Improvements in Brakes for Cycles with Pneumatic or other Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1897-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Cycles with Pneumatic or other Tyres.
We, CHARLES HENRY ROUTLEDGE, of 8 Jasmine Grove, Anerley, in the County of:
Surrey, Clockinaker, and HENRY ASH, of 5 Castledine Road Anerley Park, Anerley,
in the County of Surrey, Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in cycle-brakes for pnenmatic and other
tyres, and consists in a novel and simple arrangement of a telescopic brake, the
connecting rod and actuating mechanisin of which are placed within the tubular head
of a cycle of any construction, instead outside thereof as in most brakes hitherto
used.
In applying our invention to a bicycle, we arrange within the hollow post of the
handle a suitable sliding piece or piston, aud to this sliding piece or piston we attach
A screwed rod or tube which extends downwards through the head and crown to a
hinged shoe, roller or equivalent device for operating upon the tyre of the wheel.
The lower end of this hollow post is partly closed by means of a cap which serves as a
guide for the dependent brake-rod or tube, and also to support a spiral spring which
abuts against the underside of the sliding piece or piston. The upper end of this
sliding piece or piston is furnished with a projecting lug which is normally in contact
with a segunental cam secured within one of the handles which is free to turn within
the tee or socket piece upon the head of the handle post. This handle has a tubular
extension which is continued through the tee piece and projects into the inner end
of the other handle, so as to be capable of being turned to a certain extent in one
direction within the latter, and the tubular extension is slotted or cut out on its
underside immediately over the lug on top of the sliding piece or piston to allow the
same to project through it. Within the tubular extension is secured a cani forined of
a segment of steel or other suitable material arranged to engage the lip on the upper
end of the sliding piece or piston, in such a way that by turning the handle
downwards the sliding piece and connecting rod will be depressed by the cam, and
the brake will be applied by the consequent movement of the hinged shoe roller or
other device.
By disconnecting the shoe or roller from the connecting rod the handle bars can be
raised and adjusted to suit the rider, and the rod can then be unscrewed to the
requisite position to meet the shoe or other device to which it is again connected.
Or in lieu of operating the connecting rod by means of the engagement of the
projecting lip and can as above described, we may otherwise arrange to effect the
same purpose by means of an archimedean screw or equivalent device working within
the inner tube.
The brake may be formed of solid or hollow rubber or other suitable material.
By the above described arrangement the brake is operated from the centre of the
head of the machine, and its construction combines simplicity and lightness with n
compact and neat appearance, at the same time that it economises space and
affords protection to the working parts which are thereby practically concealed from
view.

page_text: Or we may, if desired, arrange for both handles to turn within the tee-piece,
instead of only one as above described, so that the cam may be operated by either
hand.
We, CHARLES HENRY ROUTLEDGE of 8 Jasmine Grove, Anerley in the County of
Surrey, Clockinaker, and HENRY ASn of 5 Castledine Road, Anerley Park, Anerley, in
the County of Surrey, Traveller, 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 relates to improvements in cycle brakes and consists in an arrange-
ment whereby the plunger rod of the brake is actuated by one or both arms of the
handle-bar, the brake rod passing down through the stem of the handle-bar and the
steering post.
In order that our invention inay be better understood, reference is bad to the
accompanying sheet of drawings on which,
Figure 1, is a front elevation of the head and neighbouring portions of a bicycle
fitted with our improved brake-mechanism, a portion of the head and steering post
being removed.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same.
In carrying out our invention we arrange within the hollow stein a of the handle-
bar A a suitable sliding rod or piston and attach thereto a second screwed rod or
tube a extending downwards through the steering post enclosed within the head of
the bicycle frane, and through the crown of the machine, a suitable wearing piece e
consisting of a roller, spoon, shoe or the like being hinged or otherwise attached to
the end of the lower tube.
The shoe, if desired, may be hinged to the fork-crown clip aud in the ordinary
manuer, and the rods or tubes are held in position by suitable guides situated within
the stem of the bandle bar and the steering post.
The lower end of the handle-bar stem a is arranged to be closed by a pling or by a
screwed cap f, the brake rod passing through this latter and a strong spiral spring g
surrounds the brake rod being contained between the cap at the bottom of the handle
bar stem and a shoulder b' formed on or secured to a position at or near the upper
end of the brake rod.
The upper end of the brake rod is furnished with a projecting lug h normally in
contact with a segmental cam k secured within one of the arms of the handle-bar
which arm is free to turn within the T or socket piece at the centre of the
handle bar.
This handle bar is fitted with a tubular extension continued through the T-piece
and projecting into the inner end of the other handle, so as to be capable of being
turned through a predetermined are within the latter and the tubular extension is
slotted or cut out on its underside immediately over the lug to allow the latter to
project into it.
Within the tubular extension is secured the cain k of steel or other material

page_text: arranged to abut against the lug hou the upper end of the brake rod. On forcing the
handle bar A downwards this action will cause the cam to depress the brake rod and
apply the shoe or other wearing piece to the tyre of the wheel.
When it is wished to alter the height of the handle bars the shoe, the roller or
other wearing piece is disconnected from the lower brake rod or tube and the
handle bars adjusted to the desired position in the usual way. The lower rod or
tube is then screwed up or down the upper rod until correspondingly adjusted and
is then again connected to the wearing-piece. We may use an arrangement
similar to that for adjusting the ordinary tackle carried outside the frame hend,
the clamping nut in this case being situated near the fork crown so that access
thereto can readily be got. The telescopic rods or tubes forming the plunger rod
will in this case be adjusted in the usual manner.
In lieu of the plunger rod being operated by a single arm of the handle bar we
may arrange for a cam to actuate the plunger rod which cam is operated by
depressing both handle bars at once; in such case the handle bars may be forined
in one piece and be pivoted in the T-piece or socket immediately over the head of
the bicycle.
We arrange a spring g of suitable strength within the stem of the handle-bars to
avoid the accidental putting on of the brake, so that it will require considerable
pressure on the handle bar or the handle bars to depress the plunger rod.
spring also causes the handle bar or bars, after depression, to resume the normal
This
position.
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 :-
(1.) A brake for cycles, comprising a partially rotatable handle-bar arın furnish ed
with a cam arranged to actuate a brake plunger rod passing down the handle bar
stem and steering post, the plunger rod being supported in guides and furnished
with a wearing piece and strong spiral spring, the whole operating for the purposes
and as described.
(2.) In cycle brakes, a partly rotatable handle bar arm provided with a cam and
arranged to engage a projection upon the brake plunger rod within the stem and
steering post, for the purposes and as described.
(3.) In cycle brakes, the combination of a handle bar provided with a cam, of a
plunger rod furnished with a lug and extending through the stem and steering
post, and of a strong spiral spring contained in the stem of the handle bar and
controlling said plunger rod, substantially as described.
Dated :
For the Applicants,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.