Improvements in Cycle Chain Adjustments and Brakes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left: 30th Mar 1897-Accented 22nd May 1807
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycle Chain Adjustments and Brakes.
JOHN WHITEHEAD 42, Anglesey Street Lozells, Aston in the County of
Warwick, Birmingham, Art Metal Worker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
3
.
In the part known as the bottom bracket in a bicycle or tricycle frame, inside
or outside the said bracket I fit a suitable spring or springs, to work or act vertically
or horizontally or otherwise as may be most desirable, and so arranged as to force or
push one of the chain wheels preferably the large one, away or apart from the
opposite chain wheel, which will have the effect of keeping the driving chain at a
medium or proper tension, when the following importaut advantages will be
attained.
"
The driving chain is kept at a medium or proper tension, thus greatly reducing
the possibility of the chain slipping or jumping off the chain wheels, which, is
liable and has been the cause of many serious accidents, inasmuch that the rider
loses a certain ammount of control over his machine, more especially if descending
& hill
Also if the driving chain is kept at a proper tension the 'travelling. is greatly
facilitated, the chain always being kept up to its work without slipping or jerking.
Also still a further advantage is that the chain being held in check or position
as regards proper tension, by the spring movement of the chain wheel, it will
compensate or give way to any uneveness or inaccuracies of the chain wheels which
sometimes occur.
11.
The chain is also more likely to be stretched when working over uneven, or
inaccurate chain wheels, whereby my invention obviates this.
The driving and steering wheels are kept in perfect track, the adjustment being
self 'acting cannot possibly get them out of truth, if necessary I may use an
adjusting screw to regulate the spring power.
In connection with the before mentioned spring or moveable bracket I fit one.or
more arms, rods, or levers, connected with a brake, which may be hinged, pivoted
or otherwise attatched to some part of the cycle frame, and so arranged, that in case
of accident such as the breaking of the driving chain, of a bicycle or tricycle, the
brake at once operates on or is forced against the tire of rear wheel, of the machine
automatically through the action of the bracket chain wheel, being forced forward,
by the spring arrangement as before mentioned, and immediately the chain wheel
breaks it is liberated so that it then pulls the arms or rods attatched thereto and
operates the brake preferably against the tire of the rear wheel, whereby the
progress of the machine is at once checked and probably an accident averted.
In some instances instead of attatching the said brake to act automatically, I may
arrange so that it can be worked by the foot or hand so as to operate on one, or
both wheels; but preferably I should apply the brake to the rear wheel only.
One important feature is that I shall dispense with the use of springs for taking
the brake off the wheel as at present, and shall use balance levers instead, whereby
much less power will be required to keep the brake on the wheel than when, a
spring is used therewith.
1000

page_text: Improvements in Cycle Chain Adjustments and Brakes.
JOHN WHITEHEAD 42 Anglesea Street Lozells Aston Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Art Metal Worker 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:---
In the part known as the bottom bracket in a bicycle or tricycle frame inside or
outside the said bracket I fit a suitable spring or springs to work or act vertically
or horizontally or otherwise as may be most desirable aud so arranged as to force
or push one of the chain wheels preferably, the large one apart or: away from the
opposite chain wheel which will have the effect of keeping, the driving chain at a
medium tension when the following important advantages will be attained.
The driving chain is kept at a medium or proper tension thus greatly reducing
'the possibility of the chain slipping or jumping off, the chain wheels, which is liable
and has been the cause of many serious, accidents, inasmuch that the rider.. loses a
certain amount of controll over his machine more especially if descending a hill.
Also if the driving chain is kept at a proper tension; the travelling is greatly
facilitated the chain always being kept up to its work without slipping or jerking,
also a still further advantage is that the chain being held in check or position as
regards proper tension by the spring movement of the chain wheel, it will compensate
or give way to any uncveness or inaccuracy of the chain wheels which sometimes
occurs; the chain is also more likely to be stretched through working over uneven
or inaccurate chain wheels (my invention obviates this) the driving and steering
wheels are also kept in perfect track, the adjustment being self acting cannot
possibly get them out of truth; if necessary I may use an adjusting screw to
regulate the spring power.
In connection with the before mentioned spring or moveable bracket I get one
or more arms, rods, or levers connected with a brake which may be hinged, pivotted
or otherwise attached to some part of the cycle frame and so arranged that in case
of accident such as the breaking of the driving, chain of a bicycle or tricycle the
brake at once operates on or is forced against the tyre of rear wheel of the machine
automatically through the action of the bracket chain wheel being forced forward
by the spring arrangement as before mentioned and immediately the chain breaks
it is liberated so that it then pulls the arms or rols attached thereto and operates
the brake preferably against the tyre of the rear wheel whereby, the progress of
the machine is at once checked and probably an accident averted.
I will now proceed to describe the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a side view of the method that I have adopted by preference to
illustrate my invention."
Letter a is the projecting portion of the sliding part of bracket carrying the
crank chain wheel; b shews the fixed part of bracket into which the tubular part
of a telescopes; cc are the frame lugs d is the brake; e is the lever arm; the
rear wheel and g the crank axle.
'
་་
Figure 2 shews the ground plan of the combined parts; à a a are the sliding or
telescoping parts of the moveable bracket same as a in Figure 1; bbb are the
tubular parts of the fixed part of bracket; c is the chamber from which the lugs c
on Figure spring; d d are the lugs for back fork; e is the coil spring in a
compressed state; is the screw for adjusting the springs e; and g is the crank
axle.

page_text: state of the spring e is normal when the driving chain is attached, the action of the
spring e being to keep the chain in tension by pressing the driving wheels apart.
The screw pin f Figure 1 is simply for adjusting the spring e Figure 2 when
required.
For preventing accidents through breaking or slipping of chain the moment it.
takes place the full power of the spring is expended in pushing the sliding part of
bracket a outwards when by the action of the lever arme Figure 1 the brake dis-
instantly and firmly applied.
I do not confine myself to any particular form of brake, manner of connecting to
the sliding part of bracket, or to the part of wheel to which it may be applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1st. To force or push the crank chain wheel away from the hub chain wheel.
2nd. A bracket formed in two parts the one telescoping into the other.
3rd. A self acting chain adjustment maintained by means of a spring action.
4th. A self acting brake applied by means of a spring action put in operation by
the breaking or slipping of driving chain.
5th. The method of adjusting the chain and of applying the brake substantially-
as described and illustrated.
Dated the 17th day of March 1907
JOHN WHITEHEAD.