Automatic slack adjuster for vehicle, braking system and wheelset having an automatic slack adjuster

A braking system (100) for an automotive vehicle, in particular for a commercial vehicle, the braking system comprising:

• a brake actuator (101) having a push rod (103), wherein the brake actuator actuates the push rod (103),
• a brake mechanism (107) that applies a braking force to a wheel (201) of the vehicle, and
• an automatic slack adjuster (1) operatively coupled between the brake actuator (101) and the brake mechanism (107), the automatic slack adjuster comprising:
• a lever (3) operatively coupled to the push rod (103) of the brake actuator (101), wherein the lever pivots about a rotational axis (R) when actuated by the push rod (103), the rotational axis (R) having a predetermined fixed location relative to the brake mechanism,
• a stroke indicator label (7) arranged on the lever that designates, for the automatic slack adjuster (1), a predetermined zero stroke position, a working stroke range, and an overstroke range, and
• a stroke indicator element (9) that visually indicates the current stroke level of the automatic slack adjuster (1) between the predetermined zero stroke position (7a), the working stroke range (7b), and the overstroke range (7c) on the indicator label (7) via relative movement between the stroke indicator element (9) and the stroke indicator label (7),
• wherein the stroke indicator element (9) is positioned on the automatic slack adjuster (1) such that the lever (3) pivots relative to the stroke indicator element (9) about the rotational axis (R), and
• wherein the stroke indicator element (9) includes a mounting interface (18) attached to a fixed location relative to the brake mechanism;
• wherein the stroke indicator remains in a fixed position relative to the brake mechanism when the lever pivots about the rotational axis;
• wherein the mounting interface (18) is adjustable and includes cooperating structure in the form of an elongate hole and a protruding feature that permits radial adjustment of the stroke indicator element (9) relative to the fixed location.

A wheelset (200) of an automotive vehicle, in particular of a commercial vehicle, the wheelset comprising:

• an axle or swingarm (203),
• a wheel (201) rotatably mounted to the axle or swingarm,
• a brake actuator (101) fixedly mounted to the axle or swingarm,
• a brake mechanism (107) fixedly mounted to the axle or swingarm and operatively coupled to the brake actuator (101) that applies a braking force to the wheel, and
• an automatic slack adjuster (1) operatively coupled between the brake actuator (101) and the brake mechanism (107), the automatic slack adjuster comprising:
• a lever (3) operatively coupled to the push rod (103) of the brake actuator (101), wherein the lever pivots about a rotational axis (R) when actuated by the push rod (103), the rotational axis (R) having a predetermined fixed location relative to the axle or swingarm,
• a stroke indicator label (7) arranged on the lever that designates, for the automatic slack adjuster (1), a predetermined zero stroke position, a working stroke range, and an overstroke range, and
• a stroke indicator element (9) that visually indicates the current stroke level of the automatic slack adjuster (1) between the predetermined zero stroke position (7a), the working stroke range (7b), and the overstroke range (7c) on the indicator label (7) via relative movement between the stroke indicator element (9) and the stroke indicator label (7),
• wherein the stroke indicator element (9) is positioned on the automatic slack adjuster (1) such that the lever (3) pivots relative to the stroke indicator element (9) about the rotational axis (R), and
• wherein the stroke indicator element (9) includes a mounting interface (18) attached to a fixed location relative to the axle or swingarm;
• wherein the stroke indicator remains in a fixed position relative to the axle or swingarm when the lever pivots about the rotational axis;
• wherein the mounting interface (18) is adjustable and includes cooperating structure in the form of an elongate hole and a protruding feature that permits radial adjustment of the stroke indicator element (9) relative to the fixed location.