An interface between an adapter push rod and a parking brake diaphragm seal includes an axial projection at one end of the push rod, a thread extending axially between a free end of the projection and a remainder of the push rod, and a washer having an approximately conical wall extending radially inwardly from an outer circumference of the washer towards a central mounting connection having a radial flange. A nut is threaded over the free end of the projection, and an opening in a hardened element is aligned axially with the projection to receive the projection. A circumferential groove defined in a side of the radial flange forms a boundary between the approximately conical wall and a remainder of the washer, and a portion of the diaphragm seal is pressed by the nut and the hardened element into the circumferential groove to produce a sealing bead.

A brake assembly includes a first assembly component; a second assembly component that is movable with respect to the first assembly component; and a device for determining a status of the brake assembly. The device includes a sensor trigger disposed on the second assembly component; a sensor disposed on the first assembly component, the sensor being configured to detect a proximity of the sensor trigger with respect to the sensor; and a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to determine the status of the brake assembly based on the detected proximity of the sensor trigger with respect to the sensor.

A sealing assembly for installation on a port of a spring brake actuator includes a plug, a one-way valve and a cap. The plug receives the one-way valve for providing one-way air flow through the orifices and maintaining about two psi in the spring brake chamber at zero stroke. An elastomeric piece is affixed to a first set of segments of the plug for sealing against an inner surface of the port. The cap has arms sized to extend around a third set of segments of the plug and snap onto the plug. A fourth set of segments of the plug elastically deform so the sealing assembly can be installed and removed from the port easily.

A brake actuator for a vehicle includes a cylinder housing having a surface and a wall opening provided in this surface, a brake chamber having a variable volume and a dust plug releasably arranged in the wall opening. The dust plug includes a flexible circumferential lip configured for abutting against the surface of the cylinder housing in a sealing state, and for being flexed away from the surface in a flexed state. The lip is configured to assume the flexed state in response to a positive pressure inside the brake chamber, and to assume the sealing state in response to negative pressure inside the brake chamber. A core section is arranged adjacent to the lip and the core section is configured for extending through the wall opening of the cylinder housing. A pressure compensation flow path is defined between the lip and the brake chamber.

A system for monitoring stroke of a spring brake actuator of a vehicle comprises a spring brake actuator having a push rod, wherein pneumatic activation of the spring brake actuator causes the push rod to further extend out of the spring brake actuator to thereby activate braking of the vehicle, and wherein pneumatic deactivation of the spring brake actuator causes the push rod to retract back into the spring brake actuator to thereby deactivate braking of the vehicle. A first magnet and a second magnet are coupled to the push rod, and the second magnet is spaced apart from the first magnet. A sensor is configured to sense a magnetic field created by the first magnet and the second magnet, and a controller is configured to determine stroke of the push rod based the magnetic field.

A sealing assembly for installation on a port of a spring brake actuator includes a plug, a one-way valve and a cap. The plug receives the one-way valve for providing one-way air flow through the orifices and maintaining about two psi in the spring brake chamber at zero stroke. An elastomeric piece is affixed to a first set of segments of the plug for sealing against an inner surface of the port. The cap has arms sized to extend around a third set of segments of the plug and snap onto the plug. A fourth set of segments of the plug elastically deform so the sealing assembly can be installed and removed from the port easily.

A spring brake actuator is for braking a wheel of a vehicle. The spring brake actuator has an axially elongated housing having a parking brake chamber and a service brake chamber; a main compression spring in the parking brake chamber; a flexible diaphragm in the parking brake chamber; and a pressure plate in the parking brake chamber, the pressure plate located axially between the main compression spring and the flexible diaphragm. The flexible diaphragm has a contoured portion that inhibits radial shifting of the pressure plate with respect to the flexible diaphragm.

A brake actuator assembly including a pressure plate presenting an opening, a push rod that is coupled to the pressure plate, a diaphragm that is coupled to the pressure plate, and a retainer that engages the push rod. The push rod has an outer surface and at least one protrusion extending outward from the outer surface. The retainer engages the protrusion such that at least a portion of the diaphragm is positioned between the pressure plate and the retainer.

A spring brake actuator is for braking a wheel of a vehicle and has a push rod assembly having a base located in a service brake chamber and a push rod extending from a service brake chamber. Pneumatic activation of the spring brake actuator causes the push rod to further extend out of the service brake chamber to thereby engage a wheel brake with a wheel of the vehicle. Pneumatic deactivation of the spring brake actuator causes the push rod to retract back into the service brake chamber to thereby disengage the wheel brake from the wheel of the vehicle. The push rod extends between a first end portion that is fixed to the base and an opposite, second end portion that is removably coupled to the first end portion so that the second end portion is manually attachable and detachable from the push rod assembly.

A brake assembly includes a first assembly component; a second assembly component that is movable with respect to the first assembly component; and a device for determining a status of the brake assembly. The device includes a sensor trigger disposed on the second assembly component; a sensor disposed on the first assembly component, the sensor being configured to detect a proximity of the sensor trigger with respect to the sensor; and a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to determine the status of the brake assembly based on the detected proximity of the sensor trigger with respect to the sensor.