Improvements in Brakes for Velocipedes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 7th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th Mar., 1887.
Improvements in Brakes for Velocipedes.
1, OTTO STREHLE, Engineer, of. Münich, in the Kingdom of Bavaria, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
:-
The brakes of velocipedes usually consisted heretofore of a simple spoon-brake,
caused to press on the rubber tyre of the fore-wheel. When riding down inclines the
vehicle sometimes overturns unless the rider places his centre of gravity to the rear by
leaning backward. With this method experience shows, that either the brake does not
act sufficiently or it injures the rubber tyre by too powerful pressure.
The present brake device is intended to obviate these drawbacks and also to afford
some further advantages.
The brake is a band brake with lever, the brake band being cast steel wire. The
brake pulley or cylinder is secured to the shaft of the driving wheel by screwing it
on to or making it in one piece with the hub or the crank.. The brake may be
arranged on the right or left or on both sides of the wheel at the same time, according
as the rider is accustomed to dismount to the right or left. The brake band is so
secured to the fork that it can be easily taken off it surrounds about half the
circumference of the brake cylinder up to the point where it is rigidly connected with
the centre of a brake-lever one arm of which passes under the dise to which it is
shaped and is connected to the fork by a spring and the other arm points backward in
the form of a straight lever, on which the foot is placed for actuating the brake.
The spring which connects the end of the brake lever to the fork holds normally the
brake band with lever at a small distance away from the disc, when the brake is not
being used, so as to prevent any friction by contact. When requiring to use the brake
the lever is pressed downward by the foot of the rider thus nipping the brake cylinder
between the curved end of the lever (which is pressed upward under the brake cylinder)
and the band passing round the upper side of the cylinder connecting the brake lever
to the fork which is tightened by the pressure on the lever.

page_text: When the pressure is released the spring presses back the arm of the lever from the
surface of the brake cylinder.
The brake lever may also be so arranged as to lie; provided with a cast steel ribbon
as brake band, over the brake cylinder secured so as to be revolvable on a pivot
arranged on an arm or projection on the front part of the fork while the treading point
remains the same; thereby the brake surface is reduced to half the circumference.
The lever may be prevented from falling on to the cylinder by a spring similarly as
described above.
The arrangement of the lateral lever allows at the same time the rider to dismount
while riding up an incline, if he has to interrupt the ride on account of any obstacle.

page_text: I, OTTO STREHLE, Engineer, of Munich in the Kingdom of Bavaria, 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 consists in an improved brake for velocipedes especially applicable
to bicycles, and has for its purpose to enable the rider to apply the brake with safety
when riding down inclines. A further advantage is the saving of wear to the tyre
which happens with the spoon-brake usually employed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the axle fitted with the improved brake device.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the bicycle on a reduced scale.
The brake is a band brake with lever, the brake band being preferably of steel wire.
The brake pulley or cylinder is secured to one of the ends of the axle of the driving
wheel and is preferably fixed to or formed in one piece with the pedal crank.
The brake may be arranged on either or on both sides of the wheel. The brake
band A is so secured to the fork at C that it can be easily taken off; it surrounds
about half the circumference of the brake cylinder H up to the point D, where it is
rigidly connected with the centro of a brake lever E, one arm of which passes under
the disc H to which it is shaped and is connected at F to the spring G connected to
the fork, the other arm of the lever points backward in the form of a straight lever, on
which the foot is placed for actuating the brake. The same steel band may pass from
C round to D and thence to F being connected to the spring G at F and the
lever E at D, in this case the lever E will be loose about the pivot Ď but the operation
of the brake will be the same.
The spring G holds the brake band with lever at a small distance away from the
disc when the brake is not being used, so as to prevent any friction by contact. When
requiring to use the brake the lever E is pressed downward by the foot of the rider thus
nipping the brake cylinder between the curved end of the lever (or between the band
thereunder) and the band passing round the upper side of the cylinder H, this part of
the band being tightened by the pressure on the lever E.
When the pressure is released the spring G presses back the arm of the lever from
the surface of the brake cylinder.
The brake lever E may also be arranged so that its curved part lies over the brake
cylinder H it being secured so as to be revolvable on a pivot arranged on an arm
or projector on the front part of the fork, while the treading point remains the same.
The surface of the drum H to which the brake is applied is by this means reduced
to half the circumference. The lever may be prevented from falling on to the drum H
by a spring similarly as described above.
The lever E serves the same time as a step by means of which the rider may
dismount, if he has to interrupt his ride on account of any obstacle.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In bicycles and other velocipedes a brake drum H secured to the shaft of the
driving wheel in combination with brake lever E passing under the drum and brake
band A attached to the fork and to the brake lever, together with the spring G
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A brake drum H attached to the axle of the driving wheel in combination with
lever E passing over the said drum and pivoted to the fork or to a forward extension
of the fork, together with a spring for holding the lever away from the drum,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
OTTO STREHLE.
Pp. Herbert & Co.,
67, Strand, W.C.
Agents to Applicant.