Pneumatically actuated drum brake

The invention provides an actuator system for a pneumatic drumbrake comprising a source of compressed air which is connected to an air pot (992) including a push rod (993) for operating a transverse brake actuator bar (980) between a brake applied position and a brake released position. The asymmetric operator assembly (960) is rotatably attached to a non-rotatable wheel support (967), and is concentrically disposed around an axle (911) of a wheel, and includes an ear (964) which is attached to said transverse brake actuator bar (980). A brake arm assembly (912) comprises a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate brake arms (913,914), each including an inner arcuate channel member (915,916), having one end terminating in a cylindrical bushing (927,928), rotatably attached to anchor plates (940,970) and another end terminating in a pair of transversely spaced apart ears (919,921,920,922) having aligned apertures (923,922). An inner and an outer anchor plate (949,970) sandwiching said asymmetric operator assembly (960) therebetween and are fixed to said non-rotatable wheel support (967) concentrically disposed around said axle (911) of said wheel. Bifurcated links (929,930) connect the ears (919-922) of the first and second channel members (915,916) with the asymmetric operator assembly (960). On activating said air pot (992), said push rod (993) moves said transverse brake actuator bar (980) to rotate said asymmetric operator assembly (960) in a counter-clockwise direction, to urge said arcuate brake arms (913,914) radially outwardly to engage the brake, and on venting compressed air from said air pot (992), said push rod (993) in said air pot (992) moves said transverse brake actuator bar (980) to rotate said asymmetric operator assembly (960) in a clockwise direction, to urge said arcuate brake arms (913,914) radially inwardly to release the brake.