Year: 1898

page_text: We, JAMES THOMAS WILEY and JOSEPH MAYER, both of Evansville, Randolph
County, Illinois, U.S.A., Inventors, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to cycle brakes; the object of the invention being to pro-
vide a brake which will be of light construction, most effective in use, and easily
manipulated.
The invention comprises a small cylinder, closed at both ends and fitted with a
piston and piston-rod adapted for attachment to a movable part--such as by
means of an excentric to the axle or hub of a cycle wheel-in such manner that
the piston is reciprocated; the cylinder being suitably attached to the fork or
other part of the frame of the cycle.
A tube connects one end of the cylinder with a box-like casing having a mov-
able part adapted to be pressed outwardly when air is pumped by the piston into
a flexible receptacle contained within the casing. The casing is secured near
the rim of the wheel, and the movable part thereof is fitted with a suitable brake-
shoe adapted to engage frictionally with the rim or the tyre when pressed out-
wards. A suitable valve, or a pin-hole in the expansive receptacle allows some
of the compressed air to escape when the pressure is excessive.
The pump is put in and out of action by means of a valve consisting of a ring
or rings fitting around the cylinder and having perforations which can be brought
into or out of coincidence with similar apertures in the side of the cylinder by the
partial rotation of a rod connected to the ring or rings. When the valves are
open, air passes freeling in and out of the cylinder as the piston reciprocates; but
when closed, air is drawn through a valve in the upper part of the cylinder and
is forced through a valved opening and the tube aforementioned into the air
receptacle before described, thus keeping the brake constantly applied.
When the cycle is of light construction and little power is required to retard
its motion, the brake may consist of the cylinder, the piston, piston-rod, excen-
tric, and the apertured valve, first described, only. In this form, however, the
valve does not accurately fit the circumference of the cylinder and is made slid-
able thereon, and extends above the upper end of the cylinder, when in one
position; being held there by a spiral or other suitable spring.
.When the brake is to be applied, the rider presses the valve down by placing
a foot thereon thus closing the ports through the valve and cylinder. Air is
then drawn and expelled with difficulty through the space between the inaccu-
rately fitting valve and the cylinder, and the motion of the piston being thereby
impeded, the rotation of the excentric and cycle wheel are retarded.
Dth 10.
of Naramban 1808

page_text: We, JAMES THOMAS WILEY and JOSEPH MAYER, both of Evansville, Randolph
County, Illinois, U.S.A., Inventors, 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 relates to cycle brakes; the object of the invention being to
provide a brake which will be of light construction, most effective in use, and
easily manufactured.
Referring to the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of
the principal parts of our improved brake; Fig. 2 shews its application, to a
cycle; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the principal parts of an alternative form of con-
struction; Fig. 4 shews a longitudinal section of Fig. 3.
1 in the drawings represents the bicycle frame, 2 the front wheel, and 3 our
improved brake mechanism. The frame 1 of the bicycle and wheel 2 are of the
usual construction with the exception that the latter is provided at one side
with an eccentric 4 about which passes an eccentric strap 5. This strap is formed
at its front with a socketed lug 6, in which the end of piston-rod 7 is rigidly
secured. This rod 7 is provided with a suitable piston 8. having any suitable
form of peripheral packing, and mounted in the cylinder 9. This cylinder is
closed at both ends and is supported by a yoke 10 which is pivotally connected
thereto and is adapted to clamp about one of the bars of the bicycle fork. The
said cylinder 9 is provided near each end with a port or opening 11 adapted to
open communication with the interior of the opposite ends of said cylinder. A
sleeve forming a slide valve 13 is passed over the cylinder and adapted to cover
the openings 11 and is provided with an opening 14. At the opposite side it is
provided with a slot 16 to engage over the plate 17 screwed onto the cylinder
and having the projecting pin 18 to which the yoke 10 is pivoted. This slot pre-
vents rotation of the valve and limits its longitudinal travel. The valve is sup-
ported in its normal position by a spring 19 arranged around the cylinder between
the flanges 20, 21, and is capable of being operated by the foot rests 22.
In the alternative form shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, the cylinder is provided near
each end with a strap or loop 12; said straps or loops forming guides for the slide
or valve 13, which latter consists of a bar and is in all other respects similar to the
tubular valve aforementioned. This form of the valve, and also that form afore-
described may be operated if preferred by means of a rod 15 carried from the
valve to a suitable part of the cycle, such as the handle-bars, and provided with
the usual brake spring and hand lever, provided the spring is not combined with
the valve as described with reference to Figure 1.
It will be observed from the foregoing description that the ports 11, 11 are
normally open so that the action of the piston 8 within the cylinder 9 is free and
unretarded. This piston moves continually while the machine is in motion
because of the peculiar connection between the piston rod 7 and the eccentric 4
carried by the driving wheel. When it is desired to stop the cycle the foot-rest
is depressed, or the brake-lever which is mounted on the handle bar of the
bicycle, is operated thus moving the slide 13 and causing the apertures 11 to be
closed. The motion of the piston 8 now compresses the air on both strokes and
thus resists the forward movement of the wheel to such an extent that the cycle
is readily brought to a stand-still. The valve, by preference, is fitted somewhat
loosely so that a portion of the air may escape at both strokes of the piston,
which prevents the compression and expansion of air within the cylinder, which

page_text: would in a measure compensate and tend, during one stroke of the piston, to
drive the wheel, thus compensating for the resistance caused by the other stroke.
As the action between the piston rod and eccentric mounted on the driving
wheel causes a slight rocking movement of said piston rod, the before mentioned
yoke support 10 is pivoted, as aforementioned which permits of the cylinder 9
rocking to the desired extent.
It will be observed by the foregoing description that by the employment of our
invention a perfect air brake is secured, which does not practically interfere with
the usual movement of the machine but may be instantly thrown into gear so
as to retard said movements. It will further be observed that the braking action
does not in any wise injure the tire or any other portion of the cycle as said
braking mechanism does not contact with the tyre or other fragile part of the
machine at all. The action of the piston within the cylinder 9 is such that the
forward motion of the cycle is gradually checked so that all sliding of said cycle
and consequent injury to the tyre is avoided. The heads of the said cylinder 9
are preferably removable so that the interior of the cylinder may be cleaned and
the packing of the piston renewed or repaired from time to time.
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: -
(1) A cycle brake consisting of a cylinder closed at both ends and adapted for
attachment to a cycle frame; a piston and piston rod reciprocably mounted in the
cylinder, and provided with means such as an eccentric and strap, for imparting
reciprocable motion thereto from the wheel of the cycle; an opening at the res-
pective ends of the cylinder; a tubular valve slidably fitted over the cylinder
and adapted to be operated to loosely cover said openings; a spring for retaining
the valve in normal position; and means, such as a depressible foot rest, or a
lever and rods for slidably moving said valve, all substantially as described and
illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
(2) In a cycle brake, a cylinder having ports at or near each end, a slide valve
for simultaneously opening and approximately closing said ports, an operating
foot-rest or rod for said valve, a piston within the cylinder, and a piston rod having
provision for its connection to a movable part of the machine, substantially as
described.
(3) In a cycle brake, a cylinder, a clamp having pivotal connection therewith
and adapted to embrace a part of the machine, a slide-valve for simultaneously
covering loosely the ports at the opposite ends of the cylinder, a depressible foot-
rest or an operating rod for said valve, a piston within the cylinder, a piston-rod
connected thereto, and an eccentric strap at the outer end of said piston adapted
to be actuated by an eccentric on one of the wheel hubs, substantially as described.
Dotad this with day of trouat 1900.
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicants.