mprovements in Brakes for Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: mprovements in Brakes for Velocipedes.
I, ROBERT MCCORMACK, of 33, Glebe Street, Chiswick, London, W., Carpenter,
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 fol-
lowing statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in brakes for velocipedes, the object
being to provide a simple brake designed to take effect upon the sides of the rim
of the wheel, and which is constructed in such a manner that in the event of
there being any side movement of the rim during the revolution of the wheel
the brake follows it and maintains an efficient contact at all points, when
required.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 illustrates in front elevation the essential parts of this improved brake
apparatus as designed for a front wheel brake.
Fig. 2 being a side view of same.
Fig. 3 is a front view illustrating another form of construction, and
Fig. 4 is a side view of a part thereof.
Fig. 5 illustrates the essential alterations in the construction or formation of
the brake to allow of its being applied, in its first form, to the rear wheel of a
velocipede, and
Fig. 6 illustrates a second form thereof.
According to this invention and in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to the
front forks a clamps bare pivoted carrying projecting pins e upon which are
pivotally mounted the brake arms or levers d which are furnished at their lower
extremities with brake shoes designed to be brought into contact with the
sides of the rim r. The upper extremities of the brake arms or levers are pivoted
within hollow rectangular sleeves e which are both at their upper extremities
pivotally connected with the brake operating rod f. Within each hollow sleeve e
suitable spring such as g is arranged engaging with or bearing upon the right
angled extremity g¹ of the brake arm or lever d and in such a manner that in
he normal position of the apparatus, when not in use, the hollow sleeve e and
he brake operating arm or lever & form practically one rigid member.
Upon the brake operating rod ƒ being depressed by means of the ordinary hand
ever, the angle formed by the hollow sleeves e is increased, the upper extremi-
ies of the brake arms or levers & being forced apart, while their lower extremi-
es carrying the brake shoes are brought into contact with the sides of the rim
f the wheel and in this manner the extremities of the brake arms or levers d
re not held rigidly against the sides of the rim but readily give to any inequali-
es of the rim and follow the path of and remain in contact with the said rim
uring any lateral movement that may occur in the revolution of the wheel,
hile as the only connections between the brake apparatus and the frame are the
ns c upon which the brake arms or levers & are pivoted, the brake operating
df not passing through a guiding eye, the whole of the parts are free to turn
ΓΥ

page_text: slightly or move upon the pins as the fixed points so as to follow any irregulari-
ties in or in the path of the rim of the wheel, the spring g bringing the whole
of the parts back to the normal positions upon pressure being removed from the
brake operating rod f.
Within the extremity of each sleeve e a small set screw his arranged for
adjusting the normal position of the brake arms or levers d relative to the rim.
Fig. 5 illustrates the necessary alteration in the arrangement of the parts for
the application of this form of brake apparatus to the rear wheel of a velocipede.
In this form of the invention the upper ends of the brake arms or levers d are
pivoted within the hollow sleeves e which are both at their extremities connected
with the tension rod i. Within each sleeve e a spring such as is arranged
bearing against the extremity g³ of the brake arm or lever d which is shaped as
shown.
Upon the tension rod i being pulled in an upward horizontal or other direction,
according to the position in which the brake is arranged, by any suitable and
well known arrangement of connecting rods, bell crank levers, and a suitable
hand lever, or by means of a flexible connection passing over suitably arranged
pulleys, the angle formed by the sleeves e is increased the upper extremities of
the brake arms or levers d are forced apart bringing their opposite extremities
into contact with the rim of the wheel, so as to readily give to any inequalities
in same or to any irregularity in their movement. Upon the tension on the rod i
being removed the springs bring the parts back to their normal positions,
while small set screws h¹ are provided for adjusting the normal position of the
brake arms or levers d.
In the modified form of this invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the brake arms
or levers are pivoted to pins c as before while their upper extremities are pivoted
to screw threaded arms taking into hollow cylindrical sleeves both of which
are pivotally connected at their upper extremities with the brake operating rod f
Each screw threaded arm is furnished with a boss fornied with a shoulder
normally resting against or in contact with a flat formed in the upper part of
the brake arms or levers which are connected together preferably by a suitable
spiral spring and in such a manner that in the normal position of the apparatus
the brake arm or lever d and the screw threaded arm and the sleeve form
practically one rigid member.
Upon the brake operating rod being depressed the upper extremities of
the brake arms or levers d are forced apart by the connecting links
consisting of the screw threaded arms and the sleeves j', thereby
bringing the lower extremities of the said arms or levers d into contact with the
sides of the rim of the wheel, while as the only connections between the brake
apparatus and the frame are the pins upon which the brake arms or levers d
are pivoted, the brake operating rod f not passing through guiding eye, the
whole of the parts are free to turn slightly or move upon the pins i as the fixed
points so as to follow any irregularities in, or in the path of the rim of the wheel,
the spring bringing the whole of the parts back to the normal positions upon
pressure being removed from the brake operating rod f.
Fig. 6 illustrates the arrangement of the parts of this form of brake apparatus
for applying a brake to the rear wheel of a velocipede, and to be operated by a
tension rod m.. This form of the apparatus practically consists of a reversal of
the parts shown in Fig. 3 and upon the rod in being put in tension the upper
extremities of the brake arms or levers dare forced apart by the connecting
links comprising the screw threaded arms ; and the sleeves ¹ thereby causing
the lower extremities of the arms or levers d to come against the sides of the
rim of the wheel, a suitable spring connecting the upper extremities of the brake
arms or levers d bringing the parts back to their normal positions with the
shoulder of each of the screw threaded arms; bearing against the flat formed
in the upper extremity of the brake arm or lever d.
In the form of brake apparatus shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the spring 7, instead

page_text: 5
age between the upper extremities of the brake arms or levers d
may be arranged in connection with the brake operating lever or brake rod f
for the purpose of bringing the parts back to their normal positions, that is
with the shoulders in contact with the flats k.
When either of the forms of brake apparatus is built for a known machine, the
adjustments consisting in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the set screws h
and h and in the modified forms shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, of the screw threaded
arms and sleeves, may be dispensed with the connecting links formed by the
said screw threaded arms; and sleeves being in the latter case formed in one
integral part, while although the forms of brake apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4
have been described as applicable to the front wheel of a velocipede, it is obvious
that they can be applied to the back wheel with equal effect provided they are
arranged to be operated by a compression rod, in a like manner the forms of
brake apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6 although described as more particularly
applicable to the back wheel of a velocipede, may obviously be employed in
connection with the front wheel with equal advantage and effect provided a ten-
sion rod be arranged for operating either of these forms of brake mechanism.
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:-
:-
1/. The new or improved brake for velocipedes consisting of the pivoted brake
arms or levers d, connecting sleeves or links e, and brake operating rod f, in
combination with a suitable springs such as g engaging with the right angled
extremities g¹ of the brake arms or levers d, the whole arranged in such a manner
as to allow of the parts turning slightly upon the fixed pins c to allow of them
adjusting themselves to any inequalities in or in the path of the wheel during
he revolution of same, substantially as herein described and shown with reference
o Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
2/. The modifications in the construction of a brake apparatus such as above
laimed to render it capable being operated by a tension rod or its equivalent
hereby making the brake particularly applicable to the back wheel of a velo-
ipede, substantially as herein described and shown with reference to Fig. 5 of
e accompanying drawings.
3/. The new or improved brake for velocipedes consisting of the pivoted brake
ms or levers d, connecting links comprising screw threaded arms j, and
eeves, and a brake operating rod such as f, in combination with a suitably
ranged spring such as for bringing the parts back to their normal positions,
th the shoulders ³ formed on the bosses of the arms j, in contact with
ts & formed on the upper extremities of the brake arms or levers d, the whole
ing so arranged as to be free to turn slightly upon the fixed pins e to allow of
parts adjusting themselves to any inequalities in or in the path of the rim
the wheel, substantially as herein described and shown with reference to
s. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
/. The modifications in a brake apparatus such as above claimed to render it
able of being operated by a tension rod or its equivalent, thereby making the
ke more particularly applicable to the back wheel of a velocipede, substan-
v as herein described and shown with reference to Fig. 6 of the accompany-
drawings.
D
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