Improvements relating to Brakes for Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Brakes for Velocipedes.
We MAX SCHWERTFÜHRER and JOSEF PFALNER both of Munich in the
Empire of Germany, Merchants do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In the usual mechanism for applying brakes on velocipedes the lever operating
the brake is influenced by a spring so that the brake block, band or spoon is kept
distant from the wheel. The rider therefore when applying the brake has not only
to exercise with the hand the pressure necessary for that purpose but has also to
overcome the pressure of the spring whereby the hand is liable to become fatigued
during a prolonged use of the brake.
The object of this invention is to do away with this fatigue and to facilitate the
application of the brake.
The brake is arranged to be operated by the movement of a rod in the line of
its length. This rod projects laterally into a prismatic or cylindrical guiding
chamber in which a block is placed to be moved back and forth by the brake hand
lever by means of a connecting rod. This block has a lateral recess with an
inclined floor against which the end of the brake rod aforesaid is held by its
spring, the incline of the floor is curved so that during the first part of the move-
ment of the block the rod is moved more quickly the brake being not yet applied,
and during the latter part of the movement the incline diminishes so that greater
power is had in applying the brake after the latter has come in contact with the
tyre of the wheel or the drum against which it is arranged to press.
Dated this 11th day of September 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
. Agents to Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Brakes for Velocipedes.
We MAX SCHWERTFÜHRER and JOSEF PFALNER both of Munich in the
Empire of Germany, Merchants 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 usual mechanism for applying the brake on a velocipede a spring is pro-
vided to operate either directly or indirectly against the brake lever to hold the
latter so that the brake is kept distant from the wheel or the drum against which
it is pressed when the brake is applied. The rider when applying the brake has
therefore to exercise a direct force not only to maintain the brake in action
but also to overcome the tension of the said spring during the whole time that the
brake is in action.
The present invention consists in an improved mechanism by which the fatigue
to the hand of the rider due to above causes is obviated.
The mechanism consists of a combination of parts in which the rod carrying or
operating the brake is controlled by the movement of a wedge in a plane athwart
the direction of movement of the rod the said wedge being moved by hand through
suitable gear according to the style of the velocipede so that when the brake is
applied very little or substantially no hand pressure is necessary to maintain it
in action.

page_text: 66
The annexed drawing illustrates the invention as applied to the handle bar of a
safety" bicycle or similar handle bar.
Referring to Fig. 1, L is the handle bar, underneath the latter is fixed the
tubular guide frame A in which slides the block or wedge having in its under
surface the recess 61 with an inclined floor 62. c is the rod which carries or governs
the brake, the end of said rod projects through the bottom of the frame A into the
recess against the floor of which it is held by a spring such as c'. The wedge b
is moved back and forth by the angle lever e located near the handle L' the said
lever being connected by the rod d to the wedge. The floor is made with a
curved incline so that the steepness thereof diminishes as the brake is applied
with greater force. Since there is no back pressure against the hand lever with
this mechanism it is convenient to provide the latter with a lug &¹ to serve as a
thumb lever to operate the return of the lever e and subsequent release of the
brake.
In Fig. 2 the wedge bis replaced by a cam 63 whose pivot lies in the extension
of the centre line of the rod c. The casing A may then be of any suitable shape
to cover and guard the parts from dust etc., the remainder of the mechanism is as
before described.
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
1. In a velocipede the combination with a longitudinally movable brake operating
rod c of a wedge or cam ³ guided in a plane transversely to the direction of
movement of said brake rod and lever gear for moving said wedge substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a velocipede the combination with the guiding frame A of the block b
movable therein the lateral recess with inclined floor in said block, the rod c
projecting into said recess, the spring c' and lever gear for moving said block for
the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a brake rod c of a wedge block or cam adapted to
move said brake rod, a hand levere for driving said wedge block or cam and a lug e¹
on said lever for loosening said wedge block substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 19th day of May 1801
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicants.