Year: 1886

page_text: I, JOHN ABBURY of Cheylesmore Coventry in the County of Warwick, Machinist do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to enable the back and front riders of tandems to set
in action, either singly or both together, one and the same brake apparatus, thereby
enabling either rider to apply to the velocipede the full brake power.
To this end, we fit the travelling wheel axle with a pair of brake wheels, and the
metal straps of these wheels we connect respectively to the ends of a pair of arms
projecting from a rock shaft centred in the main framing. Attached to one of these
arms is a rod leading upwards to near the grip handle bar of the back rider. Pivotted
to this rod is a short rock lever fulcrummed on the main frame, and pivotted to the
grip handle bar is a horizontal hand lever, which enters a slot in the free end of the
rock lever that is fulcrummed to the main framing.-The rider, when he wishes to
apply the brakes, has merely to grip this hand lever and the grip handle bar firmly,
when the former will rock, and, by the mechanism above described, draw the brake
straps into contact with the brake wheels.
For connecting the front rider with the brake apparatus, the following contrivance
is provided-Fulcrummed on the steering handle bar is a horizontal hand lever,
which bears upon one end of a rock lever pivotted to the steering rod. The other end
of this rock lever is connected loosely with a pendent rod adjustable in length to adapt
itself to the shifting of the height of the steering handle. This adjustable rod is
connected to one end of a rock lever which has its fulcrum on the main framing, and
to the other end of this rock lever is pivotted a rod leading to, and connected with an
arm carried by the rock shaft to which the brake straps are attached. When,
therefore, the front rider draws his brake lever towards the steering handle bar, he
will put on the brakes, and this he may do in conjunction with, or independently of
the back rider.
To ensure the simultaneous action of both brake straps, they are each provided with
means for adjusting them to their work.

page_text: I JOHN ASBURY of Cheylesmore, Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinist,
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:-
:-
The object of this invention is to enable the back and front riders of tandems to set
in action, either singly or both together, one and the same brake apparatus, thereby
enabling either. rider to apply to the velocipede the full brake power.
To this end, I arrange the brake apparatus as shown in the accompanying drawings,
where
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tandem fitted according to my invention, the rear
wheel being removed the better to show the novel parts.
Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation (on an enlarged scale); and
Fig. 3 a corresponding plan view of the brake wheels and the parts in immediate
'connection therewith.
In these Figures, A is the travelling wheel axle, fitted with a pair of brake
wheels B B.
CC¹ are the metal straps surrounding the brake wheels.
These straps are connected respectively to the ends of a pair of short arms projecting
from a rock shaft D centred in the main framing.-Attached to the rear arm of one of
these pairs of arms is a rod E, leading upwards to near the grip handle bar G of the
back rider. Pivotted to this rod is a short rock lever F, fulcrummed on the main
frame, and pivotted to the grip handle bar is a horizontal hand lever G*, which enters
a slot in the free end of the rock lever F fulcrummed to the main framing. The back
rider, when he wishes to apply the brakes, has merely to grip the hand lever and the
grip handle bar firmly, when the former will rock, and by the mechanism above
described, draw the brake straps into contact with the brake wheels.
A coiled spring H, secured to a hook on the main framing, connects by another
hook with the rod E, in such a manner, that by its contraction it will always have a
tendency to draw down the rod E, and release the brake wheels from the pressure of
the brake straps.
For connecting the steering handle of front rider with the brake apparatus, the
following contrivance is provided.-Fulcrummed on the steering handle bar I is a
horizontal hand lever I*, which bears upon one end of a rock lever K pivotted to
the steering rod.-The other end of this rock lever is connected loosely with a pendent
rod L, which is made telescopic to permit of its length being adjusted to adapt it to
the shifting height of the steering handle. This adjustable rod is connected to one
end of a rock lever M which has its fulcrum on the main framing, and to the lower
end of this rock lever is pivotted a rod N, leading back to and connected with an arm
o carried by the rock shaft D, to which the brake straps are attached.

page_text: . When, therefore, the front rider draws his brake lever towards the steering handle
bar, he will put on the brakes, and this he may do in conjunction with, or independently
of the back rider.
To ensure the simultaneous action of both brake straps CC", they are each provided
with means for adjusting them to their work.--Thus, one end of each strap is
connected to its respective rear arm of the rock shaft by means of a screw bolt c.-
This screw bolt c passes through a threaded lug formed on the end of the brake strap,
and it is connected at its head to the back arm of the rock shaft by a clamping
screw c¹.
In order to adjust the grip of the strap on its wheel, it will only be necessary to
remove the screw c³, and to turn the screw bolt to the right or left hand, as desired,
and then to clamp it in place by the insertion of the screw c¹. In this way, any
irregularity in the wear of the brake straps or wheels may be readily compensated for,
and the efficient action of both brake straps secured.
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 :-
The application to Tandem velocipedes of the arrangement of Brake mechanism
above described, which admits of the full power of the brakes being applied by either
the front or back rider, or by both riders simultaneously.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.