Improvements in or relating to Backpedalling Brakes for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Backpedalling Brakes for Velocipedes
and the like.
I, JOHN HENRY PLAYER, of 83, Hillfield Road, Sparkhill, Bumingham, Wai
wickshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
tollows:-
My invention relates to backpedalling brakes for velocipedes and the like,
and has to its principal object to provide a brake which is adjustable as to
power and which will allow the 11der to dismount from the rising pedal, and I
will describe the same as applied to a rim brake for a rear diving safety bicycle foi
which it 18 specially applicable, though it may be applied in a more or less modi-
fied form to other suitable velocipedes and the like.
On the blacket stays of the fiame I mount two depending studs pierced by
eyes running fore and aft These eyes receive the rear ends of a yoke or fork
adapted to slide longitudinally in the said eyes
To the sides of the said fork
are secured two brake blocks adapted to be brought into fictional contact with
the rim of the driving wheel The blocks may be of leather or other suitable
material mounted in sockets adjustable on the said fork and adapted to be
fixed thereon by a set screw
The sides of the fork are preferably made of non-
circular transverse section to prevent the blocks twisting thereon when brought
into contact with the rim, but the rear ends of the fork may be screw threaded
and provided with lock nuts to further secure the blocks on the fork, if desired.
The blocks may be fixed in the sockets by small screws or other suitable
means. The fork uns forward horizontally or approximately horizontally.
To the parts of the bracket stays between the bracket and the biidge I secure a
depending stud having an eye of non-circular section the axis of which is
arianged in the plane of the driving road wheel The stud is provided with a
screwed shank passing up between the said parts of the bracket stays upon
which it is adjustably secured in position by a washer and not screwed on to
the top of the shank bearing on the said portions of the bracket stays
Through this eye I pass one arm of an _ piece This arm is sciew threaded
for the greater part of its length but the portion nearer the angle and the
other arm are preferably of non-circular section I pass the said arm back
through the said eye and screw a collar on to the threaded portion thereof up
to the shoulder formed by the commencement of the non-circular portion
arm has therefore a limited movement in the eye and is prevented from being
withdrawn from the said eye by the said collar The screwed end of the arm
ie directed rearwardly and passes through a clearance hole in the crown of the
071
The

page_text: above described fork. Two nuts are threaded on to the arm, one before and the
other behind the crown of the said fork, and between the latter nut and the
clown I introduce a spiral or other suitable sping, hereinafter referred to as
the first spiing
Thus movement between the aim and the fork 18 limited
rigidly in the one direction by the forward nut, and is limited elastically in the
other direction by the said first spring. On to the said arm, between the colla
and the forward nut, 18 screwed an adjustable washer, and between this washer
and the back of the eye is introduced a second spring which 18 preferably of
greater strength than the first spring.
The other aim of the L piece is directed horizontally away from the driving
geal and passes through one end of a connecting rod which is provided with an
eye of suitable configuration. The connecting rod is adapted to be axed on the
aim, in the plane of the ratchet hereinafter referred to, by a set screw or other
suitable means, the said arm being made long enough to allow of the proper
adjustment of the connecting rod in machines of various dimensions
The con-
necting rod 18 held preferably in the same horizontal plane as the fork and
the piece
To the forward end of the connecting rod is pivotted a pawl on a
horizontal axis This pawl is adapted to be engaged by a ratchet preferably
fixed on the inner end of the boss of the pedal crank, though the said ratchet
might be fixed to the crank axle between the said crank and the adjacent end
of the bottom bracket The 1atchet consists of a disc in which are cut one or
more suitable teeth, which may be arranged so that the brake is applied with the
cianks in an approximately horizontal position, or otherwise, as may be preferred
The pawl is impelled into contact with the ratchet by making the lower end
thereof heavier than the upper or by providing the said pawl with a suitable
spring
On forward pedalling the ratchet wipes past the pawl, but on the rider pio-
ceeding to pedal in the reverse direction one of the ratchet teeth engages with
the pawl and turns the engaging end thereof forward until the said pawl makes
contact with a suitable stop or stops, which may be conveniently formed by
mounting the said pawl in a suitably shaped recess formed in the forward end
of the connecting rod Further pressure on the rear pedal in the reverse
duection then cairies the pawl and connecting 10d forward. The L piece
moves forward with the connecting rod and the second spring is compressed
between the washer and the back of the eye stud. The movement of the
piece is communicated to the brake blocks through the fork until the said
blocks are brought into contact with the rim of the wheel
Further pressure
on the pedal is communicated to the said blocks, but in a modified degree owing
to the compression of the first spring which prevents any haish application of
the brake to the rim and allows for any irregularities in the said im. Still
further pressure on the pedal results in bringing the collar on the piece
nto contact with the back of the eye stud thus preventing any further pressure
being exerted through the brake, so that the wheel is not liable to be scotched
by excessive application of the brake as in dismounting from the rising pedal
On the reverse pressure on the pedal being relieved the springs expand and the
parts are returned to their normal position
The studs which receive the rear ends of the fork and the clips by which
they are secured to the bracket stays may each be formed from a single strip of
metal doubled and set to the form of a figure 8, the lower and smaller eye being
adapted to receive the fork and the upper and larger eye being adapted to engage
the stay One bolt may pass through the waist of the clip and another through
the two ends at the top Or a distance piece may be brazed or otherwise
secured in between the two eyes of the clip Whether the clips be made as
above described or other wise I prefer to extend the parts which grip the stays along
the said stays, graduating the extensions back and front, so as to avoid the
118k of injury to the stay arising from the hard lines formed by clips having
parallel or approximately parallel sides at the said parts.

page_text: The different parts of the brake may be readily adjusted to suit different
machines and riders of different strengths
I do not confine myself strictly to the above description which is intended to
indicate the nature of my invention without excluding modifications
Dated this 30th day of October 1899
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M. Cy EI.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, and 75, Chancery Lane, London, WC,
Patent Agent for the Applicant
Improvements in or relating to Backpedalling Brakes for Velocipedes
and the like.
I, JOHN HENRY PLAYER, formerly of 83, Hillfield Road, Sparkhill, Birming-
ham, Warwickshire, but now of 22, Dean Road, Erdington, near Birmingham
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be pertoimed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement
My invention relates to backpedalling biakes for velocipedes and the like,
and has for its principal object to provide a brake which shall be adjustable as to
power and which shall allow the der to dismount from the rising pedal, and
I will describe the same as applied to a um brake for a real driving safety
bicycle for which it is specially applicable, though it may be applied to other
suitable velocipedes and the like in a substantially similar manner
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure I 18 a side elevation of a biake constructed according to my invention
and mounted in position
Figure II is an inverted plan of the same
Figure III is a transverse vertical section through one of the clips.
The same numerals refer to the same parts throughout the drawings
On the bracket stays 2 of the bicycle frame I mount two depending studs 3
pierced by eyes running fore and aft These eyes receive the rear ends of a
yoke or fork 5 adapted to slide longitudinally in the said eyes To the sides
of the said fork are secured two brake blocks 6, 6 adapted to be brought into
frictional contact with the rim 7 of the driving wheel. The blocks may be of
leather or other suitable material mounted in sockets 8 adjustable on the said
fork and adapted to be fixed thereon by set screws 9 The parts of the fork
adapted to receive the blocks are preferably made of non-circular transverse
section to prevent the blocks twisting thereon when brought into contact with
the rim and the said parts of the fork may be screw threaded and provided with
loch nuts to further secure the blocks, if desired
The blocks 6 may be fixed in the sockets by any suitable known means.
The fork 5 runs forward horizontally or approximately horizontally
To the
parts of the bracket stays 2 between the bracket 10 and the bridge 11 I secure a
depending stud 12 having an eye or guide 13 the axis of which is arranged in
the plane of the driving road wheel. The stud is provided with a screwed
shank 14 passing up between the said parts of the bracket stays upon which it

page_text: 18 adjustably secured in position by a nut 15 screwed on to the top of the shank
and washers 46 bearing on the said portions of the bracket stays
Though the guide 13 I pass one aim 16 of an L piece This arm 18 screw
threaded for the greater part of its length I pass the arm 16 back through
the guide 13 and screw a flanged nut 18 on to the threaded portion thereof The
said flanged nut is adapted to enter the shoulder '19, and to slide therein as fai
as the flange on the nut will allow The movement of the arm 16 is limited in
the other direction by the arm 17 engaging the shoulder 20 and 18 prevented
from being withdiawn from the guide thereby The screwed end of the arm 16
16 directed rearwardly and passes through a clearance hole in the crown 21 of
the folk 5 Two nuts 22, 23 are threaded on to the arm 16, one before and the
other behind the crown 21, and between the nut 23, which is preferably backed
by a loch nut 24, and the said crown I introduce a spiral or other suitable
*pring 25
Thus movement between the arm 16 and the fork 5 is limited rigidly
in the one direction by the nut 22, and is limited elastically in the other direction
by the said spring 25. On to the said arm between the Hanged nut 18 and the
nut 22 18 introduced a spring 26 which is preferably of greater strength than the
spling 25
The other arm 17 of the L piece is directed horizontally away from the driving
gear and passes through one end of a connecting rod 27 which 18 provided
with an eye 28 of suitable configuration. The connecting rod is adapted to be
hxed on the arm 17, in the plane of the 1atchet hereinafter referred to, by the
set screw 30 or other suitable means, the said aim being made long enough to
allow of the proper lateral adjustment of the connecting rod in machines of
various dimensions. The connecting rod 27 18 held preferably in the same
horizontal plane as the fork and the piece
To the forward end of the
connecting rod 18 pivotted a pawl 31 on a horizontal axis 32
This pawl 19
adapted to be engaged by a ratchet 29 preferably fixed on the inner end of the
boss 33 of the pedal crank 34 (not shown in Fig I), though the said ratchet may
be fixed to the crank axle 35 between the said ciank and the adjacent end of
the bottom bracket 10 The ratchet consists of a disc in which are cut one or
more suitable teeth 36 which may be arranged so that the brake 18 applied
with the cranks in an approximately horizontal or other position as may be
prefened The pawl is impelled into contact with the ratchet by making the
lower end 37 heavier than the upper end 38 or by providing the said pawl with
a suitable spring
The piece may be provided with an extension 47 supported
in a forward part 48 of the guide 13 to promote the steadiness of the said
Lpiece The angle 49 of the guide 13 18 slotted out horizontally to allow of the
introduction of the aim 17 of the piece into position.
On forward pedalling the ratchet 29 wipes past the pawl 31, but on the rider
proceeding to pedal in the reverse duection one of the ratchet teeth 36 engages
with the pawl 31 and tuins the engaging end 38 thereof forward until the said
pawl makes contact with a suitable stop or stops such as 39, 39 which may be con-
veniently formed by mounting the said pawl in a suitably shaped recess 40
formed in the forward end of the connecting 10d 27 This position 18 shown
in the diawings. Further pressure on the rear pedal in the said reverse diection
then carries forward the pawl, connecting rod and L piece against the action of
the spring 26 which is compressed between the forward end of the flanged nut 18
and the shoulder 20 on the guide 13 The movement of the L piece 16, 17 18
communicated to the brake blocks 6, 6 through the fork 5 until the said blocks
are brought into contact with the rim 7 of the wheel Further pressure on the
pedal is communicated to the said blocks, but in a modified degree owing to
the compressability of the spring 25 which prevents any harsh application of
the brake to the
and allows for irregularities in the said
Still further pressure on the pedal results in bringing the flange of the
nut 18 into contact with the back of the shoulder 19, thus preventing any
Tim
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page_text: further retarding pressure being exerted through the brake, so that if the
brake be properly adjusted there is no risk of the wheel being scotched by
excessive application of the brake, as in dismounting from the rising pedal
On the reverse pressure on the pedal being relieved the spring 26 takes the
brake off and, with the spring 25, returns the parts to their normal position.
The studs 3 which receive the rear ends of the fork 5 and the clips 41 by
which they are secured to the bracket stays 2 may each be formed from a
single strip of metal doubled and set to the form of a figure 8, as shown in
Fig III, the lower and smaller eye 4 being adapted to receive the fork 5 and
the upper and larger eye 42 being adapted to engage the stay 2. One bolt 43
may pass through the waist of the clip and anothei, 44, through the two ends
at the top
Or a distance piece may be brazed or otherwise secured in between
the two eves of the clip. Whether the clips be made as above described or
otherwise I prefer to extend the parts 45 which grip the stays along the said
stays, graduating the extensions back and front, so as to avoid the risk of
injury to the stay arising from the hard lines formed by clips having parallel
or approximately parallel sides at the said parts
If desired, the spring 25 may be dispensed with, in which case the fork 5 18
positively connected to the arm 16, by the nuts 22, 23 and 24 or by any other
suitable means
The different parts of the brake may be readily adjusted to suit different
machines and riders of different strengths The throw of the brake 18 adjusted
by rotating the flanged nut 18 on the arm 16, and the limit of power is adjusted
by turning the nut 22 or the nuts 23, 24 so as to compress or relax the spring 25
I do not confine myself strictly to the above description but hold myself at
liberty to make such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of my inven-
tion.
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 A backpedalling brake, for a velocipede, constructed, arranged and adapted
to operate substantially as herein described, and as illustrated in Figs I and II
of the accompanying drawings.
2 A backpedalling biake, for a velocipede, comprising a fork, the rear parts
of which are suitably guided and carry brake blocks, a connecting rod cariy-
ing a pivotted pawl at its forward end; an L piece, one arm of which is con-
nected positively to the said fork and the other arm of which supports the rear
end of the connecting iod, a ratchet adapted to rotate with the ciank axle and
engage with the pawl on backpedalling; a guide to carry the L piece, an
adjustable stop mounted on the said piece and adapted to limit the applica-
tion of the brake by coming in contact with the said guide, a spring mounted
on the said piece and adapted to take off the said bake after application,
and a stop formed by the said guide adapted to limit the movement of the
Lpiece in the other direction, all substantially as set forth
3 A backpedalling brake, for a velocipede, comprising a fork, the rear parts
of which are suitably guided and carry brake blocks, a connecting rod cariying
a pivotted pawl at its forward end; an L piece, one arm of which is connected
through an adjustable compression spring to the said fork, and the other arm
of which supports the rear end of the connecting rod, a ratchet adapted to
rotate with the crank axle and engage with the pawl on backpedalling. a guide
to can the piece, an adjustable stop mounted on the said piece and adapted
to limit the application of the brake by coming in contact with the said guide:
a spring mounted on the said L piece and adapted to take off the said biake
after application; and a stop formed by the said guide adapted to limit the
movement of the L piece in the other direction. all substantially as set forth

page_text: 4 In a backpedalling brake for a velocipede, forming the clips which are
secured to the bracket stays or the like with graduated extensions back and
font, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 30th day of July 1900
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M. Cy EI,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
87, Chancery Lane, London, WC,
Patent Agent for the Applicant