The Bendix Corporation

Alliedsignal Inc.

The Bendis Corporation

Donald D Johannesen

Alistair G Taig

Orla L Holcomb, Jr

Robert B Temple

Raymond P Haluda

Andrew F Kazmierzak

James J Colpaert

Irving R Ritsema

James K Roberts

Clyde E Carr

John R Wegh

William J Kestermeier

Gary W Preston

Edgar A Behrmann

Rodney R Rodriguez

Joseph R Williamson

The drum-in-hat assembly (10) comprises a disc brake (12) mounted slidably relative to a backing plate (18) which includes an opening (19) through which extends a reverse scissors actuator (40) for the drum brake (30) of the assembly (10). The drum brake (30) includes a pair of arcuate drum brake shoes (32, 34) supported relative to the backing plate (18), with the shoes (32, 34) having a pair of opposed brake shoe ends (36, 38) engaged by the actuator (40). The actuator (40) comprises a pair of levers (42, 46) pivotably attached to one another with each lever (42, 46) having a second lever end (48, 58) engaging a respective end (38, 36) of an associated brake shoe, wherein the second lever end (48, 58) has either a slot (49) or an edge (59) located laterally away from the other and engaging the associated brake shoe end (38, 36). The actuator (40) is free to float relative to the backing plate (18), and the levers (42, 46) are located within a housing (70) attached to the backing plate (18).

Drum-in-hat brake with reverse scissors actuator

A duo-servo drum brake (10) includes an application adjuster mechanism (50). The application adjuster mechanism (50) comprises a threaded member (51) anchored to one brake shoe end (34), a socket member (61) anchored to the other brake shoe end (32), an opening (63) in the socket member (61) which freely receives a threaded shaft (53) of the threaded member (51), a starwheel (70) rotatedly mounted on the threaded member (51) and abutting an adjacent end (65) of the socket member (61), the socket member (61) having an axially extending button (64) and a torsion spring (90) disposed about its outer surface, the torsion spring having a hook end (95)engaging the button (64). A cable mechanism (60) has one end connected to the anchor pin (40) of the duo-servo drum brake (10) and the other end has a spring member (44) connected with a lever (80) of the adjuster mechanism (50). The lever (80) has a figure-eight shaped opening (81) receiving the button (64) so that the lever (80) is rotatably mounted thereto, with an end part (87) engaging the starwheel (70) and an opposite end having an opening (84) receiving the spring member (44). The lever (80) includes another opening (85) which receives an end (94) of the torsion spring (90).

Drum brake adjuster

The drum brake wheel cylinder (20) comprises a longitudinal through bore (16) having therein a pair of opposed pistons (22, 24) with each piston (22, 24) engaging a respective web (12, 14) of an adjacent drum brake shoe. A first piston (22) includes a longitudinal opening (32) receiving therein one end (62) of a friction rod (60), and the second piston (24) includes a recess opening (27) receiving therein the second end (64) of the friction rod. A friction latch adjusting lever (50) has a central opening (52) receiving therethrough the friction rod (60) and is located diagonally relative to a longitudinal axis of the friction rod (60). A spring (70) is located about the friction rod (60) with one end biasing the friction latch adjuster lever (50) against a wall (34) of the first piston (22) and the other end of the spring engaging an abutment (27B) in the recess opening (27 ). The first piston (22) includes a through opening (36) receiving slidably therein an adjuster release pin (40) which extends into a slot opening (56) of the friction latch adjusting lever (50). A running clearance (X) is defined between a head (66) at the second end (64) of the friction rod (60) and the abutment (27B) at the opening recess (27). Hydraulic pressure which displaces the pistons (22, 24) a distance greater than the running clearance (X) causes the friction rod (60) to be displaced relative to the friction latch adjusting lever (50) which effects an adjusted at-rest position of the pistons (22, 24) in accordance with drum brake shoe lining wear.

Drum brake wheel cylinder with internal automatic adjustment

The automatic adjuster (5) for the drum brake (6) comprises first and second oppositely disposed end members (30, 40) each having slots (32, 42) for receiving nonrotatably brake shoe webs (10, 14) and a parking lever (22). The first end member (30) includes a radially expanded end portion (34) defining an interior cavity (36) with a conically shaped surface (38). The second end member (40) is connected with a rotatable starwheel flange (44) of a longitudinally extended shaft (48) having therein a threaded opening (49), the starwheel flange (44) immobilized by a return spring (16) of the brake (6). An intermediate member (50) has at one end a threaded shaft (52) which is received threadedly within the threaded opening (49) of the shaft (48) and at the other end a conically shaped member (54) which engages the conically shaped surface (38) of the first end member (30). Located rotatably about the intermediate member (50) and adjacent the conically shaped member (54) is a bearing member (60) having a radially extending surface (69) located within the interior cavity (36) and disposed a predetermined distance or running clearance (X) from a radial surface (58) of the conically shaped member (54), and an exterior radially extending flange (62) having one radial surface (66) engaging a radial surface (39) of the first end member (30) and an opposite radial surface (7) of the flange (62) engaged by a spring (70) which extends to engage the starwheel flange (44). When the drum brake shoes (8, 12) are activated and the running clearance (X) between the conically shaped member (54) and bearing member (60) is exceeded, the intermediate member (50) moves the bearing member (60) so that the bearing member flange (62) disengages the radial surface (39) of the first end member (30) and the biasing force of the spring ( 70) causes the intermediate member (50) to rotate relative to the shaft (48) and second end member (40) and effect expansion of the automatic adjuster (5).

Spring activated automatic drum brake adjuster

The vehicle brake with brake cylinder bore insert (30, 130) comprises a cast disc brake cylinder (12, 112) which includes a bore (14, 114) into which the bore insert (30, 130) may be disposed. The bore (14, 114) may have an opening (22, 118) at either one (20, 120) of the opposite axial ends for inserting the bore insert (30, 130). The insert has lock ribs (34) disposed about the perimeter (32) thereof, and at opposite axial ends a pair of perimeter extensions or crush ribs (36) which tightly engage the surface (21, 121) of the bore (14, 114) when the insert (30, 130) is disposed within the bore (14, 114). The insert (30, 130) has opposite flat sides (50) which permit an adhesive material to be disposed between the lock ribs (34) and the surface (21, 121) of the bore (14) in order to fix the insert (30) within the bore (14). The insert (30, 130) contains a central opening (39, 139) which may be of different diameters or shapes for receiving a piston (40) and seals disposed about the piston (40).

Vehicle brake with brake cylinder bore insert

A drum brake shoe is provided by fine blanking the brake shoe web (50) so that the web (50) has radially extending weld projections (60) at a circumferential edge (52), with a radial recess (62) disposed on each side of a weld projection (60). As a brake shoe rim (40) is fed through a welding and forming mechanism (65), a flat surface (41) of the rim (40) engages a radially extending weld projection (60) and a weld is effected. Welding wheels (90, 100) of the mechanism (65) rotate to bend the rim (40) and engage the rim (40) with the next weld projection as a weld is effected between the rim (40) and web (50). The manufacturing method will provide a more consistent welding process that will result in a higher percentage of quality welds and less scrappage.

Method for manufacturing a drum brake shoe

An automatically adjustable strut (60) is mounted adjacent a drum brake (10) wheel cylinder (20) and strut forks (62, 66) bear against a pair of brake shoes (12, 14) and a parking brake lever (50). The strut (60) extends automatically according to wear of the brake shoes (12, 14) and comprises a nut-and-bolt system operated by a pawl (75) engaging teeth (84) of a nut (80). The pawl (75) is part of a clip-on automatic adjuster strut lever (100) mounted resiliently upon a body (68) of the strut (60). The strut lever (100) includes a loading arm (108) which resiliently engages the body (68) of the strut (60), so that proper operational loading is effected by the pawl (75) upon the nut (80). The strut lever (100) also includes a spring lever arm (120) which engages a rocker lever (90) that moves the lever arm (120) and pawl ( 75) when the brake (10) is released toward an at-rest position, and then permits movement of the pawl (75) in an opposite direction when the brake (10) is applied. The strut lever (100) is mounted slidably onto the body (68) of the strut (60) by way of a base member (104) having an opening (106) whose circumference has a portion (113) received within a groove (65) in the body (68) of the strut (60).

Clip-on automatic adjuster strut lever for a drum brake

The electrically operated drum brake (10) comprises an electric motor assembly (80, 180) disposed between opposing ends (62, 72) of two brake shoes (12, 14), the electric motor assembly (80, 180) replacing both the hydraulic wheel cylinder and the parking brake strut and lever. The electric motor assembly (80, 180) comprises a housing (82, 182) having an interior opening (84, 184) in which is disposed an electric motor (86, 186). The electric motor (86) drive a planetary gear assembly (91) which operates a screw mechanism (102) that engages an end (72) of an adjacent brake shoe (14), the housing (82) engaging the other brake shoe (12). An alternative embodiment includes an electric motor (186) which drives a bearing drive member (198), the bearing drive member (198) having a bearing track (200) which receives a plurality of bearing balls (205). The bearing balls (205) engage a fixed bearing track (187) on the housing ( 182) and also a curved surface (202) on a rotatable bearing member (201). The rotatable bearing member (201) engages a screw mechanism (204) so that when rotation of the bearing balls (205) causes rotation of the rotatable bearing member (201), the screw mechanism (204) is displaced against a brake shoe (14) and, by reaction, the housing (182) is displaced against the other brake shoe (12).

Electrically operated drum brake

The electrically operated drum brake (10) comprises an electric motor assembly (80, 180) disposed between opposing ends (62, 72) of two brake shoes (12, 14), the electric motor assembly (80, 180) replacing both the hydraulic wheel cylinder and the parking brake strut and lever. The electric motor assembly (80, 100) comprises a housing (82, 182) having an interior opening (84, 184) in which is disposed an electric motor (86, 186). The electric motor (86) drives a planetary gear assembly (91) which operates a screw mechanism (102) that engages an end (72) of an adjacent brake shoe (14), the housing (82) engaging the other brake shoe (12). An alternative embodiment includes an electric motor (186) which drives a bearing drive member (198), the bearing drive member (198) having a bearing track (200) which receives a plurality of bearing balls (205). The bearing balls (205) engage a fixed bearing track (187) on the housing ( 182) and also a curved surface (202) on a rotatable bearing member (201). The rotatable bearing member (201) engages a screw mechanism (204) so that when rotation of the bearing balls (205) causes rotation of the rotatable bearing member (201), the screw mechanism (204) is displaced against a brake shoe (14) and, by reaction, the housing (182) is displaced against the other brake shoe (12).

The retainer assembly (10) comprises a longitudinally extending retainer body (12) having an enlarged diameter or head member (14) at one end and an arrow-shaped or flared member (16) at the other end. A V-shaped leaf spring (20) has an opening (24) at the bottom of the V-shaped opening (22) which receives the retainer body (12) so that the spring (20) is disposed between the head member (14) and a surface (31) of a first member (30). The retainer body (12) extends through an opening (32) in the first member (30) and the flared member (16) is resiliently captured within a resilient receiving member (50) disposed within an opening (46) of the second member (40). The opening (46) in the second member (40) is in a second surface (44) disposed apart from a first surface (42) of the second member (40) which engages the first member (30). The receiving member (50) flexibly traps the flared member (16) after insertion therethrough so that the leaf spring (20) biases the first member (30) into engagement with the second member (40).

Retainer assembly

A brake control mechanism (14) includes a housing (20) with a stepped bore (22). A valve member (44) cooperates with a seat (46) to close communication from a master cylinder (10) to a brake assembly (12) when a vehicle is going up a hill. An actuator assembly (78) is operatively coupled to a clutch assembly (16) and is comprised of a plate (50) to control operation of the valve assembly in response to actuation of the clutch assembly (16). The plate (50) includes a relatively small axial dimension and forms a central opening (54) for receiving the valve member (44).

Brake control mechanism

A rotor for a disc brake assembly includes at least two members (40, 42) opposing a pair of friction elements (16, 18). The members are stamped to form projections (46) in abutment with each other to join the members together. The projections (46) also space the members from each other to form a clearance (58) and a connecting portion (44) cooperates with some of the projections (46) to prevent rotation between the connecting portion (44) and the two members (40, 42).

Rotor for a disc brake assembly

A floating-caliper disc brake (1) includes a non-rotating torque member (36) which carries the caliper (22) in fixed radial position relative to the disc (12) via a pair of pins (56, 58). The torque member and caliper each have matching grooves (44, 46, 48, 50) which, when placed in registry, define a pair of apertures (52, 54) between the caliper and the arms (38, 40) of the torque member. The pins are complementary in cross-section to the shape of these apertures so as to space apart the caliper and the torque member when the pins are inserted into the apertures. Brake torque is transferred from the caliper to the torque member solely through the pins. Sliding of the caliper along the pins provides for axial movement of the caliper relative to the torque member and brake rotor, but the caliper is otherwise restrained from movement in the radial and circumferential directions. One of the pins (58) includes a pair of opposed wedge-defining members (66, 68). The wedge-defining members are resiliently biased into engagement with each other to eliminate radial and circumferential clearances between the caliper and torque member. The pins are made from a polymer mixture having physical properties tailored to the needs of disc brakes.

Disc brake with wedge pins

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.

A floating-caliper disc brake (10) includes a non-rotating torque member (36). A caliper (22) straddles the brake disc (12) and is carried in fixed radial and circumferential position by the torque member (36). Axial movement of the caliper (22) relative to the brake disc (22) is provided for by roller members (58) between the caliper (22) and the torque member (36). The torque member (36) and the caliper (22) both have axially-extending grooves (52, 54) which in registry cooperate to define axially-extending apertures (56) between the caliper and the torque member. The roller members (58) are received in the axially-extending apertures (56) between the caliper (22) and the torque member (36). The roller members (58) are the sole torque-transmitting structure between the caliper (22) and the torque member (36). Rolling of the caliper (22) on the roller members (58) provides for axial movement of the caliper (22) relative to the brake disc (12) and the torque member (36).

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South Bend, IN, United States of America

Donald D Johannesen