Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes and Motor Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other
Velocipedes and Motor Cycles.
We, CHARLES VERNON PUGH, of No. 34, Spon Street, Coventry, in the County
of Warwick, Velocipede Manufacturer, and JOHN VERNON PUGH, of No. 34, Spon
Street, Coventry, aforesaid, Mechanical Engineer, and HARRY PARSONS, of Wren
Street, Coventry, aforesaid, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to brakes for bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and
motor cycles which automatically come into action on the back pedalling or slack-
ening of the speed of the velocipede or the like. One type of the said brakes
consists essentially of an elastic or slit ring capable of expansion and contraction
arranged between the flange of a fixed flanged disc and a flange on a sleeve on
the hub of the rear or driving wheel of the velocipede on which sleeve the driven
chain wheel is arranged. The elastic ring carries a series of eccentric curvilinear
surfaces which bear against corresponding surfaces on a flange on the driven chain
wheel. On back pedalling the driven chain wheel virtually takes a back motion
with respect to the sleeve on which it is arranged and the eccentric surfaces on
the flange of the driven chain wheel travelling on the eccentric surfaces on the
elastic or slit ring expands the said ring and causes it to bind forcibly against the
flange of the sleeve of the hub and to retard or arrest the motion of the velocipede.
In consequence of the curvilinear figure of the eccentric surfaces of the flange
of the ring and the flange of the sleeve the action of the said brakes is slow, the
driven chain wheel having to turn through a considerable angle with respect to
the sleeve on the hub of the driving wheel of the velocipede before coming into
effective operation.
Our invention has for its object to render the action of the said brakes rapid
and this we effect by making in a part of each of the eccentric or binding surfaces
a shoulder which in the normal position of the parts, that is, when the bicycle is
travelling freely in a forward direction, fit one against the other. On the rider
commencing to back pedal the shoulders escape or pass each other by which
action the elastic ring is immediately expanded to nearly its full extent and the
brake thereby rapidly put into operation.
Our invention is applicable to other forms of automatic brakes in which the
binding or brake action is effected by the angular motion of one series of eccentric
curvilinear surfaces over another series so as to cause the expansion or contraction
of an elastic or spring like ring; and to brakes in which pins on a split ring work
in eccentric grooves in the chain ring or the reverse; and to brakes in which pins

page_text: on the chain ring work in eccentric grooves in four or other number of radially
expanding pieces or other equivalent of a split or elastic ring.
Our invention is also applicable to brakes in which inclined surfaces nearly
perpendicular to the axis of the hub work on back pedalling against corresponding
surfaces on a disc which while rotating with the hub is capable of an outward
sliding motion with respect to the said hub, by which outward sliding motion the
said disc is made to bear forcibly against a fixed disc on the frame of the
velocipede.
In applying our invention to this form of brake we make in each pair of the
flat. inclined faces or wedges, shoulders which, when the said wedges move, the one
with respect to the other, escape each other and cause the immediate outward
motion of the sliding disc so that the brake is brought into nearly full operation
immediately on the commencement of back pedalling.
The brakes herein before described to which our invention is applicable may be
applied to the back or driving wheel in the case of a safety bicycle, or to the
driving chain wheel at the bottom bracket of the said bicycle or to both.
Our invention consists further of the following construction of the fixed brake
disc and back fork end of the velocipede, whereby while preventing the possibility
of the said fixed brake disc rotating when the brake is in action the full range of
adjustment of the tension of the driving chain is permitted. This we effect by
forming on the inner side of the back fork end a series of ribs or corrugations
parallel with the slut in the said fork end and a corresponding series of ribs or
corrugations on the outer file of the fixed brake dise so that when the said fixed
brake disc is into the hack fork end the rils or rugation of the one
engage in the depressions between the ribs or corrugations of the other and the
full range of adjustment of the tension of the driving chain is thereby permitted.
Our invention is also applicable to automatic brakes which are actuated by a
pin or pins projecting from the crank axle working, on back pedalling, in a helical
slot or slots in a sleeve carrying the ball bearing cones and chain wheel of the
bottom bracket, a fixed disc on the crank axle being thereby brought into frictional
contact with a brake disc on the outer side of one of the ball bearing cups of the
bottom bracket. In applying our invention to this form of brake we make the
slot or slots in the sleeve on the crank axle pass by a rounded shoulder into
the helical part of the slot so that on the rider commencing to back pedal the pin
on the crank axle passing immediately by the rounded shoulder into the helical
portion of the slot in the sleeve effects the immediate application of the brake.
1000
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other
Velocipedes and Motor Cycles.
We, Charles VERNON PUGH, of No. 34, Spon Street, Coventry, in the County
of Warwick, Velocipede Manufacturer, and JOHN VERNON PUGI, of No. 34, Spon
Street, Coventry, aforesaid, Mechanical Engineer, and HARRY PARSONS, of Wren
Street, Coventry, aforesaid, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to brakes for bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and

page_text: motor cycles of the kinds described, represented and claimed in the Complete
Specification of Letters Patent No. 21855 of 1896 granted to us, and of the kinds
described represented and claimed in the Complete Specification filed in connection
with our Application for Letters Patent No. 26603 of 1896 as well as to other
brakes which automatically come into action on the back pedalling or slackening
of the speed of the velocipede or the like. One type of the said brakes consists
essentially of an elastic or slit ring capable of expansion and contraction arranged
between the flange of a fixed flanged disc and a flauge on a sleeve on the hub of
the rear or driving wheel of the velocipede on which sleeve the driven chain
wheel is arranged.. The elastic ring carries a series of eccentric curvilinear
surfaces which bear against corresponding surfaces on a flange on the driven chain
wheel. On back pedalling the driven chain wheel virtually takes a back motion
with respect to the sleeve on which it is arranged and the eccentric surfaces on the
flange of the driven chain wheel travelling on the eccentric surfaces on the clastic
or slit ring expands the said ring and causes it to bind forcibly against the flange
of the sleeve of the hub and to retard or arrest the motion of the velocipede.
In consequence of the curvilinear figure of the eccentric surfaces of the flange
of the ring and the flange of the sleeve the action of the said brakes
is slow, the driven chain wheel having to turn through a considerable
angle with respect to the sleeve on the hub of the driving wheel of
the velocipede before coming into effective operation.
Our invention has for its object to render the action of the said brakes rapid and
this we effect by making in a part of each of the eccentric or binding surfaces a
shoulder which in the normal position of the parts, that is, when the bicycle is
travelling freely in a forward direction, fit one against the other. On the rider
commencing to back pedal the shoulders escape or pass each other by which action
the elastic ring is immediately expanded to nearly its full extent and the brake
thereby rapidly put into operation.
Our invention is applicable to other forms of automatic brakes in which the
binding or brake action is effected by the angular motion of one series of eccentric
curvilinear surfaces over another series so as to cause the expansion or contraction
of an elastic or spring like ring; and to brakes in which pins on a split ring work
in eccentric grooves in the chain ring or the reverse, and to brakes in which pins
on the chain ring work in eccentric grooves in four or other number of radially
expanding pieces or other equivalent of a split or elastic ring.
on the
Our invention is also applicable to brakes in which inclined surfaces nearly
perpendicular to the axis of the hub work on back pedalling against corresponding
surfaces on a disc which while rotating with the hub is capable of an outward
sliding motion with respect to the said hub, by which outward sliding
motion the said disc is made to bear forcibly against a fixed disc
frame of the velocipede. In applying our invention to this form of brake we
make in each pair of the flat inclined faces or wedges, shoulders which when the
said wedges move, the one with respect to the other, escape each other and cause
the immediate outward motion of the sliding disc so that the brake is brought
into nearly full operation immediately on the commencement of back pedalling.
The brakes hereinbefore described to which our invention is applicable may be
applied to the back or driving wheel in the case of a safety bicycle, or to the
driving chain wheel at the bottom bracket of the said bicycle or to both.
Our invention consists further of the following construction of the fixed brake
disc and back fork end of the velocipede, whereby while preventing the possibility
of the said fixed brake disc rotating when the brake is in action the full range of
adjustment of the tension of the driving chain is permitted. This we effect by
forming on the inner side of the back fork end a series of ribs or corrugations
parallel with the slot in the said fork end and a corresponding series of ribs or
Corrugations on the outer side of the fixed brake disc so that when the said fixed
brake disc is in position on the back fork end the ribs or corrugations of the one

page_text: engage in the depressions between the ribs or corrugations of the other and the
full range of adjustment of the tension of the driving chain is thereby permitted.
Our invention is also applicable to automatic brakes which are actuated by a
pin or pins projecting from the crank axle working, on back pedalling, in a helical
slot or slots in a sleeve carrying the ball bearing cones and chain wheel of the
bottom bracket, a fixed disc on the crank axle being thereby brought into frictional
contact with a brake disc on the outer side of one of the ball bearing cups of the
bottom bracket.
In applying our invention to this form of brake we make the slot or slots in the
sleeve on the crank axle pass by a rounded shoulder into the helical part of the
slot so that on the rider commencing to back pedal the pin on the crank axle
passing immediately by the rounded shoulder into the helical portion of the slot
in the sleeve effects the immediate application of the brake.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in vertical section the rear
wheel hub of a safety bicycle provided with automatic quick-acting brake mechan-
ism constructed according to our invention; Figure 2 represents a cross section
of the brake mechanism of the said hub the said section being taken on the dotted
line, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 showing the brake in
action.
Figures 4 to 11 both inclusive represent our improvements applied to automatic
brakes of constructions differing somewhat from that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings
We will first describe the arrangement Figures 1, 2 and 3.
a, a is the hub proper and b, is the flanged sleeve attached to the same; a is
the chain wheel and the flange of the same terminating in the eccentric sur-
faces, is the elastic or slit T shaped ring the inner eccentric surfaces of
which fit the eccentric surfaces, of the chain wheel c. The ring d is connected
to the flange be of the sleeve b, 62 of the hub a in the way described in the complete
specification of our former Letters Patent No. 21855 of 1896.
In order to make the automatic brake described quick acting we make in euch
of the eccentric surfaces of the chain wheel c and elastic or slit ring d, and pre-
ferably midway between the stops c, ct of the said eccentric surfaces, shoulders ³, có
so that on the slight motion of the hub a with respect to the chain wheel c the
shoulders of the eccentric surfaces of the slit ring à escaping the shoulders c³, c
of the eccentric surfaces c³, of the chain wheel c, the immediate expansion of
the slit ring within the flange e of the fixed disc e and nearly instantaneous
application of the brake is effected. The further motion of the said parts with
regard to each other only increases the binding action of the parts on one another
and consequent increase of the brake power.
In the arrangement Figures 4 and 5 a series of spring arms 63, 63, 63, 6³, carried
by the sleeve b on the hub a are situated between eccentric surfaces c³, c³ within
the chain wheel c and the brake disc e, e after the manner of the automatic brake
described, represented and claimed in our Complete Specification No. 26603 of
1896. To render the said brake quick acting the free ends of the spring arms 63, 63
terminate in heads 64, 64 engaging in recesses c, c, c, c at the ends of the eccentric
surfaces 3, 3, 3, 3 within the chain wheel c, the said recesses co, co passing into
the eccentric surfaces c³, 3 by rounded shoulders c', c. On the forward rotation
of the chain wheel c the whole of the parts rotate on the spindle h and fixed
brake disc e, e as one; but on the rider commencing to back pedal the rotation
of the chain wheel e being retarded the sleeve b and its spring arms 6s, 6³, carried
by the hub a, partake of a slight advance motion within the chain wheel c and
the heads 6, 6+ of the spring arms 63, 63 escaping the shoulders c, c' the said spring
arms 63, 63 are contracted and forcibly pressed almost instantaneously into close
contact with the flange 3 of the fixed brake disc e, e².
C
In the arrangement represented in Figure 6 a slit or elastic ring d has a series

page_text: of radial arms d', d² carrying pins d³, d working in eccentric grooves c³, c³ in the
face of the chain wheel the said grooves having sharp bends or curved shoul-
ders, at their commencing ends by the passing of the pins, over which
the elastic ring d is quickly expanded and made to bear against the flange e³ of
the brake disc e, e³.
In the arrangement represented in Figure 7 a series of (preferably four) radially.
expanding sectors i, i are connected to the sleeve b on the hub a, the said sectors i, i
having eccentric grooves 23, in which pius co, co carried by the
chain wheel c engage, the said grooves at the ends occupied by the
pins co, co in the normal position of the parts having sharp bends
or shoulders 23, 2³ On the hub a sleeve b and sectors i, i commencing to
travel at a greater speed than the chain wheel e the grooves, by passing over
the pins co cause the expansion or outward radial motion of the sectors i, i which
binding on the flange of the fixed flanged brake disc e, e brings the vehicle to
rest or to a lower rate of speed.
In the arrangement represented in elevation in Figure 8, in section in Figure 3
and chain wheel detached in Figure 10 a series of inclined surfaces a³, a² on the
hub a perpendicular or nearly so to the axis of the said hub a bear against corre-
sponding inclined surfaces c¹, c¹ on the inner face of the chain wheel c and by the
forward motion of the hub a with respect to the chain wheel c the said chain wheel
is forced outwards against a fixed brake disc e. In order to make automatic brakes
of this kind quick acting shoulders a*, * are made in the two inclined sur-
faces as, c respectively which escaping each other on the brake automatically
coming into action cause the immediate or quick forcing out of the chain wheel c
against the fixed brake disc e.
l
In the arrangement represented in Figure 11 a pin ¹ on the crank axle k
engages in a helical slot in a sleeve m¹ carried by the driving chain wheel m.
On the advance motion of the chain wheel m with respect to the cranks n, n' the
groove travelling on the pin the crank axle k is forced inwards as is indicated
by the arrow and the flange n² of the crank n' is made to bear against a flange p¹
on the bottom bracket 7 and thereby arrest or retard the motion of the chain
wheel m.
A brake of this kind is made quick acting by arranging a sharp bend
or shoulder in the slot which escaping the pin on the parts commencing to
move the one independent of the other causes the immediate application of the
brake. A coiled spring r on the crank axle k assists the outward motion of the
crank axle & on the forward driving of the cranks again.
That part of our invention which has for its object the better securing of the
brake disc to the fork end of the bicycle frame is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
We make a series of ribs on the outer side of the brake disc e as will be best seen
by reference to Figure 5 and we form a corresponding series of longitudinal grooves
or depressions in the inner side of the slotted fork end s in which grooves the ribs
of the brake disc e engage. On the screwing up of the screw nut t on the outer
screwed end of the spindle of the hub, the brake disc e and fork ends are so
securely locked together that the turning of the brake disc on the brake coming
into action is impossible.
The ribs on the brake disc e and longitudinal grooves in the fork end s permit
the full range of adjustment of the parts for the tightening of the driving chain
of the velocipede.
Although we prefer to make a series of V shaped ribs and grooves on and in
the brake disc e and fork end s respectively we wish it to be understood that we do
not limit ourselves to any particular figure of the said ribs and grooves; for
example, they may be of a curved or undulating figure. Further, we wish it to be
understood that we do not limit ourselves to the number of the said ribs and grooves
as where thought sufficient one only may be employed or one rib and groove on
each side of the slot in the fork end s may be made with the same or nearly the same
effect.

page_text: Although we have described and represented the principal arrangements of our
invention in connection with the rear wheel hub only, of a safety bicycle we wish
it to be understood that our improvements are equally applicable to the said
automatic brakes when arranged in connection with the driving chain wheel of
the said safety bicycle.
The application of our improvements to the brakes of tricycles and other veloci-
pedes and motor cycles differ in no essential respect from their application to the
brakes of safety bicycles as hereinbefore described and represented.
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 of "Improvements in brakes for bicycles, tricycles and other
velocipedes and motor cycles";.
First; In brakes for velocipedes and the like in which eccentric surfaces on a
slit or elastic ring rotating with the hub work against corresponding eccentric
surfaces on the chain wheel on the rider commencing to back pedal;-making
in the said eccentric surfaces curved shoulders which in the normal position of the
parts fit against one another but which on the rider commencing to back pedal
escape each other and thereby effect the immediate expansion of the slit or elastic
ring and consequent quick application of the brake substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly-In brakes for velocipedes and the like in which spring or elastic arms
rotating with the hub wel kick pedalling between eccentric surfers on the
chain wheel and the horizontal flange of a fixed flanged dic; making heads on
the ends of the spring arms and shoulders in the eccentric surfaces which escaping
each other on the rider commencing to back pedal cause the immediate application
of the brake substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 4
and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly; In brakes for velocipedes and the like which brakes_automatically
come into operation on the rider commencing to back pedal through pins on one
moving part working in slots or grooves in the other moving part;-making the
first operating parts of the said slots or grooves of a sharper curvature or bend than
the main portion of the said slots or grooves substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
--
Fourthly; In brakes for velocipedes and the like which brakes automatically
come into operation on the rider commencing to back pedal in consequence of the
sliding of inclined surfaces on the hub perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to
the axis of the said hub sliding on correspondingly inclined surfaces on the chain
wheel and thereby forcing the chain wheel outward against a fixed brake disc;
making in the said inclined surfaces shoulders which escaping each other on the
motion of the one part with respect to the other cause the immediate application
of the brake substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 8, 9
and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifthly; In brakes for velocipedes and the like which brakes automatically
come into operation on the rider commencing to back pedal in consequence of the
working of a helical slot in a sleeve carried by the driving chain wheel on a pin
on the arrested or retarded crank axle forcing the crank axle inwards and making
the disc thereon bear forcibly against a brake disc on the bottom
bracket; making the commencing or first operating part of the said
slot pass into the main or helical part of the slot by a shoulder or sharp
curve substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixthly; In brakes for velocipedes and the like which brakes automatically
come into operation on the rider commencing to back pedal;-providing the fixed
brake disc with a rib or series of ribs and the fork end of the velocipede frame with
a corresponding groove or series of grooves for engaging with the rib or ribs of the

page_text: fixed brake disc and while permitting of the longitudinal adjustment of the one
part with respect to the other preventing the possibility of the rotation or turning
of the brake disc on the spindle of the wheel substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Twenty-ninth day of November 1897.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.