Improved Brake, Coasting and Driving Gear for Cycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Brake, Coasting and Driving Gear for Cycles.
JAMES ALLAN, Terrace, Barnes, Surgeon, and FRANK MOORE, 117, White Hart
Lane, Barnes, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide a suitable gear to cycles to enable the
rider to have perfect control of the machine by the pedal. To obtain this object
we mount on the hub of driving wheel a chain or bevel wheel in such a manner
that when the pedals are at rest, the driving wheel can revolve freely in a forward
direction so as to travel down an incline without moving the pedals, when the
pedals are moved forward the chain wheel gears with the hub of driving wheel
and so propels the machine along, when the pedals are moved backward called.
back pedelling, the driving gear is disengaged and the brake is put into action
pressing on the hub of driving wheel and so preventing it rotating.
The mechanism of our invention consist of a chain or bevel wheel with suitable
recesses on the inner side to receive balls wedges or keys, the chain wheel is free
to revolve round a boss or collar in a backward direction, the boss or collar is
made fast to the driving wheel and is formed with suitable recesses for the balls
wedges or key fitted in the chain or bevel wheels to gear into, so that when the
pedals is moved forward the chain wheel gears with driving wheel and give a
forward motion to the machine. When the machine is going down an incline and
the pedals are at rest, the keys are released from the boss on the driving wheel so
allowing the machine to coast. On the face of the chain wheel we fix a suitable
friction peice, spring, or clutch, which gears with a brake ring, this brake ring
is screwed upon a brake block, this brake block is fitted to the spindle of driving
wheel. To put the brake into action, back pedal, which causes the friction peice
to gear with brake ring unscrewing the ring off the brake block and forcing the
ring against the hub of driving wheel and so acting as a brake on the machine.
When the pedal are moved forward the brake ring is screwed on to the brake
block so releasing the machine and is ready for use again when required.
30941 dow of Anil 1808
JAMES ALLAN.
FRANK MOORE.

page_text: 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:
Our invention relates to an improved brake and driving gear for bicycles, tri-
cycles, and similar velocipedes, and has for its object to enable the rider or riders
to have perfect control over the machine by means of the pedals.
In order that our said invention, the manner in which we prefer to mount the
same upon the rear or driven wheel of a cycle, and the manner of its operation for
the purposes stated may be fully understood, we have hereunto appended a sheet
of drawings, of which'
Fig. 1 is an external view of the hub of such a wheel to which our invention is
attached, Fig. 2 being a central longitudinal section of the same.
Figs. 3 and 4 are sections both taken upon the line AB of Fig. 2, and showing
two positions of the mechanism thereat under different circumstances, as herein-
after explained.
Figs. 5 and 6 are both sections taken upon the line CD of Fig. 2, and showing
two positions of the mechanism thereat under different circumstances, also herein-
after explained.
Fig. 7 is a detail of the previous figures.
Referring to the accompanying drawings A represents the fixed axle of the back
or driven wheel or wheels of a cycle of the type referred to, and having a male screw
thread formed upon each end thereof, both of which may be right or left handed,
or one may be left handed, and the other right handed, as may be found most
convenient.
In carrying our invention into effect we mount and screw or otherwise fix upon,
preferably, the right, hand end of A, a metallic block or collar B, having upon the
periphery of its largest diameter a left handed screw thread a, from which point
the said block or collar is coned or tapered to its inner end b, (Fig. 2). Upon the
axle A is mounted a suitably shaped hollow hub C, carrying rims DD¹, for mount-
ing the spokes c of the wheel in the usual way. The right hand end of the hub C
is formed internally with an annular ridge d, which, in conjunction with the
coned end 6 of the block B, forms a race for a series of steel balls e, while the
opposite end of the said hub is provided internally with a like annular ridge d¹,
which, in conjunction with a cone E screwed upon this end of the axle A, forms a
race for a series of steel balls e¹, and upon the said balls e and e¹ the hub C is borne,
and free to rotate in the usual way.
The right hand end of the hub C has formed upon its outer surface an annular
ridge, which, in conjunction with this end of C, forms a seating for a fixed
collar F, hereinafter called the driving collar, in the periphery of which is formed
any desired number of graduated recesses g, the lowest ends or dip of the said
recesses being the forward ends, or that pointing to the direction of the travel of
the said collar with the hub C, and shewn by the arrow in Fig. 3.
Upon the block B is loosely screwed a collar G, hereinafter called the brake
collar; of the same diameter as F, and adjoining the same, or divided therefrom
by a thin metallic or other washer, (not shewn) and in the periphery of G is formed
any desired number of graduated recesses h, the direction of the lowest ends or
dip of which is directly opposite to those in the collar F.
Upon the two collars and G is mounted a ring or sleeve H, adapted to rotate
freely upon both, the said ring or sleeve having formed upon the outer surface
of its inner end a suitable number of sprocket teeth m, when the said hind or
driven wheel or wheels is or are driven by a chain, operated by and from the driving
or bottom bracket spindle, but when such wheel or wheels is or are driven by a
toothed gearing arranged in any of the well known ways, a surface of mitre or
bevel teeth may take the place of the said sprocket teeth, as suggested by dotted
outline at min Fig. 2. The said ring or sleeve I is so formed upon the inner
end of its inner periphery as to provide, in conjunction with the annular ridge f

page_text: of the hub C, a race for a series of balls n, while the opposite end of H is so formed
as to provide, in conjunction with a disc or plate J, a race for a series of steel
balls n', so that the said ring or sleeve is borne and rotates upon the said balls.
The said ring or sleeve H has formed therein a series of angular through-holes p,
like in number to, and coinciding in position with, the recesses g in the collar F,
the angle of the said holes p being in the direction of the forward movements
of the hub C, and in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. The ring or sleeve H
has also a second series of like angular through holes r, like in number to, and
coinciding in position with, the recesses h in the collar G, the angle of the said
holes r being opposed to those p, or in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5.
in G
In each of the recesses g in F is placed a steel ball or plug s, omitted for clear-
ness in Fig. 2, but shewn in position in Figs. 3 and 4, while the recesses
carry like balls t, also omitted in Fig. 2, but shewn in position in Figs. 5 and 6.
Upon the ring or sleeve H is mounted a ring or collar K, fixed thereon by any
suitable and convenient means, such for instance as that of a screw or screws w,
the said ring or collar K serving the double purpose of preventing the balls s
and t from falling out through their respective angle-holes p and r, and for retain-
ing in position the plate or disc J, an annular rim X being formed upon K for
the latter purpose. The said plate or disc J is also retained in position upon an
extension B¹, upon the block B, by the means of a nut or nuts L, the said exten-
sion B and the cone E at the opposite end of A (or a suitably shaped washer M
annexed to E) collectively forming the keys for the lower ends of the members N
and N of the back fork of the cycle the said members being retained thereon by
the said nut or nuts L, and a like nut or nuts L' upon the opposite end of A.
The manner of operation is as follows.
Upon motion being imparted to the pedals in a forward direction, a like for-
ward motion would consequently be imparted, by the chain or other gear to the
teeth m or m', and the ring or sleeve H, such forward direction being that indicated
by the arrow in Fig. 3, and such motion of H would cause the balls s to jam between
the holes therein and the dip of the recesses g in F, thus locking H and F
together and so imparting motion to the hub C, and the back or driven wheel or
wheels of the machine. When coasting or descending a slight gradient, the rider
may cease pedalling without taking his feet off the pedals, as indeed they may
form a rest for his or her feet, without fear of accident, during which the rotation
of the hub C and its wheel or wheels would continue, by reason of the momentum
stored in the machine, combined with the action of gravity, during which the
driving collar F would rotate idly in the direction of the arrow Fig. 4, within
the now stationary ring or sleeve H, the balls s upon the cessation of motion
of the said sleeve H, being forced up into the holes p therein, and allowing the
free rotation of the driving collar F until the pedals were again set in motion in
a forward direction, when the ring or sleeve H, by overtaking the collar F, would
allow the balls s (or some of them) to fall into the recesses g and again be jammed
between these and the holes 2, and so impart power for the propulsion of the
machine as previously described. During the propulsion of the machine and the
rotation of the driving collar F as stated, the brake collar G would be stationary,
the ring or sleeve H passing idly thereover, with its balls thrown up into the
holes in H, as shewn in Fig. 6, and the slight friction between F and G would
tend to unscrew the latter off the left handed thread a on the block B, thus
causing G to recede from the driving collar F towards the plate J, and so give
free and uninterrupted motion to the propelling mechanism, but when the rider
desires to arrest or brake the progress of the machine, he or she would simply back
pedal, and so rotate H in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, when the balls t
hitherto in the holes r in H would, or some of them, fall into the recesses h in the
brake collar G, and become jammed between the said recesses and the holes r, as
shewn in Fig. 5, thus imparting a backward motion to the brake collar G, which
would by such motion be screwed upon the block B until it becomes jammed against

page_text: the driving collar F (or the before mentioned interposed washer when employed)
thus arresting the progress of the hub C and braking or arresting the motion of
the machine.
The block B B although shewn screwed upon the axle A, may be shrunk or
otherwise fixed thereon, but when screwed on as shewn, we may in order to guard
against the possible rotation of the said block provide a projecting pin B, passing
through a hole in the plate or disc J, or other part of the machine, as suggested
by dotted outline at P Fig. 2.
For braking machines other than those arranged for free pedalling as described,
and where the sprocket or other driving wheel is fixed directly upon the hub C,
the brake collar G with its recesses and balls may be mounted upon a right hand
threaded block such as B, fixed upon the opposite end of A, in which case, a suitable
but narrower ring or sleeve H, retained upon G, may be caused to rotate in a back-
ward direction, the balls in which, by engagements with the recesses in the
collar G, causing the said collar to be screwed upon the said block and abut against
the end of the hub C, (or a collar or washer thereon) by a pull imparted upon a
cord, wire, or chain R, connected to the sleeve K surrounding the ring or sleeve H,
and operated from the handle-bar or other convenient part of the machine within
easy reach of the rider as suggested by Fig. 1.
The improved driving and brake mechanism as described and shewn, is adapted
for use upon any machine of the type referred to, is simple in construction, and
perfect in its operation, and does not materially add to the weight and cost of the
machine.
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:-
1st. The herein described driving and brake mechanisin for cycle velocipedes
generally, adapted to operate upon the rear or driven wheel or wheels of such a
machine, and consisting of a coned and threaded block mounted upon the stationary
axle, and carrying a collar side by side with a like collar in fixed connection with
the hub of the wheel, the said collars having like but reversed recesses carrying
steel balls, adapted to engage with a series of holes formed in an enclosing-ring or
sleeve, carrying sprocket or other teeth, adapted to receive motion by a chain or
other gear, operated by and from the pedal spindle, the said ring or sleeve and balls
operating alternately upon the said collars for propelling and arresting the progress
of the machine, substantially as herein set forth and shewn by the appended
drawings.
2nd. In an improved brake mechanism for cycles generally the combination with
the axle A of the rear or driven wheel or wheels, of a coned block
such as B, adapted to partly form a ball race for one end of the
hub C of the said wheel, the said block having a male screw-thread, carrying a
collar such as G, having in its periphery any number of tapered recesses such
as h, carrying balls t, and surrounded by a ring or sleeve such as H, having
slanting holes r corresponding in number and position with the said recesses, and
adapted to receive the said balls when thrown out of the said recesses, the said
holes r and sleeve H being covered by a ring or collar such as K, the whole con-
nected, and operating as a brake by back pedalling, or by the means of a cord,
wire, or chain R operated by the rider, substantially as and for the purposes herein
set forth and illustrated by the appended drawings.
3rd. In an improved driving mechanism for cycles generally, the combination with
the axle A of the rear or driven wheel or wheels, of a collar such as Fin fixed con-
nection with the hub C, and having in its periphery any number of tapered recesses
such as g, carrying balls s, and surrounded by a ring or sleeve such as H, having
holes such as corresponding in number and position with the said recesses, and
adapted to receive the said balls when thrown out of the said recesses, the said
sleeve H carrying sprocket, mitre, or other teeth, adapted to be operated by a

page_text: chain or other gear, actuated by and from the pedal spindle, the said sleeve H
and the holes p therein being covered by a ring or collar such as K, the whole
connected and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Did this 97th day of February 1899
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.