Granted Patent B2

US 12,196,281 · App. 17/949,360 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventors: Akash Ashok Revankar (Karnataka, IN); Paranjothi Rajasekar (Tamil Nadu, IN)

Assignee: ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India Limited

F16D65/68

Abstract

Claims (58)

1. An automatic slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 ) for a braking system of an automotive vehicle, the automatic slack adjuster comprising:

a lever ( 3 , 103 , 203 ) configured to be operatively coupled to a push rod of a brake actuator,

wherein the lever pivots about a rotational axis (R) when actuated by the push rod ( 117 , 217 ), the rotational axis (R) having a predetermined fixed location relative to the vehicle,

wherein a stroke level of the slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 ) is moveable from a predetermined zero stroke position ( 7 a , 107 a , 207 a ) and through a working stroke range ( 7 b ), and

an electronic detection unit ( 9 , 109 , 209 ) that determines a current stroke level of the automatic slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 ) within the working stroke range ( 7 b ), wherein the working stroke range is a predetermined operating range;

wherein the electronic detection unit ( 9 ) comprises:

a stroke indicator element ( 11 ) positioned on the automatic slack adjuster ( 1 ) such that the lever ( 3 ) pivots relative to the stroke indicator element ( 11 ) about the rotational axis (R) as a function of the current stroke level of the automatic slack adjuster ( 1 ), and

a sensor arrangement ( 13 ) positioned on the lever ( 3 ) in the proximity of the indicator element ( 11 ), wherein the sensor arrangement ( 13 ) determines a position of the indicator element ( 11 ) relative to the sensor arrangement ( 9 )

wherein the stroke indicator element ( 11 ) further comprises a mounting piece ( 15 ) configured to attach the stroke indicator element ( 11 ) in a fixed location to the vehicle.

2. The automatic slack adjuster ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement ( 13 ) comprises at least one of an inductive sensor, a capacitance sensor, or a hall sensor.

3. An automatic slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 ) for a braking system of an automotive vehicle, the automatic slack adjuster comprising:

a lever ( 3 , 103 , 203 ) configured to be operatively coupled to a push rod of a brake actuator,

wherein the lever pivots about a rotational axis (R) when actuated by the push rod ( 117 , 217 ), the rotational axis (R) having a predetermined fixed location relative to the vehicle,

wherein a stroke level of the slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 ) is moveable between a predetermined zero stroke position ( 7 a , 107 a , 207 a ) and a working stroke range ( 7 b ), and

an electronic detection unit ( 9 , 109 , 209 ) that determines a current stroke level of the automatic slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 ), wherein the electronic detection unit ( 109 ) comprises:

a link ( 119 ) that is pivotably coupled to the lever ( 103 ) and abuts against a push rod ( 117 ) that is operatively coupled to the lever and that actuates lever, and

a sensor arrangement ( 113 ) arranged at the lever ( 103 ),

wherein the sensor arrangement ( 113 ) determines a relative angle ( 121 ) between the link ( 119 ) and the lever ( 103 ) that is indicative of a current stroke level of the automatic slack adjuster ( 101 );

wherein the link ( 119 ) includes a spring element ( 125 ) that forces the link ( 119 ) against the push rod ( 117 ).

4. The automatic slack adjuster ( 101 ) of claim 3 , wherein the sensor arrangement ( 113 ) comprises an angular sensor ( 123 ) that determines the relative angle ( 121 ) between the link ( 119 ) and the lever ( 103 ).

5. The automatic slack adjuster ( 101 ) of claim 3 , wherein the spring element ( 125 ) is a torsion spring ( 127 ).

6. An automatic slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 ) for a braking system of an automotive vehicle, the automatic slack adjuster comprising:

a lever ( 3 , 103 , 203 ) configured to be operatively coupled to a push rod of a brake actuator,

wherein the lever pivots about a rotational axis (R) when actuated by the push rod ( 117 , 217 ), the rotational axis (R) having a predetermined fixed location relative to the vehicle,

wherein a stroke level of the slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 ) is moveable between a predetermined zero stroke position ( 7 a , 107 a , 207 a ) and a working stroke range ( 7 b ), and an electronic detection unit ( 9 , 109 , 209 ) that determines a current stroke level of the automatic slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 )

wherein the electronic detection unit ( 209 ) comprises:

a first link ( 231 ) that is pivotably coupled to the lever ( 203 ) and a second link ( 229 ) that is pivotably coupled to a push rod ( 217 ) that is operatively coupled to the lever and that actuates the lever, wherein the first link ( 231 ) and the second link ( 229 ) are coupled to one another by way of a slot guide ( 233 ) such that the first and second links ( 231 , 229 ) slide relative to one another as a function of the current stroke level of the automatic slack adjuster ( 201 ), and

a sensor arrangement ( 213 ) that determines a relative position of the first link ( 231 ) to the second link ( 229 ) at the slot guide ( 233 ).

7. The automatic slack adjuster ( 201 ) of claim 6 , wherein the sensor arrangement ( 213 ) is positioned at the second link ( 231 ).

8. The automatic slack adjuster ( 1 , 101 , 201 ) of claim 1 , wherein the rotational axis (R) is oriented coaxially to a rotating brake shaft of a braking system.

9. The automatic slack adjuster of claim 3 ,

wherein the slack adjuster is operatively coupled to a braking system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a brake actuator ( 1010 ) having a push rod ( 1030 ),

a brake mechanism ( 1070 ) that applies a braking force to a wheel ( 2010 ) of the vehicle, and

wherein the automatic slack adjuster is ( 1 ) operatively coupled between the brake actuator and the brake mechanism 201 ).

10. The automatic slack adjuster of claim 1 , wherein the slack adjuster is operatively coupled to a braking system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a brake actuator ( 1010 ) having a push rod ( 1030 ),

a brake mechanism ( 1070 ) that applies a braking force to a wheel ( 2010 ) of the vehicle, and

wherein the automatic slack adjuster is ( 1 ) operatively coupled between the brake actuator and the brake mechanism.

11. The automatic slack adjuster of claim 6 , wherein the slack adjuster is operatively coupled to a braking system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a brake actuator ( 1010 ) having a push rod ( 1030 ),

a brake mechanism ( 1070 ) that applies a braking force to a wheel ( 2010 ) of the vehicle, and

wherein the automatic slack adjuster is ( 1 ) operatively coupled between the brake actuator and the brake mechanism.

12. The automatic slack adjuster of claim 9 , wherein the brake actuator, the brake mechanism, and the automatic slack adjuster are operatively coupled to a wheelset ( 2000 ) of an automotive vehicle, in particular of a commercial vehicle, comprising:

an axle or swingarm ( 2030 ),

a wheel ( 2010 ) rotatably mounted to the axle or swingarm,

wherein the brake actuator ( 1010 ) is fixedly mounted to the axle or swingarm,

wherein the brake mechanism ( 1070 ) is fixedly mounted to the axle or swingarm and is operatively coupled to the brake actuator ( 1010 ), wherein the brake mechanism applies a braking force to the wheel).

13. The slack adjuster of claim 10 , wherein the brake actuator, the brake mechanism, and the automatic slack adjuster are operatively coupled to a wheelset ( 2000 ) of an automotive vehicle, in particular of a commercial vehicle, comprising:

an axle or swingarm ( 2030 ),

a wheel ( 2010 ) rotatably mounted to the axle or swingarm,

wherein the brake actuator ( 1010 ) is fixedly mounted to the axle or swingarm, and

wherein the brake mechanism ( 1070 ) is fixedly mounted to the axle or swingarm and is operatively coupled to the brake actuator ( 1010 ), wherein the brake mechanism applies a braking force to the wheel.

14. The automatic slack adjuster of claim 11 , wherein the brake actuator, the brake mechanism, and the automatic slack adjuster are operatively coupled to a wheelset ( 2000 ) of an automotive vehicle, in particular of a commercial vehicle, comprising:

an axle or swingarm ( 2030 ),

a wheel ( 2010 ) rotatably mounted to the axle or swingarm,

wherein the brake actuator ( 1010 ) is fixedly mounted to the axle or swingarm, and

wherein the brake mechanism ( 1070 ) is fixedly mounted to the axle or swingarm and is operatively coupled to the brake actuator ( 1010 ), wherein the brake mechanism applies a braking force to the wheel.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (16)