Improved Bicycle Brake.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after Amend-
ment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883), as allowed by the
decision of the Comptroller General of the 19th day of May 1898.
Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
ROVISIONAL SP
Improved Bicycle Brake.
I, ALFRED WILLIAMS, of Worcester Road, Redditch, in the County of Worcester,
Fishing Tackle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention consists of a bicycle brake which is controlled by one of the grips
of the handle instead of the usual lever arrangement. A slight turn of the grip
being all that is required to put the brake on or off. The necessary mechanism is
placed inside the handle bar and is connected with a vertical rod which runs down
the head of the machine to the front fork. On the rear of the brake and behind
the front fork is a brush which is pushed against the wheel when the brake is put
on and which removes any dirt or grit and prevents the action of the brake rubbing
away the edges of the tyre.
Dated this 10th day of November 1896.
ALFRED WILLIAMS.
COMPLE
TION (AMENDED).
Improved Bicycle Brake.
1, ALFRED WILLIAMS, of Worcester Road, Redditch, in the County of Worcester,
Fishing Tackle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object an improved bicycle brake which dispenses with
the levers, springs and external mechanism now well known as associated with
cycles and to which many riders have such a strong prejudice that they prefer to use
their machines without brakes rather than to have the cumber of such external
brakes as are now in use. Besides the separate brake handles are very objection-
able as straining the hand when used frequently or on a long hill and many accidents
and failures have arisen from this cause.
My brake pad is situated immediately under the crown of the fork of the steering
wheel and is operated by a vertical or diagonal plunger rod which passes up the
head with the top issuing out above the handle bar which forms a sliding bearing
for the top end. The brake block or pad has a brush attached to it which sweeps
and cleans the tyre as the brake is applied so preventing undue wear of the brake

page_text: pad and injury to the tyre. The brake rod may be operated in a number of ways
by internal mechanism in the handle bar so that by turning one of the handles say
outwardly and say the right one, the brake is lowered upon the wheel tyre where
it remains locked until raised by turning the steering handle the reverse way.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto drawings upon which one class of
mechanism is shown adapted to a straight steering handle and another class of
mechanism to a curved steering handle which will be sufficient to make my mode
of working quite clear though it must be distinctly understood that any suitable
kind of mechanism may be used internally for the purpose such for instance as
any form of the well-known flexible drill shaft with any desired number of joints
or junctions.
Figure 1 is a part sectional front elevation of part of the handle bar and ball
head or steering socket of a velocipede with my improved brake applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a part sectional side elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a part sectional plan view of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a part sectional plan view shewing one method of applying my brake
to a curved handle bar.
In carrying my invention into practice I insert the plunger rod A down the
centre of the ball head or steering socket B and on the bottom end of this rod I fix
the usual spoon or other form of brake C which is situated over the wheel directly
underneath the fork "crown." The other end of this rod passes up the stem of
the handle bar D and out through a hole directly over the centre of the handle bar
and close to the top of this rod I form a rack a¹ or its equivalent and above this
rack I form a boss or enlargement a" which prevents the rod from passing too far
down the ball head socket when the brake is applied. Gearing into the rack a' is
a small pinion 7 formed on or fixed to one end of the spindle P which passes
through the interior of the handle bar, the other end being fixed to the collar or
bush . This spindle is supported in suitable bearing blocks 1, 2 and på fixed in
the interior of the handle bar and the bush 22 is secured in the interior of the
handle H which fits loosely onto the end of the handle bar.
To operate the brake the handle is turned outwardly and the pinion on the
end of the spindle P causes the plunger rod A to travel downwards and the brake C
to press upon the wheel and it will easily be understood that by this means the
pressure can be regulated to a great nicety. At Figure 4 I have shown one method
of applying my improved brake to a curved handle bar. In this case I secure one
end of the short spindle K to the bush 2 which is secured as hereinbefore described
in the interior of the handle and on the other end I mount the spur wheel ¹ or its
equivalent which gears into the spur wheel fixed on one end of the spindle S.
On the other end of this spindle I'mount the small pinion 2 which gears into the
rack a' as hereinbefore described.
Although I have shown spur wheels connecting the spindles S and K for
actuating my brake when using a curved handle bar it must be distinctly under-
stood that any suitable kind of mechanism may be used internally for this purpose
such for instance as the flexible joint shewn at Fig. 5 or any form of the well-known
flexible drill shaft with any desired number of joints or junctions and also that I
may actuate my brake from either or both of the handles.
In order to prevent any stones or grit which might collect under the brake
spoon C when it is applied from damaging the tyre and also for preventing undue
wear of the brake pail I fix the small brush T which may be hinged to the brake
spoon or a circular brush as shewn at Fig. 6 or an india-rubber block or any other
device which sweeps or cleans the tyre before it passes under the brake.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it known that I
am aware that at the date of my application for Letters Patent it was not new
either to carry the brake operating mechanism within the steering head and trans-

page_text: verse handle bar, to operate the said mechanism by rotating one of the handles, or
to use a flexible shaft as part of the transmitting mechanism, but subject to this
disclaiming note, I declare that what I claim is:-
The combination of parts herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing, forming my improved brake for cycles.
Dated this 28th day of December 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.