A Combined Free-wheel and Back Pedalling Brake Clutch and Brake Attachments for Cycles and other Wheels and Carriages.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1900-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Free-wheel and Back Pedalling Brake Clutch and Brake
Attachments for Cycles and other Wheels and Carriages.
We, BRUCE DRYSDALE, of 87, Potters Hill, Aston, Machinist & Engineer,
and CHARLES WEBB & SON, LIMITED, of Lansdown Works, Lozells, Manu-
facturers, both of Birmingham, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
On any suitable sprocket wheel there is fitted a ratchet ring with such a
number of teeth on the ratchet and pawls on the wheel as will insure a quick
engaging action between the pair the pawls are so arranged that they will
engage without the aid of a spring when the wheel is driven forward and release
the wheel when pedalling ceases the pawls in the latter case running noiselessly
over the teeth of the ratchet. On resuming forward pedalling one of the pawls
of which there may be many-immediately engages with one of the teeth
of the ratchet and the wheel is driven forward. Upon the same sprocket wheel
is fitted the back pedalling brake clutch which consists of the following parts.
A suitable bearing attached to the frame upon which a ratchet ring is free to
revolve concentric with the axis of the wheel. Upon the wheel itself are
mounted one or more pawls so fixed that on any backward movement of the
wheel one immediately engages with the aforesaid ratchet ring and causes it
to revolve sufficiently to give the requisite action to the brake or the arrange-
ment between the parts can be reversed and the pawls be fitted to the ring and
the ratchet to the wheel. The brake action is effected in the following manner.
Upon any suitable part of the aforesaid arrangement is fixed a lug or other
projection from which connection to the brake is made by a rod, wire or other
suitable means either direct or by intervening mechanism. The brake consists
of a pair of shoes or slide blocks connected together with a flat spring or other
flexible coupling in such a manner that they bear lightly upon the upper portion
of the back stays and are free to slide upward or downward thereon. Upon
these slides are mounted one or more brake blocks of a suitable section to
engage the rim of the wheel when applied to it this brake partially surrounds
the rim and can be instantaneously applied by back pedalling and as instan-
taneously released by springs or other appliances for the purpose as soon as
the back pressure is taken off the pedal or direct or forward pedalling is
resumed. The brake can also be operated from the handle bar by hand by any
of the ordinary methods.

page_text: Birmingham, Manufacturers, both of Warwickshire, do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
On any suitable sprocket wheel there is fitted a ratchet ring with such a
number of teeth on the ratchet and pawls or the wheel as will ensure a quick
engaging action between the pair-the pawls are so arranged that they will
engage when the wheel is driven forward and release the wheel when pedalling
ceases the pawls in the latter case running noiselessly over the teeth of the
ratchet. On resuming forward pedalling one of the pawls of which there may
be many immediately engages with one of the teeth of the ratchet and the
wheel is driven forward. Upon the same sprocket wheel is fitted the back
pedalling brake clutch which consists of the following parts. A suitable bear-
ing attached to the frame upon which a ratchet ring is free to revolve concen-
tric with the axis of the wheel. Upon the wheel itself is mounted one or more
pawls so fixed that on any backward movement of the wheel one immediately
engages with the aforesaid ratchet ring and causes it to revolve sufficiently to
give the requisite action to the brake or the arrangement between the parts
can be reversed and the pawls be fitted to the ring and the ratchet to the wheel.
The brake action is effected in the following manner. Upon any suitable part
of the aforesaid arrangement is fixed a lug or other projection from which
connection to the brake is made by a rod, wire, or other suitable means either
direct or by intervening mechanism. The brake consists of a pair of shoes
or slide blocks connected together with a flat spring or other flexible coupling
in such a manner that they bear tightly upon the upper portion of the back
stays and are free to slide upward or downward thereon. Upon these slides
are mounted one or more brake blocks of a suitable section to engage the rim
of the wheel when applied to it, this brake partially surrounds the rim and can
be instantaneously applied by back pedalling and as instantaneously released
by springs or other appliances for the purpose as soon as direct or forward
pedalling is resumed. The brake can also be operated from the handle bar by
hand in the ordinary method.
In order that our-invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto two double sized sheets of draw-
ings upon which we have illustrated examples of our combined free wheel
and back pedalling brake mechanism as applied to the rear wheel of a cycle.
Figure 1 is a view of a hub of the rear wheel of a cycle with our free wheel
and brake mechanism attached thereto.
Figure 2 is a right hand end view of Figure 1 with the brake mechanism
removed.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 1 shewing our free wheel arrangement
applied to a hub having a sprocket wheel made according to Patent No. 16698
A.D. 1897.
Figure 4 is a right hand part sectional end view of Figure 1 taken on the
line xy.
Figure 5 is an internal view of the brake clutch and cover.
Figure 6 is a view of the "free wheel" clutch.
Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a back view showing a portion of the rear wheel and frame of a
cycle with our "free wheel" and brake mechanism applied thereto.
Figure 9 is a side view of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is an enlarged plan view of the bracket J and cross-head M.
In carrying our invention into practice we screw onto the sprocket wheel
end of the hub H preferably with a right hand thread the ring or collar A
having the ratchet teeth or projections a¹ on its periphery near the inner edge
or enlarged portion a² the part near the outer edge being slightly reduced
was to form the shoulder a³ as clearly shewn at Figure 7. We then mount the

page_text: sprocket wheels loosely onto the enlarged portion a² of this ring or collar,
the teeth a fitting in the interior of the sprocket wheel as clearly shewn at
Figures 2&3. Pivoted in the recess s formed in the interior of the sprocket
wheel are the pawls P' so arranged that when the sprocket wheel is driven for-
ward or in the direction of the arrow zone or other of these pawls engage with
one of the teeth a' on the ring or collar A thus driving the cycle forward but
immediately the rider ceases pedalling these pawls slide noiselessly over the
teeth a thus allowing the machine to travel forward while the feet of the rider
remain stationary on the pedals of the driving cranks. The pawls P are formed
with two wings or ends pipe which extend slightly below the recess 2 in which
the teeth a' of the ring or collar A fit so that when the rider ceases pedalling
and the machine is travelling forward these teeth a' come into contact with the
ends and 2 of the pawls causing them to oscillate upon their pivots thus
always ensuring one or other of the pawls engaging with the teeth a' as the
tail ends of the pawls are canted upwards by the back of the ratchet teeth a¹
when the rider pedals forward again. A cap or cover is fitted into the flange st
of the sprocket wheel provided with holes in which the opposite ends of the
pivots of the pawls P take their bearings. Although we have shewn ten teeth
on the ring or collar A and three pawls we may use more or less of either if
desired but we prefer the number shewn. Pivoted to the outer face of the cap
or cover of the sprocket wheel S are the pawls B similar in construction to
the pawls P and mounted upon the reduced end of the ring or collar A against
the shoulder a is the ring or collar D having the ratchet teeth d on its peri-
phery arranged so as to immediately engage with one of the pawls B when the
rider "back pedals" or applies a back pressure to the driving cranks. Or the
pawls B may be pivoted to the collar D and the ratchet teeth fixed to or
formed on the outer face of the sprocket wheel S. Fitting over the ring or
collar D is the cover or cap E having the lug or projection el the whole of the
parts being held together by the lock nut e and fixed to this lug or projection
by the pine is the connecting rod the other end of which passes through the
socket of the bracket or hanger J fixed between the back stays K by the
usual cross pin or bolt as clearly shewn at Figures 8 and 9. Pivoted at m¹
to the bracket J is the bracket or crosshead M in one end of which is pivoted
the socket piece m² through which the upper end of the rod F passes and is
held in position by the nuts m³ this end of the rod being screw threaded for
the purpose. Mounted upon that end of the rod F which passes through the
socket is the spring f which holds the brake in its normal position, and is
sufficiently strong to allow the feet of the rider to rest upon the pedals when
the wheel is running free without operating the brake. The nut which
screws onto the end of the rod F and against which the upper end of the spring
bears is provided for adjusting the tension of this spring. Adjustably con-
nected to the socket piece m pivoted to the other end of the bracket, or cross-
head M is the connecting rod N the other end of which is connected at n¹
to the carrier or flexible hanger R suspended over the wheel W and at the
lower ends of this carrier or flexible hanger projecting inwardly we provide
the slippers or shoes r¹ in which the brake blocks rare held. The Hexible
hanger or carrier R is also formed at its lower end with the outwardly, pro-
jecting flanges or turned over edges which embrace the edges of the guides or
brackets T adjustably fixed by the clips t' or otherwise to the inner sides of the
back stays K. Or the edges of the bracket T may be made to embrace the
edges of the lower ends of the flexible hanger or carrier R. Or one edge only
of either the lower ends of the carrier R or the brackets T may be turned over
so as to more readily admit of the carrier R being removed.
It will readily be understood that when the rider back pedals as the machine
travels forward one of the pawls B will engage with one of the teeth d', of the
ratchet D thus turning the ratchet D and the cover E backwards thereby pull-
ing the rod F downwards and moving the bracket or cross head M on its pivot

page_text: consequently raising the rod N and lifting or sliding the hanger R upwards
thus pressing the brake blocks against the rim of the wheel and applying
the brake. If desired instead of operating the brake from the hub of the wheel
we may operate the same by the ordinary brake lever, suitable connections
being provided for that purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
CLAIMS.
First The combined free wheel and back pedalling brake consisting essen-
tially in pivoting to the sprocket wheel one or more pawls which engage with
the teeth of a ratchet on the hub of the wheel when driving forward and upon
which the sprocket wheel is loosely mounted, a ring or collar mounted loosely
upon the hub having rafchet teeth with which a pawl or pawls pivoted on the
outer face of the sprocket wheel engage when applying back pressure to the
sprocket wheel thereby operating the brake blocks in the manner substantially
as herein set forth and as shewn.
Second: A free wheel consisting essentially in mounting the sprocket wheel
loosely upon the hub of the wheel, and pivoting to the said sprocket wheel one
or more pawls such as P one of which when the wheel is driven forward engages
with one of the teeth of a ratchet fixed to or formed on the hub in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
Third A brake operated by a ratchet ring or collar mounted loosely upon
the hub of the wheel into the teeth of which a pawl or pawls pivoted to the
sprocket wheel takes the said ratchet ring or collar by suitable connections
acting upon brake blocks adjustably fixed in the manner substantially as herein
set forth, and as shewn.
Fourth A brake operated by a ring or collar mounted loosely upon the
hub of the wheel and having a pawl or pawls pivotted thereto which take into
the teeth of a ratchet on the sprocket wheel, the said ring or collar by suitable
connections acting upon brake blocks adjustably fixed in the manner substan-
tially as herein set forth and as shewn.
Fifth In cycles mounting the brake blocks in shoes or slippers such as 1
connected to or forming part of a flexible hanger or carrier such as R capable
of moving up and down in guides or brackets such as T adjustably fixed to the
back stays the said hanger R being connected to a bracket or cross-head such
as M pivotedly connected to a bracket such as J fixed between the back stays
in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and as
shewn by Figures 8 and 9.
BRUCE DRYSDALE,
CHARLES WEBB & SON, LIMITED.
By George Barker,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicants, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.