US3895538A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slack compensator for brake systems
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-11-22
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1994-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A yoke arranged to be interposed between the brake lever and the rod which operates the lever, the yoke having spring retained means which on initial movement of the operating rod presses against a mid-portion of the lever to effect increased movement of the brake lever with respect to movement of the operating rod until the slack in the brake system has been taken up whereupon the full length of the lever is utilized to complete the braking operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald T Mcgregor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:45
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D65/00; F16D65/38; F16D65/40; F16D65/52; F16D65/54; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20558; Y10T74/2057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A slack compensator adapted to be interposed between a brake lever having a journal pin and an operating shaft of a vehicle brake system, the slack compensator comprising: a. a clevis structure forming a drive connection between the operating shaft and the brake lever including slots for receiving the journal pin; b. a ratchet and pawl means, the ratchet means being movable with the journal pin and guided by the slots, the pawl means being pivotally attached to the clevis structure; c. thrust lever means pivotally connected to the clevis structure and engageable with the brake lever at an intermediate point between its pivotal axis and the ratchet means to reduce the effective length thereof; the thrust lever means also engageable with the pawl means to hold the pawl means clear of the ratchet means; d. and spring means initially fixing the thrust lever means against the brake lever to transmit a thrust from the operating shaft to the brake lever at said intermediate point thereby to cause increased rotation of the brake lever per unit of movement of the operating shaft; e. the spring means being yieldable to a predetermined force exerted by the operating shaft through the thrust lever means against the brake lever to cause release of the pawl means for engagement with the ratchet means thereby to cause decreased rotation of the brake lever per further unit of movement of the operating shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A slack compensator adapted to be interposed between a brake lever having a journal pin and an operating shaft of a vehicle brake system, the slack compensator comprising: a. a clevis structure forming a drive connection between the operating shaft and the brake lever including slots for receiving the journal pin; b. a ratchet and pawl means, the ratchet means being movable with the journal pin and guided by the slots, the pawl means being pivotally attached to the clevis structure; c. thrust lever means pivotally connected to the clevis structure and engageable with the brake lever at an intermediate point between its pivotal axis and the ratchet means to reduce the effective length thereof; the thrust lever means also engageable with the pawl means to hold the pawl means clear of the ratchet means; d. and spring means initially fixing the thrust lever means against the brake lever to transmit a thrust from the operating shaft to the brake lever at said intermediate point thereby to cause increased rotation of the brake lever per unit of movement of the operating shaft; e. the spring means being yieldable to a predetermined force exerted by the operating shaft through the thrust lever means against the brake lever to cause release of the pawl means for engagement with the ratchet means thereby to cause decreased rotation of the brake lever per further unit of movement of the operating shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A slack compensator as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the clevis structure includes a pair of plate elements at opposite sides of the brake lever; b. and a pair of ratchet and pawl means are interposed between each plate element and brake lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A slack compensator as defined in claim 2, wherein: the thrust lever means includes a pair of lever elements disposed in the planes of the pawl means and a cross bar connecting the lever elements and engaging the brake lever; b. and a pair of tension springs extend between the plate elements and thrust lever means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
230 words
A slack compensator adapted to be interposed between a brake lever and an operating shaft of a vehicle brake system, comprising: a. a clevis structure including means for attachment to the operating shaft; b. a journal pin for the brake lever; c. a ratchet means mounted on the journal pin and fixed in general alignment with the operating shaft; d. a pawl means pivotally mounted on the clevis structure for engagement with the ratchet means; e. thrust means pivotally mounted on the clevis structure for thrust engagement with the brake lever intermediate the ratchet means and the brake lever axis and also engageable with the pawl means to hold the pawl means clear of the ratchet means; f. yieldable means exerting a predetermined thrust force on the thrust means whereby initial movement of the operating shaft causEs the thrust means to apply movement to the brake lever intermediate the ratchet means and brake lever axis thereby to move the brake lever through a corresponding arc for each unit of movement of the operating shaft; g. said yieldable means being responsive to a force greater than said predetermined force to cause the thrust means to release the pawl means for engagement with the ratchet means to apply a force directly thereto thereby to move the brake lever through a reduced arc for each further unit of movement of the operating shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
230 words
A slack compensator adapted to be interposed between a brake lever and an operating shaft of a vehicle brake system, comprising: a. a clevis structure including means for attachment to the operating shaft; b. a journal pin for the brake lever; c. a ratchet means mounted on the journal pin and fixed in general alignment with the operating shaft; d. a pawl means pivotally mounted on the clevis structure for engagement with the ratchet means; e. thrust means pivotally mounted on the clevis structure for thrust engagement with the brake lever intermediate the ratchet means and the brake lever axis and also engageable with the pawl means to hold the pawl means clear of the ratchet means; f. yieldable means exerting a predetermined thrust force on the thrust means whereby initial movement of the operating shaft causEs the thrust means to apply movement to the brake lever intermediate the ratchet means and brake lever axis thereby to move the brake lever through a corresponding arc for each unit of movement of the operating shaft; g. said yieldable means being responsive to a force greater than said predetermined force to cause the thrust means to release the pawl means for engagement with the ratchet means to apply a force directly thereto thereby to move the brake lever through a reduced arc for each further unit of movement of the operating shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A slack compensator as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. the clevis structure supports the ratchet means in general alignment with the operating shaft and the ratchet means is capable of essentially longitudinal movement relative to the operating shaft to permit initial movement of the operating shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
A slack compensator as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. the clevis structure includes a pair of plate elements having slots to receive the journal pin and to guide the ratchet means for essentially longitudinal movement relative to the operating shaft to permit said initial movement thereof; b. a pair of ratchet means and pawl means are interposed between the brake lever and side plates; c. the thrust means includes a pair of levers disposed in alignment with the pawl means, and a cross bar to engage the brake lever; d. and the yieldable means is a pair of tension springs extending across opposite sides of the brake lever between the side plates and the extremities of the cross bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
A slack compensator for vehicle brake systems having an operating shaft, the compensator comprising: a. a brake lever; b. a clevis structure adapted for connection to the operating shaft and pivotally and slidably connected to the brake lever in a plane approximately coinciding with the axis of the operating shaft; c. yieldably biased means carried by the clevis structure engageable with the brake lever intermediate its extremities thereby to provide a relatively short lever arm for effecting initial movement of the brake lever to take up such slack as may be present in the brake system beyond the brake lever; d. means adjacent the pivotal connection between the brake lever and clevis structure to provide a relatively long lever arm for effecting final movement of the brake lever.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
A slack compensator for vehicle brake systems having an operating shaft, the compensator comprising: a. a brake lever; b. a clevis structure adapted for connection to the operating shaft and pivotally and slidably connected to the brake lever in a plane approximately coinciding with the axis of the operating shaft; c. yieldably biased means carried by the clevis structure engageable with the brake lever intermediate its extremities thereby to provide a relatively short lever arm for effecting initial movement of the brake lever to take up such slack as may be present in the brake system beyond the brake lever; d. means adjacent the pivotal connection between the brake lever and clevis structure to provide a relatively long lever arm for effecting final movement of the brake lever.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A slack compensator as defined in claim 7, wherein: a. the spring biased means includes thrust lever means and spring means initially providing a fixed thrust connection between the operating shaft and the brake lever; b. and a ratchet and the means adjacent the pivotal connection is a ratchet and pawl means.
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) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |