An Improved Adjustable Brake for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Adjustable Brake for Bicycles and the like.
I, EDWARD MILTON WILDEY, of 2, Commercial Chambers, Manse Street,
Dunedin, New Zealand, Bookbinder, 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:--
This invention relates to brakes and more especially to those used upon bicycles
and the object of the invention is to provide a strong, simple and efficient brake
which, when fitted to such a piece of machinery as a bicycle, will operate when
pressure is applied to the pedals in a direction reverse to that employed for pro-
pelling the machine forward.
In applying the invention to a bicycle I fix upon the rear hub a sleeve or collar
provided with a flange and a groove and in the groove I fix two pins. The
sprocket wheel of this rear hub fits freely upon the sleeve so that it may revolve
thereon. Two brake blocks or arms are pivoted to the face of the sprocket and
have slit ends which take into the aforesaid grooves of the sleeve. The pivoted end
of these brake blocks are furnished with hooks.
In propelling the machine the sprocket wheel carries round the brake blocks,
the hooks of which engage with the aforesaid pins and revolve the sleeve and wheel.
Upon the motion of the wheels being arrested, or partially so, the pins run up
the eccentric face of the brake blocks and force the same against the interior
periphery of a cap, which covers in the different parts and has a pin resting upon
the frame of the machine and is thus held from revolving.
The appended drawing illustrates the invention as applied to a bicycle and
will now be referred to for purpose of a detailed description.
Figure 1 is a rear view of a bicycle hub fitted with the invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
Figure 3 illustrates the hub with the sprocket wheel, brake blocks, and cap
removed.
Figure 4 is an end view of the same.
Figure 5 is an end view of the sprocket wheel shewing the position of the
brake blocks when the brake is applied.
Figure 6 is a similar view shewing the position of the blocks when the brake
is not applied.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the same.
Similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the views.
Describing the invention by the aid of the drawing, the sleeve (1) is screwed
to the hub (2) and further secured by the set screw (3) or is fastened thereto in any
other convenient manner. This said sleeve has a flange (4) and groove (5)
traversed by pins (6). The rear sprocket wheel (7) fits freely upon the
sleeve (1) against the flange (4), and is furnished with brake blocks (8) pivoted
upon pins (9). Near the pivots (9) these said brake blocks are formed into
hooks (10), have their ends (11) provided with slits (12), their thickness being such
that they will pass into the groove (5) with some considerable friction. The
cap (13) fits upon the axle (14) and is held against the face (15) by the ordinary
nut (16). The pin (17) secured to the cap (13) rests upon the chain stay (18).
5 A screw (19) in the said cap gives access to the conical head (20) of screw (21).
When the pedals are driving the sprocket wheel (7) in a forward direction, the

page_text: hooks (10) engage with the pins (6) and revolve the sleeve (1), hub (2) and the
rear wheel of the bicycle. Upon a reversal of the pressure upon the pedals the
motion of the sprocket wheel is checked and the pins (6) run up the eccentric
faces (22) of the brake blocks as shewn by Figure 5 forcing the same against
the interior periphery of the cap with the result that the progress of the machine
is partially or wholly arrested, since the said cap is prevented from revolving
by the pin (17).
Upon a renewal of pressure upon the pedals to drive the machine forwards,
the sprocket wheel advances upon the sleeve until the hooks (10) engage with the
pins (6). The pressure then draws the brake blocks inwards, as shewn by Figure 6,
and out of contact with the cap.
By means of slits (12) the ends (11) of the brake blocks are spread open to fit
tightly in the groove (5) and thus cause friction against the sides of the said
grooves and prevent the brake coming into or out of action too freely.
The screw (21) and its conical head (20) provide means for adjusting the
pressure of the brake blocks against the cap since a certain amount of spring exists
in the different parts. By screwing the screw into the sprocket wheel the range
of movement of the blocks will be reduced and by withdrawing the same an
opposite effect is produced or by screwing the screw hard down the brake may be
prevented from being brought into action altogether. This 'adjustment may be
made by taking out the screw (19) and reaching the screw (21) through the
hole in the cap.
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 combination with a bicycle or the like a brake comprising a sleeve secured
to the hub of the wheel a groove and pins in the sleeve a sprocket wheel fitted
upon the sleeve brake blocks' pivoted to the face of the sprocket wheel and taking
into the groove of the sleeve a cap secured to the axle and a pin in the cap resting,
upon the frame of the machine, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
herein.
2. In combination with a bicycle or the like a brake comprising a sleeve secured
to the hub of the wheel a groove and pins in the sleeve a sprocket wheel fitted upon
the sleeve brake blocks pivoted to the face of the sprocket wheel and taking into
the groove of the sleeve slits in the ends of the said brake blocks a cap secured to
the axle and a pin in' the cap resting upon the frame of the machine, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth herein.
3. In combination with a bicycle or the like a brake comprising a sleeve
secured to the hub of the wheel a groove and pins in the sleeve a sprocket wheel
fitted upon the sleeve brake blocks pivoted to the face of the sprocket wheel and
taking into the groove of the sleeve slits in the ends of the said brake blocks a
conical headed screw for regulating the action of the said brake' blocks a cap
secured to the axle a pin in the cap resting upon the frame of the machine and a
screw in the cap to give access to the conical headed screw, substantially 'as and
for the purposes set forth herein.
4. The improved brake for bicycles and the like consisting of parts constructed
arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein and
illustrated upon the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 14th day of December 1898
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents' for the Applicant.