Improvements in or connected with Brakes for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Brakes for Velocipedes and
the like.
I, RICHARD ERNEST LATIMER of 7, Woodland View, Hale End Road,
Walthamstow, Essex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described.
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with brakes for velocipedes
and the like, the object being to provide a reliable and efficient brake of novel yet
simple construction, the said brake being capable of being applied to any ordinary
velocipede fitted with a ball head and tubular handle bars, while the whole
is arranged in such a manner that only the brake pad or block is visible when it is
applied or fitted to the machine.
Now according to my invention, I arrange within the tubular portion of the
handle-bar carried within the ball head of a velocipede, a suitable length of rod or
tubing, said rod or tube projecting at one end through the crown plates and being
furnished with a brake pad or sole, while the other end is furnished or fitted with
a cup valve of india-rubber, leather or other suitable material of such a size and
shape that it shall readily give or press out so as to closely fit that portion of the
handle-bar within which it is contained, at the same time quickly adapting itself to
any irregularities. I further arrange one of the handles in such a manner that the
outer casing or handle proper is free to revolve and by this means I cause a suitable
piston or plunger fitted with a cup valve to be either propelled forward or
retracted.
The space or open portion of the handle-bar is filled with oil, water or other
suitable liquid, so that upon revolving the handle and propelling forward the
piston or plunger the force or power is transmitted through the aforesaid liquid to
the upper end of the brake rod which is thereby depressed causing the brake pad
or sole to come into contact with the tyre, at the same time compressing a coiled
spring arranged around the said brake rod which raises the said rod and removes
the brake as soon as the piston or plunger is retracted, which is effected by
revolving the handle in the opposite direction.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will now proceed
to describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. illustrates in sectional elevation the ball head and sufficient of the
handle bars as is necessary in order to understand the application of my improved
brake.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the form or construction of a handle
suitable for use in connection with my improved brake and such as may be employed
for projecting or retracting the plunger or piston, and
Fig. 3 is a similar view of a handle of slightly modified form or construction,
which is also applicable for use in connection with my improved brake.
According to my invention I arrange within the downwardly projecting tubular
portion a of the handle bar a' a rod or tube t one end of which is fitted or furnished
with a brake pad or sole of suitable construction b while the other is furnished or
fitted with a circular disc of metal or the like c to which is secured the cup-valve v
by means of a screws or the said valve may be secured in any other convenient
and efficient manner. I likewise provide a plunger or piston designed to be

page_text: projected or retracted By, revolving one: off the handles and which according to the
form of construction shown in Fig. 2' consists of a split tubular rod r one end of
which is furnished with a flange, plug or the like f to which the cup-valve t
is secured, while the other end of the said tube is closed with a plug furnished
centrally with a screw threaded opening or perforation through which the screw
threaded rod or tube passes, the said tube or rod being revolved by turning
the handle in the required direction which projects or retracts the aforesaid plunger
or piston r.
In order that the handle h may freely revolve, if constructed as shown in Fig. 2,
the end h¹ of the handle bar is furnished or fitted with a ring d brazed or secured
to same in any suitable and convenient manner, while before the aforesaid ring is
secured in position the cap end or piece g is slipped over the handle-bar so that it
occupies the position shown in Fig. 2 when the ring d has been secured. I further
provide the handle with a tubular metal body k the end k¹ of which passes under
the cap piece or end g to which it is secured by means of small screws or the
like s', s in such a manner that the handle can be freely revolved, the outer surface
of the said tubular portion k being covered with cork, felt or other suitable material.
in the ordinary manner. The end of the tubular portion k is preferably closed
by means of a stop or dise 2 furnished with a central hole or perforation through
which the screw threaded rod or tube r passes it being preferably furnished with a
flanged end so as to afford a sufficient surface for brazing it in position or it may
of course be secured in any other reliable and efficient manner. A cross pin p is
provided so as to prevent the piston or plunger rod r from twisting or turning
within the handle-bar.
The handle shown in Fig. 3 is of slightly different construction to that already
described. In this case the cap piece or end g is also employed in connection with
the ring d which is brazed or secured in position as herein before mentioned, while
the end of the tubular body k is screw threaded, the inner periphery of the cap
piece or end p being correspondingly tapped, while a locking ring, washer or nut w
is employed for locking the whole and for the purpose of preventing the said
tubular body from screwing out of the said capped piece when it is revolved for
operating the brake. The end of the plunger or piston rod or tube r is fitted with
a cup-valve hereinbefore described while the other end carries a disc y the outer
periphery of which is tapped while the inner periphery of the tubular body k is
correspondingly screw threaded. It will thus be seen upon referring to Fig. 3 that
the plunger tube or rod r can be projected or retracted according to the direction
in which the handle h is revolved a cross pin p being provided in order to prevent
the plunger or piston rod from turning within the handle-bar which in this case it
will be noticed has to be cut off for say about two inches so as to allow the disc y
to travel up and down.
The operation of my improved brake is as follows:
The space z of the handle-bar having been filled with oil or other suitable liquid
(a stop being provided for preventing it flowing or passing in that direction) it.
will be seen that upon revolving the handle in the proper direction that the
plunger or piston rod r is projected, the force or power being transmitted through
the liquid contained within the tubular portion of the handle bar to the end of the.
brake rod or tube t, the form and arrangement of the valves v, v being such that
no liquid escapes and no force is consequently lost. By this means the said brake
rod or tube t is depressed "bringing the brake sole or pad into contact with the
tyre e so as to form an efficient brake at the same time compressing the spring m
which is arranged around the tube or rod t for the purpose of raising same and
removing the brake when the plunger or piston rod r is retracted or drawn back by.
revolving the handle in the reverse direction.
By this means I provide a powerful, reliable and efficient brake which is capable
of being readily adjusted and quickly applied with any required force the screw
threaded portions of the handle being arranged or formed in such a manner as to
project the plunger or piston a sufficient distance for operating the brake by one or

page_text: two turns of same, the said screw threaded portions being either cut in the usual
manner or stamped or pressed up if found more convenient.
Although I have described two different forms of handles for operating my
improved brake it is obvious that other handles may be designed which will also
fulfil the object in view and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to those
illustrated in the drawings as any other handle capable of projecting or retracting
a piston or plunger upon revolving same may be employed for this purpose.
The handle bar may be filled with oil or other liquid by first unscrewing
the tubular stem or body of the handle and removing the plunger or piston when
the required quantity of liquid can be poured in and the parts of the handle
replaced, or I may provide a small opening at the top or highest point of the handle
bar to be fitted with any suitable, preferably screw down valve, so as to allow of
the required liquid being more easily and conveniently inserted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In brakes for velocipedes and the like the use or employment of oil or other
liquid contained within the tubular portion of the handle-bar in combination with a
plunger or piston capable of being projected or retracted by the revolving of the
handle and a brake rod or tube contained within the lower portion of the said
handle bar and the ball head, the said plunger or piston and brake rod being
furnished with suitable cup valves for the purpose of preventing the escape of the
liquid, the whole arranged constructed and operating, substantially as herein
described and shown and for the purposes specified.
2. In brakes for velocipedes and the like such as above claimed the form
construction or arrangement of the handle for projecting and retracting the plunger
substantially as described and shown with reference to Fig. 2 and the modified
form of same described and shown with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The new or improved brake for velocipedes and the like operating through
the medium of oil or other liquid contained within the tubular portions of the
handle bar by means of a plunger or piston capable of being projected or retracted
by revolving the handle, substantially as herein described and shown and for the
purpose specified.
4. The improvements in or connected with brakes for velocipedes and the like,
substantially as herein described and shown and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 8th day of June 1896
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.