Cam lock slack adjuster

Claim 1

A combined brake actuator, slack adjuster, and lock for railway vehicle brakes comprising, cylindrical brake housing means containing a fluid operable piston and coaxial adjoining hand brake operable means operable to actuate a coaxial tubular push rod for governing application of brakes of a vehicle through slack adjuster means in response to either fluid pressure in a brake cylinder chamber or actuation of the hand brake operable means, wherein improved slack adjusting means is provided for adjustably connecting the piston to the push rod comprising: (a) actuating rod means having an actuating rod, one end of which is connected to the piston and the other end of which extends within the tubular push rod for selectively axially actuating the push rod in accordance with axial actuation of the piston, (b) annular locking means disposed within the tubular push rod secured in part to said other end of the push rod and operable to selectively operably connect the actuating rod means to the inner periphery of the push rod, and (c) adjusting means including a friction sleeve on a portion of the outer periphery of the push rod having, restricted free axial movement within the housing for causing axial adjustment of the push rod relative to the actuating rod for automatic slack adjustment for wear in the brakes.