Improvements in the Driving and Brake Mechanism of Cycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Driving and Brake Mechanism of Cycles.
We, WILLIAM DREDGE PLAYER, of 112, Newhall Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and JoHN HENRY PLAYER, of 83, Hillfield
Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham aforesaid, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object improvements in the driving and brake
mechanism of cycles which enables the rider to rest their feet on the pedala
of auch machines whilst riding and also to easily and quickly apply the brake by
back pedalling at any time.
In carrying our invention into practice we mount by a right hand thread on
the chain side of the hub of the driving wheel of a cycle a collar or boss having
one, two or more notches or recesses cut into its periphery. Also mounted by
a right hand thread on this end of the hub and butting against the former collar
or boss is another collar or drum slightly smaller in diameter and having one,
two or more notches or ratchet teeth cut or formed on its periphery into which a
loose wedge shaped piece fits. Fitting in a recess formed on the periphery of
this drum where each notch or ratchet occurs, or in a continuous recess, is a
spring, preferably a flat steel spring, upon which the loose wedge shaped piece
bears, and this spring lifts the thick end of the wedge piece slightly above the
periphery of the drum. I then fit the sprocket wheel loosely over this boss or
collar and drum and this sprocket wheel is formed on that part of its inner
surface which fits around the drum with a number of ratchet teeth or notches
against which the wedge piece bears or catches when driving the machine, but
is free to revolve on its bearing surfaces in the opposite direction. A locking
washer is now mounted by a left hand thread on this enil of the hub and bears
against the outer face of the drum and locks it in position. The periphery of
this lock washer also forms a bearing for the sprocket wheel which is Hanged over
for this purpose and at the same time holds the sprocket wheel in position.
Fitting loosely onto the hub between the sprocket wheel and the spoke flange
is a disc or collar having a number of projections or the like on its outer face
so that when this disc is turned these projections take into the notches or re-
cessos in the boss and also into corresponding recesses or notches formed in the
inner flange of the sprocket wheel thus locking the sprocket wheel and pre-
renting it from revolving on its bearings. Or notches or recesses may be formed
in the loose dise or collar and projections on the bass and inner flange of the
sprocket wheel for the same purpose. A spring is fitted between the spoke
flange and this disc or collar the normal tendency of which is to always keep
the said disc or roller pressing against the above mentioned boss.
Formed on the extending portion or outer flange of the sprocket wheel are a
number of notches or recesses into which one end of a pawl or catch takes.
This pawl or catch is pivoted to the inner face of what I term a brake disc mounted
loosely by a left hand thread on a sleeve or collar fixed on the end of the hub
spindle. A spring is connected to this brake disc bearing upon this end of the

page_text: pawl the tendency of which is to always keep the pawl engaged with the notches
or recesses in the extended flange of the sprocket wheel.
When the machine is being propelled forward the pawl on the brake diso
slides over the notches in the sprocket wheel flange but when the rider back
pedals the pawl instantly catches into one of these notches thereby turning the
brake disc and as this brake disc is mounted by a left hand thread on a collar
on the hub spindle it is consequently locked against a leather washer fitted on
the outer face of the lock washer thus retarding the motion of the driving wheel.
It will be evident that the pressure of this brake disc may be regulated according
to the amount of pressure applied when back pedalling. As soon as the rider
ceases back pedalling the pressure of the brake disc on the lock washer is released.
In some cases we may mount this disc and pawl rigidly on the hub spindle so
that when the rider back pedals and the pawl catches into the notches in the
sprocket wheel flange the sprocket wheel and consequently the cranks and
pedals remain stationary while the machine travels forward.
Instead of applying the brake by screwing up the brake disc against the lock
washer we may mount the brake disc loosely either in plain or ball bearings on
a boss on the hub spindle or directly on the spindle and on the inner face of this
brake disc we provide a movable peg or pegs controlled by a spring or springs
which take into slots formed on the extended flange of the sprocket wheel and
on the periphery of the lock washer and these slots are so formed that when
pedalling forward the movable peg slides in and out but when the rider back
pedals the peg or pegs catch into these slots thus locking the whole together and
stopping the machine, which is caused by an adjustable band held in a drum
amounted on the hub spindle bearing upon the periphery of the brake disc.
Dated this 16th day of March 1899.
Improvements in the Driving and Brake Mechanism of Cycles,
We, WILLIAM DREDGE PLAYER, of 112. Newhall Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and JOHN HENRY PLAYER, of 83, Hillfield
Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham aforesaid, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of our said 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 has for its object improvements in the driving and brake
. mechanism of cycles which enables the rider to rest the feet on the pedals
of such machines whilst riding and also to easily and quickly apply the brake by
back pedalling at any time.
In carrying our invention into practice we mount by a right hand thread on the
chain side of the hub of the driving wheel of a cycle a collar or boss. Also mounted
by a right hand thread on this end of the hub and butting against the former collar
or boss is another collar or drum slightly smaller in diameter and having ono
two or more notches or ratchet teeth cut or formed on its periphery into which a
loose wedge shaped piece fits. Fitting into a recess formed on the
periphery of this drum where each notch or ratchet occurs or in a

page_text: .
-
continuous recess is a spring upon which the loose wedge shaped pieca
bears and this spring lifts the thick end of the wedge piece slightly above the
periphery of the drum. I then fit the sprocket wheel loosely over this boss or
collar and drum and this sprocket wheel is formed on that part of its inner
surface which fits around the drum with a number of ratchet teeth or notches
against which the wedge piece bears or catches when driving the machine but
is free to revolve on its bearing surfaces in the opposite direction. A locking
washer is now mounted by a left hand thread on this end of the hub and bears
against the outer face of the drum and locks its in position. The periphery of
this lock washer also forms a bearing for the sprocket wheel which is flanged over
for this purpose and at the same time holds the sprocket wheel in position.
Formed on the extending portion or outer flange of the sprocket are a
number of notches or recesses into which one end of a pawl or catch takes.
This pawl or catch is pivoted to the inner face of what I term a brake disc mounted
loosely by a left hand thread on a sleeve or collar fixed on the end of the hub
spindle. A spring is connected to this brake disc bearing upon this end of the
pawl the tendency of which is to always keep the pawl engaged with the notches
or recesses in the extended flange of the sprocket wheel.
When the machine is being propelled forward the pawl on the brake diso
slides over the notches in the sprocket wheel flange but when the rider back
medals the pawl instantly catches into one of these notches thereby turning the
brake disc and this brake disc is mounted by a left hand thread on a collar
on the hub spindle it is consequently locked against a leather washer fitted on
the outer face of the lock washer thus retarding the motion of the driving wheel.
It will be evident that the pressure of this brake disc may be regulated according
to the amount of pressure applied when back pedalling. As soon as the rider
ceases back pedalling the pressure on the brake disc on the lock washer is released.
In some cases we may mount this disc and pawl rigidly on the hub spindle so
that when the rider back pedals and the pawl catches into the notches in the
sprocket wheel flange the sprocket wheel and consequently the cranks and
pertals remain stationary while the machine travels forward.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto two double sized sheets of draw-
ings upon which we have illustrated examples of our improved driving and
brake mechanism as applied to cycles.
Figure 1 is a view of the back hub of a cycle made according to our invention.
Figure 2 is a part sectional view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a right hand end view of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a right hand end view of Figure 1 with the brake disc and lock
washer removed shewing the wedges in the position they assume when the
sprocket wheel is free to revolve on the drum.
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 shewing the position the wedges assume
when the machine is being driven.
Figure 6 is a left hand end view of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of Figure 1 taken on the line a—b.
Figure 8 is a view of the sprocket wheel detached.
Figure 9 is an edge view of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is an edge view of the locking washer.
Figure 11 is a view of the sleeve or collar upon which the brake is mounted.
Figure 12 is a longtitudinal sectional view of Figure 1.1.
Figure 13 is a part sectional view shewing another method of operating the
brake disc.
In carrying our invention into practice we mount by the right hand thread a¹
on the chain wheel side of the hub A of the driving wheel of a cycle the collar
or boss 2 Also mounted on the end a¹ of the hub and hutting against the
collar or boss is the collar or drum which is slightly smaller in diameter and
on the periphery of this drum we cut or form one two or more notches at or

page_text: ratchet teeth into which the loose wedge pieces fit. At the back of these
wedges as the springs s' are placed fitting in a hole or recess formed in the drum a³
where the notches a' occur and these springs are provided for the purpose of
keeping the thick end of the wedges slightly above the periphery of the drum
as shewn at Figures 4 and 5. The sprocket wheel S is then fitted loosely over
the bose or collar a³ and over the drum a³ and formed on the part of this sprocket
wheel which fits around the drum are a number of ratchet teeth or notches against
which one of the wedges as bears or catches when the machine is being driven
forward and the sprocket wheel is turning in the direction of the arrow as
clearly shewn at Figure 5 but this sprocket wheel is free to revolve on its bear-
ing surfaces in the opposite direction in which case the wedges a assume the
positions as shewn at Figure 4. The locking washer B is now mounted on the
left hand threaded portion 6 on the same end of the hub which locking washer
bears against the outer face of the drum and locks it in position. The
periphery of this lock washer also forms a bearing surface for the flanges of
the sprocket wheel and at the same time holds the sprocket wheel in position.
Formed on the extending portion or flanges of the sprocket wheel are a number
of inclined recesses finishing with the shoulders and into these recesses we
Hit the rollera s or their equivalents. These rollors are held in position by the
flanged brake disc D on the flange d' of which we form a groove for the rollers
to run in and this brake disc is mounted loosely by a left hand thread on the
sleeve or collar E mounted on the end of the hub spindle F as clearly shewn at
Figure 2 the said sleeve or collar E being held in position by the end of the
fork which supports the wheel and the usual lock nut.
It will thus be seen when the machine is being propelled forward and the
hub is revolving in the direction as shewn by the arrows Figures 5 and 7 that
these rollers move into the positions as shewn at Figure 7 thereby allowing
the flange of the sprocket wheel to revolve freely within the flange of the
brake disc D but immediately the rider back pedals or puts back pressure on the
driving cranks the rollers or their equivalents travel up the inclines and
bind against the interior of the flange d of the brake disc 1) thereby
causing the brake disc to turn on the sleeve or collar E and as this
brake disc is mounted by a left hand thread on this collar it is consequently locked
against the leather washer H or its equivalent fitted on the outer face of the
lock washer B thus retarding the motion of the driving wheel. It will be
evident that the brake power may be regulated according to the amount of
pressure applied when back pedalling as soon as the rider ceases back pedalling
the brake disc turns in the reverse direction on the sleeve or collar E out of
contact with the washer H consequently the brake power is released. The arm J
which is fixed on the sleeve or collar E is provided as a stop for the brake disc
when the brake is released and the adjustable pin j¹ regulates the traverse of
the brake disc.
At Figure 13 we have shewn another method of operating the brake disc D.
In this case we form one or more notches or recesses in the flange of the
sprocket wheel into which one end of the pawl or catch takes. This pawl
or catch is pivoted to the inner face of the brake disc and the spring is pro-
vided so as to keep the pawl in gear with the notches or recesses. It will thus
be seen that when the rider back pedals this pawl will catch into one of the
notches or recesses thereby moving the brake disc on the sleeve or collar E and
locking it against the leather washer H consequently retarding the speed of the
machine but when the rider ceases to put a back pressure on the driving cranks
the pawl slides over the notches or recesses and the brake block moves out of
contact with the leather washer. In some cases the brake disc and pawl may be
rigidly mounted on the hub spindle so that when the rider back pedals and the
pawl catches into one of the notches in the flange the sprocket wheel and
consequently the cranks and pedals remain stationary, while the machine travels
forward.

page_text: The locking piece fitted in a recess in the collar or boss as is provided so as
to lock the sprocket wheel when the rider desires to dispense with a free wheel as
clearly shewn at Figure 6.
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:-
CLAIMS.
First: The improvements in the driving and brake mechanism of cycles con-
sisting essentially in mounting or forming on the sprocket wheel side of a cycle
hub a drum or its equivalent such as a having one or more notches or recesses
cut or formed on its periphery into which wedge shaped pieces such as a³ fit
the said wedges being held by springs fitting in holes or recesses in the notches
so as to protect above the periphery of the drum and take into notches such as ³
formed on the inner surface of the sprocket wheel which fits around the periphery
of the drum a lock washer such as B for holding the sprocket wheel in position
having on its outer face a leather washer or its equivalent a brake disc such
as D mounted loosely by a left hand screw on a sleeve or collar such as I or
its equivalent fixed on the spindle of the hub the said brake disc being operated
by the action of back pedalling through the medium of one or more rollers or
their equivalents fitted in inclined recesses formed around the periphery of the
flange of the sprocket wheel so as to bear against the inner surface of the
flange of the brake disc in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
set forth and as shewn upon the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Second: In cycle hubs a brake disc such as D mounted loosely by a left
hand screw on the spindle of the hub and operated by rollers or their equivalents
working in inclined recesses formed on the periphery of the flange of the sprocket
wheel in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and
as shewn upon the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Dated this 10th dor of Ontabo 1900
WILLIAM DREDGE PLAYER.
JOHN HENRY PLAYER.
By George Barker,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for the Applicants, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.