Shaped friction device

A friction device comprising:

• a backing plate configured to interface with a brake actuator of a vehicle having a wheel with a wheel flange and a wheel tread;
• and
• a friction structure attached to the backing plate and comprising a friction material, the friction structure defining a central longitudinal axis, the friction structure having a longitudinal flange side, a longitudinal rim side, and two opposing ends and defining a brake surface for engaging the wheel, and
• the friction structure includes a tread portion on the longitudinal rim side and a flange engagement portion on the longitudinal flange side, the flange engagement portion attached to the tread portion and defining a flange contact region of the brake surface that may at least partially engage the wheel flange at least during initial use of the friction device with the wheel, the friction device further comprising:
• at least one wheel condition insert disposed within the friction structure, wherein an entirety of the at least one wheel conditioning insert is positioned on one side of the the central longitudinal axis of the friction device adjacent the longitudinal rim side, and
• a first thickness of the flange engagement portion at the longitudinal flange side of the friction structure is in a range of from about 30% to about 75% of a second thickness of the tread portion.

A friction device comprising:

• a backing plate configured to interface with a brake actuator of a vehicle having a wheel with a wheel flange and a wheel tread;
• and
• a friction structure attached to the backing plate, the friction structure defineing a central longitudinal axis, the friction structure having a longitudinal flange side, a longitudinal rim side, and opposite ends, the friction structure defining a brake surface for engaging the wheel, and
• the friction structure includes a tread portion comprising a friction material on the longitudinal rim side and an extended volume portion of the friction material on the longitudinal flange side, the extended volume portion defining a flange contact region of the brake surface that may at least partially engage the wheel flange at least during initial use of the friction device with the wheel, the friction device further comprising:
• at least one wheel condition insert disposed within the friction structure, wherein the at least one wheel conditioning insert includes a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, wherein an entirety of the first elongated portion of the at least one wheel conditioning insert is positioned on one side of the central longitudinal axis of the friction device adjacent the longitudinal rim side, and wherein the second elongated portion is perpendicular to the first elongated portion and extends toward the longitudinal flange side of the friction structure.