Improvements in Bicycle Brakes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle Brakes.
I, JOHN ALEXANDER CALDWELL, of the City of Vancouver, in the Province of
British Columbia, Canada, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
My invention relates to bicycle brakes, and consists essentially of arranging a
brake in connection with the driving sprocket adapted to be operated by back-
pedaling motion.
My invention further consists of the details of construction and arrangement
of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.
The object of the invention is to provide a brake for a bicycle which may be
conveniently operated through the pedals to stop the machine entirely, or to slow
up, and wherein the parts are simple and effective in the construction and opera-
tion, strong and durable, easily and readily applied and operated and comparatively
inexpensive in the cost of manufacture.
In the accompanying drawing:
Fig.1, is an elevation of a sprocket wheel and a portion of a crank showing
the improved brake mechanism applied in connection therewith, the parts being
shown in dotted lines to illustrate the operation.
Fig. 2, is a section on the line xx in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is an elevation of the sprocket wheel, and a portion of the crank, and
looking towards the side opposite to that shown by Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawing, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed
to indicate corresponding parts in the several views: 1 indicates the rini of a
sprocket wheel, and firmly fixed to the hanger thereof is a ring or rim 2. Extend-
ing through the sprocket and the ring or rim 1S a crank-shaft,
or axle, and co-acting therewith is a crank 4. The said crank 4
has oppositely extending ears 5 adjacent to its point of engagement with the
crank-shaft or axle 3, and thereto are moveably attached the inner ends of the
clutches 6 and 7 by screws 8, which have slight movement in oppositely extending
slots 9 disposed on opposite sides of the crank-shaft or axle and forined in the
web of the sprocket wheel. The outer portion of the said clutches 6 and 7 are
also formed with ears 10, through which pins or screws 11 extend, and which
are slightly moveable in slots 12 extending inwardly towards the centre of the
sprocket in a diametrical line.
The clutches 6 and 7 are each provided with lugs 13 and 14, which are annularly
arranged and respectively project over the outer and inner portions of the ring
or rim 2, and are arranged to grip the said ring or rim on both sides. Extending
inwardly from the crank 4 is a pin or screw 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which
projects through a slot 16 formed in the web of the sprocket wheel. This pin 15
works loosely in the slot 16, and is normally seated against the forward wall of
the said slot.
In the operation of my device, when it is desired to apply the brake a back-

page_text: pressure of movement is applied to the pedals, and is transmitted through the
cranks, causing the pin 15 to move back in the slot 16, and this operation pulls
on the clutch G and pushes on the clutch 7, thereby simultaneously throwing the
lugs 13 and 14 against the ring or rim 2. This forms a very effective brake and
one that may be applied gradually, or suddenly stop the wheel by a gripping
action which being concentrated on the inner and outer edges of the ring or rim
in the manner shown overcomes any tendency to wear on one side or throw the
pedals out of true.
It will be observed that the device is nearly dust-proof, as arranged, but can
can be made entirely so by enclosing the parts in a suitable casing or covering;
and it is apparent that changes in the details of the construction and arrangement
of the several parts may be substituted for those shown without departing from
the spirit of my invention.
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 a bicycle brake, the combination of a sprocket-wheel, a ring or rim
rigidly supported by the hangers of said sprocket-wheel, a crank and clutches
moveably attached to said crank and adapted to engage the opposite sides of the
said ring or rim, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. In a bicycle brake, the combination of a sprocket-wheel supported by a
hanger, a ring or rim rigidly attached to said hanger, a crank and clutches
moveably attached to said crank and having annularly disposed lugs at their
outer ends to engage opposite sides of the said ring or rim, substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
3. In a bicycle brake, the combination of a sprocket-wheel having a suitable
supporting hanger, a crank, a ring or rim and clutches engaging the said ring
or rim, which are operated by the back-pedaling movement or pressure on the
crank, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
4. In a brake for a bicycle, the combination of a sprocket wheel, with slots
therein and having a suitable hanger, a ring or rim rigidly secured to the said
hanger, a crank having a pin extending therefrom through the outer slot in
said sprocket-wheel and clutches attached to said crank and adapted to engage
the said ring or rim, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
5. In a bicycle brake, the combination of a sprocket wheel with slots therein
and having a suitable hanger, a ring or rim secured to said hanger, a crank
having a pin extending through the outer slot in said sprocket wheel, clutches
having their inner ends attached to the crank by screws or pins which extend
through the inner slots in the sprocket, the said clutches having outer ears
which are pivotally fixed to the sprocket wheel by pins 11 and oppositely disposed
annularly positioned lugs 13 and 14 to engage the outer and inner portions of
the said ring or rim 2, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 28th day of July 1897
W. G. TRETHEWEY,
Agent.