A New or Improved Brake for Bicycles, Tricycles, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Brake for Bicycles, Tricycles, and the like.
I, FRANKLIN SHAW WHITTELL, of Holmfirth, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire,
Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention has reference to bicycles and tricycles, the object thereof being
to apply a new and improved self-locking form of brake for arresting or stopping
the machine. According to the present construction of brakes, they are applied
or are made to operate upon the india-rubber tyre, usually placed in the outer
rim or periphery of the wheel, but this method is objectionable, as the brake acts
injuriously upon the india-rubber.
According to my invention I employ a hinged jaw or two jaws made to act
upon both sides of the wheel instead of upon the periphery or upon the india-
rubber tyre, by which means I obtain more braking power without damaging the
india-rubber tyre. These hinged jaws are connected to a second pair of jaws
by links and rod to a hinged lever arranged under the steering handle, so that
when the rider wishes to apply his brake he grips hold of the handle and also
the hinged bar, whereby the brake is immediately put on the wheel.
The braking surfaces of the hinged jaw may be formed of leather, wood, or
other suitable material, and if required I may employ one or more small runners,
to be carried by the jaws or runners, so that when first applied they do not act
too suddenly upon the sides of the wheels, but on the jaws being more keenly
applied, the runners yield and become locked, in which case they cease to revolve.
and act as a brake upon the wheel.
I prefer that both sides of the wheel be made with flanges, between which the
brake is made to work, to prevent it getting out of position.
Dated this 7th dow of Tul 1800
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield and Halifax, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Brake for Bicycles, Tricycles, and the like.
1, FRANKLIN SHAW WHITTELL of Holmfirth near Huddersfield, Yorkshire,
Schoolmaster 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 :-
My invention has reference to bicycles and tricycles, the object thereof being to
apply a new and improved self-locking form of brake for arresting or stopping the
machine. According to the present construction of brakes, they are applied or are
made to operate upon the india-rubber tyre, usually placed in the outer rim or
periphery of the wheel, but this method is objectionable as the brake acts
injuriously upon the india-rubber.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, reference is herein
made to the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1. is part front elevation of a safety bicycle, for which my invention is
more particularly intended, having my improved brake applied thereto, and
Fig. 2 is side elevation of same.
A is the front wheel, of the machine and B the fork, the upper end of which
receives the handle C, these parts being arranged in the ordinary manner. Pivotted
on a stud a secured to the fork are two bent levers or jaws b and the lower
extremities of which are provided with flat or slightly hollowed surfaces b and c¹
covered with leather or other suitable material d, the said surfaces forming the
Drive 61

page_text: brake, and acting, when operated as afterwards explained, upon each side of the
rime of wheel A; the surfaces b' and c' are extended and joined together at s by
a pin secured to bracket t. The upper ends of the bent levers or jaws b and c are
connected by toggle jointed levers or links fand 7 to the vertical rod h whose
upper end is connected to the brake handle i, the latter being pivotted on stud k
secured to bracket k¹. On one side of the rod h I form a number of teeth or
serrations m into which takes a catch n pivotted at n' to the bracket n³ attached to
the fork B, said catch being connected by link o to the extremity of an additional
hand lever p pivotted on stud k.
The catch n is kept in gear with the teeth m by means of flat spring r confined
between the hand-levers i and p and handle C, such said spring also acting upon
the brake handle i so as to keep the braking surfaces and c₁ clear of the rim of
the wheel.
When applying the brake, the rider grasps the brake handle and pulls it
upwards the result being that the rod is forced down and by means of the toggle
jointed levers or links ƒ and g places the upper extremities of the bent levers or
jaws b and c further apart whilst the lower extremities, with a "pincer" like
action, are brought towards each other, causing the braking surfaces b¹ and c¹ to
bind tightly against the rim e and bringing the machine to a stand in a very short
distance. Immediately the brake handle is released, the catch n holds the rod l
and jaws b and c in the positions in which they have been placed in applying the
brake, as shewn in full line on the drawings; but when wishing to release the
brake, the hand lever p is raised, which, by means of link o, causes the catch n to
move on its fulcrum clear of the teeth on rod h whereupon the flat spring acts
upon the brake handle and reverses the positions of the several parts as shewn in
dotted lines.
The front ends of the braking surfaces b' and c' are bent at right angles so as to
clear away dirt and other like matter.
In addition to or instead of the braking surfaces described, I may employ one
or more small runners mounted in self adjusting bearings so that when the brake
is first applied it will not act too suddenly upon the sides of the wheels, but on
the jaws being more keenly applied the runners are forced against the jaws sup-
porting them and become locked, or jammed between the sides of the wheel and
the said jaws, whereby they cease to revolve and act as a brake upon the wheel.
To prevent the brake getting out of position I may form flanges on both sides of
the wheel between which flanges the brake is made to work.
By the means above described no injury is sustained by the india-rubber tyres
as is the case where ordinary brakes are used, and the machine can be brought
to a stand-still in a very short distance, and with much less strength than is
required in applying the "spoon" brake. The apparatus described can be applied
to the rear wheel instead of to the front wheel of the machine if preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Firstly. The bent levers or jaws b and c provided with surfaces 61 and c¹ for
engaging with each side of the wheels of bicycles and tricycles, together with
means for operating same, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The combination of the bent levers or jaws b and c, toggle jointed
levers or links ƒ and g and vertical serrated rod together with the self locking
device and means of operating same, substantially as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The combination, with the parts forming my improved brake, of the
double flat spring for purposes substantially as described.
+
Dated this 7th day of April 1891
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents for the Applicant.