Improvements in Driving and Brake Mechanism for Cycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1898—Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving and Brake Mechanism for Cycles.
We, EDWIN FREDERICK McCOWEN, 7, Nelson Street, Tralee, and WILLIAM
JAMES JOHNSON, 4, Denny Street, Tralee, both Cycle Makers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
Our invention relates to a cycle having a free pedal and crank axle whereby
the rider can cease pedalling at will, allowing the back wheel to revolve while
the feet are at rest on the pedals; and, the attachment of a back wheel brake to
be actuated when back pedalling by the aforesaid crank axle being revolved or
forced in a backward direction.
The invention comprises a chain wheel of ordinary pattern with large recessed
boss fitting loosely on crank axle and a pawl box fitting into boss carrying
pawls of any suitable shape to engage in boss of chain wheel, which may be
notched grooved or plain to suit the pattern pawl used, so as to drive the crank
wheel forward only, or allow the pedals to remain stationary. A second pawl box
placed on centre of crank axle inside bracket or a hook or catch fixed on crank
axle is employed to operate the back wheel brake by gripping or actuating the
connection or lever of back wheel brake when the pedals cranks and axle are
revolved or forced backwards in the act of back pedalling.
Dated this 5th day of January 1898.
BENJAMIN T. KING, A.I.M.E.,
165, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants.
Improvements in Driving and Brake Mechanism for Cycles.
We, EDWIN FREDERICK McCOWEN, 7, Nelson Street, Tralee, and WILLIAM
JAMES JOHNSON, 4, Denny Street, Tralee, both Cycle Makers, 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:-
-
Our invention relates to a cycle having a free pedal and crank axle whereby
the rider can stop pedalling at will, allowing the back wheel to revolve while the
feet are at rest on the pedals; and the attachment of a back wheel brake to be
actuated when backpedalling by the aforesaid crank axle being revolved or forced
in a backward direction.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of
our improved free pedal crank axle and back wheel brake, and Figure 2 a plan,
and Figure 3 the loose cog we employ for the back wheel.
According to our invention the chain wheel E is of ordinary pattern and has

page_text: 66
an enlarged boss fitting loosely over the pawl box F which is rigidly mounted
on the crank axle G, the pedal crank axle and wheel normally rotating together
as shewn by the single arrow. The pawls which are of any suitable shape such
as a spring pressed pawl A, gravity pawl B, spring pivotted pawl C, or rollers D,
engage with the interior of the chain wheel boss, which is notched, grooved or
plain to suit the pawl employed, so as to either drive the crank wheel forward,
as shewn by the single arrow, or to allow the pedals and feet to remain
stationary when coasting" and the wheel E alone to revolve. The
back wheel brake J, which is pivotted at j to the frame of the machine, is applied
in the act of "backpedalling" by the connecting rod or lever I which may be
operated from a second similar pawl box on the centre of the crank axle inside
bracket, but we have shewn a very simple means we make use of for effecting
this consisting of a hook, pawl or equivalent H adapted to the crank axle and
which normally rides under or past the slotted end of the lever I-which may
be attached to the frame or held in place by springs-but, when the pedal axle
is reversed in "backpedalling' as shewn by the double arrow it engages the
lever I and operates the brake J.
The pawl box arrangement and means described for permitting the machine
to run whilst the pedals are stationary can be adapted to the hub of the back
wheel in which case the hub cog K Figure 3 of the back wheel is loose on its
axle, as in the case of the chain wheel E in the first above described arrangement
Figure 1, the notches a in the inner fixed wheel L shewn detached being engaged
by spring pawls or equivalents so that the pedal crank G, chain wheel E and
the chain all remain at rest whilst the back wheel and machine are still per-
mitted to run, the brake J being operated as before from the pedal crank-axle G
when" backpedalling" by the lever I actuated by the pawl arrangement or hook H
aforesaid.
33
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be
understood that we make no claim per se to a cycle in which the pedals and feet
remain stationary whilst still permitting the machine to run nor to a brake
operated when backpedalling, as we are aware that it has already been proposed
to effect this in more or less complicated ways prior to the date of our invention,
but what we do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
The particular arrangement and combination of parts herein described and
shewn for enabling the pedals to remain stationary whilst permitting the machine
to run as in "coasting and the means for operating the back wheel brake J
from the pedal crank axle in the act of "backpedalling" substantially as herein
set forth and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 29th day of July 1898.
BENJAMIN T. KING, A.I.M.E.,
Registered Patent Agent, 165, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicants.