Improvements in Brakes for Vehicle Wheels.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Vehicle Wheels.
I, CHARLES CHALMERS FONTAINE, of 95, Holland Road, Brixton, S. W., Gentle-
man, 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 improvements in the construction of brakes for vehicle
wheels especially intended for use with cycles and provides an arrangement which
allows the brake to be applied effectively with a very slight pressure, the rotation
of the wheel assisting in applying the brake.
The brake shoe is carried by a pivoted arm or lever supported by the frame
and set at such an angle with reference to the brake shoe and wheel that on
the brake shoe meeting the tyre or rim, it is caused to move forward slightly
with the wheel and to bind more tightly upon the tyre or rim. The brake may
be applied in the case of cycles by a small button or flexible connections passing
to the brake.
Two brake shoes may be employed applied to both the tyre and rim each
carried on an arm and so connected that both brake shoes are applied simul-
taneously.
In order that this invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side
elevation of a brake constructed according to my invention applied to a front.
wheel of a cycle.
Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views showing a brake with double brake shoes.
Fig. 5 is a modified form of the double brake.
Fig. 6 shows a rim brake and
Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate means by which the brake can be applied from the
handle bar of a bicycle.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the brake shoe A which is applied to the surface
of the tyre B is carried by the arms C, one at each side connected to the brake
shoe by the cross pin c. These arms are carried by a small bracket or lug D
on the fork E of the bicycle and are adapted to turn on the fulcrum d.
The lever arms C are each provided with the extension c¹ projecting within
the fork. The saddle piece F is connected to the end of each extension, encircling
the tyre and to this saddle piece at the middle a rod or connection G is fitted,
this connection extending in the arrangement shown inside the head E¹ of the
cycle to be operated by arrangements such as are shown in Figs. 6 and 7 hereafter
described.
. On the connection G being pulled up, the lever arms C move the brake shoe A
forward and consequently owing to the manner in which the arms are tilted
apply it to the surface of the tyre B. The wheel moves in the direction shown
by the arrow and draws the brake shoe forward so that it is firmly applied to the
tyre. A very slight pull on the connection G is sufficiently to apply the brake with

page_text: considerable force, the brake shoe being withdrawn by a spring fitted to the
operating parts as hereafter described.
Referring to the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which is substantially
the same as that described, besides the brake shoe A applied to the tyre brake
shoes A¹ are also employed adapted to bear against the inside of the rim. The
rim brake is double being applied at both sides of the spokes.
The brake shoe A is as in the arrangement already described, carried by
arms C supported at their lower end by the pin and fitted to the tubes H
of the cycle. The arrangement in this case is shown applied to the rear wheel
of a bicycle.
The brake shoes A¹ are also carried by arms C2 which cross the arms C¹ and
are pivoted at 3 in a similar manner.
..
The arms C2 carry small pins or rollers which bear against the sides of the
arms C¹ and a saddle piece F¹ is connected to the arms C2 with a connection G¹
so arranged that the armis C² can be drawn forward to apply the brake. On
the arm moving forward the brake shoes A¹ are brought against the inner surface
of the rim and owing to the pin or roller bearing upon the arms C¹ the brake
shoe A is also moved forward so as to bear upon the surface of the tyre B¹, the
motion of the wheel causing both brake shoes to bind more firmly.
The arms C and C2 are connected together by the spring J which draws
them together when the brake is released and consequently raises the brake
shoes A and A² from the tyre and rim.
In Fig. 5 the double brake shoes A and A¹ are employed and in this case they
are connected together by the links K being also supported by the arms C
pivoted above and below the shoes at the points 5 to the cycle tube H.
To the pivot of the links K, a loop or saddle piece F2 is connected, a chain
or like connection G2 passing from this to the operating device. A spring Ju
is fitted to the links K tending to open them and thus to separate the brake
shoes and release them from the wheel.
On the connection G2 being pulled, the fulcrum k of the links K is pulled
forward and the links are slightly collapsed towards each other drawing the
brake shoes together and causing them to press upon the tyre and rim. The
motion of the wheel causes a binding action similar to that already described,
but in this case the arms C3 are in compression instead of in tension as in the
previous arrangements.
In Fig. 6 a rim brake is shown of similar construction to C that in Fig. 4,
in which the arms are pivoted to the frame as before described and drawn forward
by the connection G¹ which is pushed down to apply the brake. The spring J²
attached to the frame and arm withdraw the latter on releasing the brake.
This rim brake is shown as applied to the front wheel of a cycle, but it is to
be understood that it is equally applicable to the rear wheel.
In Fig. 7 a simple device is shown, serving for the operation of a brake applied
to a cycle wheel. Within the handle bar L shown in section and of straight
form a rod M is placed having at its end the button m which projects from the
end of the handle bar. The handle is not shown on the drawing as it extends
towards the rider according to a well known construction and is removed the in
section.
A spiral spring N is fitted at the end of the rod M bearing against the button m
and against a flange inside the handle bar. The rod M is connected to an
elbow lever C carried by the bracket o within the steering tube L' and the con-
necting rod G passes from the other end of the elbow lever to the cycle brake
as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2.
A slight pressure of the finger on the button m serves to apply the brake as
before described and on releasing the button, the spring N causes the connection G
to be pressed down and to release the brake, the rod G being sufficiently rigid to
enable this to be done.
Fig. 8 shows a chain or flexible connection which may pass to any of the forms

page_text: f brake, the chain or flexible connection F being contained within the handle
ar L and passing over the pulley and thence through the steering spindle or
assing externally as may be desired. One end of the chain is connected to
small crank arm Q having the finger piece or button q projecting through
he handle bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
(1) An improved brake for vehicle wheels, consisting of a brake shoe applied
to the surface of the tyre, downwardly extending lever arms carrying the said
shoe pivoted to a fixed part of the vehicle a short distance below the brake shoe,
extensions on the lever arms and connection passing from the said extensions
enabling the brake to be applied by operating the lever arms, which extend at
an angle to the wheel so that the rotation of the wheel causes the brake shoe
when applied to bind more firmly upon the tyre, substantially as described and
shown and for the purposes specified.
(2) In an improved brake for cycle wheels, the combination with a brake
shoe applied to the surface of the tyre and lever arms at each side of the tyre
carrying the brake shoe, extending downwardly and pivoted to the fork, of
connections fitted to the lever arms and extending through the steering spindle
to the inside of the handle bar, an elbow lever attached to the connection, a rod
fitted to the other end of the said elbow lever, and extending within the handle
bar to the outer end, an operating button on the end of the said rod, and a
spring withdrawing the brake on releasing the button, substantially as described
and for the purposes specified.
(3) An improved brake for vehicle wheels, having brake shoes applied both
to the tyre and rim, pivoted arms carrying both brake shoes and connections
between the arms causing both brake shoes to be applied simultaneously, the
arms being so placed that the rotation of the wheel causes the brake shoes to
bind upon the tyre and rim when the brake is applied substantially as described
and for the purposes specified.
(4) An improved brake for vehicle wheels, consisting of double brake shoes
applied to the tyre and rim, two sets of arms carrying the said shoes crossing
each other at an angle and pivoted to a fixed part of the vehicle respectively
below and above the brake shoes, a projecting part on one set of arms bearing
against the other set in the angle of crossing, a spring in connection therewith
and connections passing from one set of arms to an operating device, substantially
as described and shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and for the purposes specified.
(5) An improved brake for vehicle wheels consisting of double brake shoes
applied both to the tyre and the rim, pivoted arms carrying the said brake shoes
and links connecting the shoes together, the brake being applied by collapsing the
links, substantially as described and shown in Fig. 5 and for the purposes
specified.
(6) An improved brake for the rims of vehicle wheels, consisting of brake
shoes adapted to be applied to the inner side of the rim, arms supporting the
brake and pivoted to a fixed part a short distance above the brake, sloping
towards the brake in the direction of the motion of the wheel, and means for
applying the brake, the motion of the wheel assisting in binding the brake upon
the rim, substantially as described and shown in Fig. 6 and for the purposes
60 specified.
Dated this 11th day of May 1999.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for Applicant.