Rod locking mechanism for compression slack adjuster

摘要

A locking assembly for preventing accidental let out of a slack adjuster is provided wherein the slack adjuster includes an elongated hollow housing member and an elongated rod member mounted for reciprocal movement within the hollow housing member. At least a portion of the rod member extends outwardly from a first end of the slack adjuster and is movable in a lateral direction with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the hollow housing member. A rod weldment washer is secured to the rod member at a predetermined location intermediate each end thereof. This rod weldment washer is positioned within the hollow housing member such that a side edge thereof is a predetermined distance from an inner surface of a sidewall of the hollow housing member during normal operation of the slack adjuster. A force applying mechanism is disposed at the first end of the slack adjuster for applying a force to the rod member in a lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the rod member thereby causing the rod member and the rod weldment washer to move in a lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the hollow housing member to frictionally engage the side edge of the rod weldment washer with the inner surface of the hollow housing member. This frictional engagement prevents longitudinal movement of the rod member within the hollow housing member and consequently prevents the accidental let out of the slack adjuster.