Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes and Motor Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other
Velocipedes and Motor Cycles.
We, CHARLES VERNON PUGH, of No. 52 Lincoln's Inn, Corporation Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Velocipede Manufacturer, and JOHN
VERNON PUGIL, of No. 52 Lincoln's Inn aforesaid, Mechanical Engineer, and HARRY
PARSONS, of Wren Street, Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object to produce brakes for bicycles, tricycles and
other velocipedes and motor cycles simple in construction and of great efficiency
in action.
We will describe our invention in connection with a safety bicycle.
According to one of the improvements constituting our invention we construct
and arrange the parts of the said brakes in the following manner.
To the fork of the back wheel of the bicycle we fix a disc having a cylindrical
flange at its edge. On the hub of the wheel we fix a cylindrical sleeve the said
sleeve being attached to the hub in the same way as the chain wheel is ordinarily,
attached to the said hub. The said sleeve has at its outer end a flange which when
in position is parallel to and nearly in contact with the flanged disc described.
Within the flanged disc is a ring T shaped in cross section. The said ring which
we will hereinafter call the Tshaped ring is divided on one side by a slit or division
which permits of the said ring expanding and contracting. The said T shaped
ring is situated within the flanged disc on the shaft and when the said ring is
expanded in the manner hereinafter described comes in contact with and is pressed
against the interior of the flange on the fixed flanged disc. The chain wheel is
situated on the sleeve and is free to rotate through an angle of about forty five
degrees thereon. The inner edge of the T shaped ring, that is, the edge constituting
the foot of the T shaped ring, has one, or preferably two, inclines at opposite points
and a flange on the bush of the chain wheel has two inclines or eccentrics which
on the back pedalling of the bicycle travel on the inclines of the T shaped ring
and expand the said ring. This expansion of the split T shaped ring causes its
periphery to come in contact with the interior of the flange on the fixed flanged
disc as herein before explained and binding the said T shaped ring to the flange
of the fixed disc brings the vehicle to rest or to a lower rate of speed. In order to
throw the brake out of action the rider has only to commence direct pedalling when
the reverse motion of the inclines on the bush of the chain wheel permits the
split T shaped ring to contract and the brake is thrown out of action. The angle
through which the chain wheel is capable of turning on the sleeve described is
limited by stops.
According to another of our improvements we employ the fixed disc with evlin-
drical flange at its edge and we employ the split T shaped ring herein before
referred to, but we effect the expansion of the said T shaped ring in the following
manner. On the outer face of the body of the T shaped ring that is, the part which

page_text: is situated in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation we make at opposite
points two or three eccentric grooves and on the bush of the chain wheel we make a
corresponding number of projections which take into the said eccentric grooves on
the shaped ring. By back pedalling the projections on the bush of the chain
wheel travelling in the eccentric grooves in the T shaped ring expand the said ring
and cause it to bind with the flange of the fixed disc and thereby bring the vehicle
to rest or to a lower rate of speed. Or in place of the T shaped ring, four or other
number of sectors may be employed having eccentric grooves in which the projec-
tions on the bush of the chain wheel engage which sectors on back pedalling are
forced out radially and thereby produce the required binding action. The said
grooves have stops by which the driving of the chain wheel is effected.
Instead of producing the binding action required by the expansion of the
Tshaped ring with eccentric grooves the required binding action may be obtained
by the contraction of the said T shaped ring or sectors by slight modification of
the parts.
Dated this Second day of October 1896.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other
Velocipedes and Motor Cycles.
We, CHARLES VERNON PUGH, of No. 52 Lincoln's Inn, Corporation Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Velocipede Manufacturer, and JOHN
VERNON PUGH, of No. 52 Lincoln's Inn aforesaid, Mechanical Engineer, and HARRY
PARSONS, of Wren Street, Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
Our invention has for its object to produce brakes for bicycles, tricycles and other
velocipedes and motor cycles simple in construction and of great efficiency in action.
We will describe our invention in connection with a safety bicycle.
According to one of the improvements constituting our invention we construct
and arrange the parts of the said brakes in the following manner.
To the fork of the back wheel of the bicycle we fix a disc having a cylindrical
flange at its edge. On the hub of the wheel we fix a cylindrical sleeve the said
sleeve being attached to the hub in the same way as the chain wheel is ordinarily
attached to the said hub. The said sleeve has at its outer edge a flange which
when in position is parallel to and nearly in contact with the flanged disc described.
Within the flanged disc is a ring T shaped in cross section. The said ring, which
we will hereinafter call the T shaped ring, is divided on one side by a slit or
division which permits of the said ring expanding and contracting. The said
Tshaped ring is situated within the flanged disc on the shaft and when the said
ring is expanded in the manner hereinafter described comes in contact with and is
pressed against the interior of the flange on the fixed flange disc. The chain wheel
is situated on the sleeve and is free to rotate through an angle of about forty-five
degrees thereon. The inner edge of the T shaped ring, that is, the edge con-
stituting the foot of the T shaped ring, has one, or preferably two, inclines at
opposite points and a flange on the bush of the chain wheel has two Inclines or
eccentrics which on the back pedalling of the bicycle travel on the inclines of the
T'shaped rings and expand the said ring. This expansion of the split T shaped

page_text: ring causes its periphery to come in contact with the interior of the flange on the
fixed flanged disc as herein before explained and binding the said T shaped ring
to the flange of the fixed disc brings the vehicle to rest or to a lower rate of speed.
In order to throw the brake out of action the rider has only to commence direct
pedalling when the reverse motion of the inclines on the bush of the chain wheel
permits the split shaped ring to contract and the brake is thrown out of action.
The angle through which the chain wheel is capable of turning on the sleeve
described is limited by stops.
According to another of our improvements we employ the fixed disc with cylin-
drical flange at its edge and we employ the split T shaped ring herein before referred
to, but we effect the expansion of the said shaped ring in the following manner.
On the outer face of the body of the r shaped ring, that is the part which is
situated in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation we make at opposite points
two or three eccentric grooves and on the bush of the chain wheel we make a corre-
sponding number of projections which take into the said eccentric grooves on the
Tshaped ring. By back pedalling, the projections on the bush of the chain wheel
travelling in the eccentric grooves in the T shaped ring expand the said ring and
cause it to bind with the flange of the fixed disc and thereby bring the vehicle to
rest or to a lower rate of speed.
Or in place of the T shaped ring, four or other number of sectors may be employed
having eccentric grooves in which the projections on the bush of the chain wheel
engage which sectors on back pedalling are forced out radially and thereby produce
the required binding action. The said grooves have stops by which the driving of
the chain wheel is effected.
Instead of producing the binding action required by the expansion of the
T shaped ring with eccentric grooves the required binding action may be obtained
by the contraction of the said T shaped ring or sectors by slight modification of
the parts.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents in vertical section the hub
of a velocipede wheel to which is applied brake mechanism constructed according
to our invention; Figure 2 is a cross section of the said hub taken on the dotted
line, Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 represent in side elevation and section parts of the said brake
mechanism detached.
Figure 6 represents in vertical section a portion of a velocipede wheel hub con-
taining brake mechanism constructed according to a modification of our invention,
and Figure 7 represents a cross section of the same.
Figure 8 represents a further modification of our invention.
Figure 9 represents the improved brake mechanism applied to the driving chain
wheel.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the Drawing.
We will first describe the arrangement Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
a, a is the hub of the velocipede wheel to which is attached the cylindrical
flanged sleeve b, b2 shown separately in Figure 3. The said sleeve b, 62 is fixed
to the hub a in the way in which the chain wheel of an ordinary bicycle is attached
to the said hub as will be understood by an examination of Figure 1. The chain
wheel c, shown separately in elevation and section in Figure 4, has a bush
terminating in an eccentric flange c. The said flange c³ has two eccentric surfaces
terminating in stops, c. On to this eccentric flange 3 an elastic steel slit ring d
(shown separately in Figure 4) is fitted the said ring being T shaped in cross section
the stem or web of the T shaped ring having eccentric surfaces corresponding to
and fitting those of the flange 3. The said slit T shaped ring d is turned through
uch an angle on the flange e in the direction proper to expand the ring d that
when the chain wheel c and elastic ring d are passed by a lateral sliding motion
on to the sleeve b carried by the hub a, notches in the elastic ring are opposite
o and engage with teeth or projections 61 on the flange 6 of the said sleeve. The

page_text: elastic ring d is thereby secured to and prevented from turning independent of
the flange b2 of the sleeve b and the said elastic ring d consequently rotates with the
hub a of the wheel.
The chain wheel c is engaged with the sleeve b so as to be incapable of accidental.
detachment therefrom by making in the bush of the chain wheel, slots 5 for 5
passing by a lateral sliding movement over pins or projections 63, 63 on the un-
Hanged end of the sleeve . When the parts have been put together the chain
wheel c is turned in the direction of its forward rotation to permit of the contrac-
tion of the expanded slit ring d and the engagement of the stops c, of the chain
wheel with the stops of the slit ring d. By this motion of the chain wheel c the 1
pins or projections 6s, 63 of the sleeve b engage behind the annular shoulder 6 of the
chain wheel and prevent the accidental disengagement of the two parts.
To the fork end f of the velocipede frame a disc e with cylindrical flange e³ is
fixed by a clip g.
When the rear wheel of the velocipede is placed in position
in the fork of the velocipede frame the periphery of the elastic slit ring d fits 1
concentrically within the cylindrical flange es of the fixed disc e and is free to rotate
therein.
The action of the improved brake is as follows:-
On forward pedalling, the chain wheel e, slit elastic ring d and sleeve carried
by the hub of the rear wheel rotate as one in a forward direction. When for any
reason it is desired to apply the broke, as when descending a hill, the rider has
only to commence the action commonly called back pedalling when the speed of the
chain wheel being reduced the momentum in the velocipede causes the elastic
slit ring to rotate and advance on the cham wheel c; the eccentric surfaces of the
said parts consequently effect the expansion of the slit ring d and its periphery is
pressed into more or less intimate contact with the flange e2 of the fixed disc e.
The velocipede is thereby brought either to a state of rest or to a lower rate of
speed.
According to the modification of our invention represented in Figures 6 and 7
we make in the face of the web of the slit T shaped ring d presented to the chain
wheel c a series of preferably three eccentric grooves d2, 2, d and we provide the
bush of the chain wheel c with a flange c carrying a corresponding number of
projections which take into the grooves of the elastic slit ring d. It will thus
be understood that when the slit ring rotates in a forward direction with respect
to the chain wheel the projections of the latter working in the eccentric grooves of
the slit ring causes the expansion of the same and the consequent application of
the brake.
According to the modification represented in Figure 8 we substitute for the slit
ring d a series of preferably four or five (four only are shown) sectors marked
respectively h1, h2, h3, h4 each T shaped in cross section the webs of the said sectors
having eccentric grooves therein similar to those in the slit ring of the last
arrangement. Projections are made on the flange of the chain wheel for taking
in the eccentric grooves of each sector so that when the sectors rotate with the
sleeve of the hub independent of the chain wheel the said sectors are forced out-
wards and are made to bind upon the flange e of the fixed disc e.
The
When we apply the improved brake mechanism first described to the driving
chain wheel as is represented in Figure 9 we screw the non-rotating or fixed brake
disc e, to the bottom bracket i and lock the same thereto by the screw 7.
flanged sleeve b is carried by the crank k, the eccentric flange of the chain wheel c
and elastic slit ring d being interposed between the sleeve b and the cylindrical
flange e of the fixed brake disc. The chain wheel c is kept in place by screws m, m.
Although we have only described and represented the modified brake mechanisms
Figures 6, 7 and 8 as applied to the rear wheel yet we wish it to be understood that
they are equally applicable to the driving chain wheel.
The application of our invention to velocipedes other than safety bicycles and to
motor cycles differs in no essential respect from its application to a safety bicycle
as hereinbefore described and represented.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we claim as
our invention.
First: The construction and arrangements or combinations of parts con-
stituting improved brake mechanism for bicycle, tricycles and other velocipedes
and motor cycles hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9
of the accompanying Drawings the said construction and arrangements of narts
consisting in providing one of the fork ends of the velocipede frame or the bottom
bracket or both with fixed cylindrical flanged brake discs and providing the hub of
the wheel or the crank or both with sleeves to which are attached so as to rotate
therewith slit or elastic rings the peripheries of which are situated within the
cylindrical flanges of the fixed brake discs the said slit or elastic rings being ex-
panded and made to bear against the cylindrical flanges of the brake discs with more
or less force so as to effect the brake action by eccentric surfaces of the slit or elastic
rings working on eccentric surfaces on the driven or driving chain wheels or both
on the back pedalling of the velocipede substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly: The modified construction and arrangement or combination of parts
constituting improved brake mechanism for bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes
and motor cycles hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the
accompanving Drawings the said modified construction and arrangement of parts
consisting in providing one of the fork ends of the velocipede frame with a fixed
cylindrical flanged brake disc and providing the hub of the wheel when the brake-
is applied to the rear wheel of the velocipede with a sleeve to which is attached so
as to rotate therewith a slit or elastic ring the periphery of which is situated within
the cylindrical flange of the fixed brake disc the said slit or elastic ring being
expanded and made to bear against the cylindrical flange of the brake disc with
more or less force so as to effect the brake action by projections carried by the
chain wheel engaging in eccentric grooves in the web of the slit or elastic ring
which grooves travelling on the projections of the chain wheel on the back pedalling
of the velocipede effect the expansion of the slit or elastic ring substantially as
described and illustrated also the application of the said modified construction
and arrangement of parts to the driving chain wheel.
Thirdly: The modified construction and arrangement or combination of parts
constituting improved brake mechanism for bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes
and motor cycles hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 8 of the accom-
panying Drawings, the said modified construction and arrangement of parts con-
sisting in providing one of the fork ends of the velocipede frame with a fixed
cylindrical flanged brake disc and providing the hub of the wheel when the brake
is applied to the rear wheel of the velocipede with a sleeve to which is attached
so as to rotate therewith a series of sectors in one side of which are eccentric
grooves in which projections on the chain wheel engage so that when the sectors
tend to rotate faster than the chain wheel, as is the case when back pedalling, the
sectors will be forced outwards and made to bear against the cylindrical flange of
the brake disc substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
illustrated also the application of the said modified construction and arrange-
ment of parts to the driving chain wheel.
Dated the thirtieth day of June 1897.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1897-Accepted, 7th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles and other Velocipedes
and Motor Cycles.
We, CHARLES VERNON PUGH of No. 52 Lincoln's Inn, Corporation Street, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick, Velocipede Manufacturer and JOHN VERNON PUGII of No.
52 Lincoln's Inn aforesaid Mechanical Engineer and HARRY PARSONS of Wren Street,
Coventry in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in brakes for
bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and motor cycles.
According to our improvements we employ a disc carried by the hub against which
a disc which cannot rotate in relation to the frame, is pressed by the expansion of an
elastic air bag which is inflated by a hollow ball situated at or near the handle bar so
as to be within convenient reach of the hand of the rider. To put the brake into
action the rider has only to grasp and squeeze the said hollow ball when compressed air
from the said ball passing down a tube connecting the said ball with the elastic bag
distends the said elastic bag which presses the disc on the fork end against the disc on
the hub. By the friction thereby produced the vehicle is brought to rest or to a lower
rate of speed. On the rider relaxing pressure on the hollow ball, the brake is taken
out of action.
Dated the Sixteenth day of November 1896.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles and other Velocipedes
and Motor Cycles.
We, CHARLES VERNON PUGH, of 52 Lincoln's Inn, Corporation Street, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick, Velocipede Manufacturer and JOHN VERNON PUGH, of
No. 52 Lincoln's Inn, aforesaid, Mechanical Engineer, and HARRY PARSONS, of Wren
Street, Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in brakes for
bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and motor cycles.
According to our invention we employ a disc carried by the hub against which a
disc which cannot rotate in relation to the frame is pressed by the expansion of an
Price 1

page_text: elastic air bag which is inflated by a hollow ball situated at or near the handle bar so
as to be within convenient reach of the hand of the rider. To put the brake into
action, the rider has only to grasp and squeeze the said hollow ball, when compressed
air from the said ball passing down a tube connecting the said ball with the elastic
bag distends the said elastic bag which presses the dise on the fork end against the
disc on the hub. By the friction thereby produced the vehicle is brought to rest or to
a lower rate of speed. On the rider relaxing pressure on the hollow ball the brake is
taken out of action.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents in vertical section the hub of a
velocipede wheel to which a brake constructed according to our invention is applied,
and
Figure 2 represents a section of the same taken on the dotted line x x Figure 1.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both Figures of the
Drawing.
a a is the hub of the wheel and 6 the disc carried by the same. c is the brake disc
which while being fixed with respect to the dise b of the hub, that is, is incapable of
rotation, has a lateral sliding motion to and from the said disc b of the hub as is here-
inafter explained.
The said brake disc c is carried by an outer disc d with cylindrical flange da, which
outer disc is fixed by a clip e to the fork end f of the velocipede frame. The fixed
brake dise e is prevented from rotating by having at its edge a series of projections e¹
which engage and work in slots in the edge of the cylindrical flange d of the outer
dise d. Between the acting or marginal part of the brake disc e and the outer disc d
an elastic air bag or ring g is arranged the said air bag being expanded by air forced
into it through the pipe g3 which is part of a long flexible tube carrying an air ball
(not shown) situated near one of the rider's hands. The brake is put into action by
the squeezing of the air inflating ball described when the air contained in the ball is
forced through the tube g into the air bag or ring g which is consequently distended.
The face of the brake disc c is thereby forced into more or less intimate contact with
the face of the disc b carried by the hub and the brake action is thus effected. In this
way the vehicle may be quickly brought to a state of rest or to a lower. rate of
speed.
The brake is taken out of action on the release of the inflating ball by coiled
springs hhhh situated on screw pieces iii i passing through holes in the brake
disc c and taking into screwed holes in the outer disc d.
The springs h bear at one end against the brake disc c and at their other ends
against the heads 2 2 of the screw pins ii. When the brake is put into action the
said springs & are compressed and resume their normal figure and thereby take the
brake disc c out of action on the release of the inflating ball of the brake.
Although we have shown the brake applied to one side of the wheel hub only yet
we wish it to be understood that the parts may be duplicated and be applied to both
sides of the wheel hub the pair of air bags or rings g being inflated by a single
inflating ball provided with a pair of flexible tubes or by independent balls in connec
tion with each of the air bags or rings of the double brake.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention.
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim as our
invention:
The improvements in brakes for bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and motor
cycles hereinbefore described and represented in the accompanying Drawing the said
improvements consisting essentially in providing the hub with a disc on the outer side
of which is a brake disc incapable of rotation, which brake disc on the application of
the brake is forced into more or less intimate contact with the disc on the hub by an
elastic air bag or hollow ring situated between the brake disc and an outer disc
carried by one of the fork ends of the velocipede frame, the said elastic air bag or
ring being inflated and the brake consequently put into action by the squeezing

page_text: of an air inflating ball communicating by means of a flexible tube with the air bag
or ring of the hub whether the said brake be applied to one or both sides of the hub,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated the Twanto nighth day of T 1007
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agents for the Applicants.