Patent ID: 6799664
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A vehicle drum brake assembly adapted to selectively frictionally engage a brake drum comprising:a backing plate supported relative to a vehicle component, said backing plate having at least three openings formed therethrough; a one-piece brake shoe supported on said backing plate for selective movement into frictional engagement with the brake drum; a brake mechanism disposed adjacent a pair of ends of said brake shoe for selectively moving said brake shoe into frictional engagement with the brake drum; a pair of fasteners extending through two of said three openings provided in said backing plate to secure said backing plate to a fixed, non-rotatable component of the vehicle; and a single member formed integral as one piece with said one-piece brake shoe, said member having an inner end portion extending through the third of said three openings provided in said backing plate and secured to the fixed, non-rotatable component of the vehicle, wherein during application of the drum brake assembly said member is operative to transfer braking torque from said brake shoe to the non-rotatable component of the vehicle; wherein said one-piece brake shoe is provided with a pair of shoe flex slots formed integral as one piece therewith directly adjacent said member on opposed sides thereof, said shoe flex slots operative to space apart portions of said one-piece brake shoe from being directly connected to said member whereby said air of shoe flex slots are operative to provide for at least one of adjustment of the brake output characteristics of the brake assembly and change of the pressure distribution on the friction pad of the brake assembly.