Abstract: The rotation-actuated drum brake uses both inner and outer sets of brake shoes, which are actuated in a radial manner, to contact the inner and outer surfaces of a cylindrical brake drum. The inner and outer sets of brake shoes are disposed within an annular brake housing and are constrained to move radially. An actuator selectively drives rotation of a rotating disc having a plurality of arcuate slots defined therein. This drives roller guides of the inner and outer sets of brake shoes to roll within respective ones of the arcuate slots. The driven rolling of the roller guides drives the radial motion of the inner and outer sets of brake shoes to simultaneously frictionally engage the inner and outer surfaces of the cylindrical brake drum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brake unit and a method for maintaining a brake unit, wherein the brake unit comprises a carrier unit and a jaw unit, wherein the carrier unit can be secured to the fixed portion of a utility vehicle chassis and has a first guiding member and a second guiding member, wherein the first guiding member and the first guiding member are spaced apart from each other, wherein the jaw unit is secured by the guiding members against displacement in a guiding direction, wherein the jaw unit is secured by a securing element which can be secured to one of the guiding members against displacement along an axial line, wherein the jaw unit can be displaced in an actuation direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brake system for utility vehicles, comprising an actuation unit, a transmission element and a converter unit, wherein the actuation unit moves the transmission element along a transmission axis, the converter unit being arranged on a wheel axis and comprising at least one piston element. According to the invention, the transmission axis intersects the wheel axis at least in the region of the converter unit, and the transmission element is designed to transmit a force onto the piston element in order to move the latter transverse to the wheel axis.

Abstract: A drum brake and brake shoes of a drum brake having more than two brake shoes is provided. The brake shoes have a lining carrier plate having a support surface on which at least one circular arc-shaped brake lining located, the support surface being supported on a brake shoe web. The brake shoes have a first end pivoting on brake shoe carriers, and a free end supported by an actuating element. The web includes an extension segment between the lining carrier plate and the first end pivot. Brake shoes pairs may be arranged with a primary brake shoe having a guide on the side of the extension segment facing the brake drum for actuating a secondary shoe of the pair. Where two brake shoe pairs are present, the secondary brake shoes may overlap and have their first end pivots located with the pivots of the opposite pair's primary brake shoe.

Abstract: An actuating system for a drum brake of a vehicle, in particular of a commercial vehicle or an agricultural machine, comprising at least a brake lining carrier (2) which is guided on a brake bracket (4), an actuating element (6; 60) in order to move the brake lining carrier (2) towards the inner circumference of a brake drum (52), and a setting means (8) in order to control the actuating element (6; 60), wherein the actuating element (6; 60) is designed as a hollow body, in the cavity (10) of which an axle body (50; 150) is accommodated.

Abstract: An actuator 23d for pushing a plurality of friction plates 44, 44 to a plurality of plates 37, 37 to be braked is composed of members including electroactive polymer, the shape of the elastomer of which is changed by electric energy.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly including a rotatable drum having a radially inner braking surface and a brake shoe of single piece construction and of generally circular form mounted within the drum against a backing plate. The brake shoe has a radially outer face and a friction lining mounted thereon in facing relationship to the radially inner braking surface. Actuator having actuated brake on and released brake off conditions and being operable in the actuated condition to diametrically expand the brake shoe is provided. Positioners are also provided for positioning the brake shoe within the drum when the actuator is in the brake off condition to provide for complete clearance between the outer face of the friction lining and the inner braking surface of the drum. A grinding jig for grinding friction lining is also provided. A brake assembly having a connector for connecting the brake shoe to the backing plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a two-piece brake backing plate for the attachment of drum brake components thereto. The main plate includes an open channel extending from the axle opening, to the rim thereof, for receiving the axle of a vehicle. A separate cover plate is provided which is releasably engagable with the main plate and further which overlies at least a portion of the channel. The open channel permits radial replacement of the plate to a vehicle axle housing and axle housing support flange while the axle is in situ.

Abstract: A brake arrangement is disclosed which includes a wheel support, a wheel borne by the wheel support, a brake drum, at least one brake guide saddle arranged in the brake drum so as to bear against the wheel support, a fluid drive piston arranged in a bore in the guide saddle, the guide saddle having guide lugs extending in a direction parallel to the direction of the bore, the guide lugs delimiting a channel in the peripheral direction, and a brake element placed in the channel so that it may be driven by the piston. In order to improve serviceability and to ensure a long useful life, the at least one brake guide saddle is separate from the wheel support. Retainer elements are provided, which are accessible from the inner side of the wheel, and are detachably connecting the guide saddle with the wheel support; and at their longitudinal sides, the guide lugs, each delimiting such guide channel are bridged over at their longitudinal sides by ribs delimiting the guide channel at the end.

Abstract: A drag unit to absorb the kinetic energy from large floating bodies of ice is constructed around a buoyancy chamber (14). The buoyancy chamber is attached to a torque arm (16) and this is secured at its remote end to an anchor line (6). The buoyancy chamber supports a rotatable drag wheel (20) at either end. The drag wheels each have a plurality of sharp impeller blades on their outer surfaces. The drag wheels are impeded from rotation by brakes (40) attached to the buoyancy chamber (14), the brakes being energized hydraulically from a high pressure gas chamber (71). When a large mass of ice contacts the drag wheels, a braking force determined by the pressure in the gas chamber (71) is applied to the ice, thereby reducing its speed.

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 slidably mounted on a fixed support. An elastic retention member is mounted on each of the shoes before they are assembled onto the fixed support. Each of the retention members includes a locking portion which engages the web of the brake shoes, and a pair of arm portions which extend from the locking portions and which engage the web of the brake shoe in such a way as to releasably maintain the locking portion engaged with the web of the brake shoe. When the brake shoes are assembled on the torque member, a portion of the torque member is provided with a sloped edge that engages the locking portion to release the latter as the brake shoes are assembled onto the fixed support, so that the retaining member then exerts a biasing force between the torque member and the brake shoes.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly (10) includes a torque member (12) which supports a hydraulic actuator (26). The hydraulic actuator is engageable with a pair of brake shoes (20, 22) and is operable to move the pair of brake shoes into a braking position. The torque member comprises a central portion (40) which attaches to an axle assembly (84) and a plurality of arms (42, 44, 46) extending radially outward from the central portion. In the preferred embodiment the plurality of arms cooperate with the central portion to substantially form a Y-shaped member. One of the arms (42) substantially forms the hydraulic actuator to integrally form the latter with the one arm. The other arms are provided with slots (64, 66) to direct the movement of the pair of brake shoes and resilient elastomeric members within the slots opposes axial movement of the pair of brake shoes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brake shoe and brake assembly for automotive vehicles, comprising a pair of brake shoes (14) having ends pivotably mounted on a brake spider (12), and a actuator cam (26) located between the opposite ends of the brake shoes (14). The webs (24) of brake shoes (14) have adequate apertures in the pivoting ends, to engage rotational anchor pins (16). The apertures have radial sections and lateral flats to engage radial sections and lateral flats in the ends of the anchor pins (16). The apertures form slidable, but not rotational, connections with anchor pins (16), to support brake shoes (14), and allow a pivoting movement of brake shoes (14), through anchor pins (16), when an application and release of the brake is effected.

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: A device for temporarily holding fast a free circular element with respect to a fixed circular element having circular segments with tangential ramps and a rigid ring with rollers axially rotatable thereon for local thrust against the ramps to cause locking of the free circular element with respect to the fixed circular element. Clevises bearing axial grooved rollers riding on the rigid ring, with the clevises connected to the segments by springs, providing an elastic restoring force to release the free circular element with respect to the fixed circular element.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a torque member which supports a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator is engageable with a pair of brake shoes and is operable to move the pair of brake shoes into a braking position. The torque member comprises a central portion which attaches to an axle assembly and a plurality of arms extending radially outward from the central portion. In the preferred embodiment the plurality of arms cooperate with the central portion to substantially form a Y-shaped member. One of the arms substantially forms the hydraulic actuator to integrally form the latter with the one arm. The other arms are provided with slots to direct the movement of the pair of brake shoes and a resilient spring within the slots opposes axial movement of the pair of brake shoes.

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.

Abstract: A wheel brake assembly in which the webs of brake shoes are held in a planar alignment between and supported by a pair of parallel-spaced interconnected supporting plates, in turn supported by an axle or spindle. A pair of brake contracting springs interconnect the brake shoes, and these springs are positioned with one spring being against the outer surface of each plate. An inner edge of each of the plates is circular and independently adapted to attach to an axle housing, whereby the brake assembly may be readily welded to an axle housing.