Improvements in or connected with Velocipede Wheels, and Break Mechanism applied thereto.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Velocipede Wheels, and Break
Mechanism applied thereto.
1, JOHN HARRINGTON, of Claremont, West Street, Ryde, in the Isle of Wight,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is to strengthen the wheels of velocipedes and
at the same time to provide a ready means for applying a powerful break.
In carrying my invention into effect I form two flat rings or washers of vulcanized
fibre, hard leather or other suitable material one of which I place on the inside of the
spokes of a wheel and concentric therewith and the other on the outside of the
spokes.
These rings or washers are formed with hollow grooves or indentations to correspond
with the spokes and are securely fastened together by means of screws or in any other
suitable manner, thus gripping the spokes tightly and holding them all firmly in
relation to each other.
When using my invention with wheels having tangent spokes I preferably form
the rings to grip the spokes where they cross each other and I may dispense with the
usual binding wire at these points and the necessity for soldering the said wire.
When constructing a break according to the present invention I form a flat metal
ring or washer of the same internal diameter as the washers herein before mentioned
but of slightly larger external diameter and I hold the same in position on the
exterior of the outer ring or washer of vulcanized fibre or like material by means of
screws passing through all three rings. The exterior ring of vulcanized fibre or like
material is used as the break drum and the metal ring forms a flange to keep the
break strap in position. The ends of the break strap are connected to a fitting which
is attached to one side of the fork in any convenient manner and it may form part of
the foot rest when applied to the front wheel.
The break strap is tightened around the break drum in any of the well known
manners. My invention inay be applied to any machines at present in use in which
case it will be necessary to split the internal ring of vulcanized fibre or like material
to enable it to be placed inside the spokes without re-building the wheel, or I may
use separate pieces of vulcanized fibre or like material provided with the said shallow
grooves to place inside the spokes instead of a continuous ring or washer.
Dated August 13th 1896
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Velocipede Wheels, and Break
Mechanism applied thereto.
I, JOHN HARRINGTON of Claremont, West Street, Ryde, in the Isle of Wight,
Manufacturer, 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 strengthen the wheels of velocipedes and
at the same time to provide a ready means for applying a powerful break.
In carrying my invention into effect I form two flat rings or washers of vulcanized
fibre, hard leather or other suitable material one of which I place on the inside of the
spokes of a wheel and concentric therewith and the other on the outside of the
spokes.
One of these rings or washers is formed on one face with shallow cross grooves or
indentations to correspond with the spokes and the said rings are securely fastened
together by means of screws or in any other suitable manner, thus gripping the
spokes tightly and holding them all firmly in relation to each other.
When using my invention with wheels having tangent spokes I preferably form the
rings to grip the spokes where they cross each other and I may dispense with the
usual binding wire at these points and the necessity for soldering the said wire.
When constructing a break according to the present invention I form a flat metal
ring or washer of the same internal diameter as the washers hereinbefore mentioned
but of slightly larger external diameter and I hold the same in position on the
exterior of the outer ring or washer of vulcanized fibre or like material by means of
screws passing through all three rings. The exterior ring of vulcanized fibre or like
material is used as the break drum and the metal ring forms a flange to keep the
break strap in position. Or the groove for the break strap may be formed within the
vulcanized fibre ring and the metal ring dispensed with. The ends of the break
strap are connected to a fitting which is attached to one side of the fork in any
convenient manner and it may form part of the foot rest when applied to the front
wheel.
The break strap is tightened around the break drum in any of the well known
manners.
My invention may be applied to any machine at present in use in which case it
will be necessary to split the internal ring of vulcanized fibre or like material to
enable it to be placed inside the spokes without re-building the wheel or I may use
separate pieces of vulcanized fibre or like material provided with the said shallow
grooves to place inside the spokes instead of a continuous ring or washer.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of parts of a bicycle provided with the present improvements.
Fig. 2 is a front view of parts of the machine showing the break mechanism and
Fig. 3 is a rear view of parts of the same.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the break drum and strap.
Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of the break drum.
Fig. 7 shows a modified lever arrangement for the break.
In all the figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
The break drum f is formed of a ring of vulcanized fibre or other suitable material
having a groove formed around its periphery in which rests the break strap
formed of metal and lined with leather or other suitable material f³. In the inner
face of this break drum f and radially thereof are cut shallow tapered grooves f* in
which the spokes rest at those points where they cross one another.

page_text: A metal ring or washer is placed on the inside of the spokes and the whole is
held in position by screws at f passing into the break drum f. The spokes are gripped
between the ring or washer f and the break drum f and are thus all firmly connected
together. I prefer to fill up the grooves f with cement or other suitable material
before placing the break drum in position. In some cases I shall place a ring of
vulcanized fibre similar to f and provided with grooves as aforesaid and a metal ring
or washer similar to f5 on the other side of the wheel which may either be used as a
second break drum or merely to strengthen the wheel by firmly connecting all the
spokes on that side of the wheel. Similar rings may be used on each side of the back
wheel.
On to one arm of the fork g I fix a clamp has shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 to
one end of which is connected one end of the metal break strap f2 the other end being
connected to a rod f which passes through a short tube h¹ forming part of the clamp
or clip h. This rod f7 passes up inside the fork and at its upper end is connected to
a lever pivoted at f to the crown of the fork the other end of said lever f being
connected to the break rod f10 which is connected to the ordinary break lever f¹¹ in
the usual manner.
It will be understood that rings of vulcanized fibre such as f and metal rings or
washers such as f" may be used to strengthen the back wheel.
In the modification represented at Fig. 7 the lever f is pivoted on a stud f on the
steering stem close to the handle bar and is directly connected to the short end of
the break lever fl so as to dispense with the rod fi shown at Figures 1 and 2. A
suitable spring is provided as usual to return the parts to their normal position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A break for velocipedes consisting of a ring of suitable material having a groove
around its periphery and radial grooves on its inner side to receive the spokes, a
clamping ring attached to such grooved ring, a break strap connected at one end to
the fork and means for operating the same substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. A break wheel for velocipedes, serving also as a means for strengthening the
running wheel, consisting of a ring grooved around its periphery and radially grooved
on one of its sides to receive the spokes and a clamping ring fixed thereto and securing
the spokes between such rings substantially as herein shown and described.
3. A means for strengthening velocipede wheels consisting of a ring radially
grooved on one of its sides to receive the spokes and a clamping ring fixed thereto
and securing the spokes between such rings substantially as herein shown and
described.
Dated May 10th 1007
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.