Patent ID: 7055662

Claim:
A vehicle axle beam and drum brake assembly, comprising: a pneumatic brake actuator cylinder provided with an actuator rod extending therefrom, said pneumatic brake actuator cylinder being solely supported by a brake spider; a brake actuating shaft having a first end and a second end; a brake actuating lever interconnecting said actuator rod and said first end of said brake actuating shaft; an S-cam secured to said second end of said brake actuating shaft; said brake spider non-removably secured to said axle beam to support a brake assembly, said brake spider including a pivoting end support plate and an actuator support plate provided with an opening for receiving said brake actuating shaft therethrough; a mounting sleeve having a first end and a second end, said first end of said mounting sleeve is secured to said pneumatic brake actuator cylinder and said second end of said mounting sleeve is secured to said actuator support plate of said brake spider, said brake actuating shaft rotationally supported and positioned within said mounting sleeve; a pair of brake shoes pivotally supported on said pivoting end support plate of said brake spider, said brake shoes adapted to frictionally engage a bearing surface of a brake drum; and a cam follower secured on each of said shoes and adapted to interfit with an outer surface of said S-cam, wherein when said actuator rod is extended, said brake actuating shaft and said S-cam rotate about the longitudinal axis such that said brake shoes are brought into frictional engagement with said bearing surface.