Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

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Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
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We, GEORGE PILKINGTON MILLS; of The Woodlands, Beeston, in the County
of Notts, Engineer, and THE RALEIGH CYCLE COMPANY, LIMITED, of Nottingham,
in the County aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows::
-
a.
1. . .
This invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and consists, firstly, of
an improved bearing bracket for carrying the pedal-crank axle, secondly, of an
improved clutch. mechanism, thirdly, of an improved brake operating device,
and fourthly, of an improved handle bar clip, the object being to simplify and
therefore cheapen the cost of manufacture of the various parts referred to and
at the same time to render such parts better able to fulfil their various functions.
Referring to the first part of our invention which relates to a pedal-crank axle
bracket of that type in which the ball races are carried by a sleeve mounted
eccentrically within the bracket of the frame for the purpose of adjusting the
chain. The outer cylindrical shell or bracket fixed to the frame is preferably
formed from a sheet steel stamping and closed by means of flanged end plates
adapted, to fit snugly within and take a bearing on its inner surface the flanges
bearing against its ends or edges. These end plates are provided with eccentrically
disposed apertures adapted to receive a sleeve having a longitudinal rib or pro-
jection on its outer surface, which sleeve is conveniently formed by pressing from
sheet steel, the meeting edges being shaped to form the longitudinal rib the
purpose of which is to ensure both end plates with which it engages by means
of slots formed therein rotating together. Instead of forming the end plates
with flanges they might each be formed of two separate plates, or the two inner
or adjacent plates might be made in one with the sleeve. This sleeve is made
slightly shorter than the distance between the outsides of the two plates, and is
further internally screw threaded at its ends to receive two cups each forming the
one, part of the ball bearing. One of the said cups has a left hand thread and
is formed with a flange or shoulder to engage the end of the sleeve and the .side
of the end plate, and the other, cup having a right hand thread is not provided
with a flange or shoulder, but is of such a length as to project, after adjustment,
beyond the face of the other end plate, on which projecting portion is threaded
a locking ring. It will thus be seen that on screwing up this locking ring after
the adjustment of the bearings and chain has been made, not only are the cups
prevented from unscrewing but the sleeve is held securely in its eccentric
position within the shell or bracket.
'
The second part of our invention relates to an improved silent clutch driving
mechanism for use in connection with brakes operated by back pedalling or to
provide what is now commonly termed a "free" wheel, and it consists essentially
informing the rollers of the well-known" "Cheylesmore" clutch with reduced
ends which are adapted to engage radial bearing slots formed in side plates, one

page_text: on each side of the path of the rollers. These two side plates are connected
rigidly together by means of screws and distance pieces passing through the
wedge-shaped recesses adapted to contain the rollers. The rollers may be kept
up to their places by springs acting on the distance pieces. It will thus be seen
that the rollers are kept in their proper positions and thus prevented from getting
displaced or jamming and acting when not required. It will be understood that
balls might be substituted for the rollers in which case they would take a bearing
in shallow depressions formed on the inner faces of the side plates.
The brake operating device which forms the third part of the present inven-
tion consists essentially of a cranked lever disposed centrally on the handle bar
and adapted to be operated by the thumbs of the rider and so operate a plunger
brake. A convenient method of carrying out this part of our invention consists in
pivotting on a clip attached to the upright stem of the handle bar one or a pair
of bell-cranked levers, preferably a pair parallel with each other, carrying at
their upper and free ends a suitable transverse plate or thumb piece adapted to
be pressed forward by means of the thumbs of the rider. On or between these
levers at the angle which in ordinary bell crank levers is the fulerating point, is
pivotted a tumbler or piece into which the usual rod of a plunger brake is fixed.
A suitable spring, preferably acting between the tumbler or piece and the pivot,
is interposed to keep the brake in its normal position from engagement with the
wheel. The pivot on which the levers are hinged is preferably formed by the
same bolt or screwed pin used for securing the clip in position on the handle bar
stem, when such clip is a detachable one.
The fourth part of our invention relates to a detachable handle bar clip such
as are commonly used for carrying the pivotting bolt or pin of the brake lever.
It consists essentially of forming such a clip from a sheet steel stamping, and
pressing or punching out a tongue shaped piece which can by means of a trans-
versely arranged bolt or screwed pin cause the clip to grip the handle bar without
interfering with the width or distance between its jaws or free ends between which
the brake lever is pivotted.
J 11.4 07
1
1000
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
We, GEORGE PILKINGTON MILLS, of The Woodlands, Beeston, in the County
of Notts, Engineer, and THE RALEIGH CYCLE COMPANY, LIMITED, of Nottingham,
in the County aforesaid, 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 improvements in velocipedes, and consists, firstly, of
an improved pedal-crank axle bracket of that type in which the ball races are
carried by a sleeve mounted eccentrically within the bracket of the frame for
the purpose of providing for the adjustment of the chain. Secondly of an im-
proved clutch driving mechanism. Thirdly, of an improved brake operating
device, and fourthly, of an improved handle bar clip, the object being to simplify
and therefore cheapen the cost of manufacture of the various parts referred to
and at the same time to render such parts better able to fulfil their various
functions.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the improved pedal-crank axle bearing bracket.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 the improved clutch, and
Figures 7, 8 and 9 the improved brake operating device and
Figures 10, 11 and 12 the improved handle bar clip.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 which illustrate our improved pedal-crank
axle bracket. The outer cylindrical shell or barrel A adapted to receive the
members of the frame is preferably pressed up from sheet steel and its ends are
closed by means of flanged plates B adapted to fit snugly within and take a bearing
on its inner surface the flanges bearing against its ends or edges. These end
plates are provided with eccentrically disposed apertures adapted to receive a
sleeve Chaving a longitudinal rib or projection on its outer surface. This
sleeve is preferably pressed up from sheet steel, the meeting edges being shaped
to form the longitudinal rib c. This rib or projection engages slots in the end
plates B thus ensuring their simultaneous rotation in the barrel or cylinder A.
Instead of forming the end plates B with flanges they may each be formed of two
separate plates, in which case the inner plates may be made in one with the
sleeve. The sleeve C is made slightly shorter than the distance between the
outsides of the two plates B when in position in the ends of the barrel A and it
is internally screw threaded at its ends to receive two cups D, D each forming the
one part of the races of the ball bearing. One of the said cups 1 engages the
barrel A with a left-hand thread and is formed with a flange or shoulder d to
engage the end of the sleeve C and the side of the end plate B. The other
cup D which engages the barrel A with a right-hand thread and is not provided
with a flange or shoulder but is of such a length as to project-after adjustment-
beyond the face of the end plate B. On this projecting portion is screwed a
locking ring E adapted to engage the side of the end plate B. It will thus be
seen that on screwing up this locking ring after the adjustment of the bearings
and chain has been made, not only are the cups prevented from unscrewing but
the sleeve is held securely in its eccentric position within the shell or bracket.
Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6 which illustrate the improved driving clutch.
specially adapted for use in connection with brakes operated by back pedalling,
or to provide what is now commonly termed a "free" wheel. The clutch ring F
which is screwed or otherwise fixed on the hub X of the driving wheel is pro-
vided with the usual wedge-shaped recesses f. The gear ring G is loosely
mounted over the clutch ring F and is retained in position thereon by ring
plates H, H, which are connected rigidly together by means of screws h and
distance pieces h¹ passing through the wedge-shaped recesses adapted to contain
the rollers J, J, etc. The ends of the rollers are reduced to engage radial slots h²
formed in the side plates H, and are kept up to their work by springs K acting on
the distance pieces h¹. It will thus be seen that by this construction the rollers
are always in their proper operative positions, and cannot become accidentally
displaced whereby the possibility of their jamming and acting when not required
is obviated. It will be understood that balls may be substituted for the rollers
in which case they would take a bearing in shallow depressions formed on the
inner faces of the side plates.
Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9 which illustrate our improved brake operating
device. On the handle bar pillar Y is mounted a bracket L to which is pivotted
a lever M of the second order. This lever is preferably a double or compound one
as shown and is shaped like a bell-crank so that its free end which is the driving
point projects vertically and carries a suitably shaped and transversely arranged
plate m adapted to be pressed forward by means of the thumbs of the rider. To
the lever M at a suitable distance from its point of pivot to the bracket L is
attached the usual connecting rod N of the brake. A suitable spring such as ()
preferably acting between the pivot of the lever and the tumbler or pin P to
which the rod N is attached is employed to keep the brake in its normal position
from engagement with the wheel. When the clip L'is a detachable one, the pivot

page_text: on which the lever M is hinged is preferably formed by the same bolt or screwed
pin used for securing the clip in position on the handle bar stem as shown.
Referring to Figures 10, 11 and 12, which illustrates our improved detachable
handle bar clip such as is used for carrying the hand lever of the brake. The
body R of the clip is formed from a sheet steel blank and out of its one side is
pressed or punched a tongue'r through which is passed the bolt or screwed pin S
adapted to contract the clip so as to cause it to grip the member on which it is
mounted. As the tongue is free to give way, as the transverse bolt or pin S is
screwed up, the width or distance between the jaws r, 1 of the clip adapted to
receive the brake lever Z is not varied..
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 improved constructions of pedal-crank axle brackets, clutches, brakes
and handle bar clips for velocipedes as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
(2) The improved construction of pedal-crank axle bracket as herein specified
and illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
(3) The improved clutch as herein specified and illustrated by Figurés 4, 5
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
(4) The improved device for operating the brakes of velocipedes as herein
specified and illustrated by Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings:
(5) The improved handle bar clip as herein specified and illustrated by
Figures 10, 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
L
1
01
1
1000
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.