A New or Improved Automatic Brake for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 9th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Automatic Brake for Velocipedes and other
Vehicles.
I, VICTORIEN LOUIS MARIE RENARD, of 82, Rue de Bondy, Paris, France,
Mechanical Engineer, 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 reference to an improved brake for velocipedes and other
vehicles whereby when the brake block, roller or its equivalent comes into con-
tact with the tyre or other part of the wheel or axle the pressure is automatically
increased by the revolution of the wheel.
The accompanying drawings illustrate several ways of carrying my invention
into practice. According to the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, a
brake roller A is secured by means of two arms to a frame fixed to the rear fork
8 as to turn freely thereon. The depression of the brake roller on the wheel
tyre is effected by means of a couple of cams S suspended to the arms T so as to
Oscillate freely thereon, these arms being rigidly connected with the frame fixed
to the rear fork. The cams S form the ends of levers V connected together at
their upper end by a cross piece and capable of being operated by the rider with
the aid of a string, cord or chain. By thus exerting a gentle pull, the brake
roller A is pressed by the cam S against the wheel tyre and the rotation of the
wheel being now transmitted to the roller, the latter will actuate the cam S and
thereby operate the automatic depression of the roller and the gradual braking
or tightening of the wheel As soon as the cord is released and the pull on the
lever ceases, a spring acting on the frame carrying the brake roller (Figures 6
and 7) brings the latter into its raised position. The cams S may be notched er
cut out to correspond to the shape of the brake rollers above which they are
located.
In Figure 2 is shown a special brake construction where only one cam is used
and acts directly upon the wheel tyre. This brake is secured to the rear wheel
under the fork which connects the wheel with the pedals and consists of a cam $
carried in suitable bearings and provided with an arm V. By pulling on this
arm the cam is pressed against the pneumatic or other tyre and acts as a brake
under the impetus given by the backing motion of the wheel.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 3 small discs D are fixed one on each
side of the roller A concentrically and so as to rotate therewith, and links U
embrace the periphery of these discs and are connected to the lever or levers V,
in order that when the lever V is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow
by the cord the roller is brought into contact with the tyre of the wheel and
when the latter is rotating forwards the roller will rotate backwards and by
means of the friction set up between the discs D and the links U the latter will
move the lever V further round causing a toggle action to be set up which tends
to press the roller with greater force against the tyre of the wheel.
Figure 4 illustrates an arrangement wherein the brake construction shewn

page_text: in Figure 1 is combined with a brake band whereby the brake can be applied
more promptly than before.
Figure shows the arrangement for pulling the brake from the rider's seat.
The same consists of a rod W carrying a knob at its upper end and movable
in bearings secured to the pillar of the front fork. Upon the lower bearing
is carried on a suitable support a small guide roller over which passes a cord
fixed to a part of the rod situated below this roller at one end and to the operating
lever V at the other. To apply the brake it is sufficient to exert a slight pres-
sure on the upper knob of the rod W.
y
Upon the rod W is arranged the two bearings and an adjustable knob
which may be held in any position into which it has been brought by hand in
consequence of the friction developed between it and the rod, such friction being
controlled and adjusted at will by means of a nut screwed upon a conical screw
threaded part provided with notches below. This knob serves to secure the
brake rod W in the deepest active position into which it has been brought by
hand, thus preventing the necessity of maintaining the rod depressed by hand as
long as the brake has to be applied. This will be found an advantage when
descending long hills. To actuate the brake the rod W is depressed while at
the same time the knob y is raised so as to bear against the upper support and
prevent the rod W from receding whilst in its resting position even after the
hand pressure is released. To release the brake it is merely sufficient to pull
up the rod W by its knob. When the brake is fixed to the front wheel the con-
nection of the same with the rod W is effected by fixing the latter directly to
the cam S (Figure 1). For this purpose both the lower end of the rod Was
well as the front part of the cam S (Figure 1) are provided with an eyelet z which
allows of the two parts being readily jointed together by a pin or bolt passed
through these two eyelets.
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. In an automatic brake for velocipedes and other vehicles the use of a cam S
or an eccentric piece V in combination with a brake rolfer A acting direct on
to the wheel in such a manner that when the can either strikes the roller A or
is depressed direct on to the wheel tyre, the continuation of motion of the wheel
acting on the cam or eccentric increases the pressure put on the wheel or axle,
substantially as herein described.
2. An adjustable rod W on the wheel fork connected by a cord with the cam
or eccentric for the purpose of preventing the automatic recession of the rod or
brake even after the pressure of the hand is released, the exertion of such hand
pressure simultaneously raising the striking knob up to the upper bearing or
support, substantially as herein described and shown.
Dated this 8th day of January 1000
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
Agent for the said Applicant,
70 and 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.