IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, DELEVANTE WILLIAM CROSLAND of Royal Crescent of the Parish of Saint Mary
Abbotts Kensington in the County of Middlesex Mechanical Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
The first part of my invention relates to the method of constructing the "Driving
Wheels" of Bicycles and Tricycles, Ambulance Carriages &c. and Secondly to the
method of applying the Brake Gear to the same.
The construction of the wheels is as follows:-The hub or hub-flange is stamped
or cast with an outward flange or rim through which the spoke-holes are drilled
(which avoids having dead holes as in the ordinary construction of hubs.)
I have two methods of performing the fixing of the spokes.
The first method is to invert the spokes so that the spoke-heads are against the
inside of the flange or rim on the hub; and in this case the holes are counter-sunk.
(Shewn in fig. I. at A).
The other ends of the spokes being screwed into the felloe of the wheel; (shewn
at B) this method enables spokes to be taken in or out without removing the tyre
of the wheel; to prevent the spokes slackening a ring or split ring is sprung into
the hub under the heads of the spokes (shewn at A and also at C in the end view
of Fig. 1); this spring ring can be, if necessary, fixed to the hub by small screws.
The second method of fixing the spokes is to put them through the felloe with
the spokes heads under the tyre; the screwed ends then go through clearing holes
in the flange or rim of the hub, being tightened by nuts (fig. 2) which are prevented
from slackening by check-nuts or pins; this method enables a spoke to be readily
removed in case of accident, and also prevents a spoke breaking off in the hub.
The Appliance for the Brake-Gear is as follows:-The Lever from the Brake-
drum of the Tricycle, or from the Spoon-Brake of the Bicycle, is forked at the
upper end, (fig. 3) in which is pivotted a nut, n, into which works a screwed
spindle, 8.
This screwed spindle is operated upon by a small hand-wheel, h, working in a
socket, k, on the handle bar, r.

page_text: This hand-wheel turning the screwed spindle advances the lever, l, thus applying
the Brake power to the Machine.
The hand wheel being gauged indicates the power of the Brake upon the
Machine; this appliance is very readily released and cannot of itself slacken back,
so that in decending a long hill the pressure on the Brake is uniform.
This Appliance can be adapted to any form of Brake lever used for Bicycles or
Tricycles.
I therefore do not bind myself to use any special Brake-Gear as various kinds
may be adopted to suit this Appliance.
Also this Appliance can be adapted to the 2nd lever of the Brake-drum or Spoon
Brake; (shewn in Fig. 4 at A. and at B) by which means it can be brought nearer
the handle and consequently well under the rider's control.
It will be seen that by this method I obtain a sure and uniform means of
applying the Brake power to the Machine, and also enable the rider to know
exactly what resistance he offers to the Machine in decending any hill steep or
otherwise as the Brake is kept by it, always constant and uniform..
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
First. The Flanged hub either inwardly or outwardly Flanged; and the manners
of fixing the spokes in the same; and of preventing the spokes from slackening,
as described at length, with the method of screwing the spokes into the felloes
of the wheels; the same being applicable to all wheels of Bicycles, Tricycles,
Ambulance carriages or other Vehicles of light construction.
Second. The combination of the forked levers, with the screwed spindles
working in the sockets or Bearings and the hand-wheels, gauged to indicate
the power of the Brake upon the Machine together with any mere modifications
thereof.
Dated this nineteenth day of October One thousand eight hundred and