Brake actuator having tamper resistant riveted spring chamber

A two-chamber air brake actuator comprising:

• a service chamber assembly;
• and
• a spring brake assembly joined in tandem with said service chamber assembly, said spring brake assembly comprising:
• a flange case, said flange case having a radially outwardly extending annular flange having a plurality of radially spaced apart axial holes passing therethrough;
• a head, said head having a radially outwardly extending annular flange having a plurality of radially spaced apart axial holes passing therethrough, the plurality of holes in the annular flange of said head corresponding to and aligning with the plurality of holes in the annular flange of said flange case;
• a diaphragm clamped in a fluid tight manner between the annular flange of said head and the annular flange of said flange case;
• and
• a plurality of fastening members passing through the holes in the annular flange of said head and the holes in the annular flange of said flange case in order to undetachably secure said head on said flange case;
• wherein said plurality of fastening members, once assembled, cannot be reused or removed without rendering said plurality of fastening members inoperative.

A method of assembling a spring brake actuator comprising the steps of:

• providing a flange case, the flange case having a radially outwardly extending annular flange;
• providing a head, the head having a radially outwardly extending annular flange;
• creating a plurality of radially spaced apart axial holes passing through the annular flange of the flange case and creating a plurality of radially spaced apart axial holes passing through the annular flange in the head, the plurality of holes in the annular flange of the head corresponding to the plurality of holes in the annular flange of the flange case;
• providing a diaphragm and compressing the head and the flange case together with the diaphragm disposed therebetween until the annular flange of the head and the annular flange of the flange case abut each other with the diaphragm clamped in a fluid tight manner therebetween and with the holes in the annular flange of the head aligned with the holes in the annular flange of the flange case;
• and
• passing a plurality of fastening members through the holes in the annular flange of the head and the holes in the annular flange of the flange case and undetachably securing the head on the flange case therewith;
• wherein said plurality of fastening members, once assembled, cannot be reused or removed without rendering said plurality of fastening members inoperative.