Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Wheels.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Wheels.
Į, AMÉDÉE BOLLEE Fils, of Le Mans, in France, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a brake for wheels, which acts equally well which
ever way the wheel rotates and may be used for vehicles, more particularly for
motor cars, omnibuses, tramcars, railway cars, etc., and for other purposes where
a brake is to be applied to a rotating part.
In order to make the invention better understood, it will be described in its
two principal parts, and as applied to the back wheels of a motor car.
1st part. The brake proper. The brake for each wheel comprises: A pulley
or disc secured to the wheel, a brake-band surrounding the pulley one or more
times, a block pivoted on a pin parallel to the wheel-axle and firmly secured
either to the frame of the carriage or to the end of the spring or to any other
point affording a sufficiently strong fixed support, a part or rod pivoted to one end
of the brake-band and passing freely through a hole in the block at right angles
to the pin of the latter, nuts or collars adapted to come into engagement with
the block and forming a stop limiting the extent of travel of the rod, a connection
to the other end of the brake-band and preferably consisting of a tube surrounding
the rod and adapted to slide on it freely, said part or tube being hinged to the
end of the brake-band and being adapted to come into engagement-similarly to
the rod-with the opposite face of the block.
The relative lengths of the rod and tube must be such that when the band is
loose, each of them rests against the block, and when the band is tightened there
is between said block and the stops (collars or nuts) on said part a certain amount
of clearance. It is obvious that by introducing hydraulic, electric or other force
between these movable parts, acting only on these two parts as abutments, a
relative movement of said two parts will be produced which will tighten or
release the brake-band to the extent in proportion to said relative movement,
whatever be the position occupied by the whole mechanism. This position varies,
in fact, according to the flexion of springs of the car and also owing to the
circumstance that the whole mechanism can be moved forward or backward to
the extent of the whole amount of clearance existing between the block on the
one hand and the stops and end of the tube on the other hand.
The brake-band having been tightened in the manner just described, it is
slightly rotated by the wheel and in its movement either forward or backward-
until one of the two movable parts comes into engagement with the block. The
corresponding end of the band becomes then as it were integral with the fixed
block whereas the other end remains subjected to the action of the force employed
to regulate the braking. The brake therefore acts in absolutely the same manner
whatever be the direction of rotation (backward or forward) and independently of
the flexion of the springs of the parts to which it is applied.
The brake-band may consist of two semi-circular collars connected by a device
enabling wear to be compensated for, and in this way, the working of the

page_text: !
i
mechanism may be regulated once for all and wear compensated at the point
where it takes place.
The invention constitutes a new and original device having special properties,
whatever be the force used to produce the relative movement of the rod and tube,
as long as the external manifestation of the force is limited to producing a
relative movement of said two parts.
That is why a hydraulic or electric force transmitted by flexible tubes or wires
respectively is particularly suitable. But the use of these forces in practice has
serious drawbacks, so that a mechanical device fulfilling the same conditions and
forming the second half of this invention has been devised.
Second part. Device for transmitting force to the brake. A lever hinged to
a bracket secured to the tube passes through a longitudinal slot made in said
tube and in the inner rod. The other end of the lever is bent so that an eye at
its end describes when the lever is operated an arc of a circle passing as near as
possible the pin supporting the fixed block. The pulling device (cord, wire, rod,
etc.) connected to the eye of the lever, is parallel (or practically so) to the pin of
the block and consequently at right angles to the tube and to the rod. By pulling
said cord or rod, the lever is caused to turn about its pivot and the small arm or
enlarged part of the lever moves the rod and the tube in opposite directions,-the
brake-band being thus tightened as already explained.
The lever is then subjected to three forces, two of which have their points of
application on the rod and tube and are equal. and opposite, as regards the
direction of movement they can produce, consequently have no external manifesta-
tion except tending to move the said two parts in opposite directions. The third
force applied at the end of the long arm of the lever in the direction of the pulling
device or cord i.e. at right angles to the lane in which the described brake
mechanism can move, cannot have any effect on it, either, not even a transverse
one, in consequence of the proximity of the cord and the fixed pin of the block.
The brake of the other wheel being symmetrical, it is sufficient to apply the
same pulling force to the two cords or operating means in order to attain an equal
tightening of both brakes.
There are several means of dividing a pulling force into two equal halves, but
a simple device is to have a movable pulley in the centre of which is applied
the original force taken up by the two cords passing round said pulley.
A balance beam with two equal arms produces the same result. All these
means being well known, will not be described in detail.
A device which presents practical advantages, will however be now described.
A spindle is employed which can rotate about its axis, and at the same time one
of its ends is free to move in the direction of the cords or operating means.
This spindle receives a rotary motion which is imparted to it without influencing
its axial position, either by a rotating transmission gear with universal joint or
simply by a rod and lever."
The movable end of the spindle carries a lever with two opposite arms to the
ends of which are connected the two cords which represent the only resistances
balancing the torsional effort of the spindle. As the spindle can assume in the
direction of these cords any direction that they give it, the pull on each of them
is always the same, no matter if there be a considerable change of their respective
lengths. The spindle may be arranged vertically, horizontally, or obliquely and
occupy any desired position, as the rods or cords may, in order to terminate at
the operating levers, pass over any number of pulleys necessitated by the shape
of the apparatus to which the brake is applied.
The operating device may be a pedal, hand lever screw, etc.
It is advisable to use one or more resetting springs so as to hold the parts
always pressed in one direction.
L
1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant,

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Brakes for Wheels.
I, AMÉDÉE BOLLEE fils, of Le Mans, in France, Engineer, 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 a brake for wheels which acts equally well whichever
way the wheels rotate and may be used for vehicles, more particularly for motor
cars, omnibuses, tramcars, railway cars, &c., and for other purposes where a
brake is to be applied to a rotating part, such for instance, as capstans, lifts,
windlasses &c.
In order to make the invention better understood, it will be described in its
two principal parts, and as applied to the back wheels of a motor car, as repre-
sented in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, Figures 2 and 3 being detail
views.
1st part. The brake proper. The brake for each wheel comprises:
---
A pulley or disc 5 secured to the wheel, a brake-band 6 surrounding the pulley
one or more times, a block 7 pivotted on a pin parallel to the wheel-axle and
firmly secured either to the frame of the carriage or to the end of the spring or
to any other point affording a sufficiently strong fixed support, a rod or connection
8 connected to one end A of the brake-band, and passing freely through a hole
in the block 7 at right angles to the pin of the latter, nuts or collars 9 adapted
to come into engagement with the block 7 and forming a stop limiting the extent
of travel of the rod S, a connection 10 attached to the other end of the brake band
and preferably consisting of a tube surrounding the rod 8 and adapted to slide
on it freely, said part or tube 10 being hinged to the end B of the brake-band and
being adapted to come into engagement-similarly to the rod 8-with the opposite
face of the block 7.
The relative lengths of the rod and tube 8 and 10 must be such that when the
band is loose, each of them rests against the block 7, and when the band is
tightened there is, between said block and the ends or stops (collars or nuts) of
said parts a certain amount of clearance. It is obvious that by introducing
hydraulic, electric or other force between these movable parts 8 and 10, acting
only on these two parts as abutments, a relative movement of said two parts will
be produced which will tighten or release the brake-band to an extent in
proportion to said relative movement, whatever be the position occupied by the
whole mechanism. This position varies, in fact, according to the flexion of the
springs of the car, and also owing to the circumstance that the whole mechanism
can be moved forward or backward to the extent of the whole amount of clearance
existing between the block on the one hand and the stops 9 and end of the tube 10,
on the other hand.
The brake band having been tightened in the manner just described, it is
slightly rotated by the wheel, and in the movement of the latter-either forwards
or backwards until one of the two movable parts 8 or 10 comes into engagement
with the block 7. The corresponding end of the band becomes then as it were
integral with the fixed block 7, whereas the other end remains subjected to the
action of the force employed to regulate the braking. The brake therefore acts
in absolutely the same manner, whatever be the direction of rotation (backwards
or forwards) and independently of the flexion of the springs of the parts to which
it is applied.
The brake band may consist of two semi-circular collars connected by a device
enabling wear to be compensated for, and in this way, the working of the

page_text: mechanism may be regulated, and wear compensated at the point where it takes
place.
The invention constitutes a new and original device having special properties,
whatever be the force used to produce the relative movement of the rod 8 and tube
10, as long as the external manifestation of the force is limited to producing a
relative movement of said two parts.
That is why a hydraulic or electric force transmitted respectively by flexible
tubes or wires is particularly suitable. But the use of these forces in practice
has serious drawbacks, so that a mechanical device fulfilling the same conditions
and forming the second part of this invention has been devised.
Device for transmitting force to the brake.
The end of a lever 11 hinged to a bracket secured to the tube 10 passes through
'a longitudinal slot made in said tube and in the inner rod 8. The other end of the
lever is bent so that an eye at its end describes when the lever is operated an arc
of a circle passing as near as possible the pin supporting the fixed block 7. The
pulling device 12 (cord, wire, rod etc.) connected to the eye of the lever, is
parallel (or practically so) to the pin of the block 7 and consequently at right
angles to the tube 10 and to the rod 8. By pulling said cord or rod 12 the lever
11 is caused to turn about its pivot and the small arm or enlarged part of the
lever moves the rod 8 and the tube 10 in opposite directions, the brake band
being thus tightened as already explained.
The lever 11 is then subjected to three forces, two of which have their points
of application on the rod and tube 8 and 10 and are equal and opposite, as regards
the direction of movement they can produce, consequently have no external
manifestation except tending to move the said two parts in opposite directions.
The third force applied at the end of the long arm of the lever, in the direction
of the pulling device or cord 12 i.e. at right angles to the plane in which the
described brake mechanism can move, cannot have any effect on it, either, not
even a transverse one, in consequence of the proximity of the cord 12 and the fixed
pin of the block 7.
The brake of the other wheel being symmetrical it is sufficient to apply the
same pulling force to the two cords or operating means 12 and 121 in order to
attain an equal tightening of both brakes.
There are several means of dividing a pulling force into two equal halves, but a
simple device is to have a movable pulley or plate in the centre of which is
applied the operating force taken up by the two cords passing round said pulley.
A balance beam with two equal arms produces the same result.
These means,
being well known, will not be described in detail.
A device which presents practical advantages, will however be now described.
A spindle 14 is employed which can rotate about its axis, and at the same time
one of its ends is free to move in the direction of the cord 12 and 121 or operating
means. This spindle receives a rotary motion which is imparted to it without
influencing its axial position either by a rotating transmission gear with
universal joint or simply by a rod and lever as in the drawing.
The movable end of the spindle carries a lever with two opposite arms 17
and 17 to the ends of which are connected the two cords 12 and 121 which
represent the only resistances balancing the torsional effort of the spindle. As
the spindle can assume in the direction of these cords any direction that they
give it, the pull on each of them is always the same, no matter if there be a
considerable change in their respective lengths. The spindle may be arranged
vertically, horizontally, or obliquely and occupy any desired position, as the rods
or cords 12 and 12¹ may, in order to terminate at the operating levers 11 and 11!,
pass over any number of pulleys necessitated by the shape of the apparatus to
which the brake is applied.
The operating device may be a pedal, hand lever, screw, etc..
It is advisable to use one or more resetting springs 20 so as to hold the parts
always pressed in one direction.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A brake device capable of acting on a body rotating in each direction
comprising a brake band applied to a disc or similar rotatory part the two
ends of the band being attached to a connection directed tangentially towards a
fixed point, and intended to work, the one by traction, and the other by com-
pression, whenever a force applied between these two parts causes a tightening
of the brake band and the displacement of one of them from the fixed point,
while the said fixed point serves as a support or abutment for the other part,
substantially as described.
2. In a brake device of the kind described a tube, such as 10, and a rod such
as 8, or equivalent within the tube substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. In a brake of the kind described a band in the form of two half collars
capable of adjustment for wear and tear, between the two, substantially as
described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a brake device of the kind described means for transmitting force to
the brake, comprising a lever so arranged that its small arm can transmit a
relative movement between the two connections to the ends of the brake band,
while the other arm is bent and actuated by a rigid or other connection working
on the principle of traction or of compression in such a direction that the force
applied, while passing near the fixed point, is perpendicular to the displacement
of the end of the lever, which displacement is due either to the tightening fore
or aft, or to the flexion of the springs, substantially as described.
5. In a brake device of the kind described, a lever, such as shown in Figure 3, for
operating the brake band connections characterized by the passage of a flexible
cord to the centre of the fixed point so as to avoid the disturbances arising from
the springs but in which the force applied to the said cord increases the tightening
in one direction and diminishes it in the other, substantially as described.
6. In a brake device of the kind described means for transforming a single
force into two equal forces for the purpose of producing a simultaneous and equal
action on two brakes, or on two pairs of brakes separated from each other,
comprising a shaft capable of turning around its own axis, having one end fixed
which receives the force applied whilst its other end is movable and transmits
the force, by means of an intermediate lever with two arms opposite to each other,
to two connections of the brake substantially as described.
7. The application of all or part of the described brake device to vehicles,
whether such vehicles be provided with one or more brakes and whether such
brakes be on the principle of springs, or on that of mechanical or muscular power,
the brakes being applied to wheels, discs or revolving axles or any other rotatory
parts, said brake device being also applicable to capstans, lifts windlasses, and
other apparatus in which rotatory parts are required to be controlled, substantially
as described.
8. The complete brake device substantially as described or illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
1 1
1
e T 1
1000