Self-actuating brake linkage

An improved self-actuating brake for vehicles, including a flexible brake band having a center portion for receipt around a rotatable drum, a pair of brake actuating levers, each of said levers having a first pivotal connection to one of said brake band free ends, a fixed pivot adjacent said first pivotal connection and a second pivotal connection to a cam member, said first pivotal connection and said fixed pivot defining the shorter leg of an L-shaped lever with said first and second pivotal connections defining the longer legs, said longer legs of said lever extending away from said brake band and crossing, said cam member located generally between said second pivotal connections of said levers, said cam member having a pair of angularly related slots extending generally away from said brake band and slidably receiving said second pivotal connections of said levers and a brake linkage means pivotally connected to said cam member between said second pivotal connections adapted to tension said cam member, rotating said levers about said fixed pivots to actuate said brake, release of said brake linkage means resulting in movement of said cam plate toward said brake band, whereby said cam plate spreads said lever second pivotal connections within said angularly related slot, releasing said brake band.