Improvements in and relating to Driving and Brake Mechanism for Bicycles and like Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Driving and Brake Mechanism for
Bicycles and like Vehicles.
We, ALEXANDER PATTERSON MORROW (Mechanical Expert), and HARMON
HEALY FULTON (Manufacturer), citizens of the United States of America, resid-
ing respectively at 312, West First Street, and 468, West Grey Street, in the
City of Elmira, County of Cheyenne and State of New York, United States of
America, 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:-
Our invention relates to bicycles and like vehicles, and particularly to brake
mechanism therefor, and to means for permitting coasting without revolving the
pedals of the machine.
The main characteristic feature of the invention is the combination with clutch
mechanism caried on the crank axle, of a brake carried upon the rear wheel axle,
and a connection between the clutch mechanism and brake.
The invention also comprises other features which will be fully described
hereinafter, and defined in the appended claims.
The construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings is one embodiment
of our invention :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a bicycle frame with our improve-
ments applied thereto
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively, a longitudinal section and an elevation of
the rear wheel hub and axle equipped with our improvements, and
Figures 4 to 10, inclusive, illustrate parts detached and in detail.
Referring to Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates the bicycle frame,
2 the crank axle and 3 the rear wheel axle.
Slots or
recesses 4 are formed (preferably at equi-distant points) either on
the crank axle 2 or on the periphery of a disk 2ª or the equivalent thereof secured
to or integral with the crank axle 2 or secured to a projecting hub secured to
or integral with one of the crank arms. The slots or recesses 4 receive friction
balls rolls or pins 5, which co-act with a friction ring 6 fitting either upon the
axle, or upon the axle and the disk 2º, or upon the disk only, to constitute a
clutch. The slots 4 are so formed as to permit the free revolution of the crank
axle or disk within the friction ring C as long as the pedals are propelled in a for-
ward direction, but to cause said balls 5 to bind against the inner periphery of
the friction ring upon a reverse movement of the pedals. The friction ring 6
is provided with a depending arm 7 to which is pivotally secured the forward end
of a rod 8, by a pivot fastening 9. The rear end of the rod 8 is secured to an arm
10 projecting from a brake ring 11.
As shown in Figure 2, the rear hub is formed with a threaded extension 12,
upon which is screwed a sleeve 13 having a vertical flange 14. The periphery
of the sleeve 13 is threaded to provide for the attachment thereto of a friction
ring band 15 of fibre. Around this fibre ring is arranged a spring band 16, the
ends of which are upturned to form lugs 17.

page_text: 18 indicates a casing comprising a body portion or disk 19, centrally bored
and threaded to fit upon the rear axle, and an annular horizontal flange 20, ex-
tending over the spring 16 and ring 15, and slotted at the point 21 through which
the lugs 17 of the spring project. Two substantially parallel arms 22 and 23
project from the casing 18 and are bent outwardly to straddle the lower rear tube
of the frame and serve as stops to prevent the turning of the casing.
Around the flange 20 of the casing is loosely mounted the brake ring 11 having
the depending arm 10, and provided on the inner face of its periphery with a
lug 24, adapted to contact with one of the lugs 17 of the brake spring to contract
the latter and clamp it upon the friction band, and thus retard the revolution of
the rear wheel.
The casing 18 is provided with a plurality of perforated ears 25 registering
with corresponding ears 26 on a clamping ring 27, fitted upon the flange 14 of
the sleeve 13, and secured to the casing by bolts 28. Thus the casing 18 is secured
in place, and all of the parts of the brake excepting the brake ring 11 are en-
closed to protect them from dust etc.
While the means for attaching the rod 8 to the arm 10 may be varied, we have
shown an attaching device which we have found advantageous. As shown in
the drawings (see Fig. 10) the lower end of the arm 10 is formed with an eye 29
through which extends an eye bolt, 30, the eye 31 of which is at right angles to
the eye 29, and receives the rear end of the arm 8. A nut 32 secures the eye-
bolt in place.
As shown in Figure 10, the rod S extends beyond the eye 31 and is screw-
threaded at its extremity to receive a nut 33, between which and the eye 31 is
interposed a coil spring 34, which serves to allow a limited longitudinal play of
the rod 8 thus avoiding sudden shocks or jars. The nut 33 serves as an adjusting
device for tensioning the spring 34.
The operation of the mechanism has been incidentally described hereinbefore,
but may be further explained as follows:-
As long as the machine is driven forward, the crank axle freely revolves, with-
out affecting the clutch mechanism or brake; but upon a reverse movement of
the crank axle caused by back pedalling, the ring 6 is clutched by the balls 5,
throwing the arm 7 forward and through the intermediacy of the rod 8 drawing the
arm 10 of the brake ring forward. The result of this forward movement of
the arm 10 is to partially revolve the brake ring 11, causing the lug 24 to engage
the adjacent lug 17 of the spring 16. The other lug of the spring being held
by the wall of the slot 21, the spring is contracted and firmly clamped upon the
fibre friction band to brake the machine.
The brake is released by resuming the forward movement of the pedals, the
brake spring automatically.expanding to its normal position, as soon as the pres-
sure of the lug 24 is removed therefrom.
The coasting device shown at the left-hand end of Figure 2 comprises a sprocket
rim 35 having a central internal flange 36 supported upon a collar 37 secured to
the hub. The sprocket rim is recessed on either side of the flange 36 to form
race-ways 38 and 39 for two series of balls, which materially reduce the friction
in coasting.
Upon the longitudinal flanged portions 40 and 41 of the collar 37 are screwed
retaining rings 42 and 43 which hold the balls within the races 38 and 39.
Between the inner face of the flange 36 and the outer face of the collar 37 are
interposed friction rollers 44, seated on slots 45, and serving to bind the sprocket
rim upon the collar 37 as long as the machine is propelled forward by the
sprocket-chain. Upon the reversal of the sprocket-chain caused by back pedal-
ling, the rim is released from the collar 37 and travels free thereon, to permit
coasting.
46 indicates a nut for securing the parts together, and 47 and 48 indicate the
ordinary ball bearings secured by the conical nut 49.

page_text: 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 with a bicycle or like vehicle, of clutch mechanism carried
on the crank axle, brake mechanism carried by the rear hub and axle, and a con-
nection between said clutch mechanism and brake, whereby the brake is operated
by back-pedalling.
2. The combination with a bicycle or like vehicle, of clutch mechanism on the
crank axle, brake mechanism on the rear hub and axle comprising a fixed friction
band, a brake spring for engaging said band, and a friction ring, and a connection
between the clutch mechanism and friction ring.
3. The combination with a bicycle or like machine, of clutch mechanism on the
crank axle and comprising friction balls and a clutch ring having a projecting
arm; brake mechanism carried on the rear hub and axle and comprising a fixed
friction band, a brake spring surrounding said band, and a ring surrounding
and controlling said spring and a conection between the clutch ring and brake-
ring whereby the latter is moved to apply the brake, when the driving motion
is reversed.
4. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination with clutch mechanism on the
crank axle, and a suitable connection, of brake mechanism comprising a friction
band secured upon the rear hub, a friction spring embracing said band and
having projections at its ends, a casing enclosing said band and spring
and slotted to accommodate the projections on said spring, and a brake band en-
circling the casing, and having an internal projection to engage the spring.
5. In a bicycle or like vehicle, the combination with clutch mechanism arranged
on the crank axle, and a connecting rod, of brake mechanism comprising a friction
band fixed upon an extension of the rear wheel hub, a spring embracing said band,
a casing enclosing the band and spring, said casing having projecting stops or
arms for engaging the frame of the machine and being slotted to accommodate
the ends of the spring, and a brake band surrounding the casing and having an
arm secured to the connecting rod and a projection on its inner side to contact
with the spring and cause the latter to clamp the friction band.
6. The combination with a bicycle or like machine, of a clutch device on the
crank axle, brake mechanism on the rear hub, and a rod connecting the clutch
device and brake mechanism, and means for cushioning the movement of said
rod.
7. The combination with a bicycle or like vehicle, of clutch mechanism on the
crank axle, brake mechanism on the rear hub and axle, comprising a fixed fric-
tion band, a brake spring around the latter, and a brake ring adapted to contract
said spring and provided with a projecting arm formed with an eye; a rod for
connecting the clutch mechanism and brake ring, and an eye bolt secured within
the eye of the brake-ring arm and serving to support the rear end of the rod, and
a spring and nut on the end of the rod.
8. A coasting device for cycles, comprising a sprocket rim provided with a
central internal flange, formed on opposite sides with race-ways for two sets of
balls, a collar secured to the rear hub, clutch mechanism 'between said rim and
collar, and retaining rings for supporting the balls in the race-ways.
9. In a bicycle or like vehicle, the combination with the crank shaft, of a clutch
device arranged on said shaft, and comprising a ring provided with a projection,
which projection is adapted to be connected to an adjacent brake device.
10. In a bicycle or like vehicle, the combination with the crank shaft, of a
clutch device comprising a disk arranged on said shaft and having peripheral
friction devices, and a clutch ring arranged on the periphery of the disk and
having a projection provided with means for securing said projection to the brake
mechanism.
11. A sprocket wheel for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising a rim recessed

page_text: on opposite sides to form race-ways, in combination with two sets of anti-friction
balls located on said race-ways.
12. A sprocket wheel for bicycles and like vehicles, comprising a rim recessed
on opposite sides to form race-ways for two sets of balls, said rim projecting in-
wardly beyond the race ways, in combination with friction rollers interposed
between the inner periphery of the rim and the axial support of the rim.
13. The combination with a bicycle or like machine, of a crank-arm having a
projected hub integral therewith, and clutch mechanism secured to said hub.
14. The combination with a bicycle or like machine, of a crank-arm having a
laterally projected hub, a disk or the equivalent secured to said hub, and clutch
mechanism carried by said disk.
15. The combination with a bicycle or like machine, of a crank-arm having a
projected hub, a disk or the equivalent secured to or integral with said hub,
clutch mechanism carried by said hub, and a clutch ring surrounding the disk
clutch mechanism, said ring having a projecting arm provided with means for
securing said arm to the brake mechanism.
7
1007
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.