Abstract: In a method of making a carbon fibre preform such as for use in the manufacture of a friction disc a compressible body of carbon fibre or carbon fibre precursor material is acted upon by compressing means to compress the body to a required thickness and then operated upon by means such as a barbed needle-punch needle for a stitching thread which penetrates substantially the whole thickness of the body whereby the compressed preform may be removed from action by the compressing means in a free-standing and compressed state. If the method uses carbon fibre precursor material, that is then subjected to carbonization.

Abstract: Fibrous substrates for the production of carbon and/or ceramic (including mixtures of these) fiber reinforced carbon and/or ceramic (including mixtures of these) composites and to methods of manufacture of same.

Abstract: A brake shoe assembly with a removable brake shoe pad. A brake shoe assembly includes a brake shoe plate. A brake shoe pad and a pair of connector plates are provided. The brake shoe pad is adjustably received on the bottom of the brake shoe plate. The connector plates are slidably positioned onto the top of the brake shoe plate, and are connected to the brake shoe pad through the brake shoe plate by rivets through corresponding openings formed therein. The connector plates are additionally connected to the brake shoe plate by vertical members, with screws inserted through corresponding openings formed therein.

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 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: A multi-layer friction element is disclosed consisting of carbon-carbon composite material comprising a structure layer of so-called "coarse" texture comprising segments of rovings and at least one friction layer of so-called "fine" texture comprising fibre segments. A method also is disclosed for producing the friction element by preparation of a fibrous substrate by introducing segments of roving and/or fibers into a mould preferably by means of a distribution apparatus. Further disclosed is an apparatus for automatically obtaining a fibrous substrate of predetermined texture.

Abstract: A spacer (10) is used to prevent a vibratory noise created by two inelastic parts of a drum brake assembly (12) from contacting each other; the two inelastic parts being the backing plate (18) and the brake shoe (28). The spacer (10) is fabricated from an organic polymeric material based on acetal. The spacer (10) comprises a head (30) and an anchor (34). The head (30) is cylindrical in shape with a rounded distal end (32). The rounded distal end (32) is the end that contacts the backing plate (18) and absorbs any vibratory energy which may produce a noise if the vibratory energy contacted an inelastic object, i.e., the brake shoe (28). The anchor (34) is extended through a hole in the tab (26) and is secured thereto because the fluted edges (36) of the anchor (34) are forced through the hole (not shown) in the tab (26).

Abstract: A brake assembly, for a vehicle axle having a beam, including a spider mounted on the beam, a camshaft mounted on one end of the spider, a pair of anchor pins mounted on an opposite end of the spider, and a pair of brake shoes. Each of the brake shoes has at least one bearing surface disposed at one end thereof mounted on an outer portion of one of the anchor pins and a roller mounted on an opposite end thereof operatively engageable with the camshaft. A spring interconnects upper portions of the brake shoes and pivotally biases the upper ends of the brake shoes toward each other into retracted positions. A retainer adjacent the anchor pin ends of the brake shoes biasingly urges the bearing surfaces of the brake shoes into engagement with the anchor pins. The retainer is a U-shaped spring element having a hook section at each of its free ends encompassing the anchor pin ends of the brake shoes.

Abstract: An "H" shaped retainer (60) is provided for retaining trunnions (42) of a brake cam follower roller (18) in open-sided bearing surfaces (20) at the end of spaced-apart webs (34) extending from a brake shoe (8). Retainer (60) features a bridging portion (26) adapted to be disposed intermediate webs (34) and has resilient arms (28) at opposite ends that respectively extend towards and around trunnions (42) and thence towards and past portions (26) and thence outwardly to releasably engage and releasably secure fastener (60) to webs (34) in which, in a preferred embodiment, the ends of the arms are shaped into helical coils (30) that are adapted to extend into openings (44) through each web (34).

Abstract: A brake shoe assembly for a vehicle includes a generally arcuate platform, to which a pad of friction lining is attached, and which is selectively connectable to a pair of supporting webs. Each web has a plurality of radially extending peripheral projections received by corresponding slots provided in the platform. Clamp members are provided for pressing the webs against the platform such that the projections and slots cooperate to locate the webs immovably on the platform. The platform and friction lining may thereby be removed from the webs while the webs remain installed within the brake drum of the vehicle.

Abstract: A roller retainer for a cam actuated vehicle brake assembly comprising a member preferably formed from spring wire to provide two substantially parallel legs with a tang at the end of each leg and a manual grip intermediate the legs. The tangs are seated in apertures provided to a dual web brake shoe and a portion of the member intermediate the manual grip and the tanged ends extends only partially around the roller so the manual grip and the tanged ends are disposed on the same side of a reference plane parallel to the legs and passing through the axis of the roller. This enalbes the retainer to be rotated about the apertures thereby allowing the roller to be safely removed from the brake shoe while the shoe remains in the assembly without the use of any tools.

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: The disclosed method involves making a brake shoe from symmetrical halves by placing a formed lining segment in position on laterally spaced brake shoe half sections with forces applied thereto to engage serrations in the shoe web half sections, forcing the shoe half sections together to form a full shoe while concurrently moving the serrations across the lining segment to form mating serrations on the lining segment and thereby provide serrated mating engagement of the serrated shoe rim with the lining segment. Lining segment retaining means formed on the shoe web half sections engage and hold the lining segment on the assembled shoe, the shoe rim half sections being secured together by fastening means which may be rivets or spot welds, by way of example.

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: An improved expanding shoe drum brake (10) is provided. The brake includes a shaft-like mounting structure (42) for retaining the hook ends (40) of a heavy duty brake return spring (28). The retaining assembly includes a fixed portion (44) and an axially movable portion (46). The axially movable portion is normally abutting with the fixed portion but may be selectively axially moved away therefrom for assembly and disassembly of return spring (28) from the brake assembly (10).

Abstract: An improved drum brake (10) is provided with an improved retaining spring (28) which passes over or close to the axis of the brake anchor structure (18). The improved retaining spring is a one-piece coil tension spring comprising a coil portion (46) and an attachment portion (50) extending axially from the opposite ends of the coil portion. Each attachment portion comprises a downwardly extending first section (52), an upwardly and outwardly extending second section (56), a downwardly extending third section (62) and an axially extending fourth section (64).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a drum brake shoe comprises the steps of providing a strip of material, forming a plurality of connected blanks with the strip, bending each blank to form an arcuate surface with adjoining sides, cutting one of the blanks by serving a connecting link and trimming the one blank to form a contour for the adjoining sides. Thereafter, a friction lining is attached to the arcuate surface.

Abstract: A brake support assembly to be mounted on a vehicle axle housing for supporting a brake shoe assembly and an actuator therefor comprising a backing plate adapted to be fixedly mounted on a vehicle axle housing and two anchoring plates removably attached to the backing plate for pivotally supporting the brake assembly. Each anchoring plate includes projections which correspond to bores in the backing plate for positioning the anchoring plate at a predetermined position on the backing plate whereby the anchoring plate may be removed and replaced while maintaining a constant positioning of the brake assembly. In a first embodiment, the anchoring plate includes integral projections extending therefrom. In a second embodiment, the anchoring plate includes a tapered bore extending therethrough for supporting a pin. The pin extends from the plate defining the projection which corresponds with the bore in the backing plate.

Abstract: A brake assembly for a vehicle includes a stamped spider member, an air chamber mounting bracket attached to one end of the stamped spider member, a cam shaft supported in the air chamber mounting bracket having an S-cam member affixed to one end thereof, cam spacer selectively locatable on the cam shaft for adjusting the relative position of the S-cam and the spider member, and an anchor pin supported on the spider member opposite from the air chamber mounting bracket with the anchor pin being supported in a cantilevered fashion at one end thereof by the spider member. A pair of brake shoes are provided having an anchor pin end engaging the anchor pin and an S-cam end engaging the S-cam member. Rotation of the S-cam effects pivotal movement of the braking shoes about the anchor pin to brake a vehicle associated therewith. An anchor pin spacer is selectively locatable on the anchor pin to selectively adjust the relative position of the brake shoes and the spider member.

Abstract: A drum brake is provided with a pair of brake shoes having axially inner and outer webs for supporting friction linings. A backing plate mounts the pair of brake shoes by providing radially outwardly extending lugs which are disposed between the inner and outer webs to prevent axial movement of the pair of brake shoes. Moreover, springs are disposed between respective lugs and portions extending between the webs to bias the portions into engagement with recesses on the backing plate. A double hydraulic actuator is positioned between the pair of braking shoes with one actuator cooperating with the inner webs and the other actuator cooperating with the outer webs during a braking application to urge the friction linings into engagement with a drum. The inner and outer webs also include slots substantially opposite the double hydraulic actuator for receiving plates which mount an adjustment mechanism between the pair of brake shoes.