Patent ID: 6264012
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A drum brake comprising:a cylindrical brake drum adapted to be mounted to a rotatable wheel, the brake drum having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, the brake drum having a plurality of circumferentially spaced structural portions formed circumferentially around the wheel, at least four of the structural portions being structurally non-uniform relative to each other in at least one of mass and rigidity, wherein the structural portions are divided into a plurality of groups each group having at least two structural portions whose structural characteristics match, wherein the structural portions of each group are spaced apart at equal circumferential distances relative to each other, and wherein each of the plurality of groups has structural portions having different structural characteristics and are spaced apart at different circumferential distances;brake shoes adapted to frictionally engage the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum,wherein the structurally non-uniform portions reduce brake noise and maintain drum rotational balance.