Improved Brake Apparatus for Cycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883), as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 24th day of December 1895.
Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1895-Accepted, 3rd Fug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Brake Apparatus for Cycles.
1, PRESTON WEIR, of 4, Melville Road, Redland, Bristol, Schoolmaster, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in improved brake apparatus for cycles.
According to this invention, a cylinder, closed at the upper end and made of
iron, steel or other suitable metal, is fixed to the cycle frame and contains a piston
the rod of which is embraced by a spiral spring and carries at its outer end the
brake shoe, which latter may be of any ordinary kind.
The spiral spring tends constantly to keep the brake out of contact with the
wheel. At the back the piston is furnished with a knob or boss which is in contact
with a pneumatic ball of india-rubber which the knob or boss of the piston, acting
under the influence of the spiral spring aforesaid, compresses between the said knob
or boss and the cover of the cylinder.
The ball communicates by means of a flexible air-tight tube, conducted into the
cylinder, with a bulb of india-rubber or other suitable and elastic material. This
bulb which is situated at or near the handle-bar, or is otherwise conveniently
placed, is fitted with an air inlet valve opening inwards only. A similar valve
governs the communication between the bulb and the tube which latter is fitted
with a discharge valve normally kept closed by means of a spring, or its
equivalent.
To apply the brake, the bulb is squeezed and the ball in the cylinder is thus
expanded and, acting upon the piston, causes the brake to be firmly pressed on the
wheel. The brake remains applied until the discharge valve is operated to permit
the imprisoned air to escape.
Instead of the ball above-mentioned as contained within the brake cylinder, a
chamber made after the fashion of bellows and capable of expansion and
compression similarly to such ball may be adopted.
In the application of the above-described brake apparatus to a bicycle it is
preferably fitted to the rear fork so that the brake acts on the rear wheel. In a
tricycle the apparatus may be adapted so that the brake acts on the front wheel,
or the apparatus may be fitted to operate a band or other brake acting on the
rear axle.
Dated this 4th day of August 1894.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: I, PRESTON WEIR, of 4 Melville Road, Redland, Bristol, Schoolmaster, 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 consists in improved brake apparatus for cycles.
According to this invention, a cylinder closed at the upper end and made of iron,
steel, or other suitable metal, is fixed to the cycle frame and contains a piston, the
rod of which is embraced by a spiral spring and carries at its outer end the brake
shoe, which latter may be of any ordinary kind.
The spiral spring tends constantly to keep the brake out of contact with the
wheel. At the back the piston is furnished with a knob or boss which is in contact
with a pneumatic ball of india rubber which the knob or boss of the piston acting
under the influence of the spiral spring aforesaid, compresses between the said knob
or boss and the cover of the cylinder.
The ball communicates by means of a flexible air-tight tube, conducted into the
cylinder with a bulb of india rubber or other suitable and elastic material. This
bulb which is situated at or near the handle bar or is otherwise conveniently
placed is fitted with an air inlet valve opening inwards only. A similar valve
governs the communication between the bulb and the tube which latter is fitted
with a discharge valve normally kept closed by means of a spring, or its
equivalent.
To apply the brake, the bulb is squeezed and the ball in the cylinder is thus
expanded and acting upon the piston, causes the brake to be firmly pressed on the
wheel. The brake remains applied until the discharge valve is operated to permit
the imprisoned air to escape.
Instead of the ball above mentioned as contained within the brake cylinder, a
chamber made after the fashion of bellows and capable of expansion and
compression similarly to such ball may be adopted.
In the application of the above described brake apparatus to a bicycle it is
preferably fitted to the rear fork, so that the brako acts on the rear wheel.
In a tricycle the apparatus may be adapted so that the brake acts on the front
wheel, or the apparatus may be fitted to operate a band or other brake acting on
the rear axle.
My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 represents sufficient of a cycle with my brake apparatus affixed.
Figure 2 a sectional elevation of the compression pad and valve appliance.
Figure 3 shows more particularly the clip for attachment of the valve appliance
to the handle bar.
Figure 4 a part sectional elevation of the check valve and box.
Figures 5 to 10 are diagrams of my brake appliances for action from or on
different parts of a cycle frame.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, A is a compression pad slipped on to the handle
bar B just within the handle C. This bag or pad holds itself by grip in position,
and has a nozzle D projecting from one end for the reception of a branch E of a
tube F on the end of which is fitted a Perreaux or like self closing valve G.
His a valve box screwed on to the tube and this by the flexible or other tube J
leads to the brake appliance hereafter mentioned.
The valve box H contains a spring or release valve K, the stem of which passes
through the crown L and is surmounted by a press button M.

page_text: The brake appliance is attached to the back stay by clips b b and is composed of
a bell or domed tube N enclosing a flexible bulb P on the end of the flexible or
other tube J for acting on the head of the brake rod R for forcing the brake S
down on the wheel T, a spring encircling the brake stem for returning or removing
the brake from contact therewith when desired.
The brake is of the gridiron kind, this being preferable to a spoon or roller
brake because of its action in clearing the mud and grit from the tire while going
into contact, the tire being perfectly cleaned just prior to the actual bite of the
brake.
By the arrangement of the brake appliance shown, the pressure is constant and
to the same degree when once put on by compression of the bag or pad A and can
only be released by an action on the press button M when the air in the tube J
flows back under the return of the spring which simultaneously releases the
brake S, the air escaping through the open valve K.
The degree of air pressure put upon the brake is determined by the number of
compressions or squeezings given to the bag A, so that a rider can regulate the
amount of brake bite on the wheel while running.
The diagram Figure 5 indicates that the brake S can be put on by helical spring
pressure and be held off by expansion of air due to compression of a handle bag or
pad Figure 6 diagram showing how the brake can he drawn down into contact by
expansion of air vessel B and removed by coil plate spring, the pressure appliance
being affixed to the axle or a spur on the back stay.
Figure 7 shows how the brake pressure can be applied and the air vessel B can
he returned by a plate spring.
The brake $ in this diagram is connected to its frame N, this having a crossbar c
within it to which the bellows B is affixed, so that when the inflation takes place,
the cross bar e causes the brake frame N to descend, at the same time putting the
plate spring in greater tension for removing the brake S from contact with the
wheel T when the bellows is deflated.
Figure 8 represents the brake appliance suspended from the pedal bracket by a
linke and guided on a bar projecting downwardly from the axle. According to
this diagram the brake is put on by the spring d acting on the cross bar e on which
the frame N slides, so that when the bellows B is inflated it pushes the frame N
outwardly and removes the brake against the compression of the spring d, the
brake being again put on by the spring when the bellows is deflated.
Figure 9 is a modified arrangement of suspending the brake appliance from the
wheel support.
According to Figure 10, the action is similar to that described for Figure 8,
i.e. the brake is put on by the spring d and released by an inflation of the
bellows B which is affixed to the cross bar c, this sliding on the fixed frame N.
The cross bar e is in connection with a lever g fulcrumed at hand has jointed to it
a link for transmitting force to the brake S this being supported by the link j
from a point & of the strap hung from the pedal bracket m.
し
The diagrams illustrate how my system of air brake appliances can be modified
to suit circumstances, and any brake shoe or spoon can be fitted in connection
with it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I am aware
of the Specification of Letters Patent dated 4th September 1893 No. 16581
granted to John George Aulsebrook Kitchen and it is to be understood that
I do not claim anything described and claimed therein but what I claim is :-
:-
1. The brake apparatus for cycles hereinbefore described and substantially in
the forms represented in the annexed drawings.
2. The particular arrangement of air compression brake apparatus, shown at
Figures 1 to 4 of the annexed drawings, in machines of the kind named and as
set forth.

page_text: 3. The modified arrangement of appliances shown in Figures 5 to 10 of the
annexed drawings where a direct thrust of the pueumatic brake is obtained between
the axle centre and the edge of the tire, as indicated.
ኒ
AL
1905
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Preston Weir.