Patent ID: 9022181
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A brake drum comprising: a cylindrical drum body having an open inboard end and a hub mounting plate; a cylindrical braking surface extending between the open inboard end and the hub mounting plate within said drum body, said cylindrical braking surface having an inboard edge at the open inboard end of the hub and an outboard edge positioned adjacent to the hub mounting plate with a cylindrical braking surface width defined between the inboard edge and the outboard edge of the cylindrical braking surface; a notch that is void of material formed in said braking surface, extending toward said hub mounting plate from said inboard edge and having a maximum depth that corresponds to a pre-defined braking surface diameter that is less than or equal to a maximum allowable diameter of the braking surface; said notch having an open end positioned at the open inboard end of the drum body and a closed end with a length defined there between and an opposing pair of sidewalls extending between the open inboard end and the closed end with a notch width defined there between, said notch width being less than said length along an entirety of said length and said length being less than the cylindrical braking surface width; said notch having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the brake drum; and said outboard edge of said cylindrical braking surface being free of any notch or notches.