Improvements in Brakes for Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Brakes for Velocipedes.
I, JEAN AUGUSTE VANDERHOUDELINGEN, of 66, Rue de la Station, Braine-le-
Comte, Belgium, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:
-
The present invention has for its object a brake for velocipedes, actuated by
the pedals and capable of acting even if the chain of the machine is broken.
The toothed chain wheel upon the axle of the rear or driving wheel consists of
an outer ring upon which the teeth for the chain are formed, and having upon its
inner circumference a series of angular teeth and notches. This ring turns
freely, with the intervention of anti-friction balls, upon a central boss screwed
upon the axle and having two side cheeks which hold the outer ring in position
and against which the balls run. A ring fixed upon the boss described has a
suitably formed arm provided with a transverse notch in which one end of a pall
fits and turns, the other end of which fits into the angular notches inside the
outer ring. The pall is pressed into the notches by a spring.
When the chain is drawn forward by the movement of the pedals, the toothed
ring is drawn by it in the same direction, and one of the notches carries round
the pall with it and so drives the driving wheel of the machine forward. If,
when the machine is at rest, the pedals are turned backward, the chain will also
turn the toothed ring backward, the angular teeth sliding over the
pall, and the driving wheel will remain at rest. If, when the bicycle
is moving forward, the pedals are driven backward, the toothed ring will
also turn backward; but the driving wheel will continue its forward movement
by its momentum. The arrangement described allows, therefore, the pedals to
be turned backward, whether the machine is at rest or is moving forward.
Upon one of the pedals or cranks, situated at the opposite side to the toothed
chain wheel which drives the chain, are fixed two knobs or studs projecting
inward, one of them being fixed upon the crank and the other upon a prolonga-
tion of the latter on the other side of the centre, from which they are both equally
distant.
When the crank is turned backward, one of the two studs strikes against a
moveable cam or arm pivotted to one end of a bell-crank lever turning upon a
centre fixed to the fork of the back wheel. When the crank is turning in a
forward direction, the moveable pivotted arm is raised by the studs twice in
cach revolution, and after they have passed it falls by its own weight or by a
spring.
If, however, the crank or pedal is turned backward, after half a turn at most
one of the studs comes in contact with the pivotted arm (which can only turn
upon its pivot in one direction), and accordingly the bell-crank lever is turned,
and its other arm which has through it a hole through which a wire or rod

page_text: passes the other end of which is attached to the end of the brake band, tightens
the latter.
The wire or rod is provided with a nut and locknut by which its exact
position in the lever arin can be adjusted, and a spring coiled round it keeps it in
position. The position of the wire or rod where it is jointed to the brake band
is guided by an oscillating arm to one end of which it is pivotted, whilst the
other end turns upon a fixed centre.
The brake itself consists of a steel band lined with leather. It is fixed at one
end and is so tempered that it has a tendency to open by its elasticity. It passes
round a pulley fixed upon the hub of the back wheel, and having flanges which
keep the band in position.
The bracket which carries the fixed end of the brake band is connected with
the washer of the outside nut of the rear axle, and is arranged so that it is
adjusted backward and forward when the back wheel is adjusted to tighten or
slacken the chain.
The improved brake described may be applied to all kinds of bicycles,
tandems, tricycles, and other vehicles of the like kind.
EDWARDS AND Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
65 & 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
I, JEAN AUGUSTE VANDERHOUDELINGEN, of 66, Rue de la Station, Braine-le-
Comte, Belgium, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The subject of the present invention is a brake for velocipedes, operated by
the pedals and capable of being put in action even in cases where the driving
chain becomes broken.
In the annexed drawing which is given by way of example :
Fig. 1, is a vertical section of a portion of the rear wheel or driving wheel of a
bicycle fitted with the brake, on a plane passing through its axis.
Fig. 2, is a section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a view in elevation of a portion of the bicycle.
The toothed pinion a of the rear wheel consists of a ring or rim having on
its exterior surface pinion or gear teeth c, and provided on its interior surface
with ratchet teeth or projections e, and with two check pieces f and fi (Fig. 1),
secured by means of screw-threads upon the hub, nave, or boss g, which hub,
nave, or boss is free to rotate with the rear wheel, the ring or rim turning
between these two cheek pieces upon steel balls; and of a central part or portion h
having the form of a crank and fixed by screw-threads upon the same hub or
boss. This crank is provided with a notch i in which engages a ratchet or pawl j
which a steel spring & constantly presses against the ratchet teeth or projections c
of the toothed ring or rim b.
When the driving chain is drawn by the movement of the pedals, during the
driving of the machine, and in the direction indicated by the arrows, the toothed
ring or rim will be drawn in the same direction, one of the ratchet teeth or pro-
jections pushing the ratchet or pawl in that direction, and the rear wheel of the

page_text: velocipede will rotate in the same
to
a
cause
direction. If, supposing the bicycle
be in
moved
state of rest, the pedals be
in the opposite
rim to
direction, the driving chain will
the toothed ring or
turn backwards, and the ratchet teeth or
the
projections sliding over
ratchet or pawl, the rear wheel will remain stationary. If, on the other hand,
we suppose that the bicycle is in motion, and that the pedals be pressed upon in
contrary direction or back pedalled, the hereinbefore mentioned toothed ring
or rim will be caused to move backwards, whilst at the same time the rear wheel
will continue its forward movement by reason of the speed or momentum that
has been attained. The hereinabove described arrangement permits then, both
whilst the bicycle is at rest, as well as when it is in motion, of effecting by
means of the action of the feet upon the pedals, a backward movement of the
crank.
To the crank, and situated at the opposite side of the toothed wheel driving
the chain (Fig. 3), are fixed two buttons or projections q and 4', projecting
towards the interior or inwardly, the one being placed upon the crank and the
other upon a prolongation of this latter, and both being situated at an equal
distance from the axis of the crank shaft.
When the crank is turned backwards one of the two buttons comes in contact
with or strikes against a movable cam piece m pivoted at the extremity of a
bent lever, which latter is fixed by a pin upon a piece fixed upon the rear
wheel fork. When the crank is turned in a forward direction, the cam piece is
raised twice in every revolution, and falls back by reason of its own weight, or
by means of, or under the action, of a spring not shown in the drawing. If the
crank be turned backwards for half a revolution or more, the button or pro-
jection comes in contact with or strikes against the cam m, and this latter being
fitted with a stop tooth or projection, carries with it the bent lever n, which
latter has at its extremity a hole or aperture through which passes an iron rod ",
which rod is attached at its other extremity to the brake band or strap.
In order to admit of the tightening action of the brake being regulated, the
rod is provided with a nut and with a lock nut y, a spiral spring and collar s
preventing the shaking about of the rod r. The position of the articulation or
jointing of the rod to the brake band or strap is regulated by means of a small
vertical connecting rod t provided with a fork at each of its ends, this connecting
rod is pivoted to a plate at its lower extremity, and with the joint of the rod
at r.
The brake consists of a leather lined steel band or strap, tempered in such a
manner as to have a tendency to open by reason of its elasticity, and is bent or
carried round a flanged or shrouded pulley which is keyed upon the hub-or boss
of the rear wheel.
The piece carrying the brake strap or band is formed in one piece with the
washer of the nut of the said hub or boss, and it is so arranged as to be adjustable
in a forward or backward direction in accordance as it may be found necessary to
move the rear wheel forward or backward in order to regulate the length of the
chain, by means of a bolt and nut a.
The hereinabove described brake may with equal advantage be applied to
tandems, tricycles, and other vehicles of an analogous nature.
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
A brake for velocipedes and vehicles of a like description operated by means of
pedals, and characterized by an arrangement of the toothed pinion of the driving
wheel admitting of a movement in an opposite direction to the forward move-
ment, being imparted to the pedals, either whilst the machine is stationary or
whilst it is moving, this pinion being composed of a ring having externally pinion
or gear teeth, and internally ratchet teeth or projections, engaging, during the

page_text: forward movement, with a crank keyed upon the hub or boss of the driving
wheel in order to rotate this latter, and resting in operatively upon this crank
when the pedals are operated, and consequently also the driving chain, in an
obverse or opposite direction; by two buttons or projections fixed upon the crank
placed upon the opposite side of the toothed driving wheel upon the pedal axis
(crank axle), the one of which engages with or strikes, when the pedals are
operated in the contrary direction to the forward movement, against a cam
arranged in connection with a rod which is connected to a steel band or strap
forming a brake upon a pulley keyed upon the hub or boss of the driving wheel
substantially as hereinabove described and represented in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1899.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.