Patent ID: 7044273
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A brake drum comprising: an annular body having a first longitudinal axis and comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, the body having an annular wall portion with a right cylindrical interior brake engaging first wall surface, the first wall surface having a longitudinal axis which is coaxial with the first longitudinal axis, the first wall surface having a first diameter, the wall portion comprising an exterior second wall surface which is opposed to the interior first wall surface, the body also comprising an annular first rim portion extending between the first and second wall surfaces and in a plane which is perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; a plurality of rim supporting lands at the exterior surface of the body, the lands defining segments of a rim-supporting shelf which is spaced from the first rim portion, the rim supporting lands being at a common elevation when the first longitudinal axis is vertical, a respective lateral motion limiting wall surface associated with each land and projecting in a direction away from the rim portion, the lateral motion limiting wall surface being positioned inwardly of the associated land, the maximum cross-sectional dimension between the lateral motion limiting wall surfaces in a lateral direction perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis being less than the first diameter, whereby the rim portion of a first brake drum can be positioned on the lands of a second like brake drum with the lateral motion limiting wall surfaces of the second brake drum being inserted into the interior space defined by the first wall surface of the first brake drum; and the lands extending radially outwardly from the first longitudinal axis such that lateral shifting of the first brake drum relative to the second drum in a lateral direction is limited by the lateral motion limiting wall surfaces of the second brake drum and prevents the rim portion of the first brake drum from shifting laterally off the lands of the second brake drum.