Improvements in Brakes for Velocipedes and like Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
Communicated from abroad by THE NEW DEPARTURE BELL COMPANY, a
corporation established by Act of the General Assembly, of the State of
Connecticut and located at 222 North Main Street, Bristol, Connecticut,
United States of America, Manufacturers.
Improvements in Brakes for Velocipedes and like Vehicles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 brakes for vehicles and more particularly to a brake
for velocipedes and like vehicles, and its object is to produce a brake of simple
construction and one which can be quickly operated and which shall positively
and effectively retard the speed of the vehicle and be always under the control
of the rider.
It consists in certain improvements in detail of construction which are herein-
after specified and because of which this type of brake is made more effective.
In the accompanying drawings there are illustrated two modifications of the
invention which is herein explained and set forth.
Figures 1-7 inclusive illustrate one form of the invention where applied to
the hub of a velocipede or other vehicle by a modification or special construction
of the hub itself.
a
Figures 1-6^ inclusive illustrate another modification which operates in a
way somewhat different from the former modification and which illustrates
brake which becomes a separate component and can be applied or attached to
machines already constructed.
Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation showing the improved brake fitted
to the driving or rear wheel of a safety bicycle.
Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the brake mechanism on line x-x
of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view in detail of the portion of the wheel hub to
which the brake is applied.
to.
Figure 4 is a separate detail view of the movable brake member.
Figure 5 is a separate detail view of a sleeve which will be hereinafter referred
Figure 6 is a separate detail view of the stationary brake member or drum.
Figure 7 is a separate detail view of the driving element, or, as, is illustrated
in the drawings, of the sprocket wheel of a bicycle.
Figure 1 is a view substantially the same as Figure 1.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1*.
Figure 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Figure 2ª.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the brake actuating sleeve.
Figure 5 is a detail view of the movable brake member.
Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3*.
TD 077

page_text: 3
'
Throughout the views of each modification similar parts are marked with like
letters of reference, and the parts, in the second modification analagous to similar
parts in the first modification have been marked with like letters of reference.
In the drawings, Z represents portions of the fixed frame or rear fork of a
safety bicycle, in suitable bearings in which is mounted an axle. Y upon which is
mounted to rotate the hub X of the bicycle wheel, all of which, except as herein-
after specified may be of any usual or preferred form and arrangement.
In the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings I have
provided a movable 'brake imember mounted upon the hub X and a fixed brake
member mounted upon some fixed portion of the frame Z, and I have so connected
the movable brake member, the hub, and the wheel driving element that a
relative rotary movement of the wheel driving element and the hub, such as
would be caused by retarding the rotation of the wheel driving element in the
act of back pedalling, will cause the movable brake member to move radially toward
the brake surface of the fixed brake member and closely engage the same, thus
braking" or retarding the rotation of the hub and wheel.
66
The principle of operation is substantially the same in each modification, the
difference between the two resting in the mode of radially expanding the movable
member against the fixed member.
In the present invention as shown in the drawings the movable brake member
comprises a split or divided elastic ring C, which is mounted upon the hub X.
In Figures 1 to 7 the opposite ends of C engage or rest against a projection or
lug a carried by said hub. One end of said elastic brake ring is connected
with the wheel driving element B, and both are loosely mounted upon the hub X
the
arrangement being such that a movement of the wheel driving element in
one direction will force one end c of the elastic brake ring against the lug a
.carried by the hub X to impart a forward rotation to said hub and wheel to
propel the bicycle, but a retardation of the wheel driving element B, as the hub X
and wheel continue to revolve under the propelling force which has been imparted
to the same, will retard the movable elastic brake ring C and the lug a carried
by the hub acting upon the opposite ends c¹ thereof, while the end c is held by
the wheel driving element 13, will act to expand said elastic brake ring and force
the same into contact with the fixed brake member E, thus tending to prevent
"the rotation of the hub and wheel to bring the vehicle to a stop. The hub X
is provided with a flange a at a suitable distance from the outer end thereof. In
the drawings this flange is broken out at 64 in order that the engagement of the
movable brake member therewith may be fixed and certain. Between the lug
and the flange a space is left within which is received the web or flange of the
driving element or sprocket wheel B which has a suitable number of radially
projecting teeth as shown in the drawings, after a well known and usual method
of construction.
.
The wheel driving element B is placed upon the sleeve A against the flange a,
it being loosely mounted thereon in order that it may have a limited backward
and forward movement as will be described. In the web in the wheel driving
element B is formed a recess b' whereby said wheel driving element is enabled
to be passed over the lug a when placing it in position upon the sleeve A, and
into which fits a projection 6 formed on one end c of the brake ring C whereby
said wheel driving element and the end c of the brake ring C are connected
together. The brake ring C is mounted upon the sleeve A in such a manner
that the ends e and c¹ thereof engage or bear against the opposite sides of the
luga, the end c engaging the lug upon its rear side as shown in Figure 3, whereby
a forward motion of the wheel driving element B will cause said end c to rotate
the hub and wheel.
с
In the modification shown in the drawings the lug is broadened sufficiently
to engage not only the recess b₁ in the web of the sprocket wheel but also the cut
out portion of the flange a. This cut out portion must of course be somewhat
longer than the lug in order to permit a limited backward motion of the sprocket

page_text: wheel and movable brake member. This construction is presented as a desirable
one but it is not necessary in the practice of the invention, because the flange a
may well be made continuous and the lug e be narrowed so as to have no
engagement therewith.
In order to hold the brake ring C and the wheel driving element. B,in position
upon the hub, I provide a sleeve A' which has an interior flange A" and an
exterior flange A. In the drawings the movable brake member is represented
as projecting over the flange by having an offset m cut in the inner edge of the
same. This is of course a detail of construction which is a matter of taste in
manufacture rather than of importance in the practice of the invention.
The inner flange of the sleeve A¹ together with the cone piece T screwed upon
the axle Y secure the ball bearings O in the ordinary manner.
E represents the fixed brake member which is in the form of a drum which
surrounds the brake ring C out side of the wheel driving element C, in position
to have its inner face engaged by said brake ring C when the same shall be
expanded as hereafter explained. The fixed brake member E is fixedly secured
in position by placing it upon the end of the axle Y within the fork Z and it
preferably has an arm or extension E which is rigidly secured in any suitable
imanner to the side of the fork Z whereby it is enabled to withstand the great
strain put upon it when the brake ring C is forced into contact therewith.
In Figure 2 the nut E corresponding to the fork E¹ of Figure 1 is screwed
into the brake drum and holds it rigidly in position, by bearing against an arm
of the frame Z. Either method of screwing the brake drum to the frame may be
employed according as convenience dictates.
In order to increase the friction between the brake ring C and the brake drum E
the inner surface of said brake drum may be provided with a lining of leather or
other suitable material e. Y represents the usual nut screwed upon the end of
the axle Y whereby the parts are held in place in the fork Z. In chain driven
bicycles such as shown in the drawing, the chain passes from the sprocket
wheel B to a sprocket wheel mounted upon the crank axle and a revolution of
the crank axle by the pedals will cause said chain to rotate the sprocket wheel B,
rotating the hub X and wheel thereon thus propelling the bicycle.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-The parts being arranged as
shown in the drawings, upon a revolution of the crank shaft by the pedals (which
are not shown) to the left, the sprocket wheel B will be rotated to the left as
shown in Figure 1. The rotation of the sprocket wheel in this direction will
cause the end c of the brake ring C to engage the lug a carried by the hub X
and rotate said hub and wheel, imparting a forward motion to the bicycle.
So long as the power applied to the sprocket wheel B is in a direction to cause
its rotation to rotate the hub X in a forward direction, the brake ring C will
remain out of contact with the fixed brake member E anl will turn freely with
the hub X. When it is desired to bring the brake ring C into operative contact
with the fixed brake member E to retard the motion of the bicycle, the rider
performs the act of "back-pedalling" and this act of " back-pedalling" he would
naturally perform if there were no brake present. This act of "back-pedalling"
tends to retard the sprocket wheel B or to impart thereto a movement opposite
to the direction of rotation of the hub X. This action will, inasmuch as the
end of the brake ring C is connected to the sprocket wheel B by the projection c³,
retard said brake ring, and the end c¹ being in contact with the lug a will tend to
force the end c¹ away from the end c, thus expanding the brake ring C, and bring
its outer face into frictional engagement with the fixed brake drum E, thus
"braking" and retarding the forward motion of the bicycle.
In large part the foregoing description is equally descriptive of the modification
shown in Figures 1 to 5. The points of difference I will now explain.
.
The split ring shown in Figure 4* is preferably rounded off at the outer edges
of its ends c and c¹, so that there will be no tendency in the edges to injure the
frictional brake surface. Upon the inner face of the elastic brake ring C pre-

page_text: ferably at a point diametrically opposite the opening between the ends c and c',
is formed or secured a lug c³ having the plane of its forward or right.side as it
appears in the drawing substantially radial to the inner face of the elastic brake
ring C.
The elastic brake ring C also carries upon its inner circumference a plurality
of lugs or projections c³, in the example shown in the drawing two such lugs
being employed, placed each side of a central projection c³, and nearer the ends
than the center, the forward planes of which are inclined or bevelled, which lugs
are arranged to act with complementary inclined contact faces carried upon the
hub whereby said elastic brake ring will be expanded as will be explained.
The elastic brake ring C is mounted loosely upon the hub X or upon a sleeve A.
The sleeve A is cut out at at and a³, the opening being somewhat longer than the
width of the projection on the elastic brake ring U and having the plane of
its forward edge substantially radial, and the plane of the forward edges a of
the openings as are inclined, so that when the elastic brake ring C is in place
upon the sleeve A, the lug will be received in the opening a, and the lug
will fit the opening a, with the inclined complementary faces, in contact, as
shown in Figure 3 so arranged that the elastic brake ring and the sleeve A
carried by the hub X may have a slight limited relative rotation controlled by
the extent of movement of the lug in the slot at, whereby the inclined contact
faces on the hub and elastic brake ring will act to expand the ring and cause it
to engage the fixed brake member as will be described.
The above described arrangement is such that so long as the hub and brake
ring revolve together in the position shown in Figure 3* at substantially the same
angular velocity, the elastic brake ring will remain contracted and will not
engage the fixed brake member, but if the clastic brake ring be held and its
rotatio retarded, the relative rotation of the hub and elastic brake ring which
would then occur would cause the complementary inclined contact faces on the
hub and elastic brake ring to have a relative movement toward each other, causing
the elastic brake ring to expand and engage the fixed brake member. The means
of retardation of the elastic brake ring C or for causing a relative rotation between
the hub and ring is the same as in the first modification. The wheel driving
element B is loosely mounted upon the sleeve A inside of the movable brake
member C and connected therewith through the projection as heretofore
described.
In operation forward of the wheel the movable brake member by means of
the engagement of the forward side of the lug with the forward edge of the
slot a and the connection thereof with the sprocket wheel through the projec-
tion is rotated freely and out of connection with the frictional surface of the
fixed brake member E. Upon a retardation of the sprocket wheel it is clear
that the brake ring C will be retarded therewith. The hub however will by
inertia be carried forward relatively to the movement of the sprocket wheel and
brake ring and thus the inclines carried by the hub will be carried forward
relatively to the inclined faces of the lug con the elastic brake ring causing
said ring to expand and engage the inner circumference of the brake drum E,
thus braking or stopping the forward motion of the bicycle.
63
It will be noted that a brake constructed according to this modification of my
invention is a complete component and can be attached to most machines already
constructed, by unscrewing the sprocket wheel or wheel driving element from
the hub of the driving wheel, and fixing the ring carrying the brake and driving
mechanism thereon instead, and by attaching the fixed brake member to the
frame of the machine concentric to the axle of the driving wheel.
It will be further noted that in my improved brake there is a bed or support
for the elastic brake ring which acts to maintain it in a central position and to
cause it to properly perform its function by gripping the internal face of the
fixed brake member evenly, substantially over its entire circumference according
to a method of construction which differs from those previously disclosed which

page_text: fail to show the utilization of the hub itself as a component part of the brake
or the application of the mechanical principle of inclined planes for observation
of the brake.
While I have specifically described my invention with reference to the accom-
panying drawings wherein the brake is shown applied to the rear wheel of the
bicycle, I desire to state that I do not in any sense consider my invention as
limited to such application, as it is obvious that it could with equal facility and
effectiveness be applied to the hub of the crank axle, and I desire further to state
that I do not consider my invention as limited to the details of construction
shown and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:
1. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a wheel hub, of a fixed lug or
projection carried by said hub, a split brake ring mounted on said hub and
having its ends engaging opposite sides of said lug or projection, a wheel driving
element loosely mounted on the hub and connected with one end of said brake
ring, and a fixed brake member with which said brake ring co-operates, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a wheel hub, of a split brake ring
and a wheel driving element loosely mounted on said hub, the opposite ends of
said split brake ring engaging the hub, a fixed brake member and a connection
between said split brake ring and the wheel driving element, whereby a rotation
of said wheel driving element in one direction will rotate the hub and wheel,
and its retardation will cause said split brake ring to engage the fixed brake
member, substantially as described.
3. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a wheel hub of a split brake ring
mounted on said hub, a fixed brake drum arranged concentrically with the axis
of the hub, all so constructed and arranged that the wheel hub forms a bed or
support for the split brake ring concentric with the brake drum, so as to hold
said split brake ring in position thereon, substantially as described.
4. In a bicycle brake, the combination of a wheel hub provided with a flange
upon its surface, a lug or projection outside thereof with a space between, and
a split brake member with its ends engaging the opposite sides of said lug, a
sprocket wheel loose upon the hub between the flange and lug, a sleeve provided
with a flange to hold the split brake ring in position upon the hub. and a fixed
brake drum concentric with the hub and brake ring, arranged so that propulsion
of the sprocket wheel in a forward direction will cause the wheel and hub to
revolve and a rotation of the sprocket wheel backward relative to the motion of
the hub will expand the brake ring into contact with the frictional surface of
the brake drum, substantially as described.
5. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a wheel hub, of a wheel driving
element and loose brake member mounted on said hub, connections between the
wheel driving element and the loose brake member, a fixed brake member,
means to permit a slight retrograde movement of the wheel driving element and
the loose brake member upon the hub, and complementary contact faces on the
hub and loose brake member arranged to cause said loose brake member to engage
the fixed brake member upon such retrograde movement, substantially as
described.
6. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a fixed brake member, of a divided
brake ring loosely mounted upon a hub or support, and arranged to have a retro-
grade movement thereon, and complementary inclined contact faces on the
divided brake ring and the hub or support arranged to cause said divided brake
ring to engage the fixed brake member upon a retrograde movement thereof,
substantially as described.
7. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a fixed brake member, of a divided

page_text: brake ring mounted upon a hub or support, and complementary inclined contact
faces on the divided brake ring and the hub or support,' arranged to cause said
divided brake ring to engage the fixed brake member upon a relative rotation, of
said divided brake ring and the hub or support, substantially as described.
i
8. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a wheel hub, of a divided brake ring
loosely mounted thereon, complementary inclined faces on the divided brake ring
and hub, a fixed brake member, and means to cause a relative rotary movement
of the divided brake ring and hub, to cause said brake ring to engage the
fixed
brake member, substantially as described.
9. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a hub or support of an elastic brake
ring mounted thereon, complementary contact faces upon the elastic brake-ring
and the hub or support, a fixed brake member, and means to cause a relative
rotation of the ciastic brake ring and the hub or support, substantially as described.
10. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a hub or support, of a divided
elastic brake ring mounted thereon, a fixed brake drum surrounding said ring
and suitably arranged cam surfaces for expanding said ring to engage the brake
drum, substantially as described.
11. In a bicycle brake, the combination with a wheel hub of a sleeve fixedly
secured to said hub, a divided elastic brake ring surrounding said sleeve, a fixed
brake member, complementary contact faces on said sleeve and ring, and means
for effecting a relative rotation of said sleeve and ring, to cause said ring to engage
said fixed brake member, substantially as described.
12. The combination of parts herein before described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings, forming my improved brake for velocipedes.
Dated this 20th day of July 1897.
18.
7 bie
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.