Improvements in the Brake Mechanism of Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: cate of Application, 24th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 21st Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Brake Mechanism of Velocipedes.
I, RICHARD GREEN, of Broad Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manager of
Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to brake operating mechanism, and is an improvement upon
Letters Patent granted to Joseph Brooks, Henry James Brooks, and myself the
present applicant, dated the 20th day of December 1886 and Nod. 16,679.
The object of my present invention, is to simplify the construction of, and to
render more efficient in use, the said brake mechanism.
The invention described in the Specification of the said cited Letters Patent,
consists essentially of concealed mechanism, principally in the form of a spindle,
directed down one of the handle bars, and a plunger rod, directed down the pillar
of the machine, and with the inner end of the spindle provided with a short arm,
adapted to impress itself, when rotated, upon the brake plunger rod, and so operate
the brake.
In this said arrangement, the handle bar is directed out of the plane of the pillar,
and further, that the said handle bars, are straight from end to end, which is a
considerable disadvantage.
According to my invention, I arrange the brake operating mechanism, in con-
nection with the curved handle-bars, or curved-ended handle bars, which are
disposed immediately over the pillar, so that an excentric snug or cam upon the
inner end of the operating spindle, is made to impinge directly upon the top and
middle of the brake plunger rod.
In carrying out my invention, I will describe it in connection with a safety
bievele.
Directed down the middle of a hollow pillar, is a plunger rod, with its upper and
lower ends extending respectively beyond the limits of the said pillar. The lower
end carries the plunger or other brake, whilst the upper end, has a head, upon
which a cam, or an excentric carried at the inner end of a spindle, directed up the
middle of one of the branches of the handle bar, impinges, on the said spindle
being partially rotated, by a handle at the outer end of it.
"
The handle bar is disposed in the same axial line as the pillar, to whose summit
it is connected, by a gapped T shaped junction piece, which forms the centre
member to the tubular handle bar, whose ends are curved, and provided with
handles as usual.
The curved parts of the bars, are preferably made separate from the straight.
parts, whilst the outer end of the spindle, protrudes through a bossed or sleeve-
like extension of the straight part, and to the said extended end, the handle for
operating the brake is attached.
Thus the curved handle bar end, wherethrough the brake operating spindle
passes, is provided upon its offside, with a sleeve-like extension, opposite the
straight inner part of the handle bar, so that the spindle passes through both the
straight inner part, and the straight sleeve of the curved outer part.
The gap of the junction, which is open at top, admits of the excentric snug or
cam, upon the inner end of the spindle, making a direct impingement upon the
plunger rod, which is encircled by a coiled spring, whose ends respectively abut
against shoulders of both rod, and pillar, for bringing back the parts to their normal
positions, on pressure being relieved from the brake operating handle.

page_text: Instead of the spindle being partially rotated, it may be made to slide, and so
work the brake.
Dated this 21st day of June 1800
RICHARD GREEN
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Brake Mechanism of Velocipedes.
I, RICHARD GREEN, of Broad Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manager of
Works, 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 brake-operating mechanism, and is an improvement
upon Letters Patent granted to Joseph Brookes, Henry James Brookes, and myself,
the present applicant, dated the 20th day of December 1886, and Nod. 16679.
The object of my present invention, is to simplify the construction of, and to
render more efficient in use, the said brake mechanism.
The invention described in the Specification of the said cited Letters Patent,
consists essentially of concealed mechanism, principally in the form of a spindle,
taking along one of the handle bars, and a plunger rod, directed down the pillar of
the head of the machine, and with the inner end of the said spindle, having a short
arm, adapted to impress itself, when rotated, upon the top of the brake plunger, and
through it, the pusher rod of the brake, is operated.
In this said arrangement, the handle bar stands away from the pillar, or in other
words, its axial line falls outside the axis of the said pillar, and further, by the
above arrangement, the said handle bars, are straight from end to end, which is a
considerable disadvantage.
According to my invention, I arrange the brake operating mechanism, in con-
nection with curved ended handle-bars, with the middle of the straight part of them,
disposed immediately over the pillar; so that an excentric smug, or cam, carried
upon the inner end of the operating spindle, may be made to impinge directly upon
the top of the brake plunger, carrying the brake rod.
In carrying out my invention, I will describe it in connection with a safety.
bicycle.
Directed down the middle of the upper portion of a hollow pillar, is a plunger,
having at its lower end, a brake carrying rod, with brake at its lower end, and
which brake, is adapted to impinge plunger-wise upon the periphery of a wheel,
approximate to it. The other and top end of the plunger, is acted upon by a cam,
or an excentric snug, carried at the inner end of a spindle, directed up the middle
of one of the hollow branches of the handle bar.
The handle bar is disposed in the same axial line as the pillar, to whose summit
it is connected, by a gapped junction piece, which forms the centre member to the
tubular handle bars, whose ends are curved, and provided with handles.
The curved parts of the bars, are preferably made separate from the straight
parts, whilst the outer end of the spindle extends, and protrudes through a sleeve-
like extension of the straight part, and to the said extended end, the handle for
operating the brake is attached.
Thus, the curved handle bar end, wherethrough the brake operating spindle
passes, is provided upon its offside, with a sleeve-like extension, lineable with the
straight inner part of the said handle bar, so that the spindle passes both through
the straight inner part of the handle bar, and the sleeved extension.
The gap of the junction, which is open at top, admits of the excentric snug or
cam upon the inner end of the spindle, making a direct impingement upon the

page_text: plunger rod, which is encircled by a coiled spring, for the bringing of the parts to
their positions, on pressure being relieved from the brake operating handle.
Instead of the spindle being partially rotated, it may be made to slide, and so
work the brake.
Figure of the accompanying drawings, represents in side elevation, the fore
part of a safety bicycle, provided with curved or bent ended and centralized handle
bars, having concealed brake operating mechanism, constructed and arranged
according to my present invention.
Figure 2 represents a transverse vertical section of the same, showing the
adjustment pillar head, adjustable brake rod, and sliding plunger, through the
intervention of which latter, the brake rod with brake, is operated, on a snug or
cam shaped part of a spindle, which passes through one of the handle bars, being
rotated, by the drawing to of a handle, fitted to the outer end of the said spindle.
The said handle bars, with the spindle in one of them, is mounted in the same
vertical plane as the axis of the pillar, hence a centralized handle bar, with the
spindle of the brake operating mechanism passing through one of them.
It
Figure 3 represents partly in section, and partly in elevation, a portion of the
handle bars, and a portion of the pillar of a machine, upon which it is mounted.
The said view, shows the retreating or inwardly curved end of the handle bar, and
how the spindle of the brake operating mechanism, extends outwardly through one
of the said handle bars, at the junction of the straight with the curved part.
also exemplifies the position of the cam or snail shaped snug at the inner end of the
said spindle, and how it acts, by impingement, directly upon the middle of the top
end of the plunger, which is traversed forwardly down the pillar, on the rotation of
the spindle, whilst the said plunger's reaction or return, is made by an interposed
coiled spring, disposed between the underside of the plunger, and a rest or collar
within the pillar.
Figure 4 represents a top side plan of the curved ended handle bars, or rather "
one of them, whose middle part, which is gapped, is disposed immediately over, or
in the axial line of the pillar head, so that as aforesaid, on the cam or snug being
rotated, by the turning of the spindle, by means of the handle at its end being
drawn towards the handle at that end of the handle bar, the brake mechanism is
operated.
is the pillar proper, or lower portion of it, having fitted within its upper and
open top, an adjustable length or upper part b, which has sliding within its interior,
a traversing plunger e, with a screwed hole 2, up its middle, from the lower side,
wherein the upper wormed end d of the brake rod d, of the brake d, takes. The
lower portion of the pillar, carries the usual fork a', whilst the lower open end of
the said pillar is bushed with a guide a², wherethrough the lower and enlarged end
of the brake, rises and falls, as the cam or snail shaped lug e, on the spindle
which takes through the hollow handle bar y, is rotated, by the drawing of the
handle h, towards the handle g', of the bar g.
The telescopic sliding upper pillar part b, is secured in its adjusted position, by a
screw nut 2, passing through a screwed bossed eye situated at the upper part of
the pillar proper. is an interposed spring, resting upon the underside of the
plunger, and upon the top side of an inserted collar a', within the pillar,
respectively. is the frame spindle, with its upper and lower ends taking within
brackets k. embracing clip-wise the lower part of the pillar, while I are branches of
the framing of the machine, and m the wheel, upon the periphery of which, the
brake, plunger wise, is made to bear, on the same being lowered through the direct
action of the operating handle through the spindle.
The middle of the handle bar, is gapped or semi-divided at g², and within the
divisional part, the cam or snail snug, turns, whilst the outer end of the spindle
next to its handle h, extends and protrudes through a sleeve-like extension g³, of the
straight part of the said handle bar g.
Figure 5 represents a sectional view of another form of brake operating
mechanism, arranged according to another form of my invention.
In this arrange-

page_text: ment, the spindle is made to slide, and thereby bring an incline, or the plane of an
inclined snug, on the inner end of the spindle, to impinge upon the top of the
plunger, hence the operation of the brake."
Figure 6 is a top side plan of one side of a handle bar.
a is the lower pillar, the upper and adjustable one, e the plunger, the brake
rod, the spindle, taking through the straight part of the tubular handle bar 9 and
the extension sleeve or pipe ge is an incline (or an inclined snug) which, on the
spindle being drawn in the direction of the arrow, impinges upon the plunger, and
so operates the brake. ' is the handle, terminating the curved part of the handle
bar. the brake handle, jointed and fulcrumed at h²; ³ is a slotted link, with
which the pin, on the outer end of the spindle f, engages, so that by pressing
the handle in the direction indicated by the arrow, the spindle or rod f, is drawn
outwardly, and through it, the plunger operated.
The said plunger and brake are returned to their normal positions, by a spring,
as in the preceding arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
:-
First In concealed brake-operating mechanism, centralizing or
bringing the
handle bars, above and lineable with the axis of the pillar, and with the spindle for
operating the said mechanism, having a cam or excentric snug upon one end, and a
handle at its other end; and which said parts, are arranged, operate and co-operate,
substantially as described and set forth in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Secondly-In concealed brake operating mechanism, of curved or bent ended
handle bars, providing one end, or the spindle end of the said handle bars
with a
lineable tubular or sleeve extension 3, wherethrough the spindle outwardly passes
from the straight part of the said handle bar, substantially as described and set
forth.
Thirdly in concealed brake operating mechanism, in connection with curved
or bent ended handle bars, operating the plunger of the brake, or the brake rod, by
the impingement of an incline of a reciprocating rod or spindle, substantially as
described and set forth in Figures 5 and 6.
Fourthly The general construction and arrangement of the parts of curved or
bent ended handle bar brake operating mechanism, as described and set forth in the
several figures of the drawings.
Dated the 20th day of March 1891
RICHARD GREEN.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.