Improvements in and connected with Brakes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and connected with Brakes.
I, JOHN GARDNER of Carr Street, Blackfriars, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Writing Machine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to brakes for directly driven mechanisms, and its object is
to bring the brake into automatic action immediately upon a sudden slowing, a
stoppage, or a tendency to reverse the driving mechanism or device.
According to these improvements the driven wheel or pulley or one of the driven
wheels or pulleys is constructed with the arms or spokes or its central portion free
to rotate through a certain distance independently of the rim or so that the rim
may move through the distance independently of the central part. Concentric
with the wheel or pulley there is arranged a fixed brake drum, around which there
is fitted a brake strap with one end of it attached to the central part of the wheel
or pulley and the other end to the rim. Stops or projections are formed within the
rim with which the central part can engage in such a manner that the rim is driven
by the spokes or central part or vice versa by means of the stops when rotating in
the required direction; when however the driving device is suddenly slowed or
stopped the one part of the wheel will over-run the other part, and thus cause the
approach of the two ends of the brake strap, and the instant automatic application
of the brake.
If it be desired to provide against too sudden a stop of the driven mechanism, a
strong spring may be arranged between the ends of the brake strap in such a
manner as to tend to prevent their approach.
With the application of the herein before described device, it will be found
impossible to start or drive any mechanism except in the required direction.
Doted this 94th dox of A nanet A D 1893.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Brakes.
I, JOHN GARDNER of Carr Street, Blackfriars, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Writing Machine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manor the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
"
This invention relates to brakes for directly driven mechanisms and is more
particularly intended for use with bicycles and tricycles. Its object is to enable
the brake to be brought into automatic action immediately upon a sudden slowing,
a stoppage, or a tendency to the reversal of the driving mechanism or device.
In carrying out my invention, the driven wheel or pulley, hereinafter called the
"wheel is constructed in two parts so that the spokes together with the boss on
the axle or equivalent central portion are free to rotate through a certain distance
independently of the rim of the wheel, or so that the rim may move through the
distance independently of the central part. Concentric with the wheel there is
arranged a fixed brake drum around which there is fitted a brake strap, one end of
which is attached to the central portion and the other end to the rim of the wheel.

page_text: Suitable projections are fixed within the rim which engage with projections on the
central part, so that the rim may be driven by the central part or the reverse.
When the driving device or mechanism is suddenly stopped temporarily, or is
slowed, the two ends of the brake strap are thereby caused to approach and by 80
doing to clip the brake drum and produce the instant application of the brake.
The brake will be automatically removed as BOOD as the driving motion is
accelerated or re-started.
If it be desired to provide against a too sudden stoppage by the brake of the
driven mechanism, a strong spring may be arranged between the ends of the brake
strap in such a manner as to tend to resist their approach.
In order that the application of my invention as previously described may be
understood will now further describe it with reference to the accompanying
drawings which represent convenient methods by which my improved brake may
be applied to the driving chain wheel of a bicycle. In each of the figures of the
drawings similar letters of reference are employed to denote similar parts.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 2 a cross section.
Figure 3 is a cross section, and
Figure 4 a side elevation of a modified construction.
A is the crank axle and B the wheel centre which as represented by Figures 1
and 2, is fixed upon the crank axle. C is the rim of the chain driving wheel on
the inner periphery of which the projections D are formed or fixed, one or each of
these projections being arranged to come into contact with the end, or a projection
from the end, of one or of each of the spokes B. Various means may be employed
for the purpose of ensuring the driving contact between the rim and the spokes
whilst permitting the necessary amount of independent concentric motion. As
shewn by the Figures 1 and 2 for example, the inner periphery of the rim C has a.
channel E formed in it, a part of the outer wall of the channel being cut away on
one side between each pair of projections D, to permit the insertion of the spokes,
or of the projections therefrom into the channel. To prevent the accidental
separation of the spokes and the rim, when in use, an adjustable screw F may be
inserted into the projection D₁ of the rim, in the plane of the spokes or of their
projections. After the ends of the spokes have been inserted into the channel and
moved into contact with the projections D, the adjustable screw stop F is screwed
into the projection D' and is secured by a lock-nut in such a position as will
prevent the ends of the spokes coming into the open parts of the channel.
In the alternative construction and arrangement represented by Figures 3 and 4,
the ordinary driving chain-wheel, of which C is the rim, is mounted freely upon
the axle, upon which is fixed the arm B₁ from which a projection B' protrudes
between the spokes so as to engage with one of them and thereby drive the wheel.
It will be evident that the arm B may alternatively be the crank arm.
In each of the constructions illustrated by the drawings, G is the brake drum
which does not revolve and is concentric with the axle A. This drum may be
mounted upon any suitable part of the framing, and in the cases illustrated it is
attached to the tubular part H, which together with its support has sufficient
strength and rigidity to resist the torsional strains to which it may be subjected
in use.
}
The two ends of the brake strap J are connected to pins marked I and I' which
are respectively fixed to the rim and to the central part of the wheel.
The normal direction of rotation, Figures 1 and 4, is clock-wise, and it will be
seen that the rotary motion of the axle is transmitted by means of the spokes B
or the equivalent arm B' to the rim of the wheel. Now, if in descending a hill, or
under any other circumstances, the machine should commence to travel faster than
is intended by the rider, or, in other words, over-runs the driving, the rim will
begin to rotate more rapidly than the axle and consequently the ends of the brake
strap will approach and tighten the brake strap with more or less force upon the
drum, thus causing the automatic application of the brake when needed. So soon

page_text: however as the speed of the driving spokes or arms tends to exceed that of the rim,.
the brake is automatically removed.
The ends of the brake strap may be caused to tend to separate by means of an
independent spring, or preferably, the brake strap itself may be made of spring
steel with a sufficient tendency to open. It follows that by ceasing to drive and.
allowing his feet to lightly follow the motion of the pedals, the rider does not cause
the application of the brake, since the weight of his descending foot balances that
of the ascending. The brake cannot be applied until the spring has been fully
acted upon and this can only be done by the rider causing his feet to tend to travel
at a less speed than that at which the rim is at the moment running, or by purposely
resisting the forward motion of the pedals.
When the brake strap is constructed of spring steel, I may fix in the spokes or
equivalent part outside the strap, the limiting pins K, which will prevent it from
becoming distorted. Also, instead of constructing the strap with a tendency to
open, I may make it have a tendency to close, in which case it is held off the
brake drum by the differential action of the rim and the central part, so long as
the mechanism is driven, but as soon as the actual drive slows or ceases the brake-
strap closes upon the drum and thus applies the brake.
It will generally be found more convenient in practice, when the brake is adapted
to a cycle, to arrange it in combination with the driving chain wheel, but it may,.
similarly, and with equal advantage save in the matter of convenience, be applied
to the driven chain wheel. And, although I have indicated a brake strap as the
most convenient way of putting my invention in practice, yet my invention is.
applicable with other equivalent devices so long as they are actuated by the
differential motion of the axle and the rim as previously described.
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. Arranging the axle or central part of the wheel and the rim to move.
independently but concentrically and connecting them by suitable brake gear so.
that the brake is automatically applied when the angular velocity of the one part
exceeds that of the other part, substantially as described.
2. A brake constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of June A.D. 1894.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.