Improvements in Brake Apparatus for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brake Apparatus for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
I, JOHN SMALLEY CAMPBELL, of 9, Grafton Street, Bond Street, in the County
of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:-
This invention has reference to a construction of bicycle and other brake
apparatus of the kind in which the brake proper is by partial rotation of one or
both of the handles of the handle bar operated through a coupling located within
the said bar.
And in order that the nature of my improvements may be clearly understood
I will now describe them with reference to the accompanying illustrative draw-
ings whereof
Fig. 1 shows in sectional plan part of a steering handle bar and brake having
my invention combined therewith.
Fig. 2 shows a section on line A B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows in elevation one end of the handle bar and the corresponding
handle.
Fig. 4 shows a section on line CD of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 shows a section on line E F of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 shows a central longitudinal section of one of the components of my
improved flexible shaft.
Figs. 7 and 8 show modifications hereinafter explained.
The handle 1 on the end of the curved hollow handle bar 2 is adapted to turn
on the said bar and has secured to it one end of a rod or shaft 3 that is located
within the handle bar.
4 is a rod or shaft mounted to turn in a fixed bearing 5 at the centre of the
handle bar and having secured to it a lever arm 6 that is suitably connected as
by a rod 7 to a brake spoon, shoe or equivalent device, the arrangement being
such that on turning the rod or shaft 4 in one direction, the brake will be applied
and by turning it in the opposite direction the brake will be taken off. The two
rods or shafts 3 and 4 are connected by an improved construction of flexible shaft
that is supported and guided within the hollow handle bar and is composed of a
number of parts that are coupled together and to the said rods or shafts 3 and 4
by universal or swivelling joints. Each of the component parts of my improved
flexible shaft comprises, as shown in Fig. 6, a tube 8 in one end of which is fixed,
as for example by soldering, a tube 9 having a bifurcated outer end 9" formed
with pin holes 9b, an annular space 10 being left between the flanged outer end
of the tube 9 and the adjacent end of the tube 8 for a purpose hereinafter
described. In the other end of the said tube 8 is fixed a similar tube 11 having
a bifurcated outer end 11. The end of the rod or shaft 3 to which the flexible
shaft is connected is similarly bifurcated. The adjacent bifurcated ends of the
components parts of the flexible shaft and rod or shaft 3 are connected together
CD 077

page_text: by a swivelling block 12 which is connected by screws 13 to one of the bifurcated
parts and is connected to the other bifurcated part by a pin 14 that passes through
a hole formed in the block and between the inner ends of the screws 13, so as to
lock these screws in place, and also through holes in the adjacent bifurcated part
so that both bifurcated parts and attached tubes 8 can turn about it.
The rod or
shaft 4 may simply be provided with a lug 4* jointed by a pin 14 to the bifur-
cated end of the flexible shaft.
Each part of the flexible shaft and also it may be one end of the rod or shaft 3,
is provided with a bearing 14 of soft or yielding material such as felt, rubber or
the like that serves to hold the part to which it is attached, in its proper position
within the handle bar and to allow of the said part being noiselessly operated.
Each bearing 14 in the example shown comprises a ring of material of the kind
mentioned clamped between two annular plates 15, 15 carried by a sleeve 15b
that is fitted on the tube 8 adjacent to the annular groove 10 left between one end
thereof and the flange or collar 9* on the corresponding bifurcated tube 9. The
plate 15 is formed in one with or fixed to the sleeve 15b the adjacent projecting
end of which is made sufficiently long to enable it to be forced by a roller of
other suitable device into the annular groove 10 in such a manner that the sleeve
will be held endways but is free to rotate on the tube 8. The other plate 15ª is
fixed to the opposite end of the sleeve by expanding such end slightly outward
against the said plate.
For holding the handle 1 in the position into which it may be turned when
applying the brake, and consequently for holding the brake in the on position,
the handle 1 may be provided with a holding device adapted to be readily engaged
with and disengaged from the handle bar. In the arrangement shown for this
purpose in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the handle 1 has pivoted thereto a spring pawl 16
one end of which is adapted to take into a recess 17 formed in the periphery of
a ratchet wheel 18 that is fixed on the handle bar 2 and is preferably covered by
the handle. The arrangement is such that when the pawl is in the recess 17,
the handle is held to the handle bar in its inoperative position so that it cannot
be turned and the brake applied accidentally. To apply the brake, the spring
pawl, which works through a slot 1º in the handle 1 must be first pressed out of
the recess 17 and the handle then turned more or less according to requirement,
the spring pawl, which is then released, slipping over the ratchet teeth and
holding the handle in the position in which it is left until the spring pawl is
pressed out of engagement with the teeth whereupon the handle can be returned
to its normal position and the brake taken off.
To enable the pawl, to slip over the teeth in one direction and engage the teeth
when moved in the opposite direction as stated, the end of the pawl adjacent to
the teeth is made of the section shown in full lines in Fig. 5, one side being
inclined at 16ª and the other provided with a tooth or projection 16b. By making
the said end of the pawl of the section shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the handle
will be automatically held only in the position corresponding to the brake being
in the off position, in which position the spring pawl is held in the recess 17
To lock the brake in the on position, the spring pawl may be provided with
means whereby it can be locked in engagement with the ratchet wheel. In the
arrangement shown for this purpose in Fig. 7, the spring pawl 16 is provided
with a set screw 19 which, when screwed inward against the handle bar 2 will
hold the spring pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel 18, and if the brake
has been put on tightly, the machine cannot be wheeled away or ridden until the
set screw is turned back again. Fig. 8 shows a modified arrangement in which
the locking screw is located within a hole in the pawl and has its outer end pro-
vided with a slit, or it may be squared or otherwise shaped to receive a screw
driver, or key adapted to engage the said end and enter the screw hole and with-
out which the screw cannot be operated. To prevent the locking screw in each
arrangement accidentally leaving the pawl, its inner end may be enlarged.
Locking devices of the kind hereinabove described constitute simple and effec-

page_text: tive means for lessening the liability of machines to which they are applied
being stolen, if the brake be locked tightly in the " on position.
Dated this 19th day of May 1897.
"
Improvements in Brake Apparatus for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
I, JOHN SMALLEY CAMPBELL, of 9, Grafton Street, Bond Street, in the County
of London, Engineer, 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 has reference to improvements in bicycle and other brake
apparatus of the kind in which the brake proper is by partial rotation of one or
both of the handles of the handle bar operated through a flexible shaft or coup-
ling located within the said handle bar, and it has for objects to improve the con-
struction and arrangement of such brake apparatus, to render the same noiseless
or practically so in action, to enable the brake proper and its operating mechanism
to be held in the off" or on position, and to enable the brake to be easily
and effectually locked in the "
on position so that the bicycle or other vehicle
to which the brake apparatus is applied cannot be wheeled away or ridden by
an unauthorized person, thereby rendering theft of the vehicle difficult.
66
6
"
And in order that the nature of my improvements may be clearly understood
I shall now proceed to describe them with reference to the accompanying illus-
trative drawings whereof
Fig. 1 shows in sectional plan, part of a steering handle bar with brake appara-
tus according to my invention combined therewith.
Fig. 2 shows a vertical section on the line A B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows in elevation one end of the handle bar and the corresponding
handle.
Fig. 4 shows a section on the line CD of Fig. 1 but drawn to a larger scale.
Fig. 5 shows a section on the line E F of Fig. 1.
Figs 5 and 5" are detail views hereinafter referred to.
Fig 6 shows to a larger scale than Fig. 1, a central longitudinal section of
one of the components of my improved flexible shaft.
Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing a modified construction of flexible
shaft with bearings according to my invention.
Figs. 8 and 9 show modifications hereinafter explained.
The handle 1, mounted to partly rotate on the end of the curved hollow rigid
handle bar 2, is secured at one end to a rod or shaft 3 located within the said.
handle bar. At the centre of and within the hollow handle bar is a brake opera-
ting device that may be of various constructions and which in the example
shown comprises a rod or shaft 4 mounted to turn in a fixed bearing 5 to which is
secured a lever arm 6 that is suitably connected, as by a rod 7, to the brake proper
which may be of various kinds and is shown as a brake block 7* jointed to the
lower end of a tube 7b that works in a guide 7° and in which the rod 7 is screwed
as shown so that the distance between the outer end of the lever arm 6 and brake
block can be adjusted to suit requirement. The arrangement, as will be seen,
is such that on turning the rod or shaft 4 in one direction, the brake will be
applied, and by turning it in the opposite direction the brake will be taken off.

page_text: The two rods or shafts 3 and 4 are connected by an improved construction of
flexible rotary shaft that is supported and guided within the hollow handle bar
in such a manner that it can be noiselessly operated for which purpose it is sup-
ported by one or more bearings of material such as felt, india rubber, leather
or like non-metallic and sound deadening material interposed between the flexible
shaft and the hollow handle bar in which the shaft is located, and carried by the
shaft.
The flexible shaft in the example shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, comprises a
number of parts that are coupled together by universal or swivelling joints. Each
of the component parts of this improved flexible shaft comprises, as shown in
Fig. 6, a tube 8 in one end of which is fixed, as for example by soldering, a tube 9
having a bifurcated outer end 9° formed with pin holes 9b, an annular space 10
being left between a shoulder 9 on the tube 9 and the adjacent end of the tube 8
for a purpose hereinafter described. In the other end of the said tube 8 is fixed
a similar tube 11 having a bifurcated outer end 11%. The end of the rod or
shaft 3 to which the flexible shaft is connected, is similarly bifurcated. The
adjacent bifurcated ends of the component parts of the flexible shaft and rod or
shaft 3 are connected together by a swivelling block 12 which is connected by
screws 13 to one of the bifurcated parts (say 9") and is connected to the other
bifurcated part (say 11") by a pin 14 that passes through a hole formed in the
block and between the inner ends of the screws 13, so as to lock these screws in
place, and also through holes in the said bifurcated part 11, so that both bifur-
cated parts and attached tubes 8 can turn about it. The rod or shaft 4 may, as
shown, be similarly connected to the adjacent end of the flexible shaft; or it may
simply be provided with a lug jointed by a pin to the adjacent bifurcated end 9ª
of the flexible shaft, as shown in the drawings filed with my Provisional Speci-
fication.
Each part of the flexible shaft, and also it may be one end of the rod or shaft 3,
is provided with a bearing 15* of soft or yielding material such as felt, rubber,
leather or the like, that serves to hold the part to which it is attached, in its
proper position within the handle bar and to allow of the said part being noise-
lessly operated. Each bearing 15* in the example shown, comprises a ring of
material of the kind mentioned adapted to fit the interior of the hollow handle
bar and clamped between two annular plates 15, 15° that are carried by a
sleeve 15 (Fig. 6) fitted on the tube 8 adjacent to the annular groove 10 left
between one end of the said tube and the shoulder 9* on the corresponding bifur-
cated tube 9. The plate 15 is formed in one with or fixed to the sleeve 15b the
adjacent projecting end 15° of which is made sufficiently long to enable it to be
forced by a roller or other suitable device into the annular groove 10 in such a
manner that the sleeve will be held endways but is free to rotate on the tube 8.
The other piate 15 is fixed to the opposite end of the sleeve, as by expanding
such end slightly outward against the said plate.
With the arrangement described, on turning the rod or shaft 3 in one direction
by means of the handle 1, the brake will be noiselessly applied through the
flexible shaft without any lost motion, and on turning the handle in the opposite
direction, the brake will be noiselessly taken off.
As will be seen the construction of the flexible shaft and its bearings is such
that it can be easily pushed bodily into place in the curved handle bar, the free
end of the rod or shaft 4, which is rounded, sliding through the fixed bearing 5
in which it is then retained in an endways direction by the lever arm which is
screwed into it, the cap 6 being temporarily removed from the top of the tube 6b
to enable this to be done. The fixed bearing 5 is formed with a slot 5ª to permit
of the turning movement of the said rod or shaft and lever, and one end of the
bearing is flared or rounded, as shown at 5b, to guide the rod or shaft 4 into place.
Upon removing the said lever, the flexible shaft and its bearings can be easily
withdrawn from the handle bar as one piece.
Fig. 7 shows the application of a bearing or bearings of the kind and for the

page_text: purpose hereinbefore mentioned to a flexible shaft consisting of a wire spiral or
coil 8 arranged within the hollow curved handle bar 2 and connected at its ends
to the rods or shafts 3 and 4. In this case the bearing may consist of a tube 14'
of india rubber, drawn over the wire spiral or coil 8* and fitting the interior of
the hollow handle bar 2; or a number of bearings may be used consisting of
rings 14 of india rubber, felt or the like that fit the interior of the handle bar
and are carried by metal rings 14º, or clamps, soldered or otherwise secured at
intervals to the wire spiral 8.
The handle 1 in each case may consist of a metal tube adapted to fit the end of
the handle bar to which it is applied, and provided with a tubular sheath 1* of
vulcanite or other suitable material having a ribbed or other roughened surface to
afford a good gripping surface. A pin 2ª fixed to the handle bar 2 and engaging
with a recess 1° in the handle, serves to limit the extent of turning movement of the
latter.
For holding the handle 1 in the normal position with the brake off, and also
in the position into which it may be turned when applying the brake, and con-
sequently for holding the brake in the on position, the handle 1 may be provided
with a holding device adapted to be readily engaged with and disengaged from
the handle bar. In the arrangement shown for this purpose in Figs. 1, 3 and 5,
the handle 1 has pivoted thereto a spring pawl 16 one end of which is adapted to
take into a recess 17 formed in the periphery of a ratchet wheel 18, or to engage
with one or other of the teeth of such wheel which is fixed on the handle bar 2
and is preferably covered by the handle as shown. The arrangement, as will be
seen, is such that when the pawl is in the recess 17, the handle is held to the
handle bar in its inoperative position with the brake off so that it cannot be
turned and the brake applied accidentally. To apply the brake, the spring pawl,
which works through a slot 1* in the handle 1, must be first pressed out of the
recess 17 and the handle and attached parts then turned more or less according to
requirement, the spring pawl, which may be left free during this turning move-
ment, slipping over the ratchet teeth and holding the handle in the position in
which it is left until the spring pawl is pressed out of engagement with the teeth
whereupon the handle and attached parts can be returned to their normal posi-
tions and the brake taken off.
To enable the spring pawl 16 to slip over the teeth in one direction and engage
the teeth when moved in the opposite direction as stated, the end of the pawl
adjacent to the teeth is made of the section shown in full lines in Fig. 5, one side
being inclined at 16 and the other provided with a tooth or projection 16
adapted to engage the ratchet teeth. By making the said end of the pawl of the
section shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the handle will be automatically held
only in the position corresponding to the brake being in the off position, in which
position the spring pawl is held in the recess 17.
Or the pawl instead of directly engaging the ratchet wheel as described with
reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 5, may as shown in Figs. 5 and 5º, have pivoted
thereto a supplementary pawl 16" one end of which, when turned into the position
shown in Fig. 5, will engage the ratchet wheel when the pawl 16 is released, and
when turned into the position shown in Fig. 5" will clear the said wheel.
In the position shown in Fig. 54, the pawl 16" after being raised by the pawl 16
out of the recess 17 in the toothed wheel, can, upon releasing the pawl 16, be
turned over the ratchet wheel in one direction but not in the other without rais-
ing it by again depressing the rear end of the said pawl 16. With the pawl 16ª
in the position shown in Fig. 5", the handle can be turned in either direction
without operating the pawl 16.
To lock the brake in the on position, the spring pawl 16 may be provided with
means whereby it can be locked in engagement with the ratchet wheel. In the
arrangement shown for this purpose in Fig. 8, the spring pawl 16 is provided
with a set screw 19 which, when screwed inward against the handle bar 2, will
hold the spring pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel 18, and if the brake

page_text: has been put on tightly, the machine cannot be wheeled away or ridden until
the set screw is turned back again. Fig. 9 shows a modified arrangement in
which the locking screw is located within a hole in the pawl and has its outer end
provided with a slit, or it may be squared or otherwise shaped to receive a special
screw driver or key adapted to engage the said end and enter the screw hole and
without which the screw cannot be operated. To prevent the locking screw, in
each arrangement, accidentally leaving the pawl, its inner end may be enlarged.
Locking devices of the kind hereinabove described constitute simple and effec-
tive means for lessening the liability of machines to which they are applied being
stolen, if the brake be locked tightly in the " on position previously to being
left in an exposed place.
""
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In brake apparatus for bicycle and other vehicles in which the brake device
proper is operated through a rotary flexible shaft located within a hollow rigid
curved handle bar from a handle connected to the shaft and mounted to turn
on the handle bar, providing the said rotary flexible shaft with one or more bear-
ings of soft or yielding material that fits or fit the interior of the said handle bar
and allows of the rotary flexible shaft being rotated within and accommodating
itself to the interior of the handle bar in a practically noiseless manner, as set
forth.
2. Brake apparatus for a bicycle or other vehicle comprising a brake device
proper, a hollow rigid curved handle bar, brake operating mechanism comprising
a flexible shaft located within the handle bar, and flexible or yielding bearings
fitting the interior of the said handle bar and carried by the said shaft so as to
be capable of being inserted into and withdrawn from the handle bar with the
flexible shaft, substantially as described.
3. In brake apparatus of the kind herein referred to, a rotary flexible shaft
comprising a number of rods or tubes having their adjacent ends connected
together by universal couplings and each provided with an external ring that is
adapted to turn relatively to the rod or tube on which it is mounted but not to
move endways thereon and carries a ring of felt or equivalent material that fits
the interior of the hollow rigid curved handle bar in which the shaft is placed,
substantially as described for the purpose specified.
4. In brake apparatus for bicycles and other vehicles wherein the brake is
operated through a connection located within a hollow handle bar from a handle
mounted to turn on one end of such bar, providing in connection with such rotary
handle and the handle bar a holding device adapted to hold the said handle and
the brake and connecting mechanism both in the position corresponding to the
position of the brake and also in the position corresponding to the "off"
position of the brake, substantially as described.
" on
"
"
5. In brake apparatus of the kind herein referred to, the combination with the
hollow handle bar and the handle mounted to turn thereon and connected to brake
operating mechanism located within the handle bar, of a holding device carried
by the handle and adapted to engage in fixed recessed parts on the handle bar
and hold the handle and connected brake mechanism either in the on" or the
off" position of the brake at will, substantially as described.
66
66
6. In brake apparatus of the kind herein referred to, the combination with
a holding device mounted on the rotary handle connected to brake operating
mechanism extending through the hollow handle bar, of a locking device carried
by the holding device and adapted to be operated by a special key, whereby the
said holding device and the handle and connected brake mechanism can be locked
in the position corresponding to the " on" position of the brake, substantially as
described for the purpose specified.
7. In brake apparatus of the kind herein referred to, the improved flexible

page_text: shaft composed of a number of rods or tubes connected together by universal
joints and each provided with a soft or flexible bearing, the said parts being con
structed and arranged substantially as described and shown.
"
8. In brake apparatus of the kind herein referred to, the combination with the
handle bar and the brake operating handle mounted thereon, of the improved
means described and shown for holding the brake mechanism in the
"off" position of the brake and for locking the said mechanism in the on
position.
on
$6
or
"
9. My improved brake mechanism constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as described and shown.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.