Park brake cable system including connector clip

Abstract

A park brake cable system including a brake actuation lever, a connector clip having a first end and a second end, and including a shear member, having a shear failure force, positioned between the first and second ends. A brake assembly, a front cable strand having a first and second ends, the first end attached to the brake actuation lever, and the second end engaging the shear member on the connector clip are also included. Further included are a rear cable strand having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the second end of the connector clip and the second end attached to the rear brake assembly, and tensioner means are attached in a tension force transmitting relationship with the front cable strand and the rear cable strand. Applying tension to the front and rear cable strands by the tensioner means creates at least the sufficient shear failure force to cause the second end of the front cable strand to break the shear member and move to the first end of the connector clip The present invention also includes a connector clip including a main body having an interior cavity, and open first and second ends, and a shear member extending across a portion of the interior cavity.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A park brake cable system comprising: 
 a brake actuation lever;    a connector clip having a first end and a second end, and including a shear member, having a shear failure force, positioned between the first and second ends;    a brake assembly;    a front cable strand having a first and second ends, the first end attached to the brake actuation lever, and the second end engaging the shear member on the connector clip,    a rear cable strand having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the second end of the connector clip and the second end attached to the rear brake assembly; and    tensioner means attached in a tension force transmitting relationship with the front cable strand and the rear cable strand;    wherein applying tension to the front and rear cable strands by the tensioner means creates at least the shear failure force to cause the second end of the front cable strand to break the shear member and move to the first end of the connector clip.    
     
     
         2 . The park brake cable system as defined in  claim 1  wherein actuating said tensioner means develops a first tension level prior to breaking the shear member, and a second residual tension level after breaking the shear member.  
     
     
         3 . The park brake cable system as defined in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a rear left brake assembly;  
 a rear right brake assembly;  
 an equalizer structure;  
 a rear left cable strand attached to and extending between said equalizer and said rear left brake assembly; and  
 a rear right cable strand attached to and extending between said equalizer and said rear right brake assembly;  
 wherein the actuation of said tensioner means tensions said front, rear right and rear left cable strands.  
 
     
     
         4 . The cable system as defined in  claim 3  wherein said tensioner is positioned on said equalizer.  
     
     
         5 . The cable system as defined in  claim 3  wherein said tensioner is positioned on said brake actuation lever.  
     
     
         6 . A connector clip for a cable system comprising: 
 a main body having an interior cavity, and open first and second ends; and    a shear member extending across a portion of the interior cavity    
     
     
         7 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 6  wherein. 
 said shear member is a tab extending into said interior cavity.  
 
     
     
         8 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 7  wherein: 
 said shear member defines a stress riser.  
 
     
     
         9 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 7  wherein: 
 said shear member has a front face and a rear face, and defines a stress riser in said front face.  
 
     
     
         10 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 7  wherein: 
 said shear member has a front face and a rear face, and defines a stress riser in said rear face.  
 
     
     
         11 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 6  wherein: 
 said shear member has a partial cylindrical main body and defines a tab extending orthogonally inwardly;  
 said main body defines an outer surface and an aperture formed through said main body from said outer surface to said interior cavity;  
 said shear member mounts on said outer surface and said tab extends through said aperture to extend across at least a portion of the interior cavity.  
 
     
     
         12 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 6  wherein: 
 said main body is a cylindrical body defining a bore therethrough having interior side walls;  
 said shear member is a shear disk attached to said interior side walls and extends across said bore.  
 
     
     
         13 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 12  wherein said shear disk is attached at selected locations along said side wall.  
     
     
         14 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 12  wherein said shear disk is attached continuously along said side wall.  
     
     
         15 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 12  wherein said shear disk extends radially across said interior cavity.  
     
     
         16 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 12  wherein said shear member defines a stress riser therein.  
     
     
         17 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 12  wherein. 
 said shear disk has a front face and a rear face; and  
 said front face defines a stress riser therein.  
 
     
     
         18 . A connector clip as defined in  claim 12  wherein: 
 said shear disk has a front face and a rear face; and  
 said rear face defines a stress riser therein.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method of adjusting the tension in a park cable brake system comprising the steps of: 
 providing a brake actuation lever, a connector clip having a first end and a second end, and including a shear member, having a shear failure force, positioned between the first and second ends, a brake assembly, a front cable strand having a first and second ends, the first end attached to the brake actuation lever, and the second end engaging the shear member on the connector clip, a rear cable strand having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the second end of the connector clip and the second end attached to the rear brake assembly, and tensioner means attached in a tension force transmitting relationship with the front cable strand and the rear cable strand;    tensioning said first and second cable strands with said tensioner means; and breaking said shear member.    
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of: 
 actuating said brake lever to break said shear member.    
     
     
         21 . A method of adjusting the tension in a park cable brake system comprising the steps of: 
 tensioning a first and second cable strands with a tensioner means; and    breaking a shear member engaged by one end of said first cable strand.