Patent US3727728A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3727728A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic brake slack adjustor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-16
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1992-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An operating rod is pivotally connected to a brake operating arm that rotates a conventional brakes-applying cam and the end of the operating rod extends beyond the pivotal connection to the brake operating arm. Slack adjustor mechanism in a housing on the brake operating arm includes a reciprocative member in a side compartment of the housing which member operates a pawl and ratchet means to take up slack in the brake. The side compartment is on the side of the housing that is away from the axle housing of the vehicle. The reciprocative member is connected to the extended end of the operating rod by a flexible tension member and is biased away from the extended end of the operating rod. Lost motion between the reciprocative member and the extended end of the operating rod determines the magnitude of the movement of the reciprocative member and thus determines the magnitude of the increments of slack adjustment.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bostwick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:31
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D65/00; F16D65/38; F16D65/40; F16D65/52; F16D65/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
In a brake system having a brake arm controlling a rotary brake-applying cam with an operating rod pivotally connected to the brake arm and wherein a housing carried by the brake arm contains automatic slack adjustor mechanism and a side compartment of the housing confines and guides a reciprocative member to operate the slack adjustor mechanism by pawl and ratchet means in response to the actuation of the brake arm by the operating rod, the improvement for structural simplicity, economy, and saving of space adjacent the axle of the vehicle, comprising: said side compartment being located on the side of the slack adjustor housing that is away from the axle instead of the side that is toward the axle; the operating rod extending beyond its pivotal connection to the brake arm with its far end in at least approximate alignment with the side compartment of the slack adjustor housing; the reciprocative member in the side compartment being biased away from said far end of the operating rod; and said far end of the operating rod being connected to the reciprocative member by a tension member so that the operating rod functions as a lever of the first class in actuating the reciprocative member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a brake system having a brake arm controlling a rotary brake-applying cam with an operating rod pivotally connected to the brake arm and wherein a housing carried by the brake arm contains automatic slack adjustor mechanism and a side compartment of the housing confines and guides a reciprocative member to operate the slack adjustor mechanism by pawl and ratchet means in response to the actuation of the brake arm by the operating rod, the improvement for structural simplicity, economy, and saving of space adjacent the axle of the vehicle, comprising: said side compartment being located on the side of the slack adjustor housing that is away from the axle instead of the side that is toward the axle; the operating rod extending beyond its pivotal connection to the brake arm with its far end in at least approximate alignment with the side compartment of the slack adjustor housing; the reciprocative member in the side compartment being biased away from said far end of the operating rod; and said far end of the operating rod being connected to the reciprocative member by a tension member so that the operating rod functions as a lever of the first class in actuating the reciprocative member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 1 in which a pair of coil springs act in compression in the side compartment to bias the reciprocative member and said tension member extends between the two springs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 1 in which the connection of the far end of the operating rod with the reciprocating rod by means of the tension member is a lost-motion connection with the magnitude of the lost motion determining the magnitude of reciprocation of the reciprocative member by the operating rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 1 in which the tension member is a flexible member; in which the flexible member slidingly extends through the far end of the operating rod with the flexible member extending beyond the far end of the operating rod; and in which a stop on the end of the flexible member engages the far end of the operating rod to actuate the reciprocative member in response to application of the brakes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said stop is adjustable along the length of the flexible member for adjustment of the magnitude of reciprocation of the reciprocative member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 4 in which a rotary member is journalled in the far end of the operating rod for rotation relative to the operating rod on an axis extending transversely of the operating rod; and in which the flexible member slidingly extends through an aperture of the rotary member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 6 in which the far end of the operating member is in the form of a clevis anD in which said rotary member is a cross pin journalled in the clevis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An improvement as set forth in claim 7 in which said tension member is a flexible wire and in which the flexible wire extends through a diametrical bore of said cross pin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |