Abstract: A brake shoe assembly including retainer members which aid in retaining the brake shoe lining in position on the brake shoe table. The retaining members include distal flanges which abut beveled distal edges of the brake shoe lining and a central wedge which, when tightened to the brake shoe table, forces the brake shoe lining plates outwardly and into the distal flanges, holding the brake shoe lining plates in compression between the central wedge and the distal flanges.

Abstract: A brake shoe for an internal shoe drum brake has an arcuate platform carrying a lining of friction material on its outer face. A web extends perpendicularly from the inner face of the platform and provides a shoe tip intended to be supported on an angled surface of the brake abutment. This shoe tip has a pair of differently directed surface portions. The invention also embraces an internal shoe drum brake incorporating a pair of the aforesaid shoes of which the abutment shoe tips are arranged so that the abutment is engaged respectively by non-corresponding ones of the shoe tip surface portions.

Abstract: An improved brake shoe table includes the edges of the brake shoe table being bent radially inwardly relative to the remainder of the table by between 45 and 90 degrees. The bent edges increase the rigidity of the brake shoe and also reduce localized lining wear by bringing the lining into contact with a brake drum in a more uniform fashion. Moreover, the improved brake shoe design has unexpectedly decreased the operation noise associated with the use of a cam brake system.

Abstract: This invention relates to brake components having mechanically detachable friction members. The friction member of the present invention has a plate with a plurality of apertures. This apertured plate has a first surface that abuts a mounting surface on a brake shoe member or the like. The apertured plate has a second surface, opposite of the first surface, with friction material affixed thereto. The apertured plate is detachably fastened to the mounting surface by fasteners, thereby detachably fastening the friction member thereto.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly including a brake member comprised of a substantially circular shoe having a radially outer face on which at least one lining is mounted. The shoe is made from a high strength resilient material and is of substantially constant cross-section along its entire length. The brake member is arranged to be diametrically expanded by an actuation device on the brake assembly. When the actuation device is released the resilience of the shoe material causes the shoe to diametrically contract. The lining may be machined to a circular form prior to the brake member being fitted to the brake assembly, and that machining is preferably done after the shoe has been expanded a predetermined extent. The disclosure extends to a method of manufacturing a brake member and to a brake member for a drum brake assembly.

Abstract: At least one brake shoe (14) comprising a lining support member (16) and two lining sections (20) fastened one behind the other in circumferential direction to the support member (16) is arranged in a brake drum (10) which has a circular cylindrical internal braking surface (12). Each lining section (20) has an at least approximately circular cylindrical friction surface (22) the radius of curvature (R22) of which is smaller than the radius of curvature (R12) of the braking surface (12) and the center of curvature (M22) of which is located such that only a center portion of the friction surface (22) engages the braking surface (12) upon actuation of the brake.

Abstract: A drum brake shoe is provided with a plurality of reinforcements which are arranged at irregular intervals on the inner periphery of a rim.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly with the brake shoe lining friction surface subtending over a total effective friction surface arc length between the shoe heel and toe ends of about 49.degree. on the first or primary shoe, symmetrical about the shoe horizontal center line, and about 57.degree. on the second or secondary shoe, similarly symmetrical. The first or primary shoe may have about the same friction surface arc length as the second or secondary shoe in some instances, each then preferably being about 50% of the friction surface arc length of the prior art typical secondary shoe lining of about 117.degree.. Different methods of reducing the effective friction surface arc lengths are disclosed, as well as the effect on brake effectiveness variations the invention has on brake assemblies, both with the same lining material composition and different lining material compositions.

Abstract: In a hand brake mechanism for railway cars in which a chain drum is rotatable by a manually rotatable shaft connected to the chain drum by a gear train, a centrifugal governor or brake connected to an intermediate gear of the gear train reduces the speed of rotation of the gears only after the force applied to the brakes has been substantially reduced, and hence even though the initial speed of rotation of the drum and the let-out speed of the chain when the brake is first released is substantially unaffected, the governor or brake is effective as the forces are reduced to substantially the forces of inertia of the brake mechanisms, the hand brake parts and the chain, so as to reduce the speeds of rotation of the hand brake parts to a small value and thereby prevent damage to and wear of the parts and increase the life of the hand brake mechanism.

Abstract: The attachment device incorporates a bearing zone (78) and a projection (80) formed in the web (16) of a shoe of a drum brake. A portion (68) of the component (46) to be attached to the shoe is retained in a working position between the bearing zone (78) and the projection (80) by a spring (82).

Abstract: A drum brake assembly is described to comprise a dual drum brake housing mounted to a vehicle wheel or shaft to be rotated therewith. The dual drum brake housing has two axially extending, concentric, radially spaced drum surfaces defining an annular channel between them. A torque member is fixed against rotation with the vehicle wheel and an expandable friction lining assembly is mounted to the torque member. The friction lining assembly is positioned within the annular channel and carries radially outward and radially inward facing friction linings. Upon expansion of the friction lining assembly each of the friction linings is moved into contact with the corresponding drum surface, thereby transferring braking force to the wheel.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly with a center guide backing plate, channeled web brake shoe assemblies slidably received on the center guide braking plate. A wheel cylinder assembly mounted in a notch on the center guide braking plate and engaged by a first set of adjacent brake shoe ends. A brake adjuster mounted between a second set of adjacent brake shoe ends, and retractor springs attached to the shoe assemblies and holding the shoe assemblies, wheel cylinder and brake adjuster in position on the center guide backing plate. The brake shoes are made of two identical shoe halves symmetrically formed about an axis so that the shoes also provide integral push rod-like which cylinder and adjuster engaging end.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a pair of brake shoes which are movable from a non-braking position to a braking position in engagement with a rotatable member. A hydraulic actuator is engageable with the pair of brake shoes to move the latter to the braking position and a strut extends between the pair of brake shoes to substantially define the non-braking position. The strut comprises a unitary sleeve with a bore for receiving projections extending from the pair of brake shoes. The bore is stepped with a threaded portion and a tapered diameter portion. The threaded portion engages one of the projections on one of the brake shoes such that rotation of the unitary sleeve by a pawl causes the unitary sleeve and other brake shoe to move away from the one brake shoe. The unitary sleeve is radially expanded at an intermediate location to define a ratchet wheel in engagement with the pawl.

Abstract: A drum brake shoe has a rim providing a lining support plate, the rim edges being formed with projections and recesses on either side of a center section. The width of the rim is substantially constant throughout the majority of its arcuate length. The arrangement permits the stamping of nested rim blanks, each blank extending transversely across a sheet, with approximately 25 percent less material used than would be the case if the rims were made of full constant width to support the entire brake lining. The brake lining is attached to the outer surface of the rim and is directly supported by the rim center section and the projections extending laterally therefrom. The lining is unsupported in the areas where it extends over the recesses. The projections and recesses may be generally rectangular or curvilinear.