Adjustable Handle-bars and Brake for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Adjustable Handle-bars and Brake for Bicycles and the like.
I, ROBERT YOUNGER, Elmire House Heaton, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northum-
berland, 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 an adjustable Handle-bar and Brake, for Bicycles.
and the like, and has for its object the provision of a handle-bar which may be
easily, rapidly, adjusted and providing a means for supporting and steadying the
handle-bar during the adjustment, and a brake, which may be applied at any
position of the handle-bar.
The following description and drawings show the method of construction and
application.
Sheet 1, Figs. 1. 2 and 3 is the general arrangement, Sheet 2, Fig. 1 shows the
handle-bar locked, Fig. 2 shows the handle-bar released, Figs. 3 and 4 show the
slotted sleive or bush, and the locking pin with flats cut on, Fig. 5 shows a lock-
ing pin with eccentrics instead of flats, Figs. 6 and 7 show the brake-lever and
handle, and the arrangement for adjusting the brake. Modifications of the lock-
ing arrangements are shown on Sheet 3, Figs. 1 and 3 showing the handle-bars
locked, and Figs. 2 and 4 showing the handle-bars released,
On the handle-bar is brazed a thin slotted bush or sleive (A), working in the
Thead (B) of the pillar. One end of this bush is screwed and fitted with a split
adjusting nut (C), provided with a locking screw (Y). This nut fits a recess in
the T-head. The other end of the bush has securely fixed to it a washer (D), the
inner face of which has teeth, cut or stamped on it. These engage with similar
teeth on the T-head.
A pin (E) with handle, on which suitable flats are cut, or eccentrics turned,
passes through slots cut through the bush and handle-bar and fitting into bear-
ings (F) on the T head. These flats are arranged to act on the face of diametric-
ally opposite points on the face of the adjusting nut (C) to engage, and on the
faces of the slots in the bush (A) to release the teeth.
To steady the handle-bar during adjustment an internal spiral spring (G) is
employed. To each end of this spring a socket is securely fixed. One socket (H)
is connected to the Thead by means of the eccentric pin (E), on the plain part
of which the socket fits. The other socket (I), has cut on its face a number of
ratchet teeth, which gear with similar teeth in a ferrule or bush (J), fixed to the
handle-bar. This socket has small holes drilled in it and a suitable slot cut in the
handle-bar for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the spring. If no adjust-
ment is desired, socket (I) is connected direct to the handle-bar by a pin, and the
tension is adjusted by withdrawing the handle-bar clear of the Thead and twist-
ing the spring by means of a small bar in the socket (H) through the slots in the
bush (A). The spring is held in position until the handle bar and T-head are
coupled by placing a temporary pin through the holes (K) drilled around the
socket H.

page_text: For working the brake a flexible wire rope is used, which passes up inside the
handle-bar and down the front tube to the forks. The hand lever (L) placed
convenient for the fingers, may be at the side or below the handle. The fulcrum
end end is bent nearly to a right angle, and passes through slots in the handle-bar
clear of the handle, and works on a pin in a bracket (M) brazed to the handle-bar.
This fulcrum end is slotted forming a deep double eye or jaws. A small roller (N)
is mounted in this slot which acts against the lower edge of a disc (0) fastened
in an inner tube (P), this tube sliding freely in the handle-bar. A lip or extension
of this tube is slotted to suit the brake lever, and it also forms a cover for the slot
in the handle-bar. A small, screwed bolt (Q) with flats filed on it, to prevent
turning, passes freely through the jaws of the lever, and fits in a suitable slot in
the centre of the disc (0) at the back of which a deep nut works, a sufficient length
of bolt being left for adjusting purposes. On the end of the bolt (Q) a small tube
is formed, into which the wire is fastened.
To prevent the wire chafeing on the handle-bar at the bend, two or more roller-
guides or carriages (S) work. These are formed of two discs or flanges, connected
by a thin tube or centre peice, around these flanges or discs, grooves are turned
in which small balls are placed, these keep the carriage in the centre of the handle-
bar. The flanges only keep the balls in position, and do not touch the handle-
bar. The wire is passed through the centre tube and fastened. At the T head of
the pillar the rope works over a grooved sector or quadrant (T), mounted on a
centre pin fitting in a bracket solid with, or brazed to the pillar. The radius of
this quadrant reaches to the centre of the handle-bar, in which position the length
of the wire remains unaltered by the adjustment of the handle-bar.
Preferably a single arm connects the rim and centre of the sector or quadrant,
this allows a greater radius and increased efficiency of the rope, without cutting
away the pillar. The bush (A) and the handle-bar are slotted to clear the quad-
rant. The width of this slot and those through which the pin (E) works depend
on the angle of adjustment. The wire then passes down the front tube and
connects to a lever with a brake-pad as shown on Sheet 1.
A spiral spring through which the wire passes is fixed in the front tube pressing
on the lever-end to which the wire is connected, this keeps the brake off and
tightens the wire.
Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet 3, is a modification in which no spring is used, and by
which no slots are required in bush (A) except that for the brake quadrant.
The eccentric pin (E¹) fits into a boss or bearing (F) on the Thead and acts
on the sides of a groove turned around the split adjusting nut (C¹) to engage or
release the teeth, a small pin (W) fits a groove around the eccentric pin and
prevents its working out.
Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 3, are the same as Figs. 1 and 2 except that for releasing
the teeth the eccentric pin (E³) acts on the side of a slot cut through the bush (A2)
but not through the handle-bar, and for engaging the teeth acts on the face of a
split adjusting nut (0%).
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 eccentric pin, and the slotted bush fitted with an adjustable lock nut,
against the faces of which nut and slots the eccentrics or flats on the pin act to
release or engage the handle-bar the eccentric pin being carried by bosses or
bearings on the T head,-
A spiral spring, one end of which is connected to the T-head by the eccentric
pin, the other end to the handle-bar direct or by means of an adjusting socket.
2. A modification in which I fit an ordinary plain bush, with an adjustable lock
nut with a groove turned around it, on the sides or flange of which the eccentric
pin acts. The eccentric pin being carried by a boss on the T-head.
3. A brake hand-lever with its fulcrum end slotted, is passed through and

page_text: pivotted to the handle-bar, the edges of the lever or
roller acts against a dics
fixed in a sliding tube. A screwed bolt with flats passes through the slots in the
lever and disc, and is fitted with a nut for adjusting the wire.
4. The guides or carriages which carry the wire and prevent its chafeing.
5. And a sector or quadrant, mounted on a pin in the pillar.
1 1
1 1
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