An Improved Automatic Vehicle Brake.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
An Improved Automatic Vehicle Brake.
I, HERBERT LEONIDAS BAILEY, of 189 La Salle Street, in the City of Chicago,.
Cook County, State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My present invention has relation to improvements in automatic vehicle brakes:
and, more particularly, to that class in which, in order to secure a nicety of action,
the brake-spoon occupies a certain relation to the periphery of the wheel, and.
the anti-friction roller, or similar device, occupies a certain relation to the driving:
chain; or, in other words, the brake-spoon is so hung that only a slight movement
is necessary to bring it into contact with the wheel, and, when in contact with
the wheel, the greatest area possible of the brake-spoon engages the periphery of
the wheel, and the contact is even and yielding.
The present invention has for its object to improve the means of adjustment and
adapt the device, when sold as a separate article of manufacture, to machines whose
frames differ materially in construction, and also to those frames of the same
general character, whose proportions and relative locations of parts differ, as well
from design as from imperfections or other contingencies in connection with their
construction.
Another object of the present invention is to provide independent adjustments
for the brake-spoon, and for the parts supporting the brake-spoon, and also an
independent adjustment for that part which communicates to the brake-spoon the
movement imparted thereto by the driving-chain.
Another object of this invention is to provide means for maintaining the brake-.
spoon in its proper relative position to the periphery of the wheel when the brake
is set in action.
And a further object is to provide yielding connections so that the brake-spoon
may adjust itself evenly and accurately to the surface of the periphery of the wheel
at all times and under all conditions which may occur.
With these and other ends in view, the invention consists of the peculiar
construction and arrangement of parts and combination of devices hereinafter
described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a vehicle and a brake embodying the
invention applied thereto in its proper position.
b
Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the brake device...
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device.<p
Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and
Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.
In the drawing, like letters of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of
the figures, and, referring thereto in detail,
zim...
A designates the driving carrying wheel of a, bicycle or tricycle, but it will be
understood that my invention is not in any way limited or restricted to this
particular application, a bicycle driving wheel and the necessary parts of its frame
being shown in the drawing as one application of the invention. A sprocket-.
chain F is trained over the driven sprocket-wheel B and the driving or pedal
sprocket-wheel C, the latter wheel being keyed, or otherwise rigidly secured, to the
pedal-shaft D journalled in bearings on the frame G of the machine and carrying
on its ends the pedal cranks E.
The frame of the machine is usually provided with a rear fork or bifurcated

page_text: portion H, which is shown in broken lines in Figure 2. The arms P are adjustably
secured to this rear fork and they may extend rearwardly and slightly downward,
as illustrated in the drawing, or they may be otherwise arranged for the purpose of
supporting in the best possible manner the brake-spoon.
The brake device comprises a bar I which is rigidly secured in suitable clamps J
in the ends of the arms P, one end of said bar being extended more or less beyond
its clamp and bent at an angle to the bar proper to form an arm K, which carries
on its free end an anti-friction roller L adapted and arranged, to come in contact
with the normally slack under side of the sprocket-chain F, when the latter is
actuated vertically by back-pedalling in the manner well known in the art and
hereinafter described. The ends of the arms P are provided with clamps J to
receive the bar I, and adjusting screws are arranged in the projecting lugs jon
said clamps for the purpose of tightening the clamps on the bar and securing the
bar rigidly in place.
The brake-spoon N is hung between the arms P, and it is connected in a well
known and approved form, being provided with an eye M, on its rear side to receive
the bar I, said eye being located on the bar between the clamp3 J. The brake-
spoon is therefore, to all intents and purposes, loosely hung upon the bar, and, for
the purpose of maintaining it yieldingly in its proper relative position to the.
periphery of the wheel, I provide a split ring Q which embraces the eye M, and
whose free ends are extended laterally to constitute elongated engaging edges R, R,
to engage the stationary pins r rigidly secured to the clamps J. The parts are so
adjusted and arranged that the spring Q will normally hold the brake-spoon out of
contact with the periphery of the wheel, but, when the brake device is set in action
so that the brake-spoon is thrown into contact with the periphery of the wheel, the
spring yields according to the resistance offered by the wheel upon the brake-spoon
and enables the latter to adjust itself in its proper position. This adjustment of
the brake-spoon is within certain obvious limits, and it is never of sufficient latitude
as to cause the spring ring Q to become disengaged from its position on the device.
When the clamps are close to the eye, the ring may overlap the adjacent ends
thereof, but this, of course, is not essential, it being only necessary that the
elongated engaging edges of the ends of said ring should properly engage the pins r.
But for the purpose of maintaining the ring in its proper position at all times, and,
particularly, when the brake-spoon is in action, recesses may be provided in the
engaging edges of the spring ring to receive that portion of the eye M where it is
joined to the back of the brake-spoon.
By this yielding adjustment of the brake-spoon it will automatically arrange
itself in position, in or out of contact with the periphery of the wheel, and
according to the various conditions of the wheel which may occur at different times,
the limits of adjustment of the device being at all times sufficient to enable the
brake-spoon to make proper contact with the periphery of the wheel under any
and all conditions.
The arms P are secured to the fork or bifurcated portion H of the frame of the
vehicle by means of the clips S, which embrace the fork and are provided with
downwardly extending ends.s s. An adjusting screw or bolt T is arranged to pass
through the ends s, s, of each clip to secure the same rigidly upon the fork; and
bearing-plates t, having inwardly extending hubs t', are provided adjacent to these
downwardly extending ends to receive said adjusting screw, one of said hubs being
tapped to receive the threaded end of the screw. It is desirable that this connection
between the fork, of the frame and the device should also be yielding and, for this
purpose, I provide a split spring ring U for each clip which embraces the end of the
arm, and one end u of said spring ring having a bearing against the under side of the
arm and the other end of the said ring being provided with laterally extending
lugs which fit in recesses u provided for them in the clip.
By this yielding connection between the fork and the arms, the whole device is
capable of being automatically adjusted in accordance with the varying conditions
and the springs within the clips at all times maintain the device, when the brake is

page_text: not set, in its proper position and will readily yield when the sprocket-chain
operates upon the anti-friction roller to set the brake.
The particular construction of my improved brake device, as herein described
and shown, is adapted for use especially in connection with bicycles of the ordinary
construction, but it will be understood that the same device can be applied to other-
constructions of bicycles, and to other vehicles with only sneh in difications anti
changes as will occur to a skilled mechanic.
The device operates substantially in the manner contemplate in the patents:
herein referred to, and the brake is set by the movement of the sprocket-chain.
when the rider or operator "back pe lals," this being a methol of retar ling the
speed of a bicycle very common with many riders.
It will be observed from the description and illustration of my improvel device
that the arms P may be adjusted forwardly on the fork or laterally to compensate
for any imperfections in the fock itself, or to adapt the device for different positions
on the fork, or to properly hang the device from forks of different characters; an
also the bar I which supports the anti-friction roller has an adjustment in the
clamps on the arms P, which is entirely independent of the adjustment of those
arms. And, moreover, one or both of said arms may be adjusted on the bar, if
desired, in order that the brake-spoon may be at all times in its proper position.
with relation to the periphery of the wheel. The yielding connections of the
parts are important in that they provide for automatically adjusting the different
parts of the device in their proper position, as occasion may arise, anl, when the
brake is not set, they maintain the device in such a position that the brake-spon
does not interfere with the operation of the wheel.
I am aware that changes in the form.and proportion of parts and in the details.
of construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit
and without sacrificing. the advantages of the invention, and I therefore reserve
the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the.
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I.
claim is :-
1. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with a bar, of a brake-
spoon mounted on said har, and substantially horizontal arms connected at their
rear ends to the frame of the vehicle and adjustably secured at their forward ends-
on the said bar, substantially as described.
2. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with a bar, of a brake-
spoon mounted on said bar, and arms pivotally secured to the frame of the vehicle-
and provided with clamps adapted to be adjustably secured on the bar, substantially
as described.
3. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with a bar, of arms
pivotally attached to the frame of the vehicle and rigidly and adjustably secured
ou said bar, a brake-spoon supported on the bar, and a split spring ring arranged
on the bar and normally maintaining the brake-spoon in its proper position,.
substantially as described.
4. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with a bar, of the arms.
attached to the frame of the vehicle, and provided with clamps to receive the said
bar, a brake-spoon incunted on said bar, the pins in the clamps on said arms, and a
split spring ring having its ends arranged in contact with said pins and adapted to
maintain the brake-spoon in its proper position, substantially as described.
5. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with a bar, of arms
adjustably secured on the frame of the vehicle, and having clamps.to receive the
bar, a brake-spoon, an eye on the back of said spoon adapted to be arranged on
the bar between the clamps on the arms, the pins projecting out from said clamps,
and a split spring ring arranged over the said eye and the adjacent ends of the
clamps and provided with elongated, edges adapted to engage said pins, and.

page_text: recesses to receive that portion of the eye where it is joined to the brake-spoon,
substantially as described.
6. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with a bar, of a brake-
spoon mounted on the bar, the arms adjustably secured on said bar, and clips
adjustably secured on the frame of the vehicle, and provided with yielding
connections with the ends of said arms, substantially as described.
7. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with a bar, of a brake-
spoon yieldingly and adjustably secured on said bar, the arms adjustably secured
on said bar, the clips adapted to be adjusted on the frame of the vehicle, and
yielding connections between the ends of said arms and the clips, substantially as
described.
8. In a brake for vehicles, the combination with an arm, of a clip adapted to
secure said arm adjustably upon the frame of the vehicle, and having the depending
ends, the bearing plates provided with hubs arranged adjacent to said ends, and a
set screw passing through said ends and securing the clip upon the end of said arm,
substantially as described.
9. In a brake for vehicles, the combination with an arm, of a clip adapted to
secure said arm adjustably upon the frame of the vehicle, and having the depending
ends, the bearing plates provided with hubs adjacent to said ends, a set screw
passing through said ends and securing the clip upon the end of sail arm, and a
split spring ring arranged around the said arm, one end of said spring having
a bearing against the under side of said arm and the other end of said spring being
provided with laterally extending lugs to engage recesses in the clip, substantially
as described.
10. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with arms secured to
the frame of the vehicle at their. rear ends and extending forwardly, of a bar
supported by said arms and adjustable laterally therein independent of the arms,
means adapted to be operated by the chain of the vehicle to actuate said arms, and
a brake-spoon loosely connected at or about its middle with the bar and yieldingly:
maintained in its proper position, substantially as described.
11. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with a horizontal bar,
of means pivotally secured to the frame of the vehicle and supporting said bar
and a brake-spoon yieldingly connected with said bar, substantially as described.
12. A brake for chain-driven vehicles comprising a rocking-frame, said frame
consisting of a horizontal bar and arms pivotally secured at their rear ends to the
frame of the vehicle and supporting said bar, and a brake-spoon yieldingly
supported on said bar, substantially as described.
13. A brake for chain-driven vehicles comprising a rocking-frame, said frame
consisting of a horizontal bar and arms supporting said bar, clips securing, the.
rear ends of said arms to the frame of the vehicle, a brake-spoon carried by.
the bar, and spring device operating ou said brake-spoon, and spring devices adapted.
to hold the brake-spoon normally out of engagement with the wheel of the vehicle,
substantially as described.
14. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with a horizontal bar
and arms pivotally secured to the frame of the vehicle and supporting said bar, of
a brake-spoon carried by the bar and a spring device operating on the brake-spoon,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
15. In a brake for chain-driven vehicles, the combination with an arm, of a clip
adapted to secure said arm adjustably upon the frame of the vehicle and a spring
device operating upon the arm to hold its forward end normally in an elevated:
position, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.