Improvements in Driving Mechanism and Brakes for Cycles and similar Vehicles,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1899 - Accepted, 17th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Driving Mechanism and Brakes for Cycles and
similar Vehicles,
We, VICTOR EMANUEL DOREMUS, Inventor, of 104, West 23rd Street, PATRICK
THOMAS WALL, Hotel Keeper, of 141, West 24th Street, and HENRY AUGUSTUS
SIEBRECHT, Florist, of 409, 5th Avenue, all of New York City, New York, United
States of America, 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 an improvement in bicycle brakes of the type known
as "back pedaling brakes," and has for its object the construction of a device of
this character adapted to be used as a coaster permitting the driven wheel to run
freely while the pedals are held stationary, to apply the brake by the action of
back-pedaling and to be locked so that the coaster and brake mechanism is
rigidly connected with the driving gear as in the ordinary type of sprocket and
chain gear.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the annexed
claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device partly sectional and with the left
crank removed.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line - of Fig. 1, looking in the
direction of the arrow r¹.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line y-y of Figure 1, looking
in the direction of the arrow y'.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the coaster disc with the crank attached thereto,
said crank being partly broken away, and
Figure 5 is a face view of a modification of the clutching device forming part
of our invention.
Fig. 6 shows a modified form of brake hanger.
In the application of our invention, we employ a crank shaft 1, revolubly
mounted in the usual manner in the crank hanger 2. At each end of the shaft
at a point immediately outside of the cone 3, and the crank hanger bearing, a
disc 5 is fixed to the shaft. This disc may be formed integrally with the cone 3,
or may be attached to the shaft separately as preferred. The periphery of this
disc is provided with a screw-thread 6, and with an outwardly projecting annular
ring, the inner periphery 8 of which is inclined and adapted to form one part
of the ball race of the coaster.
An annular right-angular ring 9 is screwed upon the outer periphery of the
disc 5, and the radial portion of this ring is provided with an inclined face 10
at its inner periphery adapted to act in conjunction with the inclined face 8 of
the dise 5, and form an adjustable side for the ball race of the coaster. A lock-nut 11,

page_text: is adapted to thread upon the outer periphery of the disc 5, and hold the ring 9
securely in position as adjusted.
Loosely mounted upon one end of the shaft outside of the disc 5, is a shell 12,
provided upon its outer periphery with radially extended lugs engaging the
sprocket A, and upon its inner face with two concentric rings. The innermost of
these rings, 13, is provided upon its outer periphery with a V-shaped channel 15.
A series of balls 16 are mounted in this V-shaped channel and between it and the
inclined faces of the disc 5 is the adjusting ring 9, the whole forming a single
ball bearing in line with the strain of the chain and sprocket.
As shown a similar shell 12 is mounted on the opposite end of the shaft, but
instead of lugs is provided with an arm for operating brake mechanism as
described further on.
The inner periphery of the ring 13, is provided with a series of pockets 17,
having one radial shoulder 18, and one inclined shoulder 19.
The outer ring 20, projects over the adjusting ring 9, and is adapted to exclude
dust from the bearing.
A collar 21, is fixed upon each end of the shaft between the disc 5, and the
shell 12. This collar may be brazed or otherwise fastened to the shaft independent
of the disc 5, or may be formed integrally with said disc as preferred. The collar
is provided with a series of radial recesses 22. Within these recesses are carried
a series of pins or rollers 23, and each of these pins or rollers are normally
forced outward radially by means of the springs 25, which engage recesses 221
When so forced outwardly the pins or rollers normally lie partly in the pockets of
the sprocket ring and partly within the recesses of the collar, thereby locking the
two together effectually when the shaft is revolved in one direction. When the
shaft is rotated in the opposite direction however, the pins or rollers are carried
to and up the inclined shoulder of the ring pockets and the ring is thereby
unlocked, the springs holding the pins at all times in contact with the inner
periphery of the ring.
When it is desired that the device be used with or without employing the
coasting device, the shell 12, carrying the sprocket, is provided with an extension,
preferably an annular outwardly projecting ring 26, as best shown in Figure 4;
but if desired this projection may be reduced in size as at dotted lines b, Fig. 4,
of the drawings. The crank 27, is attached to the shaft in any approved manner
and is provided with a hole 28, in which the screw 29 is adapted to be passed,
this screw threading into a suitable hole 30 in the ring 26, thereby locking
effectually the sprocket to the crank. When it is desired to use the coasting
device, it is simply necessary to remove the screw from the crank and when this is
done, a spring cap of any approved design may be substituted therefor, the cap
being designed to exclude dust from the hole. A short screw plug may be
threaded into the hole 30, adapted to fill the said hole and keep the dirt from
clogging therein, said plug being flush with the outer surface of the ring 26, so
that it will not interfere with the rotation of the sprocket past the boss of the
crank. If preferred, the ring may be dispensed with and the boss of sufficient
size to hold the screw 29 securely to the sprocket, substituted.
The construction of the brake locking mechanism is the same as that of the
coaster except that it is reversed and locks only during the rearward rotation of
the shaft, while the coaster locks only during the forward rotation of the shaft.
The outer shell 12, of the brake-lock is provided with the spur or arm 32 pro-
jecting rearwardly therefrom. To this spur is pivoted the link 33, which is
in turn pivoted to the angular portion 35 of the brake 36. The angular portion 35
of the brake is carried inwardly and underneath the chain-stay 37.
The brake 36 is pivoted to a downwardly projecting yoke 38, provided with
the bridge 39, spanning the space between the chain-stay 37 and the chain-stay 40,
its upper surface being concaved to fit the lower half section of these chain-stays.
The clamp 41 has two concaved ends adapted to fit upon the upper sections of the
chain-stays and is provided with an integral bridge connecting same. The

page_text: bridge 39, and the bridge portion of the clamp 41, are held together by means
of the screw 42. This is the preferred form of hanger for carrying the brake
rod; but it is obvious that a strong yoke, as 38, may be used on one side of the
frame only, thus doing away with the bridge, if desirable.
A brake shoe 43, is connected to the lower end of the brake arm, preferably by
means of the pivot 44, but may be formed integrally therewith if preferred. This
brake shoe may have rollers e secured thereto, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 4 of
the drawings.
While the brake locking mechanism is shown upon the opposite side of the
crank hanger from the coaster and sprocket, we desire it to be distinctly under-
stood that it may be, if preferred, mounted on the same side as the sprocket and
coaster, in which case the collar 21 and disc 5 of the two devices may be formed
integrally in one piece. Further, the coasting mechanism may be applied to the
rear wheel if desired.
In the modification illustrated by Figure 5 of the drawings, the ring 13, is
supplied with an increased number of shallow pockets 17, equalling double the
number of ball recesses contained in the collar 21; this relative arrangement is
for the purpose of reducing lost motion, when reversing the movement of the
shaft.
In the modification illustrated by Fig. 6 of the drawings, the means for hanging
the brake comprises a split collar 41" clamped around the chain-stay 37, and the
downwardly and rearwardly projected hangers 38ª, formed integrally therewith;
the collar being clamped to the chain-stay 37 by means of a bolt b; and a pin c
is inserted between the hangers 38, to keep them parallel with each other, to
prevent binding of the brake-rod 36, adapted to be attached thereto. The bolt b
has an elongated projection extended from the head thereof, which bears on
the chain-stay 40, to prevent turning of the hanger and maintain it in a vertical
position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a bicycle or other pedal-operated vehicle, the combination with the
vehicle driving shaft, of a collar having a plurality of recesses around its periphery
containing rollers and springs to force them normally outwardly, and a ring
surrounding the said collar and having a plurality of pockets in its inner peri-
phery, the said ring connected to a shell mounted loosely on the shaft, and the
said collar connected loosely to the shaft, the said shell adapted for connection
to a sprocket wheel or to a brake, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a bicycle or other pedal-operated vehicle, the combination with the
vehicle driving, shaft, of clutching mechanisms secured to each end thereof
between the crank hanger and the cranks, the clutching mechanisms respectively
comprising a peripherally recessed collar secured to the shaft and containing
spring actuated rollers in its recesses, and a ring containing interiorly a plurality
of pockets engaging the said rollers, each pocket having one inclined and one
radial surface, the angles of the inclined surfaces of the respective oppositely
located rings extending in reverse directions, whereby one ring is adapted to be
rotated in one direction and its opposite ring in the reverse direction, each ring
connected to a shell loosely mounted upon the shaft, one shell having an extended
arm engaging a brake, and the other shell connected to the vehicle driving
sprocket, substantially as shown and described. .
3. In a bicycle coaster, the combination of a sprocket loosely mounted upon
the crank shaft, and means for locking the sprocket thereto only during the
forward rotation of the said shaft, and a crank secured to the shaft and pro-
vided with means whereby it may be alternately locked to and disconnected from
the sprocket, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a back-pedaling brake for bicycles, or similar vehicles the combination

page_text: of a shell having an arm extended therefrom and being loosely mounted upon the
crank shaft, and means for locking the shell in the shaft only during backward
rotation of the said shaft, with a brake comprising a yoke or hanger secured to
frame of the vehicle, a downwardly extended arm pivotally attached to the said
hanger and connected to a brake shoe, a forwardly and upwardly extended arm
and a link pivoted to the arm of the said shell, substantially as shown and
lescribed.
5. In a back-pedaling brake for bicycles, or similar vehicles, the combination
of a shell having an arm extended therefrom and being loosely mounted upon
the crank shaft, and means for locking the shell to the shaft only during back-
ward rotation of the said shaft, with a brake comprising a split collar and integrally
formed hangers clamped to one of the chain-stays of the bicycle frame, a clamp-
ing bolt therefor which has an extension bearing on the opposite chain-stay, a
downwardly extended arm pivotally attached to the said hanger and connected to
a brake shoe, a forwardly and upwardly extended arm and a link pivoted to the
arm of the said shell, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.