Fatigue and impact resistant railway brake shoe

A brake shoe for braking engagement with the tread of a railroad car wheel comprising:

• (a) a continuous metal backing plate formed intermediate the ends thereof with a keybridge having opposed legs upraised from one surface of said backing plate and interconnected by a bight portion to form a concavity in a surface of said backing plate opposite said one surface, said opposed legs each having a keyhole therein;
• (b) a unitary metal insert disposed in said concavity comprising:
• (i) a base plate extending between said opposite legs of said keybridge;
• and
• ii) a pair of laterally spaced-apart ribs integral with said base plate, said ribs being upturned therefrom to provide outward facing sides, the periphery of each of said ribs conforming in size and shape to said opposite surface of said backing plate within said concavity so as to be contiguous therewith, whereby said keybridge is reinforced, the area between said upturned ribs and said base forming an opening between said keyholes to provide a keyway through said keybridge in cooperation with said keyholes therein;
• and
• (c) a brake lining comprised of a composition material bonded to said opposite surface of said backing plate including the area within said concavity, and to said outward facing sides of said ribs, and to said base plate to secure said insert within said concavity and to fill said concavity in the area thereof adjacent the outward facing sides of said ribs to thereby reinforce said keybridge in conjunction with said insert.