SAFETY MECHANISM FOR VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JAMES WILLIAM SMALLMAN, of Camp Hill Grange, Nuneaton, in the County
of Warwick, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"SAFETY MECHANISM FOR VELOCIPEDES " to be as follows:-
My invention refers to the ordinary well known form of bicycle, containing a
driving wheel and a trailing wheel coupled to it in the usual way, though it may
be applied to any other form of velocipede.
The object of my invention is to make the machine safer to ride by lessening the
risk of a fall in a forward direction, and I accomplish this end by using a ratchet
arrangement to prevent the frame overrunning the front wheel.
Ball bearings may be constructed with the ratchet or pawl pivoted in the bearing
case, and a portion of the collar upon which the balls revolve, notched to form the
ratchet wheel.
I do not, however, limit myself to this method of carrying out my invention, as
many modifications may be made.

page_text: I, JAMES WILLIAM SMALLMAN, of Camp Hill Grange, Nuneaton, in the County
of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "SAFETY
MECHANISM FOR VELOCIPEDES," and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention refers to the ordinary form of bicycle containing a driving wheel
and a trailing wheel coupled to it in the usual way.
The objects of my invention are, First, to lessen the risk of a fall in a forward
direction, and Secondly, should such an accident occur, by reducing the speed, to
mitigate its effects, and I accomplish these ends, without spoiling the appearance
of the machine, by using ratchet mechanism to prevent the frame overrunning the
front wheel.
In the accompanying drawings the same letters indicate similar parts in all the
Figures.
The simplest way of carrying out my invention is to provide within the bearing
case A, Figure 1, a silent ratchet or pawl B, pivoted about the pin C, and acting on
the hardened collar D. Figure 2 represents a section through the ratchet B and a
portion of the hardened collar D; a groove, part of which is shewn in Figure 2
and marked d, is provided in the aforesaid collar to receive the free end b of the
ratchet or paw! B, and the latter is pressed into the aforesaid groove by means of
a spring in the bearing case. In Figure 3 the ratchet B is shewn separately.
A spring of the kind marked 6' in Figure 4, attached by means of the projection 6'
in Figure 5 to the ratchet B, as shown in Figure 6, may, however, be substituted
for the spring in the bearing case.
°
In a double ball bearing the ratchet or pawl may act on that portion of the
hardened collar that separates the two rows of balls.
A ratchet or pawl of the ordinary description, engaging with teeth formed on
the hardened collar, may be substituted for the silent ratchet shewn in the
drawings.
The ratchet or pawl, instead of being pivoted in the bearing case to act on the
collar, may be pivoted in the collar to act on the bearing case.
The hardened collar D, on which the balls revolve, may be attached to the hub
by screws, or, if preferred, it may be screwed on the axle."
The ratchet or pawl may be pivoted in the hub to act on the bearing case, or
may be pivoted in the bearing case or to the fork to act on the hub. In Figure 7
three ratchets or pawls are shewn, pivoted in the hub E, their free ends working
in a groove in the bearing case; the wearing parts are protected from dust or grit
by a plate F screwed. to the hub aforesaid.
The action of the parts is as follows;--when the progress of the front wheel is
suddenly arrested, the ratchet arrangement holds back the frame of the machine
with the rider, and prevents them overrunning the wheel already stopped or
partially stopped, and the momentum of the frame with the rider being communi-
cated to the wheel tends to urge it forward.

page_text: My invention is not only applicable to the ordinary bicycle, but to any other
suitable form of velocipede.
It is obvious that any other kind of ratchet or clutch mechanism may be used,
and that it need not necessarily be in combination with the bearings, hub, or hubs
of the machine, but a disc or discs may be separately provided for it.
I do not claim the use of any device acting directly on the rim or rims of the
wheel or wheels, nor do I limit myself to the particular methods of carrying out
my invention herein set forth, as it is obvious many modifications may be made.
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. In a bicycle or other velocipede, the use of ratchet or clutch mechanism
acting directly between the axle or axles, or the hub or hubs, and the frame, for
the purposes hereinbefore setforth.
2. In a bicycle or other velocipede, the use of bearings of any description
containing ratchet or clutch mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore setforth,
3. In a bicycle or other velocipede, the improvements substantially as described, .
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.