Improvements in or relating to Cycle Brakes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Cycle Brakes.
We, WILLIAM HENRY WIDDICOMBE, of St. Lawrence, Brixham, Devon, Surveyor,
and FREDERICK PINE THEOPHILUS STRUBEN, of Kya Lami, Torquay, and Luesden,
Ashburton, Gentleman, 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 the present invention is to provide a cycle brake having a powerful
gripping and braking action upon the tyre and at the same time not liable to
cause injury to the latter. Further, the use of a brake constructed in accordance
with our invention, as hereinafter described, will obviate the possibility of danger
from sudden stoppage of the machine should the brake be suddenly and forcibly
applied.
According to our invention, the braking device consists of a small wheel having
a concave periphery so as to fit the tyre surface, and mounted so as to revolve
freely upon a ball or other bearing within a fork or fitting, which latter may be
integral with, or adapted for attachment to, the usual brake plunger.
The annexed drawing represents in sectional elevation a convenient arrange-
ment of cycle brake constructed in accordance with our invention.
a is a forked fitting adapted to enter a socket in the end of the usual brake
plunger b and secured therein by a set screw c. d is the braking wheel formed with
a concave periphery so as to fit the tyre surface and arranged to revolve freely
upon a ball bearing mounted between the fork ends. The ball bearing represented
being of ordinary construction needs no detailed description and any other suitable
form of bearing may be substituted if desired although a ball bearing is preferable.
The said wheel d may be of wood, metal, india rubber or other suitable material,
preferably it is constructed as represented in the drawing, being built up from
a series of leather discs de confined between two metal cheek plates or discs e,
the whole being firmly clamped together by the nuts f which screw upon the
exterior of the barrel or hub of the bearing. The inner faces of the cheek plates
or discs e are preferably roughened or serrated so as to give the latter a hold
upon the leather.
The rolling action of the braking device minimises wear of the tyre and at the
same time the grip afforded by the concave periphery of the wheel renders the
brake efficient on the steepest gradient.
We prefer to call the brake "The gripper wheel brake and tyre protector."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1
1. In a cycle brake, the employment or use as a braking device of a wheel
revolving freely on a ball or other bearing and having a concave periphery
adapted to fit the tyre surface, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth

page_text: 2. A cycle brake consisting of a wheel having a concave periphery and mounted
so as to revolve freely on a ball or other bearing, said wheel being built up from
discs of leather placed side by side and clamped together, substantially as described.
3. In a cycle brake the combination of the forked fitting, the ball bearing
mounted therein, and the wheel with concave periphery carried by the latter,
said wheel being built up from discs clamped together between check plates by
means of nuts which screw on the barrel of the bearing, substantially as described
and illustrated.
4. A cycle brake constructed and arranged as illustrated in the annexed drawing.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.