An Improved Construction and Arrangement of Brake for Cycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Construction and Arrangement of Brake for Cycles
and the like.
I, JOHN LANG, of Crawford Park, Dunblane, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to apply and adapt a new form of brake to the
wheels of this class of machine, the primary object of my invention being to apply
a brake which either may be instant in its action or slow and easy according to the
judgment and discretion of the rider.
In carrying out my invention which may be applied to the hind wheel or to the
axle of the treadle, I place upon the axle of the said hind wheel or treadle a boss or
collar (but not necessarily so, as the axle may be enlarged) and in contact with this
boss or collar or enlarged axle is a washer of leather or other suitable material
attached to or combined with a frictional strap connected on the underside by one or
more links to a fixed bracket or finger the opposite end of the said links being
connected to a hinged lever which by means of a chain, cord or other suitable device
passing under or over guide pulleys is connected by rods and links to the steering
part of the machine.
A quadrant is employed between the terminus of the chain and the steering
apparatus upon which quadrant are the prongs or forked end of a plunger or vertical
bar therefore whilst the rider is free to steer his machine in any direction (tlie-
quadrant permitting this to be done) yet if the rider requires to apply the brake he
simply needs to compress a suitable form of lever when the chain or cordis tightened
binding the leather washer upon the axis of the bind wheel or the axis of the
treadle whereupon the machine can be brought to an instant standstill or it
can be brought to the most gradual and easy standstill but in any case
whilst the rider is free to steer his machine he can also with the greatest
of freedom slacken the speed of his machine and this is done without any
friction or grinding action upon the periphery of the tyres. I wish it also to be
understood that by counteracting the speed of the driving wheel on the treadles the
speed of the machine is more quickly arrested than is possibly the case when
arresting the speed of the front wheel which is not a driving wheel but one which is
propelled by the driving wheel.
Dated this 90th day of December 100

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Construction and Arrangement of Brake for Cycles
and the like.
.
I, JOHN LANG, of Crawford Park, Dunblane, North Britain, Gentleman, 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 refers to an improved construction and arrangement of brake for
velocipedes and like machines, the primary object of my improvements, being to
provide a brake which may either be instant, or gradual and easy, in its action,
according to the judginent and discretion of the rider.
In carrying out my invention I place or form upon the hub of the hind wheel
or crank spindle, a boss or collar, or enlarged drum or flange, and partially
surrounding this is a metal strap, lined on two or more of its inner sides with leather or
other suitable material and preferably built up in sections hinged together, or the
hub itself may be covered with leather or both the hub and the inner side
of the strap may be covered with leather. One end of the said strap is connected to
a fixed bracket or finger and the opposite end is connected to or has formed integral
therewith a lever which, by means of a chain cord or other suitable device passing
round guide pulleys, is coupled to an arm or lever pivoted on a stud secured to a
bracket attached to the ball head or front part of the frame of the machine. The
said arm or lever carries a quadrant with which engages a fork or prong formed on
the end of the vertical plunger attached to an ordinary brake lever or handle, the
said quadrant permitting the plunger to move freely from side to side, with
the steering column without moving out of engagement therewith.
To apply
the brake, the rider compresses the brake handle or lever in the ordinary way, this
action depressing the plunger which acts on the quadrant and oscillates the arm
carrying same with the result that the chain or cord is tightened and the friction
strap closed upon the boss or drum on the hub of the wheel, the friction of the
leather washer or lining on said boss or drum retarding the speed of the machine
either instantly or gradually, as the rider determines by the pressure he applies to the
brake lever. By means of said' brake, all friction on the tyres is avoided, the speed
of the machine can be more quickly arrested, and there is not the same liability of
the rider being thrown over the front of the machine on applying the brake suddenly
when going at a good speed as is the case with ordinary brakes.
Such being the nature and object, of my said invention I will now describe the
same more fully, and for this purpose have hereto annexed three sheets of drawings
forming a part of this Specification, in which:
Fig. 1 is elevation of a velocipede having my improved brake applied.
Fig. 2 is enlarged elevation of the front part of the frame or ball head having the
quadrant and pivoted arm thereon.
Fig. 3 is plan of same taken on line 1. 2.
Fig. 4 is enlarged elevation of the brake, and
Fig. 5 is plan thereof.
Fig. 6 is elevation of a velocipede shewing a modification in the arrangement of
the chain or cord for actuating the brake.
Referring to the drawings letter a represents a drum collar or boss formed.or
secured on the hub of the driving wheel of the velocipede and b, 61, the brake strap

page_text: which is made in two sections coupled together by a link b² as shewn, each section
being faced with a lining C, C, of leather or other like suitable material. The
section b of the brake is hinged at d to a finger d secured by brackets d² to the
side tube d³ of the frame, while the section b' is formed or provided with an extended
finger or lever 63. To a hook or opening at the extreme end of lever bs is attached
one end of a chain or cord e, or the like, which passes under pullies f, f¹ and f²,
secured in convenient positions to the frame of the machine and is attached at its
opposite end to an arm or lever g pivoted on a stud h supported in a bracket h'
secured to the front part of the frame or ball head. To the end of the said arm or
lever g is secured a quadrant g' or semicircular bracket, which is adapted to be
embraced by a fork or prong i in which a roller may be fitted formed on the end of
the plunger hinged to the end of the brake handle lever k in the ordinary way.
The brake handle is actuated by the hand in the usual manner, that is to say, it is
drawn upwards to apply the brake, and forces down the plunger i¹ which is free to
move from side to side over the quadrant g¹ with every movement of the steering
column and to act on said quadrant in any position. The depression of the plunger
rocks the arm or lever g on its centre in the direction of the arrow whereby the
chain or cord e is tightened and draws down the lever 63 which causes the brake strap
to close upon the drum a instantly or gradually, as the rider determines, the friction
between the leather lining c, c, and periphery of drum a. quickly retarding the
motion of the wheel and bringing the machine to a standstill.
As soon as the brake handle is released the parts resume their normal positions,
the brake strap opening out clear of the periphery of the drum a so that it does not
affect the free rotation of the driving wheel. A small spring may be employed to
ensure the expansion of the brake strap when released, or the finger d may form the
spring for such purpose.
The brake herein described may be applied to the crank, spindle instead of the hub
of the driving wheel, but as it would be useless in the event of the chain breaking
or becoming detached, I prefer to apply it to the driving wheel.
The chain or cord e may be carried under the top tube of the frame instead of
along the lower tube of the frame, as shewn in Fig. 6, in this case the lever or
arm g being preferably pivoted at its extremity to the bracket h' as shewn.
I may otherwise dispose the chain or cord about the machine to hide it, as possible,
from view, or for other requirements.
Instead of the wire or cord passing under pulleys to operate the clip brake as
shewn in Fig. 1, one end of the said cord may be attached to the plunger and
pass over guide pullies 22 and 23 to the lever b³ as shown in Fig. 7 but in this case
the lever is fulcrummed at 6' (see Fig. 8, enlarged view of lever and brake) and
on the brake being applied the cord is pulled up in the direction of the arrow and
operates 68 in such a manner as to apply the brake to the lub of the wheel thus
controlling the speed of the machine. The lever b³ i fulcrummed at
plate 65 as shewn in Fig. 8.
upon a side
The brake above described is powerful, and efficient in its action, can be applied
with any degree of pressure, either quickly or gradually, adds very little to the
weight of the machine, and avoids many of the disadvantages pertaining to the
present form of brakes used on velocipedes..
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-
Firstly. The improved construction and arrangement of brake for velocipedes and
like machines, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The combination, with a strap brake acting on the hub or driving axle
of a velocipede or like machine, of a quadrant carried by a lever or arm pivoted to
the front part of the frame or ball head, and a forked or pronged plunger connected
to the brake handle lever, and adapted to engage with and act on said quadrant in

page_text: any position to which it is moved by the steering column, substantially as herein
shewn and described. .
Dated this 24th day of September 1807
TASKER & CROSSLEY
Halifax Patent Agents.