Splined Drum and Electric Motor Engagement Assembly

A brake drum and electric motor engagement assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

• a wheel hub mounted for rotation around a wheel spindle,
• an electric motor unit having an electric motor rotor, an electric motor stator, and power electronics, the electric motor rotor including a web portion configured to partially enclose the remainder of the electric motor unit and terminate in a circumferentially extending rim,
• a brake drum defining an engagement surface for drum brake linings, the brake drum having an outboard end securable to the wheel hub, an open inboard end, and a circumferential wall extending between the outboard and inboard ends and surrounding the engagement surface,
• a reinforcing ring interlocking the circumferentially extending rim of the web portion and the circumferential wall of the brake drum, the reinforcing ring being secured to the circumferentially extending rim and to the circumferential wall of the brake drum,
• wherein the reinforcing ring is secured to the circumferential wall of the brake drum at a location disposed axially between the rim of the web portion and the engagement surface of the brake drum.