A brake assembly has an auto-adjustment mechanism including an adjusting link that is rotatable to adjust an unloaded state position of a brake shoe, and an adjusting lever that operates to rotate the adjusting link during a release of the braking assembly to adjust the unloaded state position of the brake shoe. The auto-adjustment mechanism includes a pivot point mounted on a brake back plate about which the adjusting lever rotates, and an adjusting spring attached to the adjusting lever. The adjusting lever rotates in a first direction against the spring force when the brake assembly is actuated, and the adjusting spring by operation of the spring force rotates the adjusting lever in a second direction when the brake assembly is released. During the brake release, as the adjusting lever rotates back the adjusting lever catches the adjusting link in a ratchet fashion to rotate the adjusting link to adjust the unloaded state position of the brake shoes.

A bracket for a brake assembly and a brake actuator includes a unitary body including a tube configured to receive a camshaft of the brake assembly and an actuator mounting arm disposed proximate a first end of the tube and configured to receive the brake actuator. In some embodiments, the tube includes one or more helical ribs formed on a radially inner surface. The bracket further includes either a brake spider or a brake spider mounting flange disposed proximate a second end of the tube. In either embodiment, material may be omitted in various locations to reduce the weight of the bracket. The bracket may be formed through an additive manufacturing process and in a manner that achieve at least one of a predetermined torsional stiffness and attenuation of a predetermined natural frequency.

A bracket for a brake assembly and a brake actuator includes a unitary body including a tube configured to receive a camshaft of the brake assembly and an actuator mounting arm disposed proximate a first end of the tube and configured to receive the brake actuator. In some embodiments, the tube includes one or more helical ribs formed on a radially inner surface. The bracket further includes either a brake spider or a brake spider mounting flange disposed proximate a second end of the tube. In either embodiment, material may be omitted in various locations to reduce the weight of the bracket. The bracket may be formed through an additive manufacturing process and in a manner that achieve at least one of a predetermined torsional stiffness and attenuation of a predetermined natural frequency.

The rotor of an electric motor unit has a web portion partially enclosing the remainder of the unit and terminating in a circumferentially extending rim. The brake drum defines an engagement surface for drum brake linings, and has an outboard end defining a flange securable to the wheel hub. The brake drum also includes an open inboard end, partly covered over by a dust guard, and a circumferential wall extending between the outboard and inboard ends and surrounding the engagement surface. By way of keys and slots or recesses, a reinforcing ring interlocks the circumferentially extending rim of the web portion and the circumferential brake drum wall. The reinforcing ring is secured to the circumferentially extending rim and to the wall of the brake drum at a location disposed axially between the rim of the web portion and the brake drum lining engagement surface.

A drum brake includes a brake drum with an attaching region for arranging the brake drum on a vehicle part, such as a wheel hub, and a shell region with a first contact face, and a friction lining with a second contact face which faces toward the shell region, the first and second contact face being curved along or in a radial plane.

A drum brake includes a brake drum with an attaching region for arranging the brake drum on a vehicle part, such as a wheel hub, and a shell region with a first contact face, and a friction lining with a second contact face which faces toward the shell region, the first and second contact face being curved along or in a radial plane.

There is provided a configuration that can precisely detect abrasion of brake shoes of a railway vehicle. A brake shoe abrasion detection unit includes: at least one abrasion detection RF tag that is attached at a position of an abrasion limit of a brake shoe of a railway vehicle tread brake or a position closer to a braking surface than the abrasion limit; and a reference RF tag that is attached at a position beyond the abrasion limit of the brake shoe.

There is provided a configuration that can precisely detect abrasion of brake shoes of a railway vehicle. A brake shoe abrasion detection unit includes: at least one abrasion detection RF tag that is attached at a position of an abrasion limit of a brake shoe of a railway vehicle tread brake or a position closer to a braking surface than the abrasion limit; and a reference RF tag that is attached at a position beyond the abrasion limit of the brake shoe.

A vehicle drum brake including: a pair of brake shoes arranged to be expanded on a backing plate; a first parking lever disposed to rotate around a predetermined mounting shaft positioned at one end portion of one of the brake shoes; a second parking lever made up of a member different from the first parking lever, disposed to rotate around the mounting shaft, and coupled to and rotated together with the first parking lever; and a strut including a first strut member engaged with the first and second parking levers, the first and second parking levers are coupled to each other by a coupling pin so as to be engaged with the first strut member at the same time.

A vehicle drum brake including: a pair of brake shoes arranged to be expanded on a backing plate; a first parking lever disposed to rotate around a predetermined mounting shaft positioned at one end portion of one of the brake shoes; a second parking lever made up of a member different from the first parking lever, disposed to rotate around the mounting shaft, and coupled to and rotated together with the first parking lever; and a strut including a first strut member engaged with the first and second parking levers, the first and second parking levers are coupled to each other by a coupling pin so as to be engaged with the first strut member at the same time.