Patent ID: 7150344

Claim:
A fluid operated brake actuator, comprising: a housing having an interior; a shaft rotatable within the interior of the housing, the shaft being rotatable to engage and disengage a brake; a vane engaging the interior of the housing and connected to the shaft, the vane being responsive to a fluid pressure to rotate the shaft; a torsion power spring for producing torque to bias the shaft in a first rotational direction, the torsion power spring having a central longitudinal channel in which the shaft is rotatably disposed, and having a longitudinal axis coincident with a longitudinal axis of the shaft; an inlet port through the housing, the inlet port for introducing fluid pressure into the housing in order to exert a force on the vane in order to rotate the shaft against the bias of the spring; and a one-way clutch transferring torque from the shaft to a brake camshaft, wherein, as the brake is released, said one-way clutch permits the ready disengagement and reengagement of the shaft and the brake camshaft, so that slack caused by brake lining wear is automatically adjusted.