of chill fins irregularly spaced one to another and/or relative to a plurality of equally spaced airflow channels where the chill fins are cast as part of the extension ring and the outside surface of the brake drum where the chill fins are of a substantially constant height relative to the brake drum and act to reduce the size and number of any casting porosities and further move the porosities away from the friction surface of the brake drum thereby improving fatigue strength. A multiplicity of cooling fins are formed on the inboard side of the extension ring. In an alternative embodiment, the extension ring can be formed as a wing which axially extends from the brake drum having a multiplicity of chill fins formed on its outer surface.

Abstract: A brake return spring retention system for a cast brake shoe where a slot is located on the inside rib of the brake shoe having a width which exceeds that of a spring hook formed on one end of a brake return spring where the spring hook passes into the slot and engages a spring retention pin which is positioned transverse to the slot.

Abstract: A brake drum generally cylindrically shaped having a substantially closed end forming a drum face and an open end with airflow channels formed in the outside peripheral surface of the brake drum in substantial alignment with a plurality of wheel hand hold openings and a squealer band positioned at the edge of the open end to improve cooling of the tire bead area of the wheel rim by increasing the airflow between the brake drum and the wheel rim thereby reducing the heat transferred from the brake drum into the wheel rim.

Abstract: A truck brake having a brake assembly mounted to an axle housing and a brake drum placed over the brake assembly attached to a wheel where the brake assembly has a pivoted cam acting against a cam roller mounted to a brake shoe where the cam pivot is located approximately midway between the outer diameter of an axle and the inner surface of the brake drum and the brake shoe has a slot in the brake table to allow removal of an actuation return spring and the drum has a plurality of generally axially extending airflow channels in an outer surface and a squealer band located at an edge of the brake drum opposite a partially closed face.

Abstract: A brake retention pin rotatively mounted in a brake shoe having a spring cam portion secured to the brake retention pin where the spring cam engages a brake return spring hook as the brake retention pin is rotated thereby extending and translating the return spring for engagement with the retention pin.

Abstract: A roller follower (12) and bracket (20) combination for use in a rotary cam type brake shoe assembly (100) is provided in which bracket (20) is supported on a web (2) of a brake shoe in such a manner that, when a free-end (27) of bracket (20) is inserted into an opening (26) in a trunnion (24) of a pin (11) that supports roller follower (12) for rotation, bracket (20) is operative to prevent roller follower support pin (11) from being rotated by the cam to lessen noise heretofor created by the rotation of trunnion (24) against web (2).

Abstract: An anchor bracket (100) is provided for securing return springs (36) and (36') in close proximity to a cam (32) of a rotary drum brake assembly (200). Bracket (100) has an inverted "U" type configuration comprising a bridging portion (40) from opposite sides of which extend legs (42) and (42') that are spaced apart from each other and have a height sufficient to enable the close proximity between cam (32) and bracket (100) that operates to increase mechanical advantage in enabling return springs (36) and (36') to move a pair of brake shoe assemblies (20) and (20') towards each other upon release of the brakes by an operator.

Abstract: A brake service signaling system for use on a vehicle responsive to the angular relationship between an actuator lever arm and an actuator rod having an attachment clevis where a switch electrically connected to a processing unit is mounted to the attachment clevis for contact and activation with the actuator lever when the brake requires service which is signaled to the operator by the processing unit.