Improvements in Brakes for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, GEORGE TURTON, of 41 Montgomery Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in brakes for velocipedes, autocars or self-
propelled vehicles, and other vehicles fitted with pneumatic, cushion and other
india-rubber tyres, and is chiefly designed to obviate the necessity for compression of
such tyres or for contact of the brake-block or shoe with the surface of the said tyres,
which are, as is well known, liable to be damaged or displaced by the action of the
brakes heretofore generally used.
Now according to my said invention, instead of arranging the brake to act on the
india-rubber tyre, I so construct and arrange the wheel, the tyre and the brake that
the said brake will act on the periphery of the metallic, wood or other rim or felloe
of the wheel to which the said tyre is attached, on one or both sides of the said
tyre, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wheel. In this
manner I am enabled to effectually brake or retard the motion of the wheel without
incurring any risk of damaging either the wheel-rim or the pneumatic or other india-
rubber tyre thereon.
My said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter mentioned.
In carrying my said invention into practice according to one method, I extend the
metallic or solid rim on either or both sides of the elastic tyre, and I provide a brake-
block or blocks of suitable shape to engage with such extension or extensions of the
wheel-rim. I preferably also provide grooves in the said extensions to serve as guides.
for the brake-block or blocks.
The brake-blocks on opposite sides of the wheel-rim, when two or more of such
blocks are employed, may either be mounted on a common support or bridge-piece
bestriding the tyre, and thus be simultaneously operated from a brake-lever on the
steering handle-bar or by an independent motion of the said handle-bar or in any
other suitable manner, such, for example, as by air-pressure, water-pressure or by
electricity or otherwise through suitable wires or rods; or the said brake-blocks may
be mounted so as to be moved independently of each other, one being operated, for
example, from the handle-bar, and the other through a pedal-lever or the like by the
rider's foot or by an independent motion of levers in the pedal, so that the rider can
utilize his strength to the best advantage in restraining the motion of his machine or
vehicle when descending hills or on an emergency.
According to another part of my said invention, I make the rim so that there is
a rib or web lying between the elastic tyre and the extension or extensions at the
side or sides thereof, this rib or web serving to stiffen the wheel-rim and also to
obviate any risk of the elastic tyre coming into contact with the brake-block or blocks
and being damaged thereby. In this manner a maximum of strength is obtained with a
minimum of weight.
A very advantageous form of brake for use on a bicycle or the like as above
mentioned, consists of arms or levers pivoted to the forks of the machine adjacent to
the wheel-rim and provided with brake-blocks or surfaces at their ends, and adapted
to be operated, either simultaneously or independently, through rods or links pivotally
attached thereto or in any suitable manner. By making these arms or levers of short

page_text: length they may be arranged to move towards and away from the elastic tyre in an
oblique direction beneath the protruding sides of the tyre, so that a wheel-rim may
be employed of practically the same size as those heretofore employed whilst reducing
the weight of the brake to a minimum, the small arms or levers carrying the
brake-blocks being of small weight as compared with some of the devices at present
in use.
When applying my improvements to the wheels of cabs, carriages and similar
vehicles in which the elastic tyres are mounted or secured on the wheel-rim by means
of metal plates, I sometimes arrange the brake-blocks to act upon such plates, which
are suitably shaped for the purpose.
When applying my improvements to cycles, I preferably cause the brake to act
on the rear wheel or wheels of the machine so as to give the front or
steering-wheel more freedom in turning, although it is obvious that it can be
arranged to act on the front wheel or on both the front and back wheels, separately
or together.
It is, moreover, obvious that the details of construction may be somewhat modified
to suit the circumstances of each particular case to which the brake may be applied,
without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Dated this 1st day of June 1896.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, GEORGE TURTON, of 41 Montgomery Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in brakes for velocipedes, autocars or self-
propelled vehicles, and other vehicles fitted with pneumatic, cushion and other
india-rubber tyres, and is chiefly designed to provide an improved brake which will
operate efficiently without the necessity for compression of the tyre or for contact of
the brake-block or shoe with the surface of the tyre, such tyres being, as is well known,
liable to be damaged or displaced by the action thereon of the brakes hitherto generally
used.
According to my said invention, I construct and arrange the wheel, the tyre and
the brake as hereinafter described so that the said brake will act in a very efficient and
satisfactory manner on the metallic, wood or other rim or felloe of the wheel on one
or both sides of the tyre, in a direction preferably approximately perpendicular to the
axis of the wheel. In this manner I am enabled to effectually brake or retard the
motion of the wheel without incurring any risk of damaging either the wheel-rim or
the pneumatic or other india-rubber tyre thereon.
My said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a portion of a bicycle provided with one form
of my improved brake.
Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are similar views illustrating other arrangements of the said
brake.
Figure 6 is a section on the line r, r, Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged scale.

page_text: Figure 8 is a sectional rear elevation showing another form of my improved
brake.
Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figures 7 and 8 respectively, and
Figure 11 a front elevation showing, another form or modification thereof.
Figure 12 is a side elevation and
Figure 13 a sectional rear elevation showing another modification of the said
brake.
Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 are sectional rear elevations illustrating further
modifications of my invention.
The remaining figures of the drawings illustrate various details and modifications
hereinafter referred to.
Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a is a lever which is pivoted at a¹ to the upper or
to the lower rear fork as the case may be, and which is preferably forked as shown
in Figure 6 and adapted to press against the periphery of lateral extensions of the
wheel-rim b. The lever a is connected by a rod, wire or cord c with a bell-crank-
lever d pivoted at d to any convenient part of the frame of the machine, which
bell-crank-lever is in turn connected in any convenient manner to the usual brake-lever
pivoted to the handle-bar of the machine, for example, by means of a rod, wire or
cord e as hereinafter described with reference to the succeeding figures of the drawings.
f is a spring for withdrawing the brake-blocks from the wheel.
I find it advantageous to extend the metallic or solid rim bas at ' on either or
both sides of the elastic tyre, as shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 64, and also in
Figures 15 and 17, and I provide a brake-block or blocks of suitable shape to engage
with such extension or extensions of the wheel-rim, the said brake-blocks being
formed on the forked lever a, Figures 1 to 6, or on separate levers g, g' pivoted
at g², g³ to one of the rear forks as in Figures 15 and 17.
I prefer to make the rim with a circumferential rib or web 2 between the
elastic tyre and the extensions at the sides thereof, as shown in Figures 6, 15 and 17,
this rib or web serving to stiffen the wheel-rim and also to obviate any risk of the
elastic tyre coming into contact with the brake-block lever or levers and being
damaged thereby. "In this manner a maximum of strength is obtained with a minimum
of weight.
Figure 1 shews the brake-blocks mounted on a lever a which is pivoted on a
crank-piece or bracket h suspended from the lower rear fork of the frame and fixed by
a bolt to the mud-guard cross-bar, the spring f being threaded on to the connecting
rod, wire or cord c. The said brake-block may, if desired, be arranged to press
against the periphery of the tyre as well as against the periphery of the wheel-rim..
In Figure 2 the brake-block lever a is pivoted on the bolt which usually secures the
mud-guard to the cross-bar of the upper rear fork. In this case I attach one half of
the mud-guard to another cross-bar higher up, to which I may also attach a draw
spring if necessary. I can, however, by making the connecting rods or wires more
rigid, make the spring in front serve for withdrawing the brake-block from the wheel.
In Figure 3 the brake-block lever a is pivoted on the mud-guard cross-piece in the
lower rear fork or back stay, and the spring fis threaded on to the rod, wire or cord c
and bears against a stud-eye l in the frame of the machine.
Figure 4 shews a similar arrangement with the exception that the draw spring fis
attached to the mud-guard, and the rod c is attached to a bell-crank-lever d pivoted
at d' to a lug on the bottom bracket.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 5, the lever d is pivoted to the suspended
crank-piece or bracket which is held between the two tubes of the lower rear fork by
a clamp plate, and can be easily applied to an ordinary machine.
The brake-block lever a is operated from a brake-lever on the steering handle-bar
through the medium of the rod, wire or cord e which is connected with the said brake-
lever by suitable levers and rods, links or wires, for example as hereinafter described
with reference to Figure 7 or to Figure 18, or by means of cords passed around
pulleys as in Figures 9, 10 and 11 or in any other suitable manner, or it may be

page_text: operated by air-pressure as hereinafter described with reference to Figure 20, or
through a pedal-lover or the like by the rider's foot, so that the rider can utilize his
strength to the best advantage for restraining the motion of his machine or vehicle
when descending hills or on an emergency.
A very advantageous form of my brake for use on a bicycle or the like, comprises
two brake-blocks mounted respectively on arms or levers y, g' pivoted at 9", 9" to
the upper or the lower rear fork of the machine adjacent to the wheel-rim, or to
clips secured upon the said fork, as shown in Figures 7 to 17, and adapted to be
operated either simultaneously or independently, through rods or links pivotally
attached thereto and to the brake-lever on the handle-bar or to an intermediate lever
suitably connected with the said brake-lever; or in any other convenient manner.
By making these arms or levers g, g of short length they may be arranged to move
towards and away from the elastic tyre in an oblique direction or in a direction
approximately perpendicular to the axis of the wheel either above or beneath the
protruding sides of the tyre, so that a wheel-rim may be employed of the same shapo
and size as those heretofore usually employed, whilst reducing the weight of the
brake to a minimum, the small arms or levers carrying the brake-blocks being of
small weight as compared with some of the devices at present in use.
In Figures 7 and 8, the levers g, g' are connected by rods, wires or cords c to a
bell-crank-lever d pivoted at d to the mud-guard cross-pieco of the upper rear fork,
which lever d is connected by the rods e, and another bell-crank-lever to a
bell-crank-lever m pivoted at m' to the frame of the machine and connected by a
ball-and-socket or other suitable joint to a telescopic or other rod a at one side of
the steering head, which rod is coupled to the short arm of the brake-lever p pivoted
to the handle-bar.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, the levers 9,9' are connected
with the brake-lever p by means of a cord 9 which is passed around a pulley r and
attached at its ends to the said levers g, g', and a cord s attached at one end to the axle
of the pulley and at its other end to the brake-lever p and passed around suitable
pulleys s', s, 83, s attached to the frame of the machine.
In the arrangements shown in Figures 12 to 17, the levers 9,9' are connected with
the brake-lover through the medium of cords a passed around pulleys a', &c.
Figure 18 shows an arrangement wherein the rod, wire or cord e is connected
directly to the bell-crank-lever m on the front part of the frame.
Figuro 19 shows a modification of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 7 and 8,
in which the springs are threaded upon the rods or wires e and bear against the clips
to which the levers g, g' are pivoted.
Figure 20 shows how the connection may be made between the brake-lever on the
handle-bar and the back wheel brake or brakes by air-pressure. In the upper rear
fork a cylinder with piston t' is suspended from a bolt . From the said piston the
levers g, are suspended by means of a pulley and a cord 9 passed over the same
and attached at its ends to the said levers. A pipe a extends from the cylinder to
the handle-bar and communicates with a squeeze bladder or pear attached to the said
handle-lar, so that by pressing the said bladder or pear the brake-blocks can be brought
against the rim of the wheel."
Figures 21 and 22 shew a device whereby the two brake-block levers g, g¹ can be
applied to an ordinary bicycle without the aid of clips to surround the frame-tubes.
This device consists of a forked piece e, to the ends of which are pivoted the levers g,g',
the said device being fixed to the lower rear fork by a clamp-plate w and one or more
bolts w. The springs bear against projections on the forked piece v.
Figures 23 and 24 shew one of the brake-block-levers which are worked simul-
taneously on both sides of the wheel, provided with a round block y of india-rubber
or other suitable material to bear against the rim of the wheel; the said figures
also show the shank of the lever 9 made in two parts unitel by a screw 91 so that
it can be adjusted according to the distance between the rim and the forks or stays
of the machine, which varies considerably in different machines.
Figures 25 and 26 shew another modification in which the brake-block-lever g is

page_text: solid, and the block y of india-rubber or other suitable material is made approxi-.
mately square and its operative surface is shaped to suit the form of rim with which
it is to be used.
In Figures 27 and 28, I have shown modifications of my said invention wherein
the levers g, gl are pivoted to the extremities of a common support or bridge-piece=
bestriding the tyre; this bridge-piece is to be attached in any convenient manner to
the frame of a velocipede, cab or other vehicle, and the form and arrangement of the
said bridge-piece can be varied to suit the vehicle for which it is required. In
Figure 27 the said levers g, gl are connected to the brake-lever by means of a
rod e sliding in a hole in the bridge-piece, and terminating in a fork c'. In.
Figure 28, the bridge-piece is provided with a rod *, whereby it is attached to
the vehicle, and on which slides a forked piece c' coupled to the levers g, g¹ and
acted upon by a spring f, which forked piece is to be connected in any convenient
manner to the brake-lever.
In Figures 29 and 30 I have shown how the said bridge-piece may be applied
to a bicycle, by clamping it to the lower rear fork or back-stay, so that it is adjustable
towards or away from the wheel.
It frequently happens that the chain, in consequence of the wearing of the parts.
thereof, becomes slack and the wheel has to be drawn ontwards in the end of the
rear fork. To permit of this adjustment without interference with my brake,
1 sometimes make a very light frame of horse-shoe form, the ends of which I thread
on to the ends of the axle, on this frame are pivoted the brake-levers, so that, when
the wheel moves forward or backward, the said frame goes with it, and the brake-
block-levers will always work against the same part of the rim. This horse-shoo
frame may be supported from above, as shown in Figure 31, by bolts z² fixed
to the upper rear fork at one end and acting as pivot-pins for the levers g,' at
the lower end. The frame of the vehicle is shown in dotted lines in Figure 32,
which shows how the wires c are carried past the said frame.
In Figure 33, this horse-shoe frame is suspended from the lower rear fork or
back stay by a hook or loose eye-piece 23, and will move on the said fork or stay
in accordance with the adjustment of the wheel.
When applying my improvements to the wheels of cabs, carriages and similar
vehicles in which the elastic tyres are mounted or secured on the wheel-rim by
means of metal plates, I sometimes arrange the brake-blocks to act upon such plates,.
which are suitably shaped for the purpose.
When applying my improvements to cycles I preferably cause the brake to act on
the rear wheel or wheels of the machine so as to give the front or steering wheel more
freedom in turning, although it is obvious that it can be arranged to act on the front
wheel or on both the front and back wheels separately or together.
It is, moreover, obvious that the details of construction may be somewhat modified
to suit the circumstances of each particular machine to which the brake may be applied,
without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:-
First. The combination of a wheel the rim of which is formed with circumferential
ribs or webs and with lateral extensions at the base of the said ribs or webs, and a
brake comprising brake-blocks carried by a pivoted lever or levers and adapted to bear
against the said lateral extensions of the wheel-rim, substantially as, and for the
purposes, herein before described.
Second. The combination, with the rear wheel of a velocipede provided with a
pneumatic or other india-rubber tyre, of one or more brake-blocks formed on or
attached to a pivoted lever or levers and adapted to bear against the periphery of the
wheel-rim on either side of the said tyre, and suitable means for actuating the said
brake-block lever or levers, substantially as set forth.
Third. A wheel-rim having lateral extensions or projections which, together with the

page_text: peripheral parts of the said rim, form grooves for the brake-blocks to work in,
substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fourth. A brake for a velocipede or other vehicle, comprising brake-block-levers
turning about pivots parallel with the plane of rotation of the wheel, and suitable
means for moving the said levers towards the centre of the wheel to press the brake-
blocks against the wheel-rim, substantially as herein before described.
Fifth. A brake for a velocipede or other vehicle, comprising one or more levers each
of which turns about a pivot or axis parallel with the wheel and is arranged to press
against the inner or outer surface of the wheel-rim in a direction approximately
perpendicular to the axis of the wheel, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Sixth. The combination, with my brake-block lever or levers, of means for operating
the same by compressed air, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. A brake for a velocipede or other vehicle, comprising brake-block-levers
pivoted to a common support or bridge-piece bestriding the tyre, which support or
bridge-piece is to be secured to the frame of the vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Eighth. The improved brake constructed and applied to a velocipede substantially as
described with reference to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in the
accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dat the CML 1807
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.