US1522277A - Slack adjuster - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1925.

W. H. SAUVAGE SLACK ADJUSTER Filed March 8, 1923 A r :l i ainh? kk 0 z i 4! & Q

Fatented Jan. 6, 1925,

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

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

SLACK ADJUSTER.

Application filed, March 8, 1923. Serial No. 62357 To all whom it may concern Be it known that WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, hasinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Slack Adjusters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in slack adjusters, and more particularly to automatic slack adjuster mechanism associated with the foundation brake rigging of railway vehicles. The invention will hereinafter he described with relation to its application to the brake cylinder usually located centrally beneath the car floor and to which the main levers are adapted to be connected.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical slack adjuster mechanism adapted tobe directly associated with the primary brake rigging of railway cars, which will be reliable and eflicient in use and operation. a V

A further object isto provide an automatic slack adjuster, particularly applicable to foundation brake rigging, which will insure uniform piston travel at all times.

A further object is to provide a compact, durable and efficient slack adjuster mechanism of the above general character which may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled.

Other. objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings showing one of various possible embodiments of the invention and in the several views of which similar parts are designated by corresponding reference characters.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of the brake cylinder and associated parts; 7

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of the slack adjuster mechanism; and Y Figure 3 is a vertical view of the brake cylinder and associated parts. 7

Referring now. to the drawings in detail, 5 designates the brake cylinder normally positioned centrally beneath the car floor. This cylinder is provided with an inlet pipe 6 for directing air or other fluid pressure means to the interior for co-action with a piston 8 provided with a piston rod 9 and a return spring 10. The piston rod 9 cooperates with a live lever 11, as shown in Figure 3. A dead lever 12 is pivotally connected at its upper end to a bifurcated portion 13 of an adjusting rod 14, which is supported in a casing 15 mounted on the car frame 16, and also from a pivotal connection 17 at one end of the cylinder 5. This also urged relatively towards the left by means of a spring 25 asshown. The entire housmg 23 is movable towards and from the hous1ng21 on excess movement of the piston 8 by means'of a bent rod 26 having a portion 27 within the cylinder 5 adapted to be engaged by the piston 8. When excess travel takes place, the entire rod-26 is moved relatively towards the left, causing nuts 28 at its opposite end to engage with a support- 30 associated with the housing 23 and move said housing towards the left against the action of a spiral spring 31 surrounding the rod 14:. The housings 21 and 23- have an inter-fitting locking engagement, as indicated at 32 for the purposeof preventing relative turning movement of the two housings. v 4

It is, of course, to be understood that the dogs 20 and 24 are of substantially the type shown in my numerous prior patents and comprise rectangular pieces of high grade metal having holes therein through which the rod 14 is adapted to pass. a The edges'of the holes in the dogs are preferably hardened in order to insure a longer life and durable biting engagement with the rod.- These dogs will permit the rod to move rela-. tively in one direction, that is, towards the right, but will not permit a movement in the opposite direction.

The .apparatus herein shown and 'de-.

ing manner: When air is admittedtothe cylinder 5 through the port 6, the piston 8 is moved over its predetermined distance acting and reacting upon the live and dead cylinder leversgn and'12, Figure 3,.to cause the usual application of the brakes. If, however, due to wear of the parts, brake shoes and wheels, excess travel takes place then the piston engages the end 27 of the rod 26 and moves that towards the left a distance exactly equal to the excess travel of the piston. This, in. turn, moves the housing 23 towards the left, compressing the springl as shown inFigureQ. dog atQtduringthis operation is free to slide along the-rod 14. hen the brakes are released'the spring 31 will expand and the dog 24c, having a new point of engagement with the rodl l, will cause the same to move towards the right a distance exactlyequal to the excess travel, as shown, for example, by the dotted line position of the rod 14. That is, the rod 14 is pulled,

towardsthe rightifreely through the dogs 20,, whic h in turn, take up av further biting.

or looking engagement with the rod. 14:. This actionis repeated from time to time as wear takes place until the bifurcated connection 13 moves nearly to the end of its path of travelin the pivoted arm or support 15, at which time it is necessary to replace the worn parts, brake. shoes, etc., and re-adjust the mechanism, In order to do this the dogs 20 and .24 are moved in any desired mannerto a, position at right angles to the axis of the rod 14 whereupon this rod, 14 may be restored to its normal' position, as shown in Figure 1.

In order to perm1t. ease of assembly, the

support 1 5.is :provided with a screw plug. 33 for inserting, the pivot pin 34 in the top of the dead lever12, The head of this pin is then looked in place by replacing the plug ar d travels in suitable grooves 35. The ylinder may also be. provided with a leak groove..36; to allow the escape of any air that mav slowly leak 'intolthecylihder, but is, not of sufiic'ient, size to interfere with the normal application. of. the brakes.

It will thus be seen that the present in; vention provides a simple and practical slack adjuster mechanism which willbe reli-, able and et ficient in use and operation. The

parts may ,be inexpensively, manufactured and assembled and applied to brake rigging now general use without material modification or alteration. ofthe .lever, mechae nism, I f

Without further analysis, the foregoing will .so fully revealthe gist of this invention that, others can, by applying current, knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that from thestandpoint of the prior art fairly con'stit ite essential characteristics of the generic or 'sp ecifi c aspects ofthis. invention iae esissash dar aaenssla ea d The are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the "following claims.

rod, adapted to be actuated on excess piston travel, means for moving said rod on excess travel to a newly adjustedposition, said last named means including a member adapted to be engaged by said piston on excess travel thereof'and means for holding said rod in said newly adjusted position.

2. Ina slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, a cylinder having a piston adapted to be connected with a live lever, an adjusting rod adapted to supporta dead lever, permanent and tempo-' .ra-ry take up and holding means movable relatively towards and from each other during excess travel of the piston and release of the brakes and positioned in housings therefor, said take-up means each .compria ing a 'dogadapted to have a gripping engagement with the adjusting rod, and spring means between said housing acting upon the temporary take-up mechanism and reacting against the permanent take-up mechanism. I

3. In a slack adjuster tor foundation brake rigging, in combination, a cylinder havinga piston,,an adjusting rod, a temporary take-up mechanism coacting with said adjusting rod, means connected withsaid temporarytake upmechanism adapted to be actuated on excess piston travel, a permanent take-upmechanism, a spring between the permanent and temporary take-up mech anisms adapted to be compressed on excess travel and to expand on release of the, brakes for permanently takingvnp the slack. in the brake rigging.

4:, In a, slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging,.in combination, a cylinder having a piston a member adapted to be engaged by said, pistonon excess travel thereof, a temporary take-up mechanism .moved by said memberon excess travel, a

venting relativeturning of said housing.

5. In a slack adjuster .foro foundation brake rigging, infcombination, an adjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanent takeup and holding dogs within said housing engagingsaid rod, a temporary take up. housinghaving a dog saedssdt ed Sp means-semen till ion

said housing adapted to be compressed on excess travel and expand on release of the brakes to permanently take-up the slack.

6. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, an adjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanent take-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, a temporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring means between said housing adapted to be compressed on excess travel and expand on release of the brakes to permanently take up the slack, and means for causing relative longitudinal movement of said housing on excess piston travel.

7. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, an adjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanent take-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, a temporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring means between said housings adapted to be compressed on excess travel and expand on release of the brakes to permanently take up the slack, and means for causing relative longitudinal movement OfSEtlCl housing on excess piston travel, said means including a rod connected with the temporary take-up mechanism and having a reverse bend entering the cylinder and adapted to be engaged by the piston on excess travel.

8. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, an adjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanent take-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, a temporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, and spring means between said housings adapted to be com pressed on excess travel.

9. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, an adjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanent take-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, a temporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring means between said housings adapted to be compressed on excess travel, and means preventing relative turning movement of the two housings.

10. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, an adjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanent take-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, a temporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring means between said housing adapted to be compressed on excess travel, a lever, a pivot pin adapted to provide a pivotal connection between said lever and said rod and a guide for the pivot pin.

11. In a slack adjuster for foundation brake rigging, in combination, an adjusting rod, a support for said rod including a housing, permanent take-up and holding dogs within said housing engaging said rod, a temporary take-up housing having a dog engaging said rod, spring means between said housing adapted to be compressed on excess travel, a lever, a pivot pin adapted to provide a pivotal connection between said lever and said rod a guide for the pivot pin, and means for locking said pin in said guide.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE.

Images