Patent ID: 6230856
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B60T,B61H,F16D

Abstract:
A locking assembly for preventing accidental let out of a slack adjuster, such slack adjuster including an elongated hollow housing member having at least one sidewall and an elongated rod member mounted for reciprocal movement within such elongated hollow housing member, at least a portion of such rod member extending outwardly from a first end of such slack adjuster and being movable in a lateral direction with respect to a longitudinal centerline of such hollow housing member, said locking assembly comprising:(a) a rod weldment washer secured to said rod member at a predetermined location intermediate each end thereof, said rod weldment washer positioned within such hollow housing member such that a side edge thereof is a predetermined distance from an inner surface of such at least one sidewall of such hollow housing member during normal operation of such slack adjuster, and(b) a force applying means disposed at such first end of such slack adjuster for applying a force to such rod member in a lateral direction with respect to such longitudinal centerline of such rod member thereby causing such rod member and said rod weldment washer to move in a lateral direction with respect to such longitudinal centerline of such hollow housing member to frictionally engage said side edge of said rod weldment washer with such inner surface of such hollow housing member, said frictional engagement of said rod weldment washer with such inner surface of such hollow housing member preventing longitudinal movement of such rod member within such hollow housing member and consequently preventing such accidental let out of such slack adjuster.