Automotive Products Italia (sv) S.r.l.

Marco Monopoli

Ivan Cecchelli

Giovanni Fra

Daniele Giordano

A brake has a pair of brake pads (), each pad being moveable generally radially outwardly into contact with a brake drum by a respective operating lever () acted on at one end by a brake applying means () and pivoted () at the other end from a backplate (). Each pad is contacted by a portion () of the respective operating lever intermediate the lever ends and moving radially outwardly between a pair of circumferentially spaced abutments () which extend generally perpendicular to the backplate and which react braking torque when the brake is applied. One end of each abutment () is supported from the backplate and the other free ends of the abutments is linked circumferentially () to each other to brace the pair of abutments against relative circumferential deflection when the brake is applied. The pivots () of the levers may also be connected by a bracing link () to help to control the deflection of the pivots when the brake is applied.

Drum brake

A drum brake () is provided which has a pair of brake pads (), each pad being moveable generally radially outwardly into contact with a brake drum by a respective operating lever () which is acted on at one end by a brake applying means () and pivoted () at the other end from a backplate (). Each pad is contacted by a portion () of the respective operating lever intermediate the lever ends and is moved radially outwardly between a pair of circumferentially spaced abutments () which extend generally perpendicular to the backplate () and which react braking torque when the brake is applied. The required pad to drum clearance is established by knock-back of the drum on the pads ().

Drum brakes

A drum brake backplate having a vibration damping mass secured thereto. One or more portions of the mass are secured to the backplate and the remainder of the mass is spaced from the backplate and defines one or more further portions which are tuned to vibrate relative to the backplate at a frequency which reduces the noise generated by one or more a target frequencies (or range of frequencies) of the backplate. The mass may be in the form of an elongate rod or strip member of arcuate form which is secured to the backplate at one or more locations adjacent the rim of the backplate. This can be effective in reducing noise which emanates from the vibration of the backplate in a region adjacent a hydraulic actuating cylinder of the brake.

A drum brake has a pair of brake shoes () moveable radially outwardly into contact with an associated brake drum to provide a handbrake function by a cross strut () which acts between the brake shoes or between pivoting brake operating levers () which actuate the brake shoes. A handbrake lever () is pivoted on one brake shoe or brake operating lever () and contacts one end of the strut to displace the other brake shoe or brake operating lever towards the drum to apply the associated shoe against the drum and by reaction through the strut to also force the other brake shoe or brake operating lever toward the drum to apply the other shoe against the drum. The strut () is in two parts (), one part being connected for movement with each respective brake shoe or operating lever, the strut parts having inter-engageable formations in the form of teeth () which when engaged allow the strut () to transmit axial force between the shoes or operating levers. Bias means () are provided for biasing the strut parts apart to disengage the inter-engageable formations to disable the strut, the inter-engageable formations () being engaged when the handbrake lever () is operated to connect the strut parts () to allow the brake to be applied and being disengaged when the handbrake lever is released so that the strut parts can disengage and move apart with the brake shoes or brake operating levers to adjust the effective length of the strut as the brake shoes wear.

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Savona, Italy

Marco Monopoli