Improvements in Brakes for Cycles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Cycles.
A communication from HEINRICH WILHELM SCHLADITZ, of the firm of
H. W. Schladitz, of Dresden, Saxony, in the German Empire, Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This improved brake offers this essential feature that unlike the usual brakes it
does not engage or grasp the elastic tyre of the wheel, but acts upon a disc rigidly
connected with the wheel and preferably also provided with an indiarubber rim.
The object of this improvement is firstly to protect the generally expensive india-
rubber tyres from undue wear, and secondly to secure a powerful and reliable
braking or checking effect even in those cases where the ordinary spoon-shaped
brakes acting upon the tyres direct fail to answer. These remarks apply to all
indiarubber tyres generally, but the advantages of the invention will be more
especially realized in connection with pneumatic tyres which are of late so exten-
sively used. The wear of the tyre, when in contact with the brake-shoe naturally
becomes the more considerable, as the speed of revolution of the wheel is greater,
and in fast riding it is further enhanced by the sand and small pieces of stone which
the wheel carries round in revolving. Both these inconveniences are therefore
avoided, where the brake does not act upon the wheel direct, but upon a separate
"brake-disc." Besides the comparatively short tyre or rim surrounding this disc
may with less inconvenience and at less cost be replaced when worn out, than the
ordinary cycle-wheel tyre. Another advantage involved in this invention arises
from this fact. It is well known that pneumatic tyres are particularly liable to be
cut or punctured by sharp stones, pieces of glass, etc. which they meet on the road.
When this happens, the air escapes through the puncture, the tyre becomes
deflated, and when the brake is applied to it in this condition, it remains ineffective,
the machine rushes on by inertia and the rider is subjected to great risk of injury
or loss of life. In case of a similar accident the present brake will instantaneously
arrest the machine and prevent further complications.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side view of the steering wheel of a bicycle provided with the
improved brake.
Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.
This
a is the steering bar, 6 the wheel. The brake-disc c is rigidly connected with
the hub of the wheel b. Into a groove provided at the periphery of c is embedded
an indiarubber or equivalent ring d for which however a leather ring may be sub-
stituted if preferred. Upon this ring the brake-shoe e is adapted to act.
shoe may also on the inside be lined with leather or the like for the protection of
the ring of the brake-disc or for reduction of wear. If preferred, the ring d
around the brake-disc may be dispensed with, and the brake-shoe alone provided
with a lining or pad on its operative surface. The brake-mechanism consists of
the rod f, lever g and spring h, and is in the main similar to the mechanism hitherto
used for operating direct cycle-wheel brakes, except as regards the lateral position
of the rod f. The construction of the brake-operating mechanism may, however,
be modified to suit circumstances without departure from the principle of this
invention; for example the brake-shoe may be pressed against the disc by a
spring.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
1. A brake for cycles in which a brake-shoe such as e instead of acting upon
the tyre of the cycle-wheel itself is applied to a separate disc such as c rigidly
connected with the said wheel for the purpose of avoiding damage to the tyre
from the pressure of the brake substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a cycle wheel of a brake disc such as c band d of
rubber or other suitable material and brake-shoe such as e substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a cycle wheel of a supplementary brake drum or ring
for the reception only of a brake-shoe such as e.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Nottingham,
Agents for the Applicant.