Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear and Brakes for Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1900
PROVIDIONAL DECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear and Brakes for
Velocipedes.
I, JOHN MEEK, Managing Director of The Coventry Eagle Cycle Co., Ltd.,
Lincoln Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to driving gear and brakes for velocipedes and has for its
object to enable the rider to propel the machine by pedalling forward, to hold
his feet stationary, using the pedals as footrests while the machine runs on, and
to apply a brake by back pedalling as and when desired. And my invention
consists principally in the particular construction of clutch hereinafter described
as applied to the crank axle.
To attain my object I provide the driving gear with a clutch device (such as
a roller clutch in the hub sprocket wheel of a chain driven safety bicycle) which
bites and transmits the motion when the rider pedals forward actively, but
which overruns, allowing the machine to proceed, when the rider discontinues
such forward pedalling.
I mount on the crank axle within the bottom bracket and between the ball
races a second clutch of the roller type. The ball bearing cones are made
separately from the crank axle and are adapted to be screwed thereon up to
collars forming shoulders. These two collars are provided with inclined surfaces
of the type commonly employed in roller clutches. Around the middle portion
of the axle I mount a sleeve, the ends of the sleeves bearing on the rollers
carried by the two clutch surfaces above mentioned. The rollers and sleeve are
kept in place laterally by annular plates secured to the ends of the sleeve and by
internal shoulders in the sleeve, or external shoulders on the crank axle at the
inner ends of the clutch inclines. The rollers, sleeve and plates are located in
position before the bearing cones are fixed in place. At one part the sleeve is
provided with a cam surface formed by an oblique slot cut in the body thereof
transversely to the length of the axle.
The above mentioned cam surface is preferably arranged in the
central plane of the bracket and bears against the forward end of
a rod which passes out through the back of the bracket and through
the bridge in the bracket stays. The rod may be made telescopically
or otherwise adjustable in length, and its rear end may be provided with a spoon
to act on the tyre, or may be connected to levers or other suitable mechanism for
operating a rim brake.
On
On forward pedalling, the clutch in the driving gear bites and the machine is
propelled as already mentioned while the clutch in the bracket overruns.
ceasing active forward pedalling, the clutch in the driving gear overruns and
the pedals may be used as footrests, the clutch in the bracket still overrunning.
But on the rider back-pedalling, the clutch in the bracket bites, the sleeve is
turned backwards and the cam surface operates on the end of the rod, forcing the

page_text: rod in the direction of the wheel so that the brake is applied to the tyre or rim as
the case may be. According as the rider moves his feet so the brake is applied
harder or less hard or is released altogether.
To prevent the sleeve being over rotated in the reverse direction, I provide
part of the rod with a screw thread and mount a sleeve nut thereon. This nut is 5
so adjusted that when the end of the rod is near the outer end of the cam surface
on the sleeve, it (the said nut) abuts against the bridge and prevents further
motion in this direction. And to prevent the sleeve jamming and being carried
round with the crank axle, I do not take the transverse slot right across the
sleeve but stop it short at a shoulder, which shoulder strikes against the underside 1
of the end of the rod on the resumption of forward pedalling and so prevents
further forward rotation of the sleeve. A suitable spring, preferably covered by
part of the sleeve nut, normally holds the brake out of action. A ball or roller
may be introduced between the end of the rod and the eccentric disc.
As a modification the transverse slot may be reversed and take the form of an
eccentric waist turned in the middle of the sleeve. This waist is surrounded by
a band connected to the forward end of the rod which is in this case preferably
pulled forward to apply the brake, the connections being arranged accordingly.
Dated this 24th day of March 1899.
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.
Patent Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear and Brakes for
Velocipedes.
I, JOHN MEEK, Joint Managing Director of the Coventry Eagle Cycle Co., Ltd.,
Lincoln Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of this 3
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 relates to driving gear and brakes for velocipedes and has for its
object to enable the rider to propel the machine by pedalling forward, to hold
his feet stationary, using the pedals as footrests while the machine runs on, and 3
to apply a brake by back pedalling as and when desired. And my invention
consists principally in the particular construction of clutch hereinafter described
as applied to the crank axle.
The accompanying drawings show the manner in which I prefer, at the time
of filing this specification, to carry out my invention as applied to a rear 4
driving safety bicycle, for which it is more particularly intended.
Figure I is a vertical section through the centre of the bottom bracket and
the adjacent parts.
Figure II is a plan of the crank axle showing the brake clutch partly in section.
Figure III is a plan, on a reduced scale, showing a cover plate hereinafter 4
referred to.
The same numerals indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.
To attain my object I provide the driving gear with a clutch device (such as
a roller clutch in the hub sprocket wheel) which bites and transmits the motion
when the rider pedals forward actively, but which overruns, allowing the machine

page_text: to proceed, when the rider discontinues such forward pedalling, such driving
gears being commonly known as "free wheels." And I mount on the crank
axle 2 within the bottom bracket 3 and between the ball races a second clutch
of the roller or ball type. The ball bearing cones 4 4, are made separately from
the crank axle and are adapted to be screwed thereon up to collars 5, 5 forming
shoulders. These two collars are provided with inclined surfaces 6, 6 of any
suitable type commonly employed in roller and like clutches. Around the middle
portion of the axle I mount a sleeve 7, the ends whereof are enlarged and bear
on the rollers 8 or the like carried by the two clutch surfaces 6, 6 above men-
tioned. The rollers and sleeve are kept in place laterally partly by annular
plates which are preferably constituted by the bases of the cones 4, 4 as shown,
though they may be separate therefrom when they are secured to the ends of the
sleeve, and partly by the internal shoulders 22 in the sleeve, or by external
shoulders on the crank axle at the inner ends of the collars 5. The rollers and
sleeve are first placed in position and the fixing of the bearing cones retains them
in place. If separate plates be employed, they are located in position after the
rollers and sleeve and before the bearing cones. At one part the sleeve is
provided with a cam surface 9 formed in a slot 10 cut in the body thereof trans-
versely to the length of the axle.
The above mentioned cam surface 9 is preferably arranged in the central
plane of the bracket and bears against the forward end of a rod 11 which passes
out through the back of the bracket and through the bridge 12 in the bracket
stays 13.
The rod is made adjustable in length preferably by constructing it of two
telescopic parts locked by any suitable clamp. The clamp shown comprises an
enlargement 20 formed in one with the forward part of the rod; both of these
being bored longitudinally to the diameter of the rear part of the rod. The
enlargement 20 is also bored vertically to receive a block 25 through which the
rear part of the rod 11 projects. The block 25 is surmounted by a screw stud 26
carrying a nut 27. When the nut 27 is screwed down on to the top of the
enlargement 20 or on to an interposed washer or the like, the rear part of the
rod 11 is gripped between the lower wall of the block and the upper wall of the
enlargement thus locking the two parts of the rod together and fixing their
length. The rear end of the rod may be provided with a spoon to act on the tyre
but is preferably provided with a fork 14 the ends of which are jointed to the
upper ends of levers 15 pivotted on clips 16 adjustable on the stys 13, the said
levers carrying at their lower ends brake blocks 17 adapted to make frictional
contact with the back of the wheel rim 18. A spring 19 is threaded on to the
rear part of the rod 11 between the bridge 12 and the shoulder formed by the
end of the tubular forward part of the rod or by the locking clamp 20 thereon;
this spring impels the rod forward into contact with the cam surface 9 and
normally holds the brake out of action.
On forward pedalling, the clutch in the driving gear bites and the machine is
propelled as already mentioned while the clutch in the bracket overruns. On
ceasing active forward pedalling the clutch in the driving gear overruns and the
pedals may be used as footrests. But on the rider back-pedalling the clutch in
the bracket bites, the sleeve 7 is turned backwards and the cam surface 9
operates on the end of the rod 11, forcing the rod and the upper ends of the
levers 15 backwards and causing the blocks 17 carried by the lower ends of the
said levers to press forward against the rim 18. According as the rider moves
his feet, so the brake is applied harder or less hard or is released altogether.
To prevent the sleeve 7 jamming and being carried round with the crank
axle, I do not take the transverse slot 10 right across the sleeve but stop it
short at a shoulder 23, which shoulder strikes against the under side of the end
of the rod 11 on the resumption of forward pedalling and so prevents further
forward rotation of the sleeve; and I may prevent the sleeve being over rotated
in the reverse direction, by another shoulder 24, at the other end of the slot 10.

page_text: Or I may provide the rear part of the rod with a screw thread and mount a
nut thereon this nut being so adjusted that when the end of the rod is near
the outer end of the cam surface 9, it (the said nut) abuts against the bridge 12
and prevents further motion in this direction.
A cover plate 21 of celluloid, sheet metal or other suitable material may
be secured between the bracket 3 and bridge 12, as shown in Figures I and III.
A ball or roller may be introduced betwen the end of the rod and the cam
surface 9.
As a modification the transverse slot may be reversed and take the form of an
eccentric waist turned in the middle of the sleeve. This waist is surrounded
by a band connected to the forward end of the rod which is in this case preferably
pulled forward to apply the brake, the connections being arranged accordingly.
Although I have more particularly described my invention as applied to a
safety bicycle I wish it to be understood that it may be applied to other suitable
velocipedes in a similar manner and that modifications may be made without
exceeding the fair scope of my invention.
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. A clutch, for actuating a back pedalling brake for velocipedes, comprising
a orank axle having two collars between the ball races, inclined surfaces for
rollers or the like formed on each of the said collars, a sleeve embracing both
collars, rollers or the like introduced between the said collars and the ends of
the sleeve, and detachable bearing cones or other plates to keep the rollers and
sleeve in place laterally, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a clutch of the kind referred to in Claim 1, of a cam
surface or the like formed in or on the said sleeve and adapted to operate a brake
substantially as set forth.
3. In a velocipede brake of the kind herein referred to, limiting the rotation
of the sleeve by a shoulder at one or both ends of the cam surface adapted to
make contact with the end of the brake rod, substantially as set forth.
4. In a velocipede, the combination with a "free wheel" driving gear, of a
brake constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
and th: 00-d day of Decem1900