Abstract: A self-adjusting automatic slack adjuster for reducing slack in the brake of a vehicle includes an adjuster link having a resilient portion. When a brake application force being applied to the slack adjuster exceeds a level that could result in brake application linkage damage as a result of the slack adjuster's slack adjustment mechanism having reached a travel limit, the resilient portion of the adjuster link permits the axial length of the adjuster link to change to accommodate the high brake application force in order to minimize or preclude damage to the brake application linkage.

Abstract: In a clearance compensator, a rod (12) is fixed to one of the shoes of the brake and is slidable in an intermediate element (13) threadably engaged in another rod (11) secured to the other shoe. A heat-sensitive bi-metallic strip (18) projects from a leaf spring (14) operable to urge the rod (12) away from the intermediate element (13). The bi-metallic strip (18) is orientated substantially tangentially of a ratchet wheel (17) fixed to the intermediate element (13); at its free end, the bi-metallic strip (18) has a stop element (18a) for engaging the ratchet wheel (17). At temperatures above a predetermined value, the strip (18) assumes a heat-induced deflected condition in which the stop element (18a) is disengaged from the wheel (17).

Abstract: A drum brake having an adjustable-length strut (6) to compensate for clearance due to wear between first (21a) and second (22a) friction members and a drum (1). The adjustment being achieved by the rotation of a toothed wheel (7) driven by an adjustment blade (51) mounted on a rocking lever (5). The rocking lever (5) has an inhibitor blade (52) which intercepts the toothed wheel (7) whenever a risk of excessive adjustment occurs by disengaging the adjustment blade (51) from the toothed wheel (7). The inhibitor blade (52) prevents subsequent rotation of the toothed wheel (7) until the risk of excessive adjustment dissipates.