Improvements in Free Wheel and Brake Mechanism for Cycles and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Free Wheel and Brake Mechanism for Cycles and
the like.
I, JAMES WHEELER CROSS, of Price Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, 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:—
My invention has for its object improvements in free wheel and brake mechanism
for cycles and the like by which I provide a combination free wheel and friction
brake which can be arranged in combination with the ordinary hub of the wheel
and which while being effective in action is light in weight, easy to manu-
facture and free from liability to get out of order.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I have
fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the friction brake arrangement and is taken
on the line 1, 2, Figure 4.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the free wheel device and is taken on the
line 3, 4, Figure 4.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the hub with the end cap in position.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section.
Figure 5 is a view of the friction blocks detached from the device.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the chain wheel detached from the device.
In carrying my invention into effect I fix the friction ring B upon the hub B¹
by means of a left handed screw, and intermediately between this and the chain
wheel C the friction blocks A are mounted being provided with clutch rollers a
which are brought into action by the backward movement of the chain wheel C
while the friction blocks A are retained in a stationary position by butting
against the projecting lug E which forms part of the end cap F through which it
is secured by the spindle and nut M and M' and shoulders f' to the fork end H
of the frame of the cycle, the other ends of the blocks A butting against each
other at the joint a².
A centre or dividing flange c¹ is provided within the chain wheel C and on
the other side of this flange and attached to the hub B is the ring K bearing
the clutch rollers which are brought into action by the forward movement of
the chain wheel C thus carrying with it the hub B' but upon the stoppage of the
chain wheel C the hub is free to travel forward until a backward movement of
the chain wheel is applied which action then operates the friction blocks A
against the friction ring B and the hub B is thereby retarded from revolving.
An end covering ring is screwed into the one side of the chain wheel C.
By having the friction surface divided into sections such as A it will readily
be seen that the whole of the circumference of each section or block is brought to
bear upon the friction ring and thus sufficient friction is obtained to adequately
brake the wheel by the pressure which is obtained from the back pedalling move-
ment through the rollers a¹.

page_text: I do not confine myself to the particular clutch arrangement or free wheel
mechanism here shewn, or to the number of rollers or balls to be used as these
may be varied and while I prefer my blocks to be of rather less in length than
half the circumference of the friction ring from which I obtain the best result,
yet I may vary the number and lengths used without departing from the nature
of my said improvements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st. In combination with the 'free wheel
Ce wheel mechanism the friction blocks A
controlled by the lug E and bearing clutches. a' for operating said blocks upon
the hub friction ring B by the backward movement of the chain wheel, sub-
stantially as herein set forth and illustrated.
2ond. The combination of the free wheel mechanism, with a brake having
stationary friction blocks A operated upon the hub friction ring B by means of
the backward movement of the chain wheel substantially as set forth.
3rd. In free wheel and brake mechanism the friction ring A divided into
sections substantially such as and 'for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated
upon the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 2ond day of October 1899.
LEWIS WM. GOOLD,
Agent for Applicant, 5, Corporation Street, Birmingham.