Improvements in Brake Mechanism for Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 5th May,
1900
Improvements in Brake Mechanism for Velocipedes.
We, WALTER JOHN LLOYD and WILLIAM PRIEST, of the Quadrant Cycle Com-
pany, Limited, Sheepcote Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Velocipele Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The said invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in brake
mechanism for velocipedes of the kind commonly called free wheel velocipedes
and free crank velocipedes, the said invention having for its object to enable the
rider to put the brake in action by back pedalling.
In carrying the said invention into effect, in connection with a free wheel or
free crank bicycle, provided with say a band or strap brake of the ordinary con-
struction we operate the lever for tightening and slackening the band of the band
or strap brake by the following construction and arrangement of parts.
At the outer side of the ball bearing cup of the bottom bracket, situated at
the side of the bicycle at which the brake is to be arranged, we form a projecting
flange on which projecting flange we place a bell-crank lever. One arm of the
bell crank lever carries a pawl and the other arm is connected by means of a
connecting rod to the lever of the brake strap. Fixed to the inner side of the
boss or head of the crank is a disc having notches in its periphery preferably at
two opposite points for engaging, on the back pedalling of the bicycle, with the
pawl of the bell crank lever described.
When it is wished to apply the brake either for reducing the speed of the free
wheel or free crank bicycle, or for stopping the bicycle it is only necessary for
the rider to commence back pedalling when one of the notches described of.
the notched disc engaging with the pawl of the bell crank lever the turning of
the bell crank lever through a small angle is effected and the motion of the bell
crank lever being transmitted through the connecting rod to the lever of the
brake strap the brake is put in action.
Although we have described the invention in connection with a brake of the
kind commonly called a band or strap brake yet we wish it to be understood that
the said invention may be applied to brakes other than band or strap brakes.
The application of the said invention to free wheel and free crank velocipedes
other than bicycles differs in no essential respect from its application to a free
wheel or free crank bicycle as hereinbefore described.
1000

page_text: Improvements in Brake Mechanism for Velocipedes.
We, WALTER JOHN LLOYD and WILLIAM PRIEST, of the Quadrant Cycle Com-
pany, Limited, Sheepcote Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Velocipede Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The said invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in brake
mechanism for velocipedes of the kind commonly called free wheel velocipedes
and free crank velocipedes, the said invention having for its object to enable the
rider to put the brake in action by back pedalling.
In carrying the said invention into effect, in connection with a free wheel or
free crank bicycle, provided with say a band or strap brake of the ordinary con-
struction we operate the lever for tightening and slackening the band of the band
or strap brake by the following construction and arrangement of parts.
At the outer side of the ball bearing cup of the bottom bracket situated at
the side of the bicycle at which the brake is to be arranged we form a projecting
flange on which projecting flange we place a bell-crank lever. One arm of the
bell crank lever carries a pawl and the other arm is connected by means of a
connecting rod to the lever of the brake strap. Fixed to the inner side of the
boss or head of the crank is a disc having notches in its periphery preferably at
two opposite points, for engaging, on the back pedalling of the bicycle, with the
pawl of the bell crank lever described.
When it is wished to apply the brake either for reducing the speed of the free
wheel or free crank bicycle, or for stopping the bicycle it is only necessary for
the rider to commence back pedalling when one of the notches described of
the notched disc engaging with the pawl of the bell crank lever the turning of
the bell crank lever through a small angle is effected and the motion of the bell
crank lever being transmitted through the connecting rod to the lever of the
brake strap the brake is put in action.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents in side elevation a portion of
a safety bicycle containing brake mechanism constructed according to the said
invention used in connection with a band or strap brake.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of that portion of the bottom bracket of the
bicycle to which the improved brake mechanism is attached.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the bottom bracket and parts carried by the
same, the crank and part attached thereto being removed from the crank axle.
Figure 4 represents an elevation of the inner side of the detached crank and the
notched or ratchet disc carried by the same.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawing.
a is the bottom bracket of the bicycle frame and b (Figure 2) is the ball bearing
cup at the side of the bottom bracket to which the brake mechanism is applied.
The said ball bearing cup 6 has an outwardly projecting flange on which is
placed the bell crank lever c, ², the said bell crank lever taking its bearing and
being free to turn on the said flange 12. The upper arm c of the bell crank
lever c, e carries a two armed pawl d, d² (see Figures 1 and 3) the free or acting
end of the upper arm d of which bears continuously or nearly continuously on
the periphery of the cam-like notched or ratchet disc e which is fitted on the
square boss on the inner side of the crank f (see Figures 2 and 4). When the

page_text: crank and notched or ratchet disc e are turned in a backward direction the
upper arm d, which constitutes the pawl proper, engages with one of the notches
of the said disc e and effects the turning of the bell crank lever e, by which
the brake is operated in the manner hereinafter particularly described.
Should dirt or grit clog the space between the pawl and the arm c of the
bell crank lever e, by which the said pawl is carried and thereby prevent the
free motion of the pawl on the pin c¹, the downward motion of the pawl each
time a notched part of the disc passes the end of the arm d is ensured by the
action of rises on the cam-like ratchet disc e upon the second arm of the paw!
the cam-like rises being immediately in front of the notched parts of the said
disc so that as soon as one of the notched parts has passed the end of the arm d
the nearly opposite rise on the disc in the rotation of the said disc comes against
the end of the arm and depressing the said arm effects the turning of the pawl
through the required angle.
In order to prevent the tapping noise which would result by the falling of the
upper arm of the free pawl on the periphery of the disc e each time a notched
part of the said disc passed the end of the arm d, we arrange on the arm cof
the bell crank lever a screw pin having on its stem a leather washer i by
which washer the arm is received on the angular motion of the pawl d, d².
The lower or downwardly projecting arm of the bell crank lever c, is
connected by means of a connecting rod k to the downwardly projecting arm of
a second bell crank lever by the angular motion of which the band or strap
brake m arranged on the hub of the back wheel of the bicycle is operated.
The action of the brake mechanism is as follows:
On forward pedalling the notched or ratchet disc e rotates with the crank f the
notches of the disc e passing under the end of the upper arm of the pawl which
rests on the periphery of the disc e On the rider ceasing to pedal the parts
preserve the positions represented in Figure 1 the velocipede travelling as a free
wheel or free crank velocipede. Should the rider at any time desire to apply the
brake either for reducing the speed of the velocipede or for bringing the velocipede
to rest, he has only to commence back pedalling when one of the teeth or notched
parts of the disc e coming in contact with the arm of the pawl d, effects the
turning motion of the bell crank lever c, through a small angle the motion of
the said lever c, being transmitted through the connecting rod to the lever /
operating the brake strap m. On the rider relieving the back pressure on the
pedals the brake strap expands and is thereby removed from the hub of the back
wheel of the bicycle.
Although we prefer to arrange the bell crank lever e, con a flange on the
ball bearing cup of the bottom bracket we wish it to be understood that we do
not limit ourselves to this arrangement. For example, the said bell crank lever
may bear directly on the crank axle.
And although we have represented the said invention only in connection with
a band or strap brake we wish it to be understood that it is equally applicable to
the operating of other back wheel brakes.
The application of the said invention to free wheel and free crank velocipedes
other than bicycles differs in no essential respect from its application to a free
wheel or free crank bicycle as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
we claim as the said invention of " Improvements in brake mechanism for
velocipedes":
First; The construction and arrangement or combination of parts herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing constituting im-
proved brake operating mechanism for free wheel and free crank velocipedes the
said construction and arrangement of parts consisting essentially of a bell crank

page_text: lever situated at the side of the bottom bracket of the velocipede, a pawl carried
by one of the arms of the bell crank lever and a notched or ratchet disc on the
crank of the velocipede adjacent to the bell crank lever the several parts being
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
Secondly Making on the ball bearing cup of the bottom bracket a flange
for the bell crank lever or arm of the brake operating mechanism to turn on
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated the Twenty-eighth day of March 1900.
WALTER JOHN LLOYD.
WILLIAM PRIEST.