Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles; and other like Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar.,
1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles; and other like
Machines.
We,
ROBERT FIELD of Byram Arcade, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Commission
Agent and FREDERIC COLLINS of the same place Cycle Agent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
:―
This invention has reference to brakes employed in connection with bicycles,
tricycles and the like, and consists in certain improvements in their construction and
arrangement whereby, whilst the power of such brakes to stop the machine is
maintained, the friction of the same upon the tyres is reduced to a minimum and
wear and tear thereby avoided, which is a very important feature when pneumatic,
cushion or inflated tyres are employed.
In order to carry out our invention, we form on or secure to the lower end of the
ordinary vertical rod or lever which carries or operates the present "spoon" brake,
a suitable form of bracket or fork between or in the centre of which we place a
roller or rollers mounted in slots or self adjusting bearings in the said bracket or
fork, and above or covering the said roller is a plate also bolted to the bracket
or fork and provided on its underside with leather or other suitable material. The
roller, when the brake handle is operated, is lowered into contact with the tyre of
the wheel which causes it to revolve, but as pressure is applied, such roller is forced
upwards and against the leather covered plate which retards its motion, or stops it
altogether, and thereby brings the machine to a standstill.
By the means above set forth, the friction resulting from the application of the
brake, is borne by the leather covered plate and roller, and not by the tyre as is
the case with the "spoon" brake, whereby the heating and cutting or ripping open
of pneumatic tyres and the damage done to solid or cushion tyres by the action of
the brake, are altogether avoided, thus permitting the riders to use their brakes
more frequently and to descend steeper gradients than they care to do at present.
There is also a considerable saving effected in repairs and renewals.
Instead of rollers, we may employ balls mounted between the fork in a similar
manner to that already described.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other like
Machines.
We, ROBERT FIELD, of Byram Arcade, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Commission
Agent, and FREDERIC COLLINS, of the same place, Cycle Agent 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 has reference to brakes employed in connection with bicycles,
tricycles and the like, and consists in certain improvements whereby, whilst the
power of such brakes to stop the machine is maintained, the friction of the same:
upon the tyres is reduced to a minimum which is a very important feature when
pneumatic, cushion, or inflated tyres are employed.
In carrying out our invention we form on or secure to the lower end of the
ordinary vertical rod or lever which carries or operates the present "spoon" brake,

page_text: a suitable form of bracket or fork, between or in the centre of which we place a
roller or rollers mounted in slots or self adjusting bearings in the said bracket, and
above or covering the said roller is a plate bolted to the bracket and provided, if
necessary, on its underside with leather or other suitable material. The roller,
when the brake handle is operated, is lowered into contact with the tyre of the
wheel which causes it to revolve, but as further pressure is applied such roller is
forced upwards and against the leather covered plate which retards its motion or
stops it altogether, and thereby brings the machine to a standstill.
In order that our invention may be more fully understood, reference is herein
had to the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein
.
Fig. 1 is side elevation of a brake constructed on the lines of our invention;
Fig. 2 is plan; and Fig. 3 sectional elevation of same, taken on line 1-2 of Fig. 2:
Fig. 4 is a similar sectional elevation shewing our improved brake constructed
with two rollers instead of with one roller; and
Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse and side sectional elevations respectively of our
improved brake shewing the use of balls in lieu of rollers.
:
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a denotes the vertical rod connected at its upper
end to the brake handle or lever of a bicycle or like machine, said rod being either
the ordinary vertical rod having the "spoon" brake cut off, or a new rod. The
lower end of this rod is provided with a screw thread and is adapted to screw into
the part of the bracket or frame b which carries the roller and parts comprising
our invention, said rod being forced downwards to apply the brake by means of the
brake handle and raised to its normal position by spring in the ordinary manner.
The bracket is provided with a spring or other metallic plate or cover e
resting upon a plate d composed of hardened steel, leather, or other suitable
material supported on the upper edges of the bracket and both secured thereto by
bolts or screws e e. is a roller composed of leather, vulcanite fabric, -hardened
india rubber, or other suitable composition, or of metal or other suitable material
which will withstand a reasonable amount of wear and tear and made either solid.
or hollow, the axle or shaft of which is journalled in the slotted bearings h, h,
formed in the bracket 6 in which it is capable of revolving and of moving vertically
a short distance.
g
The shaft is held down in its bearings, normally, by springs k, k, confined
between the plate d and the shoulders 4, 1, formed on the lower ends of spindles m. m.
projecting through the plates c and d the said shoulders being dished or concaved
on their undersides so as to be concentric with the shaft y, with the upper surface
of which they engage.
When the roller is in its normal position as shewn in the drawings, there is a
small space between it and the plate d, so that when the brake handle is pressed so
as to lower the bracket b and place the roller into contact with the tyre of the
steering wheel of the bicycle, the friction between said roller and the tyre will
cause the roller to revolve, but on further pressure being applied to the brake
handle, the roller is caused to rise in the slotted bearings h, and is forced against
the plate d, the friction between which, retards the motion of the roller for tends
to stop it altogether, according to the amount of pressure exerted for that purpose,
and in this manner the motion of the machine is likewise retarded or brought to a
standstill. The contact of the roller with the tyre may in some cases give sufficient
resistance to reduce the speed of the machine, but by placing it also into contact,
with a stationary surface full control over the machine is obtained. On releasing
the brake handle, the rod a and bracket 6 are raised to their original positions by
the spring or springs at present in use, and the roller is placed in its normal
position by the springs k, k, which have been compressed by the shaft g rising in
its bearings.
.1..
The roller is fluted, as at neither longitudinally or diagonally, so that a better
biting surface is obtained and there is less liability of the roller slipping around'
when forced into contact with the plate d.

page_text: For the purpose of preventing accumulation of dirt and dust in the brake, and
for removing mud or other matter adhering to the roller f, we bend the front end
of the plate c downwards over the roller, as at cl, so that its extreme edge just
clears the periphery of the roller, which, being rotated by the machine in the
direction of the arrow, is thereby kept free from adhering matter or substances.
Instead of said plate e being bent in the form shewn, it may be made concentric
with the roller and so as to leave only a small space between the two.
1
In Fig. 4 we shew an additional roller supported in slotted bearings in the
bracket behind the roller. The last named roller acts in the same manner as
above set forth, whilst the roller f having only lateral self adjustment, is made to
act upon the roller so that when both are in contact with the tyre of the wheel,
they revolve in opposite directions at the point of contact and give additional
braking power.
In Figs. 5 and 6 we shew the application of balls in lieu of rollers.
In this case, the balls,,, are held in an inverted pocket or shell P formed
by the bracket and bent end of plate c, below the mouth of which pocket, the
balls protrude sufficiently to allow of same always being in contact with the tyre of
the wheel when applied to brake same. As previously described with reference to
the roller, the balls, by pressure applied to the brake handle, are placed in
contact with the tyre and forced against the plate d which latter retards the motion
given to them by the wheel and consequently retards or stops the machine.
66
By the means and method above set forth, the friction resulting from the appli-
cation of the brake is borne principally by the metal or leather plate d and
roller f, or balls fff, and not by the tyre of the wheel as is the case with the
spoon" brake, whereby the beating and cutting, or ripping open of pneumatic,
cushion, or inflated tyres especially, and the damage done to solid tyres by the
action of the aforesaid " spoon "brake, are altogether avoided, thus permitting
riders to use their brakes more frequently and to descend steeper gradients than
it is safe to do at present. A saving is also effected in repairs and renewals
of the tyres and parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
Firstly. In a brake for bicycles, tricycles, and like machines the roller f
journalled in slotted bearings h, h, or in a bracket b, and capable of vertical move-
ment therein, in combination with a plate d composed of metal, leather or other
suitable material secured to said bracket and adapted to prevent rotation of said
roller, substantially as shewn and described herein.
Secondly. In a brake for bicycles, tricycles, and like machines, the combination,
with a bracket having slotted bearings h. h., of a roller journalled in said
bearings, springs k, k, confined between plate d and shoulders 1, 1, on spindles m, m,
plate d composed of leather, metal, or like suitable material and mud guard c',
arranged in the manner and for the purposes shewn and described.
Thirdly. In a brake for bicycles tricycles, and like machines, the combination,
with a roller mounted in self adjusting bearings and operated in the manuer set
forth for retarding or stopping the movement of the machine, of an additional
roller mounted in slotted bearings in bracket b, and having lateral self
adjustment substantially as shewn and described.
Fourthly. In a brake for bicycles, tricycles, and like machines, the combination,
with a bracket and plate d, of two, three or more balls arranged and operated
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein shewn and described.
1
גו'
1000
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents.