Dana Corporation

Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC

Eaton Corporation

James Robert Clark

Daniel E Banks

Thomas L Runels

Ralph Larson

James H Sheets

Dominic Licavoli

David M Preston

Jay D White

G Clark Fortune

Laverne A Caron

John-Cyril P Hanisko

Michael A Chamberlin

Troy Allen Flodin

David R Church

Jeffrey Lee Jones

Daniel E Brooks

Carl Heinz Meyer

An anchor assembly is provided that permits adjustment of the brake shoes in a drum brake to account for wear. The assembly includes first and second adjuster shafts each having a plurality of threads and first and second pilot connectors. The pilot connectors each have a plurality of threads in engagement with the threads of a corresponding adjuster shaft. The pilot connectors each engage one end of a corresponding brake shoe. Rotation of each adjuster shaft causes longitudinal movement of a corresponding pilot connector in engagement with a corresponding brake shoe along an axis to adjust a position of the brake shoe.

Variable position anchor assembly for adjusting brake shoes in a drum brake

A cam for a brake is provided that allows for greater brake shoe travel and thicker brake linings while providing the same or greater mechanical force as compared to conventional cams. One or more lobes of the cam include multiple portions having varying profiles in axial cross-section. The variation in the cam profiles results in a cam in which the outermost ends or tips of the lobes are longer than in conventional cams yet retain the same mechanical strength.

Cam actuated drum brake

An improved axle beam and self-contained drum brake assembly, particularly for heavy duty trucks, is disclosed. The assembly includes a brake spider and actuating members mounted thereto via a mounting assembly comprising a mounting sleeve attached to the brake spider by means of a second mounting bracket, and a first mounting bracket securing a pneumatic brake actuator cylinder to the mounting sleeve. A brake actuating camshaft is positioned and rotationally supported therewithin. The disclosed brake assembly allows for numerous variations of axle beam and suspension arrangements.

Vehicle axle beam and brake assembly

An assembly is provided which includes a first body with a blind bore with an enlarged countersunk portion. The assembly also has a second body with an aperture aligned with the first body bore. A fastener is provided having a head compressively engages the second body. A shank of the fastener has threaded engagement with the bore, and at least 10% of a free length of the shank is encircled by the countersunk portion of the bore.

Multi-body assembly connected by a threaded fastener

A brake actuator having a switch device mounted to an actuator housing with a spring member partially surrounding an actuator rod and adapted to contact a large diameter section of the actuator rod when brake wear causes the actuator rod to travel to a service limit position. In normal operation the spring member is separated from a small diameter section of the actuator rod. The switch device is mounted to a first end of the spring member having first and second electrical contacts which extend and electrically contact a conduction plate attached to a second end of the spring member as long as the brake actuator rod has not traveled to the service limit.

Brake actuator service limit sensor

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.

Vehicle friction material condition measurement system

An anchor collar or bracket (100) is provided that is adapted to fit loosely about a shaft (34) of a rotary drum brake assembly such as assembly (200). Bracket (100) is adapted to secure at least one pair of resilient biasing members such as coiled springs (36 and 36') to respective pivotally mounted opposed brake shoe assemblies (20 and 20') and resiliently urge them towards each other upon release of the brake while being able to be moved to enable access to hidden portions therebehind.

Growing community of inventors

Plainwell, MI, United States of America

James Robert Clark