Patent GB-1381281-A (GB)
Title: Brake adjusters
IPC: F16D55/224
Filed: 1971-01-13
Abstract: 1381281 Slack-adjusters for spot-type disc brakes GIRLING Ltd 5 Jan 1972 [13 Jan 1971] 1623/71 Addition to 1179235 Heading F2E In an hydraulic brake actuator fitted with an automatic slack adjuster operative between first and second components 12, 13, which are mutually displaceable by hydraulic pressure, the slack adjuster comprises a first member 20 slidable in a bore 22 in the first actuator component 12, a second member 19 in screwthreaded engagement with the first member 20 and restrained from being moved axially with the first actuator component 12 up to a predetermined applied pressure, and means 24 movable with the first actuator component 12 for turning the first member 20 and enabling this member to follow axial movement of the second actuator component 13 until the predetermined pressure is reached, application of pressure above this thereafter causing the first and second members 20 and 19 to follow movement of the first actuator component. As shown, piston 12 acts directly on a pad assembly (not shown) while piston 13 acts, through a caliper slidable on a fixed body member 10, on an opposed pad assembly (not shown) of a spot-type disc brake. The first member 20 of the slack adjuster is slidably sealed in piston 12, the second member 19 has a non-reversible right-hand screw connection 23 with member 20, and the third member 24 has a reversible coarse left-hand screw connection 25 with member 20. Ring 24 may be urged into frictional engagement with a flange 28 of piston 12 by a Belleville washer 30, while member 19 is urged to the left by a spring 31 located between its flange 32 and a flange 33 on piton 13. For hydraulic operation, hydraulic pressure is applied between pistons 12, 13 to urge these apart. If no adjustment is required the travel is insufficient to take up axial clearance at screw connection 23 and, optionally, at screw connection 25. The end of first member 20 is not in contact with piston 12 at 21 in these circumstances. The diameter of blind bore 22 and the force of spring 31 are so chosen that when slack adjustment becomes necessary, and pistons 12, 13 are moved a little further apart, spring 31 yields at a low pressure (e.g. 50 p.s.i.). When this pressure is exceeded the end of member 20 contacts piston 12 at 21, so ring 24 is pressed against Belleville washer 30. Because of friction at threads 23, member 20 cannot rotate, so ring 24 rotates around it slightly. When the pressure has fallen below the predetermined pressure on brake release, spring 31 pulls members 19 and 20 to the left. Ring 24 is thereby pressed against flange 28, so is prevented from rotating; hence the reversible screw connection 25 causes member 20 to be rotated around member 19 slightly to effect adjustment. Member 19 cannot rotate because of projection 36. The slack adjuster may be applied to an hydraulic actuator whose two components comprise a cylinder and a piston, instead of the pistons, such as might be used in a swinging- caliper disc brake not having a fixed body member. A modification of the assembly of parts 12, 24, 20 is mentioned without being illustrated. The reversible screw-thread connection 25 may be replaced by a reversible face cam as in Specification 1,179,235.