Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Cycles and other Vehicles.
We, ALBERT JORDAN and JOHN GEORGE HILLYARD BROWNE, both of 194,
Goswell Road, in the County of London, Cycle Manufacturers, 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:-
The object of our invention is to effect improvements in means for actuating
tyre, rim, or hub brakes whereby the same may be readily adjusted for more or
less effective use and whereby the brakes may be operated independently of the
usual brake lever and set with any desired degree of braking power.
According to our invention we provide means whereby the adjustment of the
brake and a means for operating or applying the same are combined.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the head and steering pillar of a
cycle fitted with our improvements.
Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional elevations illustrating two modifications.
a is the stalk or pillar of the handle bar, which is fitted to the steering pillar
in any well known manner. b, 61, is an adjustable rod and tube which connects
the usual brake lever with the brake, and which is shown in Figs. 1 and 3
enclosed within the head and in Fig. 2 externally arranged.
Referring to Fig. 1, the rod b is provided with a conical or globular enlarge-
ment c and a short lever d pivoted at d¹ to the handle bar T piece or socket.
The lever d is formed with a hole at in which the end of the brake lever works
as will be readily understood; the other end is formed with an eye or collar d
surrounding the enlargement c, the opening being of smaller diameter than the
enlargement c. It will thus be seen that the brake may be operated from the
ordinary brake lever in the usual manner.
In order to adjust the contiguity of the braking surface to the tyre, rim, or
drum as the case may be, the end 62 of the rod b is extended in an upward direction
through a fixed or movable cap e and is provided with a lever for crank handle
or similar device fixed thereto by any suitable means. By turning the lever or
handle f the brake rod b is screwed into or from the tube bi whereby the range of
action of the brake may be adjusted as desired; similarly the brake may be
applied by or retained in an applied or other desired position by rotating the
handle f so as to lengthen or shorten the brake connection according to the type
of brake used. A spring g is fitted to return the brake to its normal parition, out
of action, its position, and that of the enlargement, being governed by the
direction (upward or downward) in which the power is to be applied.
In Fig. 2 a modification is shown in which the fittings are mounted exteriorly,
so as to adapt the mechanism to cycles and vehicles generally. For this purpose
we clip or otherwise attach in the desired position a projecting ring or eye el
through which the part 2 of the rod works, the lower end of the tube b¹ being
connected with the brake in any known manner. In this figure d' represents the

page_text: section of a suitable form of that part of the brake lever which engages with the
enlargement c.
Fig. 3 illustrates another modification, the part 63 of the rod b passes through
the handle bar h, fitting h¹, and cap e, and is operated by the lever f, as described,
or by a suitable connection with an ordinary external brake lever.
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 :-
1 The improved means or arrangement of parts whereby the adjustment of the
range of action and a motion to operate the brake are combined in one set of
mechanism, substantially as set forth.
2 The combination with the above described and claimed single set of mechanism
for dual purposes, of a lever d arranged to connect the herein before described
brake mechanism with the ordinary brake lever, substantially as described and
illustrated by Fig. 1.
3 The particular construction and arrangement of parts; substantially as
described and illustrated by Fig. 2.
4 The particular construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as
described and illustrated by Fig. 3.
Dated 10th January 1899.
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.