Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes.
I WILLIAM HILLMAN of The Premier Works Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Managing Director of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
The invention has for its object improvements in the construction of velocipedes
5 and relates to the frame, seat pillar, handle bars, crank and other parts (excluding
the wheels) which have heretofore been made of tubing or of rod metal. And my
invention consists in the employment in the construction of such parts of either
parallel or tapered tubing formed of sheet steel preferably of the character known
as "crucible cast steel" it being essential that the steel employed should be of
high quality, such tubing being formed by coiling a length of such sheet metal
of the desired width around a inandrel in such manner as to, obtain at least two
layers of metal all along the tube and soldering or brazing the joints at the ends
and if desired at intervals or all along the length of the tube.
A convenient method of making such tubing is to take a length of sheet steel
of the required width, cut off one corner thereof at the angle required for the pitch
or overlap to be used and then to place such inclined corner in a groove formed in
a mandrel which I cause to revolve between a pair of adjustable jaws.
The mandrel lies between the jaws, and the latter are adjusted to be a short
distance clear from the sides of the mandrel according to the substance of the
metal used and the pitch required to be given to the coils.
By rotating the mandrel the strip of sheet steel held at one end within the
groove is coiled around the mandrel so as to form a tube with the edges of the steel
strip overlapping each other to any required width. This partially constructed
tube is then secured by passing over it a clamp of the size required for the finished
tube which clamp when the jaws are opened out away from it will permit the tube
to slightly expand and thereby free it from the mandrel from which the tube can
then be removed.
Or the ends of this partially constructed tube can be temporarily secured by
means of rings passed over the same.
If desired after removal of the tube from the mandrel it may be again somewhat
twisted so as to regain the twist lost in removal from the mandrel and thereby
obtain a tube as stiff as possible.
In some cases a bush is passed into one or both ends of the said tube and
soldered or brazed therein, but where the end of the tube is to be placed in a
socket such bush may be dispensed with.
The width of the strip of sheet steel and the relative pitch employed in coiling
p the same are such as to secure at least two thicknesses of metal all along the
ube and in the case of cranks and handle bars especially I preferably make the
vidth of the strip of metal so great as to make a tube of some considerable taper
nd consequently having a gradually increasing number of thicknesses from the
maller to the larger end thereof or for a certain distance along the same.
For handle bars I fix the handles to said bars either by a portion entering or
nclosing the end of the tube. For cranks I employ solid ends the one bored and
he other slotted or bored as usual and I braze or solder these solid ends to the
ds of the coiled tube as above described.
In applying my invention to the construction of a pedal axle bracket I take a
rip of similar metal to that above described and coif it up in a parallel direction
ke a roll of paper, I preferably serrate the edge of the part forming the outer
il and I braze the tube along such part I then apply to the tube thus formed a
ir of sockets (for the front lower tube and the seat tube) fixed to a thin tube or
n

page_text: ring and solder or braze the latter to the aforesaid tube, the sockets for the lower
back fork tubes may be also applied as above described or they may simply be
brazed in position without the use of thin rings or tubes attached thereto.
Dated January 2nd 1892.
WILLIAM HILLMAN,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM HILLMAN, of The Premier Works, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Managing Director of Works, 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, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon:-
The invention has for its object improvements in the construction of velocipedes
and relates to the frame, seat pillar, handle bars, cranks and other parts (excluding
the wheels) which have heretofore been made of tubing or of rod metal, and my
invention consists in the employment in the construction of such parts of either
parallel or tapered tubing formed of sheet steel preferably of the character known
as "crucible cast steel," it being essential that the steel employed should be of
high quality, such tubing being formed by coiling a length of such sheet. metal
of the desired width around a mandrel in such manner as to obtain an overlapping
of the metal all along the joints of the tube, and soldering or brazing the joints at
the ends and, if desired, at intervals or all along the length of the tube.
A convenient method of making such tubing is to take a length of sheet steel of
the required width, cut off one corner thereof at the angle required for the pitch
of overlap to be used, and then to place such inclined corner in a groove formed in
a mandrel, which I cause to revolve between a pair of adjustable jaws.
The mandrel lies between the jaws and the latter are adjusted to be a short
distance clear from the sides of the mandrel, according to the substance of the
metal used and the pitch required to be given to the coils.
By rotating the mandrel the strip of sheet steel held at one end within the
groove, is coiled around the mandrel, so as to form a tube with the edges of the
steel strip overlapping each other to any required width.
This partially constructed tube is then secured by passing over it a clamp of
the size required for the finished tube, which clamp, when the jaws are opened will
permit the tube to slightly expand and thereby free it from the mandrel, from
which the tube can then be removed. Or the ends of this partially constructed
tube can be temporarily secured by means of rings passed over the same.
If desired, after removal of the tube from the mandrel, it may be again somewhat
twisted so as to regain the twist lost in removal from the mandrel and thereby
obtain a tube as stiff as possible.
In some cases a bush is passed into one or both ends of the said tube and soldered
or brazed therein, but where the end of the tube is to be placed in a socket, such
bush may be dispensed with.
The width of the strip of sheet steel and the relative pitch employed in coiling
up the same are such as to secure an overlapping of the metal all along the joints
of the tube and, in the case of cranks and handle bars especially, the width of the
strip of metal may be made so great as to make a tube of some considerable taper
and consequently having a gradually increasing number of thicknesses from the
smaller to the larger end thereof, or for a certain distance along the same.
For handle bars I fix the handles to said bars by a portion either entering or
enclosing the end of the tube.

page_text: For cranks I employ solid ends, the one bored and the other slotted or bored as
usual, and I braze or solder these solid ends to the ends of the coiled tube as above
described.
In applying my invention to the construction of a pedal axle bracket I take a
strip of similar metal to that above described and coil it up in a parallel direction,
like a roll of paper; I preferably serrate the edge of the part forming the outer
coil and I braze the tube along such part. I then apply to the tube thus formed, a
pair of sockets (for the front lower tube and the seat tube) fixed to a thin tube or
ring, and solder or braze the latter to the aforesaid tube; the sockets for the lower
back fork tubes may be also applied as above described, or they may simply be
brazed in position without the use of thin rings or tubes attached thereto.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure is a side view of parts of a bicycle constructed according to the present
invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of apparatus suitable for employment in coiling the
tubing and
Figure 2 is a side view of parts of the machine shown at Figure 2 and illus-
trating one form of clamp applied to the tube coiled therein.
Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 2.
Figure 4. is a side view partly in section of a coiled tube held at the ends and
ready for brazing.
Figure 5 is a cross section drawn on the line 1-1 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a side view of a tapered plug employed in securing the ends of the
tube.
Figure 7 is a plan and Figure 8 is an end view of a strip of metal prepared for
coiling into a tube.
Figures 9 and 10 are two views of a clamp suitable for use in securing the ends
of the coiled tube previous to removing it from the coiling machine.
Figures 11 and 12 are elevations of one of the sockets for receiving the upper end
of one of the back fork tubes.
Figure 13 is an elevation of the socket at the upper end of the seat pillar.
Figures 14 and 15 are elevations of a socket for receiving the end of one of the
front fork tubes, said socket having a curved end.
Figures 16 and 17 are elevations of the crown for receiving the upper ends of the
front fork tubes.
Figure 18 is a side elevation of one of the fittings provided with the sockets for
receiving the rear ends of the back forks.
Figure 19 is a longitudinal section and
Figure 20 is a plan or top view of a crank constructed according to my
invention.
In all the figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
In the drawings the tubes of the front fork a, the tubes a¹ of the head, the
tubes 6 of the diamond frame, the tube c carrying the seat pillar d and fixed to the
pedal bracket, the seat pillar d, the cranks e, the tubes of the upper back fork f
the tubes of the lower back fork g and the tubes of the handle bars, which latter
are not shown, are formed of coiled sheet steel tubing constructed as hereinafter
described.
The tubes are made from sheet steel, preferably of high grade crucible cast steel,
and of any desired thickness. The sheet steel is cut into suitable width and said
strip h, see Figure 7, has one or both ends thereof cut at the angle required for the
pitch and overlap it is proposed to give, and the corner h¹ of one end is cut and
turned down as indicated at Figures 7 and 8.
A strip thus prepared has its turned-down corner placed in the groove i
formed in the mandrel (see Figures 2 and 3), this being done in order to prevent
the tube slipping upon the mandrel during the process of coiling. The mandrel i
fixed in a chuck j fixed on the end of a spindle j, which is mounted in a headstock k,
i is

page_text: and rotary motion is given to the spindle j, and consequently to the mandrel i, by
a strap or band passing around the pulley. The mandrel is in position between
a pair of adjustable jaws I mounted in guides and capable of being moved simul-
taneously towards or from the mandreli by means of the right and left handed
screw m.
The mandrel i being in position between the jaws of the coiling machine, the
strip is placed in position as described and the jaws are brought to the required
distance from the mandrel i according to the gauge of the strip h and pitch being
used. The mandrel is then rotated and the strip of steel is drawn around the
mandrel until a tube of the desired length is obtained with the edges of the steel
strip overlapping each other to any required width.
The coiling machine is then stopped and a clamp n, such as that shown at
Figures 9 and 10, is put on that end of the tube which is at the outer end of the
mandrel so as to firmly grip the tube.
I
The jaws are now slightly opened, which allows the tube to untwist a small
amount and thus free the mandrel; another clamp n is then applied to the opposite
end of the tube, which will securely hold it against any further untwisting. The
slight untwisting of the tube above referred to, frees the mandrel i therefrom,
which, after the tube has been secured, as above described, can be disengaged from
the chuck and withdrawn from the tube.
The jaws can now be further opened out and the tube removed and brazed
preferably all along the joints, after which the clamps can be taken off.
Instead of, or in addition to, employing clamps n as above referred to, a collar o
may be passed over each end of the tube before the removal of the latter from the
coiling machine, and in such case, a collar is placed on the chuck end of the
mandrel before the coiling is commenced, then, when the coiling is completed,
the said collar is passed over that end of the tube and another over the
opposite end.
A tube p having collars o on its ends is shown at Figures 4 and 5, and which
figures represent the tube prepared for brazing by the application to the interior
of each end thereof of an expander q provided with three dogs q', which, by means
of the taper plug q³, are forced outwards so as to firmly grip each end of the tube p
between such dogs g' and the collar o.
At Figure 2A I have represented another form of clamp for securing the end of
the tube before removal from the inachine. In this case the mandrel ; has a
longitudinal groove 2 formed therein to receive one arm of the two armed clamp r.
In securing the end of a tube before removal from the machine, one arm of the
clamp is passed into the groove and inside the tube the other arm being outside
the tube, the clamping screw is then screwed up so as to grip firmly the tube
between the two jaws, then on removing the mandrel from the interior of the tube
the clamp will slide out at the end of the groove.
After both ends of the tube have been secured in the above or in any other
convenient manner, the tube is loaded with a sufficient quantity of borax and
spelter, or other brazing or soldering materials placed within it, and it is then put
into a muffle and submitted to such a heat as is sufficient to effect the brazing of
the joints of the tube without injury to the character of the steel.
If desired the outside of the joints may be soldered or brazed by running damp
solder or brazing mixture round the joints and applying heat as is well understood.
After brazing or soldering, the tube is treated in the usual manner, and is brazed
into the ordinary lugs used in velocipedes, except in such cases where it is desired
that the end of the tube be bent to a small radius or flattened, when special lugs or
sockets are used, such as those shown at Figures 11 and 12 and Figures 14 and 15,
which latter may be used as terminals to the lower end of the front fork, instead
of the straight form shown in Figure 1.
The coiled steel tubes being of circular section, the various lugs or sockets are
of like form, but if desired the front fork sides can be made of the usual oval