Improvements in and connected with the Spokes, Wheels, and Brakes of Cycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1898-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Spokes, Wheels, and Brakes
of Cycles and similar Vehicles.
I, THOMAS DAWBER, of 42, Brunswick Street, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
The first part of this invention has reference to the spokes and wheels of cycles
and like vehicles, and consists of an improved method of attaching and tightening
the spokes.
Instead of the usual nipple for tightening the spokes, tighten the same by
crimping them with a suitable tool, so as to shorten their length, and at the same
time give them strength. The tool employed may take the shape of the letter T.
The horizontal portion of the T serves as a handle, whilst the vertical portion
is rounded, and furnished at its extremity with a groove, with which the spoke is
seized, and crimped to the requisite degree to tighten it.
As before stated, the usual nipples are thus dispensed with, and in lieu thereof,
the spokes may be formed at each end with a small head, one a little larger than
the other. The smaller one may be pushed through the hole in the rim, and is
afterwards secured to the hub in a peculiar and novel manner.
To secure the spokes to the hub, I form in the latter a number of holes with
side grooves.
The small head of the spoke is first introduced into the hole,
and then pushed into the side groove, when the spoke is tightened by crimping
as aforesaid.
This method of tightening the spokes may be used independently of the method
of attaching the spokes herein described.
The next part of my invention relates to brakes for cycles. I so mount or
swivel a two armed foot lever on the lower front tube or backbone of the machine,
that when pressure is applied by the foot of the rider, the top portion of the
lever will be pushed forward, which will have the effect of depressing the other
end of the lever. On the boss of the bottom or crank bracket, I fix a band clip
having a small link pivotted to it, the said link being secured to the band clip
bolt and nut.
of
The other end
the link is
is attached to
rod, which
the other extremity of the
foot lever, to that which is operated by the foot of the
the said link is also connected a rod carrying a brake block.
block is suspended from a clip fixed to the fork of the crank bracket, and is in
close proximity to the rear wheel.
by
a
a
connected to
armed
two
rider. To
This brake.
When the two armed swivel lever is operated by the foot of the rider, its
other end is depressed, which has the effect of forcing downward the rod connected
to it, and parallel with the lower front tube of the machine. This rod imparts
a forward movement to the link, which is received by the rod attached to the

page_text: brake block, thereby applying the brake to the tyre of the rear wheel. The brake
is returned by a spiral spring, preferably mounted on the rod, which is parallel
to the lower front tube.
The next part of my invention relates to a further improvement in brakes for
cycles, and consists in centrally pivotting the handlebars to the steering post of
the machine, so as to be capable of depression. To the vertical stem of the
handle-bars (which is capable of sliding loosely in the steering post) is connected
a plunger rod, which is passed through the steering post, and carries at its
extremity a brake block. The plunger brake is raised from contact with the
wheel by a spiral spring situated in the interior of the tubing, and the brake is
applied by an upward pull or a downward pressure of the handle-bars, according
to the manner in which the handle-bars are pivotted to the machine.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I have hereunto annexed
drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents the tool or instrument, which I prefer to
use for crimping the spokes. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a hub shewing the
method of attaching and crimping or tightening the spokes, while Fig. 3 represents
a spoke constructed in accordance with my invention, previous to being crimped.
The spokes are made as represented in Fig. 3 with a large head A at one end
and a smaller head B at the other. The hole in the rim is made sufficiently large
to allow the small head B to pass through it.
The extremity of the spoke with the small head B is now inserted in the hole (
(see Fig. 2) having side slot D, and is passed into the said slot. The spoke is
now crimped as shewn at E by means of the tool shewn in Fig. 1, so as to shorten
its length and tighten it, and any degree of tension can thus be obtained, according
to the number or degree of the crimpings.
This tool takes the form of the letter T formed at its extremity with a groove F,
by which the spoke is seized and crimped or twisted.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a bicycle fitted with my improvements, and as will
be seen by reference thereto, the rear wheel is rigged with a number of spokes
crimped at E in accordance with this part of my invention.
I wish it to be understood that my improved method of tightening or crimping
the spokes may be used independently of the method of attachment to the hub,
as ordinary spokes at present in use may be crimped to tighten them.
Again referring to Fig. 4, I will now proceed to describe my improved brake
for applying brake pressure to the tyre of the rear wheel of cycles. I mount on
the lower front tube or backbone G of the cycle by clip H the two armed foot
lever J, pivotted to the clip at K. Connected to this two armed foot lever at L
is rod M parallel to the lower front tube G, and attached at its other extremity
to swivel link M¹ carried by band clip 0 on the bottom bracket of the machine.
The brake block P is pivotted to the clip P¹, which is passed round one of the
compression stays of the machine as shewn, and is fixed to the brake rod Q, which
is connected to swivel link M¹.
When the foot lever J is operated by the foot of the rider, parallel rod M is
depressed, thus operating the swivel link M³, which pushes forward the brake
rod to apply the brake.
The brake is returned by a spiral spring Q, which bears against the bottom
bracket of the machine, and a pin R limits its vertical movement. Instead of
being connected to swivel link M', the parallel lever M may be connected to a
band brake arranged to clip a flange on the chain wheel of the crank shaft, and
thereby apply such brake with the movement of the lever M.
Fig. 5 (Sheet 2) is a sectional view of the steering post of a bicycle and frame
head, fitted with my new brake to be operated by an upward pull on the handle bars
Fig. 6 is a similar view shewing the brake arranged to work with a downward
pressure of the handlebars.
Referring to Fig. 5, the handle-bar S is pivotted to the projecting piece S
fixed to the ball head clip T, so as to participate in the movement of the steering
post. The vertical stem of the handle-bar is fixed to the plunger rod U, which
°

page_text: is arranged to slide loosely in the frame head U¹. The brake is applied by the
rider pulling upward the handle bars, when the plunger rod U is depressed.
The brake is returned by spiral spring V, whose ends bear against the shank W
of the plunger rod U, and the fork crown of the machine respectively.
In Fig. 6 the arrangement is reversed, the projection S¹ being fixed on the ball
head clip in front instead of behind, to which is pivotted the handle bar by
means of an extension X, whereby I obtain a reverse action, the brake being
thus applied by a downward pressure of the handle-bar.
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:-
1. The first part of my invention is crimping the spokes.
2. The second part of my invention is the spokes, one head smaller than the
other.
3. The third part of my invention is the hub with a number of round holes
with grooves on each side of the hole.
4. The fourth part of my invention is a foot brake to act on the rear wheel,
also on the chain wheel.
5. The fifth part of my invention is the brake adapted to the steering post
by upward or downward pressure.
6. The sixth part of my invention is a tool with a slot or groove at the end
to crimp or shorten the length of the spokes.
These new methods are my claims.
day 01 cury 1050.
RICHMOND & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 12, Standish Street, Burnley.