Method and apparatus for tensioning an emergency brake system on a vehicle
OwnerGregory H. Petrakinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and associated method for use in tensioning a park brake cable system includes a body including a housing and an input shaft, the input shaft positioned at least partially within the housing, the housing and the input shaft being axially movable relative to one another, and the input shaft and the outer housing being rotatable relative to one another, the body having a nut receiving recess. The cable system is tensioned by retracting the nut from its support surface, tensioning the system by rotating the nut, and relieving the nut back to its support surface. A control system is used to control the operation of the tensioning device, and is programmable to perform several associated functions.
Claims19
A tool for tensioning a braking system, comprising:
- a body including a housing and an input shaft;
- said input shaft positioned at least partially within said housing, said housing and said input shaft being axially movable relative to one another, and said input shaft and said outer housing being rotatable relative to one another;
- a nut receiving recess defined in said input shaft;
- and
- a load cell operationally attached to said input shaft.
A method for measuring a tensioning force applied to a braking system, comprising:
- engaging a nut;
- moving the nut away from an equalizer by a relief distance and thereby establishing a first tension level;
- tensioning the cable system to a second tension level higher than said first tension level;
- moving the nut toward the equalizer by the relief distance and establishing a third tension level;
- and
- directly measuring the first, second, and third tension levels by means of a load cell.
A method for preventing rotation of a tensioning rod having at least one flat surface in a braking tensioning system, comprising:
- aligning said flat surface of said tensioning rod with a flat surface of an equalizer aperture;
- passing said tensioning rod through said equalizer aperture;
- and
- contacting said flat surface of said equalizer aperture with said flat surface of said tensioning rod.
A tensioned automotive brake cable system, made by the process comprising the steps of:
- attaching at least one automotive brake cable to a rod;
- detachably engaging the rod to a nut;
- engaging the nut with a tensioning tool;
- moving the nut away from the equalizer by a relief distance and thereby establishing a first tension level;
- tensioning the cable system to a second tension level higher than said first tension level;
- and
- moving the nut toward the equalizer by the relief distance and establishing a third tension level, the third tension level defining a final tension in the tensioned automotive brake cable system.
A tool for tensioning a braking system, comprising:
- a body including a housing and an input shaft;
- said input shaft positioned at least partially within said housing, said housing and said input shaft being axially movable relative to one another, and said input shaft and said outer housing being rotatable relative to one another;
- a nut receiving recess defined in said input shaft;
- and
- a direct tension measuring element operationally attached to said input shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.