Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1897-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1898
I, JOHN WATSON, Engineer, of The Firs, Oak Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a certain, simple & effective means
of regulating the speed of cycles when going down-hill &c., without the use
of outside rods, levers or handles, merely using the pedals.
For the purpose of my invention the chain wheel is constructed of two discs,
one disc being connected to the crank shaft & always turning with it, while the
other disc is capable of independent motion. On the periphery of this latter.
disc the teeth or projections, which are to engage with the chain, are formed, and
within part of the space enclosed between the two dises suitable stops & catches
are provided, which are so arranged that when the cranks are driven forward by
the action of the rider's feet, so as to propel the machine, the two discs move
together as one, & the chain wheel behaves exactly as one of the ordinary con;
struction, whereas when during the forward movement of the machine the rider
simply causes his feet to press upon the pedals without rotating the cranks, the
two discs have separate movement, the loose one being carried round by the chain
while the other remains at rest until the cranks are again rotated.
In order that this cessation in the rotation of the cranks may so act as to
retard the motion to the chain wheel, and if continued, bring the machine to a
standstill, I use various devices within the space between the two discs; for
instance, a hollow, inflated india-rubber ring may be employed pressing against
the insides of the discs, and so arranged by making these inside surfaces
undulating and the undulations unequal on the two sides, that some part of the
ring is continually being squeezed between the surfaces. Or a solid india-rubber:
ring may be secured to the undulating surface of the revolving disc, and the
undulating surface of the other disc replaced with rollers radiating to the centre,
the two arranged that the rollers pass the raised parts of the revolving surface
with difficulty. Or again, suitable levers may be attached to the stationary disc
carrying rolls designed to act upon a ring concentric, with & forming part of the
revolving disc, the pressure upon the ring being capable of increase at intervals."
Dated this 24th day of October 1896.

page_text: I, JOHN WATSON, Engineer, Myrtle Grove, 3, Richmond Road, St. Anne's
on Sea, late of The Firs, Oak Lane, Wilmslow, in the County of Chester, 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 fol-
lowing statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in brakes for velocipedes the object
being to enable the machine to be braked by the rider ceasing or partially ceasing
to operate the pedals.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now refer to the
annexed drawings in which:-
Figure 1. is a sectional elevation of my improved brake and driving wheel.
Figure 2 cross section through line P. Q.
Figure 3 enlarged view of the bearing surfaces upon the two discs.
Referring to Figure 1. A is the chain wheel the upper half showing only the
loose disc A upon which the chain teeth or projections are formed, the lower half
the two discs A and B together. a are catches pivoted on the centres b on the
disc A, c are stops formed on a ring 7 concentric with & part of the disc B. When
the crank is turned in the direction of the arrow the stops c against the ends of
the catches a cause the two discs to turn together, but if while the chain wheel
is moving the rider simply presses his feet upon the pedals without rotating the
cranks the disc B remains stationary the ends of the catches a rising to ride over
the curved backs of the stops c. S are light springs for the purpose of keeping
the catches a against a ring m part of the disc A corresponding to the ring on
the disc B. In the drawing the disc B and crank K are in one piece and are
fastened to shaft d by the pin f.
Referring to Figure 2 x is the space between the discs A and B into which
the inflated india rubber ring is put. The internal surfaces of the discs forming
the walls of this space & are made undulating. The undulations on the two sides
being unequal, so that the ring is always being squeezed between the raised
portions of the surfaces at some point. Instead of the inflated ring one or two
solid india rubber rings may be employed of such a thickness as to pass between
the raised parts of the surfaces with difficulty.
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. The combined construction and arrangement of the various parts.
2. A chain wheel formed of the two discs A & B with stops and catches with
the space between the discs having the undulating surfaces, or their equivalent
as and for the purpose herein set forth and shown, and the use of inflated or
solid india rubber rings within the said space for the purpose of checking or
retarding the speed as described thus acting when required as a brake.
Deted this 27th Jar of Iul 1907