Improvements in Free-wheel Bicycles and other Velocipedes and in Brakes for the same.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1900-Accepted, 28th July, 1900
Improvements in Free-wheel Bicycles and other Velocipedes and in
Brakes for the same. . .
I, JOHN VERNON PUGH, of Primrose Hill House, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the construction and arrangement or combination of
parts herein after described for permitting the back or driven wheel of a bicycle
or other velocipede to run free or independent of the driving mechanism at
the will of the rider, and further of the brake mechanism also hereinafter de-
scribed to be applied to free wheel velocipedes and operated by back pedalling.
I will first describe the free-wheel mechanism constituting part of my inven-
tion as applied to a safety bicycle.
On the hub of the back wheel of the bicycle I fix in any of the ordinary
ways by which the chain wheel is ordinarily fixed to the said hub a toothed
ring the inner end of which is flanged, and on the spindle of the wheel I arrange
an exactly similar toothed ring, the unflanged end of the last named toothed
ring being presented to the outer unflanged end of the toothed ring fixed on the
hub. The teeth of the two rings are inclined and somewhat resemble the
teeth of a screw gear wheel. The toothed ring on the spindle of the wheel is not
fixed but its rotation is accompanied by frictional resistance. The chain wheel
is internally toothed and is capable of fitting either of the toothed. rings de-
scribed. The inclination of the teeth of the toothed rings is such that on forward
pedalling the chain wheel takes on the toothed ring on the hub and the driving
motion of the chain wheel is communicated to the hub of the rear wheel of the
bicycle; but should the rider cease pedalling and thereby stop the chain wheel
on the hub the back wheel continuing its revolution due to the motion of the
bicycle the teeth of the ring on the hub cause the chain wheel to slide outwards
and thereby pass on to the other or outer toothed ring on which the chain wheel
is free from the hub. On the rider recommencing forward pedalling the rota-
tion of the chain wheel causes it to slide on the teeth of the two rings until it
takes a bearing against the flange of the ring on the hub.
In constructing a brake for a free-wheel velocipede to be operated by back
pedalling I key to the spindle of the wheel or to the adjustable ball bearing cone
on the said spindle a ratchet wheel or disc and over the said ratchet wheel or
disc I arrange a ring carrying pawls capable of engaging the teeth of the
ratchet wheel or disc on the back rotation of the said ratchet wheel or disc.
The said ring has an arm connected by a rod or wire to the brake of the back
wheel so that on the turning of the ring and its arm on the back rotation of
the ratchet wheel or disc effected by the back pedalling of the velocipede the
brake of the back wheel is put in action.

page_text: Improvements in Free-wheel Bicycles and other Velocipedes and in
Brakes for the same.
1, JOHN VERNON PUGH, of Primrose Hill House, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
and in what manner. the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of the construction and arrangement or combination of
parts hereinafter described for permitting the back or driven wheel of a bicycle
or other velocipede to run free or independent of the driving mechanism at
the will of the rider and further of the brake mechanism also hereinafter de-
scribed to be applied to free wheel velocipedes and operated by back pedalling.
I will first describe the free-wheel mechanism constituting part of my inven-
tion as applied to a safety bicycle.
On the hub of the back wheel of the bicycle I fix in any of the ordinary
ways by which the chain wheel is ordinarily fixed to the said hub a toothed
ring the inner end of which is flanged, and on the spindle of the wheel I arrange
an exactly similar toothed ring, the unflanged end of the last named toothed
ing being presented to the outer unflanged end of the toothed ring fixed on the
hub. The teeth of the two rings are inclined and somewhat resemble the
teeth of a screw gear wheel. The toothed ring on the spindle of the wheel is not
fixed but its rotation is accompanied by frictional resistance: The chain wheel
is internally toothed and is capable of fitting either of the toothed rings de-
scribed. The inclination of the teeth of the toothed rings is such that on forward
pedalling the chain wheel takes on the toothed ring on the hub and the driving
motion of the chain wheel is communicated to the hub of the rear wheel of the
bicycle; but should the rider cease pedalling and thereby stop the chain wheel
on the hub the back wheel continuing its revolution due to the motion of the
bicycle the teeth of the ring on the hub cause the chain wheel to slide outwards
and thereby pass on to the other or outer toothed ring on which the chain wheel
is free from the hub. On the rider recommencing forward pedalling the rota-
tion of the chain wheel causes it to slide on the teeth of the two rings until it
takes a bearing against the flange of the ring on the hub.
In constructing a brake for a free-wheel velocipede to be operated by back
pedalling I key to the outer toothed ring herenbefore described a ratchet wheel
or disc and over the said ratchet wheel or disc I arrange a ring carrying pawls
capable of engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel or disc on the back rotation
of the said ratchet wheel or disc. The said ring has an arm connected by a
rod or wire to the brake of the back wheel so that on the turning of the ring
and its arm on the back rotation of the ratchet wheel or disc effected by the
back pedalling of the velocipede the brake of the back wheel is put in action.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in vertical section a portion
of the hub of the back wheel of a safety bicycle to which hub the free wheel and
brake mechanism constituting my invention is applied.
Figure 2 represents in side elevation the brake operating mechanism of the
said hub.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 represent parts of the free wheel and brake mechanism
detached.
Figures 8 to 14 both inclusive represent a modification of my invention
hereinafter described.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings.

page_text: I will first describe the arrangement Figures 1 to 7.
a is the hub, b the spindle within the said hub and c one of the arms or
branches of the back stay fork of the rear wheel of the bicycle: d is the toothed
ring which is fixed to the hub a preferably in the way ordinarily practised for
securing the chain wheel to the said hub. The teeth of the ring d are inclined;
that is to say, resemble the teeth of a screw gear wheel as will be seen by
reference to the edge view, side elevation and section of the detached toothed
ring d in Figure 3. The inner edge of the ring d is flanged. On the outer
side of the hub is an exactly similar toothed ring e (an edge view, side elevation
and section of which are represented in Figure 4) the unflanged edge of which
ringe is presented to the unflanged edge of the ring d. The ring e is inde-
pendent or free with respect to the hub and the hub is capable of rotation while
the outer toothed ring e remains stationary. The chain wheel f of the hub is
internally notched or toothed (see Figure 5) and is of a width proper to engage
on one or other of the toothed rings d, e the said chain wheelf being capable of a
sliding or sideway motion which motion is limited by the flanges of the two
rings d, e.
The inclination of the teeth of the rings d, e is such that when the rider
is driving the velocipede the chain ring f occupies the position represented in
full lines in Figure 1; that is to say, the internal teeth of the chain wheel f
engage the teeth of the ring d and the motion communicated to the chain wheel
by the driving chain is transmitted to the hub but on the rider ceasing to pedal
so as to allow the velocipede to run as a free wheel velocipede the chain wheel f,
the rotation of which is temporarily stopped, is caused by the inclination of the
teeth of the ring d of the rotating hub a to move outwards on to teeth of the
outer or free toothed ring e as is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. On
resuming forward pedalling the chain wheel f immediately takes the full line
position.
In order to permit of the application of the brake by back pedalling with the
arrangement of driving mechanism described I attach to the outer toothed
ringe by means of a key a small ratchet disc h (shown separately in side
elevation and edge view in Figure 6) and I arrange on the said ratchet disc
a ring with recesses, in which pawls are arranged the said pawls being
pressed on the periphery of the ratchet disc h by springs 1. The ring i has at
one side an arm which is connected by means of a connecting rod or other
means with the tyre or rim brake (not shown) of the rear wheel of the bicycle.
I have represented and prefer to use three pawls & in connection with the ratchet
disch but I wish it to be. understood that one pawl only may be employed. The
pawls and ratchet disc are so arranged that on the rider back, pedalling the
ring and arm are turned in the direction proper to apply the brake. The
pawls are preserved in place in the recesses in the ring i by a sheet metal washer
or covering plate n (see Figure 1).
By modifying the free wheel mechanism hereinbefore described in the manner
illustrated in Figures 8 to 14 both inclusive of the accompanying drawings the
ratchet disc and pawls and parts connected therewith for operating the brake
of the rear wheel on back pedalling are dispensed with and a brake action
obtained on back pedalling by the drawing together of the two toothed rings d, e
of the free wheel mechanism in the manner hereinafter described.
Figure 8 represents the modified arrangement in section the chain wheel being
represented in full lines in the position for driving and in dotted lines in the
position which it occupies when the wheel is free..
Figure 9 represents in section the change in the position of the parts of the
free wheel mechanism produced by back pedalling by which change in the
position of the parts the bicycle is braked, that is, is brought under the control
of the rider's feet either for the purpose of bringing the bicycle to rest or for
reducing its speed.

page_text: Figure 10 is an end elevation of the hub and Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are views
of some of the parts detached.
In this modified arrangement the teeth of the rings d, e are more inclined to
the axis of the said rings than in the arrangement Figure 1 to 7 and the flange
on the outer side of the toothed ring e has the form of a series of pins or pro-
jections e2, 2 on the outer ends of the screw like teeth of the ring (see the views
of the detached ring e Figure 12). The ring e is not fixed but is capable of a
slight lateral and screw like motion on back pedalling by which lateral and
screw like motion the said ring e is made to bear more or less forcibly against
the lock nut m by which the other ring d is fixed to the hub. By the frictional
contact between the ring e and the lock nut m produced by back pedalling the
required braking of the bicycle is obtained. The rotation of the ring e is pre-
vented by a fixed outer flanged disc o (shown separately in Figure 13) the flange
of which has inclined slots in which the pins or projections of the ring e take
and work. The closed ends of the inclined slots are wider than the main portions
of the said slots and the said wider ends are occupied by the enlarged ends of
the radial arms of a star like disc spring P. (shown separately in Figure 14)
arranged between the flanged disco and the ring e. The spring P. preserves
the ring e in its proper position with respect to the ring d when the parts are
in their normal positions.
The action of the parts is as follows:-
-
When driving the bicycle the chain wheel. f occupies the position on the
ring d represented in full lines in Figure 8. On ceasing to pedal the chain
wheel passes from its full line position into the dotted line position indicated in
Figure 8 and the bicycle travels as a free wheel bicycle. Should the teeth of
the rings d and e not be exactly coincident at the moment the chain wheel f.
passes off the ring & the ring e is permitted by the arms of the spring p to partake
of a slight outward and screw like motion whereby the spaces between the
toothed parts of the ring c are brought into line with the internal teeth of the
chain wheel f, when the action of the arms of the spring p causes the ring e
to resume its normal position.
When it is desired to apply the brake the rider has only to commence back
pedalling when the internal teeth of the chain wheel f acting on the quick
worm like teeth of the ring e cause the said ring to move towards the ring d,
whereby the said ring e is made to bear with more or less force on the lock nut m
of the ring d and the párts occupy. the positions represented in Figure 9. In
this position of the parts the wheel of the bicycle is braked that is, is permitted
to run under frictional resistance or the bicycle is brought to rest.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-4
First: The construction and arrangement or combination of the parts of
driving mechanism of velocipedes attached to the hub of the velocipede herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 both inclusive of the accom-
panying drawings whereby the velocipede when desired is permitted to run
free of the driving mechanism the said construction and arrangement of parts
consisting of a flanged ring with screw like teeth fixed to the hub and a similar
but free ring on the outer side of the ring on the hub the unflanged ends of the
two rings being presented to one another and a chain wheel having internal
teeth capable of engaging with the screw like teeth on the unflanged parts of
either of the two rings, the several parts being arranged and working sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Secondly: The combination with the mechanism claimed in the prior claim
of a ratchet wheel keyed to the outer free toothed ring and a ring carrying in a
recess or recesses a pawl or pawls which ring and pawls on back pedalling are
turned by the ratchet wheel through a small angle and thereby operate, through 5

page_text: a connecting rod or the like, the brake of the velocipede substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly The modified construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore
described and represented in Figures 8 to 14 both inclusive of the accompanying
drawings the said modification consisting in so arranging the outer free toothed
ring that it is capable of an endwise or axial motion to and from the ring fixed
on the hub, the said free ring when in its inner position bearing more or less
forcibly on the lock nut of the ring on the hub and thereby producing a
braking action, the outer or free ring being prevented from rotating by an
outer fixed slotted flanged disc with which is combined a star shaped disc spring,
the several parts being arranged and working substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
Dated the first dor of Luna 1000