Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, DR. HERMANN VAN KOOLWYK, of 38, Lutzowufer W Berlin, in the Empire
of Germany, Barrister, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The present invention relates to a brake for cycles and other vehicles which can
be applied either to the driving or driven wheels.
The brake consists of a fork having its branches bent downwards and is pivotted
on the frame of the vehicle above the wheel to which it is to be applied. This
pivotting attachment of the fork to the frame can be effected for instance by attach-
ing it by clasps or buckles to a cross-piece. The fork terminates at the back in
a short lever. The free end of the lever is attached to a cord and the branches
may likewise be connected to a cord attached to a yoke connecting the two branches
together.
The brake described is operated by the lever being pulled upwards by means of
the cord. The brake fork then turns about its point of attachment and both
branches are pressed against the tyre and the tyre is forced or jammed between
the branches. The tyre of the wheel to be braked rotates between the branches of
the brake-fork and the braking action is the stronger the more the fork is pressed
upon the tyre. It is obvious that the brake fork can be arranged in the reverse
position that is to say with the branches forward and the lever rearward.
In the latter case the braking action is not as strong as in the first case. It is
further obvious that the brake-fork can be applied to the front or steering wheel
say of a bicycle. In the latter case it is advisable to mount the brake fork on the
steering fork. The fork may be pivotted on the machine in any suitable manner.
In some case the lever extension may be dispensed with and the fork drawn
downwards by means of a suitably guided cord or cords.
The brake fork may be also constructed as a double fork. When it is desired to
apply the brake very strongly the double fork is operated so that the branches
directed rearward become operative while for a lighter braking action the for-
ward branches are pressed against the tyre. The rider can by pulling either one or
the other cord operate either end of the double brake. Instead of employing a
cord for operating the single or the double brake-fork, rods may be used.
ordinary braking the front part of the double fork is generally sufficient
the back fork being used only in special circumstances and emergencies.
Dated this 28th day of May 1897.
For
BOULT & WADE.
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Cycles and other Vehicles.
T, DR. HERMANN VAN KOOLWYK, of 38, Lutzowufer W Berlin, in the Empire
of Germany, Barrister, 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:-
The present invention relates to a brake for cycles and other vehicles, which can
be applied either to the driving or driven wheels. The accompanying drawing
illustrates a brake according to the present invention.
Figs. 1 and 2 of said drawing show the brake in side and front elevation
respectively as applied to the back-wheel of a bicycle.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a bicycle with the brake on the front and back
wheels. Figs. 4 & 5 show a construction of the brake as double brake.
The brake consists of a fork having its branches aa bent downwards and is
pivotted on the frame of the vehicle above the wheel to which it is to be applied.
This pivotting attachment of the fork to the frame can be effected for instance by
attaching it by clasps or buckles to a cross-piece s. The fork terminates at the back
in a short lever b (Figs. 1 and 2). The free end of the lever b is attached to a
cord d and the branches aa may likewise be connected to a cord & attached to a
yoke a connecting the two branches together.
The brake described is operated by the lever b being pulled upwards into the
dotted position Fig. 1 by means of the cord d.
The brake-fork then turns about its point of attachment and both branches a a
are pressed against the tyre and the tyre is forced or jammed between the branches.
The tyre of the wheel to be braked which rotates in the direction indicated by the
arrow rotates between the branches of the brake-fork and the braking action is
the stronger, the more the fork is pressed upon the tyre. It is obvious that the
brake-fork can be arranged in the reverse position, that is to say, with the branches a
forward and the lever b rearward.
It is
In the latter case the braking action is not as strong as in the first case.
further obvious that the brake-fork, of which Figs. 1 & 2 show the application
to the back-wheel of a bicycle can be applied to the front or steering wheel, say of a
bicycle. In the latter case it is advisable to mount the brake-fork on the steering
fork. The fork may be pivotted on the machine in any suitable manner.
In some cases the lever extension 6 may be dispensed with and the fork drawn
downwards by means of a suitably guided cord or cords.
In Figs. 4 & 5 the brake-fork may also be constructed as a double-fork. Fig. 3
shows the application of this construction to the front as well as to the back-wheel
of a bicycle. When it is desired to apply the brake very strongly, the double
fork is operated so that the branches directed rearward become operative, while for
a lighter braking action the forward branches are pressed against the tyre. The
rider can by pulling either one or the other cord operate either end of the double
brake. Instead of employing a cord for operating the single or the double brake-
fork, rods may be used. For ordinary braking the front part of the double fork is
generally sufficient the back fork being used only in special circumstances and
emergencies.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A brake for vehicle wheels comprising a fork with diverging arms pivotted on

page_text: wheel to be braked said tyre is jammed or pressed between the arms of the brake
substantially as described.
2. A modification of the brake set forth in Claim 1 consisting of a double brake
fork the rearward fork being used for producing a strong braking effect and the
forward fork for lighter braking action substantially as described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete brake for
vehicle substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or in
Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of January 1898
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.