Improvements in and connected with Velocipedes and similarly Constructed Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Velocipedes and similarly
Constructed Vehicles.
I, PHILIP LOUIS RENOUR of the Holford Engineering Works Perry Barr near
Birmingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvements relate to those parts of velocipedes and vehicles of similar light
construction which can be readily formed by presswork. The fork-crown is built up
of two bridges one of them being similar to an inverted trough & with the narrower
sides conforming to the outer sides of the forks; the other being a distance piece
between the forks & preferably closing up the trough completely. The ends of
this bridge are preferably split into two tongues, both conforming to the inner sides
of the forks but one being turned up into the roof of the other bridge and the other
tongue being turned down so as to afford a longer brazing surface.
The fork-ends are sometimes pressed out of the tube, sometimes out of separate
sheet metal pieces & brazed to the tube. In the latter case a thimble is formed to
fit the tube but with a flattened end; the part that fits the tube is preferably reduced
to form a shoulder for convenience in fitting. The alots for chain-adjustment are
preferably along an arc struck from the seat-pillar bolt though the ends are not turned
up: the slotted end will then be strongest at the root.
The blocks of the chain are formed of oblong sheet-metal troughs the bottoms of
which lie on the chain wheels and the side links are provided each with one hole into
which one pin only is riveted and another oblong hole or slot into which the piu
riveted to the opposing side link can be slid.
The blanks out of which the foot-rests are formed are of double the depth of the
finished article: they are split about halfway up and perforated several times along
the remaining half of the centre line: when the blank is folded along this lino the
split end will form a pair of ears to grip the fork and the perforations will form a series
of teeth.
The internal ferrules or liners have their ends turned out so that these fit the tube
but not the whole length of the liner: when a liner of this kind is brazed in position
a hollow girder is formed far stronger than the usual merely thickened end. Where
the liner is used in the fork crown described above, only the upper end is flanged out
as the lower end is supported by the central raised or upturned portion of the lower
bridge, made to fit the steering tube or stem.
Dated this 29th day of August 1896.

page_text: Constructed Vehicles.
I, PHILIP LOUIS RENOUP, of The Holford Engineering Works, Perry Bar, near
Birmingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in whar
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My improvements relate to those parts of velocipedes and vehicles of simila
light construction in which press work can be readily employed. The fork crown.
is built up of two bridges, one of them being similar to an inverted trough, and with
the narrower Fides conforming to the outer sides of the forks; the other being a
distance picce between the forks, and preferably closing up the trough completely.
The ends of this bridge are preferably split into two tongues, both conforming to the
inner sides of the forks, but one being turned up into the roof of the other bridge,
and the other tongue being turned down so as to afford a longer brazing surface. The
fork ends are sometimes pressed out of the tube, sometimes out of sheet metal pieces,
and brazed to the tube, but with a flat end attached; the part that fits the tube is
preferably reduced to form a shoulder for convenience in fitting. The slots for
chain-adjustment are preferably along an are struck from the seat pillar bolt. Where
this construction is adopted, it is usual to bend the tube up, and then press it,
with the result that an angle is formed detrimental to the light tube, and involving
careful work, if neatness and appearance is studied. I therefore merely flatten the
tube, the extra width thus gained amply allowing for the position of the slot, where
the tube is of sufficiently wide diameter. The slotted end will then be strongest nt
the root.
The blocks of the chain are formed of oblong sheet-metal troughs, the bottoms of
which lie on the chain wheel, and the side liuks are provided each with one hole into
which one pin only is riveted, and another oblong hole or slot into which the pin
riveted to the opposing side link can be slid.
The blanks out of which the foot rests are formed are of double the depth of the
finished article; they are split about half way up, and perforated several times along
the remaining half of the contre line; when the blank is folded along this line the
split end will form a pair of ears to grip the fork, and the perforations will form a
Berics of teeth.
The internal ferrules of liners have their ends turned out, so that these fit the
tube, but not the whole length of the liner; when a liner of this kind is brazed in
position, a hollow girder is formed far stronger than the usual merely thickened end.
Where the liner is used in the fork crown described above, only the upper end is
flanged out, as the lower end is supported by the central raised or upturned portion
of the lower bridge, made to fit the steering tube or stem.
Referring to the Drawings, Figure 3 shows a complete fork crown in section, with
the steering tube A, and the forks F, F, in position. The top or outer plate B is
shown separately at Figure 1, in plan, in longitudinal section, and in side elevation.
As is shown, it is of the shape of an inverted trough, forming a cap to cover the tubes
of the forks. The bottom plate C is shown in Figure 2 in plan, in longitudinal
section, and in side elevation. The liner D is shown in Figuro 4 in section and in
plan. The centre of the top plate B is pierced and slightly raised to form a collar
round the steering tube A, and the centre of the bottom plate C is punched in the
shape of a star, and two or more of the teeth thus formed, (the drawing shows
4 a, b, c, & d,), are raised, forming thus a serrated cylinder. This cylinder is

page_text: preferably of such a diameter that it fits the inside of the steering tube A, the raised
plate C forming a stop for the same. The ends of plate C are clipped to
the shape of the trough of B, and then turned out as shown at e&f. The middle
of these ends is punched and pressed down, forming the leaves g. & h.
Figure 3 shows these ends & f reaching to the top of the plate B, and in
combination with the leaves g & h affording long shoulders, with plenty of brazing
surface, for the forks F, F. The liner D, formed out of the tube, or pressed out of
sheet metal, is such that it fits the inner part of the serrated cylinders formed by
the teeth a, b, c, and d. The tube end is belled out to fit the steering tube A.
When the various parts are brazed up, it will be seen that A and D form a
hollow cylindrical gider, closed up at both ends, aud affording immense strength.
Where the tube that is to reinforced is parallel along its inside, the linor is
shaped as shown in Figure 4, each end being belled out so that a hollow liner is
formed when the liner is inserted in the tube.
Figure 5 shows a fork end, made by pressing the end of the tube flat, thus forming
a bend which lies in an are struck from the seat pillar bolt in a line tangential to
this arc.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 show modifications of this device, E being a sheet metal
pressing shown in end elevation, side elevation, and top plan at Figure 6. The
preasing E is reduced at one end by milling; the thimbles G, G, are reduced by
turning, and the parts combined as shown in Figure 8. The tubo H is pushed over
the thimble Gaud the pressing E up to the shonlder formed by the reduction of the
parts, the whole then being ready for brazing up.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 show the various stages employed in producing a foot rest by
my invention. Figure 9 shows the blank before it is folded, in the manner which is
obvious from drawings 10 and 11.
Figures 12 to 16 show the various parts employed in a chain. The "block" of
the chain, which is usually made out of drawn steel, being replaced by a sheet metal
pressing I, which is of trough form, as shown in Figure 12. Figure 13 shows a side
link K provided with one round hole, and one hole of button-hole shape. Figures
14 and 15 show the same side link K with a chain pin L riveted into the round
hole. The other end of the chain pin has two flats milled across it of such
dimensions that the piñ can be passed through the large end of the button hole,
and the reduced portion pushed into the narrow slotted end of saine,
Figure 16 shows a length of chain built up, with a central link detached. By
bringing the various parts of the chain close together, and pushing the projecting
ends and the chain pin into the button-hole alots, and then tensioning the chain,
it will be securely joined up, whilst it is at any time possible to take out the
link. It is obvious that this method of joining up chains is applicable to chains
of ordinary construction, one link only being provided with the special combination
here shown. I am aware that detachable links have been made by employing
button-holed slots, but in these cases the pins were only loosely joined by pressure
to the pair of side plates, involving loss of rigidity and liability of the links to break
or the parts to shake loose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
Firstly. A crown or head for bicycle forks formed out of two sheet metal pressings,
the lower one of which is provided with turned up ends, e &f, as illustrated
in Figures 2 & 3, for the purpose of filling up the outer bridge, and providing
brazing surface on the forks, in the manner and for the purpose described.
Secondly. The construction of a liner forming a hollow girder, illustrated in
Figures 4, 4 and 3.
Thirdly. Forming the ends of chain stays by flattening them and providing them
with upturned slots approximately radial from the seat pillar stay, in the manner
described, and as illustrated in Figure 5, without previously bending up the tube.

page_text: Fourthly. The combination of pressed fork end E and thimble G of the shape and
for the purpose described and illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.
Fifthly. A foot rest formed by folding a sheet metal blank longitudinally, both ears
which form the clip being formed out of the same end of the blank.
Sixthly. A foot rest pierced along its centre and folded along the piercings so that
the latter form serrated teeth when the foot rest is brought to its finished shape, as
illustrated in Figures 11.
Seventhly. Forming the "block" of a chain out of a trough-shaped pressing, of the
shape illustrated in Fig. 12.
Eighthly. The combination of a side link with one chain pin riveted to it, so
formed and shaped that it can be detached in the manner illustrated in
Figures 14, 15, & 16.