The Bendix Corporation

Allied Corporation

John L Turak

James J Colpaert

Irving R Ritsema

Robert Spaargaren

John E Steer

A backing plate assembly for a drum brake includes a first part adapted for attachment to a vehicle frame and a second part releasably coupled to the first part. The second part is made of a material that effects substantial noise reduction in the assembly and the second part is tightly frictionally coupled to the first part. The second part sees no braking torque and is coupled to a reinforced portion of the first part.

Backing plate assembly for a drum brake

A drum brake includes a backing plate with an anchor for pivotally engaging one end of a pair of brake shoes. A hydraulic actuator is engageable with the other end of the pair of brake shoes and is operable to move the pair of brake shoes from a rest position to a braking position. An extendible strut extends between the pair of brake shoes to limit the retraction of the pair of brake shoes upon termination of a braking application. A lever is pivitally coupled to one of the brake shoes and a pawl is pivotally coupled to the other brake shoe. The pawl and lever are releasably interlocked with their respective brake shoes via hooks which are received in slanted slots or openings. A resilient member cooperates with the pawl to retain the latter in engagement with the extendible member and also cooperates with the pair of brake shoes to urge the same into engagement with the hydraulic actuator. The extendible member engages the pair of brake shoes at an intermediate portion and the pivotal coupling between thelever and one brake shoe and the pawl and other brake shoe is disposed at a location between the intermediate portion and the other end of each brake shoe.

Drum brake having pawl and lever

A drum brake assembly includes a backing plate for supporting a pair of brake shoes and a hydraulic actuator which cooperates with the pair of brake shoes to urge the latter into a braking position. A parking lever is pivotally mounted on one of the brake shoes and a strut connects the parking lever with the other brake shoe such that rotation of the parking lever when the parking brake is applied urges the pair of brake shoes into a braking position. In order to connect the strut to the other brake shoe while at the same time eliminating any rattle between the pair of brake shoes and the struts, a spring clip releasably connects with the other brake shoe and resiliently engages the strut to bias the latter toward the one brake shoe. The spring clip is substantially U-shaped with at least one opening for receiving the strut and for maintaining the strut in juxtaposition to the other brake shoe.

Drum brake having anti-rattle spring clip

A brake wear indicator includes a prong and at least one flange that vibrates when the prong engages a rotating disc or drum. The brake wear indicator comprises a generally U-shaped spring clip with one end secured to a friction element and the other end terminating in the prong. A pair of friction elements are engageable with the disc or drum to retard rotation thereof and are worn to a predetermined dimension at which the prong engages the rotating disc or drum in order to vibrate the flange, thereby generating an audible warning signal. In a disc brake the flange on the brake wear indicator extends into a space defined below a bridge portion of a caliper which urges the friction elements into engagement with the disc and above the friction elements and disc.

Growing community of inventors

South Bend, IN, United States of America

John L Turak