IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAKES FOR TRICYCLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN APPLEBY of Dunham Massey in the County of Chester Commercial
Traveller do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
BRAKES FOR TRICYCLES to be as follows:-
The invention relates principally to that type of tricycles known by the name of
the "Humber" tricycle wherein the steering is performed by the two driving
wheels which lead, whilst the third wheel, as in a bicycle, acts as a trailing wheel
only, to support the lower end of the back bone, but it might also with advantage
be applied to other types of tricycles which possess the same defect.
This defect in the "Humber" tricycle is, that owing to the position of the
weight of the rider (just behind and above the vertical centre of the driving
wheels) and the manner in which the break is applied, there is a great tendency
when the latter is applied too suddenly or too vigorously, to throw the rider over
the handles, the momentum of the rider carrying him forwards over the vertical
centre, when his weight immediately overbalances the machine forwards.
In order to remedy this defect I fix the break drum to the side of the lower stud
pulley which is keyed or otherwise fixed on the crank axle, or I key the said drum
direct onto the crank axle, and I connect the two ends of the break strap or band
together by a small toggle joint, to which is also connected a treadle placed within
easy reach of the foot of the rider.
By connecting the two ends of the break strap or band in this manner it causes
it to act on the drum in either direction (the ordinary "Humber" break will not
prevent the machine from running backwards down a hill) and by fixing this break
upon the crank axle instead of upon the driving wheel axle, and applying it by
means of a treadle as described the weight of the rider when applying the break is
removed from the saddle and thrown upon the crank axle, which is behind and
below the driving wheel axle, and therefore the momentum of the rider acts below
instead of above the centre of the driving wheels, and all tendency to be thrown
over the handles on suddenly stopping the machine is entirely overcome.
Dated the 20th June 1884
GEORGE DAVIES,
Agent for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.

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I JOHN APPLEBY of Dunham Massey in the County of Chester Commercial
Traveller do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
BRAKES FOR TRICYCLES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
"
The invention relates to all central gear tricycles and principally to that type of
tricycles known by the name of the Humber" tricycle wherein the steering is
performed by the two driving wheels which lead whilst the third wheel, as in a
bicycle, acts as a trailing wheel only, to support the lower end of the back bone,
but it might also with advantage be applied to other types of tricycles which
possess the same defect.
This defect in. the "Humber" tricycle is that owing to the position of the
weight of the rider (just behind and above the vertical centre of the driving
wheels) and the manner in which the brake is applied, there is a great tendency
when the latter is applied too suddenly or too vigorously to throw the rider over
the handles, the momentum of the rider carrying him forwards over the vertical
centre when his weight immediately overbalances the machine forwards.
My invention which is intended to remedy this defect will be readily understood
on reference to the annexed drawing in which a, a is part of the frame of a humber
machine, which supports the axle b, b on which the cranks c, c are keyed, d, d is
the lower stud pulley and e, e the driving chain. I fix the brake drum f, f to the
side of the lower stud pulley d, d which is keyed or otherwise fixed on the crank
axle b or I key the said drum direct onto the crank axle and I connect the two
ends of the brake strap or band g, g together by a small toggle joint h, h to which
is also connected a treadle i, i placed within easy reach of the foot of the rider.
By connecting the two ends of the brake strap or band g, g in this manner it
causes it to act on the drum f, f in either direction (the ordinary "Humber" brake
will not prevent the machine from running backwards down a hill) and by fixing
this brake drum upon the crank axle instead of upon the driving wheel axle, and
applying it by means of a treadle as described the weight of the rider when
applying the brake is removed from the saddle and thrown upon the crank axle
which is behind and below the driving wheel axle, and therefore the momentum of
the rider acts below instead of above the centre of the driving wheels and all
tendency to be thrown over the handles on suddenly stopping the machine is
entirely overcome.
A modification of the application of this foot brake consists of the foot lever fixed
as before described on the crank axle bracket retaining the ordinary brake drum
on the driving axle.
The toggle joint is attached to the upper or driving axle bracket and connected
by means of a rod to the foot lever. The action in this modification is the same as
in the first described, the only difference being that the ordinary brake drum is
utilized and the connection between the foot lever and brake band is by means of
the connecting rod.
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
In central geared tricycles (especially those of the "Humber" type) mounting
the brake drum either on the crank axle or on the lower stud pulley and applying

page_text: the brake band thereto by a toggle joint and pedal substantially in the manner
and for the purposes bereinbefore set forth and described.
Secondly I claim the combination of the foot lever or pedal and toggle joint with
the brake band when applied to the ordinary brake drum on the driving axle as
herein-before described.
T
GEORGE DAVIES,
Agent for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.