ANCHOR ARRANGEMENT FOR RETAINING A SENSOR IN A DRUM BRAKE

A drum brake for use in a brake system (10) having first (14) and second (16) shoes retained on a backing plate (20). The first brake shoe (14) has a first end (22) connected to an actuator (12) and a second end (26) connected to an anchor arrangement (24) and the second brake shoe (16) has a first end (36) connected to the actuator (12) and a second end (38) connected to the anchor arrangement (24) The actuator (12) responds to an input signal during a brake application by moving the first (14) and second (16) brake shoes into engagement with a drum (18). The anchor arrangement (24) includes a load sensor (64) for measuring a torque generated between the first (14) and second (16) brake shoes and the drum (18). The anchor arrangement (24) has a bracket (44) with a base (46) having first (48) and second (50) side walls which are secured to the backing plate (20). The first side wall (48) has a first central opening (56) therein while the second side wall (50) has a second central opening (58) therein. A core member (64) of the load sensor is retained by the bracket (44) between the first (48) and second (50) side walls is connected to a controller (28). First linkage (66) extends through the first opening (56) for connecting the first brake shoe (14) to the core member (64) while a second linkage (74) extends through the second opening (58) for connecting the second brake shoe (16) to the core member (64). A first linear dimension defined by the core member (64) and first (66) and second (74) linkages is less that a second linear dimension between the first (48) and second (50) side wall such that a gap "x" is created. The first (14) and second (16) brake shoes on engagement with the drum (18) defining a leading brake shoe and a trailing brake shoe. The leading brake shoe produces a first force which moves the core member (64) within the gap "x" to bring one of the first (64) and second (74) linkages into engagement with said bracket (44) and thereafter compress the core member (64) and independently modify an output signal generated therein to define an operational torque developed during a brake application.