Improvements in or connected with Brake Apparatus for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1899
Con plete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 2nd June, 1900...
Improvements in or connected with Brake Apparatus for Cycles
and other Vehicles.
We, ERHARD LUDWIG MAYER, Engineer, and Orro HEHNER, Public Analyst,
both of 11, Billiter Square, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:
This invention has reference to an improved construction of brake apparatus.
for bicycles and other road vehicles whereby upon the vehicle to which the
apparatus is applied attaining or exceeding a given speed the brake will be
automatically brought into action to retard the notion of the vehicle until the
speed thereof is reduced below the given speed whereupon the brake will auto-
matically be taken off.
For this purpose there is used in conjunction with brake mechanism adapted
to retard the motion of the vehicle, centrifugal governing mechanism driven
from a rotary part of the vehicle and so constructed and arranged that upon
the vehicle attaining or exceeding a predetermined speed, such governing
mechanism will act automatically to operate the brake mechanism and apply
the brake so as to retard the vehicle until the speed thereof is reduced below the
said predetermined speed whereupon the action of the brake will automatically
cease.
According to one construction, suitable for a bicycle or other road vehicle,
thero is fixed to one of the travelling wheels or axles of the vehicle, say: the
driving wheel or axle, a brake wheel around which is placed a brake strap the
ends of which are fixed to oppositely arranged ends or parts of a lever or carrier
that is pivoted to a fixed part of the frame of the machine and is hereinafter
called the brake lever. One end of this brake lever is connected to one end of a
coiled spring the other end of which is secured to a fixed part of the frame of
the machine, it may be in an adjustable manner, the said spring acting to normally
hold the brake lever in a position in which the brake strap is loose on the brake
also connected one
wheel. To the same end of the brake lever is
end of a rod the other end of which is connected to a crank or lever
arm fixed to one end of a spindle that is mounted in a bearing carried by the
frame of the machine and to the other end of which is fixed a second crank or
lever arm.
This second crank or lever arm is arranged to be operated, so as to
partly rotate the spindle about its axis, by a ring mounted to be moved laterally
on the boss of the friction wheel by pins arranged to work laterally through
holes in the body of such wheel and each of which is carried or actuated by one
end of a lever carried by the friction wheel, or the driving wheel or axle, and
the other end of which is connected, as by a rod, to a weight which is or may be

page_text: mounted to slide inward and outward upon a rod or guide fixed to the driving
wheel or axle, conveniently one of the wheel spokes. The two crank or lever
arms on the spindle and the rod connecting one of them to the brake lever are
so arranged that as the one crank or lever arm is turned outward by the laterally
movable ring, the other crank or lever arm will pull on the rod and move into
a position in which it and the said rod become nearly but not quite parallel
with one another so that the brake will be applied with a force that gradually
increases from a small amount up to a very large one. The rod may be adjust-
ably connected to the brake lever so that the angle between the rod and its crank
arm or lever when the brake is fully on, can be varied to suit requirement.
The arrangement is such that normally the brake strap is held out of effective
action by the spring, which,, at the same time, through. the rod and crank or
lever armis, and spindle forces the laterally movable ring against the pins of the
levers connected to the centrifugal, weights and holds all the parts firmly in
position and so prevents looseness and rattling of the said parts when travelling
at slow speeds. When the vehicle is running, the centrifugal weights tend to
move the ring in the opposite direction, and, through the crank arms, spindle
and rod, move the brake lever against the action of the spring and in a direction
to draw the brake strap tightly around the brake wheel and when the speed of
the vehicle attains a predetermined amount, regulated by the spring, the
centrifugal weights overcome the action of the spring and applies tho brake
strap to the brake wheel so as to retard the motion of the vehicle, the parts being
moved in the opposite direction by the spring, to take off the brake, when the
speed is sufficiently reduced. The outward lateral movement of the ring is or
may be limited by one or more stops fixed to the frame of the vehicle.
The action of the coiled spring can be adjusted so that the spring will allow
the brake to be applied at any desired speed. This may be done for example
by an adjusting screw, or by adapting one end of the spring to be engaged with
one or other of a series of projections or recesses on the frame of the vehicle..
In a modified arrangement, the coiled spring is made only-sufficiently strong
to move the brake lever and attached parts into the inoperative position when
the vehicle is at rest or moving slowly, and the brake lever is held in the
inoperative position against the action of the centrifugal weights by a spring
blade provided with a pivoted hook or projection until the speed of the vehicle
has attained a predetermined: amount whereupon the brake lever will have
depressed the spring blade sufficiently to slip past the hook or projection thereon
and enable the brake to be applied with nearly the whole effect of the centrifugal
weights, the coiled spring acting to move the brake lever in the opposite direc-
tion, to take off the brake, when the speed is sufficiently reduced. The hook or
projection is so pivoted to the spring blade that it cannot turn in a direction to
allow the brake lever to escape from it but can turn in the opposite direction to
enable the brake lever, when moved in the opposite direction, to become re-
engaged with it.
The brake lever is or may be connected to a piston arranged to work inside a
cylinder after the manner of a pump piston and, from which cylinder the air
can escape only very gradually on compression, so as to form an air cushion
when the brake cover suddenly slips past the hook or projection so that the
brake will be applied gradually.
As will be obvious the details of construction can be, variously modified.
Anti-friction wheels, balls, or rollers may be applied to the movable parts in
contact where it is desired to reduce friction and wear, as for example between
the ring and the crank arm that bears against it and the stop or stops that
limit its outward movement, Also the brake and governor mechanism may be
more or less enclosed in a casing to exclude dirt therefrom.
Brake apparatus such as described may advantageously. be used in connection 5
with bicycles of the kind having free wheels, that is to say wheels that can run
forward independently of the pedals and cannot be rotated-in a backward direc-

page_text: tion by back-pedalling: 'It may also be applied in connection with motor cars,
and road vehicles drawn by horses.
+
Dated this 6th day of July 1899
Аррисанов,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in or connected with Brake Apparatus for Cycles
and other Vehioles.
We, ERHARD LUDWIG MAYER, Engineer, and Orro HEUNER, Public Analyst,
both of 11, Billiter Square, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement : —
This invention has reference to improved constructions of brake apparatus for
bicycles and other road vehicles whereby upon the vehicle to which the apparatus
is applied attaining or exceeding a given speed the brake will be automatically
brought into action to retard tue motion of the vehicle until the speed thereof
is reduced below the given speed whereupon the brake will automatically' be
taken off.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 shows, in side elevation,"
cycle wheel provided with combined brake mechanism and centrifugal governing
mechanism according to this invention. Fig. 2 shows the wheel with brake
and governing mechanism partly in rear end elevation and partly in cross
section on the line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a part sectional plan on the line B B
of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a 'part side elevation showing a modified construction.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is fixed to the hub a of
one of the travelling wheels of the vehicle, say the driving wheel 6 of a bicycle,
a brake wheel caround which is placed a brake strap d the ends of which are
fixed to oppositely arranged portions of a lever or carrier e that is pivoted 'at'g
to a fixed part of the trame h of the machine and is hereinafter called for
distinction, the brake lever. In the example shown one end of the brake
strap dis fixed to the pivot g of the brake lever e, the other end of the strap
being connected to the movable free end of the lever. "The other end of the brake
lever is connected to one end of a coiled spring the other end of which is
connected as at 'k, to a fixed part of the frame h of the machine, it may be in an
adjustable manner, the said spring acting to normally hold the brake lever in a
position in which the brake strap d is loose on the brake wheel c.. To the same
end of the brake lever is also connected one end of a rod m the other end of which
is.connected to a crank arm n fixed to one end of a spindle o that is mounted in
a bearing p carried by the frame h of the machine and to the other end of which
is fixed a second crank arm q. The crank armas n and q are arranged to be
operated, so as to partly rotate the spindle o about its axis, by an annular plate
or rings mounted to be moved laterally on the boss of the friction wheel
pins that are arranged to work laterally through holes in the body of such
wheel and each of which is connected to or actuated by one end or arm of a
lever pivoted to' some rotary part in connection with the travelling wheel. b,
as for example to a lug fixed to the brake wheel c. The other end or arm of
ach lever via connected, as by a rod w, to a weight which is or inay be
་
by

page_text: mounted to slide inward and outward upon a rod or guide y that is fixed to the
driving wheel 6 and may conveniently be one of the wheel spokes.
The two crank arms and q and the rod m are so arranged, as shown in
Fig. 3, that normally the two crank arnis bear nearly but not quite at right
angles to the rings and as the said crank arms are turned outward by the
laterally movable ring s, their effective leverage gradually increases and the
crank arm n will be caused to pull on the said rod m and move it into à position
in which it and the said rod become nearly but not quite parallel with one
another so that the brake lever will be moved by a force that gradually increases
from a small amount up to a very large one, and applies the brake only when a
predetermined speed has been exceeded.
As will be seen the rod m and arm n together form a special construction of
toggle joint device that is operated by a force (in the example by the laterally
movable ring or plate s) applied to the jointed ends of the rod and arm. It will
be obvious that a toggle arrangement for applying the brake can be constructed
in various forms. The rod m may be adjustably connected to the brake levere
so that the angle between the said rod and its crank arm n, when the brake is
fully on, can be varied to suit requirement. For this purpose, in the example
shown, the brake lever e is connected to the adjacent slotted end of the rod m by
a pin e upon which the end of the rod can be adjusted endways by a set
Borew Z:
The arrangement of the apparatus is such that normally the brake strap d is
held out of effective action by the spring which, at the same time, through
the rod m and crank arms 9 and n and spindle o forces the laterally movable
rings against the pins of the levers connected to the centrifugal weight's
and holds all the parts firmly in position and so prevents looseness and rattling
of the said parts when travelling at slow speeds. When the vehicle is running,
the centrifugal weights tend to move the rings in the opposite direction, and,
through the crank arms n and 9, spindle o and rod m, move the brake lever e
against the action of the spring i and in a direction to the left in Fig. 1-to
draw the brake strap d tightly around the brake wheel c, and when the speed
of the vehicle attains a predetermined amount, determined by the said spring,
the centrifugal weights & overcome the action of the spring and apply the brake
strap to the brake wheel so as to retard the motion of the vehicle. When the
speed is sufficiently reduced, the parts are moved in the opposite direction by
the spring, to take off the brake. The outward lateral movement of the ring or
plates is or may be limited by a stop 3, or there may be more than one, fixed to
the frame of the vehicle.
4
The action of the coiled spring i can be adjusted so that the spring will allow
the brake to be applied at any desired speed. This may be done for example by
adapting one end of the spring, as by forming it with a hook as shown, to be
engaged with one or other of a series of pins or projections 4 on the frame of the
vehicle.
Fig. 4 shows a modified arrangement in which the coiled spring i is made
only sufficiently strong to move the brake lever e and attached parts into the
inoperative position when the vehicle is at rest or moving slowly, and the brake
lever is held in the inoperative position against the action of the centrifugal
weights by an adjustable spring blade 5 secured at one end to the framing of
the vehicle and having at its other end a pivoted hook or projection 6 which holds
the brake lever e in its inoperative position until the speed of the vehicle has
attained a predetermined amount. When the speed exceeds the predetermined
amount, the connecting rod' m is caused to pull on the brake lever e and bend
and depress the spring blade 5 sufficiently to slip past the hook or projection 6
thereon and enable the brake to be applied by the rod m with nearly the whole
affect of the centrifugal weiglits, the coiled spring i acting to move the brake
lever in the opposite direction, to take off the brake, when the speed is sufficiently
reduced. The hook or projection 6 is so pivoted to the end of the spring blade 5,

page_text: as shown, that it cannot turn about its pivot in a direction to allow the brake
lover e to escape from it but can turn in the opposite direction to enable the brake
lever, after this has been released by the bending of the spring blade, to become
re-engaged with it when such lever is moved back in the opposite direction to-
its original position. The hook or projection 6 is normally held in position by
a weight or equivalent device.
The brake lever e is or may be connected to a dash pot comprising a piston 8
arranged to work inside a cylinder 9 that is pivoted at 10 to the frame h and
from which the air can escape only very gradually on compression, so as to form
an air cushion when the brake lever suddenly slips past the hook or projec-
tion 6, and ensure that the brake shall be applied gradually.
Anti-friction devices may be applied to the movable parts in contact where
it is desired to reduce friction and wear, as for example between the rings and
the crank arms and q that bears against it, and between the said ring and
the stop 3 (or stops) that limit its outward movement. Also, the brake and
governor mechanism may be more or less suitably enclosed to exclude dirt there-
from. As will be obvious changes can be made in the details of construction of
the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention so
long as the relative arrangement of parts shown in the drawings or the mode of
operation described in the specification is preserved.
Brake apparatus such as described may advantageously be used in connection
with bicycles of the kind having free wheels, that is to say, wheels that can run
forward independently of the pedals but cannot be rotated in a backward direc-
tion by back-pedalling. It may also be applied in connection with motor cars,
tram cars, and other road vehicles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. Brake apparatus for a cycle or other road vehicle wherein upon the vehicle
attaining or exceeding a predetermined speed, the brake is automatically applied
by a centrifugal governor driven from a rotary part of the vehicle and acting
through a crank arm and a rod which are so relatively arranged that when the
governor comes into action, the crank arm and rod are caused to gradually move
into positions in which they become nearly but not quite parallel with one
another so that the brake apparatus is applied with a force that gradually
increases from a small amount to a very large one,, substantially as described
with reference to the drawings.
2. Brake apparatus for a cycle or other road vehicle wherein centrifugal
governing mechanism carried and actuated by one of the carrying wheels of
the vehicle is arranged to act upon a laterally movable body on the wheel and
force the same against a crank or lever arm that is fixed to a spindle and is so
connected by a rod to the brake operating lever of the brake mechanism that it
will be caused to gradually approach parallelism with such rod and apply the
brake with a gradually increasing force, substantially as described.
3. Brake apparatus for a cycle or other road vehicle wherein a lever for
applying the brake is acted upon by a spring in a direction to take off the brake
and in the opposite direction by a crank arm and connecting rod the jointed
ends of which are arranged to be directly actuated by centrifugal governing
mechanism driven from a rotary part of the vehicle, the arrangement being such
that when a predetermined speed of the vehicle is attained or exceeded, the said
crank arm and connecting rod will be caused to gradually become nearly but
not quite parallel with each other and apply the brake with a gradually increas-
ing force against the action of the spring which will automatically act to take
off the brake when the speed of the vehicle falls below the said predetermined
speed, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
4. Brake apparatus for a cycle or other road vehicle comprising brake

page_text: mechanism and centrifugal governing mechanism so arranged that the govern-
ing mechanism is prevented from actuating the brake mechanism by a main
spring until a predetermined speed is attained, whereupon the spring is caused
to suddenly release the brake mechanism and allow the brake to be applied with
nearly the whole effect of the centrifugal governing. mechanism, controlled it
may be by a dash pot or equivalent arrangement, a supplementary spring, serving
to take off, the brake and reset the parts when the speed falls below the pre-
determined amount, substantially as described.
5., In a cycle or other road vehicle, the combination with one of the wheels
thereof, of a centrifugal governor, brake mechanism adapted to be actuated by
the said governor and to retard the velocity of the said wheel when the speed
thereof exceeds a predetermined amount, and an adjustable spring whereby the
speed at which the governor will come into action to operate the said brake.
mechanism can be varied, substantially as described.
6. Brake apparatus for cycles and other road vehicles constructed arranged
and operating substantially as herein before described with reference respectively
to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, and to Fig. 4 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 10th day of April 1900.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.;
Chartered Patent Agent.