[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to parking brake levers and more particularly, to an equalizer of a parking brake lever and a system for adjusting the equalizer of the parking brake lever.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Parking brake system in automotive vehicles acts as a secondary brake system which is a regulatory requirement. A parking brake is used to stop a vehicle in gradient condition or in case of failure of primary brakes wherein an appropriate amount of force generation is a must. The parking brake is actuated by a parking brake lever which, when actuated, pulls its tie rod connected to parking brake cables through an equalizer.
[0004] The equalizer is provided to adjust the proper tension in the tie rod as well as the brake cables during the assembly of the parking brake lever in the vehicle. The equalizer is of U-shape or J-shape and includes a base and two flanges. Upper flange of the equalizer includes two, say, circular slots for receiving and locking the brake cables therein. The base, in its central portion, includes a recess to receive in and allow passage therethrough of a threaded portion of the tie rod. On the threaded portion of the tie rod, a nut is adjusted, or

tightened, against the base of the equalizer by an adjustment tool gun, so as to achieve the required tension in the tie rod as well as the brake cables.
[0005] However, during adjustment (tightening) of the required tension in the tie rod and the brake cables, the adjustment tool gun has to be positioned parallel to and above the floor of a vehicle. Due to such positioning of the adjustment tool gun, there is a high chance of fouling of the adjustment tool gun with the floor of the vehicle. Such fouling may lead to damage to the floor as well as difficulty in assembly.
[0006] One solution proposed in the state of the art is to modify the floor of the vehicle so as to provide proper space for adjustment of the required tension in the tie rod and the brake cables. However, such modification to the floor may lead strength and crash related issues.
[0007] As a result, there is a need in the state of the art to provide an alternate solution towards the above-mentioned problems and provide an appropriate solution.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0009] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a modified equalizer for a parking brake lever.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a modified adjustment tool gun for adjusting the nut of the equalizer.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a novel mechanism for adjustment of the tension in tie rod and brake cables, without damaging the vehicle floor or the adjustment tool gun.

[0012] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0013] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a system for adjusting an equalizer of a parking brake lever. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0014] The present disclosure relates to an equalizer of a parking brake lever. The equalizer includes an integrated gear-nut screwed on a threaded portion of a tie rod passing through a recess formed on a base of the equalizer; and a guide pin mounted on an upper flange connected to the base, wherein the guide pin is mounted in the operational proximity of the integrated gear-nut.
[0015] In an aspect, the equalizer includes two slots on the upper flange for receiving and locking brake cables therein.
[0016] In an aspect, the guide pin is mounted in between the two slots.
[0017] In an aspect, the integrated gear-nut is rotatable in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction.
[0018] In an aspect, teeth of the integrated gear-nut are facing towards the base.
[0019] The present disclosure further relates to a system for adjusting a parking brake lever. The system includes an equalizer of the parking brake lever having a pair of flanges extending from base, wherein on the base, an integrated gear-nut is screwed on a threaded portion of a tie rod passing through a recess formed on the base, wherein a guide pin is mounted on an upper flange connected to the base, and wherein the guide pin is mounted in the operational proximity of

the integrated gear-nut; and a counter gear removably attached to an adjustment tool gun and supported on the guide pin in such a way that teeth of the counter gear mesh with teeth of the integrated gear-nut to adjust the equalizer.
[0020] In an aspect, the counter gear attached to the adjustment tool gun is placed vertically over the guide pin of the equalizer.
[0021] In an aspect, the counter gear is rotatable in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction.
[0022] In an aspect, the equalizer includes two slots on the upper flange for receiving and locking brake cables therein. The guide pin is mounted in between the two slots.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a conventional tie-rod parking brake lever;
[0026] FIG. IB illustrates a perspective view of an equalizer of the conventional tie-rod parking brake lever;

[0027] FIG. 1C illustrates a side view of a fouling condition of a gun and a
vehicle floor during adjustment of the equalizer of the conventional tie-rod parking brake lever;
[0028] FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of an equalizer proposed for a
5 tie-rod parking brake lever, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of equalizer proposed for a tie-rod
parking brake lever, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of an adjustment tool gun with
10 counter gear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 3B illustrates a side view of the adjustment tool gun operating
vertically on the equalizer of the tie-rod parking brake lever, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0032] FIG. 3C illustrates a perspective view of the adjustment tool gun
15 operating vertically on the equalizer of the tie-rod parking brake lever, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the
20 disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It
should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to
clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided
herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the
contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives
25 falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the
appended claims.
6

[0034] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised
that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of
the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects,
and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are
5 intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0035] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As
used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the
plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be
10 further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or
“including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
15 [0036] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the
functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
20 [0037] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific
terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the
25 context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0038] Embodiments described herein relate to assembling of a tie-rod
parking brake lever. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a conventional tie-rod parking
7

brake lever 100, simply, a parking brake lever 100. The parking brake lever 100 is
used to stop a vehicle in gradient condition or in case of failure of primary brakes
wherein an appropriate amount of force generation is a must. The parking brake is
actuated by the parking brake lever 100 which, when actuated by pulling, pulls its
5 tie rod 102 connected to brake cables 114 (FIG. 1C) through an equalizer 104.
[0039] The equalizer 104 is provided to adjust the proper tension in the tie rod
102 as well as the brake cables 114 during the assembly of the parking brake lever
in the vehicle. The equalizer 104 is of U-shape or J-shape and includes a base 106
and two flanges 108a, 108b. Upper flange 108a of the equalizer 104 includes two,
10 say, circular slots 110a, 110b for receiving and locking the brake cables 114
therein. In an aspect, the circular slots 110a, 110b on the upper flange 108a are having cut-outs towards outer periphery of the equalizer 104.
[0040] The base 106, in its central portion, includes a recess (not shown in
figures) to receive in and allow passage therethrough of a threaded portion 102-T
15 of the tie rod 102. On the threaded portion 102-T of the tie rod 102, a nut 112 is
adjusted, or tightened, against the base 106 of the equalizer 104 by an adjustment tool gun 116 (FIG. 1C), so as to achieve the required tension in the tie rod 102 as well as the brake cables 114.
[0041] However, during adjustment (tightening) of the required tension in the
20 tie rod 102 and the brake cables, the adjustment tool gun 116 has to be positioned
parallel to and above the floor of a vehicle, as shown in FIG. 1C. Due to such
positioning of the adjustment tool gun 116, there is a high chance of fouling 118
of the adjustment tool gun 116 with a vehicle floor 120. Such fouling 118 may
lead to damage to the vehicle floor 120 as well as tool bit of the adjustment tool
25 gun 116.
[0042] To this, a modified equalizer 200 for a parking brake lever 100 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Although the equalizer 200 is shown in U-shape from the side view, those
8

skilled in the art can appreciate that equalizer can be of J-shape, bend shape, and the like.
[0043] The equalizer 200 includes an integrated gear-nut 202 screwed on the
threaded portion 102-T of the tie rod 102 passing through the recess formed on the
5 base portion 106 of the equalizer 200. In an aspect, the integrated gear-nut 202 is
rotatable in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction.
[0044] Further, on the upper flange 108a, a guide pin 204 is mounted in the
operational proximity of the integrated gear-nut 202. That is, during operation, the
guide pin 204 is used to support a counter gear 302 (as shown in FIG. 3C),
10 detachably attached to the adjustment tool gun 116, in such a way that teeth of the
counter gear 302 mesh with teeth of the integrated gear-nut 202 to adjust the equalizer 200.
[0045] Yet further, in an aspect, the teeth of the integrated gear-nut 202 are
facing towards the base 106, while the teeth of the counter gear 302 face the upper
15 flange 108a.
[0046] An exemplary side view of the guide pin 204 is shown in FIG. 2B.
From FIGS. 2A and 2B, it can be clearly seen that the guide pin 204 is of circular cross-section and is riveted on the upper flange 108a between the two slots 110a, 110b which are provided for receiving and locking brake cables 114 therein.
20 [0047] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of the adjustment tool gun 116
with the counter gear 302 proposed herein, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3B, the adjustment tool gun 116 with the counter gear 302 attached to its operation end is placed vertically over the guide pin 204. In such position, the central region of the counter gear 302 is supported
25 on the guide pin 204, while the teeth of the counter gear 302 mesh with teeth of
the integrated gear-nut 202. With this arrangement, when the adjustment tool gun 116 is operated, the counter gear 302 rotates which further rotates the integrated gear-nut 202 and tightens or loosens the brake cables 114 for adjusting the
9

parking brake lever 100. The counter gear 302 is rotatable in any direction, clockwise or anti-clockwise. Depending upon the direction of rotation of the counter gear 302, the integrated gear-nut 202 tightens or loosens the brake cables 114, thereby adjusting the parking brake lever 100 or the equalizer 200 according to the required force.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0048] The present disclosure provides an equalizer of a parking brake lever and an adjustment tool gun for adjusting the parking brake lever which will reduce fouling of the adjustment tool gun with the vehicle floor.
[0049] The present disclosure provides an equalizer of a parking brake lever and an adjustment tool gun for adjusting the parking brake lever in such a way that it increases productivity.
[0050] The present disclosure provides an equalizer of a parking brake lever and an adjustment tool gun for adjusting the parking brake lever which will reduce damage to the adjustment tool gun as well as the vehicle floor and thus reduces the overall cost and provide ease of assembly.
[0051] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:

An equalizer (200) of a parking brake lever (100), comprising:
an integrated gear-nut (202) screwed on a threaded portion (102-T) of a tie rod (102) passing through a recess formed on a base (106) of the equalizer (200); and
a guide pin (204) mounted on an upper flange (108a) connected to the base (106), wherein the guide pin (204) is mounted in the operational proximity of the integrated gear-nut (202).
The equalizer (200) as claimed in claim 1, comprises two slots (110a, 110b) on the upper flange (108a) for receiving and locking brake cables (114) therein.
The equalizer (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide pin (204) is mounted in between the two slots (110a, 110b).
The equalizer (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integrated gear-nut (202) is rotatable in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction.
The equalizer (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein teeth of the integrated gear-nut (202) are facing towards the base (106).
A system for adjusting a parking brake lever, comprising;
an equalizer (200) of the parking brake lever having a pair of flanges (108a, 108b) extending from base (106), wherein on the base (106), an integrated gear-nut (202) is screwed on a threaded portion (102-T) of a tie rod (102) passing through a recess formed on the base (106), wherein a guide pin (204) is mounted on an upper flange (108a) connected to the base (106), and wherein the guide pin (204) is mounted in the operational proximity of the integrated gear-nut (202); and
a counter gear (302) removably attached to an adjustment tool gun (116) and supported on the guide pin (204) in such a way that teeth of the

counter gear (302) mesh with teeth of the integrated gear-nut (202) to adjust the equalizer (200).
The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the counter gear (302) attached to the adjustment tool gun (116) is placed vertically over the guide pin (204) of the equalizer (200).
The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the counter gear (302) is rotatable in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction.
The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the equalizer (200) comprises two slots (110a, 110b) on the upper flange (108a) for receiving and locking brake cables (114) therein, and wherein the guide pin (204) is mounted in between the two slots (110a, 110b).