Improvements in and relating to Combined Hub Coasting and Brake Mechanisms for Bicycles and other like Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
Improvements in and relating to Combined Hub Coasting and Brake
Mechanisms for Bicycles and other like Vehicles.
We, ALEXANDER PATTERSON MORROW, Mechanical Expert, and HARMON HEALY
FULTON, Manufacturer, residing respectively at 312, West First Street, and
468, West Gray Street, in the City of Elmira, County of Chemung and State of
New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of our in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in combined hub coasting and brake
mechanisms for bicycles and other like vehicles; and the object is to provide
an improved and simplified mechanism mounted on the hub of a vehicle of the
kind or style involved whereby the wheel to which the invention is applied may
be free to revolve independently of the power which ordinarily and positively
propels it, and may also on the reversal of the power be made to brake the wheel
to stop the progress of the wheel and vehicle. The invention therefore consists
in the novel construction and combination of parts involved in the mechanism,
as will be hereinafter fully described and set forth, and then particularly
pointed out and claimed.
The invention is fully and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
to be taken as a part thereof, and wherein-
Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a hub embodying our
improved construction and to which our improved combined coasting and brake
mechanism is applied.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hub with the mechanism removed there-
from.
Figure 3 is a perspective of the brake-shoe, and the bracket or ring which locks
it against rotation.
Figure 4 is a detail view showing the brake ring the clutch-ring, the sprocket
wheel, the anti-friction roller ring, locking ring, and locking nut, arranged in
adjacent sequence of assemblage.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the hub of the rear wheel of a
bicycle, consisting of a cylinder of proper length and diameter, supported on an
axle 1, provided with conical bearing sleeves 2, 2, and revolving thereon by
ball-bearings 3, 3, held in place by the usual means, and all being of any suit-
able construction and arrangement, substantially as shown. Adjacent to one
end of the hub is a spoke-flange 4, adapted to have secured thereto the lower
ends of one set of the wheel spokes. At a proper point on the hub is formed an
annular dish or cup shaped flange 5, which overhangs the hub, and the mouth of
which opens towards the brake-end of the hub, and the rim of which is formed
with a vertical annular spoke-flange 6, to which the other series of spokes may
be secured in any suitable manner. The inner face or surface as 7, of this
brake-flange 5 is preferably flaringly inclined for the greater portion of its
depth, and then at the mouth is straight and parallel with the axis of the hub,
s at S.

page_text: B designates the brake-shoe, consisting of a metal sleeve or cylinder 9, formed
with a cylindrical extension or flange 10, and preferably, an inclined or tapering
portion 11, provided with exterior screw-threads, as indicated, and on the threaded
portion is screwed the frictional shoe 12, made of any suitable material, and
having a superficial exterior formed and tapered coincident with the interior
of the brake-flange 5, as shown in the drawing. In the extension or flange 10
are formed transversely disposed ways or grooves 13, 13 diametrically opposite
from which lead open end slots 14, see dotted lines Figure and on this portion
of the brake-shoe is fitted and held a holding ring 15, formed with radial interior
lugs 16, 16, adapted to slip into the ways 13, and then to engage in the slots 14.
The ring 15 is formed with an arm 17, having laterally turned flanges, or
plates 18, 18, at the end portion, which flanges set over one of the fork-bars of
the frame and hold the ring against rotation; and the ring being thus locked
to the frame and to the brake shoe sleeve by means of the lugs of the ring and
keys k, in the ways 13, the brake-shoe is held from rotation also.
Mounted loosely on the hub is a brake-ring 19, having an annular bead or
rib 19, at its inner end to engage the interior incline or bevel 11, of the brake-
shoe sleeve, as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings. This brake-ring 19, has
a limited longitudinal play or movement on the hub, so that it automatically
releases itself from braking contact with the brake shoe when the force is removed
which caused such engagement. In the interior of the brake-ring are formed
oppositely arranged bearing plates 21, 21, the outer ends of which constitute
cam surfaces against which the inner extended cams of the clutch ring engage
to force the brake-ring longitudinally on the hub and into engagement with the
brake-shoe sleeve.
22 designates the clutch-ring loosely mounted on the hub and formed with
extended cams 23, 23 on its inner edge which engage against the opposing cam-
end of the plates 21, 21%, on the inner face of the brake-ring. On the opposite
and outer edge of the clutch-ring 22 are formed a series of inclines, cams or
ratchet-teeth 24, to engage with the opposing cams on the inner face of the
sprocket-wheel, as hereinafter specified. The interior surface of the clutch-ring
is formed with two parallel planes, 25, 25*, the former being of larger diameter
than the latter, and the two being united by an incline 26, which is adapted
to ride on an annular bead or rib 27, on the hub, and thus lock the hub, the
ring and the sprocket-wheel together with the pedals are rotated in the forward
movement to propel the machine.
C designates the sprocket-wheel loosely mounted on the hub so that the hub
may rotate independently thereof when coasting, and while the sprocket-wheel
is held against rotation by stopping the pedals and holding them in fixed position
by the non-movement of the chain. The inner face of the hub of the sprocket-
wheel is formed with a series of face-inclines, cams, or ratchet-teeth 28, coin-
cident to and engaging with the contiguous cams on the outer edge of the clutch-
ring. These inter-engaging sets of cams of the sprocket-wheel and the clutch-
ring do not ride past each other, but when engaged have a limited sliding move-
ment on each other, sufficient to lock and unlock the sprocket-wheel on its bear-
ing, and so that when desired to brake the wheel the cams will align and the
clutch ring and sprocket-wheel reverse together, thus bringing the cams' on the
inner face of the clutch-ring into engagement with the brake-ring and push
that element into engagement with the brake shoe and brake the machine.
On the inner face of the sprocket-wheel is formed a circular flange 29, extend-
ing longitudinally inwards a proper distance over the circumferential face of the
clutch ring which it loosely surrounds, as indicated in the drawings in Figure 1;
and on the outer face of the sprocket-wheel is a circular flange 30, extending the
proper distance over the exterior face of the ring which carries the anti-friction
rollers, as hereinafter specified.
Between the free, or inner edge, of the circular flange 29 and the outer end
of the brake-ring is interposed a suitable expansive spiral spring 31, encircling

page_text: the clutch ring and the force of which tends to keep the sprocket-wheel upright
and to push it in continuous contact with the anti-friction rollers.
32 designates a collar formed with interior screw-threads 33, which engage
with counter-threads on the end of the hub. The inner end of this ring is
formed with a plurality of recesses 34, in which are vertically disposed anti-
friction rollers 35, which bear against the outer face of the sprocket-wheel, as
indicated in the drawings, and thus relieve the friction when the hub is turning
and the sprocket wheel is held stationary..
}
To lock the collar 32 on the hub, a ring 36 is employed, which is formed with
projecting ears or lugs 37 which engage and fit in corresponding recesses 38,
made in the outer end of the collar; and in the interior edge of the ring 86,
are formed ears or lugs 39, which engage in recesses 40 in the perimeter of the
hub and to hold the parts altogether in operative relation and aggroupment a
clamping nut 41, is secured into the end of the hub, as indicated in the drawings.
To assemble the parts, the hub and axle are supplied with the requisite bear-
ings and parts in a well known manner. The brake-flange of the hub, the brake-
ring carrying the brake-shoe put in place, then the clutch-ring, then the spring;
followed by the sprocket-wheel, then the anti-friction roller ring with the rollers
therein, then the ring 36, and then the fastening nut 41, is screwed home, and
the parts are in operative relation and position; and when so assembled, arranged
and secured the operation is as follows:-During the usual forward movement
of the vehicle the sprocket-wheel is locked to the hub by the stress of the chain
which tends to move the loosely mounted sprocket-wheel in the direction of the
power, the movement causing the cams of the sprocket-wheel and the clutch-ring
5 to engage and ride on each other causing the ring to move longitudinally and
engage on the bead or rib 27 on the hub and thus the parts, hub, clutch-ring and
sprocket-wheel are held rigidly and securely in engagement. In this locking
of the parts the clutch ring does not move the brake-ring because the cams on
that side are free from the ring and only engage therewith on the reversal of
the pedals. When it is desired to move or throw the parts into coasting relation
and position, the pedals are stopped and held in one position, thereby, through
the medium of the chain, holding the sprocket-wheel stationary, which action
immediately and automatically releases the engagement of the clutch-ring from
the bead on the hub, and the hub with the wheel, is free to rotate until the parts
5 are again thrown into engagement by the forward rotation of the pedals. When
it is desired or required to brake the wheel, all that is necessary is to "back-
pedal," which brings the teeth of the engaging cam into alignment and effects
a reversal in rotation of both the sprocket-wheel and the clutch-ring, the move-
ment of the latter bringing the inner cam surface thereon into operative contact
with the brake-ring and pushing that element into engagement with the brake-
shoe sleeve, which engages strongly with the inner surface of the brake-flange
on the hub, and thus, it is readily perceived, the brake and the hub are held in
strong frictional or braking contact, and so that the wheel will speedily be
brought to a stand-still; or move forward with a gradually decreasing speed,
5 regulated according to the power expended on the pedals.
While I have shown and described a preferred construction of elements, we
desire it to be understood that, we claim all modified constructions not amounting
to departures from the principles of operation herein suggested.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
Ovention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. A hub braking mechanism for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising the
hub formed with a Haring annular brake-surface thereon, a non-rotative tapering
brake shoe, and means loosely mounted on the hub and actuated by the reversal
5 of the sprocket-wheel to impact the brake-shoe and force or push the latter against
the brake-surface

page_text: 2. A hub braking mechanism for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising the
hub having a braking surface thereon, a non-rotative brake-shoe, and means
loosely mounted on the hub and encompassed by the brake-shoe and actuated
by the reversal of the sprocket-wheel to impact the brake-shoe and force the
latter against the said braking surface.
3. A hub braking mechanism for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising the
hub having a braking surface thereon, a brake shoe carried by the hub, a brake-
ring on the hub to contact the shoe, and means on the hub enclosed by said brake-
ring and, operated by back-pedaling to push or force the brake-ring into engage-
ment.
4. A combined coaster and brake for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising a
hub, two rotatable elements loosely mounted on the hub coacting with cach
other and with means on the hub to lock the latter and the two rotatable elements
together, a braking-surface on the hub, a brake-shoe, and mean's also loosely
mounted on the hub and actuated by the sprocket-wheel to operate the brake-shoe.
5. A combined coaster and brake for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising the
rear hub, two rotatable elements mounted on said hub coacting with each other
and with means on the hub to lock the latter and the two rotatable elements
together or to unlock said parts, a braking-surface on the hub, a brake-shoe,
and means also loosely mounted on the hub and operated by back-pedaling to
push or force the brake shoe into engagement with the hub braking surface.
6. A braking mechanism for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising a rear
wheel hub formed with an overhanging annular flange, a non-rotating brake-shoe
arranged to engage within the flange, a brake-ring on the hub to contact the shoe
and means on the hub actuated by the sprocket wheel, and enclosed by the
brake-ring, to push the latter into engagement.
7. A braking mechanism for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising the whee!-
hub formed with an overhanging and flaring annular brake-flange, a brake-shoc
disposed within the flange and formed with an arm arranged to engage the frame
of the machine and hold the brake-shoe stationary, a brake-ring on the hub
having a limited longitudinal movement thereon, and means on the hub actuated
by the sprocket-wheel to push the brake-ring longitudinally to put on the
brake.
8. A braking mechanism for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising the wheel
hub formed with an overhanging annular flange, a brake-shoe disposed within
the flange and held against rotation, a brake-ring on the hub to engage the brake-
shoe, a loosely mounted ring, on the hub formed with cams to engage the brake-
rim and move it to effect the brake, and a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on
the hub formed with means to turn the adjacent ring when reversed, substantially
as specified.
9. A braking mechanism for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising the hub
formed with brake flange, a brake-shoe arranged within the brake-flange, an arm
secured to the brake-shoe and to the frame of the machine to hold the brake-
shoe against rotation, a brake-ring mounted on the hub and formed with cam
surfaces on its outer end, a clutch-ring on the hub having cams to engage those
on the brake-ring, and cams on its outer edge, a sprocket-wheel on the hub
reversely rotatable thereon and formed with cams on its inner face to engage
the adjacent cams of the ring and reversely rotate, whereby the cams on the other
side of the ring engage and push the brake-ring to lock the brake.
10. The brake for bicycles and similar vehicles, hereindescribed, comprising a
hub formed with brake flange or surface, an annular brake-shoe tapered to
fit within the brake-flange, and held against rotation, a brake-ring loosely
mounted on the hub and having a limited longitudinal movement thereon and
formed with interior plates having cam-surfaces on their outer ends, a clutch-
ring loosely mounted on the hub, and formed with cam-surfaces to engage the
cams on the brake-ring, and formed interiorly to lock to the hub when rotated
forward, and having cams on the outer end or edge, and a sprocket-wheel mounted

page_text: loosely on the hub and formed with cams on its inner face to engage the cams
on the outer end of the clutch-ring, whereby when the sprocket-wheel is reversed
the clutch-ring is rotated and its inner cam-surfaces brought into contact with the
brake-ring and the brake applied.
11. A hub coasting and braking mechanism for bicycles and like vehicles,
comprising the hub, means loosely mounted on said hub for forcing the hub and
wheel to revolve with the sprocket wheel when the latter is given a forward
rotation and permitting the hub and wheel to run free when the sprocket-wheel
is held against rotation, an annular braking surface formed on the hub, a brake
shoe carried by said hub, and means loosely mounted on the hub and actuated
by the reversal of the sprocket-wheel to force the brake-shoe against the braking
surface.
12. A hub coasting and braking mechanism for bicycles and like vehicles,
comprising the hub, coasting mechanism loosely mounted on the hub and adapted
to engage and rotate the hub when forward driving power is applied to the
sprocket-wheel, but allowing the hub to run free when the sprocket-wheel is
held against rotation a braking surface formed on the hub, a non-rotative brake
shoc, and means loosely mounted on the hub and operated by the reversal of the
sprocket-wheel for forcing the brake-shoe against the braking surface.
13. A bicycle hub formed with an annular overhanging brake-flange formed
with an interior braking surface.
14. A bicycle hub formed with an annular overhanging brake-flange the inner
surface of which is flaring towards the mouth of the flange.
15. A bicycle hub formed with an annular flaring and overhanging brake-
flange, and a vertical annular spoke-flange about the rim.
Dated the 10th d
"1
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.