Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Velocipedes.
JOSEPH GEORGE MEAKES of Great Marlow in the County of Bucks Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to brakes for velocipedes having bent or curved handle
bars and the said invention has for its object to provide a brake which can be applied
by pressing on the handle bar.
For the purposes of my invention I mount the handle bar in bearings with a
capability of turning therein and I provide a short arm fixed on the handle bar and
connected to a rod which preferably passes down through the head of the machine,
the brake proper being connected to the lower end of the said rod. Any desired
form of brake may be used as for example the ordinary spoon brake. I find however
that a convenient form of brake is one consisting of two rollers carried by a balanced
cross arm which is pivoted to the end of the aforesaid rod. Guides are provided on
the front fork to prevent strain on the brake rod.
The brake is applied by pressing on the handle bar thereby causing the brake
rod to descend and forcing the brake against the tyre of the wheel. A spring is
provided to lift the brake when the pressure on the handle bar is removed. When
the brake is not required to be used, a lock is thrown into position under a coliar
on the brake rod to support the said rod and the handle bar so that the rider's
weight may then be allowed to rest on the handle bar without affecting the brake.
This lock is especially useful when mounting the machine.
Improv
I, JOSEPH GEORGE MEAKES of Great Marlow, Bucks, 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:-
This invention relates to brakes for velocipedes and has for its object an improved
form of brake of that kind which can be applied by pressing on the handles. For
the
of
purposes my invention I employ a bent or curved handle bar mounted with a
capability of turning in bearings provided at or near the top of the steering head
and I fix on the handle bar a short arm which is connected to the upper end of the
brake rod that passes down through the steering head, the brake being situated
within the fork.

page_text: In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the steering head and front fork of a bicycle
having my improved brake applied thereto, and
Fig. 2 is a plan of the top of the steering head.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in both figures.
A is the steering head, B is the fork, C is the handle bar which is bent or curved
and is mounted to turn in bearings D, D formed in brackets D¹, D' integral with or
rigidly fixed to the upper end of the steering head. E is a short arm fixed on the
handle bar and connected to a rod F which passes down through the steering head
and is connected to a guide block G which slides in the head. The connection
between the arm E and rod F is made by a pin E¹ screwed on the rod and rotatable
in a socket in the arm. H is another rod connected at its upper end to the block G
and at its lower end to the brake which may be of any suitable type. I prefer
however to employ a brake consisting of a pair of India rubber rollers J carried by
arms J pivoted centrally on a cross bar J2 which is fixed to the lower end of the
rod.H. The ends of the cross bar J2 work in guideways K provided within the fork
by which means undue side strain on the rod H is prevented. L is a spring which
supports the block G and raises the brake when the pressure on the handles is
removed. It will be seen that the brake is applied by pressing on the handles or
bent part of the handle bar, thereby turning the said bar in its bearings, and through
the arm E depressing the brake rod. When the brake is not required to be used, a
locking plate M pivoted at M' to the top of the steering head is turned underneath a
collar on the rod F so as to support the said rod and the handle bar and prevent
the depression of the brake rod. When the lock is in position under the collar F¹
the riders' weight may be allowed to rest on the handles without affecting the brake.
The rod F is conveniently secured to the block G by screwing and is adjusted to the
length of the steering head by screwing it up or down as may be required.
My improved brake is applicable to tricycles or other cycles having steering heads
similar to that above referred to.
°
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. Brake mechanism comprising a bent or curved handle bar mounted to turn in
bearings on the steering head, an arm fixed on the handle bar, and a spring-sup-
ported brake rod connected to said arm and enclosed by the steering head,
substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
2. The combination, with the said brake mechanism, of a brake carried by pivoted
arms, and supported laterally by guides within the fork, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1897.
GEORGE HARRISON
35 Therapia Road, Honor Oak London Agent for the Applicant.