Improvements in Driving and Brake Mechanism for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving and Brake Mechanism for Bicycles and
other Vehicles.
I, GEORGE POPE, of No. 648, Asylum Avenue, Hartford, in the County of
Hartford, and State of Connecticut, United States of America, 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:
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The within described invention relates to the class of mechanism employed for
driving a vehicle, and for retarding or stopping its progress, and the object of
the invention is to provide mechanism of this class that shall be applicable to
different forms of driving mechanisms, and shall also be quick acting and
effective in operation.
To this end the invention consists in the structure as a whole, in the combina-
tion of parts, and in the details of such parts and their combination as hereinafter
described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:-
-
Figure I is a view in side elevation, looking from the left, of a portion of the
lower rear fork of a bicycle having my improvement.
Figure 2 is a detail plan view, on enlarged scale, in central lengthwise section
through the hub of the driving wheel showing the improvement.
Figure 3 is a view in cross section through the same on a line passing through
the openings in the carrier, and showing the pawls in position to drive the vehicle
forward.
Figure 4 is a like view in cross section through the hub of the driving wheel
on the same plane as of Figure 3 but showing the parts in position to operate
the brake mechanism.
Figure 5 is a detail view showing both sides of the brake actuating lever.
Figure 6 is a detail plan view in central section through the hub of the driving
wheel and showing a modified form of brake.
Figure 7 is a detail side view (looking from the left) of the rear end of the
left lower rear fork showing the manner of attachment of the cap to the frame,
and with parts broken away to show construction.
Figure 8 is a detail view in cross section through the brake casing or cap on
a plane passing through the openings in the carrier and showing the parts in
position to drive the vehicle, looking from the left as the parts are shown in
Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a view of the parts shown in Figure 8 but looking from the right
of Figure 6, the carrier being removed and a single pawl of the brake clutch
only being shown.
Figure 10 is a view of the parts shown in Figure 9 illustrating the braking
operation.
Figure 11 is a detail plan view of the left hand end of the hub showing another
form of band brake mechanism in which the band brake is located on the outside
of the hub.

page_text: Figure 12 is an end view of the parts shown in Figure 11 projected from the
plan view and turned outward to the left.
Figure 13 is a view in side elevation of the right lower rear fork of a bicycle
equipped with the improved device as applied to a sprocket and chain driven
mechanism, a portion of the rim and tire of the wheel also being shown.
Figure 14 is a top or plan view of parts shown in Figure 1, the hub being cut
in section to show construction.
Figure 15 is a view in front elevation of the spoon brake.
Figure 16 is a detail view, on enlarged scale, in vertical central section through
the drive and brake mechanism as applied to the right hand end of the driving
wheel hub.
Figure 17 is a detail view of parts of the device separated and cut in central
section.
Figure 18 is a view in cross section through the device on plane denoted by
the dotted line x-x of Figure 4.
Figure 19 is a view in elevation of the inner surface of the brake lever showing
a ratchet recess.
Figure 20 is a view of a modified form of the device on the same plane as that
of Figure 18, but showing the clutch with a greater number of teeth than there
are ratchet recesses in the carrier.
In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 12
inclusive as applied to a brake in which a chainless gear driven mechanism is
used, the form shown being bevel gears, and in Figures 13 to 20 inclusive the
invention is shown as applied to a brake in which the driving mechanism is
the well-known sprocket and chain. In the first form the invention is shown
as applied to a brake mechanism which includes as an element a spoon brake
applied to the tire of the driving wheel and also a band brake whch is applied
to the hub of the driving wheel, while in the second form the brake mechanism
is only shown as connected with a spoon brake applied to the tire of the driving
wheel.
In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 denotes a portion of the left lower
rear fork of a bicycle, 2 a portion of the left upper rear fork, 3 a portion of
the tire and rim of the driving wheel, 4 a brake pivoted in operative relation
to the tire of said wheel, and 5 a brake rod which extends rearwardly from said
brake to which it is attached and connected to the brake operating mechanism.
All of these parts are of ordinary construction with the exception of the connec-
tions at the rear end of the brake rod. The numeral 6 denotes a portion of the
gear case of a bevel gear driven vehicle (chainless) such form having been shown
for the purpose of illustration and description of the within described improve-
ment which has special advantages in connection with that form although equally
applicable to vehicles having other forms of driving mechanism as is shown in
the drawings from Figure 13 to 20 inclusive.
The numeral 7 denotes the axle of the driving wheel, one end of which axle
is secured to the toe piece 8 of the fork side 1 and the opposite end to the frame
part 9 in the ordinary manner of construction of bevel gear driven machines.
A thimble is screw threaded to fit the threaded opening in the frame part 9 and
the axle 7 bears a screw thread fitting the threaded opening through the thimble,
the thread on the outer surface of the thimble differing from that on the inner
surface.
A sectional sleeve 12 is supported on the axle and bears cones co-operating
with ball cases on the carrier sleeve 13 or parts secured thereto.
A gear 14 bears
one of said ball cases and is secured to the carrier sleeve 13 at one end of the
latter, said gear meshing with a bevel gear 15 secured to the rear end of a
connecting shaft which unites the crank shaft and the driving wheel of the
vehicle. This connecting shaft and the crank shaft and directly related parts
being familiar to those skilled in the art need not be further described.
The carrier sleeve 13 is provided at one end with openings 16 for the reception

page_text: of pawls 17 preferably of spheroidal form, this end of the carrier sleeve being
termed herein a carrier 18.
The hub 19 of the driving wheel is loosely mounted on the carrier sleeve 13,
ball cases 20, 21 being adjustably secured in the ends of the hub and co-operating
with cones on the exterior surface of the carrier sleeve, the usual ball bearings
being located between these parts. A ratchet member 22 is secured to the hub
and is preferably formed from the same piece as that of which the ball case 21 is
formed, and as herein shown. This ratchet member and the hub are formed
with abutting surfaces so that they may be firmly united and a cap 23 closes the
opening in the end of the hub, and also serves as a lock nut to hold the ratchet
member firmly in place. This ratchet member 22 is provided with ratchet
recesses 24 extending in an axial direction and of the requisite depth on one
side, the recesses each gradually diminishing in depth to the opposite side but
there run out on the surface of the ratchet member. The end wall or shoulder
in the recess is preferably formed at an angle to permit the pawl to operate with-
out any clicking sound.
The openings 16 in the carrier 18 are inclined upward (see Figs. 3, 4 and 8)
the inner end of the opening being located in advance of the outer end, when
considered with relation to the forward movement of the wheel, this construction
providing straight walls opposite the shoulders of the recess in the ratchet
member and thus locating the pawls between two surfaces that hold them firmly
in the clutch action.
A brake actuating member 25 is loosely mounted on the sectional sleeve 12
with a part located opposite the openings in the carrier and a brake actuating
arm 26 extends in position for connection with the brake rod 5. Shoulders 27
are located in the upper outer surface of the brake member in position to be
engaged by the pawls 17.
In the operation of the device when the parts are in the position indicated in
Figure 3 of the drawings and rotating in the direction of the arrow the pawls 17
are caused to engage the shoulders at the end of the ratchet recesses 24 in the
ratchet member 22 and by impeding the further rotation of the carrier cause
the hub of the driving wheel to move with it and thus move the brake forward.
On shutting off the driving power the driving wheel continues to rotate under
the inertia of the forward moving vehicle and the inclined bottom surface of
each recess 24 passing under the pawls thrust them successively into the openings
in the carrier located under the axle, these balls, however, falling into the
recesses in the brake member 25 as the openings in the carrier arrive at the upper
position above the axle in the course of the rotation of the carrier.
On the application to the driving mechanism of power tending to move it in
a reverse direction (as by back pedaling) the pawls in the recesses in the brake
actuating member are forced against the shoulders 27 turning the brake actuating
member and exerting a pull upon the brake rod 5 thus throwing the brake 4
into contact with the tire of the wheel and retarding or stopping its movement.
In Figures 6 to 12, inclusive, of the drawings the improvement is shown as
applied to a band brake mechanism. In this form of the device all of the parts
are of like construction as above described. with the exception of the brake
actuating member and the ratchet member, and for this reason these parts of like
construction in these figures have been given the same reference characters as
those applied to the same parts in the other figures of the drawings.
In this latter form of construction the ratchet member is preferably integral
with the ball case, as before, at this end of the hub but has a brake casing 30
secured thereto or formed of the same piece. The ratchet 29 is formed in the
same manner as in the other described device. A cover 31 is supported on the
axle 7 or sectional sleeve, and is tied to the fork side 1 as by means of a band 32
secured to the arm 33. A lug 34 is located on the inner wall of the cover which
also carries a pivot 35 on which is mounted a brake actuating lever 36, one end
of which engages a recess 38 in the brake actuating member 37, and the other

page_text: end of which engages with one end of the band brake 39 supported on a flange 40
on the cover 31. The opposite end of the band brake is adapted to be forced
against the lug 34 on the cover. Shoulders 41 are formed on the brake actuating
inember, as before described with reference to the other form of the device.
In this form of the device the operation of the parts in driving and free running
is the same as described with reference to the first form. In the braking opera-
tion, however, as the brake actuating member 37 is swung the lever 36 is rotated
on its pivot bringing one end into contact with the end of the band brake 39
and forcing the opposite end of said brake against the fixed lug 34. Sufficient
force being applied to the band brake it is caused to expand against the wall of
the brake casing 30 thus holding the parts against movement on each other and
applying the brake to the wheel hub.
In Figures 11 and 12 another form of the band brake is shown in which the
band is located on the outside of the hub. The frame as to the parts 1 and 2,
the hub 19, the brake actuating mechanism and the driving mechanism are the
same as in the other forms of the invention already herein described.
In the form of the improvement embodied in the device shown in Figures 16
to 20 of the drawings the numeral 51 denotes each side member of the lower
rear fork of a bicycle, 52 the rear driving wheel of the bicycle, and 53 what is
commonly known as a spoon brake which is supported in any suitable manner
to enable it to operate on the tire of the wheel, preferably on the lower rear fork
with a spring 54 to hold it normally out of contact with the wheel tire.
The hub 55 of the wheel supports a driven member, as the ratchet wheel 56
secured to the wheel hub in any suitable manner, as by means of interengaging
screw threads. The teeth of this ratchet wheel 56 are formed by making grooves
57 in the face of the wheel, these grooves being shaped to receive a movable
element or pawl preferably of rounded form, as herein shown and described.
Each of these grooves gradually diminishes in depth or inclines to the curved
periphery of the ratchet member so as to provide for the proper wedging action
of the pawls between the clutch members. The hub of the driving wheel is
mounted on the axle 58 in the usual manner by means which include the cone 59
and the balls 60.
The driving member 61 is a sprocket wheel of any ordinary form but it is
loosely mounted on the ratchet wheel 56 and is adapted to be driven in any
ordinary manner the means, however, being well known are not shown herein.
A carrier 62 is secured to the sprocket wheel or driving member, these two
parts being preferably formed in a single piece, although not necessarily so made,
the only essential being that they shall rotate as one. This carrier is provided
with ratchet openings 63 extending therethrough and in these openings are
located pawls 64.
A case 65 is loosely mounted on the axle 58, or on an enlargement thereof, as
herein shown, and has a recess 66 of varying depth and adapted to receive the
pawls 64. A brake rod 67 is secured to the case 65 at some little distance from
the center and to the spoon brake 53, the ends of the rod preferably being secured
To these parts.
In the preferred form of the invention the openings through the carrier are
inclined as herein before described so as to form a suitably located bearing surface
for the pawls. The ball shaped pawls operate as described with reference to the
form of clutch already hereinbefore set out, and the driving and brake mechanism
as a whole operates also as herein described. In this latter form of sprocket
wheel operated clutch the hub of the driving wheel is turned to drive the vehicle
forward; on the cessation of forward driving rotation of the crank shaft and
chain drive the pedals may serve as foot rests while the inertia of the vehicle
moves it forward, but by reversing the direction of rotation of the driving
sprocket the brake clutch is thrown into operation, moves the case (or lever) 65
and pulls upon the spoon brake 53 causing it to press upon the tire of the driving
wheel and retard or fully stop the vehicle in its forward motion.

page_text: It will be seen that a single set of balls (or pawls) operates automatically to
drive the vehicle or to retard its forward movement, and the invention is not
limited to the precise construction of parts as herein shown and described for
accomplishing this result, as it is obvious that the arrangement and construction
of the various parts may be altered to embody the above features and functions
and thus come within the scope of the invention.
While the openings in the carrier, and recesses or notches in the ratchet wheel
of each clutch device, and the pawls have been shown in most of the views as
equal in number, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such
a detail as in fact good results will flow from a construction of clutch (as shown
in Figure 20) in which the number of pawls exceeds that of the recesses in the
ratchet. This follows in certain instances from the reduction of lost motion
when power is applied to bring the pawls into action. For instance, if, at the first
application of power to move the vehicle in a forward direction, the number of
pawls exceeds that of the recesses some one of the pawls will be located near a
shoulder in the recess, whereas if an equal number of pawls and ratchet teeth
were employed it is possible that all would be located near the highest point of
the ratchet tooth thus requiring movement of the carrier a distance equal to the
length of such tooth before the pawl would act to drive the wheel.
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:
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1. In a driving and brake mechanism, in combination, a driving member
consisting of a gear wheel, a pawl carrier operated by the driving member and
having a pawl socket, a driven clutch member located on one side of the carrier
and having a ratchet recess, another clutch member located on the opposite side
of the carrier and having a pawl recess, brake mechanism connected to the last
mentioned clutch member, and a free moving pawl located in the socket in the
carrier said pawl being adapted to engage the recesses in either of the driven
clutch members.
2. In a driving and brake mechanism, in combination, a driving member,
a pawl carrier operated by the driving member, a plural number of independently
movable driven clutch members located concentric and on opposite sides of the
carrier and each having a ratchet recess formed therein, and a pawl borne by
the carrier and adapted to engage the recesses in the respective oppositely operat-
ing driven clutch members.
3. In a driving and brake mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a
pawl carrier operated by the driving member and having pawl sockets, a plural
number of independently movable driven clutch members located on opposite
sides of the carrier and having ratchet recesses formed in the surface adjacent to
the carrier, a wheel hub secured to one of said clutch members, a brake mechan-
ism connected to the opposite clutch member, and pawls borne in the pawl sockets
in the carrier and adapted to engage the ratchet recesses in the respective driven
clutch members.
4. In a driving and brake mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a
pawl carrier operated by the driving member and having pawl sockets extending
therethrough and inclined in the direction of rotation of the carrier, a driven
clutch member located on one side of and mounted concentric with the carrier
and having ratchet recesses, a wheel hub secured to said driven clutch member,
a driven clutch member located on the opposite side of and concentric with the
carrier and having a shouldered recess, brake mechanism connected to the last
mentioned clutch member, and free moving pawls located in the sockets in
the carrier each pawl being adapted to engage a shouldered recess in the re-
spective driven clutch members.
5. In a driving and brake mechanism for a bicycle, a driving wheel having
a hub, a ring-shaped clutch member having ratchet recesses and means for

page_text: securing it to said hub, a sprocket wheel having a carrier secured thereto and
mounted on said clutch member, the carrier having pawl sockets adapted to
register with the ratchet recesses in the ring-shaped clutch member, a cap-shaped
brake clutch member fitting the outside of the carrier and having a ratchet
recess adapted to register with the ratchet sockets in the carrier, pawls located
in the sockets in the carrier each pawl being adapted to engage the ratchet
recesses in the respective clutch members, a tire brake mounted on the frame
and means connecting the movable member of the brake clutch and said tire
brake.
6. In a driving and brake mechanism, in combination a driving wheel having
a hub, a driving clutch member having ratchet recesses and means for securing
the member to said hub, a gear wheel having a carrier secured thereto and mounted
on said driving clutch member, a carrier having pawl sockets adapted to register
with ratchet recesses in the driving clutch member, a brake clutch member
concentric with the carrier and having ratchet recesses adapted to register with
the pawl sockets in the carrier, free moving pawls located in the sockets in the
carrier each pawl being adapted to engage the ratchet recesses in the driving
and brake clutch members respectively, a tire brake supported on the frame of
the bicycle in operative relation to the tire of the rear driving wheel, and means
connecting the clutch brake member and said tire brake.
7. In a driving and brake mechanism, in combination, a fixed axle, a sectional
cone sleeve borne on the axle, cones located near opposite ends of said sleeve,
a carrier sleeve rotatably mounted on the sectional sleeve, a bevel gear secured
to one end of the carrier sleeve, a carrier mounted at the other end of said sleeve
with pawl sockets extending therethrough, a clutch member located concentric
with the carrier having clutch recesses and secured to the driving wheel hub,
a second clutch member with ratchet recesses and located concentric with the
carrier, a brake operating lever connected to the brake clutch, a brake mechanism,
means connecting the brake mechanism and the operating lever, and free moving
pawls located in the sockets in the carrier and adapted to engage the ratchet
recesses in each of the respective driven-clutch members.
Dated Hartford Cann Sentomber 30th 1899
GEORGE POPE.
D. Young & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.