EP0351131A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Automobile cable brake mechanism
Assignee: REARSBY AUTOMOTIVE Ltd
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Filing: 1989-07-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-07-06
Abstract
Abstract An automatic adjustment mechanism for a cable brake is provided by a fixed quadrant gear (4) which is traversed by a locking pawl (6) on actuation of a brake lever (5), and a pivotable cable-tensioning quadrant gear (8) which is rotated on actuation of the brake lever (5) by the engagement therewith of an actuating pawl (10) carried by the lever (5). The two pawls (6 and 10) face in opposite directions. The actuating pawl (10) is cammed out of engagement with the teeth on the associated quadrant gear (8) when the lever (5) is fully released, allowing the quadrant gear (8) to rotate under the action of a torsion spring (16) to take up slack in the cable (12). A shear pin (20) resists the torsion spring (16) and prevents rotation of the cable-tensioning quadrant gear (8) for the period between initial installation of the brake mechanism and the first actuation of the lever (5) which automatically fractures the shear pin (20), takes up slack in the cable (12) and establishes and maintains the required pretension in the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald John Byron
- 👤 Robert Michael Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:12
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/08; B60T7/10; B60T7/108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An automobile cable brake mechanism (1) comprising a brake actuating lever (2) pivotally mounted on a fixed mounting (4), a locking pawl (6) on the lever (2) engaging a ratchet (7) on the fixed mounting (4) for releasably locking the lever (2) in an actuating position, a cable tensioning plate (8) pivotally mounted on the fixed mounting (4) and having an anchorage means (13) thereon for an end of the brake cable (12), a torsion spring (16) acting between the fixed mounting (4) and the cable tensioning plate (8) to maintain a constant cable tension when the lever (2) is in its non-actuating rest position, an actuating pawl (10) carried by the lever (2) and engageable with a ratchet gear (9) formed on the cable tensioning plate (8) to rotate the tensioning plate (8) on lever movement and provide a cable tension sufficient for braking, CHARACTERISED BY means for disengaging the actuating pawl (10) from the ratchet gear (9) on the cable tensioning plate (8) when the lever (2) is in its non-actuating rest position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An automobile cable brake mechanism (1) comprising a brake actuating lever (2) pivotally mounted on a fixed mounting (4), a locking pawl (6) on the lever (2) engaging a ratchet (7) on the fixed mounting (4) for releasably locking the lever (2) in an actuating position, a cable tensioning plate (8) pivotally mounted on the fixed mounting (4) and having an anchorage means (13) thereon for an end of the brake cable (12), a torsion spring (16) acting between the fixed mounting (4) and the cable tensioning plate (8) to maintain a constant cable tension when the lever (2) is in its non-actuating rest position, an actuating pawl (10) carried by the lever (2) and engageable with a ratchet gear (9) formed on the cable tensioning plate (8) to rotate the tensioning plate (8) on lever movement and provide a cable tension sufficient for braking, CHARACTERISED BY means for disengaging the actuating pawl (10) from the ratchet gear (9) on the cable tensioning plate (8) when the lever (2) is in its non-actuating rest position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the means for disengaging the actuating pawl (10) from the ratchet gear (9) on the tensioning plate (8) comprises a cam (17) protruding from the fixed plate (4) which abuts the actuating pawl (10) when the lever (2) is in the non-actuating rest position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2 further including frangible means (20) for temporarily locking the cable tensioning plate (8) against pivotal movement for the period from initial installation until first actuating movement of the lever (2).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuating lever (2) and the cable tensioning plate (8) have a common pivot (3).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking pawl (6) and the actuating pawl (10) have a common pivot (11).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking pawl (6) is urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet (7) on the fixed mounting (4) by resilient means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuating pawl (10) is urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet (9) on the fixed mounting plate (8) by resilient means (14).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to claim 6 and claim 7, wherein the resilient means is common to and acts between the locking pawl (6) and the actuating pawl (10).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the torsion spring (16) is earthed to the cable tensioning plate pivot (3).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the torsion spring (16) is earthed to the fixed mounting (4).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the torsion spring (16) is a clock spring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A brake mechanism (1) according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the torsion spring (16) is a constant torque curved leaf spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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