Year: 1897

page_text: I, GEORGE TURTON, of 41, Montgomery Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to brakes for velocipedes and comprises various improvements
hereinafter mentioned.
One object of my said invention is to provide improved means whereby a brake
arranged in combination with the rear wheel of a bicycle or other velocipede, may be
actuated by a lever pivoted to the handle-bar whatever may be the position of
the said bar, so that the said brake can at all times be effectively applied
notwithstanding the turning of the said handle-bar in steering the velocipede.
Another object of my said invention is to so construct and arrange the parts that the
connections between the said brake and the handle-bar will be entirely or partially
concealed within the frame of the machine.
A further object of my said invention is to so construct and arrange such brake and
its connections that the same can be readily attached to and detached from a bicycle
or other velocipede.
According to one part of my said invention, I combine, with the telescopic or other
rod which, in velocipedes with the brake combined with the front wheel, is usually
pivoted to the brake-lever attached to the handle-bar, one or more collars, arms,
levers or other suitable devices arranged to act upon a bell-crank-lever or other
suitable lever connected by rods, links, wires or cords to a suitable brake combined
with the rear wheel of the velocipede.
By these means the said brake can be actuated by operating the brake-lever pivoted
to the handle-bar in any position into which the said handle-bar may be turned for
steering purposes.
For example, I sometimes provide a lever connected in any convenient manner
with the rear-wheel brake, and having an arm of horse-shoe or other suitable shape,
and pivoted to the frame of the machine in such a manner that it will extend wholly
or partially around the steering head, and, when the brake-lever is operated, one or
more collars, arms or projections provided upon the said telescopic or other rod will
act upon the bend of the said horse-shoe or other lever and will thus apply the brake
to the rear wheel.
In other instances, I connect the said telescopic or other rod with a lever pivoted
to the front fork and having an arm provided with a segmental slot concentric with
the steering head, into which slot extends one arm of a beil-crank or other lever
pivoted to a suitable part of the frame of the machine and connected in any
convenient manner to the rear-wheel brake.
The said horse-shoe or other lever is preferably pivoted to a clip secured to a
suitable part of the frame of the machine so that it can be readily detached and
replaced. It may, however, be pivoted directly to the frame if desired.

page_text: In some instances I connect the said lever by a rod, link, wire or cord with a bell-
crank-lever pivoted upon the bolt which is generally employed for clamping the
seat-pillar in the socket at the rear end of the frame, the said bolt being made with
an extension to receive the said lever. In other instances I use a bell-crank-lever
pivoted to any other suitable part of the frame, according to the construction of the
machine. I connect such bell-crank-lever to the brake by means of one or more
rods, links, wires or cords or in any other convenient manner.
According to another modification of my said invention, I fit a sliding flanged
sleeve on the upright of the handle-bar and connect it in any convenient manner
with a rod sliding up and down in guides on the frame of the machine, and connected
by levers and rods, links, wires or cords with the brake. The short arm of the brake-
lever pivoted to the handle-bar will bear against the flange of the said sleeve in
any position of the handle-bar. In this case I sometimes also connect the said
sliding rod to a lever adapted to be actuated by the rider's foot.
According to another modification of my said invention I connect the short arm
of the brake-lever pivoted to the handle-bar, by a suitable swivel-joint or pivot,
to a rod extending down through the centre of the handle-bar and steering-head,
and connected in any convenient manner with the brake. By these means the
brake can be operated by the brake-lever whatever may be the position of the
handle-bar.
According to a further modification, instead of providing a swivel-joint or pivot
at the upper end of the said rod, I connect the lower end of the said rod with
a bell-crank or other lever by means of a ball-and-socket or other joint which will
permit the required movements of the parts.
When the connections between the brake-lever and the brake are to be wholly or
partially concealed, I sometimes mount the said horse-shoe or other lever and the
rear bell-crank-lever (when such is employed) on pivot-pins or bolts extending
transversely through one of the tubes or tube-sockets of the frame at either end
thereof, and I pass the connecting rod or wire into the said tube through suitable
apertures which may, if desired, be afterwards closed; I then introduce the short
arms of the said levers into the said tube or into the sockets at the ends thereof
through suitable apertures preferably in the underside of the same, and I couple the
said arms to the said rod or wire. It is advantageous to make the parts of the tube
or socket in which the pivot-pins or bolts are fixed, of U-shape in transverse section,
the open part being preferably on the underside.
In some instances I mount the arm or arms of the brake on a pivot or pivots carried
by the upper or the lower rear fork so that the said arm or arms will extend through
the limb or limbs of the said fork, and I pass each rod or wire that connects the
brake-arm with the rear bell-crank-lever longitudinally through the corresponding
limb of the fork; and I sometimes also arrange in the said limb the spring for
withdrawing the brake from the wheel.
My improvements are applicable in connection with brakes, such as I have
described in the specification filed in respect of my application for Letters Patent
dated 1st June 1896, No. 11,919, to be applied to the wheel-rim, and also in
connection with other brakes, such, for example, as spoon-brakes, roller-brakes and
the like adapted to be applied to the tyre of the wheel.

page_text: I, GEORGE TURTON, of 41, Montgomery Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
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 relates to brakes for velocipedes and comprises various improvements
hereinafter described.
One object of my said invention is to provide improved means whereby a brake-
shoe or brake-shoes arranged in combination with the rear wheel of a bicycle or other
velocipede, may be actuated by a brake-lever pivoted to the handle-bar, in any
position to which the said bar and the front fork may be turned about their axis, so
that the said brake can at all times be effectively applied notwithstanding the turning
of the said handle-bar in steering the velocipede.
Another object of my said invention is to so construct and arrange the parts that
the connections between the said brake and the handle-bar will be entirely or partially
concealed within the frame of the machine.
A further object of my said invention is to so construct and arrange such brake and
its connections that the same can be readily attached to and detached from a bicycle
or other velocipede.
According to one part of my said invention, I combine, with the telescopic or other
rod which, in velocipedes with the brake operating upon the front wheel, is usually
pivoted to the brake-lever attached to the handle-bar, one or more collars, arms,
tappets, or other suitable devices arranged to act upon a bell-crank-lever or other
suitable lever connected by rods, links, wires or cords to a suitable brake-shoe or
brake-shoes operating upon the rear wheel of the velocipede.
My said invention also comprises other arrangements of mechanism whereby a
brake operating on the rear wheel can be actuated in any position into which the
handle-bar may be turned for steering purposes.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a bicycle provided with one form or
arrangement of my improved brake-mechanism.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are similar views showing modified arrangements of the parts.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 3, and
Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line x1, x¹, Figure 4.
Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views, drawn to an enlarged scale, illustrating
details of construction.
The remaining figures of the drawings are hereinafter referred to.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8, is the usual telescopic or other brake-rod which is
suitably supported and guided, for example by a bracket a¹, and is operated by the
usual brake-lever or handle b. An adjustable tappet c, fixed on the rod a by means
of a set-screw or other convenient device, is adapted to communicate motion from the
brake-rod a to a pivoted bell-crank-lever d, d¹ attached to the steering head or to
either of the frame-members as may be most convenient.
The lever d, d is preferably pivoted at e¹ to a clip e, Figures 2, 3 and 6, secured to
a suitable part of the frame of the machine so that it can be readily detached and
replaced. It may, however, be pivoted directly to the frame if desired, as shown in
Figure 1. The forward arm d of the said lever is made of horse-shoe or similar shape,
as shown more clearly in Figures 7 and 8, so that it will wholly or partially surround
the steering-head as shown in Figure 5 or in Figure 6. In an arrangement such as

page_text: that shown in Figure 6, I sometimes make the said lever d, d¹ with two crank-arms d¹
(Figure 8).
The arm or arms d' of the lever d are connected through a system of rods, wires or
cords and levers, for example, through the cord or wire f, bent lever f¹ and rod for f³
to the brake-shoe g or brake-band g operating upon the rear-wheel, a suitable spring
such, for example, as the spiral spring h, Figure 1, being provided, if necessary, for
withdrawing the said brake-shoe or brake-band from the wheel or from the brake-
drum as the case may be. When the brake-handle b is operated, the tappet c on the
rod a acts upon the horse-shoe or hook-shaped part of the lever d, d' whatever may be
the position of the front fork, so that the brake can always be operated notwithstanding
turning of the front fork about its axis for steering purposes.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, of which
Figure 9 is a side elevation showing the arrangement of the levers, and Figure 10 is
a plan and Figure 11 a side elevation, both drawn to an enlarged scale, illustrating
details of construction, the telescopic or other brake-rod is connected with a leverj,j
pivoted at 2 to a lug or bracket k secured to the front fork. The lug or bracket k
may, if desired, be made as shown in Figures 9 and 11, so as to serve also for the
fixing of the upper end of the mud-guard. The arm j' of this lever is made with a
convex segmental or arc-shaped part, as more clearly shown in Figure 10, concentric
with the steering-head, and adapted, in any position to which the front fork may be
turned about its axis, to act upon the arm d of a bell-crank-lever d, d¹ pivoted to a
suitable part of the frame of the machine and connected with the brake-shoe in any
convenient manner, for example, by means of a rod, wire or cord f, with or without
cranked or other levers as herein described with reference to various other figures of
the drawings. Or the arm j¹ of the said lever j, j may be made with a segmental
slot concentric with the steering-head, and the arm d of the lever d, d¹ be bent so
that it will extend into the said slot as indicated in Figures 14 and 15. The lever j,j¹
is sometimes made in' the form shown in side elevation and horizontal section in
Figures 14 and 15 respectively, so as to surround the front fork.
As a further modification of this arrangement, I sometimes make the lever d, d'
with an arm & having a concave segmental part concentric with the steering-head, as
shown in Figures 12 and 13 (of which Figure 12 is a plan and Figure 13 a side eleva-
tion both drawn to an enlarged scale) the rear arm j¹ of the lever j, ¹ shown in
Figure 9, being adapted in this case to engage with the segmental or arc-shaped
surface or a segmental slot formed in or on the said arm d for the purpose above
specified.
In some instances, as shown in Figure 4, I connect the lever d, d' by a rod, link,
wire or cord f with a bell-crank-lever f¹ pivoted upon the bolt which is generally
employed for clamping the seat-pillar in its socket at the rear end of the frame, the
said bolt being made with an extension to receive the said lever, and the lever being
suitably connected through a rod, link, wire or cord 2 with the brake-shoe.
In some cases, I provide a supplementary brake-lever b¹ (as shown, for example, in
plan and side elevation in Figures 16 and 17) which is pivoted in any convenient
manner to the frame, and which can be used either alone or together with the usual
brake-lever b.
Figures 16 and 17 show my improvements applied to a duplex bicycle or sociable
tricycle. I can, if desired, use an ordinary front-wheel brake in addition to
my improved brake as shown in Figure 17, and in the arrangements shown in other
figures of the drawings, I can also, if desired, use an ordinary front wheel brake-shoe
on the roda. The supplementary brake-lever 61, in the arrangement shown in
Figures 16 and 17, is suitably connected to the rod or wire which connects
the lever d, d¹ with a lever-arm ft mounted on a rock-shaft extending through the
cross-tube and provided with arms f which are connected by a rod or wire fo with
the lever for the said shaft may extend through the bolt-holes in the sockets for
the seat-pillars. Or I provide the said shaft with a bent arm be extending upward
behind the saddle and serving as a supplementary brake-lever which can be operated
by the rider's back or by hand.

page_text: a
In Figure 18 I have shown in side elevation, another modification of my invention,
in which I fit a sliding flanged sleeve m upon the stem of the handle-bar and connect
it with the brake-rod a by a slotted head a² on the said rod engaging with the flange
of the said sleeve m. This rod a is provided with an adjustable collar n having
suitable lug or projection n' in which the end of the flexible rod, wire or cord fis
secured. The said wire or cord, in this case, is passed over a pulley p and connected
with a suitable lever for operating the brake-shoe. The short arm of the
brake-leverb pivoted to the handle-bar bears against the flange of the said sleeve m,
which remains in engagement with the slotted head a notwithstanding the turning
of the handle-bar in steering. Therefore the brake can be applied in any position of
the handle-bar.
The rod a is sometimes prolonged and adjustably secured, as by the nut a³, to a lug
or fork upon the end of a supplementary rod a pivotally connected to a pedal q
which is pivoted at q¹ and overhangs a part of the frame. This pedal can be
depressed by the foot to bring the brake into action, and can be used either alone or
in conjunction with the brake-handle b.
Figure 19 is a sectional elevation showing an arrangement in which the usual
brake-handle is connected, by any suitable swivel-joint or pivot, to a rod or wire r
extending down through the centre of the steering-head and connected at its lower
end to a lever j, j similar to that above described with reference to Figures 9 to 11.
The rod or wire 7 is thus concealed. In the arrangement shown, the brake will be
applied by pushing down the said rod by means of the brake-handle. By arranging
the arm above instead of beneath the arm d of the lever d, d¹ and modifying the
brake-lever accordingly, the mechanism can be adapted for applying the brake by an
upward pull upon the rod or wire 1.
According to a further modification, instead of providing a swivel joint or pivot at
the upper end of the brake-rod a I connect the lower end of the said rod with the
lever d, d¹ by means of a ball-and-socket or other universal joint formed in part
upon the horse-shoe shaped arm d of the lever d, d¹ as shown, for example, in
Figure 20, so as to permit the required movements of the parts. The rod or wire
shown in Figure 19 can, if desired, be similarly arranged with relation to the
lever j, j.
Figures 21, 22 and 23 are side elevations and Figure 24 a transverse section, drawn
to an enlarged scale, showing different arrangements which are applicable in cases
where the connections between the brake-lever and the brake are to be wholly or
partially concealed. In these arrangements the said horse-shoe or other lever d, d¹
and the rear bell-crank-lever f¹ (when such is employed) are mounted on pivot-pins
or bolts e¹, e² extending transversely through one or other of the tubes or tube-sockets
of the frame at either end thereof, and the connecting rod or wire f is passed into the
said tube through suitable apertures which may, if desired, be afterwards closed; the
short arms d¹ of the said levers are introduced into the said tube or into the sockets
at the ends thereof through suitable apertures preferably in the underside of the same,
and the said arms d' are coupled to the said rod or wire f. It is advantageous to make
the parts of the tube or socket in which the pivot pins or bolts are fixed, of U-shape
in transverse section, (see Figure 24) the open part being preferably on the underside.
If desired the lever d, d¹ may be connected with the brake-lever b by means of a
rod or wire extending through the steering-head as above described with reference
to Figure 19.
In some instances I mount the arm or arms g' of the brake on a pivot or
pivots carried by the upper or lower rear fork as shown for example, in
sectional elevation in Figure 25; so that the said arm or arms will extend through
the limb or limbs of the said fork, and I pass each rod or wire that connects
each brake-arm with the rear bell-crank-lever longitudinally through the corres-
ponding limbs on the fork, and I sometimes also arrange in the said limb the
spring for withdrawing the brake from the wheel.
Figure 26 illustrates a modification in which the arm or tappet c is provided
with a small wheel or roller c¹ to bear upon and travel around the curved part of the
:

page_text: arm d of the horse-shoe lever above described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. It
is obvious that the pin c and roller c¹ can be arranged either above or beneath
the horse-shoe lever according to the arrangement of the other parts of the brake-
mechanism. I sometimes substitute for the support a¹ in which the rod a slides, a
swinging bar or link 8, Figure 26, pivotally connected to the said rod and to a bolt s¹
fixed in the front fork of the machine, or to a clip attached to the said fork.
My improvements are applicable in connection with brakes such as I have
described in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated
1st June 1896, No. 11,919, adapted to be applied to the wheel rim, and also in
connection with other brakes, such, for example, as band-brakes operating upon the
rear wheel hub, as shown in Figure 2, or upon a drum on a chain-wheel as in
Figure 27, or on a drum on a gear-wheel in chainless cycles or in connection with
roller-brakes (Figure 28) spoon brakes (Figure 29) or the like, operating upon the
tyre of a wheel.
Figure 30 is a side elevation showing an arrangement wherein the brake-rod a
is adapted to be pulled upward by the brake-lever b and is made with a slotted
part or loop 3 engaging with the horse-shoe shaped arm d of the lever d, d¹.
I can, if desired, somewhat further modify the details of construction without
departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The employment of a pivoted bell-crank or other lever having an arm of
horse-shoe shape wholly or partially surrounding the steering-head or front fork of
a velocipede, which arm will at all times form an operative connection between the
brake-lever and the brake-shoe notwithstanding the turning of the front fork about
its axis for steering purposes, substantially as herein before described.
2. A lever pivoted to the frame of a velocipede and made with an arm of horse-
shoe shape wholly or partially surrounding the steering-head or front fork and
connected with the brake-rod by means of a ball-and-socket or other universal joint,
substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
3. A lever pivoted to the front fork of a velocipede and suitably connected with a
brake-lever, and having an arm with a segmental slot or surface concentric with
the steering-head so that, notwithstanding the turning of the front fork about its
axis for steering purposes, it can at all times be caused to engage with another
lever for operating the brake, substantially as herein before described.
4. A lever pivoted to the frame of a velocipede and suitably connected with a
brake-shoe, which lever is made with a segmental slot or surface concentric with
the steering-head, so that, notwithstanding the turning of the front fork about
its axis for steering purposes, the said lever will at all times engage with another
lever pivoted to the front fork and suitably connected with a brake-lever carried
thereby, substantially as herein before described.
5. A flanged sliding sleeve on the stem of the handle-bar operated by a brake-
lever pivoted to the said bar and having its flange connected with a brake-rod in such
a manner that motion can at all times be communicated from the said brake-lever to
the said rod notwithstanding the turning of the front fork about its axis for steering
purposes, substantially as herein before described.
6. The improved brake-mechanism constructed substantially as described with
reference to either of the arrangements or modifications shown in Figures 1 to 17
or in Figures 26 to 30 of the drawings and operating as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
7. The modification of my invention in which the brake-rod is connected with a
pedal-lever so that it can be operated by the foot, substantially as described with
reference to Figure 18 of the drawings.
8. The modification of my invention in which parts of the levers and the rods,
cords or the like connecting the same are enclosed within one or more of the

page_text: tubular or U-shaped frame-members, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the drawings, and for the purposes above
specified.
9. The modification of my invention wherein the rods connecting the brake-
arm with the rear bell-crank or other lever and the spring for withdrawing the
brake are concealed within the limbs of the rear upper or lower fork, substantially
as described with reference to Figure 25 of the drawings.
Thind the With Nave of Novambar 1807
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.