Improvements in Free-wheel Brakes for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Free-wheel Brakes for Bicycles and the like.
We, RICHARD TINGEY, of 63, Boswell Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Cycle Works Manager, and MILNER'S SAFE Co., LIMITED, of Phoenix Safe
Works, Liverpool, aforesaid, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bicycles and the like of the kind having what is
termed a "free wheel" which permits the rider to stop pedalling and hold the
cranks stationary without interfering with the forward running of the machine.
under an acquired impetus or when running down hill.
The invention has for its object to provide a simple means whereby the machine
may be braked by a short back-pedalling movement of the feet:
To this end we loosely mount a ring collar or disc on the boss of one of the
pedal cranks or on a nose on its inner face so as to be revoluble independently of
the crank but on the same axis of rotation, and we pivotally attach to the inner
face of the crank a pawl of any suitable kind adapted to lock with the aforesaid,
loose ring on a backward rotation of the crank but to slip freely over said ring
on a forward rotation of the crank. For this purpose we prefer to form a groove
in the periphery of the ring, and to pivot the pawl on the crank so as to lie
almost radially with its free end in the groove, so as to freely trail therein on a
forward rotation but to jamb on a backward rotation of the crank, a small spring
being provided to keep the pawl in position. It will be readily seen that this
pawl whilst allowing the crank to turn freely forward without taking the ring
with it, will at once jam on the slightest backward turn of the crank and cause.
the latter to take the ring with it. Ratchet teeth may however be provided on
the ring to be engaged by an ordinary pawl but we do not prefer such.
We utilize the backward rotation of the ring thus produced by back pedalling
to apply a brake which may be of any known or suitable construction. the only.
requirement being a connection such as a rod or link between the ring and the
brake or brake lever.
A form of brake which we have designed consists of a back hub brake formed
by screwing a flange or brake disc on to the bearing come to lie against the outer.
face of the hub flange. To this screwed flange or brake disc we pivotally attach
the end of a rod which is pivoted at its other end to the pawl ring or to a lug
or short arm on said ring, and so adjust the parts that a small backward turn of
the ring will screw the brake disc up against the hub flange and thus brake the
rear wheel, whilst a slight forward movement of the crank will turn the ring
before the pawl is quite free sufficiently to unscrew the brake disc and free the hub.
In order to allow of the proper adjustment of the parts instead of connectin
the rod directly to the brake disc, we may mount a strap or clin on a central
boss of said disc or otherwise and attach the rod to the strap or clip. By slack-
ing the clip and screwing up the brake disc to its full braking position and then
tightening the strap on the brake disc, after first moving the rod into the full
brake position the parts will be in proper relation to each other. The end of
the red may also be provided with a screw adjustment in its pivotal connection
to the brake disc.

page_text: To ensure that the pawl will free the ring on a forward rotation of the crank
after braking, we provide a projection stop or lug on the bottom bracket to engage
the arm of the pawl ring in the required off position of the brake.
It will be readily understood that this form of brake may be used with other
operating devices, as it is not limited in its application to the pawl and ring
before described, and conversely the pawl and ring may be used with any other
form of brake.
The exact details of construction may also be modified as required without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
By our invention the rider may wholly or partially stop pedalling without
interfering with the running of the machine under an acquired impetus, and yet
be in a position to brake the machine at any time by a slight back pedalling
movement to the extent required regardless of the position of the cranks, whilst
a short forward movement takes off the brake.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1899
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.
DITY CAT He like.
We, RICHARD TINGEY, of 63, Boswell Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Cycle Works Manager, and MILNER'S SAFE CO., LIMITED. of Phenix Safe
Works, Liverpool, aforesaid, Manufacturers, 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 bicycles and the like of the kind having what is
termed a "free wheel," which permits the rider to stop pedalling and hold the
cranks stationary without interfering with the forward running of the machine
under an acquired impetus or when running down hill.
The invention has for its object to provide a simple means whereby the machine
may be braked by a short back pedalling movement of the feet.
The clutch part of this mechanism is best described by aid of the accompanying
drawings, in which,
Fig. is a vertical section of the clutch mechanism with a single pawl in
accordance with our Provisional Specification. This pawl can be either inside
or outside the ring.
Fig. 2 a front view of same with cover removed.
Fig. 3 a modification of our most improved form showing six pawls instead of
one and the sides of the groove made separate as simple washers and having ball
bearings between them and the ring.
Fig. 4 a view of the pawl.
Fig. 5 transverse section of the mechanism.
Fig. 6 an edge elevation partly in section of the washers.
Fig. 7 a plan of the spider.
શ
Fig. Sa similar view to Fig. 3 showing ratchet surface instead of smooth surface.
Fig. 9 the ratchet pawl.
Fig. 10 a similar view to Figs. and
Fig. 11 a view of one of the rollers.
showing rollers instead of pawls.
Fig. 12 side view of back pedalling brake.
Fig. 13 a similar view showing attachment of clutch to the other end of brake
rod. and
Fig. 14 a section through Fig. 12.

page_text: Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the original form of our clutch. A is
a ring, collar, or disc on the boss B of one of the pedal cranks or on a nose on
its inner face so as to be revoluble independently of the crank, but on the same
axis of rotation. Pivotally attached to the inner face of the crank is a pawl U
of any suitable kind, adapted to lock with the loose ring A on any backward
rotation of the crank, but to slip freely over the said ring on a forward rotation
of the crank. For this purpose we prefer to form a groove or race in the peri-
phery of the ring and cover conjointly as shown and to pivot the pawl on the
crank so as to lie almost radially with its free end in the groove so as to freely
trail therein on a forward rotation, but to jam on a backward rotation of the
crank, a small spring C₁ being provided to keep the pawl in position. It will
be readily seen that this pawl while allowing the crank to turn freely forward
without taking the ring with it, will at once jam on the slightest backward turn
of the crank, and cause the latter to take the ring with it. It will be obvious
that it is immaterial whether the pawl bear against the outside of ring A or
the inside, but if it hear on the outside the groove in A is outward instead of
inward so as to more securely hold a pawl. Figs. 3, 4, 5, & 6 show a variation
in which the equivalent of ring A in Fig. 1 is divided into three paris A, D
&D with balls for bearings E between. These two parts D, DI, are mere loose
washers, but they are connected together by distance bolts F. The tubular
axis B has shrunk on or otherwise fixed to it a spider, collar or projections H.
These are arranged to catch on the bolts F, but allow a little play. It has also
projections for the purpose of guiding the pawls C. In pawls C there are holes c
in which are inserted springs and two little round headed pins H, H. The heads
or ends of these round headed pins are pressed by the spring into frictional con-
tact with the washers D D. Or in place of these pins and springs there can be
fixed pins passing into or through slots made on purpose in the washers D) D¹.
The mode of action is as follows:-
As long as the pedal axis 13 runs in the forward direction shown by the arrow
or is stationary, the pins F press against the shorter abutments, as shown, as
the washers D being in frictional contact with the part A¹ tend to lag, and being.
in frictional contact also with the pins of the pawls, the pawls are pressed as
shown against the longer abutments, and are then just clear of the ring A The
moment however the part B is made to rotate in the opposite direction to that
shown by the arrow, the shorter abutment leaves the pins and the longer abut-
ment strikes them. At the same time as the washers DD do not instantly share
in this movement the frictional contact of the knobs H with the washers D & D
acts as a drag on the pawls C when engaged by the shorter abutment, and the pawls
being pivoted on their points against the ring H are thus turned and wedged
tight against the ring A¹, and the ring A is obliged to turn with the centre B.
The moment however the centre B revolves again in the reverse direction (that
of the arrow) the pins of the washers come against the shorter abutment and
take the pawls out of contact with the ring A. By this means there is hardly
any wear between the pawls and the ring, as in place of trailing on it as ordinary
pawls do, these pawls are clear of it when not in action and when in action there
is no wear, as there is no slip. Fig. S shows a similar view, but with ratchet
surface, instead of smooth surface and a ratchet brake. Like letters relate to like
parts, and the two are so very similar, there is no need for further description.
Figs. 10 and 11 show a similar view only rollers on inclined planes are here used.
instead of pawls. The action is the same again, though in this instance instead
of a mere spider, we have shown a disc with pieces cut out for the inclined planes
of the rollers and for the pins F. In this case, as in Fig. 3. the rollers are
shown out of gear, as the part B is revolving in the direction of the arrow. They
are therefore not bearing on the part A. "The moment however the pins with
their washers are brought to the opposite extremity of their holes in H. the rollers
are brought to the opposite extremity likewise, and travelling up the inclined
plane are pressed hard against the part A' and thus propel it. Referring now

page_text: to Figs. 12, 13 & 14 which show the brake proper. In these K is a brake sur-
face forming the outer surface of the hub flange L, and screwed thereto. N is
a second flange and brake surface screwed on the bearing cone so as to lie
close against the bearing surface K. To this screwed flange N is pivotally
attached the end of a rod P which is pivoted at its other end to the pawl ring A
or to a short lug arm on the said ring, and so adjusted that a small backward
movement of the ring will screw the brake disc up against the hub flange and
thus brake the rear wheel, while a slight forward movement of the crank will
turn the ring before the pawl is quite free, sufficiently to unscrew the brake disc
and free the hub. In order to allow of the proper adjustment of the parts instead
of connecting the rod directly to the brake disc we may mount a strap or clip
on a central hoss of the said disc, or otherwise, and attach the rod to the strap
or clip. By slackening the clip and screwing up the brake disc to its full brak
ing position, and then tightening the strap on the brake disc after first moving
the rod into the full brake position, the parts will be in proper relation to each
other. The end of the rod may also be provided with a screw adjustment with
its pivotal connection to the brake disc as shown. To insure that the pawl will
release the ring on the brake being taken off by a forward rotation of the crank,
we may provide a projecting stop or lug on the bottom bracket to engage the arm
of the pawl ring and limit the movement of said ring to the required off position
of the brake thus avoiding any strain on the brake rod. It will be readily under-
stood that this form of brake may be used with other operating device as it is not
limited in its application to the pawl and ring above mentioned. Conversely the
pawl and ring may be used with other forms of brake. By our invention con-
sequently the rider may wholly or partially stop pedalling without interfering
with the running of the machine under an acquired impetus and yet be in a
position to brake the machine at any time by a slight back pedalling movement
to the extent required, regardless of the position of the cranks, whilst a short
forward movement takes off the brake.
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. The combination for the purposes described of the pedal axis or crank, a
pawl capable of a limited pivotal movement thereon, and a ring on the driven
mechanism, arranged in such manner that the driven mechanism when running
in one direction shall travel freely over the pawl, but the moment the crank is
reversed in motion the pawl partially rotates pivotally on the driving mechanism.
and locks with the driven mechanism, being released however the moment the
driving mechanism is again run in the normal direction.
2. The combination of a ring driven by a pawl device from the driving mech-
anism which said pawl trails or is free when the driving mechanism is stationary
or travels in one given direction but locks when the driving mechanism is driven
in the reverse direction with a brake surface lying close against a brake surface
on the hub flange, and mechanism connecting the ring with one brake surface, and
mechanism whereby the two brake surfaces shall be screwed relatively together
whenever back pressure is put upon the driving mechanism, and thus turns said
ring, substantially as described.
WAL. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester Birmingham, & London.