Automatic adjuster for brakes

An adjuster including a rotatable ratchet wheel having a longitudinal axis and a periphery, first and second generally opposite pawls positioned adjacent said periphery, first and second pawl carriers movable generally toward and away from said axis and normally occupying a passive position toward said axis, said first pawl carrier being movable away from said passive position a first distance to an undertravel position during undertravel operation and a greater second distance to a normal position during normal operation, said second pawl carrier being movable away from said passive position to an overtravel position during overtravel operation, said pawls being inoperative to rotate said wheel during movement of said carriers away from said passive position, said first pawl being inoperative to rotate said wheel during movement of said first carrier toward said passive position from said normal position, said first pawl being operative to rotate said wheel in one direction during movement of said first carrier from said undertravel position to said passive position, and said second pawl being operative to rotate said wheel in an opposite direction during movement of said second carrier from said overtravel position to said passive position.

An automatic brake adjuster including a rotatable ratchet wheel, first and second generally oppositely disposed pawls adjacent said wheel for selectively rotating same in opposite directions, a first carrier for said first pawl movable away from said wheel a first distance for engaging said first pawl with said wheel to rotatably drive said wheel in one direction upon movement of said first carrier back toward said wheel, said first carrier being movable a greater second distance away from said wheel for locking said first pawl against engagement with said wheel when said first carrier moves back toward said wheel, and said second carrier being movable away from said wheel when said first carrier moves further than said second distance from said wheel for engaging said second pawl with said wheel to rotatably drive said wheel in an opposite direction when said second carrier moves back toward said wheel.

An automatic adjuster for an adjustable mechanism movable in normal travel, undertravel and overtravel, comprising;

• first adjusting means operative upon undertravel of said mechanism for loosening same, second adjusting means operative upon overtravel of said mechanism for tightening same, said first and second adjusting means being inoperative to adjust said mechanism during normal travel of said mechanism, only said first adjusting means being movable during normal travel and undertravel of said mechanism, and both said first and second adjusting means being movable during overtravel of said mechanism.

An automatic adjuster for an adjustable mechanism movable in normal travel, undertravel and overtravel, comprising;

• first adjusting means operative upon undertravel of said mechanism for loosening same, second adjusting means operative upon overtravel of said mechanism for tightening same, said first and second adjusting means being inoperative to adjust said mechanism during normal travel of said mechanism, said first adjusting means being movable in a cocking direction during undertravel of said mechanism and in an opposite adjusting direction for adjusting said mechanism, said second adjusting means being movable in a cocking direction during overtravel of said mechanism and in an opposite adjusting direction for adjusting said mechanism, and first and second independent biasing means for independently biasing said first and second adjusting means in said adjusting direction.