Patent ID: 6877589

Claim:
A drum brake device with an automatic shoe clearance adjustment apparatus comprising: a first brake shoe and a second brake shoe facing each other; a service brake actuator positioned between first adjacent ends of the brake shoes; a shoe return inhibitor, for restricting return positions of the brake shoes, positioned adjacent to the service brake actuator and extended between the brake shoes, the shoe return inhibitor automatically displaces the return positions of the brake shoes in the outward direction of the brake shoes when an extent of the outward movement of the brake shoes, during the service brake position, exceeds a predetermined distance, wherein a brake lever for parking brake operation is pivotally supported at the first brake shoe in a crossing direction relative to the shoe return inhibitor, one end of the shoe return inhibitor functionally engaging with a position of the brake lever between a pivoting section and a free end of the brake lever while the free end side of the brake lever is supported by the first brake shoe via a thermo-sensitive member; and when the service brake is activated and the temperature of the thermo-sensitive member reaches a predetermined range, a rotational force is applied to the brake lever because of a thermo-deformation of the thermo-sensitive member, thereby making the shoe return inhibitor follow an outward movement at the second brake shoe so as to suspend an automatic shoe clearance adjustment.