Automatic adjuster for vehicle brakes

Claim 1

A VEHICLE BRAKE COMPRISING A ROTATABLE BRAKING MEMBER, AT LEAST ONE BRAKING SURFACE ON SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER, A FRICTION MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BRAKING SURFACE, A TRANSMISSION MEMBER OF ADJUSTABLE LENGTH OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID FRICTION MEMBER FOR MOVING THE SAME INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BRAKING MEMBER, SAID TRANSMISSION MEMBER INCLUDING A RATCHET MEMBER, ACTUATING MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID TRANSMISSION MEMBER FOR OPERATING THE SAME, A PAWL OF RESILIENT MATERIAL RIGIDLY CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID ACTUATING MEANS AND ENGAGING SAID RATCHET MEMBER ADJACENT ITS OPPOSITE END, SAID PAWL BEING DEFLECTABLE TO FACILITATE RETURN MOVEMENT OF SAID PAWL PAST SAID RATCHET DURING RELEASE MOVEMENT OF SAID PAWL WITH SAID ACTUATING MEANS, SAID PAWL COOPERATING WITH SAID RATCHET MEMBER DURING APPLICATION MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS TO AUTOMATICALLY INCREASE THE LENGTH OF SAID TRANSMISSION MEMBER WHEN MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATING MEANS IN A BRAKE-APPLYING DIRECTION EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED VALUE DUE TO WEAR OF THE FRICTION MEMBER, SAID PAWL DEFLECTING RESILIENTLY WHILE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A TOOTH OF SAID RATCHET MEMBER TO PREVENT ADJUSTMENT OF THE LENGTH OF SAID TRANSMISSION MEMBER WHEN THE LOADING TO WHICH THE PAWL IS SUBJECTED EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED VALUE.