Floating anchor-cylinder drum brake with adjuster

Claim 2

A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to a stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle, a brakedrum secured to the vehicle wheel and rotatable therewith, a pair of brakeshoe assemblies positioned within said drum, an automatic adjusting device positioned between and being operable to expand adjacent ends of said brakeshoes as brake lining wear occurs, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite from said adjusting device, a wheel cylinder assembly loosely mounted in said notch and containing a piston movable by hydraulic pressure to expand said shoes into engagement with said brakedrum, and spaced double web members centrally on said brakeshoes receiving a substantial peripheral portion of said support plate whereby expansive and contractive movement of said shoes is guided upon said plate by said web members during application and release of the brakes. , 2. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to the stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle; a brakedrum secured to the vehicle wheel rotatable upon the axle; a pair of double web brakeshoe assemblies positioned within said drum, said double webs being centrally positioned on the inward side of said shoe assemblies, the show assemblies being formed of stamped sheet metal whereby the double webs and the brakeshoes comprise a segment of an arc slidably receiving a circumferential portion of the periphery of the support plate within a slot defined by the double webs; an automatic adjusting device located within said drum; said brakeshoe assemblies terminating in adjacent ends in engagement with and supporting said automatic adjusting device, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite from said adjusting device; a brake apply wheel cylinder assembly including a tubular housing containing slots in each end thereof, said tubular housing slots loosely positioning the housing within said support plate notch, the loose fit providing a predetermined degree of rotational movement relative thereto; a pair of pistons within said tubular housing movable by pressure fluid in opposite directions from a central posItion therein, projections on said double web portions extending within said tubular housing into engagement with respective ends of said pistons whereby expansive movement of said pistons engages said brakeshoe assemblies with said brakedrum and said tubular housing cants into anchored engagement with said support plate while the vehicle brakes are being applied. , 3. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to a stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle, a brakedrum secured to a vehicle wheel rotatable upon the axle, a pair of brakeshoe assemblies formed of stamped sheet metal positioned within said drum, an automatic adjusting device located within said drum, said adjusting device connected to adjacent ends of said brakeshoe assemblies and being operable to expand the brakeshoes toward said brakedrum as brake lining wear occurs, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite from said adjusting device near the other adjacent ends of said brakeshoe assemblies, a tubular wheel cylinder containing slots in each end thereof and being loosely mounted in said supporting plate notch, said wheel cylinder assembly containing a pair of oppositely movable pistons, said pistons containing spaced recesses in the outward surfaces thereof, projections on said stamped brakeshoe assemblies extending into said wheel cylinder assembly and being received by said piston recesses for a limited arcuate movement therein, a flexible seal member secured in each end of said wheel cylinder assembly providing a seal between said brakeshoe projections and said wheel cylinder, and a U-shaped spring member having each leg thereof secured in a recess in each of said brakeshoe assemblies while the central portion of the spring engages the support plate securing the spring in place, said spring continually retracting the shoes in the absence of fluid pressure within said wheel cylinder, the supplying of pressure fluid to the central portion of said wheel cylinder moving said pistons outwardly therein to initially engage the brakeshoes with the brakedrum whereupon rotational movement of the brakedrum causes said wheel cylinder to be angularly moved in said support plate notch until the slot surfaces engage the support plate and anchor the brakeshoes in place. , 4. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to the stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle, a brakedrum secured to the vehicle wheel rotatable upon the axle, a pair of double web brakeshoe assemblies positioned within said drum for selective engagement with the interior surface thereof, said double webs being centrally positioned on the inward side of said shoe assemblies which are formed of stamped sheet metal, said double webs defining a slot therebetween slidably receiving a peripheral portion of said support plate, the peripheral portion of said support plate guiding expansive and contractive movement of the brakeshoe assemblies, an automatic adjusting device positioned within said drum and engaging adjacent ends of said brakeshoe assemblies, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite adjusting device, a wheel cylinder housing containing slots in each end thereof, said cylinder housing slots having a width and depth sufficient to extend adjacent the edges of said notch in said support plate whereby said cylinder housing is loosely fitted within the notch, the slots providing a predetermined limited degree of rotational and axial movement of said cylinder housing within said notch, a pair of pistons slidably movable within said cylinder housing, the ends of said brakeshoe assemblies remote from said automatic adjusting device respectively engaging a piston in said cylinder housing, said housing and said pistons cooperating to define a pressure fluid chamber therebetween whereby the supply of pressure fluid to said chamber expands said pistons within said housing engaging said brakeshoe assemblies with the interior surface of said drum, rotation of said drum slightly rotating said brakeshoe assemblies until said cylinder housing is canted into positive engagement with the edges of the notch in said supporting plate thereby positively anchoring the assemblies during application of the brakes.

Claim 3

, 1. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to a stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle, a brakedrum secured to the vehicle wheel and rotatable therewith, a pair of brakeshoe assemblies positioned within said drum, an automatic adjusting device positioned between and being operable to expand adjacent ends of said brakeshoes as brake lining wear occurs, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite from said adjusting device, a wheel cylinder assembly loosely mounted in said notch and containing a piston movable by hydraulic pressure to expand said shoes into engagement with said brakedrum, and spaced double web members centrally on said brakeshoes receiving a substantial peripheral portion of said support plate whereby expansive and contractive movement of said shoes is guided upon said plate by said web members during application and release of the brakes. , 2. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to the stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle; a brakedrum secured to the vehicle wheel rotatable upon the axle; a pair of double web brakeshoe assemblies positioned within said drum, said double webs being centrally positioned on the inward side of said shoe assemblies, the show assemblies being formed of stamped sheet metal whereby the double webs and the brakeshoes comprise a segment of an arc slidably receiving a circumferential portion of the periphery of the support plate within a slot defined by the double webs; an automatic adjusting device located within said drum; said brakeshoe assemblies terminating in adjacent ends in engagement with and supporting said automatic adjusting device, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite from said adjusting device; a brake apply wheel cylinder assembly including a tubular housing containing slots in each end thereof, said tubular housing slots loosely positioning the housing within said support plate notch, the loose fit providing a predetermined degree of rotational movement relative thereto; a pair of pistons within said tubular housing movable by pressure fluid in opposite directions from a central posItion therein, projections on said double web portions extending within said tubular housing into engagement with respective ends of said pistons whereby expansive movement of said pistons engages said brakeshoe assemblies with said brakedrum and said tubular housing cants into anchored engagement with said support plate while the vehicle brakes are being applied. , 3. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to a stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle, a brakedrum secured to a vehicle wheel rotatable upon the axle, a pair of brakeshoe assemblies formed of stamped sheet metal positioned within said drum, an automatic adjusting device located within said drum, said adjusting device connected to adjacent ends of said brakeshoe assemblies and being operable to expand the brakeshoes toward said brakedrum as brake lining wear occurs, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite from said adjusting device near the other adjacent ends of said brakeshoe assemblies, a tubular wheel cylinder containing slots in each end thereof and being loosely mounted in said supporting plate notch, said wheel cylinder assembly containing a pair of oppositely movable pistons, said pistons containing spaced recesses in the outward surfaces thereof, projections on said stamped brakeshoe assemblies extending into said wheel cylinder assembly and being received by said piston recesses for a limited arcuate movement therein, a flexible seal member secured in each end of said wheel cylinder assembly providing a seal between said brakeshoe projections and said wheel cylinder, and a U-shaped spring member having each leg thereof secured in a recess in each of said brakeshoe assemblies while the central portion of the spring engages the support plate securing the spring in place, said spring continually retracting the shoes in the absence of fluid pressure within said wheel cylinder, the supplying of pressure fluid to the central portion of said wheel cylinder moving said pistons outwardly therein to initially engage the brakeshoes with the brakedrum whereupon rotational movement of the brakedrum causes said wheel cylinder to be angularly moved in said support plate notch until the slot surfaces engage the support plate and anchor the brakeshoes in place. , 4. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to the stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle, a brakedrum secured to the vehicle wheel rotatable upon the axle, a pair of double web brakeshoe assemblies positioned within said drum for selective engagement with the interior surface thereof, said double webs being centrally positioned on the inward side of said shoe assemblies which are formed of stamped sheet metal, said double webs defining a slot therebetween slidably receiving a peripheral portion of said support plate, the peripheral portion of said support plate guiding expansive and contractive movement of the brakeshoe assemblies, an automatic adjusting device positioned within said drum and engaging adjacent ends of said brakeshoe assemblies, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite adjusting device, a wheel cylinder housing containing slots in each end thereof, said cylinder housing slots having a width and depth sufficient to extend adjacent the edges of said notch in said support plate whereby said cylinder housing is loosely fitted within the notch, the slots providing a predetermined limited degree of rotational and axial movement of said cylinder housing within said notch, a pair of pistons slidably movable within said cylinder housing, the ends of said brakeshoe assemblies remote from said automatic adjusting device respectively engaging a piston in said cylinder housing, said housing and said pistons cooperating to define a pressure fluid chamber therebetween whereby the supply of pressure fluid to said chamber expands said pistons within said housing engaging said brakeshoe assemblies with the interior surface of said drum, rotation of said drum slightly rotating said brakeshoe assemblies until said cylinder housing is canted into positive engagement with the edges of the notch in said supporting plate thereby positively anchoring the assemblies during application of the brakes.

Claim 4

, 1. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to a stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle, a brakedrum secured to the vehicle wheel and rotatable therewith, a pair of brakeshoe assemblies positioned within said drum, an automatic adjusting device positioned between and being operable to expand adjacent ends of said brakeshoes as brake lining wear occurs, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite from said adjusting device, a wheel cylinder assembly loosely mounted in said notch and containing a piston movable by hydraulic pressure to expand said shoes into engagement with said brakedrum, and spaced double web members centrally on said brakeshoes receiving a substantial peripheral portion of said support plate whereby expansive and contractive movement of said shoes is guided upon said plate by said web members during application and release of the brakes. , 2. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to the stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle; a brakedrum secured to the vehicle wheel rotatable upon the axle; a pair of double web brakeshoe assemblies positioned within said drum, said double webs being centrally positioned on the inward side of said shoe assemblies, the show assemblies being formed of stamped sheet metal whereby the double webs and the brakeshoes comprise a segment of an arc slidably receiving a circumferential portion of the periphery of the support plate within a slot defined by the double webs; an automatic adjusting device located within said drum; said brakeshoe assemblies terminating in adjacent ends in engagement with and supporting said automatic adjusting device, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite from said adjusting device; a brake apply wheel cylinder assembly including a tubular housing containing slots in each end thereof, said tubular housing slots loosely positioning the housing within said support plate notch, the loose fit providing a predetermined degree of rotational movement relative thereto; a pair of pistons within said tubular housing movable by pressure fluid in opposite directions from a central posItion therein, projections on said double web portions extending within said tubular housing into engagement with respective ends of said pistons whereby expansive movement of said pistons engages said brakeshoe assemblies with said brakedrum and said tubular housing cants into anchored engagement with said support plate while the vehicle brakes are being applied. , 3. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to a stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle, a brakedrum secured to a vehicle wheel rotatable upon the axle, a pair of brakeshoe assemblies formed of stamped sheet metal positioned within said drum, an automatic adjusting device located within said drum, said adjusting device connected to adjacent ends of said brakeshoe assemblies and being operable to expand the brakeshoes toward said brakedrum as brake lining wear occurs, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite from said adjusting device near the other adjacent ends of said brakeshoe assemblies, a tubular wheel cylinder containing slots in each end thereof and being loosely mounted in said supporting plate notch, said wheel cylinder assembly containing a pair of oppositely movable pistons, said pistons containing spaced recesses in the outward surfaces thereof, projections on said stamped brakeshoe assemblies extending into said wheel cylinder assembly and being received by said piston recesses for a limited arcuate movement therein, a flexible seal member secured in each end of said wheel cylinder assembly providing a seal between said brakeshoe projections and said wheel cylinder, and a U-shaped spring member having each leg thereof secured in a recess in each of said brakeshoe assemblies while the central portion of the spring engages the support plate securing the spring in place, said spring continually retracting the shoes in the absence of fluid pressure within said wheel cylinder, the supplying of pressure fluid to the central portion of said wheel cylinder moving said pistons outwardly therein to initially engage the brakeshoes with the brakedrum whereupon rotational movement of the brakedrum causes said wheel cylinder to be angularly moved in said support plate notch until the slot surfaces engage the support plate and anchor the brakeshoes in place. , 4. A vehicle drum brake assembly comprising a support plate secured to the stationary portion of the vehicle adjacent a wheel axle, a brakedrum secured to the vehicle wheel rotatable upon the axle, a pair of double web brakeshoe assemblies positioned within said drum for selective engagement with the interior surface thereof, said double webs being centrally positioned on the inward side of said shoe assemblies which are formed of stamped sheet metal, said double webs defining a slot therebetween slidably receiving a peripheral portion of said support plate, the peripheral portion of said support plate guiding expansive and contractive movement of the brakeshoe assemblies, an automatic adjusting device positioned within said drum and engaging adjacent ends of said brakeshoe assemblies, said support plate containing a notch substantially diametrically opposite adjusting device, a wheel cylinder housing containing slots in each end thereof, said cylinder housing slots having a width and depth sufficient to extend adjacent the edges of said notch in said support plate whereby said cylinder housing is loosely fitted within the notch, the slots providing a predetermined limited degree of rotational and axial movement of said cylinder housing within said notch, a pair of pistons slidably movable within said cylinder housing, the ends of said brakeshoe assemblies remote from said automatic adjusting device respectively engaging a piston in said cylinder housing, said housing and said pistons cooperating to define a pressure fluid chamber therebetween whereby the supply of pressure fluid to said chamber expands said pistons within said housing engaging said brakeshoe assemblies with the interior surface of said drum, rotation of said drum slightly rotating said brakeshoe assemblies until said cylinder housing is canted into positive engagement with the edges of the notch in said supporting plate thereby positively anchoring the assemblies during application of the brakes.