Rigid bracket assembly for mounting a brake assembly and brake actuator

A brake and bracket assembly, comprising:

• a brake assembly, comprising:
• a brake spider;
• first and second brake shoes having first ends coupled to said brake spider;
• and,
• a camshaft extending through said brake spider and having a cam at a first end configured to engage second ends of said first and second brake shoes, rotation of said cam causing said first and second brake shoes to move between positions of engagement and disengagement with a braking surface;
• and,
• a bracket assembly for receiving said brake assembly and a brake actuator, comprising:
• a tube configured to receive said camshaft of the brake assembly;
• a brake spider mounting flange disposed proximate a first end of said tube, said brake spider mounting flange configured to receive said brake spider of the brake assembly and defining an aperture configured to allow said tube to extend therethrough;
• and,
• an actuator mounting arm disposed proximate a second end of said tube, said actuator mounting arm configured for coupling to said brake actuator and having inboard and outboard members, each of said inboard and outboard members having
• a body having a first end affixed to the tube;
• and
• an actuator mounting flange extending from a second end of the body and defining at least one bore configured to receive a fastener extending from said brake actuator
• wherein said bore of said actuator mounting flange of said inboard member is aligned with said bore of said actuator mounting flange of said outboard member.

A method for forming a bracket assembly for mounting a brake assembly and a brake actuator, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a tube configured to receive a camshaft of the brake assembly through an aperture in a brake spider mounting flange, said brake spider mounting flange configured to receive a brake spider of the brake assembly;
• fixing an inboard member of an actuator mounting arm configured for coupling to said brake actuator to said tube proximate a first end of said tube, the inboard member having a body having a first end configured for attachment to said tube and an actuator mounting flange extending from a second end of said body, said actuator mounting flange defining at least one bore configured to receive a fastener extending from said brake actuator;
• and,
• fixing an outboard member of said actuator mounting arm to said tube proximate said first end of said tube, said outboard member having a body having a first end configured for attachment to said tube and an actuator mounting flange extending from a second end of said body of said outboard member, said actuator mounting flange of said outboard member defining at least one bore configured to receive said fastener and aligned with said at least one bore of said actuator mounting flange of said inboard member following fixing of said inboard and outboard members to said tube.