Sliding and Revolving Folding Tube.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 16th Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Sliding and Revolving Folding Tube.
I, EUGÈNE HENAULT of 23 Avenue d'Italie, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Mechanician, 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:-
This invention relates to a folding tube, capable of sliding and revolving and
suitable for the handle-bars and frames of cycles, vehicle-shafts and in fact for
any kind of tubular construction.
The principle of this invention consists in a telescopic arrangement of the
different parts of the tube, so that it can be extended at will and also in a rotary
movement, in every direction, of the hinge-joints connecting the said parts.
My invention is shown in the accompanying Drawings, in different methods of
execution. The same letters refer to the same parts in the different figures.
Fig. 1 shows a double-jointed rotary tube made rigid by the help of a coupling
box.
Fig. 2 shows the same tube without the coupling box and as it appears when
folded.
Figs. 3, 4 & 5 show detached pieces.
Figs. 6 & 7 show a sliding folding tube with catch-spring.
Fig. 8 shows a detached piece.
Fig. 9 shows the joint.
Fig. 10 shows the sliding spring socket.
Fig. 11 shows the catch-spring.
Fig. 12 shows a tube on which a grooved coupling box is fixed.
Fig. 13 shows the end of the tube turning on the preceding one.
Fig. 14 shows a tube furnished with two pins, and in which the tube (the two
faces of which are represented in Figs. 15 & 16) turns and slides.
Fig. 17 shows a collar intended for tightening the tube shown in Fig. 14.
Fig. 18 shows a double threaded screw for tightening the said collar.
Fig. 19 shows a modification of the tenon pieces in Figs. 4, 5 & 10, and
Fig. 20 shows a modification of the rotary pin seen in Fig. 4.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the ends of the connecting tubes A, A' are
mortised in order to form a hinge-joint with the tenons c of the pieces B & C
(Figs. 4 and 5). The tenon c engages between the extensions a of the pieces A
or A¹ and pivots on a pin a¹. The other end of the piece C is furnished with a
rotary pin chaving an annular channel lodged in a corresponding cavity of
the piece B and held in its place by one or several screws-pins b. The connexion
is made rigid by sliding a coupling box, D, over the hinge-joints (see Fig. 1).
The tube herein described may be folded in any direction as shown in Fig. 2,
thanks to the hinge-joints and to the rotary pin. The rotation of the pin c¹ can
be limited by means of a moveable pin 3, screw-threaded or snugly fitted in a
suitable opening in the channel (see Fig. 20). The tenons c may have a lateral
slit (Fig. 19) allowing the joint of the tenon in the mortice to be unfastened

page_text: without withdrawing the pin a¹. This slit being narrower than the diameter of
the bed of the pin, the latter must be of elliptical section to allow of the tenon
being withdrawn in a given position.
The sliding and hinged tube shown in Figs. 6-11 comprises the tube A2, the
end of which is mortised, and the extensions a forming a hinge-joint with the
tenon c of the socket E. This socket engages with the end of the tube A², forming
a hinge-joint in the end of the 'tube A3
The socket E is provided with two longitudinal parallel slides c and these are
placed exactly facing each other. The tube A3 is pierced with two openings,
corresponding to the two slides, and into which a pin el is driven. This pin is
intended to limit the sliding of the socket, E and to keep it in a rectilinear
direction.
When the socket is pushed up to its end in the tube A3, it is held in its place
by the button f of a spring blade f fixed within the socket. The button passes
through an opening in the socket and a corresponding opening in the tube A³.
To fold the tube, all that is necessary is to press the button f, to release the socket
and withdraw the articulation, or hinge-joint, of the tube A3. The rotary tube
shown in Figs. 12 & 13 includes a coupling-box, F, riveted on the tube A and
furnished with longitudinal grooves f³. On this coupling box, the end of the
tube A5 furnished with a groove f3, is to be slided. The section of the tube A5
is such that the latter can turn on the couplingbox F.
To render the two tubes rigid, all that has to be done is to introduce a key
into the groove f and into one of the grooves f³.
The sliding and rotary tube shown in Figs. 14 and 18 comprises a tube A6,
provided at its extremity with a slit 13 and further on there are two pins 61, 63
which are moveable and pass through and through the tube.
The tube A7 is furnished with a slide, j, turning off at right angles to its end j¹.
The extremity of the tube A7 is introduced into the tube A6 and guided by the
pin 6 and the slide j, j. When the tube A is pushed to the end, the notch 3,
engages with the pin 6 and the tube is fixed.
To lock the two tubes in no matter what position, recourse is had to the collar,
shewn in Fig. 17, which is placed on that end of the tube where the split 63 is.
The collar is fastened by means of a screw (see Fig. 18) threaded in two directions,
and which is worked by means of a pin k.
In order to disconnect easily the tenons c of the pieces B, C and E, Figs. 4, 5
and 10, from the extensions a, without withdrawing the pin or pivot a¹, I provide
a tenon c, Fig. 20, with a lateral groove d, Fig. 19, joining the pivot hole and
narrower than said hole. The pin to be used with this kind of tenon must have
an elliptical section, the large axis of which corresponds with the diameter of the
pivot hole and the small axis with the width of the groove d. It is easy to
understand that by turning the tenon c in a suitable position the joint formed by
the extensions a, the tenon c and the pin a can be undone with great facility
without withdrawing said pin from the extensions a where it may be soldered or
screwed.
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 rotary and sliding folding tube, as described above and as shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
2. In a folding rotary tube the arrangement of the tube ends to form a hinge-
joint with two pieces, one of which turns by means of a pin in a corresponding
cavity of the other, the whole being made rigid by means of a coupling-box.
3. In a folding slide-tube, the arrangement of a tube, forming a hinge-joint,
with a socket engaging in the extremity of another tube, in which it is guided by
a pin passing through the tube and two slides diametrically opposite, formed in

page_text: the socket, the latter being furnished with a spring, having a stop-button for
fixing it i. the tube when it is pushed to the end, for the purpose specified.
4. In a rotary tube, the providing of a grooved coupling-box, riveted on the
end of a tube; a second tube furnished with an interior groove and turning on
the coupling-box, the two tubes being capable of being fixed by means of a key,
inserted in the grooves for the purpose specified.
5. Ir a sliding and rotary tube, the arrangement of a tube with a split f. :
fastening, and guide-pins, a second tube with bent slide and a notch for fastening,
a locking-collar with a double threaded screw, the whole as described and for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 10th day of December 1896
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, A.M.I.C.E., M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.