US1474093A - Slack adjuster - Google Patents

Description

IlA-MMQB Nev. 13 1923.

w. H. SAUVAGE SLACK ADJUSTER Filed Aug. 20. 1921 Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, OF N'EiU YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR,

tanner BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SLACK ADJUSTER.

Application filed August 20, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slack Adjusters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in slack adjusters for the brake rigging of railway cars of all types, and will be hereinafter described with relation to its application to truck brakes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved slack adjust-er of simple and practical construction for automatically taking up the slack in the brake rigging due primarily to the wear of the brake shoes and the wheels, although, of course, it is to be understood that the slack developing in other parts of the brake rigging due to wear will also be taken up or whenever an excess movement of the brake shoes is required to effectually apply the brakes.

A further object is to provide a durable and substantial slack adjuster of the above general character, which will be reliable and efficient in use and operation as well as one which may be easily and inexpensively con structed and assembled.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the above general character which may be applied to brake rigging now in general use without material alteration of the other parts.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, forming so in the several views, in which corresponding parts are denoted by like reference characters. Y

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly diagrammatic, showing such parts of the brake rigging as are necessaryto an understanding of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view looking part of the present disclosure and Serial No. 493,774.

upwardly on the slack adjusting mechanisms shown at the bottom of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail elevational View;

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the parts shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a. detail perspective view of one of the parts shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an end view of a live lever, fulcrum and adjusting rod; and

Figure 8 is a detail view of a slight modification.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figure 1, 10 indicates diagrammatically a portion of the truck frame, such as the bolster, to which is 65 view of a part shown secured a member 11 adapted to pivotally support at 12 the upper end of a dead lever 13. This dead lever is provided with a brake beam strut 14: adapted to carry a brake beam or brake head for co-acting with the wheel. The lower end of the dead lever is pivoted at 15 to one part 16 or" a two-part telescopic push rod, the other part 17 being pivoted at 18 to the lower end of a live lever 20, which is also provided with a brake beam or brake head fulcrum 21 and has pivotally connected at its upper end at 22 a pull rod 23 adapted to be connected with any suitable source of power for applying the brakes. A return spring 24 is usually interposed between the ac brake bolster or framing l0 and the upper part of the live lever or pull rod, whereby when the brakes are released the parts will be restored to normal position.

Broadly speaking, these parts are all of well known general construction and oper= ation and'a detailed statement thereof is thought to be unnecessary to those skilled in the art.

The slack adjuster as herein shown and a0 embodying the present invention is shown more in detail in Figure 2. The two parts of the telescopic push rod 16 and 17 comprise a barrel like member 16 and the rod 17 fitting therein. 7 The tubular member 16 is so constructed as to provide a housing 25 positioned about the rod 17 and react upon the housing andone of the dogs respectively, whereby these dogs are normally maintained in canted relation. it being understood that these dogs are of well known 6 construction, that is each is provided with a hole being heat treated and hardened, through which the rod 17 passes and when held in canted position will bite into the rod to prevent a relative inward movement thereof.

Adjacent the push rod is positioned an adjusting rod 34, one end of which is adapted to be secured to the live lever fulcrum point with an adjustable lost motion stop as shown in Figure 3, by means of set, screw 19, while the other end is provided with a member 36, as shown in Figure 6, adapted to coact with a coiled spring 37 interposed between the fiat surface 38 of the member 36 and the end of the push rod 17. The end is provided with an elongated adjustable 7 slot 4.0,in which a member 42 is adapted to move. This member is mounted upon a stud or pin 43 acting as a fulcrum pin for the live lever 20, the parts being held in assembled position by a cotter pin 44 or other suitable fastening means, as shown in Figure4. The slidable member 42 is All [provided with wedge shaped edges 45, as

shown in F1gure 5, whereby to cut more readily through snow and ice that might collect in the slot during the winter months. This slot provides a certain amount of lost motion, adjustable as desired, to insure brake shoe clearance at all times and the slack adjuster is not operated until this lost motion is taken up by movement of the member 42 from the position shown in Figure 1 to the opposite end of the slot, as shown in Figure 3.

The adjusting rod slides through ears 46 and 47 on the housing 25 and has secured thereon a sleeve or thimble 48 provided with flanges 50 which are adapted to coact with the dogs 26, when it is desired to move them to a position normal to the axis of the rod 17. A spring 51 normallyholds this thimble in the position shown in Figure 2 and the thinible reacts with the dog '52, holding the same in canted position.

A fulcrum stop 53 co-acts with the opposite end of the dog 52, to hold the same in pre a e re j ie 1 f either. ,P j2 or 37 should break, the other will insure a return of the parts to normal position and also a taking up of the slack. This may be better understood from Figure 8 where the slot is elongated for the member 45, which on release drops back to the line a and the spring 37, with the aid of gravity and weight of parts, will take up all of the slack independently of the spring 24.

The operation of the present device is substantially as follows: On application of the brakes, the upper end of the live lever 20 moves towards the right, causing the lower end to move relatively towards the left, reacting through the push rod to carry the brake beam strut 14 towards the left. In this manner, both struts with the associated brake beams and shoes in general are carried into engagement with the adjacent wheels, thereby to apply the brakes. it any excess travel occurs due to wear of the parts, exceeding that provided for by the slot 40, the adjusting rod 34 will be carried relatively towards the right through the ears 46 and 47 and cause a compression of the spring 37 interposed, as shown in Figure 2. and is held in position by the dog When the brakes are released, the return spring 24 draws the upper part of the live lever into full release position, so that the brake shoes drop away from the surface of the wheels, to the extent of predetermined brake shoe clearance, and the parts assume substantially the release position shown in'Figure 1. The spring 37, however, has been placed under further compression to the extent that the rod 34 moves to the right, it may be assumed, and on release of the brakes immediately tends to relieve this compression by moving the push rod 17 relatively outwardly from the tubular barrel 16, an amount equal to the excess travel of the brake rigging produced by the wear of the'parts. This relative outward movement ot the push rod 17 is permitted by reason of the location and positioning of the dogs 26.

This operation takes place on each application of the brakes-and no matter how slight the wear may be the excess travel is always takcnup in the manner above described.

Vhen the brake shoes have worn to such an extent that new ones are required. the dog 52 is tripped, that is, its upper end is moved relatively towards the right. which forces the thimble 43 in the corresponding direction and the flanges engage the outer ends of the dogs 26 and move them against the compression of their holding springs to a right angle position. When in this position the rods 17 and 34 are free to move relative to the barrel 16 ineither direction as desired. llVhen the new brake Ill nism, well adapted to accomplish amongv others all of the various objects and advantages herein set forth.

I claim:

1. In n automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a two-part telescopic push rod comprising a tubular member and a rod-like member telescoping there with, a plurality of spaced apart holding means carried by the tubular member and (re-acting with the other part, an adjusting rod associated with one of the levers for varying the effective length of said push rod, said adjusting rod having a member at one end adapted to co-act with one of said telescopic parts, and a. spring interposed between said member and the part of the push rod with which it coacts but adapted to cause variations in the effective length of said push red when excess travel of the brak rigging occurs.

, 2. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a two-part telescopic push rod intersposed between said brake levers, a plurality of holding dogs carried by one part and co-acting with the other. and a holding spring for each dog, an adjusting rod, positioned adjacent the push rod. one end of said adjusting rod being bent into line with the inner part of said push rod.

3. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a two-part telescopic push rod interposed between said brake levers, a plurality of holding dogs carried by one part and co-acting with the other. and a holding spring for each dog, an adjusting rod positioned adjacent the push rod. one end of which is bent into line with the inner part of said push rod, and a spring ccactingbetween the said inner end and the push rod adapted to cause an exn of the push rod on excess travel of e brake rigging 4-. In n automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a two-part telescopic push rod interposed between said brake levers, holding means carried by one part and co-acting with the other; an adjusting rod positioned adjacent the push rod, one end of said adjusting rod being bent into line with the inner part ot said push rod, and a spring co-acting between the said inner end and the push rod adapted to cause an expansion of the. push rod on excess travel of the brake rigging, the opposite end of said adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with one of said brake levers.

5. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a two-part telescopic push rod interposed between said brake levers, holding means carried by one part and eo-acting with the other, an ad justing rod positioned adjacent the push rod, one end of said adjusting rod being bent into line with the inner part of said push rod, and a spring coacting between the said inner end and the push rod adapted to cause an expansion of the push rod on excess travel of the brake rigging, the opposite end of said adjusting rod having an adjustable lost motion connection with one or" said brake levers.

6. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a two-part tele scopic push rod interposed between said brake levers. holding means carried by one part and co-acting with the other, an adjusting rod positioned adjacent the push rod, one end of said adjusting rod being bent into line with the inner part of said push rod, and a spring coacting between the said inner end and the push rod adapted to cause an expansion of the push rod on ere cess travel of the brake rigging. the opposite end oi said adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with one of said brake levers, said lost motion connection comprising an adjustable slotted portion and a member carried by the adjusting rod adapted to slide in said slotted portion.

7. In an automatic slack adjuster. in combination with brake levers. a two-part telescopic push rod. a self-locking adjusting rod substantially parallel thereto. compression means interposed between the ends of said adjusting rod and one of the parts of said telescopic push rod. adapted to be compressed on excess travel and expanded on release oi? the brakes to eliminate the excess travel and holding means between one of said parts of the telescopi push rod and said adjusting rod.

8. In an automatic slack adjuster. in com bination with brake le ers. a two-part il'? scopic push rod. an adjusting rod substan tially parallel thereto. compression means interposed between the ends oi said adjust-- ing rod and one of the parts of said telescopic push rod adapted to be compressed on excess travel and expanded on release of the brakes to eliminate the excess travel, and holding means coacting between the between the effective arts of said telesco ie push rod, and means for moving said dogs to a position at right angles whereby the telescoping part ot said push rod may be moved freely in either direction, said means comprising a member mounted upon said ad usting rod.

10.111 an automatic slack ad uster, in

combination with brake levers, a two-part telescopic push rod, an adjusting rod, compression means interposed between the ends of said adjusting rod and one or" the parts of said telescopic push rod, adapted to be compressed on excess travel and expanded on release of the brakes to eliminate the excess travel, a plurality of holding dogs coacting between the effective parts of said telescopic push rod, means for moving said dogs to a position at right angles to said telescopic push rod whereby the telescoping part of said push rod may be moved freely in either direction, said last mentioned means comprising a member mounted upon said adjusting rod and means for moving said member into engagement with the holding dogs for moving the holding dogs into a position normal to the axis of said push rod.

11. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a two-part telescopic push rod. the ends of whiclrare adapted to be connected to the live and dead levers oi the brake rigging,-

one part of the push rod being provided with housings, one of said housings containing a plurality of dogs normally held in canted position adapted to prevent the relative inward movement of the telescopic push rod, an adjusting rod lying parallel within the other of said housings, and a cushion spring associated. with said adjusting rod.

12. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a two-part telescopic push rod. the ends of which are adapted to be connected to the live and dead levers oi the brake rigging, one part of the push rod being provided with housings, OIlB O'i said housings containing a plurality ot' dogs normally held in canted position adapted to prevent the relative inward movement of the telescopic push rod, and adjusting rod lying parallel within the other of said housings, and a cushlon spring associated with said adjusting rod, said adjusting rod being adapted to have a lost motion connection with the live lever, said cushion spring maintaining constant lost motion at all times.

13. In a slack-adjuster, in combination, a two-part telescopic push rod, the outer ends o t which are adapted to be connected with the live and dead levers respectively, an adjusting rod positioned substantially parallel i'llGl'QJO, a housing through which both of said rods pass, a plurality of dogs in said housing, some of said dogs co-acting with the telescopic part of the push rod only, and another of said dogs co-acting with the adjusting rod, and spring means normally holding said dogs in canted posi tion, said last mentioned dog projecting outwardly from the housing whereby it may be moved to a position normal to the axis of the adjusting rod and simultaneously move the other dogs therewith.

14;. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a two-part telescopic push rod, the outer ends of which are adapted to be connected to the live and dead levers of a brake rigging, one part of said push rod being tubular in shape, a housing formed on the tubular part of said push rod, perforated ears, adjusting rods passing through said ears and lying substantially parallel to the into parallel position.

15. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a two-part telescopic push rod, therouter ends of which are adapted to be connected to the live and dead levers of a brake rigging, one part of said push rod being tubular in form, a housing formed on the tubular part of said push rod, perforated ears, the adjusting rod passing through said ears and lying substantially parallel to the telescoping part of said push rod, a plurality of dogs adapted to coact with the push rod, and a dog co-acting with both the push rod and the adjusting rod and projecting out wardly therefrom whereby it may be moved to a position normal to the axes of said rods, and a member actuating the other dogs into parallel position, and independently actuated springs one for each of said dogs.

' 16. In a slack adjuster, in'eombination, a two-part telescopic pushrod, the outer ends of which are adapted to be connected to the live and dead levers oi? a brake rig- I ging, one part of said push rod being tubular in form, a housing formed on the tubuevepee an adjusting rod passing through said ears and lying substantially parallel to the telescoping part of said push rod, a plurality of dogs adapted to co-act with the push rod, and a dog co-acting with both the push rod and the adjusting rod and projecting outwardly therefrom whereby it may be moved to a position normal to the axes of said rode, a member actuated by the movement of said last mentioned dog to move the other dogs into parallel position, independently actuated springs, one for each dog, and a cushion spring associated with the adjusting rod adapted to insure constant brake shoe clearance at all times.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE.

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