An Improvement in Brakes for Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1897
An Improvement in Brakes for Velocipedes.
SAMUEL WATERS, 30c Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Decorator, and
SAMUEL ALBERT WATERS, 30c Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sign Writer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an arrangement for a brake for Velocipedes which is
connected and works with the Sprocket Wheel and which can be adjusted to any
required pressure.
On the end of the bracket is attached a disc or Circular Plate of Iron or Steel by
a ball-bearing arrangement. On the face of this disc at the outer edge and next to
the Sprocket Wheel is fixed a ring or washer of leather or other non-Metalic
substance.
This disc can be made the same diameter as the Sprocket Wheel. The Sprocket
Wheel is made to run quite free on the spindle by a ball-bearing arrangement..
Fixed on the outer side of the Sprocket Wheel is an Annular Wheel containing a
clutch gear which on driving the Velocipede catches in the teeth of the Annular:
Wheel.
The face of the annular wheel can be made of sufficient width to ensure enough
surface to brake against..
On the spindle and outside of the Sprocket Wheel is another disc similar to the
first with its Similar Washer of leather next to the annular wheel of the sprocket
wheel.
To this second disc is fixed the clutch arrangement which is concealed between
it and the Sprocket Wheel.
The crank is rigidly fixed on to the end of a quick running left-hand screw which
screw is made to work into the spindle and extends sufficient distance to give the
crank stability and yet to enable it to run to or from the Sprocket Wheel at the will
of the rider.
To the crank is fixed the outer or second disc which runs with the crank but free
of the spindle.
It is provided to screw a small collar or disc on the spindle close up to the
sprocket wheel to prevent it running untrue.
On applying pressure to the pedals in driving the Velocipede the clutches catch
in the teeth of the annular wheel and the whole arrangement is locked together.
When applying pressure with the right foot forward and at the same time with the
left foot backward, the Sprocket Wheel runs free for coasting, and when the right
foot is pressed backward, and the left foot forwards, the cránk with the outer disc
run, by the arrangement of the screw, against the Sprocket Wheel and brake it..
The ball bearings, clutches, and the internal parts of the Sprocket Wheel being
enclosed by the two discs, no dirt can possibly enter to interfere with the working
parts, or to cause any undue friction.
Dated this 1st day of December, 1896.
SAMUEL WATERS.
SAMUEL ALBERT WATERS.

page_text: We, SAMUEL WATERS, Decorator, and SAMUEL ALBERT WATERS, Sign Writer, both
of 30c Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, in the County of Kent, 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 brakes such as are used for retarding the progress of
vehicles, and consists of improvements whereby the action of "back-pedalling," or
a similar movement, is caused to bring into operation a powerful and efficient braking
device.
It is especially suitable for application to a rear driving safety bicycle, and it is
here described as applied to such a vehicle. The spindle runs in bearings in the
bottom bracket in the usual manner, and one of the pedal cranks is fixed rigidly to
the end of this. The other end of the spindle projects farther out of the bracket
than is usual, and has mounted upon it (so as to be capable of rotating freely) the
driving chain wheel which is placed close to the end of the bottom bracket. This
wheel has a circular depression formed in its outer face of such a diameter that it
encloses a disc, the periphery of which has either teeth formed upon it which may
engage with a pawl or pawls fixed to the chain wheel, or pawls which engage with
teeth formed upon the inside of the chain wheel.
The connection between the chain wheel and the disc must in all cases form
a ratchet clutch, and for this purpose the disc may have a number of notches or
recesses, each having one inclined side, arranged in such manner that a roller or
ball contained therein runs up and engages with the interior of the recess in the
chain wheel, when the disc is moved in one direction. Or a wedge may be
employed for the same purpose. The whole of the balls, rollers, or wedges moving
or running up their inclines simultaneously, locks the disc to the wheel, and this is
so arranged that it takes place when the bottom bracket spindle is caused by the
pedals to rotate in that direction which propels the machine forward; this disc,
with the chain wheel, constitutes a ratchet clutch. The end of the bottom bracket
spindle is tapped to receive a, preferably quick pitch, screwed plug formed integrally
with or firmly attached to the pedal crank arm. To the latter is also attached
a brake disc, which is disposed at the side of the chain wheel, and provided on its
inner face with a leather or similar washer. Upon the occurrence of a "back
pedalling" movement from the rider, the screwed plug causes the brake disc to
approach and jam against the side of the chain wheel, thus braking the machine.
In order that our invention may be clearly ascertained, we append drawings in
which-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the brake.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation on a reduced scale, and
Fig. 3 is a detail
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the locking device.
a is a disc, provided with a washer b of leather or other similar material upon its
face; it is attached to one end of the bottom bracket h; c is the chain or sprocket
wheel which runs in ball bearings as shewn; and is kept in place upon the bottom bracket
spindle by the screwed collar n. The chain wheel c is so made that it has a circular
depression in its outer face, which depression is surrounded by a projecting rim or
flange, the inner surface of which has teeth to engage with wedges m recessed in
the periphery of the second or clutch disc f. Pins g, g project therefrom and pass
through slots in a third or brake disc e, which is provided on its inner face with
a leather or similar washer & and formed integrally with, or firmly attached to, the

page_text: loose pedal crank j by one or more screws o, the crank being connected to the
bottom bracket spindle i by means of the screwed plug & formed integral with the
crank. The teeth I may be cut in a separate ring which will thus form an annular
toothed wheel or rim, this being rigidly attached to the side of the chain wheel.
When propelling or driving the machine forward, the action is as follows:-The
crank being rotated in the proper direction, carries with it the brake disc e and also
rotates the clutch disc f by means of the pins g. It also turns the screwed plug k
outwards, thus causing the brake disc e to be withdrawn from contact with the side
of the chain wheel which will thus turn freely with the cranks. When the clutch
disc commences to rotate, the pawls m, m. Fig. 2 will be caused to run up their
correspondingly inclined surfaces, and engage the teeth on the inside of the chain
wheel, which is thus caused to rotate.
When it is desired to retard the speed of the machine by "back-pedalling" this
action will by means of the screw thread cause the plug k to be moved towards and
the brake disc e, (carrying the washer d on the inner side thereof) to be thrust
against the side of the chain wheel c, while the other side of the chain wheel will be
pressed against the washer b on the outer side of the disc a. The pins g will then
retard the rotation of the clutch disc f, and allow the pawls m to drop back into
their recesses, in which position they will become disengaged from the chain wheel,
thus securing a powerful, efficient and instantaneous braking netion. The screw
plug is limited in its travel by means of a groove formed on the inner end thereof,
engaging the stud & screwed into the bottom bracket spindle i.
When the clutch disc f rotates by the action of the pedals in driving the machine,
the wedges ma rock on their inner angles in the corresponding angles of the recesses
of the disc f, and rest against the right-angled sides of the recesses.
In this position they project sufficiently to jam against the sides of the inner teeth.
of the chain wheel c. This action takes place when the left hand side of the disc fis
moving upwards in the direction of the arrow, shewn in Fig. 4.
When the wedges are at the top of the disc f they rest on the inclines of the
recesses, and are idle.
When the right hand side of the disc is moving downwards in the direction of
the arrow the wedges are kept on the inclined sides of the recesses by the teeth of
the chain wheel c resting against them.
The wedges may be so arranged that when they rest on their inclines, they reach
the points of two of the teeth of the chain wheel c. This arrangement prevents
clicking of the parts.
The wedges rock on their inner angles by their own weight, and they only engage
the teeth when the rocking angles are quite home in the corresponding angles in the
recesses.
It is to be understood that only in starting the machine would the clutch dise f
be either in the position shewn, or with the wedges half way between, for when
once the wedges jam, they remain so as long as the power continues to be applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The herein described brake for velocipedes and like vehicles, substantially as
shewn and described.
2. A brake for velocipedes consisting essentially of a rigid and a loose crank, the
latter being formed integrally with, or attached to, a brake disc, which is caused to
intermittently approach and jam against, or recede from, the side of the chain or
sprocket driving wheel, by means of a plug, provided with a quick pitch thread
screwing in and out of the tapped end of the bottom bracket spindle, said screwing
motion being caused by a "back-pedalling" movement from the rider and causing
the brake disc to approach and jain against the side of the chain wheel, at the same
time reversing the clutch driving mechanism of the chain wheel by means of the
pins y, 3, substantially as described and shewn.

page_text: 3. In a brake for velocipedes, and like vehicles, the plug provided with a quick
pitch thread or threads which is caused to move in and out of the end of the bottom
bracket spindle, and prevented from screwing out entirely by means of a neck and
collar formed upon the end thereof, engaging a screwed stud in the bottom bracket
spindle of the machine, substantially as, and for the purpose, described and shewn.
4. In a brake for velocipedes and like vehicles the brake disc attached to a loose
pedal crank and provided with one or more frictional contact surfaces, substantially
as described and shewn.
Dated this 17th day of August 1907
SAMUEL WATERS.
SAMUEL ALBERT WATERS.