Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
  • F16D65/00—Parts or details
  • F16D65/38—Slack adjusters
  • F16D65/40—Slack adjusters mechanical
  • F16D65/52—Slack adjusters mechanical self-acting in one direction for adjusting excessive play
  • F16D65/56—Slack adjusters mechanical self-acting in one direction for adjusting excessive play with screw-thread and nut
  • F16D65/561—Slack adjusters mechanical self-acting in one direction for adjusting excessive play with screw-thread and nut for mounting within the confines of a drum brake
  • F16D65/563—Slack adjusters mechanical self-acting in one direction for adjusting excessive play with screw-thread and nut for mounting within the confines of a drum brake arranged adjacent to service brake actuator, e.g. on parking brake lever, and not subjected to service brake force
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
  • F16D65/00—Parts or details
  • F16D65/38—Slack adjusters
  • F16D65/40—Slack adjusters mechanical
  • F16D65/52—Slack adjusters mechanical self-acting in one direction for adjusting excessive play
  • F16D65/56—Slack adjusters mechanical self-acting in one direction for adjusting excessive play with screw-thread and nut
  • F16D65/561—Slack adjusters mechanical self-acting in one direction for adjusting excessive play with screw-thread and nut for mounting within the confines of a drum brake
  • F16D65/566—Slack adjusters mechanical self-acting in one direction for adjusting excessive play with screw-thread and nut for mounting within the confines of a drum brake having a temperature-sensitive element preventing adjustment when brake is hot

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an adjuster strut for use in drum brake assemblies to compensate for wear in friction lining.
• Adjuster struts are employed in drum brake assemblies in order to progressively adjust the separation between pairs of brake shoes as brake friction lining wears.
• a simplified example of a brake assembly that employs an adjuster strut is shown in Figure 1 , and this shows a drum brake assembly 1.
• the assembly 1 includes a pair of brake shoes 3 of T-shaped cross-section, an abutment 4 disposed between one pair of facing ends of the brake shoes 3 and about which the brake shoes can pivot, a hydraulic actuator 5 that applies an actuating force during brake actuation against the other pair of facing ends of the brake shoes 3, to move the brake shoes radially outwardly and into braking engagement with the internal braking surface of the drum 2, and an adjuster strut 6.
• the adjuster strut 6 is disposed generally horizontally in engagement with the inwardly depending web of one (or each) of the T-shaped brake shoes 3 and the web of the parking brake lever and in absence of an actuating force being applied to the brake shoes 3 by the hydraulic actuator 5, the respective webs engage either end of the strut 6 under the biasing influence of a return spring 7 and locate the shoes radially.
• the length of the strut 6 determines the radial spacing of the brake shoes 3 when no braking force is being applied.
• the adjuster strut 6 is lengthwise adjustable to increase the separation of the brake shoes and thus compensate for lining wear. It is the manner in which the adjuster strut is lengthened that the present invention has principal concern.
• a further strut arrangement is shown in European Publication No. 0262014, in the name of Bendix France and this strut suffers the same drawbacks associated with the above described known strut.
• This and the earlier known forms of adjuster strut are indicative of known struts in general, which typically are complex in construction.
• European patent application EP 936 375 discloses a further strut arrangement that includes a rotatable wheel having internal and external parts. The respective parts are coaxial and are relatively rotatable in one direction of rotation and mutually rotatable in the opposite direction, by way of a clutch arrangement disposed between the parts.
• the internal part can shift axially on a threaded shank to move the rotatable wheel, and by that movement, compensate for lining wear.
• This arrangement suffers from the drawbacks associated with the earlier discussed prior art in its complexity and cost to manufacture and its potential for failure and requirement for maintenance. It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjuster strut which is of reduced complexity compared to known
• an adjuster strut for use in a drum brake assembly to shift the brake shoes of the assembly radially outwardly to as to compensate for wear in brake friction lining, said strut being of adjustable elongate extent and having axially extended and retracted conditions, said strut including engagement means disposed at opposite ends thereof for engaging opposed braking members of the brake assembly, a rotatable member which is rotatable about the lengthwise axis of said strut, an axially movable member which is movable axially upon forward rotation of said rotatable member to lengthen the elongate extent of said strut, in said retracted condition, and biasing means for biasing said strut toward said axially extended condition upon radial expansion of the brake shoes of said brake assembly during brake actuation, said rotatable member having an axially disposed face and a cam surface formed on said face, said cam surface defining a plurality of teeth formed in an annular ring, said strut including
• braking members is to be understood as including the opposed brake shoes of a brake assembly and if provided, the parking brake lever of the assembly.
• the rotatable and axially movable members are shifted by the biasing means to an axially extended position, and the arm resiiiently pivots from a rest or home position in a forward direction and by that pivoting movement, the free end of the arm rotates the rotatable member in the forward direction to relatively extend the axially movable member.
• the rotatable and axially movable members retract axially from the axially extended position, while the arm returns to the rest position which causes the free end of the arm to shift relative to the cam surface in the reverse direction.
• the free end moves past one tooth of the cam surface to a position adjacent a circumferentially spaced tooth.
• the arm is positioned adjacent a new tooth, it is positioned to catch or engage that new tooth and to rotate the rotatable member forward by that engagement during radial expansion of the brake shoes.
• the arm can be arranged to operate either in tension or compression.
• the arm typically would undergo tensile loading when the axially movable member is shifted axially outwardly to extend the length of the strut and that tensile loading would cause the arm to pivot and rotate the rotatable member in the forward direction.
• the arm be arranged for compression loading to rotate the rotatable member and in that arrangement, rotation of the rotatable member occurs during return axial movement of the axially movable member.
• the arm may pivot and thus the free end portion thereof may shift relative to the cam surface during outward axial movement of the axially movable member, without rotating the rotatable member in the forward direction.
• the free end portion may engage a tooth of the cam surface, such that upon return axial movement of the axially movable member, with the arm in compression, the arm may rotate the rotatable member in the forward direction and thus adjustably lengthen the strut as required.
• the arm is mounted to the strut, such as to the body of the strut, or to a bracket connected to the body, and the arm extends in the manner required into engagement with the cam surface of the rotatable member.
• the arm may be fixed to or depend from a part of the brake assembly to which the adjuster strut is applied.
• the arm may be mounted by attachment to the radially inwardly depending web of a T-shaped brake shoe.
• the mounting position of the arm is one which experiences movement relative to the rotatable body, so as to cause the arm to pivot and rotate the rotatable member during brake actuation, or alternatively, during brake release (depending on the manner in which the arm is arranged to operate).
• the arm of the strut be formed from a flat plate and that the free end be sufficiently hard to resist wear during engagement with the cam surface.
• the free end may be hardened for that purpose.
• the arm is preferably mounted obliquely to the axis of the strut so that the free end of the arm can cause the rotatable member to rotate upon axial extension of said strut.
• the rotatable member is preferably of circular cross-section and the teeth defined by the cam surface are preferably defined about the periphery of the axial face of the rotatable member.
• Each tooth may present an inclined surface in at least the forward direction of rotation of the rotatable member, although it is preferable that the teeth are formed to have inclined surfaces on both sides thereof diverging or converging in opposite directions. Those sides preferably converge to a pointed apex and the inclined sides between adjacent teeth preferably intersect to define an inverted and pointed apex. If the teeth of the cam surfaces are formed with inclined opposite faces, the free end of the arm can be arranged to slide down the rear face and further rotate the rotatable member during return axial movement of the rotatable and axially movable members.
• the teeth of the rotatable member can have any suitable pitch and height, and the arm can have any suitable angle of attack relative to the axial face of the rotatable member, dependent on the rate of change of axial extension and the desired axial travel of the axially movable member to compensate for friction lining wear.
• the shape and size of each tooth may be arranged so as to not result in axial extension of the axially movable member relative to the rotatable member upon every brake actuation. Indeed that arrangement is preferred, as the brake assembly is typically required to be applied a substantial number of times before wear of the friction lining becomes sufficient to require compensation by way of an incremental tooth rotation of the rotatable member.
• the free end of the arm may only travel fully past one tooth and reposition between a new pair of adjacent teeth, after as many brake applications are applied as are required for the friction lining to wear an amount sufficient to require compensation. If the arm free end does not fully increment past a tooth to reposition between a new pair of adjacent teeth, it may rest between brake applications, on the tooth surface, or on the cam surface between adjacent teeth. For example, if the teeth have oppositely inclined converging faces, and if the arm free end does not slide fully over the forward facing inclined tooth surface and reposition between a new pair of adjacent inclined surfaces, it may rest between brake applications, on the first mentioned inclined surface between the base and the peak thereof.
• the arm free end will rest at or near to the base between adjacent teeth when it has just incremented past a tooth, and can rest against the inclined surface of a tooth closer to the peak thereof when the lining has worn, but when the wear is not enough for the arm to increment past the peak.
• the arm in circumstances when the arm rests against an inclined forward facing surface of a tooth between brake applications, the arm, by its resilient bias, may apply a force tending to cause the rotatable member to rotate in the reverse direction.
• the invention includes means resisting or limiting that movement such that the overall movement provides for a net forward shift in the rotatable member regardless of any reverse movement.
• the biasing means performs this function as hereinafter described.
• the arrangement of the arm and the biasing means is such as to apply frictional resistance against movement of the rotatable member in the reverse direction, but to allow movement in the forward direction.
• the biasing means therefore applies a force resisting rotation of the rotatable member, that exceeds any force applied by the arm to the rotatable member in the reverse rotating direction, but which is less than the force applied by the arm to the rotatable member in the forward rotating direction.
• the resistance to reverse rotation permits the free end of the arm to shift in a net forward movement relative to the cam surface upon separation or return movement of the braking members preferably without any, or at most minor reverse rotation of the rotatable member.
• Figure 2 shows an adjuster strut according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through III-III of Figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through IV-IV of Figure 2.
• Figure 5 is a view showing the tangential and axial components of movement imparted by the pivotal movement of the arm of Figure 2.
• Figure 6 is a part view of an adjuster strut according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 7 is a view according to Figure 4 but taken at right angles thereto.
• Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of an adjuster strut according to the invention.
• Figure 9 is a detailed view ofthe arm mounting arrangement of Figure 8.
• Figure 10 is a detailed view of the spring arrangement of Figure 8 taken at right angles thereto.
• Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken through XI-XI of Figure 8.
• Figure 12 shows a further embodiment of an adjuster strut according to the invention.
• Figure 13 is a detailed view of an alternative composite bimetal spring arrangement of Figure 12.
• Figure 14 is a cross sectional view taken through XIV-XIV of Figure 12.
• the adjuster strut 10 is of elongate form and includes a bifurcated end 11 for locating that end of the strut against the radially inwardly depending web of a parking brake lever 8 (see Figure 1).
• a body 12 can be of any suitable length depending on the width of the gap between opposed brake shoes that the strut 10 is required to straddle.
• the body 12 shown is cylindrical, although it could have any suitable cross-section, such as square or rectangular.
• the body 12 includes a tapered neck 13 (although this is not essential), which tapers to an at least partly tubular head section 14.
• the head section 14 is also cylindrical, but of a smaller diameter compared to the section of the body extending between the neck 13 and the bifurcated end 11. Likewise, the head section 14 could have other suitable cross-sections.
• a bracket 15 is attached to the head section 14 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
• the bracket 15 is shown having a generally cylindrical inner surface 16 of the same diameter of the outer surface of the head section 14, so as to fit generally flush against that surface.
• the bracket 15 is formed to be resiiiently expandable to fit about the head section 14 as shown, so that the bracket may be clipped on to the head section.
• it can be attached to the body by any other suitable methods.
• the bracket 15 extends approximately about half the circumference of the head section 14, and is held against movement relative to the head section 14 by the provision of an opening 17 formed in the bracket for receiving a protrusion 18 extending from the head section.
• the protrusion 18 may be formed in any suitable manner and in Figure 3, the protrusion 18 is formed as an integral extension by machining the head section 14. In an alternative arrangement, a grub screw may be threaded into position in the head section 14 and protrude into the opening 17 in the same manner. Further alternatives also exist such as permanent fixing by welding, or by machining a suitable platform when the head section is formed.
• the bracket 15 includes an outwardly extending raised section 19 that extends away from the outer surface 20 of the head section 14 to provide a cavity 21 between the outer surface and the inner surface 16 of the bracket 15. That cavity 21 is provided to accommodate a leg section 22 of a leg 23 of a leaf spring 24.
• the leg 23 includes an elongate slot 25, that permits the bracket 15 to extend therethrough and thereby locate the leaf spring relative to the head section 14.
• the leaf spring 24 is angularly located by the bracket 15 to the head section 14, but a more secure arrangement is not required.
• the leaf spring 24 includes a foot 26 that extends at an obtuse angle, for example at approximately 95° to the leg 23. That angle is however, able to be altered, depending on the characteristics of adjuster construction and performance required.
• the foot 26 engages the underneath surface of a nut 27 and exerts a biasing influence on the nut in a direction approximately axially away from the head section 14.
• the leaf spring 24 illustrated is one form of biasing means appropriate for the invention. Thus, other biasing arrangements may equally be employed.
• biasing means 70 differs from the arrangement of the leaf spring 24, in that it does not require the inter-engagement of the bracket 15 through the slot 25 of the Figure 2 arrangement.
• the biasing means 70 however still includes a leaf spring 71, and to assist in understanding the operation of the biasing means 70, reference is made to Figure 13 which shows an equivalent leaf spring 71.
• the leaf spring 71 is modified to include a bimetal strip 73, for purposes which will be described later.
• the leaf spring 71 engages the head section 314 of the strut 300 at two regions P ⁇ and P 2 on opposite sides of the head 314.
• the spring 71 also engages the end face 330 of the nut 327, at a position substantially axially aligned with the engagement position of the arm 337 with the cam surface 331.
• Such substantial axial alignment is preferred to prevent or minimise rocking or tilting movement of the nut 327 during axial extension and retraction of the strut 300. This type of arrangement is discussed further in relation to Figures 4 and 7.
• the spring 71 is prevented from rotation about the longitudinal axis of the strut 300, by engagement within a recess 72 in the bracket 315, which is most clearly shown in Figure 14.
• the forward end of the spring 71 as shown in Figure 12 is formed with a U or V configuration to contact the head 314 at two different points. This centralises the spring 71 to eliminate or reduce the possibility of interference between the spring and the shank of the screw 333.
• the spring 71 acts against both the nut 327 and the head 314 to bias the nut away from the head, in much the same manner as the leaf spring 24.
• the arrangement of Figures 12 to 14 is considered to be more advantageous, because it permits the bracket 315 to have a more simplified construction. In that respect, the bracket can be attached to the head 314 by a press fit (or other suitable arrangement). It is also considered that a spring of this kind will be easier to fit to the strut than the spring 24.
• biasing means can take a variety of different forms.
• the biasing means is therefore not restricted to a particular biasing arrangement.
• the nut 27 is formed with a head 28 and a neck 29, which are both cylindrical, but of different outside diameters as shown.
• the end face 30 of the neck 29 is engaged by the foot 26 of the leaf spring as described above, while the outer edge 31 of the end face 32 of the head 28 is a cam surface, forming an annular ring of teeth.
• the teeth are formed by a series of oppositely inclined faces creating a surface of adjacent peaks and troughs.
• the teeth could however be formed in a different manner, such as in a sinusoidal form or castellated arrangement comprising a series of upright square or rectangular members that are spaced apart.
• the nut 27 includes a threaded bore into which a screw 33 is threaded.
• the screw 33 has a threaded shank 34 and a slotted or bifurcated head 35.
• the head 35 is slotted to engage the radially inwardly depending web of a second and oppositely facing T-shaped brake shoe in the same or similar manner to the bifurcated end 11. Engagement of the screw 33 with the web of a brake shoe prevents rotary movement of the screw relative to that web.
• each end of the strut, namely the bifurcated end 11 and the screw 33 are held by the respective brake shoes against rotation.
• the threaded shank 34 extends through each of the nut 27, the foot 26 of the leaf spring 24, and the tubular end portion 36 (see Figures 3 and 4).
• the interior surface of the tubular portion 36 of the head section 14 is not threaded and provides clearance between it and the threaded shank 34, which is therefore freely rotatable therewithin. This arrangement also permits the threaded shank 34 to move axially within the tubular portion 36 relative to the head section 14 upon relative rotation between the nut 27 and the screw 33.
• the adjuster strut 10 further includes a arm 37 that is secured by nuts or rivets 38 to an arm 39 of the bracket 15.
• the arm 37 extends from the arm 39 to the end face 32 of the nut 27 and a free end 40 of the arm 37 engages the annular ring of teeth of the cam surface 31 thereof.
• the length of the adjuster strut 10 is altered by rotation of the nut 27. Nut rotation results in axial movement of the screw 33 either to lengthen or shorten the axial length of the strut 10.
• the strut 10 is employed to take up any wear of friction lining and therefore it is normal for the strut to extend. Shortening of the strut 10 is however necessary when new lining is applied to the brake shoes.
• each of the bifurcated ends 11 and 35 engage about the radially inwardly depending webs of the brake shoes and/or the parking brake lever and that engagement locates the screw 33 axially.
• the webs are displaced axially (relative to the strut) and the screw 33 is no longer axially restrained in the same position by its respective web.
• the axial position of the screw 33 is then controlled by the leaf spring 24 and the arm 37, the leaf spring pushing against the neck 29 of the nut 27 to move the screw 27 axially outwardly, while the free end 40 of the arm 37 constrains that outward axial movement.
• cam surface 31 of the nut 27 and the cooperation thereof with the arm 37 is such as to permit rotation of the nut 27 about the axis of the screw threaded shank 34 during axial movement of the nut 27 and the screw 33.
• the mechanics of that motion are shown in Figures 4 and 5.
• FIG 4 a part cross-sectional view of the adjuster strut 10 is shown.
• This view shows the strut 10 in a rest or brakes off condition when the brake shoes are radially contracted, such as in Figure 1.
• a brake shoe 41 and a friction lining 42 attached thereto are shown.
• the web 43 of the brake shoe 41 is shown received within the bifurcated screw head 35.
• the engagement between the web 43 and the head 35 is such as to locate the screw 33 against outward axial movement.
• the arm 37 Upon outward axial movement of the screw and nut arrangement, the arm 37 is caused to pivot to the position 37 P in the manner shown in Figure 5 with a resultant shift of the foot portion 40 thereof an amount S in a direction L, lateral to the arm 37. Because of the oblique engagement of the free end 40 with the cam surface 31 , the free end catches a tooth of that surface and rotates the nut 27. That is, the lateral shift of the foot portion 40 causes the nut 27 to rotate an amount in the direction L lateral to the direction D equal to the shift SH by virtue of the foot portion 40 being caught in the trough between adjacent teeth.
• the foot portion 40 will ride up and over the apex of the tooth and down the opposite inclined face (which is preferred), positioning the arm 37 for the next incremental adjustment.
• the nut 27 is rotated by the movement shown and described in Figure 5 during radial brake shoe expansion.
• the profile of the cam surface 31 is formed appropriately such that an incremental shift in the nut 27 is sufficient to extend the threaded shank 34 enough to compensate for lining wear, but importantly, not to over compensate.
• the adjuster strut 10 conveniently provides gradual or incremental adjustment each time wear of the friction lining exceeds a certain predetermined amount.
• the strut 10 operates in a manner which has been found acceptable to the automotive industry.
• the strut 10 includes only six separate components which makes its manufacture and assembly significantly less complex than known adjuster struts.
• the adjuster strut comprises two groups which are relatively movable axially, i.e. are movable together or apart, and that movement is caused by two different forces which respectively act in opposite axial directions.
• the first force is applied by the braking members to each end of the strut generally by the shoe return spring and that force applies a compressive force to the strut tending to move the two strut groups together.
• the second force is applied by the leaf spring which tends to move the two strut groups apart.
• the shoe return spring dominates and the two groups are firmly held together.
• the hydraulic actuator overcomes the shoe return spring which permits the leaf spring to bias the two groups apart and to allow the compensation mechanism to act. It is this back and forth motion that results in rotation of the nut 27 to axially shift the screw 33 upon wear of friction lining.
• the adjuster strut 10 shown in the drawings can be modified if desirable in a number of ways.
• the arm 37 may still include a foot portion 40 for engaging the face of the nut 27, or the arm 37 may extend without such a foot portion directly into engagement with the nut.
• Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 6, in which like parts relating to the earlier drawings are identified by the same reference numeral, plus 100.
• the adjuster strut 100 includes a leaf spring 124, a nut 127 having a cam surface 131 facing the head section 114 of the strut body.
• biasing means can be applied both to the screw 133 and the strut body in opposite directions as shown, to assist to maintain those parts of the strut in engagement with the shoe web and the park brake lever respectively (in the same manner as the adjuster strut 10). Any suitable biasing means can be employed for that purpose.
• the arm 137 is fixed to the bracket 115 by rivets 138 and extends into engagement with the cam surface 131 at an oblique angle thereto as shown.
• the arm 137 is shown with the strut 100 in an axially extended condition and the nut 127 undergoes rotation in the direction D upon axial return movement thereof by its engagement with the free end of the arm 137. That is, as the nut 127 returns axially, its engagement with the arm 137 requires it to rotate.
• engagement of the leaf spring 124 with the nut 127 resists reverse rotation of the nut 127.
• the bracket 15 may be modified such that it comprises a machined component instead of a largely pressed and stamped component as shown in the drawings.
• the free end of the arm 37 be disposed obliquely to the axis of the nut 27 and therefore be inclined relative to the axial end face 32 of the nut 27, so that engagement between the free end and the cam surface is such as to promote forward rotation of the nut 27 upon sufficient axial movement thereof.
• the arm 37 is formed from temperature sensitive material, such as a bimetallic material or a shape memory metal, or includes a bimetallic material or shape memory metal, that causes the arm to move in the direction L ( Figure 5) and out of engagement with the cam surface 31 , when the brake assembly to which the strut 10 is connected, heats through prolonged or excessive use.
• temperature sensitive material such as a bimetallic material or a shape memory metal
• the arm 37 prevents the arm 37 from rotating the nut 27 and extending the screw 33 in circumstances when the heat allows the brake shoes to be radially expanded more than would occur when the brake operates under normal conditions. That typically would occur because of heat expansion of the brake drum.
• the brake shoes will undergo greater radial travel to engage the friction lining against the braking surface of the drum than under normal circumstances, and if the arm 37 remains in engagement with the nut 27, the arm can cause the nut to rotate and extend the screw 33, even though the friction lining has not worn to a level that demands compensation. That can result in over adjustment of the adjuster strut and may cause engagement of the friction lining with the drum braking surface when the brake assembly has cooled thus causing brakes-off drag.
• the arm 37 may be formed out of a suitable temperature sensitive material, or if such a material does not perform in the manner required (a bimetallic material or a shape memory metal may not have suitable resilience for example) the arm may be formed from a suitable material, such as a resilient spring material to which a bimetallic or memory metal strip is attached. Thus, the arm 37 may be formed in a composite manner.
• the leaf spring 24 of Figure 2 may be formed of a temperature sensitive material, while the arm 37 is formed of a standard spring material.
• the spring 24 may reduce the biasing influence applied to the nut 27 during excessive heat conditions, to disable engagement between the free end 40 of the arm 37 and the cam surface 31 of the nut 27, thereby disabling the adjusting mechanism of the adjuster strut. It may not be necessary that the entire spring 24 be formed from a temperature sensitive material, but rather, only the foot 26 for example, may be formed from that material. Alternatively, and preferably, the leg 23 may be formed from the temperature sensitive material. A still further alternative exists in that the spring 24 may be formed from spring steel and be acted on by a temperature sensitive material in any suitable manner to achieve the desired disabling movement.
• the leaf spring 71 has a different shape to the leaf spring 24, yet that spring could also be formed of a temperature sensitive material, either fully or as a composite construction. Alternatively, a member made out of such a material, or an assembly employing such a material could act on the spring 71 for the same purpose.
• a bimetal strip 73 may be attached to the underneath surface of the leaf spring 71 , such as by a rivet 74 and upon excessive heat conditions, that strip 73 may bend away from the underneath surface of the spring 71 at the end thereof remote from the rivet 74, so as to reduce the biasing influence of the spring 71 against the end face 330 of the nut 327.
• Figure 4 shows the substantial alignment of the opposing reaction forces R B (arm force) and Rs (spring force) that act on the nut 27.
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at right angles to the Figure 4 view.
• a slight offset A is shown by way of example, and that offset imposes a small bias on the nut 27 which produces a tilting moment on the nut during axial extension and retraction. This is preferable, because zero offset can be unstable and the nut may rock one way or the other during actuation. Only a small offset and hence a small tilting moment is desirable however, as a large offset which causes a large tilting moment reduces efficiency of adjusting motion.
• FIG 8 A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 8, and in this figure, the mounting position of the arm is on the web of a T-shaped brake shoe.
• like parts of Figure 6 are identified by the same reference numeral, plus 100.
• Figure 8 shows a T-shaped brake shoe 50, having a radially inwardly depending web 51 and a platform 52 for supporting a friction lining (not shown).
• the web 51 is notched at 53 to accept and locate the bifurcated head 235 of the screw 233.
• the opposite end 211 of the adjuster strut 200 is also bifurcated and engages the inwardly depending web of a parking brake lever 208.
• the head 235 is an axially sliding fit on an unthreaded shank portion 234 of the screw 233. As will be described later, the head 235 is axially movable relative to the shank portion 234, on expanding and return movement of the brake shoes.
• the Figure 8 arrangement includes a cam surface 231 , which is formed into a plurality of teeth arranged in an annular ring.
• the cam surface 231 is axially disposed and faces away from the head 235 and is provided on a flange 227 which is formed integrally with the unthreaded shank portion 234 as well as a threaded shank portion 54.
• the threaded shank portion 54 is threadably engaged within a tubular strut portion 55.
• the flange 227 is generally equivalent in most respects to the rotatable nut provided in the earlier embodiments. However, it is termed a "flange" on the basis of its integral formation with each of the shank portions 234 and 54.
• axial movement between the respective threaded and tubular portions 54 and 55 is by relative rotation only.
• a arm 237 is mounted on the web 51 of the brake shoe 50 in the manner shown in Figure 9.
• the web 51 is punched to form an opening 56 and a leg 57, the latter of which supports one end of the arm 237, by way of rivets 238.
• the arm 237 extends from the web 51 , obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the strut 200, to engage the cam surface 231 at an oblique angle for resilient pivoting movement upon axial extension of the strut.
• Axial extension of the strut 200 can occur by way of axial sliding movement of the head 235 relative to the unthreaded shank portion 234 and by relative rotation between the threaded portion 54 and the tubular portion 55.
• the axial sliding movement is promoted by a spring 58 that is disposed between the flange 227 and the head 235 and which imposes a biasing force therebetween to axially extend the strut 200.
• the spring 58 is shown in Figures 10 and 11 and from these figures, it can be seen that the spring is formed from bent flat plate which is hinged at 59 and which bears against facing surfaces of the head 235 and the nut 227.
• the spring 58 further includes an aperture 60 that permits accommodation of the unthreaded shank portion 234.
• the brake shoe 50 moves radially outwardly (the actuator that promotes that movement is not shown) and, in accordance with the previously discussed embodiments, the strut 200 extends lengthwise by sliding movement of the head 235 relative to the shank portion 234, and by that movement, the end 211 and the head 235 are maintained in engagement with the brake shoe web 51 and the parking brake lever 208 respectively. Sliding movement of the head 235 is essentially the same each time the brake assembly is actuated.
• the head 235 is intended to return axially on the shank portion 234 when brake actuation is ceased and therefore, it contributes to no permanent extension of the strut 200 for lining wear compensation.
• radial expansion of the brake shoes results in movement of the leg 57 and thus the arm 237, relative to the flange 227. That movement results in resilient pivoting of the arm 237 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 8), so that the flange 227, and thus the threaded portion 54, is rotated in the direction D.
• the unthreaded shank portion 234 is also rotated, but that portion simply slips relative to the head 235.
• the relative rotation between the threaded portion 54 and the tubular portion 55 axially extends the strut 200.
• FIG. 8 shows the brake shoe 50 radially expanded and thus the head 235 is in an axially extended condition under the biasing influence of the spring 58, leaving a gap G between it and the axial end of the shank portion 234.
• the head 235 slides axially on the unthreaded shank portion 234 toward the flange 227 and against the biasing influence of the spring 58, reducing or eliminating the gap G and closing the spring 58.
• the arm 237 resiiiently pivots to its rest or home position and the free end thereof which is in contact with the cam surface 231 , shifts relative to that surface in a direction opposite to the direction D.
• the arm 237 be bent away from its home or rest position to disengage it from contact with the cam surface 231. This is also preferable when the strut is being automatically adjusted to the correct length in the production line, and when a brake shoe is being replaced in the field.
• the web 51 includes an opening 63, through which a pin may be inserted for that purpose.
• the arm 237 overlaps slightly the opening 63 and a pin inserted into the opening will engage the arm and cause it to pivot or bend away from the position shown.
• the pin may be removed from the opening and the arm will return into connection with the cam surface 231 ready for operation.
• Figures 8 to 11 are advantageous, in that a arm 237 formed of, or in part by a bimetallic strip, is exposed more directly to heat build- up in the brake assembly, because of its direct connection to the brake shoe 50. Additionally, the strip is better protected, by connection to the web 51 beneath the platform 52, while a bracket of the kind shown in Figures 2 and 4 is not required.
• the arm 237 may be made of normal spring metal and the spring 58 may be formed of a temperature sensitive material or as a composite with such a material, whereby on sufficient heat generation, the spring reduces its biasing influence, so that the arm 237 is disabled from the cam surface 231 of the flange 227.
• the spring 58 could, for example, be formed of a temperature sensitive material at its hinge 59, or more preferably, to be formed as a composite at that hinge.
• the effect of the use of temperature sensitive materials, such as bimetals and shape memory metals as described hereinbefore, is as a disabling mechanism to disable the strut against axial extension at times when compensation for friction lining wear is not required, but when in the prevailing conditions, the assembly would otherwise permit the strut to lengthen axially.
• the arm of the invention takes the form of a flat blade-like member.
• the arm of the invention is not however limited to such a blade and could for example be otherwise formed, such as by a suitable wire. Other materials or forms of arms could equally be employed.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Braking Arrangements (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-11-07 TW TW089123481A patent/TW477874B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-11-08 BR BR0015450-4A patent/BR0015450A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-11-08 JP JP2001536891A patent/JP4846153B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-08 WO PCT/AU2000/001377 patent/WO2001034992A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2000-11-08 CN CNB008172099A patent/CN100334366C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
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  • 2000-11-08 EP EP00974166A patent/EP1230494B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-08 ES ES00974166T patent/ES2259616T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-08 KR KR1020027005974A patent/KR100702594B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-08 DE DE60026564T patent/DE60026564T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-08 MX MXPA02004643A patent/MXPA02004643A/es active IP Right Grant
• 2002
  • 2002-05-09 US US10/143,494 patent/US6691838B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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