Patent ID: 6450302
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
In a vehicle brake slack adjuster having a housing formed with an operation arm having a free end adapted to be connected to a vehicle brake operating means for pivotal movement about a first axis, a through opening for rotatably receiving a cam shaft of a vehicle brake system, said cam shaft defining a second axis about which said housing may undergo pivotal movement, a slack adjustment means mounted internally of said housing and coupled with said cam shaft, and link means having an inner end supported by said housing for reciprocating movement and arranged for operative engagement with said slack adjustment means and an outer end adapted to be connected to said vehicle brake operating means for pivotal movement about a third axis disposed parallel to said first axis and operable upon rotational movement of said housing by said vehicle brake operating means about said second axis to effect reciprocation of said inner end of said link means relative to said housing, the improvement wherein said first and second axes are parallel and lie in a first plane, said second axis also lies in a second plane arranged to bisect said housing and to form an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 180Â° with said first plane, said link means includes separate inner and outer link parts having adjacent ends each formed with a gear rack, said inner end of said link means is defined by said inner link part and mounted by said housing for reciprocating movement essentially parallel to said second plane, said outer end of said link means is defined by said outer link part and mounted by said housing for reciprocating movement essentially parallel to said first plane, and a gear is supported by said housing for rotation about a fourth axis disposed essentially parallel to both said first and second planes and arranged to mesh with said gear rack on each of said adjacent ends of said inner and outer link parts for causing said inner part to move relatively inwardly and outwardly of said housing incident to like movements of said outer part relative to said housing.