Automatic brake adjustment means

Claim 1

THE COMBINATION WITH A BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM HAVING A BRAKE ACTUATING SHAFT, AN OSCILLATABLE LEVER AND RECIPROCABLE ROD FOR OSCILLATING SAID SHAFT, WHEREIN THE LEVER INCLUDES A HOUSING CONTAINING A WORM GEAR FOR ADJUSTING THE BRAKE ACTUATING SHAFT TO TAKE UP SLACK DUE TO WEAR OF THE BRAKES, A WORM FOR ADVANCING THE WORM GEAR AND AN ADJUSTMENT SHAFT FOR SAID WORM INCLUDING AN EXPOSED HEAD, OF AN AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER COMPRISING: (A) A CAP HAVING A SOCKET FITTING OVER SAID SHAFT HEAD, AND INCLUDING A COAXIAL JOURNAL APERTURE AND A FIRST RING OF RATCHET TEETH BORDERING SAID JOURNAL APERTURE; (B) MEANS FOR SECURING SAID CAP TO SAID SHAFT HEAD; (C) A STUB SHAFT JOURNALLED IN SAID APERTURE AND INCLUDING A FLANGED END DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CAP MEMBER, AND A SECOND RING OF RATCHET TEETH ON SAID FLANGE; (D) A SPRING WITHIN SAID SOCKET URGING SAID SETS OF RATCHET TEETH INTO MUTUAL ENGAGEMENT; (E) AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID STUB SHAFT AND SAID BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM TO EFFECT OSCILLATION OF SAID STUB SHAFT THEREBY TO ADVANCE SAID CAP MEMBER AND WORM ADJUSTMENT SHAFT.