Improvements in Brake Apparatus for Cycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brake Apparatus for Cycles.
I, ARTHUR RALPH RICARDO, of Foxoak, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, 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 of improvements in brake apparatus for cycles has reference
to a simple, convenient and efficient construction of rim brake that can be readily
applied to existing bicycles by unskilled persons, and also to the combination
therewith of improved brake actuating mechanism, the whole forming an improved
construction of brake apparatus as I shall now describe by the aid of the accom-
panying illustrative drawings wherein, Fig. 1 shows in side elevation, the front
portion of a bicycle provided with brake apparatus constructed according to this
invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively an end elevation and sectional plan
of the rim brake shown in Fig. 1 without the brake actuating mechanism, and
drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a front view, Fig. 5 a plan, and Fig. 6 a side
elevation of the brake actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 1 but drawn to a
larger scale.
The rim brake according to this invention comprises two plates a provided
with clamping strips 6 and screws c by which they can be firmly secured to the
inner sides of the two legs A of the front wheel fork of the bicycle. To the
centre portion of each plate a is pivoted one end of an arm d (Figs. 2 and 3)
the other end of which is jointed by a pine to one of the lower ends of a
stirrup which is of such a size as to allow the tyre and rim of the wheel of
the bicycle to which the brake is fitted to pass easily therethrough. On each
of the pins e is pivoted a plate g to which is fixed a brake block g¹ of suitable
material, for example leather, arranged to act against the rim B of the wheel as
shown in Fig. 1. The plates 9 being pivoted, render the brake blocks carried
thereby self adjusting upon the wheel rim when pressed against the same, the
movement of each plate being limited by a pair of stops g2 on the corresponding
arm d. The stirrup f is provided with an enlarged internally screw threaded
part or nut f with which engages a screw threaded rod h by means of which
the stirrup can be raised and lowered by any suitable construction of brake
actuating mechanism for the purpose of applying and taking off the brake
respectively.
A construction of brake actuating mechanism that may advantageously be
used in conjunction with the rim brake hereinbefore described is shown in
Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6 but such mechanism is not herein separately claimed as form-
ing part of the present invention as I have filed another application for Letters
Patent in respect thereof No. 17602 of 1898. This mechanism comprises a light
but strong metal frame i provided with upper and lower brackets and 1, a
vertical slot m, and a transverse part n adapted to fit against the handle bar c
of a bicycle to which it can be firmly clamped by straps o secured to the part n
by screws p, the lower part of the frame being recessed at ¹ so as to fit against

page_text: the steering post D and prevent lateral movement of the frame. The bracket k
is or may be formed in in one place with the frame i; the bracket 7 may con-
veniently be fixed to the frame by screws as shown. q is a screw mounted to
rotate in the brackets and but not to move endways therein. This screw q
is provided at its upper end with a pinion in gear with a toothed wheel s
fixed to a spindlet which is mounted in a sleeve bearing u carried by the
bracket and is provided with a handle v by which it and the toothed wheels
and screw can be rotated. On the screw q is a nut w which is prevented from
rotating, when the screw is rotated, by an extension w which projects into the
slot m in the frame i. This nut to is provided with lateral extensions 20³ which
are connected through screw threaded rods x and a nut y to the screw threaded
rod connected to the rim brake below. The screw threads on the upper and
lower portions of the rod h are preferably made right and left handed so that
the distance between the nuts fand y can be readily varied to adapt the brake
apparatus to machines of different sizes.
With the combined brake apparatus described, to apply the brake the handle y
is turned so as to rotate the screw g in a direction to raise the nut w and attached
parts a, y, h, f, d and g and so force the brake blocks g' against the wheel rim D.
To take off the brake, the handle is turned in the reverse direction. so as to move
the said brake blocks away from the wheel rim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. Rim brake apparatus for bicycles, constructed and operating substantially
as herein before described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings
annexed.
2. The improved brake apparatus for bicycles, comprising the brake apparatus
proper and the brake actuating mechanism constructed, arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in the
drawings annexed.
Dated this 16th day of March 1899.
For the Applicant.
W. LLOYD WISE.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.