Patent ID: 7703582

Claim:
An apparatus for applying force to an end portion of a rib of a brake shoe, said apparatus comprising: a U-shaped base, an adjustment element, and an actuation portion having an abutment surface and an externally threaded cylindrical portion: a. the adjustment element comprising: i. a first portion comprising an end face and a thrust surface wherein the thrust surface comprises 60%-65% of the surface area of the first portion and the end face comprises the remainder of the surface area of the first portion; ii. a second portion comprising a fork and a seat, said fork and seat receiving the end portion of the rib of the shoe; and iii. a cylindrical side surface disposed within a through-hole of the U-shaped base; b. the U-shaped base comprising: i. a bent plate having two parallel arms and a support element; each arm containing a through-hole capable of receiving the adjustment element; and said support element having an counter-abutment surface for contacting the abutment surface of the actuation portion; and ii. a cylindrical extension comprising a threaded hole for guiding the externally threaded cylindrical portion of the actuation portion; said cylindrical extension attached to the bent plate for guiding the actuation element into engagement with the thrust surface of the first portion; c. the actuation portion comprising: a pyramidal end, activation end, the externally threaded cylindrical portion, and the abutment surface; i. said pyramidal end comprising a plurality of counter-thrust surfaces structured to abut the thrust surface of the adjustment element; ii. said activation end comprising a set of key surfaces for interfacing with a socket spanner or wrench; iii. said abutment surface comprising an annual rim for abutting the counter-abutment surface connected to the support element of the bent plate; and iv. said externally threaded cylindrical portion comprising threads cooperatively engaged with the threaded hole for moving the pyramidal end of the actuation portion into engagement with the thrust surface of the engagement surface for causing the fork and the seat of the second portion to apply force to the end portion of the rib of the shoe.