Year: 1898

page_text: We, JOHN BURNS, Clerk, and RICHARD BURNS, Mechanical Engineer, both of
25, Earl Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in improvements on the invention described in the
Specification of our prior Patent No. 11033 of 1897. That Specification describes
certain apparatus for allowing the crank axle chain wheel or equivalent part (herein-
after referred to as the chain wheel) to be connected to or disconnected from the
crank axle so that the rider can pedal forward, back-pedal, or ride with his or her
feet on the pedals while they remain stationary, and at the same time apply the brake
(if any) or release it independently of or in conjunction with the connection of the
chain wheel to the crank axle.
The apparatus consists partly of a latch device adapted to be moved radially towards
and away from the crank axle so as to connect the chain wheel to the crank axle or
to allow it to revolve freely thereon. The latch is moved by a movable wedge piece
which engages with a stud on the latch and throws the said latch in or out as
required. In the said Specification the wedge piece is mounted on a block adapted
to slide on a pair of guide rods attached to the lower back bone near the bottom
bracket. To the said block are also connected rearwardly directed links, by operating
which a suitable brake is applied to the rear wheel.
The
According to the present invention we mount the wedge piece on the upper end
of a downwardly and forwardly directed arm. The wedge piece may conveniently lie
somewhat further from the central plane of the machine than the said arm.
lower end of the said arm is fixed to a horizontal spindle carried by the lower end
of a forked bracket, the upper portion of which is formed into a suitable clip by which
the said bracket is fixed to the lower back bone at a suitable distance from the
bottom bracket. To the above mentioned horizontal spindle is also fixed a second
arm by its lower end. This second arm may stand approximately parallel to the
first arm and is preferably situated between the members of the forked bracket and
in the central plane of the machine. The lower end of the operating or connecting
rod is jointed to the upper end of the second arm and the brake link or links is
or are connected to the second arm at a point intermediate between the two ends
thereof.
The connecting rod operates the brake through the second arm, and the link or
links; and it operates the wedge piece through the second arm, the horizontal
spindle and the first arm, the said wedge piece being raised or lowered by causing the
first arm to rotate about the axis of the horizontal spindle.

page_text: We do not confine ourselves exactly to the above description, which is intended to
indicate the nature of our improvements without excluding modifications.
Dated this 8th day of September 1898.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
and 9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.
We, JOHN BURNS, Clerk, and RICHARD BURNS, Mechanical Engineer, both of 25,
Earl Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, 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 consists in improvements on the invention described in the Specifi-
cation of our prior Patent No. 11033 of 1897. That specification described certain
apparatus for allowing the crank axle chain wheel or equivalent part (hereinafter
referred to as the chain wheel) to be connected to or disconnected from the crank
axle so that the rider could pedal forward, back pedal or ride with his or her feet on
the pedals while they remain stationary, and at the same time apply the brake (if
any) or release it independently of or in conjunction with the connection of the chain
wheel to the crank axle.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure I is an outside elevation of a certain plate fixed to the crank axle and em-
ployed in both our previous and present inventions.
Figure II is an inside elevation of the front chain wheel, also employed in both our
previous and present inventions.
Figure III is a side elevation of the operating mechanism, the chain wheel and
certain other parts being represented by dotted lines.
Figure IV is a side view of a safety bicycle showing the operating mechanism
and connections and one form of brake, certain parts being omitted for the sake of
clearness.
Figure V is a section on the line V-V in Figure III.
Figure VI is a plan showing the operating mechanism and brake represented
in Figure IV.
Figure VII is a front elevation showing a bracket hereinafter referred to, and
Figure VIII is a similar view showing the handlebar, carrying an operating lever
and a rack device.
Figures I, II, III, V and VII are drawn to one scale. Figures VI and VIII are
drawn to a smaller scale and Figure IV is drawn to a still smaller scale. Like
numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings of this specification and for the
most part correspond to those used in our said prior specification.
The apparatus consisted and still consists partly of a latch 4 adapted to be moved
radially towards and away from the crank axle 3 so as to connect the chain wheel 10
to the crank axle or to allow it to revolve freely thereon. The latch is moved by a
movable wedge piece 16 which engages with a stud 6 on the said latch and throws
the said latch in or out as required. In the said prior specification the wedge piece
is mounted on a block adapted to slide on a pair of guides attached to the lower

page_text: backbone near the bottom bracket. To the said block are also connected
rearwardly directed links by operating which a suitable brake is applied to the
rear wheel.
end
According to our present invention we mount the wedge piece 16 on the
upper
of a downwardly and forwardly directed arm 29. The wedge piece may conveniently
lie somewhat further from the central plane of the machine than the said arm, as
best seen in Figures V, VI and VII. The lower end of the said arm is fixed to a
horizontal spindle 27 carried by the lower end of a forked bracket 24, the upper
portion of which is mounted, fixedly or detachably, on the lower backbone 14 at a
suitable distance from the bottom bracket 15. To the above mentioned horizontal
This second arm is
spindle 27 is also fixed a second arm 28 by its lower end.
preferably situated between the members 25, 25 of the forked bracket and in the
central plane of the machine. The lower end of the operating rod 23 or equivalent
connection is joined to the upper end of the second arm 28, and the brake
link or links 40 is or are connected to the said arm at a point intermediate between
the two ends thereof.
The connecting rod 23 or equivalent operates the brake through the second
arm 28 and the link or links 40; and it operates the wedge piece 16 through the
said second arm, the horizontal spindle 27, and the first arm 29, the said wedge piece
being raised or lowered by causing the said first arm 29 to rotate about the axis of
the horizontal spindle in a manner similar to that described in our said prior
specification. But instead of passing the upper end of the cord 33 down to the end
of a lever of the first class, we prefer to employ a longer lever 30 of the second class
pivoting its end to the handlebar 35 and leading the cord 33 directly from the
pulley 34 at the bottom of the head to an intermediate point on the said lever,
as shown in Figures IV and VIII. This is a well known equivalent for the construction
set forth in our prior specification and we make no specific claim thereto. Neither
does it affect the manipulation of the lever and the catch 44.
We do not confine ourselves exactly to the above description, but may make such
modifications as fall fairly within the scope of our invention. For example, instead
of mounting the bracket 24 on the lower backbone 14, it might be mounted on the
diagonal tube 51, or it might be inverted on the tube 14.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a device for enabling the crank axle chain wheel of a velocipede to be
connected to and disconnected from its axle, with or without a brake to be operated
independently of or in conjunction therewith, the employment of a bracket on the
frame carrying a spindle provided with an arın on which is mounted a wedge piece
adapted to be moved so as to drive inwards or outwards, as required, a latch
mounted on a buckling spring carried on a plate or the like fixed to such axle and
adapted to lock or release the chain wheel which is mounted loosely on such
axle, and means for moving such arm on the axis of the said spindle, substantially
as set forth.
2. Means for operating mechanism of the kind referred to in Claim 1, comprising
a second arm mounted on the bracket spindle, and a rod or cord or equivalent
connected at one end to the said arm and at the other end to a hand lever, all
combined, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the mechanisms referred to in Claims 1 and 2 hereof,
0 of a brake adapted to be operated by the connections which operate the wedge
piece.
4. The combination with the mechanisms referred to in Claims 1 and 2, or a link
or links jointed by their forward end or ends to one of the arms on the bracket
spindle, such link or links carrying brake blocks adapted to be brought into contact
5 with the rim of the rear wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 5. In mechanism of the kind herein referred to, a bracket such as 24 having
prongs 25 which carry a spindle 27 having an arm such as 29 on which is mounted
the wedge piece, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this oth don of T1000
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy., E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.