Improvements in and connected with Brakes for Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1898
L
Improvements in and connected with Brakes for Vehicles.
I, FRANK RITTENHOUSE, of Norristown, Montgomery County, State of
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a powerful and effective brake for cycles
and other vehicles. I will describe my invention as applied to a bicycle from which
its application to other vehicles will also be understood.
The bicycle to which my invention is applied may be similar to those of ordinary
construction except that it has surrounding the hub at one side of the driving
wheel a web with a projecting annular flange on which inner and outer brake shoes
are arranged to act, the said brake shoes having preferably a hearing block or
facing of wood or other suitable material. The flange may be on that side of the
wheel opposite to the driving sprocket or it may be on the same side as the said
sprocket or it may form part thereof. The outer brake shoe has a web which is
hung by means of a link, rod, or bar, from one of the rear forks of the framework
of the bicycle, this fork being preferably connected by an angular brace rod with
the corresponding lower fork of the bicycle frame and the two forks uniting in the
usual plate to which one end of the rear axle is secured.
The use of the angular brace rod is to stiffen the rear fork, in order to prevent,
when the brake is applied the pull upon the link from too severely straining the
said rear fork.
The web of the outer brake shoe engages with a pin projecting from one side of
an actuating lever, and from the opposite side of the said lever, some distance further
inward from the upper end thereof than the pin just mentioned, another pin
projects, which is free to slide in an elongated slot formed in a bracket suitably
secured to the lower fork, the said slot being preferably slightly inclined upward
from the rear to the front end.
Engaging with the pin between the lever and bracket is an arm which projects
forwardly from a box, or casing, constituting the inner brake shoe, the said box,
or casing, having a rearwardly projecting lug which is supported upon the upper
end of a set screw engaging in a threaded hole in a bracket secured to, and
projecting inwardly from, the lower fork of the frame.
When, therefore, the lower end of the lever is drawn forward it will draw the
inner brake shoe forward and thrust the outer brake shoe rearward and the annular
flange on the hub of the driving wheel will be firmly gripped between the blocks of
the two shoes and an effective braking of the driving wheel will result.
Movement of the lever in the opposite direction will effect the withdrawal of the
brake shoes so as to free their blocks from contact with the inner and outer faces
of the annular flange.
The brake shoes are supported by a suitable link and set screw, which not only
retain said parts in their proper vertical position, but resist the pull, or thrust, upon
them when they are gripping the flange. The link and set screw are situated at
the lateral centre of gravity of the respective brake shoes so as to counteract any

page_text: tendency to twisting, or lateral distortion of the said shoes, the bracket not being
intended to resist any of the strain upon the brake shoes, but simply to prevent
lateral withdrawal, or movement, thereof.
The actuating lever may be operated by hand, or foot, by transmitting devices
of any kind suitable for the vehicle to which the brake is applied.
In the case of a bicycle I prefer to use a hand lever hung to the handle bar of
the bicycle and connected, by a compression, or thrust, rod, to one arm of a
bell-crank lever hung to a bracket projecting forwardly from the front bar of the
bicycle frame, the thrust rod having, by preference, ball and socket, or other
universal, connections with the hand lever and the bell-crank lever, so as to permit
of any desired variation in its angular relation to these two levers.
The depending arm of the bell-crank lever is connected by a tension, or pull,
rod to one arm of a duplex link which is hung to a pin carried by lugs depending
from the crank hanger of the machine, the other arm of the said duplex link
being connected by a tension, or pull, rod to the actuating lever.
Coiled around the sleeve, which connects the two arms of the said link and
receives the pivot bolt, or pin, is a spring, one extremity of which bears against
the crank hanger while its other extremity engages one of the arms of the said
link, the tendency of this spring being to constantly thrust the link, and.
consequently the actuating lever, rearward so as to remove the blocks of the brake
shoes from contact with the brake flange of the driving wheel, upward pressure
upon the hand lever serving to draw the said actuating lever forward in order to
clamp the flange and apply the brake.
The lower end of the link carrying the outer brake shoe is forked the top of
the said fork bearing such relation to the outer brake shoe that when the
brakes are released, contact of the upper part of the said shoe with the top of the
fork will prevent the lower portion of the block from swinging into contact with
the outer face of the flange on the driving wheel. The said flange is slightly
tapered on the inner face, being thickest at the outer edge, so that when the brake
shoes are applied there will be a tendency to draw the inner shoe inward rather
than outwards.
Although I prefer to use the annular flange in connection with the driving
wheel, the said flange and the braking devices acting upon it, may be employed in
connection with the crank shaft, or with any other available wheel or shaft
of the driving gear where such additional wheel or shaft, is used.
In the form of braking device described the lever for operating the brake shoes
is provided with a pin on one side thereof to which a bracket carrying one of the
brake shoes is pivotted, and on the other side with another pin to which a bracket
carrying the other brake shoe is pivoted.
I may however use a lever for operating the brake shoes, provided with a pin on
one side only to which the brackets carrying the brake shoes are pivoted.
This pin has two diameters, the bracket carrying one of the brake shoes being hung
to the part of larger diameter and the bracket carrying the other brake shoe being
hung to the part which is of lesser diameter and is placed eccentrically to the
other part.
Forward movement of the pull rod connected to the actuating lever will throw
the brake shoes into engagement with the flange on the hub of the rear wheel in
the same manner as in the device first described.
I may run the rods for operating the brake shoes, through the tubing comprising
the frame of the bicycle.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Brakes for Vehicles.
I, FRANK RITTENHOUSE, of Norristown, Montgomery County, State of
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Mechanical 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide a powerful and effective brake of cycles
or other vehicles, which object I attain in the manner hereinafter described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the application of my
invention to a bicycle from which its application to other vehicles will also be
understood.
Figure 1 is a side view of a bicycle provided with brake mechanism constructed
according to my invention;
Figure 2 is a side view, on a larger scale, of part of the brake device;
Figure 3 is a part plan and part horizontal section of those parts of the brake
device shewn in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a rear view of part of the brake mechanism;
Figure 5 is a view of the lever which operates the brake shoes;
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, are detail views of parts of the brake mechanism
and
Figures 11 to 15 illustrate modifications of the invention.
The bicycle shewn in Figure 1 may be similar to those of ordinary construction
except that it has surrounding the hub at one side of the driving wheel, a web 1
with projecting annular flange 2 on which inner and outer brake shoes are arranged
to act. The outer brake shoe has in the present instance a bearing block or
facing 3 of wood or other suitable material the inner brake shoe having a similar
block 4. The flange 2 is shewn as being on that side of the running wheel which
is opposite to the driving sprocket wheel, but it may be on the same side as the
sprocket wheel, or it may form part of the said sprocket wheel (see Figure 11).
The outer brake shoe has a web 5 which is hung by means of a link, rod, or
bar 6 from one of the rear forks 7 of the framework of the bicycle, this fork 7
being preferably connected by an angular brace rod 8 with the corresponding
lower fork of the bicycle frame, the two forks 7 and 9 being united in the usual
plate 10 to which one end of the rear axle is secured. The use of the angular
brace rod 8 is to stiffen the rear fork 7 in order to prevent, when the brake is
applied, the pull upon the link 6 from too severely straining the said rear fork.
The web 5 of the outer brake shoe engages with a pin 11 projecting from one
side of a lever 12 and from the opposite side of the said lever, some distance
further inward from the upper end thereof than the pin 11, projects a pin 13 which
is free to slide in an elongated slot 14 formed in a bracket 15 suitably secured to
the lower fork 9, the said slot 14 being preferably slightly inclined upward from
the rear to the front end.
Engaging with the pin 13 between the lever 12 and the bracket 15 is an arın 16
which projects forwardly from a box or casing 17, constituting the inner brake
shoe, the said box or casing having a rearwardly projecting lug 18 which is
supported upon the upper end of a set screw 19 engaging in a threaded hole in a
bracket 20 secured to and projecting inwardly from the lower fork 9 of the
frame.
When, therefore, the lower end of the lever 12 is drawn forward in the direction
of the arrow, Figure 2, it will draw the inner brake shoe forward and thrust the

page_text: outer brake shoe rearward and the annular flange 2 will be firmly gripped between
the blocks 3 and 4 of the two brake shoes and an effective braking of the driving
wheel will result.
Movement of the lever 12 in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow
in Figure 2, will effect the withdrawal of the brake shoes so as to free their
blocks 3 and 4 from contact with the inner and outer faces of the annular
flange 2.
The outer and inner brake shoes are respectively supported by the link 6 and
set screw 19, which not only retain the said parts in their proper vertical position,
but resist the pull or thrust upon them when they are gripping the flange 2. The
link 6 and set screw 19 are situated at the lateral centre of gravity of the respective
brake shoes so as to counteract any tendency to twisting or lateral distortion of
the said shoes, the bracket 15 not being intended to resist any of the strain upon
the brake shoes, but simply to prevent lateral withdrawal or movement thereof.
The lever 12 may be operated by hand or foot by transmitting devices of any
kind suitable for the vehicle to which the brake is applied.
In the case of a bicycle I prefer to use a hand lever 21 hung to the handle bar of
the bicycle and connected, by a compression or thrust rod 22, to one arm of a bell
crank lever 23 hung to a bracket 24 projecting forwardly from the front bar of the
bicycle frame, the rod 22 having, by preference, ball and socket or other universal
connections with the levers 21 and 23, as shewn in Figure 10, so as to permit of
any desired variation in its angular relation to these two levers.
The depending arm of the lever 23, is connected by a tension, or pull, rod 25 to
one arm of a duplex link 26 Figures 6 and 7 which is hung to a pin 27 carried by
lugs depending from the crank hanger of the machine, the other arm of the said
duplex link being connected by a tension or pull rod 28 to the lever 12.
Coiled around the sleeve which connects the two arms of the duplex link 26, and
receives the pivot bolt 27 is a spring 29 one extremity of which bears against the
crank hanger while its other. extremity engages one of the arms of said link 26,
the tendency of this spring being to constantly thrust the link, and consequently the
lever 12, rearward so as to remove the blocks 3 and 4 of the brake shoes from
contact with the brake flange 2, of the driving wheel, upward pressure upon the
lever 21 serving to draw the said lever 12 forward in order to clamp the flange 2
and apply the brake.
The lower end of the link 6 is forked, as shewn in Figure 8, the top of the said
fork bearing such relation to the outer brake shoe that when the brakes are
released, contact of the upper part of the said shoe with the top of the fork will
prevent the lower portion of. the block 3 from swinging into contact with the outer
face of the flange 2. The flange 2 is slightly tapered on the inner face, being
thickest at the outer edge, as shewn in Figure 9, so that when the brake shoes are
applied, there will be a tendency to draw the inner shoe inward rather than
outwards.
Although I have shewn and prefer to use the annular flange 2 in connection with
the driving wheel the said flange and the braking devices acting upon it may be
employed in connection with the crank shaft, as shewn in Figure 12 or with any other
available wheel or shaft of the driving gear where such additional wheel or shaft is
used.
In the form of braking device described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3,
the lever 12 is provided on one side with a pin 11 with which the web 5 carrying
the outer brake shoe engages and on the other side with a pin 13 with which the
arm 16 connected to the box or casing 17 constituting the outer brake shoe,
engages.
In Figures 13, 14, and 15, I have shewn a modification of this device in which
the lever 12ª is provided with a pin on one side only to which pin the web carrying
the outer brake shoe and the arm connected to the inner brake shoe, are pivoted.
This pin has a portion 11ª adjacent to the lever 12 to which the web 5ª carrying

page_text: the outer brake shoe is hung whilst the arm 16 carrying the inner brake shoe is
hung to the portion 13* of this pin.
The portion 13" is smaller in diameter than the portion 11", and is arranged
eccentric to the centre thereof, so that forward movement of the pull rod 23 will
draw the brake shoes into engagement with the annular flange 2 by the lever 12ª
in the same manner as in the device shewn by Figures 1, 2, and 3.
I may run the rods for operating the brake shoes through the tubing comprising
the frame of the bicycle, as shewn in Figure 15, the bicycle frame being shewn in
dotted lines. In this instance the rod 22, operated by the hand lever 21, is not
positively connected to the bell crank lever 23 but seats in the cupped end 22ª of
the said lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The combination of the wheel having a laterally projecting annular flange,
the inner and outer brake shoes, a lever carried by the frame of the wheel having
projecting pins in different planes, one of the said pins engaging with the outer
brake shoe and the other pin engaging with the inner brake shoe, and means for
moving the said lever, substantially as herein before described.
2nd. The combination of the wheel having a laterally projecting annular flange,
inner and outer brake shoes, a lever having pins in different planes, one engaging
one shoe and the other engaging the other shoe, and means for moving the lever
and means for supporting the said brake shoes independently of said lever,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3rd. The combination of the wheel having an annular flange projecting laterally
therefrom, the inner and outer brake shoes, a lever having a pin engaging with
the outer brake shoe, and another pin in a different plane engaging with the inner
brake shoe, means for moving the lever means for supporting the said shoes, and
a bracket or stop plate for restricting lateral movement thereof substantially as
herein before described.
4th. The combination of the wheel having an annular flange projecting there-
from, the inner and outer brake shoes, a depending link to which the outer brake shoe
is hung, and lever mechanism whereby the brake shoes are moved towards and
from the inner and outer faces of the annular flange, substantially as herein before
described.
5th. The combination of the wheel having an annular flange projecting there-
from, inner and outer brake shoes, a lug projecting from the inner brake shoe, a
set screw providing a support for the said lug, and lever mechanism whereby the
brake shoes are moved towards and from the inner and outer faces of the annular
flange substantially as herein before described.
6th. The combination of the lower and rear forks of the.frame the angular brace
rod connecting the said lower and rear forks, the wheel having an annular flange
projecting therefrom, inner and outer brake shoes, a hanger whereby the outer
brake shoe is suspended from the rear fork, and lever mechanism for operating said
brake shoes substantially as hereinbefore described.
7th. The combination of the wheel having an annular flange projecting there-
from, inner and outer brake shoes, lever mechanism for opérating the said brake
shoes and a swinging hanger for the outer brake shoe having a portion serving by
contact with the said shoe to limit the pivotal movement thereof on the hanger,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
8th. The combination of the wheel having an annular flange bevelled on the
inner side so as to be thickest at the outer edge, inner and outer brake shoes, and
lever mechanism for operating the said brake shoes, substantially as herein before
described.
9th. The combination in a bicycle, of the driving wheel having an annular
flange projecting therefrom, brake shoes for engaging the said flange, a lever for

page_text: operating the said brake shoes, a lever adjacent to the handle bar of the machine
and means for transmitting the movement of said handle bar lever to the brake
lever, one of the elements of said transmitting mechanism being a duplex link hung
to bearings on the crank hanger, and acted upon by a spring tending to move it so
as to release the brakes substantially as herein before described.
10th. The combination in a brake for bicycles of the driving wheel having an
annular flange projecting therefrom, inner and outer brake shoes for engaging said
flange, a lever for operating the said brake shoes, a lever adjacent to the handle
bar of the machine, a bell crank lever hung to bearings on the head of the machine,
a link hung to bearings on the crank hanger, a compression rod connecting the
handle bar lever and the lever on the front head, and tension rods connecting the
said lever on the front head to the link on the crank hanger, and connecting
the latter to the brake lever, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 19th day of May 1898.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.