STANDARD BRAKE ACTUATOR SERVICE CHAMBER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

摘要

The present invention relates to a standard brake actuator service chamber of a generally conventional type having an enclosed housing, a flexible diaphragm peripherally secured within the housing, a relatively flat piston spring biased against the mid-portion of the diaphragm and a push rod connected to the piston and extending out of the service chamber housing. The service chamber of this invention, however, includes a push rod having a standard length preferably extending just out of the housing to reduce packaging costs but which accommodates the requirements of various brake mechanisms having different push rod length and stroke requirements. The yoke assembly includes a connector portion, a rod portion having a variable effective length and a yoke portion which is adapted to be attached to the brake mechanism. In some embodiments, the yoke member is selected from a plurality of yoke members having variable lengths. In another embodiment, the combined length of the yoke member and push rod assembly is adjustable. In the preferred embodiments, the first end of the push rod is permanently attached to the piston and in the most preferred embodiment, the push rod and piston are formed as an integral assembly, wherein the push rod is generally tubular or hollow and the second end, which extends out of the housing, is internally threaded to receive the connector portion of the push rod. Thus, the brake actuator service chamber of this invention may be manufactured and sold at a standard unit and utilized with one of a plurality of yoke assemblies having variable lengths or a yoke assembly having an adjustable length to accommodate the requirements of various brake mechanisms.